Jamais Vu

Chapter 49

The grand opening day finally came.

Sunhee with her staff had been busy on their feet since early in the morning. Customers came in trove, enticed by the special promotion and the offer the 2nd Chance bakery café gave out. Choi Yong had already returned for work a fortnight ago, stronger and determined to move on. The whole staff is adjusting themselves to the brand-new Choi Yong they have never met before. She's actually funny in a morbid kind of way and she can really smile. It wasn't that frequent, but when she does, her whole face lights up. The therapy sessions were doing her good.

It was 10 a.m. Choi Yong, Dowon and Sehun were still busy baking in the kitchen. Haewon and Jo Mi Cha, the new barista were busy at the serving area while Sunhee was up at the front greeting each and every customer who dropped by for the opening. Jaesuk and Younha dropped by separately at different times, and they sent flowers for the occasion. 6/7 of BTS sent their flowers too, by just writing off their initials at the wish.

When the day was up, the bread was all cleared from the serving area and Sunhee could barely feel her face from too much smiling.

It was a success.

Sunhee was out the moment her head hit the pillow when she returned home. She fell asleep after washing her face, without changing her clothes. Her phone rang at 2 a.m. at the same time her alarm went off. She sprang up awake, hitting the snooze button of the clock and answered the phone. It was a video call from Hoseok.

"Lo," said Sunhee raspily to the phone as she settled herself at the headboard, her eyes still closed and her hair was all over the place. She put the phone on her lap. She was still too sleepy to hold it up.

"Wake up, aegiya," greeted Hoseok from the other end.

Sunhee pulled her hair back and combed her hair with her fingers. "I'm awake," she said but her eyes were still partially closed.

"You must be so tired to be sleeping in your work clothes," commented Hoseok.

"My legs slept on me and my face is stiff from smiling."

"Aww poor, aegiya. Too bad I'm too far to give you a massage."

"I need a day in a spa," Sunhee smiled and yawned. "But I think you need it more than I do. You're working non-stop. Are you okay?" Sunhee looked at him closely as she saw him massaging his neck.

"I'm fine. We have our team here to help with this," he assured her.

"Be careful and take care of yourself, okay?"

"Of course. I'll be back to you whole and healthy."

"I'll be here waiting for you even if you're sick and not whole."

"Oh gosh, I think my heart rate just went up hearing that."

Sunhee just smiled. "What time is it there in Chicago?"

"It's noon. Did you sleep well?"

"I'm fine. I was too tired to have a nightmare anyway."

"You do sleep better at my house. Why don't you just move in"

"I know you were just going to say that and my answer is still no," said Sunhee drily. "It's different when I'm just alone and when you're there."

"Are you implying that you're going to stay if I'm there?"

"Just staying there, not move in," said Sunhee firmly.

"Aegiya, can you move your phone to the right?" he requested all of a sudden.

"Why?" she asked as she did as she was instructed without thinking.

"Why does that look like one of my pillows?"

Sunhee's face went red in an instant.

Busted.

"Well... I filched it from your room," admitted Sunhee.

"You really miss me that much, huh?" Hoseok grinned widely.

"Of course."

"Why did you take that and not my shirt?"

"The pillow is huggable," defended Sunhee. "I can't do that if I take your shirt and it smells different as when you're wearing it." Sunhee's eyes went wide at her slip. "Darn, I sound like a freak," she put the phone down in embarrassment.

"Aegiya, put your phone back up," said Hoseok. Sunhee put it up back again after composing herself. "You're so cute, do you know that?" Hoseok chuckled.

"You're cute too, babe. How's everything there?" asked Sunhee, changing the subject.

"It's great here. I have a rehearsal after this," he informed. "My mom said hi. She said you were great today. Sorry, that's yesterday over there," he said.

That certainly got her attention and her eyes went big.

"Did I meet your mom and I didn't realize it?" Sunhee looked at him in horror.

"She said you made sure everyone received your full attention and your PR was superb, everyone felt appreciated," said Hoseok with a hint of pride in his voice.

Sunhee racked her brain, thinking of all the customers who came and the potential people she met that might be Hoseok's mom but failed. There were a lot of people who came. Some were her regulars and some were people she just met. Bottom line, she can't remember all of them.

"What did she wear? What time did she come?"

"I didn't ask that," he said. "Relax, aegiya. She went with my aunt and she said she loved all the bread she bought. She didn't bloat like when she ate any commercial bread and she would be returning soon," assured Hoseok.

"Your mom can't eat gluten?" asked Sunhee.

"She was fine when she was younger. Guess her intolerance builds up."

"Send me a picture of her, so I know how she looks like next time she comes."

"I'll do that."

"Babe, I got to get ready for work," said Sunhee as she glanced at the clock.

"I have to make a move too."

"Take care."

"Love you, aegiya."

"Me too," replied Sunhee.

"Aegiya...," Hoseok drawled out.

"Okay, I love you too," she smiled.

"That's more like it," said Hoseok. "Bye," he ended the call.

After that, Sunhee walked to the bathroom, occupied with the thought which customer might be Hoseok's mom.