DOTD//Enhypen hyung line 엔하이픈

6) Meringue

"Wait!I haven't tighten it!"

Jay shouted as Heeseung pressed start on the coffee maker.

Too late,instead of coffee flowing out from the nozzle like how it supposed to,it came out like sprinklers in all directions.

Heeseung's fingers quickly navigate the off switch and pressing it as he tried to move away and avoid the coffee shower.

His apron was splattered with coffee stains,spots of brown on the cream white apron.

"You could have said it sooner."

Heeseung whined as he removed his apron and get a new one as Jay quickly started to clean the mess.

"Well,you didn't have to rush."

"Quit squabbling and start making a new one.We have a customer waiting."

She interrupted her two coworkers,hands still whisking the contents in the bowl.

Outside the kitchen,Jake quietly sat at the counter as no one else was around.

Picking up the menu before him,he tried to disregard the negative thoughts he had inside his head by taking a look at what the cafe had.

Truth be told,he totally forgot about all those thoughts as it was replaced with confusion.

Thinking that it might be him since he was kinda tired,Jake rubbed his eyes and blinked a couple of times trying to freshen up.

However,he wasn't dreaming at all,what he saw when he relook was the same.

The cover of the menu wrote out the cafe's name in capital letters;DOTD

Inside was just the full spelling of the acronym;Dessert Of The Day.The cafe's name really was a representation of what they sold.

Before he could further question and ponder about the cafe,the same girl appeared from the kitchen,a cup in her hands.

"Sorry for the long wait,there was some commotion in the kitchen."

She handed him the cup of Americano,then leaving for a moment to put some cups at the rack behind the counter.

It wasn't steaming hot,nor was it room temperature.It was warm,just right for you to drink it and feel better while not burning your tongue.

Both hands touching the sides of the cup,he immediately felt the warmth all over his body.

Unable to wait any longer,he took a big sip from the cup.

However,instead of feeling satisfied and all warm and fuzzy,his face scrunched,eyes closed shut as his lips retreated from the cup.

Bitter,absolutely bitter.Never had he tasted such bitter coffee.It felt like the sugar level was in the negatives.

Mouth slightly hanging open due to bitter taste,he wiped his lips with the tissue,trying to get rid of the feeling.

It tasted more like medicine than coffee.

Did he forget to mention his preferred sugar level?

But certainly,without him mentioning they would have at least added a few spoons of sugar or something.

Wasn't this a place that sold desserts?

They obviously should know a thing or two about sweetening coffee.

"You already took a sip?"

She went back to the counter after placing the cups,a look of surprise as she noticed his disgusted expression.

"Was I not supposed to?"

He asked back,not understanding why she asked a pointless question.

"Well..."

She got cut off as the kitchen door open,Heeseung walking out with a plate in his hands followed by Jay who was dusting his hands on his apron.

"Here you go-wait,did he already drink the coffee?"

Heeseung said as he placed the plate on the counter.

Jake instantly recognised his friends.He wasn't too surprised though as they previously shared that they worked at a cafe together.

"He most probably did.We took quite a while in the kitchen."

Jay replied.

Jake sat there confused as to why he wasn't supposed to drink the coffee.

"Ignore them."

On the plate was meringue.Each was a different size and colour.They had interesting shapes and design,resembling cute animals and other desserts.

"I thought that you should try our specialty so we made this.This is the dessert of the day,meringue!"

She clapped her hands together,introducing the cute little meringues that was on the plate.

"Why don't you try it?Tell us what you think."

She shoved the plate closer,insisting him to take a bite.Although he didn't ask for it,the meringue did look good and tasty.

His hands reached out,contemplating which one he should pick.

The puppy,light brown in colour,it was most probably caramel or toffee flavoured.

He picked it up with his fingers,carefully examining the intricate details and features that they had managed to make out.

After taking a look,he popped the whole thing into his mouth.

Once again,his face scrunched and his brows furrowed.

This time,it was too sweet.

It was tasty though,it had a crunch and meted in his mouth.Only thing was the sweetness was too much for him to handle,almost like pouring a whole bucket of sugar into his mouth,I mean,it was sugar.

"Too sweet?"

Jay,who was sitting at the side asked.

"Definitely."

Heeseung laughed at Jake's reply.

"That's because you're eating it by itself,like how you drank the coffee on it's own."

She pointed at the cup of coffee.

"Too sweet,too bitter.None taste good.Just like in relationships,too much of one thing is not good.If you're too kind,people take advantage of you.If you're too straightforward,people might feel hurt.

It's not just about how you act,this applies to your priorities as well.If you're to concentrated on your work,then how can you strengthen a relationship?But if you're too focused on the relationship,you'll start to fall behind in terms of your work."

She continued.

"Then,what is ideal?"

She titled her head.

"Putting just the right amount of both.Not too much,not too less."

Heeseung answered her question,which she nodded.

"That's right.Balance."

She picked up the heart shaped meringue,then,she dropped it into the coffee.

"We need to balance both sides."

Jake watched her as she added a few more,meringue floating on top of the coffee.

"Express kindness and consideration while also remember to be straightforward during serious times.Spend enough time on work while setting aside an adequate amount for relationships and fun.With balance will you get the best out of both sides."

She gave the coffee a slight stir before offering it back to him,smiling as he realised what he needed to change about himself.

Honestly I find meringues too sweet...but I wish life would be as sweet as meringues,full of bliss and joy cause everyone deserves happiness:(

Also,we're left with Sunghoon.