What if we? (HAESOO Alternate Universe)

Dul.

Jimmy's P.O.V

"So, have you chosen the property that you want to develop as a café, Jimmy?" my dad, Joseph Jung, asked me while we were in the middle of dinner with the whole family.

"I don't know, Dad. Mas gusto ko sana yung malapit lang sa KAIST so I can save some time traveling from school to work. Isn't it more convenient?"

"Yes, you are right. But please don't get too attached to your schoolwork. Have some time for yourself, too. Get a girlfriend already!"

I just smiled at my father's statement and focused on my meal instead. I don't want to talk about girlfriends. Well, not for now. I want to focus on this project first and get everything done before the semester ends.

I am a business major student, and this coffee shop is actually one of my business proposals to pass this semester. I need to gather some data, so I thought that maybe having one would help me understand my research more.

Ever since I told them that I planned to open up a café, my family has been very supportive. They even offered some help in the construction phase, where my father let me choose from some of our acquired properties. Unfortunately, I haven't chosen a site that suits my liking. It feels like I'm looking for a particular place that looks like the scene in my dream.

Rome Café...

"Jimmy? Are you even listening to me?" I was interrupted from my deep thought when I heard my mom's voice.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I was thinking about something. You were saying?"

Mom was unamused as she whined to my dad and kept on saying I had changed a lot.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It's good to see him having the initiative to live independently. And we still have our princess Ayesha here, right, baby?"

"Dad, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm gonna be 18 years old soon."

Dad heaved a deep sigh and looked in my direction as if he was asking for help. After a few seconds, we all laughed like there was an inside joke in our conversation.

I love my family. Despite being busy people, my parents always have time to sit with us during dinners and ask how we've been the entire day. They are very supportive of our decisions and even give us the freedom to do whatever we want. Even if they are against it, they still try their best to understand us.

My sister, Ayesha, on the other hand, is a diligent person. When she makes something her goal, she will do her best to achieve it without asking for help from our parents.

Me? Well, if accepting their help will make my life easier, I would gladly accept it with open arms—except for our family business, though.

Even owning the biggest hospital in South Korea, my dad is still working as the director of Korean National University while my mom runs the hospital by herself. They never pressured us to follow in their footsteps. Hence, they gave us the absolute freedom to shape our future.

"Ahem, excuse me, boss. The owner of Rome Café is calling. He's now willing to negotiate with you."

"Rome Café?" When my dad's butler mentioned the name Rome Café, something inside me sparked and told me to interrupt them.

"Ah, yes, son. Why? Do you know this old place?"

Confused, I asked him directly, "Is that place located in Seoul? Near KAIST?"

"Yes, young master." Darren, my dad's butler, answered.

"What kind of negotiation do you have with the owner, Dad?"

"Well, you know that I'm interested in buying some properties nowadays to help those people who are in need of money. And the owner of the café decided to sell it to us. He was initially hesitant, even though his café is already not operating. He kept saying that it holds a lot of memories, especially with his customers, so it was tough for him to decide whether to sell it. But I guess he made up his mind, right, Darren?"

Suddenly, there was an excitement and unexplainable feeling that I could feel at the moment. I don't know how to say it, but something was telling me to choose it as my business site, which is also a café.

"I want it, Dad. I'll get that rundown café and transform it into a retro café."

Just like what I always see in my dreams.

"Are you sure? It is pretty secluded. It's not an ideal location for a coffee shop."

"It's okay. I can manage. I want to take this as a challenge for myself, too."

"Very well, then. Darren, change the name on the contract from mine to Jimmy. Son, you can check the location by yourself, right?"

After hearing what he said, I smiled widely and gave my dad a pat on the back.

"Thank you so much, Dad. You don't know how much it means to me."

He just looked at me proudly, and we continued to eat our dinner.

But as for my thoughts, I can't help but feel excited about what I should do once I visit the shop.

Will it look the same as in my dreams? Or is it a different shop?

Whatever it is,

I have a feeling that everything will change starting tomorrow.

(To be continued.)