A Recipe for Love | P.jm

CH3 : Bittersweet Confections

SOOMIN POV:-

My spirit was dampened after I knew about my sad fate. I wasn't the kind of person to dwell on sad thoughts too much but something about losing this amazing opportunity for our bakery put me in a sour mood. Our bakery was among the many shops that were badly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic and it still hadn't fully regained momentum. This competition would have been a great way to attract more people to our little bakehouse.

But beyond wanting to attract customers there was a void in my chest that ached every time I thought of someone who would have wanted to participate in this more than anything. I couldn't even represent them in this competition.

I let out a frustrated sigh. I need to do something or rather go somewhere to brighten my mood and where better than my sweet cousin Jeongguk's house.

Jeongguk lived with his family in a small house which was about a 20-minute drive away from mine. Although he had a nice bedroom and bath facilities at his house, the boy basically hoarded the guest room at my apartment 24/7. Providing Jeongguk with a spare key to my apartment was the worst decision I took the day I moved in. I basically have no privacy in my own house.

I dropped off my groceries at my house and headed over to Jeongguk's. I probably should have called him to ask if he was at home, but the loud music that was heard all the way to his driveway gave away the fact that he was, in fact, there.

I didn't need to knock before entering. From the numerous times I've visited the Jeons, I knew that they stored a spare key under the sole of a lone boot in their front yard. I wasted no time in throwing open the door and rushing upstairs to tackle my cousin.

I so badly wanted to forget about the competition I couldn't take part in so I resorted to tickling my cousin to his death. "Sto- Stop, STOP," pleaded Jeongguk through his laughs, "Please Min- ah- ah- HAHAHAHA," Finally I gave in, sitting properly on his bed. The boy was still heaving from all the tickling. "What happened to you? You seem so happy, cous." I guess I did a good job in hiding my disappointment because Jeongguk didn't seem to notice.

I just smiled and said nothing. "C'mon... Tell me. Is it because of the competition that's about to happen?" He asked, causing my distressed expression to once again fall on my face. "I'm not happy, Jeongguk-ah. I can't participate in the competition." I finally told him. I thought he'd know that I was unable to participate but of course, being the ignorant idiot that he is, he definitely forgot. "What?! Why?" "I have no one to go with. No one qualified enough between the ages of 18 and 30 at least. Even Jin isn't available."

"Can't Jin hyung make it back just in time for the competition?" Jeongguk asked, hopefully. "No, his semester finals start soon. He must be preparing hard for it." "There should be some other way right? Is there literally no one else?" "I haven't thought about it, Gguk-ah. I don't think there's anyone else that would make a good team with me. If only you were as good in baking as you were in cooking."

Jeongguk sighed. He knew there was no other way than to let go of this opportunity. He leaned in and pulled me in a hug. I realized that I was making a huge deal out of this. Opportunities come and go. Maybe next year we'll finally have another competition where Jin can make it or one where I can participate individually. I needed to let go of this one so that I could hope for a better one in the future. Thinking so, I pulled away from the hug and thanked Gguk for his comfort. He wasn't good with words but he still knew just how to make me feel better.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, startling the both of us.

Jeongguk and I rushed downstairs to check who it was. The door opened revealing a 16-year-old girl, standing in her school uniform. Almost immediately she pushed past Jeongguk throwing her bag on the floor and rushed upstairs to get to her room. Once she got there she slammed the door shut.