A Recipe for Love | P.jm

CH5 : Baking Bonds and Floury Fondness

His mind is at ease as he sees his daughter move around the bakery kitchen with a giddy smile. After coming to terms with the fact that he couldn't salvage the dreams of his dearest wife through their daughter, he only wanted to see his distressed daughter happy once again. He knew how hard it must have been for Soomin to let down her mother, that too because of a miserable reason.

But little did he know that his wily daughter had not only registered herself for the competition but had also teamed up with the enemy to do so.

Soomin prances about in the kitchen with a large bowl, whisking what seems to be cake batter, with her mind wandering and getting excited about working with Jimin.

Jimin on the other hand was nervous, not knowing when was the right time to contact Soomin. They had exchanged phone numbers after teaming up at the book cafe. The date for the first round of the Annual Baking competition was coming around and they still haven't met up to try out different recipes that would ensure selection in the first round.

He couldn't openly ask Soomin to come over to his family house to practice for obvious reasons. He couldn't ask her to come to his bakehouse either. The only available time was after closing hours. Jimin often stayed back at their bakery after hours testing out new things and baking to his heart's desire, hence he knew his family wouldn't suspect him if he returned home in the wee hours of the morning. What he didn't know was if Soomin would be okay with that timing. And there was only one way to find out.

Text her.

Not long after Soomin received a notification on her phone signifying that Jimin had texted.

**** 1 new message from Park Jimin ****

Park Jimin: Would you be down to practice for the comp 2day?

Kim Soomin: ofc when and where?

Park Jimin: My bakery after closing hours sound good?

Kim Soomin: yaas but is it okay wouldnt ur family find out?

Park Jimin: I stay back quite often so its alr

Park Jimin: Is the timing fine with u? ur family shouldn't know either

Kim Soomin: its ok since I live alone

Park Jimin: All good then... see you at 11?

Kim Soomin: see yaa

~~~

The hands of the clock were running a little past 11 pm when Soomin entered Park's Bakehouse from their backdoors upon the special request of Jimin. Her heart is instantly warmed as she sees Jimin setting up the kitchen for the both of them to work. Jimin looked up instantly as he heard the door opening up and a bright smile fell upon his face. He was dressed in a cuddly beige sweater that made his features look soft and made Soomin instantly swoon over his cuteness.

He reached over the counter to get a clean apron for them while Soomin stood there taking in her surroundings. The kitchen of Park's Bakehouse was avidly different from her own. It consisted of more traditional cooking instruments unlike the modern equipment back in Kim's Kreme. Everything ranging from the oven to the whisks was of the old, traditional kind. It sent a wave of nostalgia over her but also made her remember that the stark difference in the equipment was one of the reasons for the rivalry between the two bakeries. The Parks had been running their bakery following cultural methods for so long and felt threatened when competition arose from the Kims who used more modern tools.

To this day most of the Park family has a very backward mindset which means they hate adapting to changes in the world. The few exception in their family was Jimin himself.