She's Vanilla - The Café Shop - Brewed Serendipity

2. Latte Whispers And Rocked Worlds

As I lay on the bed, staring fondly at the ceiling, the weight of my unfulfilled destiny lingered in the air. "I was supposed to be a doctor," I mumbled, a mundane chuckle escaping my lips. "But, you know, one thing leads to another, and my family won't even talk to me, like I don't even exist," I confessed, my gaze fixated on the blank canvas above.

I recounted the twists of fate that led me away from the prescribed path. "I was always the best at food tech and stuff. Then, I took a little barista job when I was sixteen, overstayed my welcome, and well... look at me now ," I revealed. I craned my head to the side, seeking acknowledgment. "Haerin?" I asked softly.

Turning my attention downward, I noticed her lying on my floor, staring into the abyss above. "Haerin," I repeated, urging her to engage. "Keep talking," she requested, her voice a gentle prompt. Sighing, I laid back down on the pillow, unraveling the threads of my unconventional journey.

"My father was already sick of my antics. He said, 'Doctor or leave,'" I chuckled, the absurdity of the situation not lost on me. "No, he literally said that! He couldn't speak English," I muttered, reliving the peculiarities of my past. "So, I packed my bags and ran away. Soon enough, I met Kristen, and we began building Serendipity from the ground up," I shared, a genuine smile playing on my lips.

Sitting up, I acknowledged the reality beyond our impromptu confessional space. "We should probably go upstairs again," I mumbled. A soft sigh from below indicated Haerin's reluctance to leave the cocoon of our shared revelations. Crawling over and peering down, I found her staring blankly at the ceiling. She looked up at me, and I could sense the weight of unspoken thoughts.

"Pluto says we should go now too," she said, sitting up. I stood on wobbly legs, wrapping my naked body tightly with a comforter. As Haerin dressed with intricate precision, layer after layer, I couldn't help but smirk, "wow" I said amused. appreciating the juxtaposition of vulnerability and self-assuredness. "We should go now so your friend won't worry" she insisted. I snorted, challenging the stability of my legs. "If I can walk," I smirked, reveling in the aftermath of an enchanted night.

Her head whipped toward me, seeking clarification. "Pardon?" she inquired, catching my playful spirit. I smiled, appreciating the shared vulnerability of the moment. "Kang Haerin, you've rocked my world, I'll tell you that," I confessed, my words weaving an invisible thread between us. Her cheeks flushed with a charming shade of red. "I'll meet you up there," I said, and with a hasty nod, she left, leaving behind the lingering enchantment of a night where the barriers between us had dissolved, if only for a moment.

🐧✩°｡✮☕

As I diligently wiped down the counter, the melodic jingle of the bells heralded Haerin's entrance. Looking up, I greeted her with a warm smile. "Hello," she uttered, her presence injecting a subtle vibrancy into the serene atmosphere of the café.

Curiosity danced in my eyes as I inquired, "What brings you here?" Haerin's response was succinct but intriguing. "Pluto," she stated, prompting a slight furrow of my brows. "He wants a vanilla," she added, offering a simple explanation that left me intrigued.

With a sly smile, I responded, "Ah, a vanilla latte? I think I can accommodate." Her nod signaled approval, and I set to work in the quiet embrace of an unusually calm day. Christmas songs played softly in the background, creating a festive ambiance that complemented the tranquility.

As I crafted her drink, an idea sparked in my mind. My wrist moved with a subtle grace as I poured the milk, abandoning the conventional heart for a whimsical touch. A small penguin emerged atop the frothy canvas, a delicate creation meant to add a touch of charm to Haerin's beverage.

Sliding the carefully adorned cup across the counter, I watched her reaction. A genuine smile graced her lips as she observed the tiny penguin. With a sudden large slurp, she indulged in the drink, revealing a preference that hadn't been accounted for. "I don't like foam," she confessed before continuing to savor the vanilla concoction. Well, it was worth a try.

The very next day unfolded with the familiar jingle of the entrance bells as Haerin stepped into the cozy haven of Café Serendipity. Unfazed by the fanciful requests from other customers, I set to work on her usual order, the rhythm of our daily interactions becoming a comforting routine.

As Joe diligently mopped behind me, Haerin took a contemplative sip of her vanilla latte. Unexpectedly, she posed a question that lingered in the air, "Why do you like cherry sours?" I raised a curious brow, impressed that she remembered a seemingly trivial detail. "I like cherries, I guess," I responded, inviting her into the labyrinth of my taste preferences.

A pregnant pause hung between us, prompting me to unravel the layers of my affinity for cherry sours. "They're sweet and sour, but sometimes savory. It's the first drink I ever had," I explained, resting my hand on the counter tracing the origins of my palate. Haerin, with her head tilted in contemplation, encouraged me to continue until she grasped the essence of my connection to this particular beverage.

"And you haven't tried anything else," she clarified, seeking to understand the limitations of my culinary exploration. I shrugged nonchalantly, admitting to a certain complacency in my beverage choices. "Isn't that bad?" she probed, prompting me to ponder the potential narrowness of my taste.

Pouting, I retorted, "Well, you always order a vanilla latte, so isn't that bad?" Her gaze shifted to the cup in her hands, contemplating the irony in our respective preferences. "Hm," she hummed in response.

A smile played on my lips. I remarked,

"It's ironic that you like vanilla so much because you're far from it."
As I handed her the receipt, a subtle wink accompanied the jest. Joe, caught off guard by the unexpected comment, was thrown into a fit of coughs behind me. Haerin, however, responded with a soft smile. "Oh wow," she drawled.

🐧✩°｡✮☕

"I wish you bluebirds in the spring," I swayed my hips to an imaginary melody, singing softly as I swept the empty expanse of Café Serendipity. The clock read 5 am, an early hour where the cafe was open, but the aroma of freshly brewed espresso hung undisturbed in the air. It was my personal concert before the impending rush of customers.

Suddenly, a distant yell penetrated the cocoon of my private performance. Startled, I ripped out my earbuds, and the silence that followed allowed the reality of the cafe to settle. Switching on the lights, I greeted Erin, who had made an unexpected appearance. "Erin, it's Tuesday," I stated matter-of-factly. She glanced around before fully stepping inside, closing the door behind her to preserve the warmth within.

"So?" she responded nonchalantly. "You're here on Wednesdays," I reminded her. A mischievous smile played on her lips as she casually stated, "I'm here for coffee," before strolling behind the counter. I dropped my broom, my curiosity piqued. "You hate coffee," I pointed out as I approached her. She chuckled, the enigmatic glint in her eyes betraying a hidden motive. "You know me so well," she quipped.

Exhaling a sigh, I pressed for the real reason behind her unexpected visit. "Why are you here, really?" I inquired, prompting her to purse her lips, I knew it was something big.