from the start | jake sim

9

Seoyun's POV

"Seoyun," I turned around to see Jake standing behind me. "I just want to apologise for whatever I did previously."

"So I got you the cake that you always buy." He handed me a bag, "Oh? So nice of you?" I eyed him.

"What's the catch?" I looked around, "Where's the hidden camera?" He scoffed.

Jake pointed at the corner, "The hidden camera is there, there and there. You just got pranked!" He said sarcastically, and I chuckled.

"So are we good?" I shook my head.

A smile grew on my face as I saw his disheartened look, "Hey, I'm just kidding. We are good." His smile grew slightly.

I looked at him, "You should smile more. You look good smiling." Jake's face started to heat up as he scratched his nape.

He shook his head, "Anyways, I heard that you have a recital coming up." I nodded, "Words spread fast." He nodded.

I eyed him, "Why? Do you want to come?"

Jake pursed his lips, "I still feel bad about my behaviour towards you so I thought that I s-" I rummaged through my bag before pulling out the extra tickets that I kept in my bag.

"Here. Two tickets for you." His eyes widened as he glanced back and forth between the tickets and me. "I can't accept this."

I grabbed his hand and placed the tickets on his palm. "If I don't give this out, there would be a few more empty seats. It's for my own sake." He seemed unsure still.

"I will appear to have more fans." I said, and he glared at me, "I'm not a fan."

"Okay fanatic." I said, "I have to go, but I hope to see you there." I smiled as I patted his shoulder before walking off.

Jake's POV

After she left, I stood in the same position for a few more seconds to process what just happened. I looked down at the two tickets in my hand.

No way did she just ask me to attend her recital.

A small smile crept up on my face, and my eyes widened. I quickly slapped myself out of it.

I speed walk to the bus stop and boarded the bus to head to the cafe. When I got there, I quickly put on the apron and started working.

I eyed Aera who was humming to herself, "Does it mean anything if a girl asks me to attend her recital?" She looked over at me.

"Did she ask anyone else?" I shrugged.

"If she did ask others then it probably meant nothing, but if it's only you," She wriggled her brows, "then it means it may mean something."

Aera nudged me, "So? Who's this girl? Is she the pretty girl that came by?" She teased me.

I shook my head, "It's my friend's story. He needed help and he asked me, but since I barely have any experience so I asked you."

"Sounds like a line from almost every korean drama." She said, "but I'll trust your words."

Aera nudged me, "But tell your friend that if he likes her, he should go for her instead of hiding behind the counter and serving her coffee and cake."

I furrowed my brows, "I don't li- Hey! My friend doesn't work here!" She let out a chuckle.

"And I didn't say that he works here." She shrugged.

She was about to walk off when she placed a hand on my shoulder, "Jake, you're really bad at lying." I eyed her and she chuckled before walking off.

The door opened, and I looked over.

"You've been staring at the door every time it opens. If you want to see her, just ask her out." I cleared my throat, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Like I said, you're horrible at lying." Aera said.

She sighed, "Tell her before it's too late." I pursed my lips as I stared at the door to see no one.

When my shift ended, I clocked out and went home. The moment I opened the door, I heard a loud scream and saw something coming towards me.

"Jake!" That something hid behind me, "That monster has been chasing me around!" Niki pointed at the vacuum on the floor.

I let out a sigh, "That monster is the vacuum that you bought, and I paid the downpayment." I glared at him and he let out a cheeky smile.

I was about to walk in when he held onto my arm, "Can you turn that thing off?" I let out another sigh as I bend down and switched it off.

"You're the best!" He said and attempted to kiss me on the cheek but I pushed him off fast enough.

He pouted with a frown, "Hey! Why do you not want me? Do you know how many people want a kiss from me?" I scoffed.

"I'll generously donate all your kisses to them." I said and he frowned, while slamming the door shut. "You're mean Jake, you know that?"

"Yeah, yeah. Pay me back the downpayment." Instantly his facial expression lit up, "But beyond that, your kindness radiates through the 5 million pores on your body."

I furrowed my brows, "How do you know how many pores we have?"

"Do you not know Google?" He raised a brow, "I know you're older but I didn't know you're dinosaur age." He shook his head.

I was unpacking my bag when I saw the tickets Seoyun have given me.

I looked over at Niki who was practicing writing using his right hand, "Hey Niki." He didn't budged.

"Hey Niki." I repeated, "Hey N-" He sneered.

"I heard you loud and clear! What do you want?" I pursed my lips, "Are you free next Tuesday?" He stopped whatever he's doing as he turned towards me with a teasing grin.

"Are you asking me out?" He wriggled his brows.

I held up two tickets, "Someone gave me these tickets and I need a plus one." He furrowed his brows. "Why don't you ask Seo- Wait." He walked towards me.

His eyes widened when he saw the tickets and he placed his hand over his mouth.

"Hear me out, she gave it to me." He let out a gasp, "Are you guys official?" I smacked him on the arm as he laughed.

"We are just friends." He nudged me, "You're too much of a scaredy cat to ask her out right?" He shook his head while shooting judgmental daggers towards me.

"I'm not even interested in her, why would I ask her out?" He scoffed.

"If you're scared, just say it man." He looked around, "It's just us men here."

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

Niki smirked as he pulled my phone from me and quickly scanned the face ID, before flashing the screen at me.

"Then explain why are you stalking her?"

11 December 2023