She's Vanilla - The Café Shop - Brewed Serendipity

8. Penguin Swirl

One thing about me is that once I get started, I can keep going for a long time. Usually, that's an advantage, but at the moment, it's quite distracting...

Haerin's looking at me from across the café as I crank the espresso machine. I glance at her, smile, and wink.

"Whoa, whoa, did you just blush?" Joe asks.

"Pfft, no, you're hallucinating," I say, looking down. He hums, not believing me, but gets distracted by the door opening and the bells chiming. Sohyun walks in, shrugging off her coat and putting on an apron.

"Sorry I'm late! I got held up," she says.

"You okay?" Joe asks.

She sighs. "Yeah, just low on sleep," she replies, but I can tell there's more going on.

I watch Sohyun as she ties her apron, her movements slow and deliberate. Joe's already moved on, busy with a customer at the counter, but I can't shake the feeling that something's off with her.

"Hey, Sohyun," I say softly, catching her eye. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem a bit... off."

She forces a smile and nods. "Yeah, really, it's just been a rough couple of days."

Before I can press further, a group of customers enters, filling the café with chatter and the clinking of cups.

As the rush dies down, I find a moment to slip away from the espresso machine. I corner Sohyun near the storage room, away from prying eyes and ears.

"Seriously, what's going on?" I ask, my voice low but insistent.

She hesitates, looking around as if checking for eavesdroppers, then finally meets my gaze. "It's my grandma. She's in the hospital. It's all the stress and high blood pressure."

I place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. If you need to go, please do."

She nods, tears welling up in her eyes, and I give her a quick hug before we both return to our duties, the weight of her worries now shared between us.

When I get back, I see everyone is hard at work. I spot Haerin by the front door, separating sweeteners from brown sugars in the dispensers. I smile to myself, thinking she'd be a great addition to our team if she worked here.

"She's cute, isn't she?" Joe says, making me jump.

"Jesus, can you stop creeping up on me?" I snap.

He scoffs. "You're just aloof," he argues.

We settle into silence, both watching as Haerin politely steps aside to let an elderly couple pass, bowing politely before returning to her organizing.

"Why don't you hire her?" Joe asks.

I scoff. "Because she's my friend, not my employee."

"Well, why not be both? We're finally getting popular. We need more staff. I can't wipe tables forever," he says before walking away.

Those words triggered a flashback.

Fifteen-year-old me stood face-to-face with my dad. "All those little friends are nothing but burdens," he said. I scoffed. "My friends? They're actually there for me, unlike you. You only care about image and success, Dad."

His face grew angry. "Who did this to you? You used to be set on becoming successful, but ever since you met that little spaz, you've become weak," he spat.

"I can't believe you," I shouted. "She's a person just like everyone else, and she's taught me compassion, not to be brainwashed by the likes of you."

"You better gain some sense. You can't be wiping everyone's messes forever. It's time to grow up and leave them behind," he said, slamming the door.