Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

07

Recap :

My ears are ringing. I'm vaguely aware of the crowd around me. All I could see are the mocking smiles and evil eyes gleaming at me. Dawon wasn't done. He opened his mouth to continue his assault.

"ENOUGH! "

I almost don't recognize my voice. It sounds agitated, screeching. But it also sounds confident. My nails dig into the flesh of my palm marking it with painful bleeding half-moons. I look up and look straight at Dawon. His jaw clenches at this. But I won't hold back.

"That's enough, Kim Dawon! Yes I work at Hylift and you can question that as much as you want, because at the end of the day it doesn't change the fact that I'm capable and working there. I submitted my resume and cleared my interview, which is more than enough. At least I made it on my own, not by my daddy's money and uncle's brute power... You and your little army of pests don't scare me anymore, do you get it?! "

I can see his face turn red till the very tips of his ear. He is almost shaking. But I don't care. Truth hurts and Kim Dawon has been babied enough. He should taste reality for once.

"Yo-You,.. How dare you?! —"

My eyes close involuntarily as I see him raising his hands viciously. But the blow never comes.

Opening one eye at a time, I see Dawon's hands held back by Mr. Choi. When did he reach here?!

"Are you okay?!.. "

Hueningkai looks concerned, holding me close by the arm. I shake off the fearful haze that had covered me with the sudden attack.

"Are you seriously trying to hurt my employee, you germ?! "

Dawon's face twists. It is the first time I see fear on his face. Mr. Choi easily towers over him.

"Yo-your e-employee? "

"Do your ears not work, you pest?! Or is your brain too slow to catch up? "

"Hye-hyeong!! –"

"Stop stuttering, you pompous moronic, fashion-illiterate imbecile! "

All these creative insults were flung in the calmest and coldest manner known to man. Dawon just flinches horribly, shrinking into himself. All his 'friends' had slowly detached, standing way behind.

"You are the last person who should be judging others' talent and capabilities. I still remember how your daddy and uncle dearest were ready to beg me and our CEO to give you a chance. As if we would ever lower our company standards! "

Dawon was promptly snuffling right now . More like blubbering like a baby.

"So I'll tell you this once and you better get it in your thick manure holder that you call a skull. Never step near my employees, never breathe in the same room as them. They are the most capable people who are solely here because of their talents and skills. A low-life, scumbag, money-sucking leech like you has no place near them. "

With that, Mr. Choi guided me away, Hueningkai snickering and smirking all the way behind.

"I'm so sorry you ever had the misfortune of knowing that Satan's spawn. But I hope you never have to face him again. "

"Thank you.. I—"

The first tear splashed on my cheek, but Hueningkai was quick to wipe it with his thumb. I felt so humiliated, standing in front of my boss and colleague, after not being able to stand up to that little shit.

I hear Mr. Choi sigh and feel Hueningkai's hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. I wipe my face frantically. Thank God for waterproof mascara!

"Thank you so much. I can't tell you how grateful I am. "

"It's okay. I think your cab is here. Hueningkai will go with you. I expect to see you tomorrow at office. "

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦

The next weekend found me standing in that same departmental store where I met Mr. Choi. It was 10 in the morning and I was on the third item on my shopping list.

The calm was broken by my phone's ringtone. I pick it up only to hear Hueningkai's panicked screech.

"Do you know how to bake a cake?!! "

"Um geez.. What about hi, good morning, how are you? And for the record, I try to approach cooking and baking like it's a little baby. It looks nice and appealing as long as it's done by someone else. "

"Oh Gooodd!!! What will I do?!"

I sigh. It must be some sort of stupidity on his part that led to this.

"What did you do to land yourself in such a fix?! "

"Well... I might have bragged a little about my non-existent baking skills. Now my sisters and cousins expect me to bake a cake for them.... "

I could only facepalm at this. So typical of him. I wracked my head for a solution, while panicked screeches and nervous pacing never stopped on the other side of the screen.

Then I saw the pack of cream cheese on the shelf in front of me, and I felt the idea pop in my head, like a metaphorical light bulb.

"Hueningkai..? "

"Hmm.. What—? "

"Get in loser, we're going shopping! "

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦

"You're a life saver! "

"I know.. And that's why you bow to me Peasant!"

"Bwahahaha !.... Well joke's aside, you really saved my skin today, cuz knowing my sister, she wouldn't hesitate to skin me alive with a butter knife! Thanks a lot, Bestieee. "

" Hmm hmm...Hueningkai you better buy me that damned icecream because, after the hustle of the last few hours are killing me. "

"I will.. Ahrin. Swear to you. Now bye bitch and goodnight! "

The only recipe I knew that came close to a freaking cake, was that of a simple white chocolate and blueberry cheesecake.

I had baked this cake for Jake as his birthday present a few years ago when we were still in college. Looking back I fondly recalled, how I put numerous hours into buying the freshest looking blueberries, putting the recipe video on loop, pouring my love into that little cake.

Jake was quite happy. His eyes shone brightly as he blew the lone candle. But he didn't stay long as he had baseball practice. He just gave me a swift kiss on the cheek, before bounding away.

That one second played on my mind like a broken record. Hana also teased me so much, enjoying this puppy love with me.

Does Jake ever look back on these things? Does he ever think of us when he's resting, probably with a cup of coffee? I haven't heard from him in months and I wonder what he is upto.

I decide to scroll through social media to pass the time. Hana has also been awfully silent. Normally, she posts a lot — even everyday things like a snap of the pretty sky, cup of coffee, her midday snack, her new favourite song. The last post is her and Jaehan at the airport before she left for Busan. I send her a quick text, just asking how she is and what she's upto and hope that she'll respond.

Our friendship may have changed. But it doesn't change my concern for her.