caffeine and chaos || lipsoul

2

Two weeks had passed since the surprise encounter with Jinsoul, and things had not gone as Jungeun had expected. She stood behind the counter of "Sweet Haven", idly wiping down the same spot for the third time, her eyes drifting towards the window.

Across the street, Jinsoul's café was bustling with activity. A steady stream of customers flowed in and out, their smiles and animated chatter adding salt to Jungeun's already festering wound.

Was she jealous? Of course not.

"What's going on?" Jungeun muttered to herself, her brow furrowed in frustration. Her own café had been steady but nothing like the surge of interest Jinsoul's place was getting. Every time she glanced outside, there seemed to be more people drawn to the new café.

As if on cue, Jiwoo emerged from the back room, drying her hands on a towel. "Why the long face, Jungeun?"

Jungeun sighed, leaning against the counter. "Have you seen how busy Jinsoul's café is? She's got people lining up, and here we are... I mean, we've got customers, but nothing like that."

Jiwoo nodded thoughtfully, glancing out the window. "Yeah, I've noticed. Must be something she's doing over there."

Jungeun bit her lip, her curiosity gnawing at her. She hated to admit it, but she needed to know what Jinsoul was up to. "Jiwoo, would you mind… you know, taking a look? Just see what's going on over there."

Jiwoo grinned, catching on immediately. "You mean spy? Of course! I'll be back before you know it." With a playful salute, she grabbed her bag and slipped out the door, leaving Jungeun to stew in her thoughts.

Minutes ticked by slowly, each one making Jungeun more anxious. What could Jinsoul be doing that was so special? The questions swirled in her mind, mingling with the memories of their past.

When Jiwoo returned, she looked triumphant, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Got the scoop!" she announced, setting her bag on the counter. "Turns out, Jinsoul's been making these cute tarts, and they're apparently out of this world. I even managed to snag a piece—just for you."

She pulled out a small, neatly wrapped package and handed it to Jungeun with a flourish.

Jungeun unwrapped it slowly, revealing a small but beautifully crafted dessert. The tart has a delicate, buttery crust filled with a silky lavender-infused honey cream, topped with a sprinkle of edible flowers and a drizzle of golden honey.

"Lavender honey crusted tart." Jungeun mumbles underneath her breath, the dessert bringing back memories. She hesitated for a moment before taking a bite.

As the familiar flavours hit her tongue, Jungeun's breath caught in her throat. It was like being transported back in time. The taste was unmistakable—rich, creamy and sweet. It was the same dessert Jinsoul had made her try all those years ago.

Jungeun's mind drifted back to that day, eight years ago…

Eight ears ago.

"Come on, Jungie, you have to try this!" Jinsoul had said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she handed Jungeun a small plate.

They were sitting on the porch of Jinsoul's house, a lazy summer afternoon stretching out before them. The smell of fresh flowers and the sound of birds singing filled the air.

"What is it?" Jungeun asked, taking the plate with a curious smile.

"Lavender honey crusted tart. My mom makes the best ones. I even helped her make it this time!" Jinsoul beamed with pride, watching Jungeun expectantly.

Jungeun took a tentative bite, and her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh wow, this is amazing! I didn't know your mom was such a great baker."

Jinsoul grinned, pleased with herself. "I know, right? She says she's going to teach me all her secrets. Maybe one day I'll have my own café and serve this."

Jungeun laughed, the sound light and carefree. "I'd definitely be your first customer."

Present Day.

Jungeun blinked, snapping back to the present, the taste of the dessert still lingering in her mouth. The memory left a bittersweet ache in her chest, a reminder of how close they had once been and how much things had changed.

Jiwoo watched her expectantly, but when Jungeun didn't respond right away, she frowned. "Girl, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Jungeun forced a smile, trying to shake off the emotions swirling inside her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… wasn't expecting it to taste like this."

Jiwoo raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like… something I haven't had in a long time," Jungeun said quietly, setting the package down. She tried to focus on the present, but the past kept tugging at her, pulling her back to those simpler times with Jinsoul.

Jiwoo gave her a concerned look. "Well, whatever it is, it's definitely got people hooked. We need to up our game if we want to keep up."

Jungeun nodded, her mind already racing with ideas, but there was a part of her that couldn't help but wonder what Jinsoul was thinking. Was this all just business, or was there something more behind it?

She didn't have the answers, but one thing was certain: this café rivalry was about to get a lot more complicated.