sim.jaeyun → macarons & motorcycles

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Eventually, we bumped into Siwan, who looked at us with exasperated fright - but almost immediately - his eyes softened, and relaxed as he gazed up at the drooped over child on Jake's head.

"Oh my god." He clutched onto his heart, while breathing heavily, "I couldn't be happier to see you right now.

"He's yours?" I glanced at the little boy, squishy cheeks leaning on the top of Jake's hair.

"No no, I just know his mother, she's been crying at our cafe for a while ever since it got dark." We began walking in the direction of his cafe, a low, brooding light flickering on through the window of the building.

Inside, as we approached closer, was a woman in evident distress, head leant on her palm while the other hand holding a tissue, she was being consoled by, what seemed like Siwan's father.

We entered the cafe, the bell jingling, and by the sound, the woman immediately snapped her head to look at us.

She spared not a second to stand up from her seat, dropping her tissue and rapidly coming up to Jake where he gently lift the boy off his shoulders, into his mother's arms.

"Oh my god, oh my god, thank you so much, thank you." She gently whispered, amidst tears as she held her boy tightly in her grasp.

Jake just pressed his lips into a small smile before briefly nodding his head.

Siwan glanced over at us, a light smile caressing his lips as he thought for a moment.

"Ji-eun, when do you leave? I heard there's another local festival in a couple of days, the people loved you last time." Siwan made his way round the counter, grabbing three cups and - what seemed like - began preparing some tea.

The little smile that stuck onto my face slowly dissipated, and I could feel that tense atmosphere close in between me and Jake.

"Oh, tomorrow morning I leave.. actually." My voice gradually lowering at the fact that the time with Jake also came to a close.

By the next morning, him and I will be merely strangers, who might occasionally pass by one another, but ultimately act as if nothing even happened between us.

Siwan gave a small hum to himself, a little in discontent, but nonetheless, he directed his attention onto Jake, who stood beside me, silently.

"And I feel like we haven't even properly introduced each other, I'm Siwan, Ji-eun over here taught me how to make bread on her first day in this place." He gave him a warm smile, "Is she your girlfriend? You're a pretty lucky guy if so." Siwan casually mentioned while adding in the leaves of tea into the cups and pouring the hot water.

I grinded my teeth lightly, feeling that little heat of awkwardness. I looked around, as if I didn't hear his words at all.

"Yeah, she's perfect." Jake responded, slightly under his breath, but I could feel his head turn and stare at me, while I tried my best to look away from him.

Siwan just gave a brief giggle to himself.

"You've got it all figured out Ji-eun." He chuckled, sliding a cup towards me, and one to Jake.

I looked up at Siwan, and let out a bitter scoff.

"I wish I did Siwan, I wouldn't be here if I had it all figured out." I gave a large sigh, we all head towards a table, just sitting around and talking among each other.

The conversation wasn't necessarily just based on the two of us, but just on a broader spectrum, we spoke about random things, mentioned a couple relevant things then and there, and that was mostly it.

We were about to leave, I had my hand on the door handle, seconds away from pulling it open.

"Ji-eun!" Siwan softly called for my name, I glanced back, watching him hurry out of the staff room with a small gift bag.

A smile grew on my face at this guy's sweetness. He was so young yet such a pure soul.

"I couldn't let you leave my hometown without a good memory. I hope you come back, maybe I'll nail the bread recipe by heart for the next time you come back." He handed me the gift bag with two hands, I just smiled at him, feeling that warm sensation in my heart.

"Thank you Siwan, you'll do great." And with that, the two of us took off, heading back slowly in the dark towards our hotel.

Jake seemed a little preoccupied, dazing out into the black sky and pretty much silent.

"Should we just make a run for it?" Jake cut his silence, stopping and looking back at me.

I gave a short moment of laughter, staring at him with that kind of loving yet disappointed expression on your face.

It was the exact face you make when you just see a kid having fun with their parents, and you wonder why your childhood never turned out like that.

"And? And then what Jake?" I walked past him, pretty much crushing his hopes as I did, but the truth had to be told.

There was a second of silence, and he didn't continue walking.

Until he did, and grasped my hand, holding mine with his.

And despite the comfortable silence between us, we held hands all the way back to the hotel, it's those little intimate moments that count more than a big, extravagant surprise.