chimchim's| pjm

three

THREE

she returned the following morning to the shop, this time with a stronger purpose, she would work to continue making this place beautiful.

the morning aroma was quite different from the night before whereas everything was warm, savory and toasty to the touch.

this time it had a lingering sent of lemon meringue, the sour sweetness of lime and no sooner had her nose picked up on it she even caught the bitter sweetness of imported strawberry's in a crate.

each berry highly pigmented, mouth watering as she could taste its water infused juice, how there would be a split moment of increased satisfaction when she hears the crunch of it breaking in her mouth.

nearly drooling she was tapped on the shoulder. the man carrying the crate nodded towards her,using a gloved hand he offers her a berry the same way one would offer a flower to his lover. smiling she took it with just as much gratitude, camouflaging her cheeks the same color as the treat with a quiet nod.

her lust for the fruit was more than obvious, but it was her favorite.

"thank you."

she relieves the man of her gaze and sinks the fruit into her mouth, the flesh of the seed sweet to her tongue, the bright blood dripping along the corner of her lips.

walking towards the front counter, her cheeks puffed into a closed smile at the one standing behind it.

the chef.

he glanced up from his duties of wiping the wooden counters with the linen clothe, slowly a reaction is triggered in his body and his lips pulled at the edges.

"ah you're back!"

he opens his arms to her, and she closes the gap. pulling apart he chuckles and guides her behind the counter to stand with him.

"come, the boss isn't not here yet so I'll give you the small welcoming gift of being blessed with my company."

he continues rubbing the lemon scented rag across the counters, mumbling nothings to himself before returning his attention to fei.

"I knew you were gonna get hired though"

fei seemed to perk up even more at his words, curiousity nipping at her. "how'd you know that?"

"I'm the boss's right hand. I've been doing this with him since the beginning..ishhh it was so painful with just the two of us back in the day..but when we started hiring I managed to figure out what mr boss man looks for in an employee."

he reminisced by rewinding time in that moment, recalling the beginning days of the bakery until he is brought back to the now and turns to look down on the rookie.

"wanna know something else? I can tell you now that you're an employee, see her in the back?"

following his extended finger, she gazes back to a female in the kitchen who was reenacting the famous oven baked scene of hansel and gretel. she stood waist deep in the oven, cleaning .

"she looks at all the written applications and selects from them, she gets rid of all the basic forms."

fei turns to the girl cleaning out the ovens and opens her mouth in awe, making a mental note to thank her later. for she also played a part in giving her the job.

"then when interviewees come for their interview, they may not know it but they're already being judged."

her eyes widen, a broad smile on her face, for such a small company they had their methods down.

"I judge based on how you hold yourself and if you look like a potential face that we can have to represent us. are you good with people, pleasant natured, or even like baking."

he leans in smiling as if he had a secret to tell.
"when I seen you I knew you'd be stayin' and the boss never looks at any applicants unless I approve them."

she lowers herself under his stature, grateful more than before to know she had to impress so many people before actually getting to work here, this bakery reminded her of an exclusive membership.

"and why'd you approve me?" her voice a trickle of cotton into a bed of clouds, soft and light.

"I dunno, you just shine, maybe it's that apple glow on your cheeks, "

he teasingly pinches her. despite how rough he looks at first glance with his thick eyebrows and pushed back hair, he was a sweet funny guy.

"I see you've meet yoonho."  

a warm presence cloaks over fei's shoulder, glancing over her shoulder her eyes fell upon the owner himself,jimin.

"yes sir, we were waiting for you."

jimin said nothing but nodded towards yoonho who gave a understanding smile as the ceo kidnapped her company and they spent the rest of time together.

as the day progressed from the shade of light to the undertone of darkness, she learnt many new techniques and skills she never thought existed. who knew there were such possibilities for dough?

fei never did get to speak with the other girl
but she remembered her in her heart and hoped for another chance another day.