Sunset at Hamdeok

Chapter 9

The first thing Taehyung looked for was Tiffany. That girl nodded as Sunny handed her their customers' order. She moved very deftly, from grinding the coffee beans, put them into the portafilter, tamped it, put the portafilter back to the group head, set down a demitasse under it,  and let the espresso machine do the extraction. Tiffany smiled as the customer who stood in front of the presentation table seemed to tease her about something. She laughed. Maybe that cutomer told her a joke.

    Taehyung smirked. At least that girl looked fine. As soon as her eyes caught a glimpse of Taehyung, her smile vanished. She turned to her espresso machine and heft the cup.

    Taehyung waited until the last customer before him got his order.

    "We don't serve coffee for a jerk." Tiffany gave him a sardonic smile.

    "To be honest, I prefer some cola."

    "Then you came to the wrong place. We don't serve coke." Tiffany craned her neck. "If I may suggest you, the mini market over there has a lot of cola."

    "Hmm..." Taehyung nodded several times as he glanced at where Tiffany had pointed her fingers at. "And which coffee do you suggest for someone who has just been framed?"

    Tiffany looked so pretty with her eyesmile. "What about 'restraining order'? Didn't the police give you that?"

    "Sounds sweet to me. But I'll have a flat white,  please." He read the menu board hung on the wall.

    Tiffany shot a sharp glance. "Why are you here?"

    "You were really nice and cute in Jeju."

    "I was an idiot back then." Tiffany was flustered, but she quickly shrugged it off. "Now since you've known that I'm not really nice and cute here, why don't you just leave?"

    Taehyung tapped his fingers on the presentation table. "I just want to see if you're alright. Are you...? " He glanced at her bruised palm.

    "I'm totally fine and in a terrific shape. Don't bother to worry about my hand and feet. They're excellent." She whispered.

    Taehyung smirked, "I wasn't asking about your feet, but about your feeling after leaving me at the police station yesterday. Feeling good?"

    "Never been better." Tiffany narrowed her eyes and shot a glare. She tightened her mouth and left her irritating customer. She came to her espresso machine to make Taehyung's order. Tiffany turned on the steam wand to froth some milk. But she was so upset that she carelessly held the hot steam wand.

    Tiffany screamed as the hot metal wand burned her hand. She looked so much in pain.

    Everyone looked at her in shock, but it was Taehyung who promptly lurched, and grabbed her injured hand. He looked at Tiffany worriedly and turned to Sunny who approached them. "Do you have first aid kit?"

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Sunny let Taehyung prop Tiffany up and take her to the employee lounge after he placed the burned area of Tiffany's hand under running cool water to reduce swelling. Sunny gave that man their first aid kit. There was a lot of things crossing through her mind, but Yuri told her to go back to work and help Hyoyeon who was now replacing Tiffany as their barista.

    "Is it really bad?" Yuri asked.  "Should we take Tiffany to hospital?"

    Taehyung nodded. "I think we should. "

    "I'll get my car." Yuri walked out.

    Tiffany groaned while holding her wrist. She bit her lips to ease the pain.
    Taehyung opened up the first aid kit and took out an antiseptic spray to soothe the area that burnt.