The Baker's Son

Chapter 4: Staring Issues

Minseok and I stared at each other for what seemed like a while. 

"Umm.. Hellooooo, Minseok opaaaa. Are you two going to continue to stare into each other's souls or are you going to greet eonni?" Jaemin teased. Beside her, I hear Sehun give a little chuckle.  

As if in a trance, I continued to stare at him as well, trying to compare the picture I had of him in my head and the person that I was staring at now. He stood in front of me, wearing a dark blue shirt, with a white apron which looked like it was stained with flour and frosting. He seemed about half a foot taller than me and had short light brown hair which was styled in a tousled manner, his bangs reaching his eyebrows, almost covering them. His cheeks were round, and his skin looked smooth and milky (something my mother would compliment and acknowledge); the corners of his mouth looked like it curled up a little. I don't remember him being this handsome, I think to myself. I eventually was the first to break from his gaze as I blinked and tried to clear my throat. 

"Ahemm. Chwesonghamnida, Minseok. Jaemin was just freaking out a bit about Sehun drinking too much boba." I said as I bowed my head. I lifted my head a bit to try to steal another glance at him, and saw that he was still staring at me. I bowed my head even further and fiddled with my fingers. I tend to do that when I'm nervous. "Chwesonghamnida." I repeated again. 

"Ahh, eonni!!" Jaemin whined again. "Why'd you tell Minseok oppa that?? He's going to tell on my mom and for sure Sehun oppa's going to get fired! Ahh, eotokke!!" Jaemin stomped her feet and gave Minseok a pout. "Oppaaaa," Jaemin said as I heard her walking towards Minseok. "Let's keep this whole fiasco between us people here in the shop, oh? My mom doesn't need to know this right? After all, Sehun oppa did only have 2 bubble teas, just like how he's entitled to. Pleeeease?" Jaemin begged as she said this all in a cute small voice.

Dang, homegirl can work her aegyo.. I'm gonna need some tips from her. I thought, as I continued stare and act distracted by some random spot on the tiled floor. I lifted my head once again to see if Jaemin's aegyo had worked on Minseok. Only thing, Minseok didn't even notice.. His gaze was still fixated on me. I held in my gasp, and looked down at the random spot on the floor again. I could feel my ears beginning to burn. The awkward atmosphere only worsened.

"Ya hyung," Sehun said with a laugh. "It's a bit rude to stare at girls like that, don't you think? You're embarassing this noona. She's already starting to turn red." My eyes widened as I continued to stare at the floor, and I could feel the heat from my ears sweep across the rest of my face. Why's he staring so much? Do I look a lot different than from what he had expected? I wonder what's going through his head right now.. I pondered.

I glanced at him one more time, and saw him blink his eyes. He finally opened his mouth, and said, "Uh, I- , Mm-," he gave a sigh. Then he turned to Jaemin, and said, "Jaemin-ah, just lower your voice a bit ok? So long as I can work in peace, and finish frosting these cakes, your secret is safe with me." Minseok gave Jaemin a wink, turned around, then went back into the kitchen. 

WHAT. THE. HELL. He stared and stared at me like a complete weirdo, then completely ignores my presence?! He didn't even say hi or anything to me! Just a 'you're here' but lemme-stare-at-you-creepily. What the hell was that?!

"Don't worry about Minseok oppa, eonni." Jaemin said as if sensing my frustration. "He's just a bit awkward around new or unfamiliar people. I'm sure once you two start working together, he'll warm up to you!" 

Before I could give it another thought, the shop door opens and a tall lanky young man comes walking in.

"Chanyeol oppa, how are you?" Jaemin greeted with a smile on her face.

"Ugh, what do you want, Chanyeol. Go away, Jaemin doesn't need you here." Sehun said with his voice in disgust. He waved his hand in front of his face then said, "Kkeojo!"

"Ya, Oh Sehun, that's no way to talk to my best friend!" Jaemin snapped. Seeming to have remembered Minseok's request of peace & quiet, Jaemin told Sehun in a lower voice, "You know, Chanyeol is nothing but nice to me. I don't understand why you act so mean to him sometimes."

"He's just tooo nice.." Sehun muttered, but not loud enough for Jaemin to hear. 

"Ah, kwenchanaeyo, Jaemin-ie," Chanyeol said enthusiastically. "I just stopped by to see if you wanted to catch a movie, my treat." 

"She can't she's busy working," Sehun answered for her, rolling his eyes. 

*sigh* Is this some kind of love triangle I sense? kekeke, I thought to myself. 

"Oh boys. You both need to stop." Jaemin sighed. "Sorry Chanyeol, maybe some other time. I'm actually spending the next few days with my cousin. Oh, how rude of me, I didn't even introduce you guys to her. Oppa-deul, this is Minji eonni, my cousin from America, the one I told you about. Eonni, this is Chanyeol oppa, my best friend, and of course that's Sehun, the one that's obsessed with bubble tea. My eonni is spending the summer with us to learn about baking."

Chanyeol, Sehun, and I bowed and greeted each other, "Annyeonghasaeyo." Sehun and Chanyeol were both very tall, just as tall as Jongin. Seeing their height caused me to think of my own best friend back home. I checked my cell phone to see if I had any messages from him. None so far. 

"Actually, Jaemin it's ok if you go see a movie with Chanyeol tomorrow. I'd like to spend some time to myself if that's ok with you," I smiled at her kindly. 

Chanyeol grinned from ear to ear. "Really?! You wouldn't mind? Thanks noona! Wow, this noona is the best! It's ok if I call you noona, right? I'm a year younger than you I think." 

This boy called me noona 3 times just now. the hell. I kept my composure and answered, "Suuure.. Yeah, noona is fine.." I lied. "Anyway," I turned to Jaemin. "I'm sorry, but I know that we just got here not too long ago, but is it ok if I headed back to the house by myself. I know you have to work, but I'm still a bit jet-lagged, and would like to rest a bit more if that's ok."  In actuality, I still felt pretty worked up about the whole being-ignored-by-Minseok thing. I needed to vent and I needed to vent to Jongin. 

"Yeah, of course eonni," Jaemin replied. "Rest as much as you need to. How about I whip up a bubble drink for you before you go."

"I'll make one for her!" offered Sehun. 

"In your dreams, boba boy. Knowing you, you'd make extra to drink for yourself!" Jaemin scolded. "I'll make the drink; you can go wipe the tables and clean the floors." Jaemin headed to the back counter as she said this and began making my bubble tea. 

I sighed. This is going to be an interesting summer.. 

A/N: Bubble tea & boba are the same thing, if anyone is wondering. I tend to switch back & forth between these names in this chapter. Sorry, this chapter is sort of short.. I'll try to update and add another chapter later this week.. -_- Please feel free to leave me feedback/suggestions! ^^