2 weeks later..
*Bell rang*
"Ahh you! Good to see you again. " the old man muttered in happiness. "come in, come in. " he greeted jisoo with a warm smile.
"Uh I brought something for you. " she spoke lowly.
" What is it? " he looked at jisoo with curiosity.
"some berry tarts." she pressed her lips hesitantly and handed the bag to the man.
"you made them?"
"Mhm.. I hope you like them. " she nodded her head.
"well thank you so much. " he smiled again. " want some soup?" he offered.
"no, no. I must go now. I just came to give you these. "she replied.
"that's very thoughtful of you. Then you must also try this new one I just added in the menu and then you must leave."
Jisoo laughed a little, she had never laughed in so long and it felt good almost magical to be able to laugh again, " of course." she replied. She couldn't say no to soup any longer specially in such cold weather.
-
Meanwhile, jisoo waited for soup and was busy drawing an invisible pattern on the faded wooden table in front of her. The little golden bell hung above the entrance door rung again.
A man came in and sat parallel to her on the table with his back turned towards her and suddenly the shop wasn't quiet anymore. She could hear small noises filling up the place but was so focused to even bother.
In her mind, her invisible pattern was almost so perfect and she only focused on the way her finger twirled and moved in front of her, filling it up with imaginative colors.
"your soup." a cheerful voice broke her focus and she almost let out a frustrated sigh.
-
One after another. The small shop now was crowded with people. It sure was a very chilly evening and his soup and dumplings were the best she could tell.
"you've a very busy evening ahead of you. " jisoo smiled at the old man as she put the empty bowl aside.
He looked around, " seems like it!" he laughed and she handed him the money. "what is it for? I offered you in return of your tarts. " he denied.
"what no! The tarts were a little treat from me to you." she folded her arms across her chest.
"but-"
"please accept this. Next time I won't even bother. " she laughed.
"Only if you say so. I'll bring the change. "he told her and rushed inside a tiny space at the back of the shop.
Waiting for him, her eyes darted around the place and finally on him. A man playing and chatting with his son. She couldn't see his face but she instantly recognised him. He was the same guy who showed up that day.. Yet again she couldn't see his face. But she was so curious.
"daddy look! Mommy! " the child squealed in happiness as he pointed towards a gorgeous lady coming towards their table.
Curious, jisoo's sparkly eyes turned towards her. She was tall, tall and slim. Her features were sharp yet soft and she looked stern yet so elegant. Watching everything from a distance, she envied them. A perfect family. She thought.
"don't they look so ideal? " she almost clenched her chest in fear.
"jeez you have to stop whispering in my ear, out of the blue. " she joked to the old man.
"I'm so sorry but didn't feel like breaking your focus. " he justified.
"yea right. "Jisoo gave him a knowing stare. "but they do look perfect. " she smiled. " aaand I must leave now." she spoke as she turned towards the old man now.
"have a wonderful evening sweetheart. " he told her and she instantly thought of her father. His eyes, his kindness. She almost cried.
" I'll try. " she responded with a warm smile instead.
-
Jisoo had started to like spending time with this old man. She liked visiting his soup shop and having a talk with someone. Plus she loved his soup, it tasted just like her mom. She smiled. What family was left of hers? She had nobody.. No mother, no friend and a father who just didn't probably care anymore.
When she was with Taehyung she had so much hope for her home. Almost a fairytale image of her home but it broke the moment she arrived here.
"I hope you're good. I hope you still remember my name. I hope you know how thankful I had become of you. " she whispered as she thought of Taehyung.
"could you spare me some change please? " jisoo looked at the old woman sitting on the sidewalk, in this cold weather.
"of course." she smiled at her and reached inside her pocket for her wallet.
"my wallet? " she whispered to herself and checked once again to make sure that she had left it on the table at the shop.
"I'll be right back. " she assured the lady and rushed back.
While looking for her wallet her sparkly eyes turned to that one table, that one small family that was still there. She slowly lifted her arm to shield her eyes from the light and her eyes laid on the man. And the moment he looked up, her heart beat overtime and it looked as though she might fall. And then he saw her on the far side of the room and met her gaze. For a moment he was at loss as to what to do. He turned away but just as quickly looked back and she was gone.
