"Do you hire baristas? I will apply if you do." He flashed a smile on her and Jinki rolled his eyes when he did.
"Yeah we do! Come on, have a seat." She welcomed him and he obediently took his seat. "So, what are the qualifications?" Jinki just watched at them as they sat behind them. He sat across the boy and he could fully view him.
"Well as long as you can work full time then I guess we wouldn't have any problems." She announced. "Oh I can work full time; I can even work overtime." He winked and Jinki widened his eyes when he did. Why is this boy so flirty?!
Mari just chuckled and thought he was just some boy pleasing his employer. "Then you're hired. I'm Kim Mari." She stood up and proposed a handshake. "I'm Kang Minwoo, 21." He took her hand. "You? Noona?" He said with momentary aegyo. Jinki then slammed the book he was holding, too loud to be honest. He caught that Minwoo guy's attention. He was still holding her hand when he peaked to see who it was.
"Who is that ahjusshi? He keeps on glaring at me" He asked innocently. Jinki couldn't take it anymore, he stood up and said "Ahjussi?! Who? Me?!" He almost shouted. Minwoo smirked at him "then, who else could it be?" He teased. "I'm just a little older than you! And don't get too cocky. You just met me and you're like this?" He scolded. "Oh yeah, you're an elder so I should respect you." He bowed respectfully and said "Joeseonghabnida (formal for of saying sorry)"
"Enough now, you two!" Mari sensed that Jinki and Minwoo were obviously mocking each other. Jinki first calmed down and plopped back to his seat.
"Noona!" Minwoo called back her attention and Jinki was sick of it, totally. "Is it okay if I call you that?" She agreed with a nod. "Why not? You're two years younger than me anyway."
Jinki hated everything about him. It was rare for him to dislike a person so much. He hated how he smiled at her or how he called her noona. It has the same feel when Taemin tries to please their fans by doing some aegyo and calling them noona. And he swears it was something to feel nauseous about.
Jealousy, it is.
"You can start working tomorrow. I still have to buy a machine.” Mari informed Minwoo. "I can go with you, Noona." He offered but Jinki of course, interrupted once again. He just won't stay still. "You don't have to do that, Minwoo. I can accompany her."
"He's right Minwoo-goon. You don’t have to come with me. Just rest for today." She lied. She just wanted some time with Jinki alone. "Arasso(I get it), Noona. See you tomorrow!" Just like that, a threat in Jinki’s life came and goes.
Nice one, Jinki.
--
"I don't like that kid." Jinki started the engine of his car as he said those. "Who? Minwoo?" She asked as if she doesn't know a thing. She knew how much he despises him despite of just meeting for once and she has no idea why. Well maybe she but she don’t want to jump into conclusions. "He's a good kid, I think. What's wrong with him?"
"So you like him?" The seriousness in his voice rose up but Mari didn't quite catch that. "Yeah." She admitted and when she realized how big a misunderstanding could start up with that, she immediately took it back. "I mean, as a new employee. You know."
Jinki heavily sighed. Yeah, maybe she'll like her as a barista for now. But what if her feelings for him grow? What if she became his.. What he actually steal her from him.. What if..
"Jinki-ssi!" Mari bawled to call his attention. And when Jinki regained consciousness from his long sentiments, there's a cat in front of them. He immediately stepped on the brake and fortunately, they didn't hit the little one.
She turned to Onew with worried eyes. "Hey" Jinki looked at him. "You okay? Are you sick anywhere?" She reached for his face and cupped it with her hands, checking his temperature and I swear, Jinki's heart flipped twice by the action.
And all his 'what ifs' flew away in an instant by her touch..
"I'm fine Mari-ssi. Don't worry." He smiled at her. "I don't think you are. You're spacing out too much! You should go home for now, Jinki-ssi. I can handle this alone." She couldn't help but notice his sudden change of mood which she feared was connected to how he physically feels. "No you can't do it alone. I am not sick okay? I am okay!" He said cheerfully and tried to move around. "I'm so curious yeah~" he even sang to prove that he's doing well.
Well, he suddenly felt better because of her. Just as much as she could make him sad, it's as much as she could make him happy. And all of those abrupt emotion change in a minute!
Mari can't help but snort at him. He's just too dorky for words. "I get it, I get it. But I'll make it fast so you can get some rest. You look tired now days." Well it's true, it seems like he's always sleep deprived when he's going to the pastry shop. It concerns her because it might make his health condition bad.
"It was worse during the peak of our career. It was crazy." He started reminiscing. "I swear 5hrs straight sleep is already a gift from God!" And he wasn't exaggerating; they barely had 5 hours of sleep a day. "At least I could sleep for 6-8 hours a day, straight." Jinki is simple, he easily gets contented. And Mari likes him for that.
"Do you miss it? Being an idol?"
"Well there are times that I do. I love what I was doing but it was crazy; the schedule, way of life, sasaeng fans. It was so sad. So I like it now.
I like how I spend my time at your pastry shop especially when it's not that busy. I also like how I would read a book and take a sip of the tea you have prepared for me. I like how it feels so serene and quiet. And I also like how I..
.. met you"
(A/N: It's starting to form a story now. I know it's getting boring, isn't it? Then here's a villain for you! ^^~)
