Chapter Text
I woke up to birds singing right outside my window. It was a sunny day as it usually is in New Zealand. It’s not an unusual occurrence for me to wake up when the birds are enjoying the summer breeze, and my cats laying near my feet. The sun was streaming through my white curtains, bathing my room in an orange glow, that warms and comforts me. My mother always scolded me for having curtains that don’t block the sun, but I have always said the same thing “the sun is my wake up call.”
I stretched my body slowly to reach over for my phone, without jostling my cats too much, to look at the time. It was 5:00 am, it was a bit earlier than my wake up time, but for some unknown reason, I feel this sudden happy and lightheartedness in my heart, so I decided to open my shop early today.
I never expect myself to own a coffee shop in a small town in New Zealand at the age of 25, away from my family in Korea. It never crossed my mind that when my parents introduced me to my mother’s home country that I would love it this much. Remembering the summer when my parents accepted my proposal to stay with my grandma and start high school here, is just as warm as my coffee dripping slowly into my mug. I have never been back to Korea ever sense.
The warmth of the summer air that rushed when I opened my window, reminded me why I never regretted that decision. A meow and a small gentle bell that rang from my cat’s collar broke me from the sweet memorized. I smiled at her while she stretched in the sun and looked at me with those innocent green eyes,
“is my little Haru hungry?” I asked while petting her, she rubbed her cheek on my palm gently. The rustling and the movement of Haru woke up Miki, who came towards Haru and slept by her side. It has been a daily routine for them to cuddle until the evening, but not before demanding treats.
I headed over to my shop, enjoying the blooming wild flowers on my way there. Living in a small town makes owning a car unnecessary, I have only used it a handful of times when I arrived. After graduating from college, I decided I wanted to live in this small town, when I came on a trip to visit a friend’s family. I felt right at home, even when I lived my entire life in big cities.
I was taken by surprise when I noticed that the store next to mine was under construction, the previous owners left it over a year ago. It was surprising to see it being sold. I waved kindly to the workers, most of them being people I know. The perks of living in a small town. I opened my shop and took out the flower pots that were supposed to be outdoors, with the little chairs and tables. It was still early for the stores to be open, so I managed to take care of my flowers instead of my friends who work with me. I was trimming one of my favorite hydrangea flowers when I heard Mrs. Charlotte call me out,
“Oh! Look at Aera being an angel again, how did you know I want my coffee this early? You usually open the café later”
I smiled at her while extending my hand to help her walk inside, “I just decided to open early today, why are you awake this early Mrs. Charlotte?” I said, while guiding her to a table near my working counter.
“I told you multiple times, It’s Grandma!!” she screamed jokingly, where I was preparing the espresso machine for her order, “anyways, I woke up because of all that noise! Why didn’t you tell me the store next door was sold?”
Mrs. Charlotte knows almost everyone in the town by full name, she’s one of the elders that everyone loves. And she equally loves to gossip.
“I had no idea either Mr- Grandma” I decided to add a new sugar free cookie to her coffee order, “here you go, your usual!” she accepted it with an approving nod, taking a sip from the steaming coffee before exclaiming “Wait! That means you haven’t seen him yet?”
I raised my eyebrow in confusion, “Him? Whose him?”
“The owner of the store next door to yours! I was going to scream at him for starting work so early, but he looked so cute and confused I couldn’t bring myself to, he looked like those boys you’re a fan of, NBS? BLS?” she asked with a confused expression, while I chuckled “BTS, Grandma, BTS” I shook my head while proceeding to get the coffee all set up.
She waved her cookie in dismissal “yeah those boys, could it be one of them, hey it’s your chance to be their girlfriend!”
“Grandma!! Stop trying to set me up with random guys, my children will be sad!” I jokingly told her, while faking crying.
“My cat just had kittens, do you want one more child” dismissing my cries completely, I lit up “Yes of course I will!” she looked at me mortified, “Control yourself young lady!! How many cats are you planning on having?”
I smiled widely at her, “as many as I can?” but before she could reply, I heard the door open and a tall man walks in, speaking with a deep , yet gentle voice” Sorry, I just wanted to apologize for all the noise next door, and maybe have some coffee?”