Chapter Text
The bookshelf in one corner of the room contains a list of old and new books leaned into one another without order. Hardcovers pressed against paperbacks, poetry beside physics, science fiction and fantasy in the same box territory. You didn’t need labels to know the owner’s personality, the chaos was deliberate.
Beside the bookshelf there is a wide, high square window, open. It lets the wind wander in and out as it pleases. That afternoon, the sky was thick with grey clouds. It swallowed the whole sunlight. The wind slipped through the open window and disturbed the sleep of the room owner.
It is 4 PM. Juhoon is sleeping on his back, a book covering half of his face. He read that book two hours ago and fell asleep somewhere between the paragraphs. Now the wind tries to wake him up, creeping beneath his thin T-shirt and track pants, cool against his skin, nudging him awake.
Sensing that signal from the earth, he wakes up. He frowns and opens his eyes, then puts the book back on the bookshelf.
"Rain again soon, huh?" he muttered and runs a hand through his hair. "I better be faster than you."
He closed the window and glanced at the sky one more time before changing into black skinny jeans and a fitted AC/DC band T-shirt. He grabbed his jeans jacket and goes downstairs.
"Mom, I am going to head to Uncle Rob's store. I have got a shift there today," he said while going down the stairs looking for his mother.
"Kitchen, son," she replied.
She stood by the stove, spatula in her hand, eyes sharp but warm, testing her dinner cooking. "Hey, I'm cooking today. Just stay for a while for a quick dinner, won't you?"
On the dinner table, freshly made doenjang jjigae and sliced rolled eggs are served neatly. The aroma wraps around him, alluring him to give a taste test.
"I think it will rain soon," he said, though his eyes linger on the food. "If I leave now, I won't get soaked."
He hesitates. "...Or can you please help pack some for me? For Uncle Rob too."
"Of course. Just make sure you eat and leave it empty, yea." His mother smiled knowingly.
"Yup, will do. And I will be home at 10 PM as always. I will text or call if anything changes." He smiled reassuringly.
She nodded. It is like a ritual, his reassurance, her smile acknowledging.
"Bye Mom, thank you for the good food." He said while running to the front door and leaving the house.
Uncle Rob's store is a five-minute walk from his house. Juhoon always walks there accompanied by his music playlist. There is a sign that reads, Tea Maison.
A vintage shop with an interesting layout and interior design. You can find mismatched shelves with vinyl records, cassettes, books stacked inside the shop. There are also racks of old-school band T-shirts. Five wooden tables are designed to be near the window. This shop is a duet of old vintage things meeting a café. Yet no coffee is served there. Only tea. Uncle Rob believes coffee rushes people. Tea makes them stay. What a unique analogy, but somehow Juhoon understands. And he stayed.
"Uncle, I am early. I bought food. I'll eat before my shift."
"Ah yes. Hello Juhoon. I am doing wonderfully. Thanks for asking." A hint of sarcasm in the elder's sentence.
"Oh, come on. My mom packed some for you too. I will put it on your dinner table, ya."
"Thanks. That's why I tolerate you."
They both laugh at this usual joke.
Evening shift is usually calm. When there are no customers, Juhoon reads a book from the shelf there, listening to the curated soft music played from the vinyl player.
The door chimes. Two young people, a tall boy and a petite girl, enter.
"Order please!" the girl called out as she arrived at the counter.
"Yes, a moment please." Juhoon blinked, closed his book and walked to the counter.
The girl scaned the small menu on the table. "I'll have chamomile and mint please."
The boy frowned, not really paying attention to the surroundings. "Really? Only tea?"
She sighed. "Just order the same as me then."
He squinted at the menu like it is insulting him for not having a single coffee option. "Fine."
He then walked to one of the tables near the window, leaving the girl to make the payment.
"Your payment is received, thanks. Give me ten minutes and I'll serve your order to your table later." Juhoon smiled.
"Thank you. Nice shop it is. I will look around to see if anything special here." She replied mysteriously, leaving a special emphasis on the word special.
Juhoon shrugged and prepared the order in the small kitchen near the counter. He noticed the couple is a bit weird to have a date here. Moreover, it is the girl who paid for the drinks. He shrugged off the thought. It is none of his business. He poured hot water over the chamomile and mint tea bags in a medium transparent teapot. Watching the bloom of color in the clear teapot is very satisfying. He chooses two pastel cups, one soft yellow and one soft green. Four pieces of mascarpone chocolate candy are placed on a small plate as an offering. All of these are placed on a tray while waiting for the tea to bloom completely.
"What is this Maya? We sit and drink tea like some English noble?" the boy frowned and asked the girl in front of him.
"It is, dear brother, Martin," she replied. "I am doing research here."
She stood and looked at the bookshelf near their table. "Interesting indeed."
Juhoon approached their table. "Chamomile and mint tea. You can have the chocolate, it is on the house."
Maya walked back to the table beaming. "You're the best!"
She leaned in a little too close to Juhoon.
"Maya!" Martin pulls her back. "You're scaring him. Sorry for her behavior."
Juhoon replied with only a polite smile and steps back to create some space.
Martin finally looked at him properly and stared for a while.
Something clicked in his head.
A recognition.
But from where?