Chapter Five

Choon-Hee cleaned off another table, disappointment still burning hot inside her. She felt annoyed with everyone trying to ask her if she's okay. Can't they just leave her alone?! She would be fine once they stopped asking her and let her process through it. She even almost called out of her shift tonight but she realized rent was almost due and she couldn't. Plus, she should save her sick days and mental days for when she really needed them.

It never once crossed her mind that Christopher would show up during her shift. The bell rang and she looked up as she greeted them.

"Hello, welcome in–oh." She said as she saw a Christopher with a bouquet of Sunflowers in his hands. She quickly headed for the back.

"Choon-Hee. Choon-Hee, wait!" He exclaimed as he grabbed her arm. She spun around to look at him, her eyes fiery.

"I'm sorry I didn't show up for our lunch date!" Christopher said as he handed her the flowers. She looked at them angrily but the sunflowers softened her eyes a bit. It was her favorite flower that reminded her that there is always sunshine.

"Lunch date? That's what you thought it was? Please." She said, masking her feelings.

"Well, yeah. There's something going on between us… isn't there?" Christopher asked.

"No, no there isn't. There never was. I have no idea what you mean." Choon-Hee said, pulling her arm from his grip.

"Come on, Choon-Hee. Please. I'm sorry. I really like you."

"If that was even slightly true why didn't you show up?" She asked with an arched brow. Bin had warned him that she would do this thanks to the help of Mi-Sun. He swallowed, desperately trying not to let her cold attitude get to him.

"I got distracted with song production. Surely, you understand that?" Yes, yes Choon-Hee did understand that. But she never let it distract her from doing something else important. Or seeing someone important.

"Christopher. There's nothing here." She said, shaking off the sparks of his touch.

"I don't believe you." Christopher said, forcing the flowers in her hands. "I know these are your favorites."

"I don't care if you believe me or not." Choon-Hee replied. Chris' ears were red from shame.

"I'm really sorry, Choon-Hee. Please let me make it up."

"Chris.." She smiled, "There's nothing to make up to me." She said softly before turning away and continuing to the back.

"What time are you getting off?" Christopher asked as she came to the front.

"What's your order?" She asked as she tapped on the register screen.

"Three Americanos, two Lemon Teas, one Energy Drink, two Passionate Fruit drinks, and a Caramel Frappe. I would like all the sweets please." Choon-Hee did her best not to let her jaw slacken at the order of all their baked goods. Christopher ordered. "What time are you off?"

"Three Americanos, two Lemon Teas, one Energy Drink, two Passionate Fruit drinks, and a Caramel Frappe. All our bakery items. Is that all?"

"Oh, a shot of hazelnut in the Caramel Frappe please."

"Got it. Your total is xx.xx." Choon-Hee told him.

"Thanks." Christopher as the coworker started the drinks and Choon-Hee joined. They handed him the bags and drinks in a carrier. He took out the Caramel Frappe and set it on the counter. "This is yours."

"Have a good day, Sir." Choon-Hee said before walking away and grabbing the drink.

"Choon-Hee— Haa~" He sighed as he left.

"An ex? That I didn't know about?" Obi asked Choon-Hee.

"Not even." She said as she looked at the bouquet she abandoned on the prep table.

"Is he harassing you?"

"Nope, he's doing the three laws of Choon-Hee by Mi-Sun." Choon-Hee said, rolling her eyes.

"What now?" Obi asked as she stood up straight with another sigh.

"It's this method Mi-Sun came up with to effectively earn my trust or forgiveness. Persistent, consistent, and presents." Choon-Hee explained them as she tallied them off her fingers.

"Oh… does it work?"

"Yes!" Choon-Hee pouted and stomped her feet on the ground. "That's the worst part."

"So wait, you actually like this guy right?" Choon-Hee huffed.

"Well, I did."

"Oh come on." Obi said with that look.

"Okay, I still do. But it's clear I'm not important to him and if I am not important now I won't be important when we are in a relationship." Choon-Hee explained.

"Choon-Hee—"

"Oh no, don't take that tone with me!" Choon-Hee said, throwing her hands in the air.

"He seems like a good guy!"

"They always do!" Choon-Hee pointed out, just exhausted from the day.

"He's out here trying to apologize with gifts and your favorite flowers. He even bought you that drink you're sipping on." Choon-Hee immediately stopped mid-sip.

"Hey, we made this. I'm not about to throw away our hard work, thanks." Obi gave her a look. She sighed as she placed her drink down.

"Look, if he keeps this up for say… a week. I'll believe him, okay?" Choon-Hee said. "The Choon-Hee three laws are beneficial for me too. If someone actually sticks to it… it shows me that they care enough to deal with me and my attitude."

"Mm. Okay."

Choon-Hee was now physically and emotionally exhausted as she stepped out of the cafe and locked up the cafe. She stayed behind a little longer than Obi to make sure that everything they needed to do was done.

She turned around to head to her flat when she let out a heavy sigh. Seeing Christopher leaning against the wall of the cafe building. He pushed himself off the wall and gave a smile.

"Hi."

"What are you still doing here?" She asked as she pulled the strap of her purse more up her shoulder as she walked past him, hitting his shoulders with hers.

"Well, you wouldn't tell me what time you were off so I've just been waiting out here since I left for you."

"What do you want?!" Choon-Hee demanded as she spins around to look at him, making him almost collide with her since he was going at a fast pace to keep up with her.

"Um, to walk you home?"

"Why!?" She demanded.

"Because I like you." Christopher said like it was the most obvious answer. Choon-Hee huffed as she turned around to start walking again.

"Whatever, keep up if you can." Choon-Hee allowed a little smirk on her face, laughing a bit at his determination.

Choon-Hee immediately headed for Mi-Sun's room, not caring if she was already asleep or not. She didn't bother knocking and threw the door open. Mi-Sun quickly sat up, still half way asleep and mumbled with hair a wild mess.

"Really Mi-Sun?! You told Christopher about the three laws of Choon-Hee?!"

"Hmmm? What?" She said with her eyes only a sliver opened as she nodded off again.

"MI-SUN! WAKE UP!" She gasped as she snapped her head up with eyes wide.

"What?! Why do you need to wake me up!?" She groaned. "You couldn't wait till tomorrow?!"

"No! Why did you tell Christopher the three laws of Choon-Hee!?"

"Wait a minute! I didn't tell Christopher shit!"

"Oh really? So care to explain why he showed up with a bouquet of SUNFLOWERS and was begging for my forgiveness. THEN buys my favorite coffee drink with hazelnut shots in it just the way I like. AND THEN waited outside until I was off to walk me home because I didn't tell him what time I'd get off after he asked multiple times?!" Choon-Hee said.

"Well—"

"And don't you dare lie again because you're the only one from this flat that has met him and his members." Choon-Hee pointed out. "You're also the only person that tells people to use the persistent, consistent, and presents technique on me."

"Okay! Okay!" She shouted out in a mumbled. "I didn't tell Christopher anything though, so I really didn't lie. Bin has been asking me questions and I've been answering them." Mi-Sun explained to Choon-Hee.

"Seriously? Wait, when did you even get his info?"

"Today. At the cafe." Mi-Sun said simply as she leaned forward, desperately wanting to be back asleep. Choon-Hee noticed this. She sighed as she decided.

"Okay, whatever. We'll talk more about this tomorrow." Choon-Hee said before leaving Mi-Sun's bedroom and heading to her own. She quickly changed out of her dirty and sweaty work clothes. She pulled on a silk black pair of underwear before pulling on her tank top crop top and booty short PJ set. She let her hair out of its bun and brushed through it.

She settled on her desk chair before her desktop and music track set up. This was where she used her Akai Apc Key 25 that Kaehi bought for Choon-Hee on her 21st birthday to make pieces of instrument clips for her tracks. She would connect it to her laptop to her desktop so she can transfer it to the laptop. She powered up her desktop as she slid on her earmuff headphones. Yes, they were ugly but they did the best at giving her good sound of her track.

She clicked open the app that she uses for making tracks. She clicks open a really old track from when she first started out when she was around 14 years old. She gave it a listen and did her best not to cringe. It was so much different from her current color and not well made. Back then she used a random online website and not a professional app for track making.

She got to work on the old sound, trying to stick to the vibe she remembered she was going for with this specific track. She clicked audios and gave them listens as she compiled them together with the already placed ones. She played with the beats on her Akai Apc Key 25. She worked on the newly old track until a yawn greeted her. She quickly took her medicine for her ADHD and Bi polar disorder before laying down in her small single bed with her soft fluffy comforter.

She tossed and turned for a bit before grabbing her phone and scrolling on YouTube for a video to watch. She settled on a YouTube creator named TAETRO. His videos had actually been the ones that encouraged her to go through with doing Music Production in University. She wasn't sure if she would ever have the opportunity to sign up with a company or such but at least she was passionate. She watched it until slowly she fell asleep to the track he was playing.

Choon-Hee woke up bright and early. Well, that's if you consider 9 am bright and early, because she does. She yawned and stretched as she entered the common area of their flat. Everyone else was already up besides Mi-Sun.

"I hate all of you." Choon-Hee grumbled to Kaehi and Eun-Young as she dragged her feet into the kitchen. "What are all of you thinking for breakfast?" Choon-Hee sighed.

"Something with eggs." Kaehi says from her perch.

"Kimchi sounds good."

"Okay, kimich and eggs." Choon-Hee mumbles as she pulls those out of their fridge. She stared at the ingredients for a minute before deciding to make omelets. She got the milk and butter and got to work. Choon-Hee dished out the plates with spicy kimchi omelets when the bell rang.

"Who's that?" Eun-Young asked as she took a bite of her breakfast as she leaned over some fabric.

"Did any of you invite over someone? It awfully fucking early." Choon-Hee said and everyone shook their heads. Choon-Hee shuffled to the door as Mi-Sun came out the hall into the common area, her hair a wild mess.

"Morning." She mumbled as she sniffed the delicious aroma. Choon-Hee opened the door and found two bouquets of flowers. She sighed in annoyance as she picked them up and shut the door. She dropped them on the counter and Kaehi and Eun-Young came over curiously.

"Whoa! This is from an expensive shop!" Eun-Young exclaimed as she looked at the tag. "Who are they for?"

"Me." Choon-Hee sighed as she gulped down some heavy creamed coffee.

"Um, this one isn't. This has Mi-Sun's name on it." Kaehi said, looking at the tag.

"Huh!?" Mi-Sun exclaimed as she nearly choked on her food. "Give me that!" Mi-Sun snagged the bouquet away. Choon-Hee's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh they have cards taped to them too. Look!" Mi-Sun exclaimed, all giggly and blushing. Choon-Hee just frowned at her before taking a bite of her food.

"You aren't going to read yours, Choon-Hee? I'll read it FOR YOU!" Eun-Young cackled as she grabbed the card and read it outloud. "Dear Choon-Hee, I made a new track last night and I realized that I had been thinking about you as I produced it. I sent an email with the link. Please give it a listen. It's in its demo stage."

"Wowee!" Mi-Sun exclaimed with a smirk as she fanned her face.

"What is THIS?! Did you get a boyfriend? Cause damn!"

"No, he's not my boyfriend!" Choon-Hee huffed as she tried to grab the flowers and card.

"If he's not a boyfriend then what is he?" Eun-Young asked, putting the car out of her 5'3 reach.

"Eun-Young…. I will literally kill you. Give it to me." Choon-Hee said calmly.

"Fine, fine. Jeez!" Eun-Young said as she let her grab the card and the flowers. She went to throw the flowers away. "HEY HEY HEY! WAIT A MINUTE!"

"YEAH! What are you doing!? Those are expensive flowers!" Kaehi exclaimed, saving them from Choon-Hee's clutches.

"I don't care about his stupid flowers or his stupid gestures."

"If that were true, why are you still holding the card like it's your lifeline?" Mi-Sun pointed out, literally pointing at the hand Choon-Hee was discreetly trying to hide.

"I– None of your business! That's why!" Choon-Hee snapped as she bolted for her room. She heard Mi-Sun cackle at her and then Kaehi and Eun-Young talking about the flowers with Mi-Sun.

Choon-Hee throws the card, but it doesn't go far before fluttering to the ground.

"Well, I know that it ain't the same guy barking up your trunk. Who is he?" Eun-Young asked and Mi-Sun blushed.

"Um well, I didn't think he was actually going to do it…" Mi-Sun said avoiding eye contact with her two friends.

"That's not a name." Kaehi said.

"Well… um his name is Bin. He's friends with the guy trying to win Choon-Hee's affections and forgiveness. They are in a self made band too. And oh my god. He is so hot. He has big muscles and I want him to put me in a chokehold–" Mi-Sun froze as she slowly looked at her friends who were practically salivating at the idea of their friends having guys they are interested in. "Ohhhkayyy I'm done." Mi-Sun said, embarrassed now.

"So what I'm hearing is you are totally into him unlike Choon-Hee?" Eun-Young teased, poking Mi-Sun's shoulder.

"Hang on, hang on! Choon-Hee is interested. Don't let her attitude trick you. What happened is he didn't show up to a lunch date because he got distracted with work. He lost track of time and he's trying to make it up to her." Mi-Sun told them the hot tea quickly.

"Ohhh! Wow." Eun-Young said as she found two vases. She put the bouquets in them and placed one in the kitchen by the sink and one in the living room squished beside the tv.

Choon-Hee was chilling on her desktop seeing how good the track she worked on last night half way asleep was actually as good as she thought last night. She bobbed her head as she listened to it again, but not really listening because she was thinking about the note. She turned in her chair and looked at the card discarded on the ground. She sighed and turned back to her computer and opened her email tab. It won't hurt to look right? He's trying to speak to her through their language. That's kinda cute.

She looked for his email and opened it. He sent it at 3:12 am!? Why was he up so late?! She clicked the link and nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Christopher's voice. A sweet melody of instruments and his singing voice filled her ears and her jaw slackened, though she wouldn't admit it, the track made her fall for him even more. She forgot he had mentioned it's in a demo stage.

She got a new email from Christopher. She opened it and it was one simple question.

Did you like it?

Choon-Hee didn't reply to the email even though her hand was inching the mouse towards the reply button. She gave her hand an actual smack before moving the mouse back to the page she was working on her own track. But she couldn't focus, thinking about the email. She sighed as she clicked on the email.

Yes.

That's all she wrote in reply to his email. She wanted to say more but she knew he was already breaking the walls down by getting her to respond to the email. So she didn't. She just typed that one word.