Chapter 8

Eunhye reads the signboard – “Chaeri’s Fusion Café”. The name Chaeri rings a bell to Eunhye….

Shin and Eunhye crossed over to the other side of the road to go to the café and there was a group who look like university students waiting outside for their table as the café is fully packed. Business looks good!

“Shin-goon, the place is packed, let’s go somewhere else. We won’t be able to find seats.”

“Don’t worry, come on in. I know people here.”

Nikki was out on the floor clearing the tables when she heard the bell on the door tinkles and looks up to find Shin walking in through the door, with a lady right behind him.

Shin signals to Nikki and she immediately goes over to escort them to an empty table marked “RESERVED” which was by the window, looking out onto the street.

“Hi Nikki! Where’s Chaeri?”

“Oh, she went out to run an errand, should be back soon. Here’s the menu.” Nikki hands out the menu to Shin and Eunhye, and observed Eunhye for a second. Eunhye looks at Shin, unsure if she should self-introduce.

“Nikki, this is Eunhye, my new assistant. Eunhye, this is Nikki, shop manager for Chaeri’s”

Eunhye and Nikki greeted each other briefly and Nikki went back to the table she was cleaning up before they came in.

“They are famous for their house blend here in this area, but I would say they are the best in Korea! Wanna try some?” Shin suggested to Eunhye.

Eunhye looks at the prices on the menu and were glad they weren’t too expensive. Shin saw her glances on the price column and let out a smile.

“Don’t worry about the price, when you come out with me its all company paid for.” Shin assures her.

“Oh, alright, I’ll get one house blend then.” Eunhye smiles back.

Shin waves to Nikki to come and take their order.

“Two house blends… hold on~”

“How about some muffins or pastries to go with the coffee?” Shin looks back at Eunhye but gave the order to Nikki before Eunhye could respond.

“and two banana chocolate muffins please”

“Two house blends, two banana chocolate muffins. Be right back with your order!”

Eunhye looks around the café, nicely and warmly decorated with abstract paintings, every red mini lounge-sofa is occupied, long white color threads were hung from the ceiling to form curtains around the tables, to give some sort of privacy from table to table. A black grand piano stands on a little raised platfrom in the middle of the shop space. There are groups of twos and threes, mostly couples and young working adults on their lunch break.



“Uhmmm~ the coffee’s aroma……” Eunhye takes a deep breathe when the coffees and muffins is served to their table.

“It smell so good!” Eunhye exclaims like a little girl.

Shin just smiles and take a sip, and then takes out his notebook and started scribbling into it.

Eunhye decides not to disturb him and starts to dig into the muffin. When Shin looks up after he was done with this writing, he quietly takes out his handphone to take a picture of Eunhye.

When Eunhye saw the flash from his camera, it was too late. He’s caught the look of her with crumbs sticking to the side of her mouth! Eunhye doesn’t know what is going on until Shin’s hand comes near her face and brushes off those crumbs for her.

“Oh my gawd~ how embarrassing!” Eunhye wanted to dig a hole in the ground to hide but immediately decides that it is better to act cool about it.

“Thaaankks~” Eunhye forced it out of her mouth.

“Shin, a regular customer asks if you could play a piece today?”

Shin nods and walks off to the piano, sits down, lifts the case and started playing.




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At the same time, Chaeri came back and saw Shin playing on the piano. She stood at the door hearing him till he finished.

When Shin finished playing, the guests in the café all gave their applause for the good showmanship he displayed.

“Annyeong~ … Shin! That was beautiful! Does it signify your mood?” Chaeri looks at Shin smilingly, glad that a dear friend like him is feeling happy again.

Shin brushes his hair away from his face and makes a face. He is indeed happy, Chaeri knows him inside out.

“I’m not alone today, come meet my new assistant.”

Chaeri glance over to Shin’s favourite corner and saw the girl sitting there who also looked back with open jaw. Before Shin could lead Chaeri to Eunhye, Chaeri has already run across to her.


“Ahhh, Eunhye ya, its you?! It’s been so long!” Chaeri saw who the girl with Shin was, it was none other than her high school best friend, Yoon Eunhye!

“Omo~ Chaeri!!! My dear Chaeri!!!!”Eunhye jumps up from her seat and hugs Chaeri tightly and they both did a little barnyard dance. Chaeri and Eunhye are as good as sisters, all friends around them envied their closeness, unfortunately they lost contact after they got busy with studies in university.

“You two know each other?”

“Yes, Shin! Eunhye’s my best friend in school, but we lost contact with each other after I left to study in the States.” Chaeri and Eunhye hold each others’ hands tightly, tears well up in their eyes, feeling so blessed to be able to find each other again and they both turn to Shin,

“Shin, thank you for bringing Eunhye back to me!”

“Shin-goon, thank you for bringing me here!”

“Aish.. what should I say? Hahaha~ I didn’t expect these….” Shin’s phone rings before he finish speaking.

Chaeri and Eunhye catches up on lost time as Shin takes his call.




“Alright, I’ll be back by then. Bye.”

“Eunhye, we need to go now. Sorry Chaeri, catch up with you another time. CT is sending someone over to my place in an hour’s time.”

“No problem, oh before I forget, Eunhye yah, take this.” Chaeri pulls out a calling card from her handbag.

“Call me when you are free to meet or come over okie? Without Shin.” Chaeri winks cheekily at Shin and hugs Eunhye again before she leaves.

Shin hugs Chaeri goodbye and left the café with Eunhye.