The walk to the café was a pleasant one as it was only about 11 am in the morning. I stopped in front of the café doors nervously. However, there were only a few people, and I could see someone behind the counter, so perhaps I could talk to that person first instead of the manager who approached me.

  “Oh, hello; I hope you didn’t get too wet in the rain the other day,” A familiar voice said from behind me.

  I jumped and turned to find Ms. Jun standing at the entrance of an alleyway next to the café, holding a trash bag.

  “Ah yes, I was completely drenched, and I am so sorry, but so was the contract,” I said apologetically.

  Ms. Jun smiled. “Ah, of course, no matter, why don’t you speak with Amber, who is running the cashier, and she will show you to the meeting room. I’ll be right with you,” Ms. Jun said and disappeared down the alleyway with the bag of trash.

  “Ok thank you!” I said after her and pushed open the doors to the café.

  Soft jazz was pying from the speakers, creating a chill atmosphere. However, I was breaking out in a cold sweat. I had completely forgotten how Ms. Jun’s good looks and aura made my stomach do flip-flops. I started to have really stupid thoughts like “ I really wouldn’t mind being taken advantage of her” and “ I wonder if she needs a new roommate,” but I quickly suppressed those thoughts by the time I reached the cashier.

  Amber, a short and petite girl with a blond pixie cut and the rgest green eyes I had seen smiled at me as I approached the counter.

  “Hello, what can I get you?” Amber asked, beaming.

  “Oh, sorry, I’m here for an interview?” I replied sheepishly.

  “Ah! Yes, the new hire who got washed away by the rain” Amber said, spping her hands together and ughing “Ms. Jun must be so happy you found your way back to us, she couldn’t stop talking about how she tried to run after you with an umbrel, however, you disappeared in the distance before she could help you out”

  My heart skipped a beat “S-She did that? Wow, Ms. Jun is really kind” I said.

  Amber nodded “Yeah, she is a really good boss, we all enjoy working here at her café as she really emphasizes work-life bance”

  I felt my face flush “S-Sorry this is her café?” I asked in a low whisper.

  “Yup! Oh, I should take you to the meeting room before more customers come in,” Amber said and beckoned me as she walked out from around the counter and towards a long corridor off the main dining area.

  The corridor was lined with dark wood paneling that was illuminated by flower-shaped light features. It gave a very soft cottage vibe, which was an interesting contrast from the font area, which was also vintage, with a lot more modern element.

  “This area looks really umm-“I started, trying to find a word other than “old fashioned”.

  “Old Fashioned? Haha, yeah, I thought the same when I first started working here. This building is an old Victorian Shophouse that has been converted into various retail and recreational spaces. The second floor of the house has a small dance studio and gym, and the top floor is where Ms. Jun lives. She said that she wanted to preserve a lot of the old elements as this was her family home previously, and although her parents have passed away, she still wishes to remember them while she works,” Amber expined, beaming.

  “Wow, you…really know a lot about the house, and Ms. Jun. You must have been working here for a long time,” I said as we stopped in front of a door at the end of the corridor.

  Amber opened the door and led me into a beautiful parlor room. It was as if it was stuck in time, with family portraits on the wall, a grand piano in the corner, and bookshelves lining the wall. There were a few plush sofas all facing each other in the middle of the room, with a low coffee table that had some bottles of water and a tray of snacks on it, which were probably the only modern things in that entire room.

  “Oh yes, I started working here with Ms. Jun when she first graduated and turned her old family home into the café it is today. I love everything about Ms. Jun’s vision and what she has achieved; Ms. Jun is the best,” Amber replied, beaming in admiration.

  I smiled; it was so cute to see how much Amber looked up to Ms. Jun. I felt like teasing her.

  “Sounds like you are in love with Ms. Jun,” I said cheekily.

  Amber immediately turned bright red and shook her head “No, no, it’s not like that, I admire her. Ms. Jun is so out of my league, I could never,” she said “Just to gaze upon her beauty ever is enough for me” she added, cmping her hands over her cheeks, loosing herself in a mini reverie of Ms. Jun.

  “Ah, ok, I’m sorry, I was just teasing,” I said and reached out to pat her head.

  Amber snapped back to reality and smiled at me. “I think you and Ms. Jun would make a cute couple, though,” she said, and before I could stop her, she bounced out of the room, saying, “Ms. Jun will be with you shortly!”

  Now it was my turn for my face to go red. I sat down gingerly on the nearest couch and waited nervously for what was to come.