“Hallo Willkommen! (
Hello, welcome!)”
“Guten Tag (
Good afternoon)”
Bin Kuk
1996 x 1997
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Merry Christmas
Bin Kuk
Amidst the beauty of nature and the buildings of Bern, Switzerland. A popular city for tourists from both Asia and Europe. A city crowded with nature and trees It would be nice to sit and look at the sky shining with soft sunlight amidst the lush green fields. 'Kim Yong Guk', a 22 year old boy.
He inhaled a breath through his lungs before releasing it into a faint white vapor while walking on a street decorated with various buildings and shops that were always popular and crowded with people, but Today, that is not the case. Buildings that were once full of people turned into abandoned buildings that were uninhabited because today was 'Christmas' day.
in Bern, Switzerland On Christmas Day, no one will come out to walk the streets like Yongguk's hometowns in China and Korea. They might be called completely different. Because on Christmas day in this country Everyone stays in the house to be with family or go to LDS in the morning before coming back into the house to rest.
It could be called a good family day. But for Yongguk An exchange student whose family is all in Korea could only go for a walk alone in the loneliness of Bern like this.
The little man tightened his grip on the cream coat he was wearing and raised one hand to catch the snow falling from the sky. His thin lips lifted into a happy smile. At least today On days when it's quiet and there's no one, there's still snow to keep you company.
Kim Yongguk walked along the path quietly. Today he had no destination other than to walk lazily along the road. Look at the snow-covered trees on both sides of the road and make your way home before the sun goes down. Go home and eat a ready-made meal at home and watch the movie you just bought a week ago.
and go to sleep to welcome the new morning of December 26th
Well, he's alone here. What more should I do than this?
The little man shook his head to gently dispel his distracted thoughts. He looked up from the ground and saw a small coffee shop. Yongguk raised his eyebrows slightly because he didn't expect to find a coffee shop open on Christmas Day when people were stuck indoors like this.
Yongguk smiles, amused. At least there were people as crazy as him out there on this cold and deserted day. If you want Yongguk to guess, Today, this coffee shop probably hasn't been entered yet. Well, it's already come out. Let's go in and sip some hot chocolate, Kim Yong Guk!
Jingle~
“Hallo Willkommen! (
Hello, welcome!)” An enthusiastic greeting in German, the official language of Switzerland, rang out from behind the counter. That look could tell that he was the first customer in the store today.
“Guten Tag (
Good afternoon)” I said as I walked in front of the counter to order a drink. But that handsome face seemed to catch Yongguk's eye a bit. The little man thought to himself why he wasn't that handsome before deciding to order a drink.
“What should I get?”
“Hot chocolate.”
“One cup of hot chocolate, 5 francs.” Yongguk smiled before taking 5 Swiss francs and handing it to the young barista. The price is quite exorbitant for a Chinese-Korean kid like him who comes to exchange. If you compare 5 Swiss francs to Korean money, then Its value will be approximately 5800 won.
In the early years when he moved here You could say that he almost fainted every time he paid because of the high cost of living in Switzerland. But after he had lived for so long until now Having done a lot of part-time work or working alongside studying, I have enough money to buy a small cup of coffee.
As for food, if possible, you must make it yourself. He dared to say that his current cooking skills were as good as his own mother's! As for the opportunity to eat delicious food at that restaurant. Once a year would be enough for an exchange student like Yongguk.
“Thank you. Please sit and wait at the table,” the handsome young barista smiled. That moment made Yongguk's heart tremble a little, but he didn't say anything but followed the other's advice. A pair of round eyes looked around the store. The decoration of this shop is quite usable. Kim Yong Guk sat down on one of the chairs with a mirror to look at the beautiful view of the snow falling outside.
The little man who was enjoying the snowy view turned slightly behind the counter when he smelled the hot chocolate he had ordered. Yongguk looked at the scene in front of him and his heart beat uncontrollably faster. I looked intently at the barista who was adding the hot chocolate mixture. The white turtleneck sweater with the sleeves rolled up at his elbows from the moment he walked into the store and the dark brown apron that was worn over it made the barista look good enough for a man like Yongguk. I myself still can't take my eyes off. Dark brown hair that goes well with a white face makes the other person look even better.
Is that barista a fallen angel from heaven?
Yongguk shook his head lightly, feeling that he had lost his manners by looking at the other person's face too much. Yongguk took his eyes off that handsome face before turning his attention back to the snowy view outside. But he was absent-minded for long. There was a loud clattering sound from the table. Yongguk turned around in shock before smiling when he saw that it was the young barista he had admired just a few minutes ago.
“Hot chocolate,” the other person said, placing a glass of hot chocolate and chocolate cake on the table. Yongguk raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw that the other party had also brought a cake to serve to him.
"I didn't order this cake."
"Yes, sir. You didn't order it, but I gave it to you."
Yongguk's face widened as soon as he heard that sentence from the other party. The little man blinked his eyes in confusion mixed with shock. The young barista saw this expression and continued speaking.
“I'm giving it because you're my first customer today.” And you're so cute.. The handsome barista didn't say the last sentence for fear that the other party would be even more shocked and confused.
“But, but I'm just a foreign exchange student. I don't have that much money. Right now I don't even have enough money to pay for the ride home. I can't pay for the cake, I..” The young man said in shock. That gaping face looked so cute that the barista burst out laughing.
“No, this cake, you don't have to pay for it, I'm taking care of it.” Yongguk blinked again. What did the other party say just now?
“Ah, don't be afraid, sweet. My shop's chocolate cake is more bitter than sweet. So when eaten with hot chocolate, it tastes really good.”
“Ah. Thank you.” Yongguk replied with a faint blush on his face. Ah, he accidentally acted embarrassing again.
“Yes, eat deliciously,” the other person said, turning around as if walking back behind the counter as before.
“Wait! Well.. the price of this cake should make you a lot of income, right? I'm considerate.. but I don't mean that I won't accept it. I just want to repay you. Is there anything you'd like me to help with? Wash the dishes.. Sweep the floor, mop the floor! I can do it all,” the little man said with a friendly smile. The young barista laughed a bit before answering the other person's question.
“Then.. now may I please sit with you?”
Yongguk's eyes widened in shock at the heavy attack. That handsome face had a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The little man blinked again like a helpless person. The organs on the left side of his chest were shaking violently because of the other person's words. And it seems like it's not easy to control it to slow down.
“Ah.. Come on, please.”
“Thank you,” the other person said, shifting his weight onto the opposite chair.
“…” Yongguk was silent, picked up the hot chocolate and drank it. Now it's not so awkward.
Just embarrassed..more than that
“Just now, you said you were an exchange student? So what country are you from? You seem fluent in German,” the other person said in a quiet voice. The only sounds were the Christmas carols from the shop's speakers and the faint smell of coffee grounds.
“Ah, I was born in Korea. But my mother is Chinese. So I am also of Chinese descent.”
“Really?! Just like me, I was also born in Korea.” The young barista knew this and spoke in Korean instead of German, smiling happily. Yongguk's eyes widened in shock. He didn't think that there would be anyone from Korea living in Switzerland like him.
Because since he had been here for almost 5 years, he had never met a single Korean person.
“I have never met a Korean person in Switzerland! Ah, I'm so excited I can't even speak.” Yongguk himself said in Korean in response.
"That's right. You're the first."
You're the first.
Yongguk listened to that sentence and his heart trembled again. What is this? He just knew that he was such a person whose heart was so easily shaken. He just found out.. Well, when I met this barista.
“Me..so do I. You are the first for me as well.”
The two of them secretly looked at each other for a while because they didn't dare look directly at each other. At this time, the two of them turned to look at each other with smiles that were like they had been electrocuted. The two of them smiled a little shyly before turning away from each other in opposite directions. Yongguk chose to eat the cake in front of him and the hot chocolate to relieve his embarrassment without the other party saying anything either.
“Ah.. It's already four o'clock already?” Yongguk mumbled quietly to himself when he turned to see the clock on the wall. The barista looked at the clock as well as the other person before turning to speak to the young man sitting in front of him.
“Are you going back now?”
“Probably like that. I'll be home before the sun goes down. I don't want to come back late.”
“Ah.. so?” That soft, deep voice seemed to radiate a little bit of regret, but he politely stood up when he saw that the other person had gotten up from his chair.
“I.. will be back first.”
"...yes"
The two of them didn't say anything else. Yongguk decided to walk away from the table with a heart that didn't seem like he wanted to leave the place at all. But he had to go home.. To return to real life once in a while
That young barista It might be someone who comes to make Yongguk's life exciting and happy. That's all.
Kim Yong Guk was about to open the beautiful glass door to see the cold outside again. He must temporarily leave his own physical and mental warmth here..
“Wait!”
"…yes?"
“Tomorrow.. are you free?”
Kim Yong Guk smiles.
“I'm free.”
“So tomorrow.. Would you like to come and help taste the cakes and drinks at my shop? I also have many other drinks and cake flavors that are so delicious that I want you to try them. What do you say?” Kim Yongguk couldn't help but smile and laugh. The barista's face that looked so daring to say this sentence couldn't help but admire it.
It's crazy cute.
“OK.”
“So.. my name is Kwon Hyun Bin. Nice to meet you.” The other person walked towards me before extending his left hand.
“My name is Kim Yong Guk. Nice to meet you too. See you tomorrow.” I held out my left hand, willingly reaching out to grab the other person's.
It seems that today he will have to change his plans from going home to eat instant food and watch a movie at home. It turned out to be looking for a beautiful coat. And quickly go to bed to wake up and cook something delicious in return for the other party giving him a free cake.
Merry Christmas, fellow Bin Kuk Chippers. Next year we'll be rowing together again ♡
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