Affectionate Aroma

As Areum stepped into the café, a cheerful brass bell jingled above the door, catching the attention of the café owner and a few patrons who looked up with curiosity. They were greeted by a stunningly beautiful Asian woman in her early thirties, dressed in casual yet thoughtfully chosen attire. The patrons lingered in their gaze longer than usual, admiring her beauty with quiet appreciation. It is a striking coincidence that her name, 'Areum,' translates to 'beauty' in Korean. As she entered, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet scent of French pastries, filling her nostrils and watering her mouth, welcoming her into the café.

Areum carried a heavy but stylish bag filled with her laptop, its charger, a new book by her favorite author, Elizabeth Gilbert, titled "Eat, Pray, Love," and her Apple phone.

Areum worked as a journalist for a gossip magazine, where she wrote a column about celebrities' scandalous love affairs. While her job paid well, it didn't satisfy her curiosity about the world. Therefore, in her free time, she focused on writing a historical romance novel set in the 1950s during the Korean War. The novel centered on a love story between a Korean girl and an American soldier, highlighting the challenges of their vastly different backgrounds and geographical separation.

The cozy coffee shop, Affectionate Aroma, was nestled on a quiet lane in the city center, away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets. With its unique regular clientele, excellent coffee, and delicious French pastries, it served as Areum's refuge, a perfect place for writing her novel. The café's retro décor and the vintage photographs adorning the walls transported her back in time and sparked her creativity as she worked on her novel. Although she considered naming her novel after the café's name, she wasn't entirely sure about it.

Spotting her favorite table by the window empty, she set down her bag, walked to the counter, and ordered her usual black coffee along with a cream and nut-filled croissant. After retrieving her laptop from her bag, she powered it on. Soon, her treat arrived, and as she sipped her coffee and enjoyed the delicious pastry, she resumed working on her novel, typing away as she started a new chapter.

Suddenly, the weather changed. First, the sky darkened, and soon after, rain poured down, defying the meteorological forecast of a sunny day. This abrupt shift from sunshine to gloomy weather coincided with the opening of her sad chapter when two lovers were separated by an order the soldier received from his superiors. He was transferred to another unit a few hundred miles away from his current location and Hana, his lover.

As Areum watched the raindrops race down the windowpane while trying to revise her latest paragraph, the café's door jingled open. Like most of the shop's patrons, Areum inadvertently lifted her head and glanced over the newcomer.  A young man in jeans and a green and white checkered shirt, carrying a leather shoulder bag, stood at the entrance, uncertain of his next move. He was soaking wet and looked frustrated by the abrupt change in weather. Clearly, he hadn't intended to visit the coffee shop, but the heavy rain forced him into a quick decision. Looking around the café's charming interior, his gaze briefly met Areum's curious glance. There was a spark in that moment, a connection neither could ignore. With a gentle nod, he acknowledged Areum before breaking eye contact.

His presence sent a wave of excitement through Areum, making her heart beat faster.  The young man, of average height, with sapphire green eyes and short, light brown hair, was a perfect replica of her novel's male protagonist, Daniel, as if he had stepped straight out of her unfinished story. How could this be possible? Areum wondered. If she were honest with herself, Hana, her female protagonist, was an avatar for her, reflecting her desires, and Daniel embodied the qualities of a man she admired. Thus, encountering him, resembling the man she had spent the past six months crafting as Hana's lover, shook her deeply and made her feel an instant connection to him.

He returned from the counter with a large hot chocolate in a takeaway cup, scanning the café for a vacant seat. However, at that time of day, the small coffee shop was packed with no empty chairs. The only available spot was at Areum's table. So, he ambled over to her table and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

Areum, who had been secretly observing him since his arrival, looked up from her laptop and replied louder than usual, likely due to her excitement: "Of course! This table is for two." She immediately regretted her response. It was a two-seater table, and it was unnecessary to mention that it was for two.

"Thank you," he said, pulling the chair away from the table and sitting down. "By the way, I'm Daniel," he added. 

"Areum," she introduced herself, puzzled, wondering how on earth he shared the same name as her protagonist. Statistically, the likelihood of him resembling her male character with the same name was so slim that it could only happen in fiction. 

"Although I work in the city, not far from here, I haven't noticed this cozy coffee shop before," he remarked.

"It's a nice place." 

"Yes, it is. How often do you come here?" 

"Almost every day, whenever I have time." 

"Are you a freelancer, Areum? Did I pronounce your name correctly?" 

"Yes, you did," she replied, her face flushing. "No, I'm not a freelancer. Why do you ask?" 

"As I saw you busy typing, I thought you might be one of those freelancers working remotely. May I ask what your profession is?" 

"I'm a journalist, a columnist. I write for Flash & Flirt." 

"I've never heard of it." 

"It's a gossip magazine. If you were a woman, you'd know about it." 

He smiled and said, "It's true. Men aren't as into gossip as women." 

"What do you do for a living?" 

"Me? I'm a photographer." 

"A photographer!" she repeated, puzzled. Daniel, from her novel, was also a photographer for the U.S. Army. The similarities were uncanny and made her feel uneasy. 

"Is there anything wrong with being a photographer?" he sensed her uneasiness.

"No, not really. I just didn't expect you to be a photographer," Areum said, blushing. 

Unsatisfied with her answer, he let it go. "Were you writing for the magazine?" he asked.

"No, I'm working on my novel." 

"Great! Do you have any published books?" 

"No, this is my first novel." 

"Can I ask what the story is about?" 

"I don't want to jinx myself by sharing it with anyone before it's finished."   

"Are you a superstitious person?" 

"Sort of. After all, I'm Asian, and we tend to be superstitious." 

"I see. I hope you finish and publish it soon. I'm curious to read it." 

"Thank you."

As the rain ceased, he stood up and excused himself. "I need to get back to work," he said, glancing at his watch. "I'm already late. It was nice seeing you, Areum." 

Though she wished he would stay longer, Areum replied, "Nice to see you too, Daniel." Her gaze followed him as he left the café.

For a few weeks, Daniel didn't visit the coffee shop. He either skipped his visits or came by when Areum wasn't there. After several days of hoping to see him again, she gradually forgot about him until he unexpectedly returned to the café. After a long writer's block, Areum finally broke the curse that day. She was deeply immersed in her writing, typing quickly, adding words to her novel, so she didn't hear the doorbell's jingle or notice him entering the café.    

Daniel walked into the cozy café. He was pleased to find Areum at her usual table by the window. He quietly approached her and said, "Hello, Areum. Do you still remember me?" 

She raised her head, unhappy about the disruption, until she saw him. Spotting Daniel instantly changed her mood, and with genuine excitement, she replied, "Hello, Daniel! I remember you and recall that you were soaked like a fish."

"You have an excellent memory." 

She smiled. 

"What can I get for you?" 

"Thank you, but I've already had my coffee." 

"How about a hot chocolate?" 

"I'm fine, thank you." 

"What about a small hot chocolate? Just say yes, please." 

His charming persistence made Areum smile, and she responded, "A small hot chocolate it is." 

"Yes, my lady," he said, bowing gracefully like a nobleman as he walked toward the counter.

Areum laughed at his playful demeanor.

For the next hour, they engaged in lively conversation. Daniel was not only entertaining but also an exceptional storyteller. He worked as an industrial photographer for an advertising agency, creating ads for various businesses and their products. He showed her some of his work saved on his phone. He was good at his job and captured stunning photographs of everyday objects. In contrast, Daniel, her male protagonist, was a photographer dedicated to capturing wartime moments for future generations. 

As weeks went by, their café meetings became a cherished ritual. They walked hand in hand through the city, sharing conversations and laughter. With every laugh and whispered secret, their connection became stronger. He took out his camera at any opportunity and captured their joyful moments together.

On a warm summer evening, as the sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Daniel and Areum strolled back to their favorite café. Shortly after they sat down at the table, Daniel took a beautifully bound photo book from his bag. "I made this for you," Daniel said, handing it to Areum. Inside were photographs of their journey, each page narrating their blossoming love story.

Areum gazed up at Daniel, overwhelmed with emotion, her eyes glittering with tears. "Thank you, Daniel. This means the world to me," she whispered.

Daniel took her hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. 

She gently pressed his hand in return. Then, reaching inside her bag, she drew out a large bundle of A4-printed papers, handed them to Daniel, and said, "And this is for you?" 

Daniel momentarily tried to make sense of what he held in his hand. It looked like a draft of a novel. The title, Affectionate Aroma, appeared in bold letters on its cover. "Is this a novel? Your novel?" 

"Yes, it is. I just finished it. I'll give you a copy of my book when I publish it." 

"Great, I will cherish it for life," Daniel replied.

"As I do your yours," she replied softly.

Daniel's expression softened as he looked at her, a quiet, loving smile on his lips.

"What?" she asked, smiling back. 

"Areum, I need to confess something," he said gingerly. 

"Since when did I become your priest?" she joshed. 

He ignored her joke and said, "A future without you is intolerable; I can't imagine life without you, Areum."

 Her eyes sparkled with tears of joy as she answered, "I feel the same."

"I love you," he confessed.

"I also have to confess something," Areum said happily.

"Your priest is at your service, my lady," he replied with a soft head bow.

"I have been in love with you for a long time, even before we met," she said.

"How can that be possible?" Daniel asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"Just read my novel!" she replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Just read my novel,” she said again.

He glanced uncertainly at the large stack of papers and replied, “Your wish is my command, my lady.”