He didn't come by the shop for several days. I thought maybe that dinner had all been for nothing. A waste....But then — he showed up again, sometime the following week.

"Jaidee says hello!"

"Hey, little one. I'll have the usual."

"Yes... um, but..."

"Hmm?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

He looked at my face for a second and smiled softly.

"Work's been crazy lately. I haven't had time to drop by and collect points. They don't get deducted if I skip a few days, do they?"

"Sorry?"

"I mean..if I don't come in regularly, do the points expire or something?"

"Oh! No, they don't!"

He took the bill and went to his usual table.
I noticed my cheeks warming a little. I had wanted to ask him why he hadn't come by lately... But then again, we were just a barista and a customer ..it didn't feel right to ask something that personal. Instead of saying it outright, he used the excuse of the reward points... A way to let me know he'd just been busy.

"Here's your drink."

"Thanks, sweetheart."

"The strawberry smoothie from the other day..."

"It was perfect. Really good."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Do you guys offer delivery?"

"Yes, we do. But it might be a bit slow since we're still short on staff."

He seemed to be thinking about something, then looked at me again.

"So... who usually handles the deliveries?"

"Sometimes it's me, sometimes it's Kat — the owner. It depends on how busy the shop is."

"Then... could I get your contact info? I usually come here in person, but on weeks like last one, I might need delivery."

"Of course. I'll include our contact information with your pastry bag in a bit. I've got another customer now."

"Got it."

I always had the timing just right.. maybe because he was a regular. Before he could even make his way to the counter, I was already on my way over, handing him his pastry. Just like always.

After cleaning up, I headed home. My little reward for the day: a strawberry tart and my favorite strawberry smoothie.

[Hi there] – 11:00 PM
/Who's this? Strange number./ – x

[It's Joong. Are you still up?] – 11:02 PM
/Ah.../ – x

[Just finished dinner, so I probably won't sleep just yet.] – 11:05 PM

[That's late.] – 11:06 PM

[Yeah, I got off work past 10. Is something up?] – 11:07 PM

[Yeah. Can you deliver 3 strawberry smoothies, 2 iced milk coffees, 2 strawberry tarts, and 3 strawberry tiramisus tomorrow?] – 11:09 PM

[No cappuccino or the classic tiramisu?] – 11:10 PM

[Oh, I forgot... add those too, please.] – 11:12 PM

The two things he "forgot" were always the ones I made specially. Did he really forget, or was he just waiting for me to remind him?

[By the way, I need you to deliver it yourself, okay? My office is in a building where they don't allow strangers up, so I'll give the receptionist your photo so they'll let you in.] – 11:15 PM

[Wait... you have a photo of me?] – 11:16 PM

[From when we went to the restaurant, remember?] – 11:17 PM

[Ah right. So what time should I bring the order over tomorrow?] – 11:20 PM

[Around 11, if you can] – 11:23 PM

[Sure, okay] – 11:24 PM

[Alright, get some sleep now. Staying up too late makes you look like a zombie. Sleep well.] – 11:25 PM

[You too, good night] – 11:26 PM

The next day around noon, I arrived at his office, struggling under the weight of all the bags.
First, the security guard came out to verify my identity. Then, once inside the lobby, another staff member double-checked the photo before letting me through. I kept wondering / it's just a toy company, does it really need all this security?/ But hey, he's a VIP customer after all.

Standing outside the meeting room, both my hands full of bags, I couldn't knock ...so I thought, maybe I'll just tap with my head...

*Noknok*

"Ahhh!"

"Whoa—!"

Before my forehead could even touch the door, it swung open, and I stumbled forward..right into his arms. Of course, it was him who opened it.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine."

"Why didn't you ask someone to help carry all that?"

"You told them to check my ID and let me up, so I thought I was supposed to bring everything myself."

"But that's a lot to carry. Come in...ah, give those to me."

He took the bags from my hands and led me inside. I hesitated for a second, unsure why I was even going in but my feet followed anyway. The office wasn't crowded, maybe just five or six people. Still, everyone was looking at me, and my steps froze.

"What's wrong?"

"Um... why am I coming in here?"

"Aren't you here to get paid?"

"I-I mean, yes, but... can you make it quick?"

"You nervous? They're just curious, that's all. Nothing to worry about."

He handed me a thick wad of cash.

"That's... a lot."

"Take it. On your way home, grab something to eat. You look kind of skinny."

"It's okay, really—"

"Take it. Consider it a little VIP guest appreciation."

"I... thank you."

"Good boy."
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#sapo🇻🇳(12:00 / 220525)