My Little Peach✔️

Chapter 1

My shift at the orchard is halfway through when I see two children outside looking around. I walk over to them to see if they need a phone call or have lost something.

"Hey. Umm whatcha doing?" I say calmly.
"'Nothing we are just-" the little one starts.
Then the older one I presume cuts in, "None of your business."

I stand tall and say, "It is my business because I work here. And I can ask you to leave."
I turn back to the small store and see a small line forming inside. I sigh knowing that Jamie, my coworker, will call me on the radio any second to get out of dealing with customers. But then an idea pops into my head. I turn right back around and speak to the two mysterious children again.

"'Do you guys need a phone to call someone or..."
"No", the small one replies, "we were just walking around and found this place."

"Well...if you have some free time would you like to pick some peaches?" I say.

The small boy's face lights up. But then he turns to his brother who is kicking rocks, and his smile fades.

"I don't know miss we don't have money right now and I don't think he'll want to." He says with a slight pout.

"Alright uhh, what's your name?"
"Changbin."
"'Okay Binnie! Grab your brother and let's get some peaches!"

After some convincing and a small screaming fit by Changbin, the older agreed and walked hand in hand over to me.

"Okay umm alright it's been a while since my last tour but let's go...
Here is the store where we sell trinkets, and peaches as you would've guessed. Over here is where the first tree was planted but was sadly chopped down for firewood when there was a cold winter here a long time ago..."
I continue telling the history of the orchard and show them around for a little while.

The grand tour was over and I let the boys pick some peaches.
I laughed at how the older jumped and grabbed one and Binnie wriggled around on an old crate to get a high one. After that, I grabbed a few and went to the water fountain to rinse the fruit. I returned only for the elder to say,
"How are we gonna eat that without a knife?"

I smile and say "I'll show you how if you tell me your name."
He sighs and groans laying his head on the back of the bench. His younger brother crawls over to me and says that his name is Jinyoung.

I poke it with a peach pit from my pocket and split open the peach with a twist of the wrist, placing it in Jinyoung's hand. He immediately sits up in awe.
"'How did you do that?!"
"An old friend showed me how. He was better though he could break all kinds of fruit with only his hands." I say with a smile.

I chuckle and show him the simple trick and he reaches out to try, but I pull the basket back.
"Hey don't waste that one!" I say.
He takes a small bite and glances at his little brother who is smiling with half a peach in his mouth.
They both laugh showing adorable dimples in their cheeks.

Jinyoung half smashes another peach or two, and then they both lay on the bench now tired out.
I fetch them both a bottle of water and sit on the ground enjoying the sunshine.

My small victory of silence is broken by my radio making noise.

"Haddffhytdffffffgj?" The radio says.
"What? Repeat please."
"'I said- you got two kids with you?"
"Yeah?"
"Okay no problem, sending them your way. Over and out."
"Huh? What?" Agh sometimes I hate Jamie.

I crane my neck to see who it is. To my surprise, it is a tall slim man. He holds out a hand and pulls me up. I brush off the dirt then look at his face again. He has small sharp eyes and a wide smile with dimples.
Very handsome I may add.
His dimples turn my attention to the children on the bench who resemble him a lot.

"'Oh-uh they ran around a lot and had a few peaches," I say rubbing the back of my neck.

He gives a small chuckle and pats the younger one on the arm. He opens his eyes and jumps into the man's arms.
"Dad!"

I give another glance, surprised that this man is a father.

"You're all sticky, come here let's rinse you off." They walk over to the water fountain and the father gently washes the child's face and arms.

I look at Jinyoung, who is now awake and standing, and ask.
"Hey."
"Mmm?"

"Hey!"
"Mm."

"Jinyoungie!"

"Ew don't call me that."

"Is that your dad?"

"Yup."

"Wow, he's... wow."
Jinyoung makes a crinkled face at my comment, but smiles.

We walk over to the other two at the fountain.

"Thank you for watching over them. I hope they weren't too much trouble." The man says with a concerned face.

"Oh no- not at all haha, just doing my job," I say feeling my face burn red.

He gives me a sweet smile.
"I'm Choi San by the way."
He extends a hand and I shake it.

I walk with the Choi family to their car. San gets the kids situated in the car and then before getting in himself he turns to me.
"I didn't catch your name."

"Min Jiyoo."

"Jiyoo that's a beautiful name, I won't forget it." He says.

My face probably looks like a tomato now.

He pulls out his wallet and hands me some cash.
"Sorry... here. I can't believe they ate so many. They never eat anything I give them."

"It's fine it's on me today. Plus we don't get many customers anymore the peaches needed to be eaten anyway." I laugh and say, "You all can stop by anytime."

He looks like he was going to say something, but decided not to.

He just simply gave me a heartfelt smile again showing off his dimples.
I wave at the children and then go back to work. Heading inside the small air-conditioned store I am greeted with a jittery Jamie.

"Who was that? Do you know him? Were those his kids? Are you gonna get married?"
I just wave my hand at her and lean back in my chair feeling the breeze on my flushed face.

•••

Two weeks later
As I go through the weekly mail I am surprised to see one blood-red envelope addressed to me.
I look over my shoulder, I am the only one in the store. I gently tear it open and find a letter is inside. It reads:
Hello, my love,
I apologize for the short notice but we have only just met. I would love for you to come to my party that I am hosting at my manor. 9; 00 pm Saturday 999 West Elm Street. Dress nice and come ready to have a good time.
You better be there.
Sincerely,
Your beloved

This is weird. I don't know anyone like that. And no one has been here except for a few regulars and sparse groups of tourists. Well, that one guy... no it couldn't be him he seemed sweet.

I pack up the rest of my things. And decide to call Jamie and ask her about it. But it just keeps going to voicemail.