“Still what? Come on, let’s see if this is any good.” Jiyeon brought out a Styrofoam container full of spoils, setting this on the center console so Jeannie could share. She’d ordered two kinds of waffles from the menu, plus three drinks, and got a good look around while she waited.
The place was nowhere near the size of Wanna Waffle. They had one long table and some bar seating, along with two more tiny tables outside. But everything was crisp and new, the interior designed to maximize every bit of natural light: pale yellow walls, honey-toned wood, shimmering white tile. Above the counter was a digital menu. Orders were taken through self-pay kiosks, eliminating the need for human interaction. They'd covered the back wall with an art piece made of moss, and neon signage spelled out the phrase, “Love you a waffle lot!” You'd be insane not to post about it on social media.
“Don't you dare,” Jeannie hissed at her. “Don't even joke about it! Denny can never know you went in there, and he definitely can’t find out that we tried the enemy’s food! That's how we get banished!” She glanced over her shoulder as though he might be watching their every move. “No, wait. What's the word for when the pope does it?”
Jiyeon unwrapped a plastic fork. “Excommunicated.”
“Excommunicated. That’s it.”
“We should've looked into this place sooner. There are other brunch spots around here, but this is the only one specializingin waffles like ours does. I’ll just tell Denny it was research.” She paused. “No, reconnaissance.”
“You're being super chill for somebody who might have to watch Ryan get abducted by soccer moms.”
“He won’t get abducted by soccer moms.” Jiyeon turned halfway in the driver’s seat. “Hey, why are you so grouchy? Are you in another group project for class? Is that the problem?”
“No! I mean, yeah I’m in another group project, I’m always in a horrible group project since my professors hate happiness, but that’s not it.” Jeannie stabbed at a chunk of waffle, bottom lip wobbling. “Do you have to do the show? Can’t you just stay here? Not even Ryan wants you to go up there with him.”
“You both know why I’m doing it. I’ll help out and Denny can drive down here more often. I wishyou’dstay here. It’ll be rough juggling the show and going to school at the same time, even if you’re only doing weekends on set.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Jeannie exclaimed. “It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever signed up for! I’ll have to do so much work! But I have to do it, I can’t let you go alone.” She sniffled a little. “You’d never let me do something like this alone. You’d be really stupid with me. We’d be really stupid together.”
“No question. But I won’t be alone, Jeannie. I’ll be fine.”
Swallowing her first mouthful, Jeannie argued, “No way. Apollo doesn’t count, they’re just boys.”
“Don’t you collect those cards with their pictures on them?”
“I’m allowed to have a hobby! Evan’s been collecting Godzilla action figures since we were three. Is that any better?” More sniffling, paired with reluctant chewing. “Oh my god. This isn’t buttermilk, it’s cornmeal.”
“Uh-huh. The menu said cornmeal waffle with blueberry compote. This other one is their standard buttermilk, though.”
“With what? Like what’s the topping?”
“Mascarpone cream.”
“Mascarpone?” The anguish intensified. “No! It wasn’t supposed to be good! I was supposed to hate it! Can you tell the boss I tried really hard to stay loyal? I tried so hard that I ended up eating everything.” Around another bite of waffle, she said, “But what choice do I have? I need to eat or I won’t have energy. I can’t be here for you if I don’t have energy, so I have to keep eating. I’m eating because I love you.”
Jiyeon wanted to crowd into the back with Jeannie and give her a hug. But the impromptu fan meeting had ended, and here was Eunjae loping to the car, already apologizing before he’d even finished folding his legs into the passenger’s side. “I should’ve stayed in here,” he groaned.
A petulant huff from Jeannie’s corner. “Yeah! What were you thinking? Come on.”
“The light was nice. Didn’t want to miss it.”
“You always say that! Just wait ‘til Denny finds out! But he can never find out, so here’s the deal: we won’t tell the boss you were seen in the wild, and you won’t tell the boss we consorted with the enemy. Got it, Ryan?”
“Consorting with the enemy…?”
“That was research.” Jiyeon handed him their third drink, a house-made lavender lemonade. Then she backed out of the parking spot, conscious of the morning ticking away. There was no scenario in which her parents would say their goodbyes in a timely manner.
“Waff.le,” said Eunjae, sounding out the shop name printed on the cup. “Wait, am I saying it right? How do you pronounce this? Waff-leh…? Or maybe it’s more like waff-lllllll…?”
“It’s pronounced ‘rigmarole,’” Jiyeon replied, adopting her brother’s exact phrasing and disgusted tone. Both passengers agreed that she got it exactly right. “Oh! They have this thing they do for customer loyalty,” she went on, cruising through a green light, “and it’s an app that tracks reward points. We haveloyalty cards, but what about reusable coffee cup sleeves with our logo on it? Cute and simple. You buy one and then the next time you come in, you’ll get a discount on your drink. Isn’t that a good idea? I think our regulars would love that.”
“It’s great. And you could do something similar for your own place. You’ll have a lot of clients coming back.” There was such an undercurrent of pride in Eunjae's voice. She did her best to smile through the wave of guilt. How was she ever going to tell him about the salon? He’d take it so hard.
“You think everything she says is great,” Jeannie pointed out, eyes rolling heavenward. “And why shouldn’t you? She’s the best. Why do you even get to be with her? You’re not special or anything, Ryan. Jiyeon took you in off the street, but I was here first.”
“That’s true. You were here first.”
