By Zephyria 
“Right.”
As he slung his bag over his shoulder and left the lecture hall, he naturally turned his body in the opposite direction of Cha Jeong-won.
At the end of the hallway, he caught another glimpse of Cha Jeong-won’s receding back as they passed each other, but he didn’t bother watching for long.
While descending the stairs, Kim Hyun-gyu spoke up.
“But you’re lucky. You got to be in the same group as Jeong-won sunbae.”
“What’s so good about that.”
Haon retorted listlessly.
“A group project is just a group project.”
“Everyone probably wanted to be in the same group as Jeong-won sunbae, right?”
“I know that sunbae is popular.”
In some ways, he was impressive, and in others, a ruthless person.
‘He’s a guy with the worst luck, but he still manages to pull through despite all those ups and downs.’
Whether it’s a solo exhibition or his grades.
In that sense, he’s a completely admirable person.
“But I’m popular too, aren’t I?”
“What are you talking about.”
“My grades are good too.”
At the remark that there must be people who want to be in the same group as Haon too, Kim Hyun-gyu turned his head away sharply, as if he didn’t want to respond.
Haon, who had been listless, suddenly stopped walking at a thought that occurred to him and turned to look at Kim Hyun-gyu.
“Hey.”
“What.”
“Do I look like a main character?”
He continued, looking at Kim Hyun-gyu who was staring at him with a ‘what are you talking about’ face.
“If I were to possess a character in a novel or comic, would I fit the main character type, is what I mean.”
It sounded like a joke, but he was somewhat serious.
Originally, he thought he was an extra recalling the original work, and furthermore, that he would play a supporting role for Cha Jeong-won. But being in the same group like this… doesn’t it mean there’s something more?
As Haon was harboring his own plausible suspicions, Kim Hyun-gyu slung an arm over his shoulder.
“I need caffeine. It’s not just that I’m tired, my mind has gone weird.”
“What, I’m having a serious conversation here…”
At Haon’s curt retort, Kim Hyun-gyu let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re the one who should stop joking. I almost fell for it again.”
Haon shrugged his shoulders as if shaking off a vaguely lukewarm feeling somewhere inside.
“I don’t know why I’m like this either.”
It was a mutter close to a soliloquy.
It felt too shabby to call it fate, and too frequent to call it coincidence.
Kim Hyun-gyu couldn’t possibly know these inner thoughts, so he just quickened his pace, thinking only of going to the cafe.
At the end of an alley you reach after walking a few minutes from the school, a cafe sign with a wide clear glass window came into view.
Sunlight slanted in, brightly illuminating the logo with a cat drawing.
“This was the place?”
It wasn’t an unfamiliar place. It was famous for having the best coffee near the university, and Haon had also been there quite a few times.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
“The coffee… must be good.”
At least the coffee taste was guaranteed.
Then he suddenly tried to recall the person who used to work here.
There was someone the staff called the boss. It didn’t come to mind immediately, so he tilted his head. Kim Hyun-gyu tapped his shoulder, getting his attention.
“What are you doing. Come on.”
As Kim Hyun-gyu opened the door, a subtle coffee bean aroma wafted out along with air that was neither cold nor hot.
Inside the bar, a tall man was organizing cups.
He was as tall as Cha Jeong-won, but his first impression was much softer.
His eyes slanted downward. Perhaps thanks to the demure smile on his lips, he looked even gentler.
“Sun-woo hyung!”
Kim Hyun-gyu raised his hand first.
“Hyun-gyu’s here.”
Woo Sun-woo looked up.
His softly smiling face turned toward Haon standing behind Kim Hyun-gyu.
The moment their eyes met, Haon recalled the boss’s face.
Why did it take him this long to remember? He had seen him often enough and exchanged many greetings. They had even shared brief small talk or hellos.
“The friend you mentioned earlier?”
“Yeah.”
Kim Hyun-gyu stepped aside and pushed Haon forward.
Haon immediately put on a businesslike smile.
“He has some cafe part-time experience and is quick with his hands, so he’s exactly the talent you’re looking for, Sun-woo hyung.”
“Hello. I’m Yoon Haon.”
Haon bowed his head in greeting. Meanwhile, he habitually scanned the interior.
Machine location, grinder, workbench width, etc.
Perhaps because it was similar to the cafe he worked at before, he could roughly picture how his hands should move. Woo Sun-woo brushed off his hands and came out from behind the counter.
“I’m Woo Sun-woo. Shall I get you a cup of coffee?”
His tone was natural, as if addressing a customer. Haon set his bag down beside the counter.
“May I make it?”
It was a question, but his body was already subtly leaning toward the inside of the bar.
Woo Sun-woo blinked for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Come on in.”
As soon as permission was given, Haon smoothly slipped inside the workbench.
He asked where the aprons were, checked the espresso button location once, then picked up a portafilter and gave it a slight shake. The familiar weight and texture in his hand made him feel oddly pleased.
“So you use these beans. No wonder the aroma was good…”
Haon muttered as he moved naturally. He didn’t seem like someone who had just arrived.
Woo Sun-woo kept watching Haon.
“That’s natural.”
Woo Sun-woo said, sounding impressed.
“I knew you’d like him.”
Kim Hyun-gyu, who had been watching with his chin propped on the counter, laughed with a triumphant expression.
“Haon passes, right?”
Woo Sun-woo checked that the shot was pulling well, then nodded.
“Unconditionally passes.”
He gave Haon a bright smile.
＊ ＊ ＊
A group meeting chat room was created. Besides group leader Cha Jeong-won and Yoon Haon, there were three more people.
[When should we have the group meeting?]
[How about this weekend? Let’s do it while having a meal together]
[Do we drink coffee too?]
[+Even alcohol]
Looking down at the screen where notifications were popping up incessantly, Haon let out a breath that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh.
They were just talking about meeting, but it was transparently clear that their interests lay elsewhere.
[What about the location?]
[The design lab is too narrow]
[The student cafeteria is noisy]
Someone cautiously posted a line.
[Tomato Cafe near the school was pretty good. I’ve been there a few times with some kids from the department.]
Haon’s finger stopped right there.
Tomato Cafe.
Exactly the cafe whose logo was embroidered on the apron currently in his bag.
While he was debating whether or not to mention that he worked at this cafe, a message from Cha Jeong-won popped up.
[Let’s do it there]
With the group leader’s one remark, the mood flowed forward seamlessly.
[If the leader says so…]
[Ok ok]
[Should we meet early in the morning? If we’re going to drink coffee, eat, and drink alcohol, it’s better to meet early, right?]
Haon looked down at his phone and closed his mouth for a moment.
‘Should I separately mention that it’s the place where I work part-time?’
Part of him felt that was the proper thing to do, while another part wondered if anything would really change if he mentioned it.
‘If we’re meeting early, I can just slip out in the middle to go to my part-time job.’
Haon didn’t bother to reply and turned off the screen.
After a brief silence, a notification line popped up with a vibration.
[Then let’s meet at Tomato Cafe at 5 PM this Wednesday]
The atmosphere had been pushing for the weekend, but before they knew it, it had changed to a weekday.
Wondering why, he looked at the previous conversation and saw that Cha Jeong-won had said weekends were difficult.
However, Haon felt slightly awkward.
Because the time overlapped with his part-time shift.
“What to do about this.”
He should tell the boss and ask for understanding first.
“Main character.”
From the next seat, Kim Hyun-gyu leaned his body way back, resting his head on the chair back, and called Haon.
Ever since he asked if he looked like a main character, Kim Hyun-gyu called him that whenever he wanted to tease him.
“I found out a very important piece of information. Do you want to know?”
“No.”
As Haon acted uninterested, Kim Hyun-gyu pouted, then opened his mouth again.
“Fine, whatever. It’s not confirmed yet anyway. More importantly, your phone keeps ringing.”
“It’s because of the group meeting.”
＊ ＊ ＊
As soon as he opened the cafe door, the coffee aroma rushed at him.
Woo Sun-woo, who had been wiping cups inside, poked his head out to greet Haon.
“You’re here?”
Haon put his bag in the drawer under the desk and came inside the bar.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Huh? Ah, the group meeting.”
Recalling the exchanged messages, Woo Sun-woo said with a smile.
“It’s good if a lot of students come. A cafe comes alive when there are many people.”
The cafe already had plenty of people, but it was a remark that showed Sun-woo’s consideration.
“I’ll work hard.”
Haon tightened his apron strings, wiped some water that had fallen on the floor once, checked the positions of the cups and syrup containers, and got a feel for the place. Woo Sun-woo, who had been watching Haon, struck up a conversation.
“You said this is your final year, right?”
“Yes.”
Two more semesters and he graduates.
“Where do Interior Architecture Design majors usually get jobs?”
“Usually they go into interior design, or spatial design, brand stores or exhibition design. Rarely, some go into public architectural design like museums or galleries.”
There were more career paths he could mention, but he just listed what came to mind.
He finished what he was doing, then turned to look at Woo Sun-woo at a sudden thought.
“Did I tell you what my major is?”
60 – NOT 60