By Zephyria 
A few days passed aimlessly after I found out that the divorce hadn’t gone through. I had no idea what I should do. It felt like Joo Min-hyeok wanted me to come find him on my own, but I couldn’t understand why he was going to such lengths.
Was his pride wounded? Or did he still have even the slightest lingering attachment? It was clear that Joo Min-hyeok had no intention of letting me go, but he wouldn’t tell me if it was because he had feelings for me or because there was still something left to exploit. He never said it until the end—the feelings he kept locked inside for me.
In short, I didn’t know what was going on in Joo Min-hyeok’s head. I knew nothing about that man. What his true intentions were. Why he was so obsessed with me.
“Boss. Aren’t you taking orders?”
“Ah, sorry. Would you like to order, sir?”
Snapping back to reality at the customer’s voice, I quickly stood up and went to the counter.
“How about getting a kiosk?”
It was Jin-sang. He was scratching his head, his face slightly flushed. For once, he wasn’t speaking informally. The friend who always followed him caught my eye and subtly bowed his head. He seemed very shy. Unlike Jin-sang, who barked at me whenever he saw me, this friend tried his best to avoid eye contact. Their personalities were so different; I wondered how they became friends.
“A kiosk would be useless here. It’s inconvenient for the elderly to use. It doesn’t fit the vibe of this place. What would you like to drink?”
The word ‘kiosk’ felt so out of place that it made me chuckle. While it would be convenient for me, it would be useless for those who can barely read the menu.
“Two iced honey americanos, please. They’re sweet and tasty.”
“You’re right. They’re our best-sellers. The elderly love them too.”
Since we had a history of him growling at me in informal speech, it felt a bit awkward now that we were both using formal language. Was he being polite just because some misunderstandings had been cleared up?
“Here’s my card. Um, Boss. About that time.”
That time? I looked up at Jin-sang’s face as I handed back the card. Did he have something to say? Jin-sang hesitated, unable to speak easily. I waited for him to feel comfortable. After fussing with the hat in his hand—putting it on and taking it off—he finally spoke.
“I’m sorry about that time at the beach. My grandmother… she was too rude. Talking about physiognomy and telling me not to mix with Omegas.”
“Ah, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
It would be a lie to say I hadn’t felt bad. There was no reason to hear such things from a stranger, but there are occasionally people like that. She probably hated the idea of her precious grandson, whom she cherished, getting involved with an Omega who looked like he had a complicated past. Especially since he was a precious grandson who had gone to university in Seoul.
“…I’m still very bothered by it.”
Don’t be.
“If it bothers you, just let it go, otherwise I’ll just hear more of those things.”
I was essentially telling him to stop caring, but he seemed to think I was a very broad-minded person. That’s not it… Anyway, once the psychological warfare with Jin-sang ended, peace returned to the shop. Right. As long as it’s peaceful here, that’s enough. I need at least one corner of the world where my mind can be at ease. However, that peace didn’t last long.
“Welcome—oh.”
My greeting was cut short by the sound of a customer entering. Is life always like this, one mountain after another? Once you clear one Jin-sang, another one arrives… I felt like grabbing anyone and asking if it was just me.
Looking at the customer who had just entered, I glanced over at Jin-sang, who was sitting over there, blushing as he looked at me. Did she come to catch him? No, why? Her grown grandson? Sensing something strange as the grandmother walked toward us with an air of confidence, an employee pushed me aside and stood in front of the counter.
“G-Grandmother?”
Upon spotting his grandmother, Jin-sang jumped up and approached the counter, while his friend flinched and gripped the phone on the table tightly. Is his grandmother that scary? For me, it wasn’t so much fear as it was discomfort; I have to keep running my business here, so there’s no benefit in clashing with the islanders.
“What can I get for you?”
Despite the employee’s question, the grandmother only stared intently at my face. Jin-sang tried to pull his grandmother’s arm to lead her outside, but she was immovable, possessing surprising strength. I wished she would just say what she wanted instead of staring…
“Ma’am, if it’s difficult, would you like a recommendation?”
“Does our Jin-su come here often?”
The grandmother, tossing out blunt words, still didn’t take her eyes off me.
“Yes. He comes often, tells us to do this and that, and is quite picky.”
Before I could speak, the employee answered quickly with a bright smile. Wow, she shouldn’t respond like that, so why does it feel so refreshing? I pretended to be slightly surprised and tried to stop her. The grandmother frowned at the employee’s words, and Jin-sang looked startled.
“He apologized! He said he was sorry! And I told you, it was all a misunderstanding. So let’s just leave. There’s nothing here that suits your taste anyway.”
But the grandmother lightly brushed off Jin-sang’s arm.
“I heard this place was doing well, but I didn’t know my grandson would like it.”
Did he like it? I didn’t know because he had so many complaints every time he came.
“I thought his palate had become picky after eating fancy things in Seoul, but I guess that’s not it. He attends K University. You know K University, right?”
“Yes, I know it well.”
Oh, Jin-sang is smart? That’s a place people in elite school districts are desperate to get into, and he got in from this island? He has every right to be proud. But what does that have to do with this cafe or his palate? I already felt exhaustion washing over me.
“Which university did you graduate from, Boss? I’m curious why someone so young came to an island like this, of all places.”
University?
“I didn’t go to university.”
Since I couldn’t attend school and complete a standard curriculum, I didn’t go to university. I simply received a higher education equivalent to it. However, there was no need to explain my personal details in depth. I knew exactly what the grandmother’s intention was. She wanted to compare me, with my ‘strong fate,’ to her successful grandson to see how inferior I was.
“…So, a high school graduate?”
The smile on her lips was irritating.
“No? I didn’t graduate from high school either.”
“What?”
Because there was no need for me to graduate from high school. I received all my education in the palace from the top professors in the academic world. I didn’t need something like an academic background. Seeing the obvious intention of this old woman, I felt like laughing rather than being offended. The way she subtly shamed and picked at people was very similar to our Queen Mother. If I introduced them, they would get along famously.
“Pfft!”
Imagining that, I burst out laughing. It seems I really don’t get along with seniors. Starting from my grandfather, to the Queen Mother, and now Jin-sang’s grandmother. No, but my grandfather and this grandmother are actually old; why is our Queen Mother, who is only in her 50s, such a boomer…
“You’re laughing? The way you laugh in front of an elder makes it seem like you were poorly educated. It was strange from the start that someone so young came to this island.”
“I received as much education as I needed. Especially in etiquette. I was taught to always be careful with my words and actions so as not to show a lack of home education. Just like you, Grandmother.”
“What did you say?”
Ah, this mouth. My mouth had delivered the thoughts of my heart exactly as they were. But I didn’t say anything wrong. What does she know about me to keep acting like this? She is so reckless and rude.
“Grandmother! Seriously!”
Jin-sang raised his voice and pushed her toward the door.
“Strong-willed, too. You’re quite bold, not knowing how to respect your elders. Looking at you, you’re obviously not an Alpha, and certainly not a Beta. I said what I said to warn you not to shake our innocent grandson with that pretty face, and you respond so insolently…”
“Whether I’m insolent or strong-willed, what does it matter to you? As for having a strong fate… well, I admit that. But I have no reason to hear such things from a complete stranger. And since I have no interest in your grandson, you don’t need to have such absurd worries.”
In the past, I would have just laughed it off, but I’ve had so much built up lately that it just poured out of me. I had no intention of tearing up and saying, ‘No, that’s not true,’ while acting pitiful after receiving such an insult.
“Goodness! She doesn’t even give a thought to the person offering the rice cake. Let’s go, Grandmother! Our Boss is being terribly mistreated because of you two! Call the police for obstructing business! Get out now. Get out!”
Unable to watch any longer, our employee shouted and stepped out from behind the counter to open the door. Jin-sang practically carried his grandmother out through the open door. He seemed quite urgent, as he couldn’t offer me any apology. The employee’s voice, warning that she wouldn’t let it slide if they came back, echoed through the neighborhood.
“Sigh… I’m exhausted.”
She won’t come back, right? I wanted to avoid clashing as much as possible, but I messed up. I hope what happened here doesn’t reach Han-bin hyung or Seo-joo’s ears, but I see a customer among those currently here who attends hyung’s gym. Seo-joo said he was helping with classes at the gym today, so they’ll probably find out everything. I should go home early and go to sleep first.
∗ ∗ ∗
To relieve my stress, I was sitting in a bathtub filled with warm water when I heard the doorbell ring several times. I wondered what was going on, as there was no one who should be visiting my house. After the bell rang a few more times, I got out of the tub and put on clothes.
“I’m not expecting anyone.”
Since no one else from my family was home and I was alone, I didn’t intend to open the door hastily. I only wanted to check who it was via the intercom screen.
Bang! BOOM! Suddenly, a massive noise erupted, as if something was being smashed.
“Ack! What is that?”
Startled by the unexpected loud noise, I instinctively covered my ears and ducked my head.
Bang bang bang!
The thunderous noise didn’t stop for a while, echoing throughout the entire house.