By Zephyria Ryu Jeong’s day became a little simpler.
First of all, he didn’t have to go to the cafe anymore. As soon as they posted the job advertisement, they said they received quite a few calls wanting to interview. The cafe CEO said that quite a few college students were applying to earn pocket money before the new semester started, so it seemed like he wouldn’t have to fill the requested period.
Ryu Jeong hesitated for a moment and then said he understood. He decided to bring the laundered uniform at a convenient time. The CEO, after briefly mentioning the final paycheck, patted Ryu Jeong, saying he had worked hard and to stop by often, before ending the call.
The daily routine, with not only the night shift but now even the day shift completely empty, felt unfamiliar. The fact that the whole day was his own time felt so awkward that Ryu Jeong couldn’t stay still for a moment. One day, he rolled up his sleeves and cleaned the entire house, only to be jokingly scolded by the housekeeper later, who asked if he was planning to fire her.
Sleeping at night and waking up in the morning might be a natural and ordinary routine for others, but not for Ryu Jeong. His body slowly adapted to the unfamiliar rhythm. He spent many hours tossing and turning, unable to fall into a deep sleep throughout the early morning, and Lee Do-hyeon would hold Ryu Jeong in his arms and comfort him even in his sleep. Thanks to that, Ryu Jeong was able to close his eyes and fall back asleep.
Ryu Jeong’s day began by seeing off Lee Do-hyeon as he left for work. They shared the breakfast that Lee Do-hyeon had prepared, and he followed him around as he got ready for work. Watching him neatly sweep back his bangs covering his forehead, skillfully tie his tie, and fix the tie pin, Lee Do-hyeon, ready to go, would suddenly turn around and kiss him.
The refreshing scent of toothpaste filled his mouth, and Lee Do-hyeon’s even cooler pheromone enveloped his entire body before the passionate kiss ended. If it weren’t for Chief Yoon’s urging that he had to come down soon, it might not have ended so easily.
After seeing off Lee Do-hyeon, who looked back several times with regret, Ryu Jeong sat awkwardly on the sofa and watched television. He mostly played movies, and after watching a whole movie, he would take out the lunch that Lee Do-hyeon had put in the refrigerator, telling him to be sure to eat it, and warm it up.
It felt quite strange to be leisurely putting food in his mouth at a time when he should be busy working, but then Lee Do-hyeon called.
“Are you eating lunch?”
With just a simple greeting, the awkwardness disappeared without a trace. The call wasn’t long. But with just a short 10-minute call, Ryu Jeong’s heart warmed, and he had to gently press down on his pounding heart as if to prevent the warmth from flying away.
Little by little, slowly. Ryu Jeong’s day was becoming as peaceful and a little warmer, like the approaching spring.
As usual, after seeing off Lee Do-hyeon as he left for work, Ryu Jeong prepared to go out instead of sitting in front of the television watching a movie. Because he wasn’t used to doing nothing and resting, staying still at home all day felt rather uncomfortable.
It was a somewhat impulsive decision, but the destination was clear. The place Ryu Jeong headed to in a car driven by a driver was the cafe where he had been working part-time until a few days ago. He had to return the uniform he had been wearing for several years, and he also wanted to see and greet the CEO who had been good to him, so he naturally made it his destination.
It felt a little awkward because it hadn’t even been a week since he quit, so it couldn’t really be called “long time no see.” What if the CEO wasn’t there? Ryu Jeong, holding the paper bag containing the uniform, hesitated with a slightly nervous expression before opening the door and entering.
“Welcome. Please wait a moment, and I’ll help you with your order.”
Perhaps because it was a weekday morning when there weren’t many customers, the store was quiet. Ryu Jeong, glancing around the nearly empty hall, looked at the counter with a questioning gaze, as only a voice could be heard but no one was visible. Judging by the light on inside the door labeled ‘Staff Only,’ it seemed like a part-time worker had gone inside to get something.
It seemed like the CEO wasn’t there. Disappointed, Ryu Jeong hugged the paper bag to his chest and fiddled with it for no reason.
“Thank you for waiting. I’ll help you with your order quickly.”
After a while, a part-time worker holding a heavy bag of coffee beans appeared. The man rubbed his hands on his apron as a habit and stood in front of the POS. Unlike the other part-time workers he would encounter during shift changes, it was a time slot where they wouldn’t even cross paths, so it was a face he had never seen before. Ryu Jeong, feeling a bit awkward explaining the situation to someone he didn’t know at all, hesitated, unable to readily hand over the paper bag.
The man, who had been staring at Ryu Jeong, suddenly widened his eyes.
“Oh? You’re that…”
“…Yes?”
The man seemed to recognize him for some reason. On the other hand, Ryu Jeong, who had no memory of the other person, blinked his widened eyes in confusion, unsure of what to do. He wondered if the CEO had told him in advance that he would be coming to return the uniform, but the words that came out of the man’s mouth were unexpected.
“At that hotel, the scholarship event.”
At those words, Ryu Jeong recalled that day with a dazed mind. So many hectic things had happened around that time that his memory of the day of the event was vague, but he soon remembered the man he had encountered then and exclaimed, “Ah…”
“Right? The one who carried the dishes together back then.”
Finally, Ryu Jeong completely recognized the man. He was from the same school as Su-bin, who had introduced him to the event staff job, and he was the man he had briefly talked to while waiting after carrying the dishes together that day. Su-bin seemed to have mentioned his name, but he couldn’t remember. Ryu Jeong smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Wow, meeting you here. Long time no see. How have you been?”
“Ah… yeah. How about you?”
“Me? Just so-so.”
To be honest, he didn’t remember what they had talked about, but the man seemed very happy to see Ryu Jeong again. He smiled brightly and asked how he was doing, and even naturally asked if he had come to buy coffee.
On the other hand, Ryu Jeong stiffened with tension and awkwardness, and stammered out an answer.
“I didn’t come to buy coffee… it’s because of this.”
When he held out the paper bag he was clutching, the man’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Feeling embarrassed by his attitude, as if he was expecting something, Ryu Jeong quickly added,
“It’s a uniform… I quit my job, so I’m returning it…”
The man, who had unconsciously received it, paused for a moment. He opened the bag and looked inside, then looked up at Ryu Jeong’s face again. There was a look of bewilderment in his eyes, but Ryu Jeong, who had no idea why, simply thought he had finished his business and turned to leave. Then, he heard a voice urgently calling out from behind.
“Uh, excuse me!”
Ryu Jeong, startled, turned around, and the man, biting his lip as if it was burning, opened his mouth hesitantly.
“If you have time, would you like to have a cup of coffee before you go?”
“…Huh?”
Puzzled by the sudden suggestion, Ryu Jeong blinked slowly. In the first place, he had only come with the intention of returning the uniform and saying goodbye to the CEO, so there was no reason to have coffee. Above all, it would be one thing if the CEO had made the suggestion, but it was a bit embarrassing for the man, who was just a part-time worker like he used to be, to make such a suggestion.
Whether he had similar thoughts or not, the man distorted his expression as if blaming himself and added another remark. But that remark didn’t really make sense either.
“Uh… you said you quit. I’m saying you should have a cup as a souvenir.”
Ryu Jeong pondered the man’s words carefully. He considered whether quitting a part-time job was really something to celebrate, then soon took out his wallet from his coat pocket. He had only paid for and bought drinks with his own money a handful of times, so he decided to think of it as a small repayment for the drinks he had received thanks to the CEO’s consideration.
Inside the wallet that Lee Do-hyeon had bought for him, just like the clothes he was wearing, the card he had received from him a few days ago was neatly inserted. Ryu Jeong took out the card for payment and chose a menu without much hesitation.
“Then… I’ll have a hot chocolate, please.”
“Uh? No, put it away. I’ll pay for it…”
As he was about to insert the card into the terminal, the man waved his hand as if to interfere, stopping Ryu Jeong. Ryu Jeong, who almost dropped the card as it was, stared at the other person with a dumbfounded expression.
The man didn’t even enter the menu into the POS, as if there was no need to pay. Even though there was clearly a buzzer, he added an uncomfortable favor, saying he would bring it to him if he took a seat.
The man’s actions, stopping him from paying, let alone suggesting he have a drink, were beyond Ryu Jeong’s comprehension. It wasn’t employee welfare, as he had already quit. Ryu Jeong, staring strangely at the man who seemed somehow flustered, asked with a short question, “Why?”
“Why, you ask? I’m just…”
“Just let me pay.”
He handed the card over again to the man, who was stammering as if making an excuse. If he refused again with another strange excuse, he was planning to give up on the drink and leave.
Perhaps sensing an unusual aura in his resolute voice, the man obediently tapped the POS and completed the payment. Ryu Jeong, who received the buzzer instead of the strange favor of having it brought to him, swallowed a sigh without making it obvious and chose a seat.
Sitting at a corner seat a little away from the counter, at a table by the window, Ryu Jeong pretended not to notice the stinging gaze flying at the back of his head and looked out the window. The closed-down chicken rib restaurant was clearly visible right across the street. He stared blankly at the restaurant, which was dark unlike usual, when his pocket vibrated. He quickly took it out to check and saw Lee Do-hyeon’s name on the screen.
“Hello, President.”
When he answered the phone with a quickly brightened voice, he heard Lee Do-hyeon chuckle softly on the other end of the line. When his low voice trembled as he laughed, Ryu Jeong smiled shyly as if his own heart was trembling along with it.