Chapter 158: Da-jeong is an adult, so she drinks espresso!

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Thanks to the kind stranger who helped us, we successfully took our photos. After finishing our meal at a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant, we headed to a nearby café to catch our breath.

“Ugh, Da-jeong, you didn’t have to pay.”

“It’s fine. Since I won’t see you on your birthday, I really wanted to treat you beforehand.”

I had secretly paid the bill while pretending to go to the restroom, so she grumbled a little as we left the restaurant. But judging by the smile on her lips, I could tell she was secretly pleased.

“Alright, thanks. Well, since the youngest treated us, unnie will take you to a café with great coffee.”

“Hehe, really?”

“Yeah, there’s a nice place nearby. I go there often when I’m in Hongdae—it has a great atmosphere.”

Must be her little hideout or something. Back when I went out alone with Ra-hee unnie, all the cafés and restaurants she recommended were delicious, so I had high hopes for Chae-yoon unnie’s pick this time too.

With that expectation in mind, we walked together.

The tonkatsu we just ate was amazing, by the way.

Whirr—

Soon, we arrived at the café. Pressing the automatic door button, we stepped inside—only to be greeted by an unexpected sight. Right in front of the counter was a small pond, or rather, a water feature decorated with wood, grass, and flowing water.

“Wow, unnie, there’s a pond inside the café!”

“Right? This is why I love this place. Doesn’t it feel like you’re in nature?”

“Totally! It’s so pretty.”

I’ve been to cafés with the members before, but since it was mostly after company meetings, the places we visited were pretty limited. This was my first time at a café like this.

Dazed, I looked around, set my bag down at a suitable spot, and headed to the counter with unnie to check the menu.

Hmm… this is a bit of a dilemma. Since this isn’t the usual franchise café, they don’t have Frappuccinos. Maybe I should just play it safe with a chocolate latte…

“What’ll our baby have? Since you’re a baby, maybe a sweet chocolate latte?”

“Ah, I-I’m not a baby…! I’m an adult too, you know?”

…Just as I was about to choose, my lips twitched at unnie’s words.

It was a little embarrassing that she caught me eyeing the chocolate latte, but treating me like a kid just because I’m the youngest? Frustration welled up, and I tried to argue, but unnie wasn’t having any of it.

“Ohhh? Our Da-jeong is an adult now? Wow, unnie had no idea!”

“Uuu…”

So mean… Chae-yoon unnie is always like this. She treats me way too much like a child.

Sure, people like the CEO or Ra-hee unnie baby me a little, but at most, it’s just playful teasing—like sitting me on their laps for fun. But Chae-yoon unnie takes it to another level. Even when I do or achieve something, she’ll say things like, “Our youngest can do this too?” It’s so obvious she’s treating me like a kid, and it’s infuriating.

“Hmph! I-I’ll have an espresso!”

So, to prove myself—to show her I’m an adult—I confidently declared I’d have an espresso and puffed out my chest.

Unnie stared at me wide-eyed for a moment before…

“Espresso? That’s way too bitter for our maknae. If you want coffee, wouldn’t something sweet like a dolce latte be better?”

She blatantly teased me while scanning the menu, suggesting drinks more suited for me. But I wasn’t backing down.

“N-No way! I drink espresso like an adult when I go to cafés alone!”

“Ohhh? Unnie didn’t know that.”

“W-Well, it’s fine! As long as you know now!”

Ahem.

No matter how much Chae-yoon unnie teases, she can’t possibly know what I usually drink at cafés. She’ll have to concede this time.

Good. I’ll order the espresso and drink it like a proper adult. It’s not like it’s poison—it’s just coffee. How hard can it be? I’m not a kid!

I looked at unnie with a “Got you there, huh?” expression, and she let out a soft chuckle while watching me. Then, she suddenly walked up to the counter and murmured quietly.

“Alright, then while our mature Da-jeong enjoys her espresso, unnie will have a sweet chocolate latte.”

“Huh? Unnie, you’re not having coffee?”

“Nope. Unnie isn’t as grown-up as you, so she can’t handle bitter things.”

Liar!

Unnie drinks Americanos all the time! How can she lie so shamelessly?!

But whatever. Even if unnie has a chocolate latte, it doesn’t matter. I just need to finish my espresso like an adult and then tease her for being immature.

Yeah, perfect. This is the chance to turn the tables, Jeong Da-jeong.

“Can I take your order?”

“Yes, one warm chocolate latte and one espresso, please.”

“One chocolate latte and one espresso, correct? For the espresso, we also serve sparkling water and sugar for palate cleansing. Would you like those as well?”

“Well? What do you think, Da-jeong?”

Huh? S-Sparkling water? Sugar?

Sparkling water is fine—it’s just like drinking water—but adding sugar feels like cheating. Isn’t the whole point of espresso to endure the bitterness?

…This must be unnie testing me. She thinks I’ll fold, but I won’t!

“Just the sparkling water, please.”

“Pfft… Alright then. Just the espresso and sparkling water.”

“Understood. That’ll be 9,000 won in total.”

For some reason, unnie’s laughter bothered me, but I ignored it and averted my gaze—only for my eyes to land on the display case.

Whoa, they have cake. And it’s cheesecake—my favorite. The first time the CEO bought it for me at a café, it was so delicious.

But it always felt too expensive for the portion, so I never bought it for myself. On days when I wanted to treat myself, a Frappuccino was enough.

“Da-jeong.”

“Y-Yes…?!”

“Want to share some cheesecake too? My treat.”

“N-no! That would defeat the whole purpose of drinking espresso!”

I sharply rejected unnie’s tempting offer. Pairing this bitter adult coffee with a sweet dessert would completely undermine my sophisticated image.

Today was about proving my maturity, period.

“Your drinks are ready.”

“Thank you. Let’s go, Da-jeong. I’ll carry the tray.”

“Okay.”

While I kept sneaking longing glances at the pastry case, our order arrived. Following behind unnie as she carried the drinks, I scurried back to our table.

“Ehh…?!”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

The moment the tray touched the table, I couldn’t suppress a quiet gasp. The espresso cup before me was absurdly tiny – barely larger than a thimble.

This is coffee?

They’re charging money for two sips?!

“The… portion seems really small…”

“That’s how espresso always is. Da-jeong, haven’t you had it before?”

Fidgeting nervously under her knowing gaze, I suddenly straightened up.

O-oh. So espresso is supposed to be this tiny?

And here I was making a fool of myself…!

“O-of course I have! I just meant it’s smaller than at my usual café!”

“Ah, my mistake then. Sorry~”

“I-it’s fine!”

Phew. My quick save seemed convincing. Unnie wouldn’t know the serving sizes at cafés near my place anyway. Nice improvisation, Jeong Da-jeong.

“Uuugh…”

Preparing for my espresso debut, I followed unnie’s instructions and began dramatically swishing sparkling water in my mouth—

“Pfft—are you gargling mouthwash?”

“Gulp. Huh? Isn’t… this how you’re supposed to do it?”

“Just drink it normally.”

“O-oh…”

My cheeks burned. I’d taken “palate cleanser” far too literally. Apparently it just meant drinking water to clear your tastebuds.

Alright, moment of truth. Time to drink this espresso like the sophisticated adult I definitely am.

You can do this. You’ll eat anything, Jeong Da-jeong.

(…Except broccoli. And now possibly this.)

Deep breath.

Steeling myself, I carefully lifted the doll-sized cup with both hands and took a tentative sip.

At first—just rich coffee aroma. Huh? Not bad—

“Blergh?!”

Then the tsunami hit. A brutal wave of bitterness flooded my mouth, so intense my vision whited out momentarily. Eyes bulging, I clamped my mouth shut while desperately scanning for an escape route.

I need to spit this out!

What kind of punishment is this?!

Bitter, acidic, zero redeeming qualities! Who voluntarily consumes this?!

“Pffhahaha! Just spit it out here. I won’t judge.”

Chae-yoon unnie, thoroughly enjoying my suffering, chugged her remaining sparkling water and slid me the empty glass. Without hesitation, I grabbed it and ejected the offensive liquid.

I’ve eaten paper before during desperate diet days, but this is objectively worse.

This can’t be what coffee is supposed to taste like!

“Ugh… It’s vile, unnie…”

“Told you not to force it. Ra-hee unnie’s the only one in our group who drinks this battery acid.”

“H-how does Ra-hee unnie even…? Ughhh…”

For the first time, I felt genuine awe toward Ra-hee unnie. She probably drinks this while maintaining perfect eyeliner and giving stock market advice.

Gah, the aftertaste won’t leave…

What now? Should I order something drinkable?

As I agonized over my next move—

“Come on, don’t be like that. Here, drink this to wash the taste away.”

Clink. Chae-yoon unnie slid something across the table toward me—the warm mug of sweet chocolate latte she’d ordered earlier.

“I’b fide…”

“You can’t even pronounce ‘fine’ properly, but sure, you’re ‘fine.’”

I wanted to refuse out of pride, but unnie pushed the mug closer insistently. Defeated, I swallowed my dignity and took a careful sip.

The moment the sweet, creamy chocolate latte spread across my tongue, I nearly teared up. Yes. This. This is what I wanted all along…!

“Good, right?”

“Mmm… so good…”

“Pfft, who would have guessed this Da-jeong, two sips of espresso and you’d be crying. Actually crying.”

“I-I’m never drinking that again. That’s not coffee—that’s poison.”

Sniffling pathetically but clinging to the mug like a lifeline, I kept taking small, desperate sips.

Slurp… slurp…

“I’m going to order more coffee. Want me to get cheesecake too?”

“Yes, please…”

Watching unnie get up while ruffling my hair, I nodded meekly in response.

The cheesecake, as expected, was absolutely delicious.

Sniff… I should’ve just done this from the start.