episode_0044

After breakfast, we went out for a short walk.

Since it was an outing, we didn’t go to a jjimjilbang like last time, but to a cafe after eating.

I don’t drink coffee much, but I felt guilty about leaving my phone at home unless it was a day off, so I mustered up my courage and went out.

“I want iced Americano, what about Yeonseo”

“I’m hot chocolate.”

In addition, since Yeonseo had fought with him about working outside and had made up right after, he brought her out as an apology.

Yeonseo readily agreed, saying she wanted to get some fresh air, and then she appeared in front of me, humming and getting dressed.

It’s getting chilly so I’m wearing a vest over my head and slacks for pants.

It’s casual everyday wear, but Yeonseo had a different vibe when she wore it.

And when I saw his face, I asked without thinking.

“Did you put on full makeup?”

“No? You only did the basics?”

I asked without thinking, but Yeonseo smiled and poked me in the ribs.

“What? It’s as pretty as if you have full makeup on?”

Feeling embarrassed, I avoided eye contact without answering.

“I didn’t wear full makeup on purpose because I was afraid men would see me~.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Why?”

In an instant, one of Yeonseo’s eyebrows goes up.

“It doesn’t matter whether you wear full makeup or not, men will look at you the same way.”

Yeah, that’s something I’ve given up on to some extent.

Honestly, regardless of gender, Yeonseo is so pretty that anyone would turn around and look at her.

That’s why when I said I wanted to work part-time, I threw a fit and hated it.

Yeonseo opened her eyes wide and I felt embarrassed and put my hands in my pockets.

“Huh~.”

Yeonseo, who had been looking me up and down, grabbed my wrist and took her hand out again.

“Let’s hold hands. Okay?”

Without waiting for an answer, Yeonseo clasped her hands together and lifted her chin, feeling embarrassed.

“Then… both of us will feel relieved, right?”

“Me? Huh, who’s looking at me?”

“You don’t know.”

Is it a frequency that you don’t even know about?

Compared to the love letter that makes you look back unconditionally, it’s really weak.

“If you come to Jinhyeon and have a few words with him, you won’t be able to get out. You’ll be completely hooked, right?”

“Uh… So far, there have been quite a few people I’ve exchanged a few words with because of work, but no one has done that?”

“Really? That’s good.”

Yeonseo brushed her hair back as if it was no big deal.

“If a woman is falling for you, it’s usually not annoying.”

As he spoke, the strength in his hands that he was holding the words doubled.

A cafe near my house that I came to like that.

After receiving the tray, I went to the table where Yeonseo was waiting.

I can’t drink hot drinks well, so I would always drink iced Americano even if it meant freezing to death.

Unlike me, who put my lips to the straw and sucked it down in one go, Yeonseo blew carefully and then drank a little bit of the hot chocolate.

“Hmm. Sweet.”

Yeonseo smiled brightly with just one hot chocolate.

Seeing Yeonseo say that it was delicious was one of the greatest joys, so I also smiled.

“This hasn’t changed even here.”

“What?”

“Choco, that’s right.”

Yeonseo stuck out her lips in a pout as she stared at him without knowing what he was saying.

“Whenever I had a hard time or something big happened in Askria, Jinhyeon always made me cocoa.”

I remembered.

It seems like he mostly gave it to her when she was annoyed rather than when she was having a hard time, but it seemed to have been greatly embellished in Yeonseo’s memories.

I gave him cocoa without much thought, thinking it would cheer him up.

When Yeonseo made an embarrassed expression because she felt embarrassed, her eyes narrowed even further.

“You did this to other women too?”

“No? Even if it is, it is Aryan?”

“Aryan is okay.”

After taking another sip, Yeonseo relaxed her frown and looked outside.

“Good, peaceful.”

“Okay.”

Although there wasn’t much to say, I liked the peaceful, leisurely atmosphere the two of them enjoyed together.

It seems even more so when you see people moving busily outside the glass wall.

Originally, I felt the best when I showed others how to play while they were working.

I have to go soon, but not now, so I decided to enjoy the sight of busy Korean people with a sense of superiority.

While I was just sitting there, Yeonseo tapped my arm.

“Jinhyun, look at me.”

“…?”

When I turned my head to look, Yeonseo stared at me without avoiding my eyes.

As I continued to watch without knowing English, Yeonseo’s cheeks gradually turned red and she looked away first.

“Foul.”

Huh?

“That’s foul play. It’s cowardly.”

“You called me.”

“…That’s because it’s cool.”

I cover my mouth in surprise, perhaps because the words came out without me knowing.

I held back laughter too.

“I’m ordinary.”

“Who said that?”

“I haven’t even heard my mom say I’m handsome.”

I blurted it out without thinking, and this time I covered my mouth.

“… Right. Jinhyeon’s parents will be here too.”

Prislet and Yeonseo are orphans. They were taken in by the religious order orphanage and were chosen as saints at a very young age. They grew up being instilled with the virtues of a high-ranking person rather than affection.

When she traveled, she always looked envious of children being held in their parents’ arms.

“Are you both doing well?”

“I don’t know.”

Immediate answer.

I was laughing.

He was covering me with that fake smile.

Yeonseo flinched and looked down at the hot chocolate.

“Did I say something stupid?”

“I’m just weak.”

“If the hero who saved the world is weak, then who on earth is strong?”

“Well, I’m just a person.”

“Just a person….”

Yeonseo, who had been chewing on my words, quietly agreed.

“Me too. A woman is just a woman.”

“No?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Not just a woman….”

I poked Yeonseo’s nose.

“She’s a very pretty woman.”

“Eunyunyu!”

Yeonseo, who had her eyes closed and frowned deeply, coldly struck my arm.

“Don’t do it!”

“It’s cute.”

“I don’t like it.”

When I let out a laugh and started giggling, Yeonseo felt relieved and grabbed my hand.

“Tell me when you’re ready. I won’t ask any more questions.”

“Thank you.”

But the day will come when I will have to speak, regardless of my preparation, before it is too late.

It’s a difficult task.

Because I was a child who would get scolded and cursed at if I revealed my true feelings, I was good at hiding and covering up.

I didn’t mean to do that to Yeonseo, but I was hesitant and embarrassed to reveal the stories deep in my heart, as if I was being naked.

But when the time comes, I will definitely speak.

Now that we are holding hands, I promise to myself that I will do it.

“Are you coming early today?”

“Oh, that’s not a full-time reservation today. Then I’ll come in as usual. On the contrary, if I have a reservation, I’ll finish early.”

“I see.”

“But it’s no joke that it’s so fast. It’s really hard when you have to order extra dishes on top of the course meal. Is it because I put in more effort?”

“Our Jinhyeon is having a hard time.”

“We’re all working hard, but it’s completely like a sheet of thin ice. Everyone was exhausted when it ended yesterday. There are reservations every other day, so I’m worried that someone will make a mistake if this keeps happening.”

“Yeah, but Jinhyun will do well, right?”

“I’m trying to do well.”

“Awesome, awesome.”

Before I knew it, Yeonseo was sitting on the flower stand and listening to my story.

He was responding appropriately and concentrating on what I was saying.

amazing.

I can’t even imagine how long it’s been since I’ve talked to someone so self-centeredly.

I was so amazed that someone was listening to me, and that it was a girl at that.

I felt like a fool, but as I spoke, something inside me calmed down and I felt refreshed.

As we chatted for a while, mixing in our complaints, time passed quickly.

After returning the cup I had finished drinking from and leaving the cafe, I naturally held Yeonseo’s hand and walked.

Yeonseo followed me quietly without even asking where I was going.

As I was walking, I pointed to several stores and asked her what they were and what they sold, and I gave her some reasonable answers. Eventually, I stopped in front of one store.

“Ah!”

As expected, Yeonseo recognized him at a glance.

An izakaya with a small sign in one corner that says “Mukashinotomo” written in Japanese.

It was the store where I worked.

“Here it is.”

Yeonseo looked around the store here and there with curiosity.

“What brings you here, warrior?”

“I just wanted to show you.”

I really wanted to do that.

There’s no particular reason, I just wanted to show where I work.

My daily life inside and outside my home, which I had kept strictly separate for a long time.

I wanted to break down that boundary and let Yeonseo know too.

“This is where the precious Jinhyeon egg rolls are made?”

“Should I do it tonight?”

“I like it anytime.”

Looking at the time, I see that it is 10 minutes before work.

Even at this point, you still arrived 10 minutes early?

Although it was a little awkward, I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Yeonseo.

“I have to go now.”

“Yeah.”

“Can you go back alone?”

“Of course. It’s not that far. Just walk slowly.”

“If a man you don’t know talks to you, ignore him.”

Then Yeonseo tilted her head.

“If I annoy you, you can lose?”

“No, that’s a bit.”

Yeonseo let go of his hand first, laughing.

“I’ll be waiting at home.”

I waved my hand until Yeonseo disappeared into the alley.

It was cute how he looked regretful as he turned back several times while walking that short distance.

Only after it had completely disappeared did I open the store door with a languid sigh.

Ha, here we go again.

Knock knock

“Hello.”

Today was a really nice day.

So, I guess my body and mind were both very light today.

“Hey, you’re here?”

The boss greets you coolly.

“You always come 10 minutes early, strangely enough.”

Jonghyun hyung, who picks on the part that I was also concerned about.

Why is this guy here already when it’s not even the day of the reservation? I was thinking, and unconsciously, using my innate power of observation, I ended up spouting out useless words.

“Huh? You’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday?”

The CEO and Jonghyun both flinched at the same time and looked at me with their eyes wide open.