episode_0024

-Clang, clang!

When the cafe door opened and the doorbell rang, the owner turned his head, saw me entering the cafe, widened his eyes, and greeted me warmly.

“Oh, it’s been a while since you’ve come.”

I replied as I received the cafe owner’s greeting.

“Yeah, it has been a while. How have you been, sir?”

“Oh, well, the regular customers haven’t been coming, so the sales have been down…haha.”

I responded to his banter by waving my hand.

“Ah~ I should drink more if that’s the case. You always give me bread as a service too.”

“No, I’m being serious. In fact…”

Extending his words, he gestured for me to come closer, as if asking me to lean in.

“The other male customers who used to come to see you are definitely not coming, so their footsteps have stopped abruptly.”

“Ah…!”

Well, it wasn’t strange at all that there were such customers, considering how I always clocked in at this cafe on time, almost like clockwork, just like how people tend to visit more often when there’s a pretty part-timer at the cafe.

“I was originally working from home, but that project ended, so I took a break. Um, I’ll visit occasionally on weekdays next week. Since you always provide service, I should reciprocate.”

“Haha, then I’m grateful. Feel free to drop by anytime. I’ll take care of the service generously.”

“Hehe, thank you. Oh, can I have a cafe latte? The author hasn’t arrived yet, right?”

The owner knew the author Lee Young-woo as well as I did, if not better, given that he was an even older regular customer than me. That’s why I asked him.

“Yes, he hasn’t arrived yet. Once you find a suitable spot, I’ll guide him in when he arrives.”

After thanking the owner and feeling reassured by his words, I settled into a secluded corner.

As I took out my laptop from my bag and started browsing, I heard the sound of the cafe doorbell ringing in the distance. It could have been another customer, but just to be sure, I looked up and saw author Lee Young-woo exchanging greetings with the cafe owner.

The cafe owner pointed towards where I was sitting, and as Lee Young-woo glanced over, our eyes met. He walked over first, shaking my hand warmly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

I shook my head as he quickly approached my table and offered an apology.

“No, I haven’t been here long either. I actually arrived earlier than our meeting time.”

Well, there’s this unwritten rule in our generation that men should arrive first for appointments, so he might have felt apologetic, but he wasn’t really late, so I didn’t mind, especially since he was a man, I couldn’t help but be nonchalant about it.

“Well, my son wanted to go to the amusement park with his friends today. I had to rush to drop him off in the morning, so I’m a bit late. I thought I arrived just in time, but I didn’t expect you to come out so quickly.”

I empathized, clapping my hands together in a friendly manner.

“Me too. I had my son’s friends over at home, preparing meals and snacks since morning, so I was completely occupied.”

“Oh, I see. You must have had a hard time.”

“You, especially. The amusement park is quite a distance away, so you must have gone through a lot to come here, right?”

We continued talking about our children for a while before transitioning into a discussion about dramas.

“So, did you enjoy the drama I recommended this time?”

“Yes, I did. I watched ‘My Mister’ with high expectations because I found it enjoyable. It wasn’t as serious as that, but the lively romance made it very entertaining. Especially the acting of Seo Yeon-jin was so good…”

“Haha, I was really impressed by that part too. Wow, how can they write lines so beautifully? At first, I was full of admiration. It was quite stimulating.”

As expected, unlike me who focuses more on the actors, Lee Young-woo, the writer, seemed to pay more attention to the overall lines, direction, and flow. Indeed, writers are different no matter what.

“Oh, right. Also, the protagonist works in the food service industry, which I could relate to a lot.”

“Oh, you worked in the food service industry?”

Lee Young-woo asked, looking surprised.

“Ah, no, not exactly. I work in the food-related industry, specifically in the product development department. So, I could empathize with various aspects like the protagonist’s obsession with rice and such. Well… rather than that, the focus was more on the male protagonist’s job as a sound director. Anyway, thanks for the enjoyable drama.”

“Not at all. I’m actually grateful for your support. For people like me, who work almost like freelancers, working alone is familiar. This often leaves little time for conversations or interactions with others. That’s why I’ve come to realize how precious it is to have someone to comfortably share stories with.”

Well, sitting alone in a room all day writing scripts might get lonely. Of course, meeting people from the production side due to work is one thing, but fundamentally, writing a script is a solitary task, not a collaborative one.

“Um… I see. Oh, right. I might be a bit busy next week, so I’m not sure if I’ll have time to watch dramas.”

Actually, last week felt a bit relaxed after finishing work, but watching 18 episodes of a drama in a week isn’t easy. So, I feel a bit tired. Moreover, starting next week, I have to try shooting NewTube, so I’ll have even less free time. So, when I mentioned this, Lee Young-woo smiled and replied.

“Indeed, it might get a bit tight. Next week, maybe I’ll try a 6-episode drama. Would that be okay?”

A 6-episode drama? These days, global OTT dramas like Netflix often come out in seasons with fewer episodes per season.

“If you look on Netflix, there’s a drama called D.P. It might not be very interesting for women because it’s about the military…”

Lee Young-woo cautiously brought up the topic, but I responded enthusiastically.

“Oh, D.P.! I’ve heard a lot about it. It’s about catching deserters, right?”

“Yes. It’s short and has gained attention. Would you like to watch it?”

In fact, it didn’t matter to me. I had served in the military a long time ago. Having experienced a lot of absurdity, I felt confident I could relate. Of course, being a military veteran myself, having served not as an officer but as an enlisted soldier, I should probably restrain myself, but I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a drama that resonated with me more than this.

“Sure. I’m confident I’ll enjoy it too. I also know a lot about the military.”

“Oh, really? Maybe…?”

“No, I haven’t served in the military or anything like that.”

I did serve. I completed my two-year mandatory service. Yes. I even learned how to smoke there.

But I couldn’t say that outright, so I added a touch of fiction.

“Well, my dad used to talk a lot about his military experiences, so I remember them quite vividly.”

“Ahaha, I see. Well, when I meet other moms, it seems like we often talk about military stories. My wife was really sick of hearing those military stories.”

“Hehe, I guess I’m a bit unusual.”

“Oh, but…”

“Yes?”

“Since the topic came up, may I ask what your husband says? Even if it’s just a hobby group, it’s still strange for a man to watch something like this alone with another man.”

To others, it might seem like an affair. But why ask now, after meeting for the third time before starting the gathering?

“So, how are you doing, writer?”

“Well, to be honest, I’m hesitant to say this, but we’ve separated.”

“Oh….”

A sense of guilt creeps in for asking unnecessarily. Especially because Lee Young-woo looked so sad.

“It’s been about two years. Colon cancer… that’s what it was. It was already too late to do anything when it was first discovered.”

“I see. I’m sorry.”

As I apologized sincerely, Lee Young-woo shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. It’s not like Doyeon did anything wrong. I’m just a bit numb now. Haha.”

But due to my feelings of guilt and sorrow, I couldn’t find the words to continue.

“Anyway, I don’t need to worry about appearances, but what about Doyeon?”

Well, there’s no need to hide, so I opened up as well.

“I got divorced too. So I don’t need to worry about appearances… Oh, maybe our daughter won’t like it?”

Thinking of Dayoung made me burst into laughter. With her sharp gaze.

‘Mom! Stop being so defenseless and spilling everything to men again! I’m really mad, you know?’

It felt like I could hear her saying that.

“Hahaha, I see. Well, isn’t this a laughing matter?”

“It’s okay. It’s not like I did anything wrong.”

Lee Young-woo nodded as if he understood even without further explanation.

“Well, that’s good. Getting good friends at this age, and being able to spend time without caring about what others think, is truly a blessing.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with those words and nodded my head.

“Ah, I’m working on a new piece this time, for a movie. If you need any advice later on, can I ask for your help?”

I nodded as if it were obvious.

“Of course. Anytime. But whether I’ll be able to help…”

“Haha, have you seen the movie ‘Little Forest’ by any chance?”

“Oh, that one. Isn’t it a healing movie? Healing while cooking and eating in the countryside?”

It was a movie based on a Japanese film that had been remade in Korea.

“Yes, although it may not be that healing, I think it will be a movie with food as the theme. Since you work in food development, you probably know more than I do.”

“If that’s the case, I’d be happy to help.”

As we talked about various things related to the new work, it was already evening.

“Phew, it was enjoyable today too.”

“That’s right. Thanks to you, I look forward to every Saturday week after week.”

Saying that, I finished up appropriately and turned to put my laptop in my bag.

– Thud.

Perhaps from sitting for too long, my back made a cracking sound.

“Ouch, it’s stiff.”

Wanting to stretch a bit, I raised both arms above my head, interlocked my fingers, pushed my chest forward, and straightened my back.

“Ahh~!”

– Thud, tap!

“Ow!”

Thinking I heard something, I looked at the writer Lee Young-woo, holding my forehead and expressing pain.

What happened?

“Oops, are you okay?”

Asking that, I lowered my arms, clasped my hand with Lee Young-woo’s hand wrapped around his forehead, and inquired.

“Oh, yes. I’m fine…!”

With a twisted smile on his face, trying to reassure me by moving his hand away from his forehead, the expression of author Lee Young-woo momentarily stiffened.

I wondered what he saw that made his expression freeze like that.

It was nothing.

Something that should have been there was missing.

Clearly, what should have been hanging in the center of the blouse. Two were missing.

Somehow, I felt strangely liberated.

“Eek!”

Hastily, I covered up my chest, which was now boldly displaying an expansive size due to two buttons suddenly popping off.

As I stretched, those two buttons that couldn’t withstand the pressure on my chest finally gave way.

“Oh, um, sorry.”

“No, no. It’s me who should apologize!”

Apologies and apologies continued for a while as I reciprocated Lee Young-woo’s apology with my own.

Struggling without a safety pin, Lee Young-woo handed me the jacket he had taken off upon entering.

“Here, cover yourself with this for now.”

I quickly accepted it and covered the front with it.

“Thank you.”

With his jacket covering the front, we left the cafe and walked to our apartment complex where my house was located, with Lee Young-woo accompanying me.

“Oh, thank you. Thanks to you, I got through the crisis.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, I picked up the buttons that fell off… Here.”

Lee Young-woo handed me the two buttons that had come off the blouse that ran away.

I took them, held the open part of the blouse’s chest, and returned the jacket to him.

“Please be careful going in, and let’s meet again next week.”

“Yes, thank you so much today. See you next week.”

We said our goodbyes and turned around.

“Oh, Mom?”

As I entered the apartment building, I met eyes with Da-young.

“Mr. Konguk?”

That Mr. Konguk…

“Oh, hi. Haha. This is really something. Every time, the timing…”

Lee Young-woo wiping his forehead awkwardly.

The awkwardness between Lee Young-woo and Da-young, with glimpses of emotions and raised eyebrows peeking through the clenched blouse.

It’s awkward, really awkward.