episode_0032
by admin#32
After Jia’s kidnapping incident,
Dohan took a few days off from the store due to fatigue that had built up in his body.
But it’s not like you can just close the store down.
With Minah’s help, Dohan created an official [Oasis] Instagram account and quickly changed the store’s sign from [CLOSED] to [OPEN].
yet,
“Jia. Can you go over to that table and take our order?”
“Yes.”
… Jia and Dohan returned to their usual daily lives.
Ordinary, but precious because of that.
“Let me help you with your order.”
“Hmm. Gin Fizz and Midori Shower, please.”
One of the customers sitting at the table where Jia went to take her order is one of the few regulars at [Oasis].
It was the customer who told Do-han about the fight between Jia and her father in front of the mart last time.
“Ah… What happened last time? The day the boss closed here early.”
“Ah, haha.”
Jia smiled bitterly, slightly embarrassed by her words.
‘This is the person.’
If it weren’t for this customer, the old man wouldn’t have found me.
When I think about it that way, I can’t help but be thankful to that person.
“That day, I had a bit of an argument with my dad… .”
Of course, I can’t tell you exactly what happened that day, so I’ll just give you a rough idea.
The guest nodded and said after seeing Zia like that.
“Hehehe. I fought a lot when I was that age too. It was the height of those times.”
“… That’s right.”
“By the way, clerk. Are you having a good day? You look really good.”
‘ah?’
Is it that obvious?
“… Really?”
“Yes. To be honest, in the past, he always had a blank expression… To be honest, it was hard to talk to him.”
‘Did I do that…? Well, I don’t think there was anything to laugh about while serving customers.’
In fact, the reason why Jia’s expression was good was simple.
The bartender in her sight right now is Dohan.
“Thank goodness… … .”
The desperate look on Do-han’s face when he came to rescue his kidnapped self.
And then he hugged himself tightly and let out a sigh of relief.
“… .”
It was something that had only been three days, so it couldn’t be easily forgotten.
‘I guess that means I’m that precious…?’
Even now, whenever Jia sees Dohan’s face, memories of that time come flooding back vividly.
“Oh, the clerk is laughing again.”
“Oh, no.”
Jia, who was trying to lower the corners of her lips that were naturally rising.
Just then, the group next to the regular customer spoke with a slightly excited look on their faces.
“Do you have a boyfriend? Whoa!”
“Hey. You idiot. You’re so pretty. How can you not have a boyfriend? If I were a guy, I’d already take you.”
“Is that so… .”
As they talked like that, they glanced at Jia,
“That’s not it… … .”
““Ah?””
I was speechless at the sight of her lowering her head slightly shyly and glancing in Do-han’s direction.
“I, I. I don’t have a boyfriend!”
Adding insult to injury, Jia timidly raised her voice as if to make Dohan hear.
They thought as they watched the scene right in front of them.
‘What kind of cute creatures are there…?’
Said.
***
“I, I don’t have a boyfriend!”
‘…What are you talking about?’
I sent them to take orders, but somehow Jia and the customers were chatting away.
From what I can hear, it sounds like she’s talking about her boyfriend…
‘Well, it’s okay since you look happy.’
The store is deserted anyway. I don’t know why he keeps glancing in my direction.
You’re not gossiping, are you?
‘… right?’
No way. By the way, for some reason I don’t feel very well today. I guess I should say my body is shaking.
The air conditioner temperature is the same as usual, so I think it might be a problem with my body… .
At that time, when I was suspecting that it was that damn summer cold,
Zia came quickly towards me with a slightly red face.
Is Jia cold too?
“Mister. One Midori Sour and one Gin Fizz each.”
Midori Sour with melon liqueur and Gin Fizz with lemon juice.
Both are sweet cocktails that are popular with women.
I asked Zia, recalling the recipes for the two cocktails in my head.
“Okay. But what were you talking about for so long?”
“Oh, that wasn’t really an important story… .”
Jia avoids eye contact with a slightly subtle expression.
Oh no. This is not true.
Do you think I’m giving you a heads up not to mess with customers during work hours?
“Jia? I didn’t notice it… ”
“Then I’ll go and clean up the table.”
Dadada.
I immediately tried to correct my words, but Zia quickly turned her head and headed towards the table.
What should I do?
I thought I had gotten quite close to Gia recently.
If this continues, a wall will be built again…
‘… Hey. That can’t be.’
There’s no way the bond between me and Zia could be that small.
… I thought so.
“Hey, Jia.”
“Uh, I’ll go out for a bit… !”
.
“Hey, Jia… ”
“The table is dirty…! I’ll clean it up right away!”
“I… ”
“Ah. I guess you’re going to pay! I’ll go and check back… !”
… For some reason, Jia seemed to be avoiding talking to me.
What should I say?
I should say that he seems to hate even making eye contact with me.
Whenever we made eye contact, he would quickly turn his head away.
“… .”
Eventually, Jia didn’t make eye contact with me until the deadline was almost upon us.
“Hoo.”
I was so annoyed by Zia’s attitude that I quietly wiped the glass clean.
Well, after that incident, Ainz went straight to work at the store without even being able to rest.
If you get a warning not to do anything else during work hours, you’ll be in trouble.
… Of course it’s a misunderstanding.
“… .”
I guess I need to clear up the misunderstanding.
If I keep going like this, I’m sure I’ll get scolded by Mina when I get home.
I took a deep breath and spoke to Zia.
“Hey, Jia… ”
“Oh, sir. We have a guest.”
Ugh. I see you’re really mad at me…
Tiring
… No, you really came.
Two people opened the door and came into the store.
One man was wearing a hood pulled down low, while the other was wearing a hat and sunglasses.
I could tell who it was at a glance.
“Welcome. Mr. Yoonseol, Ms. Hwayoung.”
“… Hello, boss.”
“Honey. Long time no see.”
Did you come here on purpose during closing time when there were no people?
Well, no matter how hard you try to hide your identity, there’s something called an aura.
“You said you’d serve me if I came back later, right? I came with Seol. I have something else to tell you.”
“I, I’m fine. I’ll buy it with my own money and drink it… .”
“Hey. How do you get money from both of you? And what do you want to say?”
“Um. Last time, I found some strange traces at that bar. This is going to be a long story… I’ll talk while I drink.”
‘Strange traces?’
After that, the two people naturally sit down at the bar table.
“There, there.”
Zia quietly approached them.
“Huh?”
“I heard from the old man. He said that you two worked hard because of me… Thank you so much.”
After that, she bows her head deeply.
Hwayoung and Yunseol, who saw that, answered with a pleased smile.
“Hey. This is a favor for us. Of course you should help us.”
“That’s right. And, we’re heroes.”
‘… It looks nice.’
I looked at Zia with that thought in mind…
“… .”
Whoosh. I felt a little sad as I watched her avoid my gaze again.
“I, I. I’ll go clean up the table now!”
After that, Jia heads to the table with cleaning tools in her hands, acting a little awkwardly.
‘What should I do? I think I’ve really fallen asleep…’
“Hoo.”
“…Honey, what’s wrong?”
Hwayoung speaks to me after seeing the sigh I let out without thinking.
Yunseol also turns her head towards me and looks at me, as if she is concerned.
‘Should I ask for some advice?’
After all, since we’re both women… I think she would know better how to let go of her pent-up anger.
When I had thought about it that far, I told them what had just happened in a voice so low that Zia couldn’t hear.
“Actually… .”
.
After that, when my story ended…
“Hmm.” “… Hmm.”
…Yunseol and Hwayoung’s expressions changed slightly in a mysterious way.
What should I say?
I should say that he seems to have a lot to say but is holding back.
“Hey, honey. You know.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever been told that you have no tact?”
suddenly?
“… No. Not really. Rather, I’ve heard a lot that I’m quick-witted.”
“Hmm… Well. You’ll know when you check it out yourself. Hey, Miss Jia! Can you come over here for a minute?”
“… Yes?”
Jia came here soon after receiving Hwayoung’s call.
Hwayoung asked her directly.
“You know, Miss Jia. Do you have any grudges against Mr. Dohan?”
‘Wait a minute, if you say that so blatantly.’
Isn’t it getting more awkward?
“Huh? What do you mean?”
… Oh, my.
Jia’s reaction was unexpected, purely one of curiosity about what was being said.
“No. Mr. Dohan said that he thought Miss Jia was upset with him.”
“Oh, no way!”
Ji-ah speaks in a slightly excited voice at Hwa-young’s words.
Oh. So you weren’t angry at me?
“You keep avoiding my eyes and stuff?”
“That, that’s… .”
Glance. Glance. Zia looking at me.
… You can clearly see that he is in trouble.
And after a while, Zia said with a little hesitation.
“The customer who just arrived said something strange… ”
“Strange words?”
Ah. Are you talking about that time when Zia and the guest were talking earlier?
“That… I was wondering if you and I were dating… .”
‘ah.’
So that’s what it was.
After listening to Jia, I could understand why she was avoiding me so much.
‘I didn’t want people to misunderstand that I was dating you.’
That’s why I deliberately kept my distance.
Jia is now nineteen years old.
In contrast, I am now a twenty-eight-year-old man looking toward my thirties.
It can be quite upsetting to be mistaken for a relationship.
“I didn’t avoid it. I, I just. I’m a little embarrassed… I’m sorry.”
… Jia’s subsequent words add credibility to my guess.
‘You don’t have to be so sorry.’
I turned my head again and spoke to Zia, who was glancing in my direction while fiddling with her fingertips.
“You don’t have to feel sorry. If you were to ask if I’m dating this kind of guy, of course I’d feel bad.”
“ in?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful not to misunderstand anything in the future.”
When Jia heard what I said, she opened her eyes wide as if she was slightly surprised… and then spoke to me with a slightly angry expression.
“… Okay. I’ll go get some fresh air for a bit.”
‘Oh.’
thud.
After saying those words, Jia left the store.
“Excuse me, boss?”
As I was blankly staring at the sight, Yunseol spoke to me quietly.
“Yes?”
“… Don’t tell me I’m quick-witted from now on.”
No, I’m not. I’m quick-witted…
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