How could they hurt someone this badly and then avoid responsibility and fire them? He jumped around saying he’d upload this story to the national complaint portal, then casually said things like this.
“I guess you’ll have to look for work again now.”
“I suppose so.”
“Hey, but, well, of course you need skills to make a living, but if I were you, Taeon, I’d avoid manual labor for a while…”
“I need to make a living. It’s not like that’s the only construction site.”
“Hmm…”
In front of Taeon speaking firmly, Juseong fell into thought for a moment before speaking.
“Still, rest for about six months. What’s the rush with work? In this age of living to a hundred. Instead, work at our cafe from 12 to 9, taking it easy. 1.5 times the usual hourly wage.”
“1.5 times?”
“Is that not enough? Hyung is even more desperate. Seeing the sales plummet again without you is driving me crazy…”
“Then you should pay more. Double.”
In front of Taeon’s confident words, Juseong briefly furrowed his brow in pain before soon nodding his head.
Taeon had been offered all sorts of relatively easy jobs because of his appearance, but had firmly refused them. Because he believed appearance was temporary, but skills were forever.
But the sight of himself ultimately doing work that benefited from his face, even if just for a while, seemed immature.
Cafe work would at least be bearable since his body would be busy moving.
If he lived busily and found some stability, he’d have to try pursuing new things again.
Taeon’s mind, which had been thinking this way, hit the brakes. New things? When all he’d wanted was the same day over and over.
Until he got off the bus, Taeon pondered the “new things” he’d come to want, but answers were hard to find.
When he entered the cafe in a confused mood, Juseong waved at Taeon with a bright smile.
“There are no customers?”
“This is normal. It changed after you came.”
“…”
To Taeon, coming to a cafe because of a part-timer’s face seemed somewhat nonsensical behavior. Still, well, he was getting paid double the hourly wage because of it, so he wasn’t in a position to talk about others.
Putting on the neat brown apron again, it finally felt real that he’d returned to daily life.
Taeon, who was about to habitually touch his shortened hair, stopped.
His hair will grow soon anyway, so he shouldn’t worry about it.
“Nothing’s changed, so do what you used to do. If there’s anything confusing, contact me.”
“Got it.”
The reason Juseong, who had said this cafe would only face death without Taeon, hurried out was because of a newly opened cafe in a neighborhood a bit away from Hanguk University. He said he was struggling, but in reality, he seemed to be making a decent living.
Juseong, who had now turned 35, was an owner running two cafes.
Taeon thought about what he’d be like at 35.
Nothing really came to mind.
Before, he at least wanted to be someone like a work crew leader. A life where he could support not only himself but also any family he had with his own body. Though it was hard to imagine having something like a family.
Then what kind of 35-year-old would Sunjeong be? Even if it was hard to imagine now, he’d definitely be a wonderful 35-year-old. Since he couldn’t imagine Sunjeong being alone at that age, he roughly figured a wonderful dominant alpha would be by his side. Just as he’d always imagined.
“Excuse me.”
At the voice thick with doubt, Taeon barely came to his senses.
After serving one iced americano to the female customer with a blank expression, Taeon also made himself a cup of coffee.
Since he had to be at this cafe all day now, he couldn’t work with the feeling of just filling evening time like before. Drinking a cool iced americano, Taeon psyched himself up.
“Yoon Taeon!”
Taeon, who was about to take another sip of coffee, barely swallowed the coffee in his mouth and looked toward the door.
Sunjeong was entering the cafe. With faces both familiar and unfamiliar.
“Hello. You remember me, right?”
Jinhyeok, who had recently introduced himself as Sunjeong’s “boyfriend,” greeted Taeon with an awkward smile. The reason Taeon didn’t say anything in front of Jinhyeok’s greeting was because Jinhyeok’s face was full of fresh bruises.
“Don’t worry about his face. He got beaten up a bit by his dad.”
“…”
To the surprised Taeon, Sunjeong spoke in an indifferent voice.
Isn’t getting beaten by his own dad more serious?
Taeon was puzzled but didn’t bother voicing it out loud. Instead, he also bowed in greeting and waited for their order.
“What do you want to drink, babe?”
“I’ll have an iced americano. What about you?”
“I’ll have a peanut latte. Let’s share sips.”
“Mmhmm.”
Taeon’s face contorted as he watched Jinhyeok make cutesy sounds while facing a pretty-looking man.
“What about you, Go Sunjeong?”
He also didn’t like how Jinhyeok acted all cute but then put on a serious face when turning to Sunjeong.
Though making cutesy sounds to Sunjeong would probably be even more unpleasant.
“I’ll have a hot cafe latte. Add an extra shot.”
“Um, then one iced americano, one hot peanut latte, and one iced cafe latte with an extra shot, please.”
Taeon silently entered the order into the POS system.
Jinhyeok paid. While Jinhyeok held out his card, Sunjeong and the unfamiliar man moved toward the tables and were settling into seats.
Taeon pretended not to care as he looked at Sunjeong. He thought Sunjeong wouldn’t come to the cafe like before, but seeing that he came anyway, it seemed he didn’t entirely hate seeing Taeon.
Among the customers who visited the cafe, quite a few recognized and were happy to see Taeon.
For Taeon, who didn’t even remember them well, it was awkward having to greet them back.
They always mentioned Taeon’s very short hair, so he explained with an awkward feeling that he’d done it for a change of mood. If he told them he’d been hit in the head with a hammer, it would surely cause a disturbance in their peaceful evening.
“Wow, I thought you quit.”
“I took a short break.”
“I see.”
While roughly dealing with one omega who kept holding onto Taeon trying to continue the conversation, Taeon’s gaze kept turning toward Sunjeong. It felt like Sunjeong would be listening to everything.
But unlike Jinhyeok and Yoonwoo, who were chattering while doing all sorts of cringeworthy things in front of Sunjeong, Sunjeong was just silently looking at his iPad, taking notes or something, never looking this way.
Does he not even care anymore?
Well, if Taeon wanted Sunjeong’s attention even now, it would mean Taeon had no conscience.
Taeon worked silently while dealing with customers who kept talking to him. Meanwhile, the sun gradually darkened and dusk was falling.
Soon Sunjeong’s table also seemed ready to leave.
In that moment, Taeon’s heart became restless.
Even though they’d have many chances to meet not just today, somehow he didn’t want Sunjeong to leave right now.
But it would be ridiculous to hold onto Sunjeong without any excuse while working.
While washing dishes deeply lost in thought, a strange voice reached Taeon’s ears.
“Excuse me, could you give me your number?”
If you’re going to talk, speak up a bit. It was such a small voice that even though the water stream sound was weak, he could barely make it out after straining his ears.
Since it was a customer, he had to respond well. Taeon took off his rubber gloves and turned around, about to open his mouth with the awkward rejection line he hadn’t used in a while, but he couldn’t. Because the counter was completely empty.
The destination of the person who needed someone’s number was probably not Taeon.
Considering there was an obviously tall alpha standing in front of Sunjeong.
The man had a bright impression. He was handsome, but more than anything, his face gave off a strong cheerful feeling. His skin was fair and bright, and his easygoing smile suited him well.
Sunjeong stared up at such a man’s face and said.
“How can I give you my number when I don’t even know who you are?”
Taeon was impressed by Sunjeong’s characteristically firm voice.
Good job, Go Sunjeong.
That’s right, you shouldn’t give your number carelessly. To someone you’ve never met before.
“I’ve seen you several times at your school. I’m in the economics department. I enrolled this year.”
But the other person didn’t shrink at Sunjeong’s reaction and explained himself clearly.
“My name is Choi Yeonwoo.”
“…”
Sunjeong moved his gaze from staring up at Yeonwoo to the phone Yeonwoo was holding. Taeon nimbly followed Sunjeong’s gaze.
“If it’s okay, could you give me your number? If not, I’ll give you mine…”
Yeonwoo’s voice, which had sounded quite calm, soon wavered with tension at Sunjeong’s firm silence.
“No, I’ll give you my number.”
Sunjeong, who had been looking back up at Yeonwoo, answered in a plain voice. Then Yeonwoo smiled brightly.
Taeon, who had been watching them, bit down hard on his lower lip.
