“Thank you. I’ll contact you this evening.”
“It’s my first time being told when to expect contact.”
When Sunjeong spoke, Yeonwoo scratched the back of his head awkwardly and answered.
“Actually… I saw you through the cafe window… and thought I had to ask for your number today… That’s why. I feel like I’ve used up all my lifetime’s worth of luck.”
Sunjeong chuckled watching Yeonwoo who was awkward but still said everything he wanted to say.
“I was actually surprised when you came straight to our table without even ordering a drink. Will you have a drink?”
“Ah, no… I was on my way to meet a friend…”
“Then I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Huh?”
“I’m your senior, and you came all the way into the establishment to ask for my number, so I think I can at least treat you to a cup of coffee.”
“Ah, no… it’s okay.”
Watching Yeonwoo hold out his hand to refuse, Sunjeong asked.
“What do you want to drink?”
“…”
“If you don’t say anything, should I just order for you? I’ll have to ask for a strawberry smoothie with an extra shot and double whipped cream.”
“Iced americano.”
Sunjeong chuckled watching Yeonwoo speak firmly at his words.
“Don’t bother coming to the counter, just wait.”
When Sunjeong headed to the counter, Jinhyeok and Yoonwoo gave Yeonwoo a light self-introduction and struck up a conversation. Are all college students originally this friendly? Taeon watched them with a puzzled feeling.
“One iced americano for takeout.”
Taeon quietly received the credit card Sunjeong held out and processed the payment.
Until Taeon finished making the coffee, Sunjeong stood in front of the counter with an expressionless face.
“Your coffee is ready.”
Anyway, this was his workplace, and even if Sunjeong spoke casually, Taeon couldn’t speak casually.
“Thanks.”
At Sunjeong’s words, Taeon bowed his head.
When Sunjeong walked toward him, Yeonwoo looked straight ahead with an awkward expression.
“I’m not going to eat you. People might think I’m the one who got your number.”
“Ah, I’m nervous…”
“Right, right. Enjoy your coffee, and contact me later.”
“Yes! Thank you! I’ll contact you in a bit!”
Sunjeong, Jinhyeok, and Yoonwoo looked at Yeonwoo cutely, who had asked for his number triumphantly at first but now acted like a well-disciplined junior. Except for Taeon.
They even giggled among themselves watching Yeonwoo leave still clearly nervous.
“Wow, really, that person was totally frozen, frozen. Go Sunjeong, you’re popular.”
“Sunjeong always looked like he’d be popular.”
“Babe, what about me?”
“You… I think you look most popular to me.”
Sunjeong ignored Jinhyeok and Yoonwoo, who were making them cringe again, as if very used to it, and turned his gaze to his pad.
Then Sunjeong’s phone rang. Taeon stopped wiping a cup with a dry towel and unconsciously turned his gaze to Sunjeong. Because Sunjeong’s expression looking at the screen was bright, it bothered him more for no reason.
Taeon stared blankly at Sunjeong, who giggled while reading a message and typed something quickly.
After that, Sunjeong often stopped by Sentence.
Not that he had long conversations with Taeon or anything, he just came and calmly did what he needed to do.
After that, Sunjeong wasn’t asked for his number again, but Taeon had to suffer from customers continuously. Even when Sunjeong was there, several people would ask Taeon for his number, but Sunjeong wouldn’t even lift his head.
He was a bit disappointed, but since Sunjeong had lost interest in Taeon now, he figured that’s just how it was.
However, Taeon thought it wasn’t bad that he kept coming to the cafe at all.
Unlike being a bit more blunt with Taeon, Sunjeong was very friendly with Juseong and was already receiving Juseong’s abundant love. If there were a few pieces of cake left the previous day, Juseong would always tell him to give Sunjeong a piece the next day.
The tiramisu Taeon had just casually taken out a piece of was also a cake that had become Sunjeong’s portion that way.
“Wow, it’s tiramisu today.”
“Yeah. This one isn’t from somewhere else, the owner makes it himself.”
“Oh, sounds delicious.”
Sunjeong stared at Taeon, who didn’t leave even after handing over the cake.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
“No, nothing.”
“How bland.”
He had nothing to say, but somehow he wanted to say something.
But since it was such an ordinary day with nothing special, there was nothing at all to say. He couldn’t talk about yesterday’s dinner menu.
Besides, thinking about it, yesterday evening they had eaten chicken mayo rice bowls that Sunjeong, who stayed at the cafe until late, ordered for delivery while chatting with Juseong. Because Sunjeong and Juseong were chatting warmly, Taeon didn’t even open his mouth except to say “Pass the mayonnaise.”
Taeon returned to the counter and stretched his shoulders. Sunjeong taking a bite of tiramisu came into view, but he didn’t fix his gaze. Instead, he only glanced occasionally.
He could feel Sunjeong, who was slowly eating the tiramisu bite by bite, looking toward the counter. Does he need something? While Taeon was focusing his eyes, Sunjeong showed his thumb.
This is really delicious.
It was amazing that he understood everything even though Sunjeong only spoke with his mouth shape. Taeon just nodded quietly.
“I’m leaving. I don’t think I’ll be able to come for a while. During exam period, I’ll study hard only at the library.”
“Ah, uh…”
Taeon realized once again in that moment the distance between himself and Sunjeong.
When Sunjeong came to Cafe Sentence, Taeon could meet Sunjeong.
When Sunjeong didn’t come to Cafe Sentence, Taeon couldn’t meet Sunjeong.
Sunjeong didn’t come to Taeon’s neighborhood to see Taeon like before, and it was awkward for Taeon to go meet Sunjeong. Even having a meal together as friends felt difficult. Aside from exchanging a word or two like at the cafe, he didn’t even know what they’d talk about sitting face to face.
“Take care!”
To Sunjeong who said this as if he was going far away, Taeon could only say “Take care” in return.
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh?”
“You sighed really loudly.”
“Ah, no.”
The short-haired customer who had been occupying the table together while Sunjeong was at the cafe asked Taeon.
“Um, I’m curious about something…”
This was the third time just today. Taeon was really getting used to people curious about his number. Still, thanks to them, he was earning decent income while working relatively comfortably indoors, so he couldn’t just dislike them.
Before Taeon could open his mouth to habitually say “I have a lover,” the female customer in front of him spoke faster.
“The customer who was here the whole time, is he your friend?”
“Huh?”
It was an ambiguous afternoon time, so while there were takeout customers, there were only two customers in the store.
Besides, the only customer she could ask if he was a friend was one of the two, so it was only Sunjeong. When Taeon asked in surprise, the female customer smiled slightly awkwardly and said.
“Does that person have a lover? Ah, absolutely, absolutely not asking for his number or anything… I just wanted to check before asking. I’m sorry if this bothers you too.”
Watching the female customer’s face color with anxious signs unlike her calm voice, Taeon let out a hollow laugh.
Then he said in a firm voice.
“He doesn’t look like someone who wouldn’t have one. Of course he has a lover.”
“Ah, really?”
“Yes. He’s in a relationship.”
At Taeon’s excessively firm voice, the woman made a slightly surprised face.
And judging by how she quickly left the cafe with her head down, it didn’t seem like she’d visit again.
Somehow Taeon felt unpleasant thinking he’d interfered with business as a part-timer, but it was only for a brief moment. Not leaking Sunjeong’s personal information was more important.
[Yoon Taeon]
[Sorry but I]
[Left my iPad at your cafe]
Only the message notification sound rang out noisily in the quiet cafe.
When Taeon went to the table where Sunjeong had been sitting, the iPad was indeed lying alone on the sofa chair side.
Taeon bowed his head and sent a message.
[Yeah it’s here]
A quick reply soon came back.
[I have classes all day today and a group project in the evening so it’s hard to move]
[I’ll stop by briefly before going to the library at night]
[But I think I’ll finish after 9]
[I’m really sorry but can you wait a bit?]
Taeon was irritated by Sunjeong saying sorry for something that wasn’t sorry at all, something that close friends, people like Taeon and Sunjeong, could easily accommodate for each other. Moreover, it was more irritating that he was worrying about this when he was busy.
After thinking briefly, Taeon soon wrote a message to send to Sunjeong.
[I’ll come to your school]
[Just pin the library location for me]
Soon the library address arrived from Sunjeong.
[Thanks]
Taeon learned for the first time that the word “thanks” could be such an unhappy word.
