Thank you.
Not long after, I received a text about passing the document screening. Since I wasn’t the one who applied, I didn’t feel much emotion about passing. Rather, I was worried I might go to the interview and spout nonsense like an idiot.
Since the novel didn’t say Lee Hyun was an unemployed bum, he must have gotten a job somehow, but since the process wasn’t described in detail, it was actually more difficult.
I guess it means even if I do things roughly, the story progression won’t be strange anyway.
In the novel, Jung Yoonseo and Eun Haejin meet this year and after a whole year of fumbling around, they start dating. But this one year is long for romantic fumbling but an extremely short time in life, isn’t it? Honestly, if I just have to endure this novel for one year, it doesn’t seem necessary to even get a job.
Plus, I don’t know how Lee Hyun wrote his job application and self-introduction, I have no knowledge about the major, and no matter how I do the interview, it’s obvious I’ll fail. I should be grateful if I’m not treated like a fraud.
Although Lee Hyun isn’t rich, and after searching through the phone, his parents’ whereabouts are unclear so he seems to be someone without family, there was enough money in his bank account for about two months of living expenses by college student standards, so if I found a part-time job right now, it seemed I could easily live for a year.
…Should I not get a job?
Since I haven’t had many good memories since working at companies, this side was more appealing. I seriously pondered for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds while my cup noodles cooked, and while eating the cup noodles, I decided to ditch the interview.
Instead, I started looking at part-time job postings.
***
And so, the place where I went for an interview now wasn’t K Company but a famous franchise café.
On the way to the interview, I got a call from Eun Haejin.
[Did you get a pass notification text?]
“Well… I’m on my way to an interview.”
[Where are you interviewing?]
“You know, at a major corporation.”
I answered briefly and hung up. Haejin. Stop worrying about me and do well at your J Company interview. You need to have an office romance there.
Since it had just opened, there weren’t many people. I looked around the counter and called out to a man making coffee.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, customer. Please wait just a moment.”
I’m not a customer, but since he told me to wait, I just waited. I thought he’d just make one coffee and come back, but the man made a passion fruit ade and a matcha smoothie too. Because of that, while the man was making drinks, I just stood blankly at the counter.
“I’m sorry. May I help you with your order?”
The man smiling affably was subtly taller than me and handsome. When I checked the man’s name tag, under the tag that said “Owner,” three characters were written. Cha Hyunwoo.
“Oh.”
“Yes?”
Cha Hyunwoo is a character who gets involved with Lee Hyun later, after Lee Hyun’s relationship with Eun Haejin completely falls apart. So he was someone who would play a part in Lee Hyun’s romance, and what a coincidence to run into him like this.
“Customer?”
If I work at this café, will the story get significantly twisted?
“…May I help you with your order?”
A troubled look appeared on Cha Hyunwoo’s face.
“Ah, I’m here for a part-time job interview.”
“Ah! Your name is…?”
“Lee Hyun. Lee Hyun. It’s a single character.”
“Ah! Hyun-ssi. Then could you sit over there for a moment?”
“Yes.”
I decided to give it a try. It didn’t seem particularly important. Lee Hyun just needs to play the role of an obstacle to Eun Haejin in the middle, so as long as I perform that well, it shouldn’t matter much.
“Hyun-ssi, I’m sorry for scheduling the interview so early in the morning. We’re urgently looking for someone.”
“Ah, it’s fine.”
“Do you have experience making coffee?”
Lee Hyun doesn’t, but Kang Seojin did franchise café part-time jobs for over 5 years on rotation. I answered quickly.
“Yes.”
“Where have you worked?”
“I’ve worked at franchises and also at private cafés. I’m confident in memorizing recipes.”
“Ah really? That’s a relief. Then when can you start working?”
“I can start even today.”
“Do you live near here?”
“If I run on a rainy day, I can come here without an umbrella.”
Cha Hyunwoo’s laughter rang out cheerfully.
“Our café is a bit busy, is that okay with you?”
“Ah, I expected that as soon as I saw you, owner-nim, so I think it’ll be fine.”
“Yes?”
“I thought there would be a lot of customers because you’re so handsome, owner-nim.”
At the smooth compliment, I could see Cha Hyunwoo’s ears turn slightly red. He seemed to be the type weak to compliments.
“When I was coming here, I thought it was a drama filming location.”
“Ah…”
Cha Hyunwoo burst into light laughter. I thought I might have overdone it a bit, but getting the part-time job was first, so what if I sell myself a bit? He’s someone I won’t see again after a year anyway.
“…Hyun-ssi is also handsome, so if you come, our sales will jump even more?”
“Me? I can barely follow one footstep behind you, owner-nim.”
When I quickly answered his compliment with an even bigger compliment, now even Cha Hyunwoo’s cheeks turned red. Is he handsome but hasn’t heard many compliments about being handsome?
“Then can you start working from tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s meet here tomorrow at 8 AM. I’ll give you your uniform when you come.”
“Thank you.”
When I bowed deeply to express my gratitude, Cha Hyunwoo also bowed awkwardly. On the way home, I should stop by and get a health certificate.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as I left the café, I got a call with perfect timing. It was Eun Haejin.
“Yeah. Haejin, what’s up?”
[Where are you?]
“Just finished an interview.”
[What? What interview ends this early?]
“It’s a part-time job.”
[You’ve never had a part-time job before. What about the applications you submitted? Why suddenly a part-time job?]
I could imagine Eun Haejin’s expression looking at me like I was ridiculous. But it would also be strange to answer that I have no prior memories so there’s no point in going to the interview.
“Ah. That?”
[…Don’t tell me you failed all the document screenings?]
“No, I passed.”
[Then why?]
“I just don’t have confidence, so I’m not going to the interview.”
To be precise, I should say I don’t remember my major, don’t remember what I wrote in my personal statement, and don’t know how to do an interview.
[…Are you seriously crazy?]
“No. But why did you call?”
[You suddenly hung up earlier.]
“Yeah. Then why did you call earlier?”
[…I’m going to the J Company interview.]
“Oh really? You’ll pass. Because you’re handsome.”
[Why do you keep going on about looks since last time? Did you really eat something wrong? Your personality has become seriously weird.]
……Was there any need for it to become seriously weird? I repeated the excuse I’d given before.
“I’m trying to live a new life. When’s the interview?”
[In two weeks.]
“Fighting! I’m rooting for you. Contact hyung anytime you need me!”
[Hyung my ass….]
Eun Haejin is twenty-six and I’m twenty-nine, so technically speaking, I am his hyung. However, without explaining in detail, I answered roughly with encouragement.
“Buy something delicious with your first paycheck. Then, fighting!”
[Hey.]
After finishing my fervent support, I mercilessly hung up the phone. Since I’d be working from tomorrow, I had to rest like crazy today.
***
“Good morning!”
“Ah, Hyun-ssi!”
“Good morning.”
“Indeed.”
For a handsome person, Cha Hyunwoo had no cold aura on his face. Although his jaw and nose were sharp, his eyes were particularly gentle, giving the impression of a mild-mannered person. Since this was the first time I’d seen a handsome face like this, my impression was unique. As I unknowingly stared intently at his face, I could feel Cha Hyunwoo’s eyes gradually avoiding my gaze.
Only then did I turn my eyes away with an “oops.” Since I’d become a broadcast writer, I’d developed a habit of observing others, which is why I’d been like this since yesterday. On drama sets, since everyone was a celebrity, no one cared who I stared at, but in reality, staring at someone like this was definitely rude behavior.
I awkwardly rolled my eyes around.
“Sorry. For staring.”
“…It’s okay. Ah, could you change into this uniform and come out?”
“Yes.”
Taking the uniform, I went to the staff break room and quickly took off my clothes. The uniform was a simple composition of a shirt, apron, and hat.
The moment I was about to put on the shirt, the door clicked open. Before I could stop him, Cha Hyunwoo came inside.
