“Bihyeon-nim dislikes me.”
It must be a misunderstanding. I slowly blinked my eyes, then soon smiled.
“I… hope Door-nim doesn’t get scolded because of me.”
I raised my hand and stroked the door once more. This time, I carefully patted the picture of the haetae.
“Today, thank you so much.”
At my small words, I had the illusion that the haetae’s tail swayed. I withdrew my hand and turned around. A little behind, Bihyeon was standing still holding a shopping bag and looking at me. His eyes seemed sunken.
I opened my eyes wide, slipped aside, and lifted the corners of my mouth awkwardly.
“Th-there was something fallen here…”
“Yes.”
Bihyeon who smiled drowsily and approached me handed over a large shopping bag. When I looked inside, besides yakgwa, it was packed full of things I’d eaten all day today.
Huh? Wow. Porridge, rice, soup. There was even yukjeon made with beef, so it was a considerable amount.
“Wha, what is this? Is it my birthday today?”
My inner thoughts popped out without me knowing. I trembled my hands and received the shopping bag. Then Bihyeon laughed lowly, “Haha.”
“Hyeonwoong said to come get more if it’s not enough.”
“Th-that can’t…”
Wow, a cookie recipe doesn’t seem like it would be enough for this.
“Ah, and he said he wrote the yakgwa recipe inside.”
“Gasp.”
I opened my eyes wide, rummaged inside, then gripped the recipe with both hands and handed it back to Bihyeon.
“Hm?”
“This is really more than enough for me? I’m so sorry…”
I’m already sorry to death for eating and sleeping today. I earnestly held it out, but Bihyeon slowly tilted his head. His look of just blankly staring at me seemed like he had no intention of receiving the recipe at all.
I quickly shook my head and pressed the recipe tightly into Bihyeon’s hand.
“You said the price shouldn’t be too big or too small. I’ll diligently write the recipe and bring it, so give it to me then.”
Cookies and walnut pie and… I should write down everything I know. Bihyeon who chuckled and nodded tapped the door thud.
Creeak, the door opened.
“I’ll go say goodbye.”
“Everyone’s busy right now, so just go. I’ll convey your regards.”
“Yes… You must convey them.”
“I got it.”
“Sleep well!”
I smiled, waved my hand, and crossed through the door. When I turned around, the door slowly closed. Through the gap, I waved my hand diligently.
Thud—
The door closed and I lowered my hand.
What just happened felt like a dream, so I gripped the shopping bag in my hand tightly.
Coming to a house with no one in it, my heart feels empty and strange for no reason. Ha… I sighed and touched my face, then soon organized the food items neatly in the refrigerator.
I should write the recipe before going to work. Go to the cafe and make walnut pie too…
I have plenty of time, so let’s do it leisurely. I took a yakgwa and ate a bite, brought out a new notebook, and wrote down recipes one by one with a ballpoint pen.
‘If I write this and give it to him, will Bihyeon-nim stop coming to the cafe?’
It seemed like he was coming because of my cookies even now. I hesitated for a moment, then soon shook my head and finished writing.
It really feels like I had a dream. I scratched my forehead and looked at the door.
***
I made a big walnut pie and packed it, packed the recipe.
As soon as I came to the cafe, I organized things in the staff room, then came out wearing an apron.
Somehow there were no customers, so I wondered why as I grabbed a mop and wiped the floor that was a mess because of the rain.
“Today especially…”
“There are no customers, right? Everyone’s busy preparing for the festival. A festival will be held in the Central area soon.”
The boss answered my words.
Ah, a festival. He must be talking about something like the festivals we have, right? Fascinating.
The boss who was organizing the shelf smiled as he filled coffee beans. Then he came with his phone and showed me several photos taken at the festival. A brilliantly decorated night market, beings who weren’t humans walking the streets with food in their hands smiling. And fireworks spreading abundantly like flowers in a sky full of stars.
It didn’t look different from the festivals we have. And the happy faces of those enjoying it too.
“Look at this. Amazing, right? Our world has a total of five districts. East, west, south, north, and central. We take turns holding a festival every year.”
“Is it being held in the Central area this time?”
“That’s right. The Central area is the place Bihyeon-nim is in charge of.”
When I nodded, the boss smiled saying he was really looking forward to it. That smile looked good, so I smiled slightly along with him.
“Boss, aren’t you preparing anything?”
At my question, the boss made a slightly troubled expression.
“Ah, is it because of the cafe?”
“Well, that’s it… I’m doing both morning and afternoon all by myself.”
“Should I cover for you for 3 days?”
“What?! Th-that would be okay?”
“Even I can’t stay awake 24 hours… If you could do the night shift.”
“Okay! That’s natural! Thank you, thank you Hansol. I really wanted to participate because the scale of this festival is big. It’s a very good opportunity to promote our cafe!”
If there are more customers than this, there won’t even be seats left. But the boss seemed too excited, so I unknowingly nodded in affirmation.
“I want to instill a good impression of humans with this opportunity. To say there are plenty of kind children like you.”
“Ah…”
Ah, it’s not for cafe promotion purposes.
My feelings felt strange for no reason, so I scratched my head and shook it. Certainly there would be people like me among humans, but there would be more who aren’t.
I’m not sure if instilling a good impression of humans is a good thing.
“Originally, there was a time when we and humans mingled together. A very long time ago though…”
The boss who was muttering quietly soon shut his mouth tight. Soon smiling brightly, he picked up his phone.
“Good, now I need to organize what to sell! Hansol, can I also put your cookies on the list?”
“Yes, please do. I’ll make a lot for you.”
“Great! If they sell a lot, I’ll give you a hefty bonus. I should, of course.”
“I hope it goes well.”
At my words, the boss cheerfully laughed and prepared to leave work. Not forgetting to mark the festival day on the calendar with a marker.
I greeted the boss who hurriedly opened the door and left work, then let out a small sigh, phew.
A festival… Now that I think about it, I’ve never been to festivals held in the human world either. When I was at that house, they said it would bring bad energy so I couldn’t go, and after leaving that house, life was too busy to think of going. The most I participated in was the university festival. Even then, our department ran a bar so I just did serving and it ended.
I made coffee for myself and slowly drank it. Today was really so quiet that I made cookies, pudding, and since I was hungry, I simply made pizza bread with bread.
Jingle—
“Welcome.”
“Wow, it smells delicious.”
When I turned around, someone wearing a red coat with three eyes was standing there. She widened her eyes and approached closer. At her appearance of sniffing sniff sniff, I smiled and took out the just-finished pizza bread to show her.
“Would you like some? I made quite a lot.”
I failed to adjust the quantity thinking I’d share with customers as usual.
“Yes, give me one of those too. You’re not going to just give it to me again this time, right?”
“I made it because I was hungry… It’s not even on the menu, so I’ll just give it to you.”
“Mm, if I keep receiving like this, karma will accumulate… I’ll give you a talisman after all.”
She who frowned while pondering went to the table, turned her bag upside down, and shook it out thoroughly. Many talismans that were inside fell out. The colors were variously colorful too. Standing in front of the POS, I blinked, then peeked my head out and watched. Just looking, there seemed to be several ominous talismans.
She selected a few from the talismans she took out and approached in front of me and held them out.
“Pick one of these.”
In front of me were five talismans.
Mm, I pondered then soon picked the talisman wrapped in a sky-blue cloth. Because it had the calmest energy among them. But why do I know this? Lately, working at this cafe, I seem to have become more proficient at reading these energies.
“Do you know how to read talismans? That’s the best one I have.”
I actually knew. That I do have some spiritual energy to some extent, though I don’t know how much.
I just wanted to deny it, so I pretended to be indifferent, pretended not to notice and passed it off…
“Uh… um, I’ll choose another one.”
“Oh my, it’s fine. I’m asking because I’m really curious.”
She laughed giggle and handed me the talisman.
“Instead, please continue to treat me to delicious things often.”
An appropriate price. That phrase came to mind, so I nodded. Because I feel this is too much compared to the snacks I’ve given until now.
Thinking I should give pudding too, I packaged the pizza bread and pudding and gave them along with a drink.
She who smiled brightly and waved her hand pointed at the talisman I was gripping tightly as if just remembering.
“You’ll meet a god who is favorable to you.”
“A god?”
Does she mean someone like Mountain God-nim when she says god?
“Yes. It’s a talisman that creates a connection with a god. When you meet a god, try asking them to protect you.”
I’m already receiving so much help. If someone else comes and helps me, I felt like it would be hard to handle that now. The scary feeling that I won’t be able to repay that much.
But I couldn’t ignore her goodwill, so I stared at the talisman and nodded.
“Yes… Now that I look, this suits you much better than the talisman I was going to give you back then. You cursing someone, I really can’t imagine it.”
Is that so? Even I, when I was young, had times when I resented someone and cursed them enough to want to kill them. And even before that…
‘Before that?’
I pondered deeply, then soon made eye contact with her and smiled slightly. Then she said she’d be going and opened the door and left.
I bowed in greeting, then lifted the talisman again and stared at it intently.
Jingle—
“It does smell nice, but…”
I can tell it’s something different, but I’m not sure how precious it is right now. I muttered without noticing someone coming while looking at the talisman. I shook the talisman, then realized someone was in front and hurriedly stuffed the talisman away. Bihyeon, who came in front of the menu board with his suit jacket draped over his shoulder, stared at me intently.
