If I try to guess roughly by intuition, does it mean he’s even more amazing than I think? If he’s someone who can obliterate humans… a god?
Since my family is one that worships gods, it’s not something I can’t believe, but it’s a very uncomfortable word for me…
“Yes, it’s fortunate that person changed their mind. Phew…”
“That’s right. That’s good.”
When I spoke brightly with a smile, the customers sighed and returned to their seats.
Hmm, should I make some walnut pie to commemorate keeping my part-time job?
***
Today too, time passed peacefully.
2:40.
3:20.
5:51…
Like that, a time when there would be no customers.
I was just finishing cleaning and preparing to leave work when ding-a-ling, at the sound of the door opening, I automatically jumped up, made a service smile, and greeted them.
Oh, you came a bit earlier today. The boss rushed in wiping sweat with a handkerchief and gestured for me to hurry and go.
“Go ahead and rest. You look really tired these days.”
“Yes, I’ll be leaving work. Boss is the best.”
I greeted them brightly like that and tidied up the apron I’d taken off. Ding-a-ling— the sound of the door opening once more was heard. I naturally called out “Welcome” and turned around to see that man entering the café.
I looked at the boss who secretly gestured for me to hurry and go since they’d handle it, then smiled slightly and headed to the staff room to collect my things.
I came out carrying my old bag and was greeting the boss when my eyes met with the man who had already received his coffee.
Oh, wow. Seeing him up close, he’s really tall and frighteningly handsome.
But I think I caught the timing wrong. Should I have stayed in the staff room a bit longer? Looking at how the man was about to leave right after receiving his coffee, it seemed our paths would overlap.
“I’ll be going. See you later, Boss.”
“Okay. Rest well!”
Hmm, but come to think of it, I didn’t do anything wrong, so what does it matter?
I was about to slip back inside but changed my mind, greeted the boss brightly, then opened the door and waited for the man.
The man who took a sip of coffee smiled. Looking closely, he had a dimple on one cheek.
I’ve seen him several times now but only noticed it now. Well, I was too scared to properly look at his face…
“Um… aren’t you going?”
Even with the door open, he stood there for a while staring at my face as if it was fascinating. When I pointed outside with my hand, he strode over, held the door for me, and gestured with his head as if to say go first. Perhaps because his legs were long, his walking pace was incredibly fast too.
Oh, manners.
After I went out, the man who closed the door turned his body on the path ahead and went on his way.
At this point, my competitive spirit kicked in, so I approached almost running, then walked beside the man. Then he stared at me with eyes that seemed to ask why I was following. It wasn’t a feeling of dislike, but it wasn’t a welcoming atmosphere either.
“We’re going the same way. I’m going this way too.”
There was no answer. Ah, right. They said this man really hates humans.
It seems I was the only one who developed internal familiarity. I stopped walking for a moment. This time the man looked at me as if asking what now.
That coldly smiling face is starting to become familiar now. I smiled slightly, then looked straight into his eyes and waved my hands shooing him as if to say hurry and go first. Then the man’s eyes noticeably showed amusement.
“It seems like you’d dislike walking with me. Please go ahead. Oh right, if you come when I’m there later, I’ll give you walnut pie.”
I waved my hand while smiling. The man who had been looking at me gestured roughly as if to say do as you please, turned around, and left.
Whoever it is, the person who gives delicious things is the best. Where is there an exception to that? Ah, not a person.
Even after he left, I stood there for quite a while, then looked at the ground, soon tapped the ground with my foot, made a bright expression, and headed home.
***
Droopy eyes like a puppy and hair neatly trimmed at a hair salon for my part-time job. Looking at myself in the mirror, my thoughts were that I was thin and small.
‘I haven’t been eating well lately. There are a lot of things on my mind…’
With my aunt and various things.
I sighed and put on large round glasses to cover my face that had become haggard from fatigue.
I took out the egg tarts I made yesterday while organizing my thoughts from the refrigerator and put them in a shopping bag. As expected, when I’m stressed or need to organize my thoughts, making something is the best.
I’ll be going now.
I muttered to myself while looking at the family photo placed beside my blanket. After that, I checked the time, picked up the shopping bag, and put on sneakers from the shoe cabinet to leave the house. The moment I stood up, an ominous energy suddenly flowed through my entire body.
“Ugh…”
I suddenly got goosebumps, frowned, and shivered. When I grabbed the doorknob and opened it, thud, something fell from the door.
What? I tilted my head and picked it up.
“Ah!”
My hand stung, so I dropped the small yellow paper I’d picked up.
On that paper, something was written in red, but it was badly smeared so I couldn’t read it.
Like blood…
“What the hell.”
Making me feel strange before going to work.
I picked up what was on the floor, went back inside the house, tore it to shreds, and threw away the trash. Then I left the house again.
Maybe because I saw something ominous. The whole way walking to my part-time workplace, my shoulders felt heavy, so I tapped them, pat pat.
Ding-a-ling—
“Hello.”
15 minutes before my shift.
When I entered the staff room, put on my apron and came out, the boss who had been sniffing the air looked at me. There were no eyebrows so I couldn’t tell for sure, but they seemed to be grimacing.
“Boss?”
“Hansol, you. Did you meet someone? This… something… feels a bit unpleasant.”
“Me? Do I look unpleasant today…?”
…I’m only wearing glasses today though?
“No, the energy. Hmmmm, what is this?”
At that moment, the yellow paper I touched came to mind.
Huh? Come to think of it, was that a talisman?
“Uh… no, I didn’t meet anyone.”
Ding-a-ling—
“Boss Ppik, I’m he… Hm? What’s this smell?”
The fish came in and sniffed the air, getting closer and closer to me.
“Oh my, what is this! Who did you meet? Hm?!”
Startled, eyes wide open, they quickly brushed off my shoulders. They spoke so fast it was dizzying.
“No, I didn’t meet anyone… Eoun-nim. First, your order, you need to order.”
“Is that the problem? Sheesh.”
Isn’t that the problem for a customer though…?
I stood in front of the register and peeked out my face. Then he looked at the menu and smiled.
“Give me an iced Americano, dear. With three extra shots.”
“Yes. You’ll have cookies too, right?”
“Of course! Just thinking about the cookies makes me excited already.”
I smiled along with him, processed the payment, and made the drink.
Like that, taking orders from regular customers and moving busily, it became 3:20.
Cleaning was all done, and there were no customers.
After wiping the tables once more, I touched the oven to make something.
Ding-a-ling—
“Welcome. Oh, you came?”
It was that man, Bihyeon.
Bihyeon, who was entering while taking out his wallet, said “Hmm?” and smiled while tilting his head. Then he approached close to me, leaned his head forward, and sniffed softly.
At that action, I reflexively raised my arm and smelled myself like he did. Every customer who sees me today does this. What is it? Is there such a thing as an ominous smell?
“Should I give you an iced Americano?”
“Yes, give me that and…”
When I sparkled my eyes and shook the bag containing walnut pie, he laughed haha with just his mouth and shrugged his shoulders. Then he reached out and tapped my shoulder lightly. Actually, rather than tapping, it would be more accurate to say he brushed it off.
“You should be careful for a while.”
“Pardon?”
Suddenly what kind of ominous words are these…
The person who seemed to be pondering something soon didn’t say anything and stepped back. It seemed they felt there was no need to tell me in detail.
Wow, still, we’ve seen each other for several days. Still, I didn’t think it was too much. Even if they like my cookies, they might still dislike me. How could everyone like me? I’m fortunate just to have kept this part-time job. Yeah, that’s right.
I made the drink and packaged one slice of walnut pie to hand over together.
“I made it less sweet but… just in case, I only put one. Of course it’ll be delicious though.”
When I spoke confidently, they laughed haha and took it.
“I’ll eat well in moderation?”
Why is it in question form…?
“Be careful of tea for a while.”
After pondering, they seemed to have finally decided to tell me.
“Tea? The drinking kind?”
At my question, they smiled and turned their body without a word and left the café.
Tea? Don’t tell me, a car? Am I going to get into an accident?
…Wow… I’m worried now.
***
Thud.
What?
When I left the house to go to work, something strange was stuck on the door again. This time there was no stinging feeling in my hand, but I could see an ominous red color just by looking. I picked up the yellow paper and examined it. Unlike the first day, the letters weren’t smeared so I thought I’d be able to tell what it was.
‘Huh?’
I don’t know much about these things, but I had things I’d seen over others’ shoulders and learned.
At least I could roughly tell what was written on the talisman.
Especially if it was a curse.
“What! Why is the smell stronger today? You need to break up with whatever human you’re seeing now. Just never see them again for the rest of your life! Cut off all ties!”
And as soon as I arrived at the café, I could be certain seeing the boss shouting with a serious face.
That talisman is a curse talisman.
I want to cut ties too, but I don’t know who did this to me, so I can’t break up or anything. Flustered, I shook my head and stepped back one step to mean calm down.
“Uh… um, but where did all the cookies go?”
“They all sold out, of course! Ever since you came, because Bihyeon-nim visits our store often, customers are overflowing. Your cookies played a part too.”
Is it like a celebrity coming and promoting? I nodded my head up and down, then laughed along with the boss for now.
If my cookies are popular, that’s good for me.
Hmm, now I really don’t have to worry about getting fired.
“That person… did Bihyeon-nim not come often originally?”
“Right! It’s his jurisdiction area, so he comes occasionally. Until you came, he used to come about once a month. He fairly visits all the other stores occasionally too.”
Aha. So he doesn’t pick just one place to go to consistently.
