As expected, is it because of my cookies? If that’s the case, this is pretty satisfying. Actually, it’s more realistic that he comes for surveillance purposes because I’m human. Anyway, if the store does well thanks to that, it’s a good thing.
Since it’s night shift, I can’t really tell whether there are more customers or not though.
Ding-a-ling—
As soon as those words ended, the door opened and familiar faces entered. It was the mantis and fish customers who’ve been coming continuously since I started working part-time.
“Welcome!”
And behind them, I saw a familiar man, Bihyeon. When I went “Oh” and raised my head, those who had been greeting following my gaze turned around to look back. Then they held their breath and quickly moved aside.
He slowly entered, assessed the situation, smiled, and gestured as if to say go first.
“No. Please go first! We’re going to drink leisurely and go… haha…”
The mantis opened their mouth while stammering. Even I felt self-conscious seeing them unable to make eye contact and fidgeting. He didn’t give them looks or anything like that. Of course, I could understand the mantis customer. Perhaps because of the atmosphere he gives off, even without doing anything special, your head naturally bows and you tremble.
“In the order we came. Isn’t that right?”
He slowly tilted his head as he spoke, then soon came to my side first. It seemed like he was trying to order quickly and get out of the way. Phew. I smiled and greeted those secretly breathing sighs of relief from behind and went to the register.
Still, I’m fortunate to be a little less scared than before. Now Bihyeon’s image to me was a high-ranking being who eats delicious things fairly well. Though he’s scary.
…Ah. Come to think of it, I thought he’d come late today so I haven’t made cookies yet.
“Welcome. Um, but there are no cookies today…”
When I raised my hand and spoke, the man lowered his posture to make it easier for me to speak, then smiled slightly.
“Iced Americano.”
Hmm… he’s being considerate because I was trying to whisper. As expected, he doesn’t seem to be an extremely cold being.
I smiled, nodded my head, and turned around. It felt like tremendous stares were piercing from behind, but I pretended not to notice and made the drink.
After brewing the coffee, I held it out to him.
“Here.”
He just stared at me and didn’t take it. When I slowly raised my head, our eyes met. He was making that characteristic cold smile with strange eyes, then belatedly received the drink.
“You should be more careful now.”
“…Pardon?”
When you say it like that, it’s really too ominous and scary.
I blinked and glanced at the boss. This warning doesn’t mean he’ll bury me himself, does it?
I stared at him who only said that and turned around to leave, then nodded slightly.
“Um, goodbye.”
I leaned against the register, blinked, and let out a small breath.
The regular customers who had been keeping their distance approached and watched the door, then stared at me with eyes that found me fascinating.
“You really have guts. Aren’t you scared?”
“Huh? Of what?”
“Of Bihyeon-nim.”
“Uh… I don’t think he’s extremely scary now. His expression is just a bit cold…”
He seems kinder than I thought… Even now, didn’t he quickly leave because other customers were uncomfortable? Thinking about how his steps were faster than usual, I tilted my head thinking that could be the case.
As someone who’s good at reading people… ah, not people. I keep thinking they’re really people because their appearance is human.
“You really are… give me an iced Americano, dear.”
“Yes. Three shots, right?”
“I forgot to say it. As expected, you’re quick on the uptake.”
The fish who smiled as if in a good mood nodded their head.
Ding-a-ling—
“Welcome.”
I pressed the POS and raised my head. Then immediately lowered my eyes, swoosh.
What, what is that?
Someone with long drooping hair entered while wobbling with their head deeply bowed. They had no legs and had scales and were long like a snake’s tail. No, is it really a snake…?
“Oh my, Bidan!”
“Uh, uhhh… H-hello…”
“This child is a snake family neighbor living next door to us. Even though they look like this, they’re very kind.”
The fish who smiled brightly and patted the snake’s back splat splat nodded their head greatly. It seemed like they said it so I wouldn’t be scared. But even if you say that. If they let their hair down completely like a ghost and keep their head bowed, wouldn’t it be scary even knowing they’re kind? Especially for a weak human like me.
“U-um… th-that… tomato juice… please…”
“Yes. That’s 6,000 won.”
I touched the POS and raised my head to receive the card. The snake was restless and when our eyes met, they were startled and frantically searched their pockets. The card they took out with trembling hands eventually fell to the floor, and the person who bent their waist saying “Ah” eventually hit the POS shelf with a thud.
…That must hurt.
“Are you okay…?”
Surprised, I opened my eyes wide and reached out my hand. The snake who had been trembling quickly nodded their head and picked up the card while standing up.
Through the gaps in their hair, tears were welling up in their slightly visible eyes. I was flustered but pretended not to notice and received the card. After processing the payment, I had turned around to make the drink when.
“Ah, um… u-um…”
“Yes.”
“C-cookies are… n-no. I’m sorry!”
“Ah, cookies are…”
Oh, is this a customer who came to eat cookies? Of all days, they came on a day I didn’t make any.
I tried to apologize saying I’m sorry, but the snake customer had already hurriedly gone to a table, so I missed the timing.
I scratched my head and made the drink.
Ah, today I should brew coffee for myself too. I wasn’t the type to like coffee, but I had no choice if I wanted to endure the afternoon shift. I gave drinks to the snake customer and fish customer I was seeing for the first time, then brewed my coffee.
That’s when the boss spoke to me.
“Hansol. Take my card with you and buy ingredients. Okay? I’m giving you cash, but I think you might not be able to buy ingredients freely. It also seems troublesome to take and send receipts diligently.”
Hmm, the cash you’ve given me so far was generous enough so I bought things well. But Boss, aren’t you trusting me too much? Who knows what I’ll do with this card. No, what if I run away with this. I looked at the boss who grabbed my hand and pressed the card into it, then smiled and nodded for now.
“Yes… is there anything you want to eat?”
“Walnut pie!”
“Yes, I’ll make that for you tomorrow.”
The boss held me tightly with moist hands. Thanks to the gaze looking at me while sparkling with eyes that seemed expectant, laughter burst out, haha.
“I’ll make it the most delicious.”
“You’re the best! How did such a lucky charm come in? I should go do volunteer work starting tomorrow.”
Not that much…
I scratched my head and felt good, so I resolved to make more than usual.
“But Hansol.”
The boss who had been grinning the whole time looked at me as if remembering something.
“Yes?”
“You really need to be careful tomorrow. Ah, it’s past 12 so is it today?”
“Huh? Why are you doing this too, Boss? Making me anxious…”
“No… today is a day when the moonlight is weak, so be especially careful. This place will be safe, but it’s not when you go outside.”
Because they spoke with a serious face, even my expression hardened.
Hmmmm, isn’t the boss making a serious expression while looking at me? Is it my imagination? It’s not… I muttered and slowly prepared to leave work.
Like that, after sending off the boss in that unsettling state, I organized the hall alone. Since no one was around, I also ventilated and organized inventory.
4:44.
After finishing organizing and making cookies, I happened to see the clock and checked the time. 444? Of all things, such an ominous number?
Ding-a-ling— Thud.
“Welcome.”
I was diligently wiping the floor with a mop when I looked at the door and greeted.
However, the door opened slightly then closed again.
Ding-a-ling— Thud.
Again. The door opened slightly then closed again. Curious, I approached closer and this time the door opened completely. There was no one entering. The outside was dyed ominously red, so I frowned.
What is it?
It was so entirely red that the scenery couldn’t be seen, so I moved forward slowly while being on guard.
Slide—
“Huh?”
At that moment, the red moved sideways and a vertically slit pupil appeared. Shortly after, when that pupil turned downward, this time white appeared above it. The moment I discovered thin red threads as if blood vessels were visible, goosebumps rose all over my body.
‘It was… an eye?’
I swallowed saliva and took steps backward from going forward while holding my breath.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The eye moved here and there, then this time turned toward me. Perhaps unable to focus, the pupil swayed here and there. While trembling my hands slightly, I took out my phone from my pocket.
“U-um, excuse me.”
…Hm?
The moment I found the boss’s name and pressed the number, a very small voice was heard. I looked around then directed my gaze toward where the sound came from.
“Excuse me… c-can you hear me…?”
Is it my imagination that this timid voice seems to come from that red eye?
“C-coffee, I came to order… c-cookies too together… my son said he wants to eat it so much… so…”
Slide. The slit pupil looked at me precisely.
Then swoosh, it seemed to gradually go backward, and soon the sound of saying something very small was heard. It was too small to interpret what they were saying.
“You need to speak louder, Silk.”
Oh, this time it was a familiar voice.
What entered the store speaking languidly was none other than Bihyeon. At that moment, tension released and I collapsed saying “Whoa.” The person who was smiling going “Hm?” pointed outside with their finger.
“You have to receive the customer, right? Silk is too big so she can’t come in.”
“Y-yes, yes… I should.”
Really… I don’t think I’ve ever been this surprised while working part-time. I covered my face and took deep breaths, then grabbed my trembling legs and barely stood up. I wobbled toward the door and slightly peeked my head outside.
“H-hello…?”
“S-sorry, I’m sorry…! My son said he wants to eat cookies so much…”
Big. Really… incredibly big…
It was a snake so big I had to raise my head to look. About the same as this 3-story building…?
I smiled awkwardly, bowed, and raised my hand.
