His actions were affectionate, but his still-smiling face was quite cold, so it was frightening.
“But Bihyeon-nim. I’m going to the human world to buy gifts…”
“Go ahead.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Well, he’s a deity who goes to the human world to earn money. Thinking about it carefully, there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about.
“If Bihyeon-nim isn’t uncomfortable, let’s go together.”
“Even if I’m uncomfortable, I’m going with you.”
“That’s a bit…”
“Right, stick close to uncomfortable Bihyeon-nim’s side. If you go out alone, I’ll be too anxious to live.”
The bear who brought tea to Bihyeon looked at me and clicked his tongue. The Haechis, as if to assert their presence saying they were there too, hit the bear’s foot with their front paws and yapped. The bear muttered “Oh my” and picked up the two of them. Bihyeon slowly drank his tea and checked the time. Then, seeing that I’d put down my spoon, he stood up from his seat.
“We should get ready soon.”
“Huh? Already time is… we should.”
Perhaps because I ate more leisurely than usual, more time had passed than normal. Still, Munmun will take us there, so we won’t be late.
I got up from my seat, organized the dishes, and hurriedly left the dining room. Then I washed up simply, entered the room, and walked with large strides to the closet. After taking out clothes, I went to the desk right next to it and put the necessary things in my bag. And I pulled out my phone that was plugged into the charger next to the bed. Mm… I felt anew how hard Bihyeon worked to bring furniture and necessary things into the room for me. The room he decorated for me. And the room we’ll continue to share together from now on… I smiled and looked around the room, then came out with my bag.
“Shall we go?”
I approached Bihyeon, who was waiting in the yard while holding the Haechis. He was dressed in a suit today too, as if going to work.
“And to tell you why I absolutely have to go with you.”
Bihyeon handed the Haechis to me. In case I might walk fast, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and slowly headed toward the door. Creak, beyond the opened door, the café was visible.
“The guy who escaped hasn’t been caught yet.”
“The one who escaped… you mean one of the souls that was attached to Aunt?”
I don’t remember the face well, but it’s probably one of the village elders. Since they were the elders who especially upheld Aunt as if she were a deity beside the strange Aunt. At my question, Bihyeon nodded with eyes that had turned cold.
“If they hide among humans, even we can’t find them right away.”
“Among humans? Don’t tell me, possession?”
“That’s probably it. Normally, after having their power drained by your aunt for such a long time, they shouldn’t be able to possess anyone…”
Does that mean they succeeded in possessing someone for some reason? Curiosity surged, but I crossed through the door and headed inside the café for now.
“Let’s talk about it later.”
After giving an eye greeting to the boss, Bihyeon, who saw me, grinned.
“Give me coffee.”
“Iced Americano, right?”
“Yeah.”
I became dazed, enchanted by the smiling face complete with an eye smile. Ah… the order. I came to my senses, went inside, and tied an apron around my waist. I quickly made an iced Americano and gestured to Bihyeon. When I called him, he obediently came forward, and as I stared at him, I felt gazes and looked to the side. The customers in the hall were looking at us with sparkling eyes. Various emotions such as curiosity and shock were glimpsed in their eyes. As expected, you’re popular, Bihyeon-nim.
“I’m going. See you later.”
“Yes, see you later.”
After waving my hand in greeting, I looked at the hall again. When the customers made eye contact with me, they hastily turned their heads.
Ding-a-ling.
Should I check the inventory? It was when I was awkwardly smiling in embarrassment and turning around. The door opened and the shark strode inside. He clacked his sharp teeth together, then immediately checked the place where cookies were stored. Come to think of it, the cookies must have all sold out today because it was completely empty.
“The cookies…”
“Welcome.”
“You said you’d make cookies… sir…!”
The shark yelled in an angry voice. The angry appearance was like a child who had been robbed of something, so it was flustering. With eyes as if he’d lost his country, the way he was on the verge of tears showed he’d really come with high expectations.
“Oh dear, you’ve arrived, Saeon-nim. The store oven broke down again, you see.”
The boss quickly ran over and stood in front of me to speak. Ah, our oven broke down again. No wonder there were too few desserts to sell today, not just cookies. That’s unfortunate. I was thinking about starting to make some cookies… The shark, who let out a deep sigh, seemed to quickly accept the boss’s words but returned to his table without energy.
“Don’t worry, Sola. I’ll go get a good one.”
Perhaps because I looked a bit dejected, the boss spoke to me in a small voice. Grumble. Then a vigorous sound came from the boss’s stomach, so I blinked and checked the refrigerator.
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“I sent Bidan to the night shift… it’s been a while since I did it alone, so I forgot to eat lunch. Haha.”
“Should I make you some toast at least?”
“That would be great!”
Fortunately, the non-humans’ personalities are relaxed, so they’d be understanding even if it took long, otherwise it would have been absolutely impossible for the boss alone. My body needs to get better quickly so I can work longer. Feeling unnecessarily sorry, I smiled and took out the ingredients. After quickly making sugared toast for the boss, I gradually focused on work.
2 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock…
Not knowing how time was passing, I was organizing the hall when I raised my head at a ding-a-ling sound.
“Welco… oh, Bihyeon-nim.”
Is it already time for me to leave work? When I checked the clock, it was approaching quitting time. The boss was organizing the counter when he bowed in greeting to Bihyeon and gestured to me.
“Perfect timing. Since there are gradually no customers, go home, Sola.”
“Just this and then.”
“It’s fine, so hurry and go! You didn’t rest even once today. Quickly.”
That’s because the working hours are short… The boss who approached me pushed my back. Eventually, I was semi-forcibly sent into the staff room where I untied my apron and organized. I held the Haechis who had been playing in the back in my arms, gathered my bag, and came out to the hall. Bihyeon, who had been leaning against a table looking at a tablet PC with an expressionless face, approached me with a kind smile.
“I’ll be going, Boss.”
“Alright, see you tomorrow, Sola.”
After greeting the boss who was waving his hand, I took Bihyeon and left the store. I looked around at the alley scenery in front of the store that I was seeing after a long time, then grabbed Bihyeon’s arm. First, I should go somewhere without people. I took out my phone and opened the map. Let’s see, there’s a stationery store near here… I went out onto the road where I’d collapsed after meeting the Creator God before and walked slowly.
“You don’t really need to worry about me.”
Bihyeon, who immediately noticed I was going somewhere without people, smiled with his eyes. Though he said that, he seemed happy that I was doing this action thinking of him. Seeing those eyes made me feel good too, so I smiled along.
Like that, I walked slowly through the streets following the map. It’s around here. While looking around, I found a stationery store and next to it a small café decorated cutely. Strangely, the café caught my eye more than the stationery store I’d originally decided to go to. Looking at the sign with the name “Solsol,” I opened my mouth.
“Bihyeon-nim. After going to the stationery store, can we go to the café?”
“Why are you asking permission? If you’re curious, you can just go.”
Bihyeon, who had clasped my hand, walked toward the stationery store. His steps were slow to match my stride.
– Kking?
The Haechis who had been walking beside me raised their heads and wagged their tails.
– Uwoong!
I looked at their panting, brightly smiling faces, then moved my gaze back to the café. Perhaps they were baking bread inside, as a savory and sweet smell came through the slightly open door gap. As if enchanted, I stared inside the café, then came to my senses and turned around to go to the stationery store first. Then the Haechis bit the hem of my pants and whined while pulling me toward the café.
“Byeol, Dal. Do you want to eat bread?”
– Kkuwoong!
“It’s about time to eat, so are you hungry… but can these guys eat bread made by humans?”
“Mm.”
At my question, Bihyeon made a strange smile while looking at me and the Haechis. Without any particular answer, he took me inside the old stationery store. While looking around the narrow store, I discovered star candy and approached closer.
“Who are you giving the gift to?”
“Saebyeok-nim. I thought it would look pretty if I put it in the glass bottle he gave me with the medicine… is it no good?”
I thought this would be a gift that wasn’t too much and could be seen as cute. When I spoke while watching his reaction, Bihyeon laughed, “Haha.”
“No, if it’s for Saebyeok-nim, I think he’d really like it.”
As expected, seeing Bihyeon use honorifics, it’s certain he’s a higher being. Should I put this down and buy something expensive even now? After much deliberation, I picked out a few star candies and paid. After bowing my head to the kindly smiling grandfather, I turned to leave the stationery store.
“They’re cute puppies.”
“…Pardon?”
“These little rascals. What are your names?”
The grandfather, who knelt down with a “Coochie coo” to look at the Haechis closely, petted the two who were wagging their tails wildly. I blinked and made eye contact with Bihyeon. He mouthed to me, “Pupils.”
Pupils? I glanced at the grandfather’s pupils. They were shining in a faint gray color. This wasn’t a natural eye color, this was… a soul that was about to go out soon. I trembled my hands slightly and hurriedly turned my gaze elsewhere. The grandfather, who had been petting the Haechis for quite a while, stood up, picked up a few snacks from the display, and pressed them into my hand.
“Feed these babies. Since we opened them, share and eat them all together.”
“Uh… thank you.”
“They’re such babies. How can they be so clear and clean?”
After smiling along with the grandfather who smiled kindly while saying incomprehensible words, I left the stationery store. I felt strange. Feeling as if I’d peeked at something I shouldn’t have seen, I clutched my chest, and Bihyeon held my hand. Not knowing what words to say, I moved my lips. At that moment, the Haechis stared at my face intently, then rushed straight toward the café.
“Huh? You guys!”
I hurriedly tried to catch them but lost them at my fingertips. Uwah, Bihyeon caught my staggering body as I reached out, then smoothly looked toward the café before moving his gaze to me. As soon as I regained my balance and came to my senses, I grabbed his hand and ran to the café. Of course, before running out, he pulled me back and changed it to a brisk walk.
