“Who said what?”
She who had been watching us from behind with fascinated eyes snapped her fingers as if remembering something. Unlike other customers, she didn’t seem to be scared of Bihyeon.
She took out a talisman drawn in red from her pocket and handed it to me.
I didn’t know much about talismans, but this one also gave me an ominous feeling.
“It’s a talisman that finds and curses the human who cursed you. I just made it today, so it worked out well. Hmm, with this much, the other party will be cruelly torn to death.”
Curse a curse… even to death? What kind of scary object is this?
When I didn’t accept that talisman, she held it out toward me more.
“Take it. That doesn’t seem like it’ll end before you die.”
“Uh. Um… thank you, but I’m fine.”
“What’s fine? Then does that mean you’re okay with dying yourself?”
“That’s not it but…”
Is it not? Actually, I don’t know.
When I moved my lips and shook my head slightly, she immediately threw out another question.
“Then why won’t you accept it?”
She twisted her neck eerily. Her eyes were puzzled as if she couldn’t understand me.
“Still, killing someone else is a bit…”
Of course, then the curse on me would disappear and I could escape death. But that could never be called a good method.
Rather, isn’t that the worst choice?
I had an idea of who cursed me, so I didn’t want to do that even more.
I hate you, and when I was young, I really wished you would die, but…
“There’s no other way. You don’t want to die, right?”
I didn’t answer that question.
She who had been watching me quietly soon shrugged her shoulders and sighed as if deflated.
“Do as you wish. By the way, are there no cookies? They’re so famous that I came to eat them, but I don’t see any.”
“Ah, the morning ones all sold out… I have newly made cookies, so I’ll give you some.”
The boss said to sell the snacks I made at dawn, but if I want to just give them to customers since I made them, I should do so. I went into the kitchen in the back and brought several baked cookies on a plate. I took out wrapping paper from the counter, wrapped them carefully, then held them out to her.
“Here.”
“Huhu, I’ll come again. If you change your mind, tell me anytime. I’ll keep this talisman without selling it.”
So this world buys and sells talismans too.
I smiled slightly and bowed my head.
“I’m fine. Goodbye.”
Ding-a-ling.
She shrugged and waved her hand as she left. I felt drained and let out a small sigh. Then I looked at Bihyeon. But why did he come again when he already came earlier?
“Should I give you an Americano?”
“Ah, I came to deliver this.”
Bihyeon who had been staring at me intently while looking at the door smiled and handed me a shopping bag.
Looking inside, something was wrapped in wrapping cloth. I glanced around then slightly unwrapped it. There were delicious-looking yakgwa inside. I sparkled my eyes, took it out, held it, and looked at him. Can I eat this? It’s mine, right?
“The fox and tiger asked me to deliver it. They said it’s a return gift.”
“Can I eat one now?”
He shrugged as if to say do as I wish.
I took a big bite of the yakgwa.
“Wow, whoa.”
What is this? Why is it so delicious?
I ate one whole thing on the spot and looked down seriously at the rest.
“This is all mine, right?”
“If so?”
“I’m going to save it and eat it. One a day… then will it spoil? Ah! Do you want one?”
“I’m fine. I already ate a lot.”
He who laughed lowly, haha, said he was done with his business and turned his body as if to leave the café.
“Please tell them thank you. For sure!”
He who only turned his head to look at me waved his hand roughly and left.
What a shame. If it matches the ending time, we’d leave together… By the way, Bihyeon-nim, have I become a bit more comfortable now? I smiled slightly and glanced inside the shopping bag. Looking at how he came to the café specifically to deliver this, it seems he doesn’t terribly dislike me now.
‘Just one more bite…?’
I bit my lips hard but eventually took out one more, ate one bite, and put it back.
Wow, really… it’s too delicious.
I chewed and started thinking about other things blankly.
As expected, when you’re alone at night, you have many thoughts. Only lonely, desolate, and painful thoughts come.
‘I should look for an afternoon shift again later.’
I want to rest for just a few days, really that feeling is like a chimney… My condition was also continuing to worsen, but I had no time to rest.
Even though working at the café gave me a little breathing room, that was when I had two part-time jobs. This alone couldn’t solve all the living expenses and debt.
My appetite suddenly disappeared, so I moved my lips then jumped up. Let’s clean. As expected, when you move busily, even stray thoughts disappear.
6 o’clock.
After greeting the boss who hurriedly arrived, it was time to leave work.
After finishing preparations to leave, I came out with my bag and slowly left the café. The sun was slowly rising now.
I was sleepy but didn’t want to go home.
Ha, I walked down the road and let out a small sigh, then arrived in front of my house and touched the doorknob.
Flinch.
Again, someone’s gaze touched my back.
These days, I felt these signs of presence both outside and inside like this, so I really hated home.
Creak— thud.
But if I don’t enter the house, I can’t sleep, and there’s nowhere else to go.
I didn’t have what you’d call a friend, so I couldn’t bring myself to ask to be put up. One person came to mind, but I refused and avoided them because I wasn’t used to friendship, so it’s a bit…
I stood at the entrance and looked around. I took off my shoes and went inside, opened all the doors, and checked inside. It didn’t seem like anyone was there, but the gaze that felt like someone was watching me still remained.
‘Why is this really happening…’
I’m having a hard time just getting through each day as it is.
“Sigh…”
I checked the time. I washed up moderately and came out, sat in front of the bed, and took out one yakgwa that Bihyeon gave me and put it in my mouth.
Chew chew. I ate that instead of breakfast and lunch while gulping down water.
With this much, I roughly solved one meal, didn’t I? At this point, I didn’t have the strength to prepare and eat something.
After finishing eating and even brushing my teeth, I came out and lay down. I feel so tired I think I’ll fall asleep quickly… Perhaps because of stress or because of this persistently felt uncomfortable gaze, sleep wouldn’t come. I tossed and turned while picking up my phone.
Buzz—
Aunt
Are you really not coming back home?
Aunt
Still haven’t matured? If you don’t want to die, come in quickly
I looked at the phone then tossed it to the side of the blanket.
‘I’m suffocating.’
I pulled the blanket up to cover to the top of my head and placed my phone on top.
The vibration rang once more, but I deliberately didn’t check. I just wanted to sleep.
***
“Hansol came? But… you look too tired these days.”
“Do I? I came after sleeping more though.”
In the end, a dejected day today after failing to find a daytime part-time job. I was at the café after lounging at home. As soon as I arrived, the boss who grabbed my hand firmly spoke. Splat, the slippery hand touched me, so I trembled slightly.
“Ah, and I interviewed part-timers in the morning. Remember the kid who came last time? The snake. That kid came too.”
That snake human-nim?
Unexpected. They didn’t seem like the personality who could serve customers.
“Yes yes, I remember.”
“Half of the kids who came for interviews said they fell for your cookies and want to learn! Puhaha. As expected, you’re a lucky charm, a lucky charm!”
Oh, because they want to learn cookies? Good and proper beings.
“So did you hire a part-timer?”
“I don’t know yet. It’s good they fell for your cookies, but you might be uncomfortable, and you might not want to teach. I’m trying to hire a normal kid as much as possible…”
“I’m fine. Teaching seems like it would be fun too.”
“Let’s watch a bit more. I’d feel too sorry if I asked you to do that too. Of course, I’ll pay you money for it!”
Really, I’m fine… with money? Then that’s too good. While teaching, I also get practice, and if the amount I can make increases, wouldn’t that be good for the café too? Plus, paying me money—it’s perfect.
I wanted to say it’s very good, but seeing the boss’s face speaking seriously, I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud. Boss… your face has impact.
With a lizard-like face like that, it was quite scary, but I laughed awkwardly, ahahaha.
Ding-a-ling—
As soon as the door sounded, I raised my head quickly. Because I wondered if it was Bihyeon who’s been starting to come a bit early these days. But what entered inside were the regular customers who always came. I smiled and welcomed them and headed to the counter.
Fish and octopus customers are welcome, but I felt somewhat disappointed. I scratched my cheek, processed the payment, and made drinks.
“But, Hansol.”
“Yes?”
The boss who called me nonchalantly raised their head and made eye contact.
“Do you really have no idea about the curse?”
“…Yes.”
Actually, I do, but… has the curse gotten worse?
“You, if it weren’t for that tremendous thing you have right now, you’d already be dead.”
At that moment, the three-eyed woman’s words came to mind—that the curse won’t be lifted until I die.
I flinched my fingers then touched the phone in my pocket. Tremendous thing… Looking at how the boss said that, it seems the paper Bihyeon gave me is blocking my curse right now. When he comes later, I should tell him thank you. I should make something by then.
But if I die from the curse, does a tremendous accident happen like a car crashing into a building like before?
A car accident…
I frowned because it was a memory I didn’t want to recall.
‘I want to die without pain…’
I wasn’t scared of dying. That would just be a bit unfair. But if possible, I wanted to die comfortably and painlessly. Since I’ve been in too much pain and struggled until now, I hoped at least death would be comfortable.
Really… it’s difficult. That even when dying, I have to hurt because of others.
As I was thinking expressionlessly for a moment, the boss approached close and grabbed my hand firmly.
“Don’t worry. While you’re here, I’ll protect you! When working at the café, don’t go wandering outside as much as possible! Depend on me for all the ingredients too.”
At those words, I made eye contact and smiled slightly.
“Yes.”
How many chances in my life will I get to work under a boss like this?
Thinking I should enjoy the present, I answered with a smile, then moved diligently.
