I 07

Chapter 07

A thick woody scent washed over her like a wave.

It was quite fascinating—Gyobeom and Suho wore fragrances that were the complete opposite of their respective images.

Gyobeom preferred a cool, refreshing scent like the sea, while Suho favored a heavy, deep woody fragrance.

Perhaps it suited their mismatched personalities.

“Let me see.”

“It’s fine, I wasn’t seriously hurt.”

“The hospital? Did you go?”

“No.”

“Let’s go.”

At times like this, Suho and Gyobeom seemed alike too. Chayun let out a small laugh without meaning to.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Oh, nothing. I just… thought that you and Gyobeom… that you’re similar in some ways, even though you’re different.”

Suho hesitated for a moment, then gave an awkward smile. But Chayun didn’t notice.

“…Really? In what way?”

“How you’re both impatient. Gyobeom said the exact same thing to me.”

Suho quickly changed the subject so Chayun wouldn’t think about Gyobeom any further.

“So, the hospital?”

“I didn’t go. I just fell and scraped my knees a little.”

“Still, let’s go. What if it leaves a scar?”

“It’s okay. I got proper first aid.”

“…From Gyobeom?”

Chayun nodded.

“Yes.”

The corners of Suho’s mouth tightened.

Gyobeom had treated Chayun’s knees. Her knees.

“I’ll drive you.”

“No, it’s okay. I brought my car too.”

He gave a wry smile.

Chayun was the same as ever—then and now. Kind and gentle, yet not easily letting anyone close.

…Except for Gyobeom.

Suho, who had long held feelings for Chayun, knew all too well where her gaze was directed.

“You seem more at ease now.”

“Excuse me?”

“For a while, you didn’t bring up Gyobeom. You didn’t even want to hear about him.”

“Ah…”

That was still the case. Even now, she didn’t feel like talking about Gyobeom or even hearing about him.

It was just that one word he’d left behind was shaking her heart.

—

*”I’ll see you again.”*

—

How foolish. How stubbornly attached.

That person had probably already forgotten he’d even said such a thing.

Maybe right now, he was with his father, choosing a marriage partner for a blind date.

“I’ve wanted to ask you for a while. What the reason is.”

At Suho’s words, Chayun bit her lower lip gently.

*Because I like Gyobeom. But that person only thinks of me as a toy, at best.*

Since she couldn’t possibly say that, she decided to just play dumb.

“Did I do that?”

Suho’s chest tightened.

She was always like this. She never revealed her true feelings to him, never told him anything.

Every time he thought they were getting closer, she immediately pulled away—it frustrated him… and yet, she was so lovely. So unbearably lovely.

“Then I’ll be going now, Senior. I’ve kept you too long—you must be busy.”

“I’m the one who kept you, not the other way around.”

Always, as always.

“Chayun.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s meet this weekend.”

At the sudden suggestion, Chayun blinked her wide eyes.

“This weekend?”

“Yeah. I’ll come to the café in the evening. I have something to give you too.”

“Ah… yes, okay. How about Saturday?”

“Great. See you then. Drive safely.”

At his worried, gentle gaze and voice, Chayun smiled and nodded.

“I’m a great driver. You know that, Senior.”

“Right. Driver Hong.”

The two smiled faintly at each other.

“Get home safe.”

“Yes, you too, Senior.”

Watching Chayun’s retreating figure heading toward her white SUV, Suho clenched his hand inside his pocket.

He wanted to hold her back. He wanted to follow her. He wanted to be the one who had the right to do so.

*When will you realize my feelings? Chayun.*

While he was in America, he’d thought of Chayun constantly.

Especially whenever he went to a café—he’d think of her. Then one time, at a café he’d become a regular at, a female owner got into an argument with a large male customer.

The female owner rationally and logically refuted the other’s wrongdoings point by point, but there was no overcoming the physical difference in strength.

Suho helped report the incident while blocking the unreasonable male customer.

After that incident, he’d been worried sick about Chayun.

What if she, too, had gone through something like this? What if she was going through it right now?

He wished he could be by her side to protect her—that feeling grew stronger.

“Senior, I’m going!”

Chayun rolled down her window and waved her hand.

“Yeah, drive safe. Make sure you treat your knee properly. I’ll be checking on Saturday.”

At that, she burst out laughing.

“Senior, you’re just like my grandmother. Exactly like Ms. Shin Okchun.”

It was clear. Dazzling. Radiant.

Like she stood at the border between spring and summer—Chayun had always been like that.

Suho stood watching until her white SUV disappeared from view, then drew in a shallow breath.

“I wish spring would come for me too.”

I wish you would be that spring, Chayun.

—

***

The next day.

Returning to the café, Chayun greeted Minjae, her part-time worker.

“Minjae, long time no see.”

“Boss! Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You must be feeling down. Losing someone close to you.”

Chairman Gu Daehan and Chayun were not close. Far from it—they were as distant as heaven and earth.

If she hadn’t been part of “Hyeonhamwon’s family,” she wouldn’t have had any reason to attend the funeral of Gu Group Chairman Gu Daehan.

“Yeah, well… thanks for worrying about me.”

Smiling softly, Chayun clapped her hands together.

“Alright, shall we get ready to open? Customers will be here soon.”

“Yes!”

Chayun stretched her arms up high.

Starting today, everything was back to normal. Life without Gyobeom.

*Nothing changes.*

She just needed to keep her own fluttering heart in check.

Tapping her cheeks lightly with her palms, Chayun handed a lemonade to Minjae as he came out wearing his apron.

“I really missed this. Your lemonade, Boss. I can’t think straight without it.”

“Oh no? I appreciate you saying that, but I can’t give you a bonus for it.”

“Ah, Boss! Please don’t misinterpret my sincerity like that!”

Watching Minjae, whose face had turned red as he jumped up, Chayun laughed out loud. At just twenty-three, Minjae was a university student who was fun to tease.

*Ah, I wish I had a younger brother like Minjae.*

“Okay, okay. Drink that and get your head straight.”

That was just as much Chayun saying it to herself.

*Get your head straight, Hong Chayun.*

*Forget Gu Gyobeom. From now on, there’ll be no more entanglements with him.*

—

***

Saturday morning.

A message had arrived from Suho.

[Chayun. Would it be okay if I come to the café by 6?]

“Right. Today’s the day I’m having dinner with Suho.”

[Yes. See you later, Senior!]

[Okay. Think about what you want to eat. I’m fine with anything.]

“Honestly, he’s so kind. No wonder all the girls are crazy about him.”

Chuckling, Chayun put down her phone and moved tables, chairs, and parasols out into the café’s courtyard.

“Huff. Phew, that’s tiring. I should treat Minjae well.”

Today was Minjae’s day off, so Chayun had to handle everything alone.

Fortunately, there weren’t many customers. The café was located near office buildings, so it was busy on weekdays but quiet on holidays.

Still, Chayun opened the café anyway.

She truly enjoyed the cozy time spent in her own space.

In the morning, she served three iced Americanos, one hot matcha latte, and one lemonade. The weather was nice, so cold drinks were selling well.

“We should probably do desserts too.”

*Ah. But I’m not confident in baking. Would Minjae be able to do it?*

“…Probably not. And he’ll need to start preparing for job hunting soon anyway.”

*Never mind. It’s still manageable, so let’s focus on perfecting the drinks for now.*

Thinking this, Chayun greeted the incoming customers.

Every time she saw people enjoying the drinks she made, Chayun felt happy.

No matter how she thought about it, running a café suited her far better than working at a company.

*It’s so strange. Me, becoming a café owner.*

Just a year ago, Chayun had been working at a company.

Her academic background and credentials were decent, and if she’d wanted to, she could have joined any affiliate of the Gu Group—but not wanting any point of contact with Gyobeom, Chayun had applied to and been accepted at a large electronics company unrelated to the Gu Group.

It was a decent company with good pay, but it wasn’t fun.

No, it wasn’t just not fun—it was miserable.

The work was boring, but the biggest stress was an older, unmarried department manager who kept hitting on her and making advances.

She’d never experienced anything like that while living at Hyeonhamwon, where order was strictly maintained. Even during university, the only things she’d gotten from guys her age were shy confessions—no one had ever approached her so dirtily.

The manager was in the executive line with strong backing, so no one could stop him.

—

“Hong Deputy. How about marrying me? I know the marriageable age has been pushed back these days, but for women, the later you go, the worse the deal. You have to go when you’re fresh.”

“I’m a person, not produce, Manager.”

“You’re so funny, our Hong Deputy. You’ve got such a sense of humor. I wonder if you’re like that at night too…”

“If you speak to me like that one more time, I’ll report you to the Personnel Committee!”

“Re-report? This is why you shouldn’t work with women! So narrow-minded—can’t even take a joke properly, and anything happens and you run to tattle somewhere. Tsk!”

—

After that day, the manager would oppose everything Chayun did, picking fights over every little thing with his eyes blazing.

Eventually, he deliberately omitted Chayun’s report, nearly ruining an entire project. Naturally, all the blame fell on her.

With people’s resentment, the manager’s continued harassment, and his subtle sexual advances, Chayun decided to quit. It was hard to say it wasn’t an impulsive decision.

So, at a company dinner that doubled as her farewell party—though not entirely for her sake—Chayun was conflicted.

Honestly, quitting wasn’t that easy. Maybe she should endure a little longer. Yes, endure. If she swallowed her pride for the moment, she could secure a stable tomorrow.

Just as she’d made up her mind—

“Hong Deputy. If you apologize now, I’ll forgive you.”

“…I don’t think I’ve done anything that requires an apology.”

“There you go again, being so proud. Come on, give me a kiss. Then I’ll forget about everything and treat you well from now on.”

—

Her mind went blank. She splashed beer on the manager’s face as he pointed to his own lips, then grabbed his partial wig—ripping it off—and threw it to the floor.

And with that, Chayun sealed her resignation.

“…What a tumultuous life, Hong Chayun.”

Remembering how the manager had ranted that he’d use all his connections to make sure she could never find another job, she couldn’t even muster the courage to apply anywhere else.

*I was crazy. I should have held back a little. At least I shouldn’t have taken off his partial wig. That was something only I knew about.*

It was after she’d spent several days just sighing heavily at home.

A senior she’d been close with at work contacted her, saying she was nearby and wanted to see her.

—

“Hongcha, how are you?”

“Yeah, well… you’re doing well, Senior?”

“I’m fine. Except that every time I see the manager, I remember the scene of his partial wig flying off like a lid, and I’m dying trying not to laugh?”

“Hah… I must have been out of my mind.”

“Out of your mind? That was totally satisfying. Oh, by the way—have you found a new job yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Have you ever thought about running a café?”

“Huh? A café, all of a sudden?”

—

The senior said an acquaintance of hers had to suddenly give up their shop because their mother in America had fallen ill.

—

“Originally the rent was pretty high, but she arranged it with the building owner. For less than half the market price.”

—

On top of that, all the equipment and furniture inside had been replaced with brand new ones.

Chayun, who had become disillusioned with corporate life after this incident, was intrigued.

She’d never thought about running a café in her life, but maybe being her own boss wouldn’t be so bad?

With that thought, she eagerly accepted the offer, and now she was leading a very satisfying life.

“I used up all my luck in that one moment.”

So she should be grateful and work hard.

Reaffirming this to herself, Chayun welcomed customers and took care of every corner of the café without wasting a single minute until the time Suho was supposed to arrive.

“It’s already five.”

Chayun changed the sign on the door to “Closed” and adjusted the lighting.

She should tell Senior to come through the back door.

Just as she was about to send a message—*ding*—she heard the sound of the door opening.

“I’m sorry, but we’re only open until five today…”

Chayun’s eyes went wide.

“H-how did you get here…”

“By car.”

It was Gyobeom.