🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 2
Why is he here?
The part-timer who had run the café while Yoon-ah buried herself in studying for the college entrance exam was none other than Yeong-won. She had never even known his major was Business Administration. Her mind went blank.
How could such a coincidence even happen? Lips parting nervously, Yoon-ah carefully asked:
“Um… Yeong-won, did you already know? Is that why we ended up paired together…?”
“…No.”
“Then how…?”
If not, then this was truly an unbelievable coincidence. But this time, Yeong-won was the one asking the question.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“…Tell you what?”
“That you applied to Yeonhui University’s Business Administration program.”
“Ah… was that… something I should’ve told you…?”
She had simply kept quiet, thinking it was more considerate that way. But had it been the wrong choice?
Watching his silent, unreadable expression, Yoon-ah grew uneasy. And then, another question:
“Do you have first period?”
“No… on Tuesdays I start second period…”
“Come with me.”
Before she could even process her own answer, he was already striding away. Flustered, Yoon-ah hurried after him.
He led her straight to the parking lot. Without hesitation, Yeong-won walked up to her white Benz, unlocked it, and opened the driver’s door. Standing there dazed, Yoon-ah heard him say:
“Get in the passenger seat.”
“…Where are we going? There’s not much time—”
“All the more reason to move quickly.”
He cut her words off flat, sliding into the driver’s seat. Worry creased her brow as she checked her watch, but in the end, she did as she was told.
The moment the car started, she asked anxiously:
“Yeong-won, at least tell me where we’re going. I only have about an hour until second period.”
“To the café. Once we arrive, I’ll circle the car. Change into your work clothes and come back out. If you walk into class dressed like that, everyone’s going to stare.”
“…Ah…”
Her gaze dropped to her own outfit. Why hadn’t she thought of wearing the café uniform—just a simple shirt and jeans? Instead, she brushed nervously at the hem of her dress.
“I… overdid it, didn’t I? I was so excited, I couldn’t even sleep. The more time I had, the more I fussed over my outfit, and then…”
“…You just put your effort in the wrong direction.”
“Hahaha. So you think so too, huh?”
Laughing boisterously, Yoon-ah removed her pearl earrings. She couldn’t be more grateful—Yeong-won always pointed out the problem, and even offered the solution.
“Honestly, if it weren’t for you, I would’ve shut the café down and been a laughingstock for life. I’m always thankful, Yeong-won.”
Though he was four years younger, he always felt so reliable. She was embarrassed to be depending on him again like this.
It had been pure luck when Yeong-won appeared out of nowhere at her week-old café. Wearing nothing but sweats, he’d walked in after spotting the “Help Wanted” sign on the window—without even a résumé.
And so she had improvised, digging up a template online just to go through the motions. He had answered every question in that low, steady voice, until—
“…Is the university section mandatory?”
“Ah, no. I just asked because it was written there. You don’t have to be a student.”
“…I am a student. But I’m on leave of absence.”
Strange… why hadn’t he told her the name of his university back then? It wasn’t like Yeonhui was a school to be ashamed of.
Still—his sincerity, his immediate availability, and his free time thanks to his leave of absence had made him the perfect hire.
Now, Yoon-ah glanced at him again and said softly:
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable, finding out your boss was at the same university. That’s why I kept it quiet. I only learned you went to Yeonhui by accident. But… I really didn’t know your major was Business Administration. Sorry if I startled you.”
“…There’s nothing to apologize for.”
The car pulled up to the café. Before it had fully stopped, Yoon-ah had already flung the door open and dashed out.
“Thanks, Yeong-won! I’ll change quickly and be right back!”
Watching her sprint inside, Yeong-won dropped his forehead against the steering wheel, a shallow sigh slipping through his lips.
“Ha… why can’t I say anything right…”
Come to think of it, he had never spoken kindly to her. Then again, he had never spoken kindly to anyone.
Still, what he regretted most was that stupid line—
“You just put your effort in the wrong direction.”
He could have phrased it better. Or maybe he hadn’t wanted to—because otherwise, he would’ve felt like a liar. After all, hadn’t he been the one gaping like an idiot the moment she appeared, dressed like the heroine of some drama?
Barefaced, in her café uniform—that was the Yoon-ah he knew. Seeing her dolled up like this was the first time.
And only today did he learn her real age.
Twenty-seven. The very age the group chat had whispered about, mocking the mysterious “older freshman.” He hadn’t realized until he heard the murmurs in the lecture hall—it was her.
Dressed up, she really did look the part.
Yeong-won’s jaw tightened.
What the hell are you thinking? She’s someone carrying painful scars. You idiot.
He had applied to her café on a whim. It wasn’t like he needed the job, but wasting his leave of absence felt pathetic. The café seemed a decent excuse. Not too busy, tucked away.
He hadn’t expected the owner to be beautiful. Objectively beautiful.
“You’re my first applicant. Thanks for coming.”
She was different from him in every way—her small frame, her muted colors, her bright, radiant smile.
Everything she felt was written plain on her face. Happy, she beamed. Sad, she sulked like a child robbed of candy.
Even when she was exhausted with study, her moods rose and fell visibly. It fascinated him.
His only friend, Gi-tae, had once come by the café and muttered:
“Damn. Spending all day here alone with a boss like that? I’m jealous as hell, Yeong-won.”
Even he had said Yoon-ah was pretty. So really, was it strange that Yeong-won had been struck speechless at the sight of her today?
Maybe it was just inexperience. Neither of them—he nor Gi-tae—had ever dated. He dismissed the thought.
“It’s because she reminds me of my sister…”
That was how it started. His older sister, divorced, scarred. He had only felt sympathy.
But at some point, it became something else. He just didn’t want to see Yoon-ah’s bright smile crumble.
And maybe that was why, when whispers reached his ears—
“Hey… doesn’t she look familiar?”
“Yeah… I think so too…”
—he had reacted the way he did.
Yoon-ah’s photos, leaked during his military service, still floated around online despite her efforts to erase them. Rumors said she had even hired a digital undertaker. Yet still, scraps remained.
The thought made him snap. He couldn’t let her stand out any more than she already did. She needed to blend in. To be safe. That was all that mattered.
So he had done something reckless.
At the mentor-mentee draw, his hand had pulled out a slip marked 5. Right next to him, Gi-tae had pulled 36.
But when the whispers began, when Yoon-ah walked in, dressed up and vulnerable—Yeong-won’s hand had moved before his brain. He had switched the slips.
Now, the crumpled paper in his pocket mocked him.
A message buzzed on his phone.
[The mentee you were supposed to get—No. 5—is a guy.]
His lips pressed thin. He unfolded the slip. Sure enough: 36.
Another message popped up instantly.
[Kim Gi-tae will not forget this. Your living room = PlayStation lounge, deal?]
He stuffed the paper back into his pocket just as Yoon-ah came out of the café. His heart jumped. Hastily, he tapped out his reply.
[ㅗ]
