Chapter 56

Gyu-yeon’s fingertips trembled. The look of having been betrayed was a bonus. Having been thoroughly taken in by Naru’s flirtatious behavior, he forced himself to try to regain his composure.

The only person truly enjoying the cute little dynamics between the two was Seo-yeon. She’d thought there was something off between them before, and it was amusing that the situation seemed to have suddenly reversed without her noticing. Besides, it was rare to see Gyu-yeon on the receiving end.

“Don’t chat—go back to work.”

“Yesss.”

Naru, who had been giggling, answered pettily on purpose and turned away. Seo-yeon seized the moment, joined Naru, and teased Gyu-yeon.

Before they knew it, it was opening time as Naru had been learning the job amid the noisy atmosphere. Seo-yeon patted Naru and encouraged him not to be too nervous since it was his first time dealing with customers. Gyu-yeon, watching that from a corner table, snorted that he was putting on airs.

Ding, a small bell rang and the Cafe door opened. The first customer was a regular who bought bread every morning.

“Welcome to Cafe Destiny. Oh, the croissants just came out and they’re delicious today.”

“Really? By the way, there’s a face here I haven’t seen before. Quite a pretty one.”

“He’s our new employee. Isn’t he really cute?”

Seo-yeon, chatting casually with the customer, naturally introduced Naru. The middle-aged woman, who looked about in her fifties, stared at Naru’s fair face for a long moment and kept praising how pretty he was.

No matter how strange the person, receiving a compliment is a pleasant thing. Naru blushed but didn’t fail to say thank you.

Starting with that customer, everyone who came in glanced at Naru once as they passed. Some Cafes apparently hire handsome part-timers on purpose; seeing this scene, one could understand why.

Thanks to Naru’s pretty looks, more customers than usual gathered today. And with the owner Gyu-yeon holding the fort, the store’s atmosphere brightened even more.

“Um, oppa. When do you work?”

Rumors spread quickly as always. Perhaps word about Naru had already reached the nearby school, because by afternoon students swarmed in. Eventually someone plucked up the courage and spoke to Naru.

At the unfamiliar term ‘oppa’, Naru blinked blankly and tilted his head. He moved closer thinking it might be someone he knew, but it was a stranger. The student, whose face flushed as they approached, even covered their mouth.

Seo-yeon, packing bread nearby, gave Naru a playful elbow to the ribs and smiled.

“Naru, you’re very popular.”

“Ah, it’s not like that…”

Naru scratched his cheek awkwardly and gave an uneasy smile. The student who had asked while waiting for their order looked eager for an answer. In the end, Naru honestly recited his schedule.

“I, I work Monday through Friday, mornings and afternoons,”

“You, come here for a moment.”

“Uh…?”

The gently flowing conversation was abruptly cut off. Gyu-yeon had come up to Naru and grabbed his arm, pulling him along without warning. Pulled out in a daze, Naru only looked at Gyu-yeon with puzzled eyes and didn’t start a word.

Gyu-yeon, who’d barely kept his reason for hours, finally acted emotionally. He was the one who had insisted on keeping business and personal matters separate, yet he was the one breaking that promise.

“Don’t answer every remark like that.”

“I just answered because they asked.”

“So I said, don’t do it. Even if someone asks for your number, never give it. Got it?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Yes, as the boss he could give that much advice.

Gyu-yeon, having made up his mind, grabbed Naru and began lecturing him. It wasn’t advice so much as every word he spat was full of jealousy.

Naru remained silent instead of answering. He told him to treat him like the boss before, yet kept mixing personal feelings in and saying don’t do this, don’t do that, which annoyed him.

Yu Gyu-yeon, ridiculous. He forbids personal stuff, yet he does it himself and won’t let me.

Naru’s gentle face gradually puckered. Angry brows shot up and his round eyes snapped sharp. As if that weren’t enough, his tightly clenched fist trembled.

“Song Naru, answer me.”

“Yu Gyu-yeon, you’re so damn annoying.”

“Da—what…?”

“You’re so damn annoying. Son of a bitch.”

“……”

He’d thought things had been quiet lately, but he let his guard down and got hit again. From ‘so damn annoying’ to suddenly ‘son of a bitch,’ Gyu-yeon blinked in disbelief. Where he learned such curses, he wondered resentfully—Naru was annoyingly quick to pick up useless things.

Thwack!

“Ow, hey, Song Naru, are you crazy…?”

It didn’t end with insults. Naru, standing there fuming, suddenly kicked Gyu-yeon’s shin. He didn’t bother controlling his strength. Having been insulted and then kicked in the shin, Gyu-yeon was completely stunned.

Whether Gyu-yeon was dazed or not, Naru prioritized his own feelings. He wouldn’t hug him when he asked, forbade him from calling him Gyu-yeon, and yet he expected him not to be jealous? How infuriating.

“I won’t listen to the boss anymore.”

“This is really…”

“Yu Gyu-yeon—buzz, boss disqualified. You didn’t keep your promise.”

“……”

Mimicking the sound effects and lines he’d seen on variety shows, Naru crossed his arms in an X. His expression of being thoroughly angry was both cute and resolute.

When Gyu-yeon couldn’t answer, Naru spun on his heel and returned to his spot. This wasn’t revenge to keep him away—he simply left him baffled.

Back at the counter, Naru immediately helped Seo-yeon pack desserts. He moved more lightly and cheerfully than before. While watching the customers, Seo-yeon leaned in and whispered to Naru.

“Did you handle the conversation well?”

“Yes, I drove him off.”

“Pff, ‘drove him off’…”

Seo-yeon burst out laughing at the phrase ‘drove him off’ and glanced at Gyu-yeon, who was just coming in. Naru avoided Gyu-yeon’s gaze and focused on his work, his prim expression overpowering.

Stunned by Naru’s sudden profanity, Gyu-yeon rubbed his forehead and cleared the table he had been sitting at. He’d been deliberately staying in the store to help him acclimate, but it seemed he’d adapted just fine.

Gyu-yeon, checking his schedule in a diary, tapped the counter a couple of times. At the knock, Seo-yeon and Naru looked up with question marks over their heads and stared at him.

“I’m going to take care of something for a bit, so watch the store well.”

“Yes, come back safe.”

“Ha, Song Naru doesn’t answer?”

“Yesss, whatever.”

That damned lack of manners, really. What should I do about Song Naru. It’s getting worse and worse….

Unlike the compliant Seo-yeon, Naru didn’t even reply. When Gyu-yeon even used formal speech to force an answer, he finally spat out an insolent response. Seo-yeon almost laughed again at the unexpected reply, pinching her thigh and thinking sadly.

Gyu-yeon glanced at Naru with a resigned look and shook his head. He then packed a few things and left the Cafe. Seo-yeon didn’t pay much attention to his departure and focused on her work.

“Naru, could you watch the counter for a bit? I’ll go check the hall.”

“Ah, yes!”

Seo-yeon grabbed a dishcloth and disinfectant, left Naru at the counter, and went out alone. She probably intended to walk around wiping tables. Naru, who answered energetically, stood at the counter with bright, alert eyes.

It was fortunate no new customers arrived while Seo-yeon was away. Feeling awkward staying idle, Naru fiddled with the register to pass the time when, at just the right moment, he heard the door open.

“Welcome.”

As Naru cheerfully greeted the customer, he spotted someone and gasped in surprise. The newcomer didn’t browse the display but came straight to the counter.

Much taller than Naru by a couple of fists, with a face uncannily resembling Gyu-yeon’s and dressed in a sharp suit—none other than Gyu-yeon’s older brother, Gyuseong, had arrived.

Of all times, Gyu-seong chose when Gyu-yeon wasn’t around to visit. Flustered, Naru’s eyes darted about and his hands fidgeted. He felt nauseous not knowing how to behave around him.

Gyu-seong, approaching the counter, noticed Naru’s similarly unfamiliar-yet-familiar face and paused for a moment. Naru remained flustered, but Gyu-seong quickly regained his composure.

“I’m curious why you’re here doing this.”

“Uh, I’m an employee who works here.”

“You were a face I hadn’t seen until a few days ago…”

Naru, timid but confident, stated that he worked there. Gyu-seong was perceptive and observant. He hesitated as if suspicious that he hadn’t been an employee the last time he visited yet now suddenly stood at the counter as one.

After thinking for a moment, Gyu-seong tilted his head slightly and said it was actually good.

“I’m Gyu-yeon’s elder brother, Yu Gyu-seong. I’d like to talk for a bit—do you have the time?”

Gyu-seong took a business card from his pocket and handed it, asking Naru for a moment of his time. Flustered by the sudden request, Naru glanced at Seo-yeon, who was diligently wiping tables in the hall, and shook his head.

“I have to stay at the counter right now, so I can’t.”

“I wasn’t being considerate. Then let’s exchange numbers first and arrange a meeting later.”

“Oh, okay…”

Gyu-yeon’s plea not to give out her number buzzed in Naru’s head. After a moment of hesitation, he took Gyu-seong’s phone and entered his number. If it had been anyone else it would’ve been different, but it felt awkward not to give a number to Gyu-yeon’s own brother.

Gyu-seong called Naru’s number, told him to save it, and slipped his phone into his pocket. Having saved Gyu-seong’s number in a daze, Naru discreetly wiped his sweaty palms on his apron.

“When do you finish work?”

“Um, I finish at three.”

“Then I’ll text you the place around that time. See you later.”

Gyu-seong, who had come to see Gyu-yeon and unexpectedly scored a win, turned and left without hesitation. Staring dumbfounded at his departing back, Naru finally came to her senses.

Jing.

Naru’s phone buzzed briefly. Checking the screen, he made an awkward face.