Chapter 57

[It looks like work will finish late today. I’ll go straight home, so go in first.]

[You know the way home. If you get confused, call me right away.]

[(photo)]

Gyu-yeon, who messaged that work would finish late, captured and sent a map showing the way home. I might meet Gyu-seong around three, and receiving that kind of message felt strange. My conscience pricked at me like a child about to do something bad.

[Okay!]

Naru sent a short reply and checked the wall clock. It was 2:30 p.m. About thirty minutes left until work would end. If Gyu-seong contacts him by 3:30 at the latest, hmm….

It seemed perfect if he chatted until at most 4:30 and then went in.

Dreaming of the perfect crime, Naru sent another message to Gyu-yeon.

[What time will you come??]

[Around six. Don’t get any weird ideas and come home quietly.]

Gyu-yeon was always perceptive at times like this. Anyway, he would arrive at six, so it seemed he could finish everything before then. Naru resumed work feeling much lighter.

“Naru, good job. Tomorrow Do-min will be here too, so work will be a bit easier.”

“Ah, yes.”

“See you tomorrow then!”

Could thirty minutes pass this quickly? After serving only about five or six customers, it was already time to get off. Seo-yeon sent everyone off on time as soon as it was three. Even though he sometimes stayed later himself, he had a warm heart that wanted to let Naru leave early.

Naru frowned briefly at the name Do-min, then bowed her head in greeting. This wasn’t the time to worry about Do-min.

After putting away the apron and beret he had worn as his uniform, about ten minutes had passed. Naru immediately took out his phone and checked the messages that had arrived in the meantime.

[Yu Gyu-seong here. I’ll be in front of the Cafe by 3:20.]

Gyu-seong’s message had arrived at exactly three o’clock. He seemed the type with no loose ends—it’s surprising how precise he was even about small things. Naru checked the time and stood awkwardly in front of the Cafe waiting for Gyu-seong.

But why was he asking to talk to me?

Naru belatedly realized her situation. They were almost strangers, so there wouldn’t be much to talk about—calling him out to ‘talk’ felt suspicious. The only conversation possible between them would be about Gyu-yeon.

Naru’s expression darkened rapidly. He worried Gyu-seong might do something to him. He had seemed quite polite when they briefly spoke at the counter—surely he wouldn’t suddenly change his attitude. Maybe because he’d been watching a lot of trashy dramas lately, all sorts of thoughts ran through her head.

“You came out early. Let’s move to another seat for now.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Ah, what’s your name?”

“…Song Naru.”

Gyu-seong, who had arrived on time, got out of the car. He naturally led Naru to move seats and didn’t forget to ask his name in the process.

“Song Naru, Song Naru.” Repeating the name a couple times, Gyu-seong opened the passenger door for him. Riding in the car on impulse, Naru looked around inside with curious eyes. The seats were soft and clean, similar to Gyu-yeon’s car.

Gyu-seong hurried off as soon as he got in the driver’s seat. After about five minutes of driving, the car stopped. Naru, who had been watching a familiar street through the window, got out bewildered and looked at the Cafe in front of him.

It was the same cafe where Gyu-yeon had once given him his phone and asked him to wait a moment. Gyu-seong opened the door with familiarity and went in to order drinks.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Um, I’ll just have the same…”

Naru answered timidly and took a seat nearby, a sunny spot by the window. Gyu-seong returned with two iced Americanos and pushed a glass cup toward Naru.

Black coffee with ice floating on top. Naru cautiously put the straw to his lips and took a sip of the Americano. His face immediately scrunched up. He always drank sweet drinks, so the bitterness of coffee was unbearable.

“We ran into each other once before, at Gyu-yeon’s place.”

“Ah, yes.”

“He normally doesn’t let just anyone into his home, so I was really surprised. He was raised very precious, after all.”

Gyu-seong, who hadn’t touched his drink, checked his wristwatch once and then started speaking. He looked very busy, perhaps because he worked at a company.

Maintaining a faint smile, Gyu-seong let slip a subtly barbed remark. He didn’t just hint—he made it clear by saying he doesn’t let ‘just anyone’ into the house and that Gyu-yeon was raised precious.

Naru was slow on hints like that. He often understood better when things were said plainly rather than indirectly, so he seemed not to fully grasp Gyu-seong’s words this time either.

Gyu-seong paused for a moment at Naru’s nonchalant expression, then sized her up at once and continued.

“Since you seem like you won’t get hints, I’ll be direct. I want you to hang around Gyu-yeon for a bit and then step aside.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“I don’t think you are suited for Gyu-yeon.”

There it was again. People who disapproved of Naru always said, ‘You’re not right for Gyu-yeon.’ Gyu-seong was no different. He confidently told him to hang around for a while and then step aside because he wasn’t right for Gyu-yeon.

His tone was polite, but he was condescending toward Naru all the same. Even if Naru was slow to catch on, he could sense it, and he disliked people who casually said hurtful things.

Cowering under Gyu-seong’s overwhelming aura, Naru straightened his shoulders and sat up. There was no need to lower herself before someone who looked down on him.

“How do you see me?”

“Your job isn’t suitable, and your family situation doesn’t look good either.”

“…”

Are Gyu-yeon’s family members all as rude as Gyu-yeon?

Deep in thought, Naru’s expression hardened. He had been careless before, but he had started working and couldn’t control his family situation; Gyu-seong picking at that part made him feel bad.

At that moment, Gyu-yeon’s words flashed through Naru’s mind.

“In life, if you live like a fool, you’ll be at a loss. So even if you act rude, never let others see you as easy. In short, don’t live like a fool.”

Naru’s eyes suddenly sparkled. Gyu-yeon was right. He didn’t want to act like a fool and be seen as easy by others and suffer loss because of it.

“But it’s not my fault that my family situation isn’t good. My mother and siblings all died in an accident—am I to blame for that…?”

His tone was calm but steady. Gyu-seong, who had been silent at Naru’s words, looked at his with a subtle gaze.

“I want to live my life diligently in this world. So I got a job, and later I’ll work somewhere bigger.”

Naru continued his story. His words, without a single lie, were reaching Gyu-seong plainly.

“No one gave me a chance, but Gyu-yeon was the only one who reached out. I’m so grateful for that, so I will never leave him.”

“…”

“So, I won’t step aside after hanging around a bit. I’ll stay with him for life.”

His voice had become firmer and sounded resolute. Naru made it clear he would never leave Gyu-yeon’s side. He spoke plainly to avoid misunderstandings that might arise from vague words. If Gyu-yeon had seen this, he might have felt proud and said he did well.

Gyu-seong was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected the timid Naru from minutes earlier to speak so confidently. He’d thought he was easy to handle, but he wasn’t an ordinary opponent.

“I’m worried about my younger brother. If I made you feel bad, sorry, but I hope you’ll change your mind.”

“Um, sorry, but I don’t want to….”

“…”

“I also have a younger sibling, so I understand how you feel. But I’m not a strange person, so don’t hate me.”

Naru firmly rejected Gyu-seong’s suggestion. He’d felt he was using a kind of semi-formal tone earlier, so he clipped his words the same way. Gyu-seong held back his reply for a moment; Naru’s strong presence left him unsure what to say.

After wrapping things up neatly, Naru bowed slightly to Gyu-seong. It seemed he wanted to leave early before staying any longer and getting hurt.

As Naru pulled his chair and stood, Gyu-seong hastily grabbed his arm. He repeated the same question again.

“Are you really not going to change your mind?”

“No, I’m not!”

Gyu-seong stepped back at his bright answer. For now, it seemed best to withdraw. He wore a look of incredulity at his unhesitating response and waved his hand as if to say he might as well leave.

Well, did he get through it okay for now?

Staring at Gyu-seong’s bewildered face, Naru left the cafe with light steps. He had handled the situation on his own, but he’d have to keep today’s events a secret from Gyu-yeon for life.

Watching Naru’s back through the cafe window, Gyu-seong let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. He’d always thought Gyu-yeon chose boring people to date, but this time the match seemed quite interesting.

Back home, Naru searched his room from top to bottom looking for Gyu-yeon. Fortunately, maybe because he wasn’t late, the house was as quiet as a mouse.

Having washed up and waiting alone for Gyu-yeon, Naru turned on the TV out of loneliness. Perhaps because it was an odd time slot, there weren’t many interesting programs. While flipping channels without purpose, he became hooked on a rerun of a morning drama and his eyes lit up.

Although it was a drama with low ratings, this common and dull story was useful to Naru.

<What brings you here?>

<I came to show that I’ve grown this much. Please give me your daughter.>

In the drama, the man went to the heroine’s father and handed over the documents he’d prepared. Then he even knelt down asking for the daughter.

Is marrying someone you love really that difficult? I can’t understand family opposition in the first place. Still, that man was trying to gain the father’s approval…

Thinking quietly, Naru clapped his hands as if he’d just thought of something.