192 – 186. Spring Breeze
Anz Coffee.
One of the cafes near the university, a personal cafe that has steadily maintained its customers through its sentimental cafe interior and taste, now that brand cafes are in vogue.
That’s where I am now.
I was carrying coffee while wearing an apron.
It was a situation I couldn’t have imagined just an hour ago.
Perhaps because of my experience working at Gold One, it wasn’t too difficult to adapt.
Most cafes these days have a vibration bell so that you can get your drinks yourself.
However, this place is not very big, so they bring the drinks to you directly.
‘I’m lucky in my position.’
I can’t make coffee right away.
In other words, I have a role where I can just memorize the table numbers and bring drinks to the customers.
About 2 or 3 hours must have passed.
Since it was dinner time, the students who had been studying while sitting down went out to eat dinner, and the number of takeouts also decreased.
Thanks to the next part-timer arriving, I sighed as I took off my apron.
“Whew.”
“You worked hard.”
The store manager, who approached me, handed me an envelope.
“This is today’s pay.”
“Ah.”
I didn’t think I’d get paid.
The store manager is a man in his mid-30s with an impressive beard. He has a dignified atmosphere that is befitting of an adult.
I had a strange feeling of comparing him to the bald old man I had seen recently.
“I’m sorry for having to call you suddenly. You must have been surprised.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll talk to Joo-hee separately.”
“……Joo-hee sunbae is responsible and good at her job.”
“Yes?”
I felt like it might be out of the blue, but I thought I should at least make an excuse.
This time, I collapsed because it was literally an accident.
“Of course, if you say that conditioning is a personal ability, then there’s nothing to say. But still-“
Jingle, jingle!
Just then, the door opened and Joo-hee sunbae came in hurriedly.
Her face was pale and haggard, and I felt like I was seeing a new side of Joo-hee sunbae today, as she looked helpless.
“I’m sorry, store manager. I’m really sorry, Woo-jin-ah.”
Her deeply bowed head was not frivolous, and I could feel Joo-hee sunbae’s sincerity.
The store manager looked at Joo-hee sunbae and me alternately and said it was okay.
* * *
On the way home after talking to the cafe manager.
The surroundings had gotten dark without me noticing.
Joo-hee sunbae said she would buy me dinner, but I said I was fine.
“Go to your dorm and get some sleep. I think that would be better.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
I was still worried when I saw her expression, which still showed signs of fatigue.
“It’s hard to juggle studying and part-time work. Don’t push yourself too hard, and let me know if you need anything.”
In the case of the lecture we listen to together, can’t I just show her my notes or give her a summary of the key points?
However.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t need to.”
Joo-hee sunbae refused my help quite strongly.
She was drawing the line so firmly that I wondered if there was a reason.
“……”
I couldn’t approach her any further.
I kicked the sunbae, and the sunbae is getting along with me as a friend without any problems.
Digging deeper wouldn’t be good for the sunbae either.”I’m really sorry today, Woojin. I’ll definitely repay you for this.”
“No, sunbae. I’ve received so much help from you.”
In big situations like the group project and the incident with Manager Hwang, I’ve always received help from sunbae Joohee.
I didn’t need to get anything from sunbae just because I covered one shift for her part-time job.
“……”
“……”
After that, we didn’t really talk to each other.
What should I say?
I felt like there was a sense of distance between us, that we shouldn’t talk about this any further.
However, I could see various emotions in sunbae Joohee’s expression as she walked towards the dormitory.
I don’t know what it was, but
I almost reached out to hold her hand several times, as if she would collapse at any moment if I left her alone.
‘Whew.’
Every time that happened, I endured it, thinking about the kids.
Because I wasn’t the one who could be by sunbae Joohee’s side.
* * *
“Woojina.”
“Why?”
Exam week.
I had already taken one exam and was studying with Seoyerin at a makeshift table in front of a convenience store.
“Woojina.”
“Why?”
I kept my eyes on my notebook while drinking a Hershey’s.
If you ask why I’m studying here, it’s because there are no seats.
The cafes and libraries on campus are already full.
The cafes outside are a bit far away, so it’s hard to go to the next exam right away.
As a compromise, I was studying at a convenience store for the time being.
“Woojinaaa.”
“Why are you calling me?”
I heard that she has an exam in an hour, but how can she be so relaxed?
As I replied, getting a little irritated, Seoyerin pouted her lips and rested her chin on the table.
“I hate studying.”
“Me too.”
“My mom told me to go to an acting academy. What should I do?”
“You should go. What’s the problem?”
“Sigh.”
Seoyerin sighed deeply as if something was wrong. At times like this, I feel like I could cheer her up if I just stroked her head, so I reached out my hand-.
Thud!
“I’m not in the mood to be cheered up by your clumsy hand!”
She immediately slapped my hand away.
“Stop messing around and give me some more intense contact!”
“I’m sorry I tried to help.”
As I focused on my studies again, Seoyerin turned her head around and asked.
“Woojina, if I become an actress and have to film a romance with a boy actor, what will you do?”
“I’ll think about it when the time comes.”
“Now is the time. I got into a drama this time.”
“……”
I raised my head without realizing it.
Seoyerin, who was staring at me intently, now had a serious expression on her face.
“I’m not the lead, but a supporting role. They said they wanted me to act with a fresh and innocent feeling.”
I slowly put down my pen.
“That’s why my mom told me to go to acting school quickly. The filming starts in May at the earliest, so I should practice for a month or two.”
“……”
“She said this will be my debut. You know that movie I filmed last time? It’s going to be released around the same time as that, so it’ll be perfect.”
“I see why you can’t focus on your studies.”
I let out a deep sigh.I thought it was still far away, but when it actually came this close, I had nothing to say.
“Maybe that’s why your mother wants you to see it?”
“Oh, really?”
She wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her daughter’s debut being held back because of a boyfriend she met in college.
“The timing seems perfect. YS must have noticed your potential.”
It feels like they put in a lot of effort.
From the schedule to the role.
They found the perfect time for Seoyerin to step into the spotlight and gave her a role that suited her as a college student.
It’s a kind of oppression to block the path of someone you love.
Also, it’s foolish not to see acting as a public job.
“Don’t do it.”
And I’m foolish.
And very selfish.
Seoyerin stares at me blankly.
I emphasize it again.
“I said don’t do it. Don’t do that with anyone but me.”
“Even for work?”
“Yes, even for work.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Then YS will hate me?”
“It’s okay.”
“I already told my mother that I would become a self-made actress?”
“That’s you.”
I’m sorry, but Seoyerin was the least of my worries among the three people I love.
“You’ll succeed no matter what.”
Look at that face.
Turn on the TV right now and you won’t find anyone with a face like Seoyerin’s.
There may be differences in taste, but you can’t say it’s ugly.
And when I think about the time she was acting seriously, she had a talent for it.
“You can succeed unconditionally without doing that. So don’t worry.”
It was a forced statement.
I couldn’t list a single proper reason, and it was a very selfish thing to say.
“hehehe!”
Seoyerin smiled and sat down next to me, crossing her arms.
A soft touch and scent enveloped me violently.
“Kim Woojin, are you starting to act like a boyfriend?”
“Ahem.”
“Then should I just debut without hiding the fact that I have a boyfriend?”
“Can you do that?”
It’s not like you’re introducing yourself while debuting like in a gacha game.
“I’m not going to do an interview or anything. I’ll just say it then.”
Ahem, ahem.
Seoyerin cleared her throat.
Suddenly, her voice changed to a broadcasting tone.
“Yes, I’m so grateful to the staff, senior actors, and company members who worked hard to film this work. I’m also so grateful to my parents and my boyfriend.”
“That’s an acceptance speech.”
“And I have something to celebrate. I’m actually! Pregnant, hohoho!”
“Oh my.”
Seoyerin seemed so real that I felt a little dizzy.
The internet would probably explode the moment she did that. They would talk about Seoyerin while spreading it around various communities.
Wait a minute.
“You’re not really pregnant, are you?”
I asked her, glancing at her just in case, and Seoyerin giggled.
“Why?”
Why what?
“If you were really pregnant, you wouldn’t be studying, you’d be thinking of a name for our baby.”
“hehehehe!”
Seoyerin rubbed her cheek against my arm, saying she felt good. Anyway, I wondered if she could act with such good emotional expression.”It’s a shame, but I haven’t hit it yet.”
Seo Yerim’s finger whispered softly and touched my place.
She rubbed it over my pants like an epilepsy.
There were no separate words.
Just spending time like that.
Of course, my pants were so hard that they were about to swell, but Seo Yerim didn’t go any further than her fingers.
I decided to just concentrate on my studies without asking for more.
“I have to go take the test.”
It’s a little disappointing that I’m not pregnant.
Anyway, there are plenty of opportunities.
As I focused on my studies again, Seo Yerim pouted her lips and untied her arms.
Then she turned her body and leaned her back on my shoulder.
Seo Yerim, who was blankly looking up at the parasol on the table.
“Woojina.”
“Why.”
Once again, we continued our meaningless conversation.
“Woojinaa.”
“Why.”
A slightly late spring breeze blew.
“My man.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Hee.”
Seo Yerim seemed to feel it and smiled.