An Unexpected Pickup

“Goodbye.”

After calling out to the customer who had just stepped out of the shop, Ju Hayan wrung out the damp cloth in her hand.

She twisted it tight until no water remained, spread it out again, folded it neatly, and carefully wiped down the glass of the empty display case.

Her arms had to stretch forward uncomfortably, but the corners of her lips refused to fall.

“I’m going to the storage room to sort inventory.”

“Okay.”

As her coworker headed to the back storage room, Ju Hayan straightened from her crouched position.

“First finish the dishes, then close the coffee machine….”

She mentally lined up the remaining tasks against closing time and pulled on her rubber gloves.

Humming along to the familiar store music, she swayed lightly from side to side.

Today was a good day.

No, not just today.

Ever since the university acceptance announcement, Ju Hayan had begun to notice the beauty of the world again.

This feeling of freedom.

It had been so long since she had simply enjoyed the present without thinking of competition or the bleakness of reality.

Her runaway father and the heavy weight of being the head of the household felt distant.

Jingle—

As she took a deep breath to savor the air, the bell above the shop door rang, and she called out automatically.

“Welcome! We’re about to close the seating area, so takeout only!”

She recited the line as if it were muscle memory, pulling off her rubber gloves before slowly turning around.

The moment she saw the person standing firmly in front of the counter, she froze.

As if she had seen someone who absolutely did not belong here—

No, as if she had seen someone who absolutely did not belong here.

Ju Hayan stared at him blankly, then rubbed her dry hand awkwardly against her pants.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Hayan.”

It had been nearly a week.

The man still looked immaculate.

Perhaps seeing him outside, rather than in her dim semi-basement, made him seem even more polished.

“How did you….”

“I was just passing by and thought I’d grab some coffee.”

He must have understood the unspoken question in her unfinished sentence.

But the answer was vague.

Passing by—why here, of all places?

As she awkwardly shifted her gaze around his shoulder, she belatedly noticed another man standing just a step behind him.

It was the first time she had seen Shin I-hyeok with someone else.

That made it even more awkward.

Lowering her head slightly, barely noticeable, she spoke hesitantly.

“Did you perhaps look into me or….”

What if he had done a background check.

“Hardly.”

He let out a short laugh while scanning the menu above her head.

His eyes rolled toward her as if she had said something absurd.

Her cheeks flushed immediately.

She felt like an over-self-conscious teenager.

Inside, she scolded herself for her suspicion.

What confidence had made her jump to that conclusion?

Once she redirected her thinking, her doubt felt ridiculous.

Perhaps in an attempt to cover up her mistake, his visit even began to seem natural.

This was an office district, after all.

His company could very well be nearby.

She quickly placed her hand on the counter to hide her embarrassment.

“Would you like to order?”

“Iced Americano.”

“Iced Americano….”

For a brief moment, she remembered last time.

She had served him coffee out of misplaced concern and been scolded instead.

While repeating his order, feeling awkward all over again, Shin I-hyeok turned his head and addressed the man behind him.

“And you, Team Leader Kim?”

“I’m fine. More importantly, may I continue what I was saying—”

“Go ahead.”

“Then, did the call go well this afternoon? You were quite reluctant during the last commotion as well….”

“Hmm. It feels odd if it’s just for us. Seems stingy.”

He cut Team Leader Kim off mid-sentence.

The timing was suspiciously perfect—right when the lecture was about to begin.

Yet his tone held no irritation, as though the idea had simply occurred to him.

After nodding to himself, he looked at Team Leader Kim.

“Is anyone still at the office?”

“Pardon?”

“Anyone working late.”

“Yes… probably.”

“Find out how many.”

“Right now?”

“Right now.”

He lowered his chin slightly, as if asking why that needed clarification.

With a wary look, Team Leader Kim retreated to the corner of the café and placed a call.

Shin I-hyeok watched his disgruntled back for a moment before turning to Ju Hayan, a habitual smile resting on his lips.

“Sorry. Are we keeping you from working?”

“No—no, not at all. Take your time.”

“That’s good.”

He smiled faintly and then asked,

“When do you finish?”

“Ten.”

“So, about an hour left….”

He glanced between her and the wall clock, then nodded lightly.

Team Leader Kim returned and added seven more drinks to the order.

At the ridiculous request to make whatever took the longest, she rang up smoothies for all except the single iced Americano.

She hurried between the kitchen and counter, wanting to finish quickly so she could clean the blender.

Her coworker returned just in time and helped prepare the drinks.

Meanwhile, Shin I-hyeok didn’t sit down.

He stood near the pickup counter, his eyes following her movements.

“…That’s why they told me to come down personally. You know how parents are… Sir, are you listening?”

“Team Leader Kim. You shouldn’t talk about company matters so openly outside.”

“I’m talking about your family.”

“That’s even worse.”

Their back-and-forth filtered faintly through the whirring of the blender.

Ju Hayan had only ever seen him alone before.

Watching him bicker with someone felt oddly new.

As she glanced up near the pickup counter, their eyes met immediately.

“Hayan looks busy.”

No wonder her neck had felt warm—he had been staring.

She rubbed the back of her neck and stood beside her coworker, who was pouring smoothies into cups.

As she waited with lids in hand, her coworker leaned slightly closer and whispered,

“Do you know them?”

“Huh?”

“Those men.”

She rolled her eyes slightly.

It was an odd combination.

A soon-to-be twenty-year-old senior in high school and sharply dressed office men.

Hard to imagine a connection.

“They’re my dad’s friends.”

The closest lie to the truth.

Borrowing money strained even friendships.

Perhaps that made them closer than friends.

After scratching her cheek awkwardly, she turned around and met Shin I-hyeok’s incredulous gaze.

“If I’d messed up early in life, I’d have a son your age by now.”

Ignoring his feigned injustice, she neatly arranged the drinks into paper carriers.

Two carriers were set on the pickup counter.

“Your drinks are ready. The types are marked on the sleeves.”

He nodded casually, pulled out his own drink, and pushed the rest toward Team Leader Kim.

“Take these to the office.”

“Me?”

“Of course. Should I?”

Team Leader Kim, who had clearly expected this, picked up the carriers without protest.

If only he’d ordered something more expensive.

His displeasure showed in a slight furrow of his brow.

Shin I-hyeok didn’t care.

“I’ll drink mine here. Take your time.”

“Yes, sir.”

It was practically a dismissal.

As he sent Team Leader Kim out, he paused and turned back to Ju Hayan.

“Work comfortably. Don’t mind me.”

“Yes.”

How could she not mind him?

He spoke to others as if she were invisible.

But she was not.

Still, she answered obediently.

“And when you’re done, I’ll give you a ride.”

“…Pardon?”

The word slipped out before she could stop it.

She couldn’t even give a habitual response this time.

Her eyes widened, and he smiled with his eyes.

“You don’t have to.”

“It’s been a while. Let me see your face a little longer.”

“No… really, it’s fine….”

“Work. I’ll sit.”

She was about to protest again, but he had already turned away and sat by the window.

Watching his retreating back, Ju Hayan finally forced herself to resume cleaning.

Her hands fumbled as she wiped down the grinder and cleaned the machine.

Her coworker approached quietly.

“Hayan, go home early today.”

“What?”

“Last time I left early, remember? I said I’d return the favor.”

“That’s okay, really.”

“No, I’d feel bad otherwise.”

“But—”

“There’s a customer anyway. Go.”

She gave Ju Hayan a gentle shove on the shoulder.

Ju Hayan forced a small smile, unsure what expression to wear.

She glanced toward the seating area, where Shin I-hyeok sat.

She couldn’t answer immediately.

Part of her wished her shift would never end, so she could avoid his slightly overwhelming offer.

But another part thought it might be better to leave quickly than keep him waiting.

After all, being driven home benefited her more than him.