We decided not to cross the line (Season 2)

Episode 10. New Face

“Uh...? Did you happen to close for the day?”

 


A man asked, with the door half-open,

unable to come in.

 



“Ah. Yes~ We’re closed for today.

Oh? You’re the one who came by this afternoon, right?”

 


“Ah... yes... that’s right. You remembered?

I was going to grab a drink to go on my way home from work...

I didn’t know you were already closed.

Sorry.”

 


“No, it’s okay. Come on in, sir.

I’ll make you a drink right away.

We usually close at 7,

but I had some things to take care of today.”

 


 
“Even so, is it okay? Thank you.”

 



“I should be the one thanking you.

Our part-timer said you come every day.

Please have a seat and wait for a moment.

Oh! What would you like?”

 



“An Americano, hot, please.”

 



He pulled out the chair at the table I was working at and sat down.

 



“Boss. By any chance...

may I ask what the concept of this place’s interior is?”

 



“I modeled it after a

café I liked in Spain.”

 



“Ah... it has a Spanish feel to it!

No wonder I like it.

I was stationed in Spain until last year.

“Wow!! Really? Where were you?”

 



When he said he had been in Spain,

 



I felt a sudden sense of warmth for no reason.

“I was in Madrid...

 



why are you so happy to hear that? Haha”

“I lived in Spain for more than two years too,

 



and came back last year.”

“Oh, really?

 



Where were you?”

“I stayed in Frigiliana.

 



Spain is really great, isn’t it?

I went to Teruel on a trip,

and that place was amazing too.”

“Oh!! You know Teruel?

 



Most Koreans don’t know that place...

it’s my favorite place in Spain.”

“Wow~ It’s been a while since I talked about Spain, so I’m so excited!”

 


I put the coffee in front of him,

 


then sat across from him and talked about Spain back and forth.

As we talked for a long while,


 

before I knew it, time had slipped away.

As the conversation was winding down,




he handed me his business card.

He worked in the marketing team of a nearby company.

 


His name was Park Woojin.

'Ah... so he works in marketing.

 


No wonder he seemed kind of smart...’

“Every time I come, you’re working at a table.





I thought you were a regular customer like me.

By any chance,

may I ask what kind of work you were doing?”

“I... do translation work.

 



I haven’t been running the café for very long yet.”

“Ah... so you’re a translator.


 

I’ll bring my team here too.
 
The acidity of the beans is exactly at the level I like.

I tried it on the first day and changed my regular café right away.”

“Yes~ Thank you.”

 



“Um... if you don’t mind...

 
 


may I ask your name?”

He said it a little hesitantly.

 

“My name?

 

 

...It’s Yu Jeong-a.”

“Then may I call you Jeong-a from now on?”

 

 

“Yes~

 

 

I’m still not used to being called

boss.”

“Then I’ll see you next Monday, Jeong-a.

 

 

I almost missed getting a drink on my way home from work,

thank you for the coffee!

Have a great weekend.”

He greeted me with a friendly smile




and left the café.

'He seems so lively and nice...'

 
 

After seeing him off to the café entrance,

 


I came back inside.

Before doing the final tidy-up, I locked the door.

Then suddenly,




the message alert on the phone I had left on the table rang.

[Can I come in?

 


I’m in front of the café right now...]

'Oh! Hoonji?’

 


Startled by his message saying he was in front of the café,




I hurriedly opened the door and went out.

Hoonji was standing in front of the door.


“Hoonji!




What brings you here at this hour?”

“I... can I come in?”




“Of course. Come in.”




I stepped aside by the door




so he could come in.

'Why does he look so drained?'





I followed behind him inside.




He went to the table I had been working at





and sat down without a word.

I looked at him for a moment, then asked,




“Hoonji. Want something to drink?”




“No. I’m fine.”





“...I was going to have some tea,





I’ll get you one too, Hoonji.”

I brought two chamomile teas




and placed them on the table.

“Are you on your way home?”




“From now on... there won’t be...




any reason for us to talk while smiling like that, right?”

“Huh?”





“I waited outside for about 30 minutes.”





He paused for a moment.



“Seeing Jeong-a...



smiling and talking so brightly like that...

it feels like it’s been a really long time since I last saw it.”

“Ah... you should have called or sent a message.




No, not Woojin,

that customer from earlier

said he was in Spain,

so I just talked with him because I was glad to hear it.”

“Woojin? You even know the customer’s name?”





“He gave me his business card..."





Hoonji picked up the business card





that had been left on the table and stared at it for a long time.

“Jeong-a... I..."





He hesitated, then opened his mouth.


“Only recently did it really sink in that we’ve broken up...




it feels real.”

“I... was I the boyfriend you thought of when things got hard?”