That night, Kim Yeo-ju kicked the blanket while recalling the ‘glass bottle clinking’ incident.
“Really… I’ve never been more bothered by the boss than this.”
It's only my first day at work, but I'm spilling coffee and causing trouble for customers.
What the… Am I going to get fired like this?
…however,
What was that moment when you held my hand?
The heroine buried her face in the pillow and screamed.
“Oh please, Kim Yeo-ju!!! Come to your senses!!
“He’s not a human being, he’s the boss… he’s a rock. Seriously.”
The next morning.
Yeoju arrived 20 minutes earlier than usual.
“Today, I will definitely do well.”
She finished preparing and cleaned the bar,
I wanted to learn something, so I cleaned the floor and the empty table.
At exactly 9:59, President Han Tae-san appears.
“You’re early.”
“Yes. I’m trying not to make any mistakes today.”
“That’s a good feeling. But…”
"yes?"
“There’s dust left on the rag. If you use it, it’ll get dirty.”
…
"Does this person have the talent to trample me like trash with every word?"
Kim Yeo-ju took a deep breath for a moment,
I held the rag in my hand tightly.
“Boss, I really want to work hard.”
"i know."
“But, if you just say that, I really break down.”
Taesan was silent for a moment.
The silence was unexpectedly heavy, so the heroine glanced around.
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but my tone is a bit… ok.”
"oh?"
"But seriously, coffee isn't easy to teach. One mistake could cost you all your customers."
“I know that. I’m human too.”
“…?”
“I’m not a robot, you know. I have feelings, too.”
Taesan looked at Yeoju for a moment, then said,
I lowered my tone a little.
"But, yesterday's work ended well. I even apologized to the customer."
“I thought I was going to get cut…”
“I drank thirty cups of coffee last night because I was worried it might be true. I was so stressed.”
“…The boss has feelings too.”
“Yes. It’s not obvious.”
“Then please show some restraint from now on. I’m scared…”
“It’s not me who’s scared. It’s the coffee.”
“I’m more scared of the boss than the coffee.”
“That’s… I’m sorry.”
Afterwards, the female protagonist started learning how to brew coffee at a bar.
"Okay, this is a drip pot. You have to turn the water and let it drain slowly."
“Oh… this is really, a bit like meditation.”
“That’s good. It’s good for clearing your mind.”
“Boss… what did you like?”
“It’s wet now.”
“…Really zero emotions.”
“It may seem that way, but emotions need to be mixed well to make it taste good.”
“…Huh? It was kind of cool just now?”
“Then it was a mistake.”
Around the deadline.
The female protagonist's arms were weak from making coffee all day.
“Boss, I think I’ve gained some muscle on my arm.”
“Selling coffee?”
“Yeah. And sell your pride.”
“It was poured yesterday.”
“…That’s right. Oh…”
Taesan cleaned up the counter expressionlessly and spoke quietly.
“But you did well today.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I didn’t break the coffee, and I didn’t get scolded by the customer.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course. It’s my best.”
The heroine smiled with a tired face.
“Ha… This is a really scary part-time job.
But, I want to come back again for this taste. What's wrong with me?"
✅ Epilogue
After work, Taesan slowly looked around the cafe.
The scent of coffee lingers,
There was a dish towel that the female protagonist had clumsily folded on the sink.
He unfolded it again and muttered as he opened it.
“…Still, there should be people like this.”
Taking a quiet sip of coffee,
He finished the day.