TWYW C7

“Aren’t you going to take my order?”

Gyeoul, who had been staring blankly at Yuhyeon’s suddenly appeared face, turned his gaze back to the POS screen.

“Place your order.”

“One chamomile tea, and what do you want to drink.”

When he heard the question again, he lifted his head to see a woman who looked to be Yuhyeon’s age standing close behind him.

“I’ll have a cafe latte.”

“One chamomile tea, one cafe latte.”

Gyeoul entered the items into the POS machine and held out his hand without a word, and Yuhyeon’s card was placed on it. After quickly processing the payment, he turned away from the counter and approached the espresso machine to pull a shot.

Why do I feel so shitty.

With a look of anger visible to anyone, Gyeoul placed the two completed drinks in front of Yuhyeon and turned away before he could say anything.

“Sir, can’t we close the cafe early today?”

“Why, are you tired?”

Gyeoul glanced at Yuhyeon, who had taken a seat at a table and was chatting with the woman he came with.

“If you’re tired, you can go home early today.”

“No, it’s okay. I was just saying.”

Gyeoul just let out a deep sigh and, trying his best not to look in Yuhyeon’s direction, silently immersed himself in his cafe work again.

“Sir, I’m heading out now.”

Only when it was the cafe’s closing time did Gyeoul finish his work and step out onto the already dark street. Before heading to the bus stop, Gyeoul went into the gap between the building next to the cafe and took out a lighter he had found rolling around inside the cafe. He finally took out the cigarette pack that had been guarding his pocket all day, put a cigarette to his lips, and held up the lighter.

“Looks like even babies smoke these days.”

Gyeoul, who had yet to light the cigarette, turned his head at the familiar voice coming from right beside him. It was Yuhyeon, who had left before the cafe doors were closed.

“What are you talking about……”

“You really don’t suit cigarettes.”

“And that girl from earlier does?”

As if he had been conscious of her being by Yuhyeon’s side the whole time, Yuhyeon let out a small laugh at Gyeoul’s question.

“Are you jealous?”

“Why would I be jealous.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m really not.”

“Alright, let’s go with that. So what’s got you in a bad mood.”

When could he have read his expression? After he entered the cafe, the only time their eyes had properly met was for that very brief moment when he stood at the counter. Gyeoul was a little puzzled as to how Yuhyeon had noticed his low spirits that had lasted all day.

“……How did you know I was in a bad mood?”

“It was written on your face. Weren’t there fewer customers than usual today?”

“Fuck, what’s wrong with my face.”

“Fuck?”

Yuhyeon tilted his head, repeating the curse Gyeoul had spat out. He didn’t look angry, but for some reason, Gyeoul felt the saliva in his mouth dry up.

“Ah, no…… that’s not what I meant……”

In front of Yuhyeon, like a child being scolded, Gyeoul mumbled his words, twirling the unlit cigarette between his fingers.

He’s the one who made fun of my face first.

Gyeoul’s red lips pouted slightly.

“Do you want to join a club?”

“What?”

“The horror movie club. Haven’t you heard that watching horror movies relieves stress?”

At the sudden talk of a club, Gyeoul stared blankly at Yuhyeon with a face that didn’t understand what he was saying. Seeing Gyeoul’s face, a pleasant smile formed on Yuhyeon’s lips.

“Horror movies would be better for your health than cigarettes.”

Yuhyeon snatched the cigarette from Gyeoul’s hand.

“Are you in that club too, sunbae?”

As if he didn’t care about the cigarette that had been taken from his hand, Gyeoul threw a question.

“Yeah. Let me know if you’re interested.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Then shall we meet in the club room tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

When Gyeoul answered without much thought, he saw one of Yuhyeon’s eyebrows arch up slightly.

“That’s unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you’d say no.”

“I don’t want to. But you said it’s better than smoking so……”

Gyeoul’s decision to join the club was purely impulsive. The moment he heard Yuhyeon was in it, a positive answer had come out instinctively. Gyeoul also found himself unfamiliar, but one way or another, it was better to quit smoking, so he tried hard to rationalize his decision.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you home.”

Before Gyeoul could even answer, Yuhyeon turned and started walking, and Gyeoul naturally followed behind him.

What the, he didn’t even wait for an answer. What would he do if I said I’d go by myself.

Gyeoul grumbled inwardly, pouring out complaints he couldn’t say out loud by himself, and got into the passenger seat of Yuhyeon’s car. As if he had memorized the location of Gyeoul’s house from last time, Yuhyeon didn’t input the address into the navigation and started the car as soon as Gyeoul fastened his seatbelt.

Gyeoul glanced at Yuhyeon driving with one hand on the steering wheel. In truth, a question he had wanted to ask since Yuhyeon came to the cafe kept tickling the corners of his mouth. But he felt like if he brought it up, he would just get teased by Yuhyeon, so he bit his lower lip hard.

“Stop torturing your lip and just ask if you want to ask something.”

“Wh-what.”

“If you ask later, I won’t answer.”

“Who is that woman?”

Gyeoul threw the question almost before Yuhyeon finished speaking. At that, Yuhyeon let out a small burst of laughter.

“How did you hold it in for so long.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then should I not answer.”

“No…… ah, you told me to ask.”

Yuhyeon, who was only teasing him without giving an answer, was annoying, so Gyeoul glared at him with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“She’s a friend. A classmate from the same department. So put that pout away now.”

“What kind of friends go to a cafe just the two of them.”

At Gyeoul’s still sulky tone, a smile constantly played on Yuhyeon’s lips.

“It’s obvious you don’t have any friends.”

“Even if I don’t, I know that much.”

“You can go with a friend, just the two of you.”

“You may think of her as a friend, but that woman doesn’t.”

Even while working at the cafe, he had tried not to look at Yuhyeon as much as possible, but his head kept turning in that direction. Every time he stole a glance at Yuhyeon, the look in the eyes of the woman sitting across from him was not one of someone looking at an ordinary friend. Even Gyeoul, who had not a single romantic experience, could easily tell.

“So you’re not an idiot.”

“Damn it…… really……”

Even when Gyeoul glared with his sharp eyes, Yuhyeon just smiled as if he was enjoying himself. Today, for some reason, Yuhyeon’s smiling face looked even more annoying in Gyeoul’s eyes.

“Don’t meet that woman.”

“Why all of a sudden.”

“If you keep meeting like that when you’re not interested, she’ll get her hopes up.”

“Really? Is that the only reason?”

“Yes, do you need more reasons?”

I am just giving Yuhyeon advice. Advice not to hurt an innocent person.