"You're back!" Ju Meok said in a cheerful voice as Jeong Hyeok enters the coffee shop. Eun Dong stands beside him looking expectedly at Jeong Hyeok who they missed seeing.
He greeted him and Eun Dong who both took the early shift by raising his head and forcing a smile at their direction before quietly heading back to where they dropped their things.
It's not like Jeong Hyeok is the extrovert type but they did not see him for a week, he could at least pretend to be happy about being back or ask how have they've been. Both boys shrugged it off as they continue brewing coffee.
Jeong Hyeok, on the other hand, dropped his bag on his assigned locker and went straight to Chi Su's office to negotiate on the terms of his employment as he has already received his law school schedule. He would start in 2 months and so he has that time to hustle and work harder to pay for his tuition fee among other expenses.
Chi Su seems to be busy with something on his phone when he peaked in his office. He lightly knocked at the door to catch his attention. "You're back..." he said as he glanced at him at the door then went back on whatever he's watching on his phone.
"Is this a good time? I'd like to discuss something, if that's okay..." Jeong Hyeok asked but Chi Su is barely listening nor was he looking at him.
"Ya, you're friends with Yoon Seri, right?" he casually asked without looking at Jeong Hyeok. He is really glad that his boss did not see how his face fell from hearing her name.
Too soon.
He shook his head, "I'll just catch up with you later, I think they need me there..." he said and left without bothering to look back if Chi Su heard him.
He calmly approached the other baristas as he tie his apron around his waist. A couple of young students entered the coffee shop and so he took that opportunity and decided to make himself busy with work.
This was their plan, this is what they agreed on. They would resume their lives as if the last six days hasn't happened. This was what he asked for that day so he put on his fake smile and waited for the group of friends to place their order.
"I'll have a cold americano." one student said as he tapped the screen to encode the order. See? It wasn't that hard. He just have to take the orders, clean a little, prepare the coffee then go home and in no time he felt as if he'll forget about her.
The thing is that every single thing he did after stepping down on that plane felt like a win already.
The cab ride he took from the airport to his house without breaking down is a win.
The smile he gave Mu Hyeok as he handed him the souveneirs Seri picked for him in Jeju is a win.
The 2 hour sleep before his shift and the only time he slept since he realized she left is a win.
One step at a time.
"Excuse me? Did you get the next order?" the student snapped as he realized he missed what she said next. He apologized and focused on what her order was before getting her friend's order next.
Eun Dong may or may not have noticed him struggling so he offered to take the cashier and asked Jeong Hyeok to just prepare the pastries.
He's heating the bread when he overheard the same group of students talking in the waiting area, "My father works for Queens group, he didn't mention a merger." one of the student said.
"Look." another answered showing her phone to her friend. Jeong Hyeok can't help but look at them as they continue. He shouldn't be listening to this, this won't help with anything. "It's more than a merger with Han Group... it's an engagement..."
