I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 26
Only Krnovel
Episode 26
The door opened and a familiar face came in.
Former coworker, Kim Jung-hyun.
He was dressed in a neat suit and had pomaded hair.
At first glance, I was certain that he was a familiar face, with a clean impression and cool demeanor.
But why is he here?
A brief buffering period occurred as a familiar face suddenly appeared.
“Wow! It’s raining just as I’m coming in. Nice timing! Long time no see! Senior. Nice to see you here.”
“… … You didn’t come looking for me?”
“Haha! Correct answer!”
The guy saw me first, greeted me warmly, and came inside.
And then, as if shaking off the little rain, she sat down at the counter and smiled naturally.
He looks like a large dog that likes people and runs around wagging its tail.
Kim Jung-hyun.
The guy who was still so witty was my former coworker.
To be exact, I was the shooter and he was the assistant shooter, so you could say he was my direct junior. He was good at his job and was very sociable, so there was no one who didn’t like him.
Oh, there was one.
Former manager.
Well, that guy just disliked most people who were better than him, especially people with a lot of hair, so he’ll pass.
Anyway, he was a guy I remember as a good colleague. We got along well.
Actually, things got harder after the guy left the company.
“But how did you know?”
But that’s that.
Why would this guy suddenly come looking for me?
And to a place without any contact or notice.
“Oh, actually, I didn’t come here specifically to look for you, but as I came, I realized you were my senior.”
“Oh, really? You stopped by?”
“Hey, this isn’t a place you’d stop by just passing through. So, um… … I was planning on coming to the tiger shelter.”
Well, it wasn’t a private place, so it wasn’t strange since you could easily find it if you wanted to.
You may not know that I’m here, but it’s probably not a secret.
however.
“Here? You?”
I don’t remember that guy having a hobby of going to cafes?
No, the person in front of me was the one who thought of coffee more than anyone else as a potion.
What if it was alcohol?
“This time, a big project has been decided.”
“Really? You’re in charge of planning?”
“yes.”
Still, I thought, ‘Why?’
Every time something like this happened, I remembered what Su-ah had said, “Are you T?” and swallowed it down.
instead.
“That’s great. Congratulations.”
He started by congratulating me.
“Thank you! But, Senior, aren’t you curious?”
“Am I T?”
“… … What is that?”
“You don’t know that either? Then that’s okay.”
I returned the favor just as I usually did.
That’s what you do when you feel like it.
I feel good when he says he doesn’t know.
As expected, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know.
“What is it? Yes?”
“Look it up later. Anyway, that’s why you came here?”
“Yes, yes. It’s a kind of field trip. Well, you know what I mean?”
I understood it right away.
Because it’s something I used to do a lot.
I did some research and looked for things to reference.
I meet a lot of people around me.
“That’s why I came here, and I remembered that this is your hometown. I wanted to come right away after hearing the news that your grandfather had passed away, but you happened to be overseas on a business trip… … I felt sorry, and I wanted to see the faces I couldn’t see then, so I asked the village chief, and he told me about this place.”
Come to think of it, that’s what happened.
But then I got a call from overseas and the conversation was already over.
“Okay, I’m sorry. As I said then, Grandpa is gone.”
Kim Jung-hyun immediately changed the subject, as if he had no intention of making the mood heavy.
“But I was more surprised. I didn’t know you were the boss here.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Even though you’re not responding at all? I thought you’d be really curious this time, senior.”
“Huh? What?”
“I’m talking about a big project. It’s a bit big. Aren’t you curious?”
“I’ve already given up. As you can see, I’m quite satisfied with this.”
“Wow… How could you do that, Senior!? Abandoning our industry!”
What is this sudden, drama-like development that doesn’t even happen?
Rangi, who was watching from the side, also looked dumbfounded.
“You’ve become more disgusting since I last saw you.”
“Ugh, you’re going too far.”
I stared at the grumbling guy silently, and only then did he notice and return to his original state.
Anyway, he’s a funny guy.
“While you’re here, why not have some coffee before you go?”
“A coffee made by a senior? Isn’t this precious? But the interior design here isn’t at all your style? And what about the cat doll…? … Huh?! W-W-Who! It moved! Why?!”
Kim Jung-hyun, who was looking around here and there, touched Rangi and screamed in surprise.
Langi and I looked at that guy as if we were dumbfounded.
“… …Why would I? Because it’s true.”
Rangi is cute and pretty like a doll.
If you don’t know much about cats because they are usually quiet, you might mistake them. Of course, if you look closely, you can’t help but notice them…
Why~
As expected.
Langi, who had been quiet, cried as if he didn’t even notice that.
Kim Jung-hyun, who had been surprised by the sound, finally calmed down. Then he poked him as if he was confirming the kill.
Haaaak!
“Oh, it’s a real cat.”
In the end, he was bitten by Rangi, but his expression returned to normal as if he was relieved.
I shook my head while looking at that guy.
Anyway, I told you he’s a funny guy.
Of course, even though he looks so sloppy, he’s a serious guy when it comes to work, so it was good when I was working.
A peculiar guy.
Now that I think about it, there were a lot of other strange guys besides him.
The idol fanboy I thought of last time is also like that.
They are all strange, but their abilities are good, so they all went to good places.
“Junseong, are you in touch?”
“Oh, that guy is a producer or something, so I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“Huh? Producer?”
“Yes. Well. He’s trying to make an idol now.”
“… …Your classmates are all really special.”
“Hey, only you, senior?”
“What about me? I just did my work.”
“Yes, yes~ You just worked.”
What’s so special about office workers working?
Kim Jung-hyun’s pointless words went in one ear and out the other as I entered the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Kim Jung-hyun kept looking at Rangi as if he found it strange and tried to touch her.
Even though Rangi is not the type of person to avoid human contact, he seems to find Kim Jung-hyun a bit annoying.
Bang! Bang!
“Oh! Senior! Did you see that just now? It was so fluffy!”
He really is a strange guy.
Why do you like getting hit with a cat punch?
Rangi, who is uncomfortable with her tail wagging, and Kim Jung-hyun, who is full of curiosity and doesn’t care about others.
The two of them looked exactly like a cold-hearted cat and an oblivious large dog.
If you keep doing that, you’ll get hit.
“Whoa!?”
As expected, I was playing with my finger and ended up getting bitten.
But seeing him smile and say it’s okay, I knew he was really a weird guy.
‘Should I kick him out quickly?’
But I came here to see your face after a long time, so I feel a bit awkward just sending you away.
If you think about it, isn’t this the first time that anyone I know has come?
You have to treat them well.
The aura of the guy I glimpsed was bright and clear.
And then something lit up.
It was an aura that felt similar to Su-ah’s.
This appeared as a text window.
[Kim Jung-hyun]
*situation
─I’m excited to prepare a new project.
─Happiness in meeting someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
I feel good because it seems like you’re doing well after moving to a new company.
I don’t think there’s anything I can do separately.
‘I’d like a latte that replenishes my stamina.’
Put the shot down and steam the milk.
Kim Jung-hyun’s eyes widened as he played with Lang-i, moving like water without any obstruction.
widely!
“Okay, latte. And who drinks coffee these days? They say it’s cold.”
“That’s it, that’s it. Even these days, when you go to the scene, it’s still a mix. But what is this? This? Since when did you know that senior could do this!? Aren’t you our senior? Hand me over, senior!”
“It’s raining, so do you want to get kicked out right away?”
“I will drink well.”
The guy who had been running around like he didn’t want to get wet sat back down and quietly lifted his latte.
“But it’s really amazing. How can you be this cute, senior?”
This latte art was none other than a rabbit.
I guess I remembered seeing it in the garden earlier, and as I recalled the stamina it had when it was playing… … .
“And you know what was really cool just now? It was like some kind of coffee drama. You looked like an actor from that!”
“Stop talking and drink.”
“yep!”
If you put this guy and Sua together, who will talk more?
I suddenly became curious, but I decided not to even think about it because I felt like all my energy would be sucked out just by looking at it.
Slurp!
“Umm… … .”
“How is it? Are you okay?”
“I’m not really sure, but it seems good. It’s a bit chilly because of the rain, so maybe it’s because I put something warm in it?”
I nodded at Kim Jung-hyun’s words.
It’s raining and chilly, so it might be okay to go in warmly.
I also had a drink and sat down across from him at the counter.
The view of the rainy vacant lot beyond the window across the street was picturesque.
‘A picture that changes depending on the weather and the season.’
As expected, I liked it now.
It’s also nice to have a relaxing chat with old friends.
“Oh, right! Do you know anything about Woo-gong after he left?”
“Woo-gong? Well, I don’t know since there’s no one to contact there. What, would there be a problem? It’s not even work, just filling one person at the company.”
“Hey~ Is your senior just one person? Anyway, I didn’t hear it myself, but I heard that manager got demoted.”
“relegation?”
The reason that gentleman was so busy hanging on was to avoid being demoted. Was that so easy?
“I don’t know the details because it’s an internal affair, but I heard it was a bit messy due to lobbying for the project. Well, I guess they also got their act together because they were messing with the people above them.”
“… … Is that so?”
“I knew when I would become like that gentleman! I guess when you were around, you secretly took care of me because that’s your personality, but after you left, you let it go. Ah, I should have seen it when I was here.”
I smiled at the sight of Kim Jung-hyun clapping his hands as if he was disappointed.
It was a smile like a latte, neither sweet nor bitter.
Then a question arose.
“But is that a reason for a demotion? Shouldn’t you go to jail for that?”
“Ah! Of course, that’s something we’re whispering about internally. The official reason for the demotion is the ‘Forest in the City’ project, right? It’s because we made a mess of it. That’s what you were working on, right?”
right.
The last project I worked on.
It was a project that started with a study on the mental health of modern people depending on whether there is a forest in the city or not. While the pie is a big deal, the processing is already done, so if you just clean it up, there is no problem picking it.
But you messed that up.
“You did a good job of demoting me.”
“Right? Oh, right! And also… … .”
It was quite interesting to hear stories about the city after a long time.
Today I had a conversation with Mr. Park Dae-san, but since I came here, the person I’ve been talking to the most is Su-ah, so it was a slightly different conversation.
“Ah~ On a day like today, I really need to have a glass of makgeolli with pajeon!”
“Okay. Do you have anything else planned?”
“Unfortunately, that’s true. I have to go all the way to Gangwon-do from here. Ugh!”
“Take it easy.”
I said that I thought he would be like me before, but in reality, he was a different person from me.
He’s a guy who likes people, but he’s not the type to foolishly hold back.
That’s why he changed companies earlier than me.
It was just a worry.
“Yep! I’m going on vacation soon anyway. Overseas. Phew!”
“alone?”
“That’s not true. You didn’t think I’d just work and live like you, did you?”
“You’re going with your teammates? Then it’s a different story.”
“… … Damn. I know too well.”
We decided to call it a workshop rather than a vacation.
“Hmm? I guess I should go soon. It’s already time… … Oh! The rain has stopped.”
“Okay. Be careful on the rainy road.”
“Of course. Then, senior, I will visit you again. I think I will come often.”
“Or so.”
“I enjoyed my coffee! See you again, Kitty~”
Haaaak!!
Kim Jung-hyun left after patting Lang-yi’s head and receiving a warm welcome.
It felt good to see you after such a long time and chat about this and that.
I feel healed.
also.
It’s nice here.
‘I think I should go home today and have some pajeon and makgeolli.’
The rain had stopped, but for some reason I wanted to do that. Sitting on the veranda.
“Should we close early?”
I guess that’s what it’ll have to be like.
I just finished cleaning up and came out.
“Hey! Mister!”
And then I ran into Su-ah, who had just gotten off the bus.
What good timing.
Suah came running.
And then all of a sudden.
“Sir, what are you doing this weekend?”
I asked about the weekend schedule.
But when is the weekend?
───────────────