Did He... Hear It?
The smile Choi Deok-hun had given me when we crossed paths at the cafe entrance wouldn't leave my mind.
That strange expression clung to me. The corners of his mouth curled up just slightly—a smile I couldn't quite put into words. Like the smile of someone who already knew something.
"A-yeong? Why aren't you eating dinner?"
"Huh? Oh... no, I was just thinking..."
At Dad's words I picked up my chopsticks only to set them down again. The rice had already gone cold. I poked a few side dishes into my mouth, but I couldn't taste a thing. That scene kept replaying.
Had he seen me coming out?
...No.
I shook my head hard.
"No way."
Still, it left a bad taste. The way his eyes had raked over me. And those words.
— Your outfit is really... unique.
I cleared the table and went to my room. The moment I closed the door I flopped onto the bed.
"Hah..."
I stared at the ceiling. Remembering yesterday made my face burn hot. Doing something like that in the cafe warehouse. Even if it was an impulse... of all places, there.
"...I must've been crazy."
I buried my face in the pillow. But that smile kept coming back. Like the face of someone who'd caught me.
I closed my eyes for a moment. If he really had heard... what I'd been doing in the warehouse...
I pulled the pillow over my face.
"Aaah... don't think about it."
But it kept nagging at me. In the end I muttered,
"I'll go tomorrow... and feel him out a bit."
If I got nervous for no reason it would show. I had to act normal. That way, if he had heard, I'd be able to tell. But even with my eyes closed, that smile kept floating up.
The next day I opened the cafe door still carrying that uneasy feeling.
Ding-a-ling—
The familiar bell chimed. Soft morning sunlight filtered into the cafe. And at the counter stood the person I least wanted to see.
"It's A-yeong."
Choi Deok-hun.
My shoulders tensed for a moment.
"...Hello."
Normally he would walk over to the door, give my shoulder a light pat or take my hand in greeting. But today he just leaned against the counter, watching me quietly.
"...?"
What was this? It felt strangely awkward.
Choi Deok-hun spoke as he wiped a cup with a nonchalant face.
"If we do today, that'll make about a week, right?"
"Yes. Just about that."
"Right."
He nodded and set the cup on the shelf. Then casually tossed out,
"Then we should have a company dinner today."
"No. I'm fine."
I answered almost reflexively. My body reacted first. But Choi Deok-hun chuckled and replied,
"I already told your dad. Let's just grab a simple bite nearby."
My head throbbed. Why did Dad just agree to something like this again... I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, then opened them.
"Then... just for today."
"Okay."
Choi Deok-hun nodded.
"Wait out front for a bit after closing."
He said that and turned around. And walked toward the warehouse.
...
Warehouse.
That word rang loudly in my head. What had happened there yesterday. And Choi Deok-hun opening the door and coming in. Unconsciously I followed his back with my eyes. What had that smile been about. Could it be that he really...
"Get a grip."
I muttered quietly.
"What would he know..."
Soft music was playing inside the cafe. I looked toward the speaker. The volume was louder than I thought.
...Wait.
My footsteps halted. With this much sound, any noise from the warehouse would have been thoroughly drowned out. Probably...
"Yeah... he couldn't have heard."
I reassured myself like that and grabbed an apron. Forget about yesterday. I needed to focus on work now. But even I couldn't understand why a corner of my heart kept feeling uneasy.
Today's part-time work went by unusually smoothly. Normally there would have been a rush of orders, or dropping a cup, or Choi Deok-hun teasing me for no reason. Those little things would keep happening. But today it was strangely quiet. During the times without customers, only the soft music flowed through the cafe.
While wiping the counter I suddenly looked up. Choi Deok-hun was standing in front of the coffee machine. Then our eyes met.
"..."
He looked at me for a moment, then slowly curled the corners of his mouth. That slimy smile. The same expression I'd seen in front of the cafe yesterday. My heart sank. I turned my head as if nothing was wrong.
"This is... really creeping me out."
I muttered quietly. Normally he would playfully tap my back or grab my shoulder and say something silly. Today there wasn't a single such contact. Instead, every time our eyes met he made that smile. Then went back to his work as if nothing had happened. Behavior so different from usual. That's why it bothered me more.
"...No way."
I glanced toward the warehouse for no reason. The door was closed as usual. Yesterday's memory flashed through my mind in an instant. The narrow space. Me holding my breath. And the moment the door opened. I shook my head hard to clear the distracting thoughts.
"No."
The monologue slipped out.
"There's no way."
But the unease lodged in a corner of my heart wouldn't settle easily. I thought it would get better with time, but instead the suspicion only grew.
Before I knew it the sun had set and the sky was darkening. It was closing time for the cafe. The last customer left. I put the chairs up on the tables. I wiped the floor one more time with a rag.
"That should be it."
I said as I took off the apron. From the counter Choi Deok-hun looked up from tapping the calculator.
"Yeah. Good work."
He answered simply. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
"Then I'll head out fir—"
"Wait."
At his words my steps stopped. I turned around. Choi Deok-hun was setting down the calculator.
"...What is it?"
"I told you earlier."
He said nonchalantly.
"Company dinner today."
Ah. I closed my mouth for a moment. That talk. I had completely forgotten. No, actually... I had wanted to forget.
"Just a simple meal nearby..."
As I trailed off, Choi Deok-hun scratched his head.
"I was going to, but."
He made a thinking face for a moment, then continued.
"I think I need to stop by home for a bit."
"...What?"
"There's some meat in the fridge that might go bad if I don't eat it today."
He said casually.
"My place is close from here. Let's stop by, eat, and go."
I was speechless for a moment.
"...No, it's fine."
I said hurriedly.
"I can just eat at home."
I refused urgently, but Choi Deok-hun chuckled and turned off the counter light.
"Hey. Your dad told me to make sure you get a meal, so if I just send you off, what does that make me."
With Dad's name coming up I had nothing more to say. I bit my lip for a moment. If I held out here it would just look weirder.
"......I'll just eat dinner and leave right away."
When I said that, Choi Deok-hun nodded as if satisfied.
"Okay. It'll just be a bit."
He locked the cafe door and pulled down the shutter.
Clack—
The sharp metallic sound echoed in the alley. We left the front of the cafe side by side. As we entered the alley everything around became silent. I gripped the bag strap tightly. And glanced sideways.
Choi Deok-hun. He was walking looking ahead with a nonchalant face. The same as usual. But I didn't know why. I kept remembering the moment the warehouse door had opened yesterday. I hurriedly turned my gaze forward. My heart was beating a little faster for no reason.
Had he really not heard...
I followed Choi Deok-hun's back, keeping a bit of distance. Without realizing it I left two or three steps of space. Passing the alley we entered beside the apartment complex where I lived. It was a familiar path. But strangely my steps felt a little heavy today.
Choi Deok-hun walking ahead looked back once. When our eyes met he chuckled.
"Why are you walking so far behind."
"...It's nothing."
I mumbled and quickened my pace a little. He entered the apartment entrance without a word. The old automatic door opened slowly.
Clack.
As we stepped into the lobby the fluorescent lights shone coldly. Choi Deok-hun pressed the elevator button. A brief silence. I turned my phone screen on and off for no reason.
Ding—
The elevator door opened. He went in first and held the door. Then gestured toward me.
"Hurry up and get in."
"...Okay."
I hesitated for a moment before going inside. The door closed.
Clunk—
The elevator started rising slowly. A narrow space. Just the two of us. Because it was an old apartment the inner walls were a bit yellowed. Suddenly my eyes went to the ceiling.
...There was no CCTV.
An ominous feeling brushed through my mind. I hurriedly lowered my gaze to my feet. Choi Deok-hun standing next to me glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. Then casually spoke.
"Is the part-time job doable?"
"Yeees..."
I answered, but my voice came out a bit awkwardly. The elevator slowly changed floors.
Ding.
Ding.
The floors changed one by one. A brief silence and then... he opened his mouth again.
"You rested well yesterday, right?"
My heart sank for a moment.
"...What?"
I asked back reflexively. Choi Deok-hun's face was nonchalant.
"Is your body feeling a bit better."
Ah, that talk. I cleared my throat for no reason.
"Yes... I rested well."
Even as I spoke my gaze fell to the floor. I had rested yesterday. In the cafe warehouse... I bit my lip lightly. At that moment a low laugh came from beside me.
"Right."
Choi Deok-hun answered shortly.
"You should rest."
He didn't ask more. But... it was strange. I didn't know why. The question just now didn't sound like a passing remark.
Ding—
The elevator stopped. The door opened.
"Get off."
He went out first. I took a brief breath and followed. The hallway was locked in silence. Choi Deok-hun walked ahead and stopped in front of a door. He took out a key and opened the door.
Clack—
The door opened.
"Come in."
I hesitated for a moment in front of the door. My chest felt a little tight for no reason. But having come this far, turning back would also be weird.
"...Excuse me."
I took off my shoes and went inside. The house was more organized than I expected. Pretty neat for a man living alone. Choi Deok-hun said nonchalantly toward the kitchen.
"Sit there."
I carefully sat down in front of the living room table. I set my bag down beside me and clasped my hands with nowhere to go. From the kitchen came the sound of the fridge door opening. A moment later Choi Deok-hun plopped a glass of water down in front of me.
When I looked up he was looking down at me. With a nonchalant face that was all the more chilling for it.
"A-yeong."
My body stiffened like stone. He slowly continued.
"...Did you come to the cafe warehouse yesterday?"