Even Closer -1-
Monday morning, and as always, I'm prepping to open the cafe with the Cafe Owner.
"You look great today~ Must've had a good rest over the weekend?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I had some fun for the first time in a while."
Ever since Lee Yoon-ju started university and got all wrapped up in her relationship, it's gotten harder to carve out time to hang out just the two of us. Thanks to that, spending the whole weekend with Ji-ah noona was a rare outing for me.
Of course, I usually go out and have a good time by myself on holidays or weekends—I actually enjoy my alone time. But come on, who wants to play solo all the time? Sometimes you just miss laughing and goofing around with someone.
After spending the entire day together on Saturday, I definitely felt us getting closer, more comfortable. Our KakaoTalk chats have picked up too. Yesterday, she sent me a link to some funny short video. Not "hilarious" hilarious, but one of those dumb, cringey jokes that still cracks you up somehow. Anyway, it was fun.
"I knew it. Your face is glowing today—you must've really recharged. Good for you. People need to cut loose like that sometimes to shake off the stress."
The Cafe Owner hums approvingly, smiling warmly, then gets to work cleaning the coffee machine.
Fair enough. To her, I probably look like some boring guy who just bounces between home, the cafe, and the gym every day.
Soon it's 9 a.m., opening time. I put out the sidewalk sign and flip the CLOSED sign to OPEN. Not long after, the morning rush hits, and a new week begins.
-2-
The morning crowd starts thinning out. It's that awkward in-between time—not quite brunch yet—when Ji-ah noona shows up at the cafe.
She's wearing a soft yellow dress with a cardigan, looking more airy and feminine than usual. I can't help but let out a little "Whoa."
"Hey, you're here."
"Oh, yeah. Hi. Latte today, please."
"Got it."
She returns my cheerful greeting with a shy smile. After taking her order and handing over the pager, she passes me a pretty shopping bag that looks like a gift.
"What's this?"
"The mystery novel I mentioned on the phone last time. I remembered and brought it over."
Oh, right! She says it just popped into her head, but she definitely packed it ahead of time over the weekend. No doubt about it. Gut feeling, but I'd bet on it. The bag looks way too new to be some random one lying around the house.
"Whoa, there's chocolate in here too?"
"I saw it at the department store yesterday and grabbed it. Figured you like sweet stuff."
Her bashful smile has me grinning like an idiot right back.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
"Heh. Good, glad you like it."
I glance at the Cafe Owner real quick, then rip open the packaging right there and peek inside the tin case. It's not just chocolate—there's biscuits thickly topped with it like Binc's, brownies, all sorts of chocolate desserts packed in there. She said she picked it up at the department store, and yeah, they scream I'm expensive as hell just from the look.
"Cafe Owner, want one?"
"Jae-hyun, I'm not that oblivious. Eat them all~."
Why does everything she says come with this rosy filter? It's not like that with Ji-ah noona.
In this reverse world, women being nice and showing kindness to men is just normal. So it's not weird that Ji-ah noona looks out for me. I've never felt like she sees me in a sexual way, so probably just an ideal little-bro figure to her—handsome, sweet, the works.
"You always say that, but stop living vicariously through me. Nom."
Whoa! This brownie is seriously good. The ones I've had before were soft and fluffy, more like chocolate bread. But this? Dense texture, fudgy chocolate melting richly in your mouth. It might feel a tad sweet at first, but the finely chopped nuts balance it perfectly with that nutty savoriness. I lick the cocoa powder off my fingers and savor the aftertaste. Gotta ask where she got these later.
-3-
Ji-ah noona sticks around a bit longer than usual today. She orders a refill midway, and maybe skipping lunch, gets some brunch menu items too.
"Noona, where'd you get this chocolate?"
"Hm? Why? Like it?"
"Yeah! I tried one brownie earlier, and it was so good."
She looks ridiculously proud as she tucks away her card after paying.
"Want me to get more next time?"
"Nah, let's go together next time. I'll treat you to something tasty that day!"
"You never just take anything, do you, Jae-hyun?"
"Give and take is key to keeping good relationships going, right?"
I think exchanging things—trust, kindness, affection, consideration, compromise, respect, whatever—is crucial in any relationship, business or not. One-sided giving or taking isn't healthy. A bond built on just one person's sacrifice ends the moment their feelings cool.
"I wanna stay close with you for a long time, noona. You gotta treat good people well while they're around."
One of my core life principles, from past life to this one: Cherish good people while you have them. Never skimp on "thank you," "sorry," or "I love you."
"...That's a good mindset. So, am I a good person to you?"
"Yeah."
She's beautiful, kind, our tastes match up great. And unlike most women in this reverse world, she doesn't seem to want anything sexual from me. She just genuinely wants to get to know me—Yoon Jae-hyun the person, not just the guy. That's what I love about her. Honestly, aside from Lee Yoon-ju, she's the only woman around me like that.
My firm answer and straightforward attitude leave her a little stunned for a sec, then she breaks into a bashful grin. One box of chocolates, and she hit the jackpot.
"Pfft. What're you saying?"
-4-
Right on cue, I clock out at 3 p.m. With the weather heating up, I grab a takeaway drink for the road like always.
Sweating through the muggy humidity, I head not home, but the gym. My routine used to be home first—chill, do chores, then gym—but now that it's hot, I hit the gym first to avoid getting too comfy in the AC at home and bailing.
"Jae-hyun, you're here?"
"Hi, Hana... Huh?"
My cafe takeaway cup is bone-dry, not an ice cube left. I toss it in the trash, basking in the gym's cool AC, and respond to my PT trainer's voice.
"J-Jae-hyun?"
"Ji-ah noona? What brings you here? You work out here too?"
Our eyes meet as I look up. I'm stunned by the surprise encounter, but so is she—eyes wide.
"Wait, you two know each other?"
My PT trainer glances between us, amazed. Of all the gyms in the world, we bump into each other here.
"I-It's not like I followed you, Jae-hyun! Total coincidence!"
Ji-ah noona rushes to explain, worried I'll misunderstand. Fair—it's easy to. Especially right after I get off work. Any average reverse-world guy would've flipped out like a paranoid axe murderer: Are you stalking me? Creepy!
But not Ji-ah noona. Her vibe, her personality—stalker? No way.
I can't hide my chuckling grin at her flustered state.
"I know. You're not the type."
"You trust too easily, don't you?"
That look—This kid's got no guard up. I get it from the Cafe Owner, Yoon-ju's mom, all the time.
"I'd be wary with anyone else. But it's you."
She goldfishes her mouth silently at my casual shrug. PT trainer's oohing softly, looking thrilled.
"...Don't say stuff like that so casually, Jae-hyun. Girls might misunderstand!"
She rubs her flushed face roughly, groaning like What do I do with this innocent boy?
"I don't say it to just anyone. Sure, I'm younger than you, but I'm not a little kid. Not that naive or lacking judgment."
Feeling a bit sulky at being babied, I shoot back snippily without thinking.
"Guess we'll be seeing each other here more often now?"
"...Yeah."
Maybe grab a post-workout meal together sometimes. Tired of solo dinners every day—could be my chance to graduate from that. Feels nice. Used to not mind, but lately too much alone time's getting old. Perfect timing.
-5-
Seo Ji-ah flops onto the bed like she's lost her soul.
"Haa~"
She sighs deeply, rolls over, buries her face in the pillow, and thrashes her legs in a silent scream.
What the— what is this?! How can he just—?!
Her mind is full of Yoon Jae-hyun from their unexpected gym run-in hours ago.
How can a guy be so chill, beaming innocently, tossing out lines like that without a second thought? Not to just anyone? So what am I to him then? What's got him trusting me so completely?
"Jae-hyun. Yoon Jae-hyun."
She murmurs his name like she's entranced. Nothing special about it—pretty common name. Probably thousands of 20-something Yoon Jae-hyuns nationwide.
But the one she knows? Far from ordinary.
"Ugh, uuu—! He's insane!"
He's seven years younger. Sure, overlook the stares from others. But a handsome, kind guy like that—what's he lacking to see an older woman romantically? Realistically, no chance. She's grateful just for close sibling vibes...
Yet he calls her cute, pretty without hesitation. And today? A situation ripe for freakout or anger, but that handsome face and clear eyes show zero doubt—It's you, so I trust you, with a smile.
"...It's not like I'm bad."
Stop any woman on the street; 100 out of 100 would say he's innocent even if charmed.
Yeah. That puppy-like guy who loves people at face value, teases playfully, shines like spring sun. Impossible not to like him.
No matter the worries or dilemmas, thinking of him just makes her heart flutter helplessly, happily. All practical concerns get buried.