Unexpected Encounters
Jeong Dayeon’s eyes widened in surprise when she spotted Cha Siheon.
“Teacher?”
The shopkeeper’s face mirrored the same shock.
“How much is it?”
“No, customer. This is a product that’s difficult to sell.”
Despite the shopkeeper’s reluctance, Cha Siheon remained perfectly calm.
“It’s fine. It’s a cake for someone who just needs to fill their stomach, no matter the shape.”
With those words, there was no choice. The shopkeeper reluctantly packed the cake he had been about to hand over to Jeong Dayeon and offered it to Cha Siheon.
“No need for forks and knives?”
“Yes. Just the cake will do.”
As Cha Siheon took out his wallet and finished the payment, Jeong Dayeon approached cautiously.
Seeing Jeong Dayeon, Cha Siheon briefly showed a surprised expression before saying,
“This is the bakery where you work?”
“Yes. It’s only been a little while since I started.”
After a moment of hesitation, Jeong Dayeon asked cautiously,
“Then, how did you come here?”
“It was a coincidence.”
“A coincidence?”
“I had an appointment nearby.”
“Ah… I see.”
Somehow, it didn’t feel like a coincidence that he had come all this way. The bakery wasn’t close to either his workplace or home. Jeong Dayeon’s curiosity resurfaced as she asked again,
“Then, who is the person who just needs to fill their stomach?”
“Well, there is. Someone who likes sweets.”
He replied lightly and picked up the cake box without saying more.
“Thanks.”
“Yes. Take care.”
Jeong Dayeon, who had greeted him on impulse, tilted her head.
Was it really a coincidence?
Was it true that he had just bought the cake?
But why did it have to be the cake I ruined?
Jeong Dayeon’s thoughts deepened. However, her questions were scattered by the shopkeeper’s voice calling her.
“Dayeon. What are you doing there. You need to wrap this!”
By then, the shopkeeper had moved the bread tray and called out loudly.
“I’ll be right there, sir!”
Jeong Dayeon answered quickly and walked toward where he was.
Even if it was a coincidence, she had met Teacher. It had been a small event, but anyway, it was a day that brought luck to Jeong Dayeon.
* * *
Director Myeong stared at the crushed strawberry cake with a strange expression.
It was too unfamiliar to be considered a staff snack and slightly lacking in sincerity to be a gift.
“Director. What exactly is this?”
Director Myeong, holding the cake, asked Cha Siheon, who was reviewing documents.
Cha Siheon answered without looking away from his eyes.
“I bought it on the way. Director Myeong likes sweets, don’t you?”
“That’s true… but suddenly such a large cake…”
His words trailed off as his gaze fell on the shop name on the cake box.
Elephant Bakery
The shop name was familiar.
Where was this again? As Director Myeong thought, the list of Jeong Dayeon’s part-time jobs from earlier popped into his mind. It was clear. It was the bakery name he had written when updating the list at that time.
“This isn’t the cake from the bakery where Jeong Dayeon works?”
Cha Siheon’s hand, flipping through the documents, paused for a moment.
“…Well, yes.”
“Why here…”
“I happened to stop by on the way.”
“Happened to?”
“Happened to.”
“…”
Why he had gone to a bakery far from the company, and why a person who didn’t even touch sweets had suddenly bought a cake and handed it to him was full of questions. However, there was a strange atmosphere from Cha Siheon’s shoulder that suggested he shouldn’t ask.
Director Myeong quietly lowered his head.
“…I’ll enjoy it gratefully, Director.”
After Director Myeong left and the door closed with a thud, Cha Siheon closed his report and let out a sigh.
Just for a moment, I wanted to check if Peanut was doing well, but why this happened.
It was fortunate that Director Myeong hadn’t asked any more, for both of them. If he had asked one more question, he might have lost a capable subordinate.
Cha Siheon sighed again and picked up the report once more.
“By the way, when was Jeong Dayeon’s next part-time job?”
Cha Siheon, recalling Jeong Dayeon’s part-time job list from Director Myeong’s report, let out another sigh.
* * *
“My legs feel like they’re made of stone.”
Jeong Dayeon, who had been organizing books, tapped her leg with her fist.
After working part-time back to back, her legs had become stiff like stone from standing all day.
It was her third part-time job of the day.
The bakery, the coffee shop, and this time the bookstore.
It wasn’t particularly high-paying, but it was a good place because you could touch the new releases first. You could also open the books during break times.
Jeong Dayeon, who had always lacked money for books during her school days, found the bookstore to be a space that satisfied her lack.
“Student Dayeon.”
Jeong Dayeon stopped her action of tapping her leg at the voice calling her.
“Can you bring down the book from up there? There’s a reserved customer.”
The bookstore owner pointed to the shelf above.
“Yes, I understand.”
Jeong Dayeon, who had answered, brought the ladder as if familiar with it.
Occasionally, customers would order books that were hard to reach. Mostly professors or elderly grandfathers, and this time it seemed like such an order had come in.
When taking down books from high shelves, she became unconsciously careful.
One step at a time, carefully moving her feet, soon Jeong Dayeon had climbed to the top of the ladder.
The top compartment of the high shelf.
She reached out to grab the book, but her leg, which had been stiff like stone from standing for a long time, lost its balance and swayed.
“Eh?”
The moment a surprised voice escaped, the body that had lost its center tilted in the air. But the impact of hitting the floor was not transmitted.
Instead, something was supporting her waist. The familiar scent and the firm body heat transmitted from beyond her back.
“Are you okay?”
A low voice fell from above her head.
When she turned her head, Cha Siheon’s face was right in front of her. He was holding Jeong Dayeon’s waist with one hand and standing there.
“Teacher?”
Her heart was pounding wildly.
The face of Cha Siheon up close was still handsome. The arm holding her was unbelievably sturdy.
As if holding her so she wouldn’t fall from the world.
“Be careful.”
“I’m sorry.”
Cha Siheon sighed and helped Jeong Dayeon up.
Even though I’m being scolded, why do I feel so good.
I must be crazy.
Jeong Dayeon barely calmed her pounding heart and stepped down from the ladder.
“Student Dayeon, are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine!”
Answering the bookstore owner’s distant question, Jeong Dayeon glanced at him.
“How did you come here again, Teacher?”
“I came to buy a book.”
“Coincidence again?”
“Yeah.”
“Again?”
“Again.”
Jeong Dayeon stared fixedly, but Cha Siheon didn’t even blink an eye.
It was strange. Not just today, but twice.
Moreover, the first was the bakery, and this time the bookstore.
Was it really a coincidence? Or…
The hope kept spreading from the tip of her throat.
“Teacher, by any chance…”
“Why.”
Cha Siheon, who had been scanning the backs of the displayed books, answered calmly.
“By any chance…”
Jeong Dayeon, hesitating, asked cautiously.
“You came to see me?”
Instantly, silence flowed. Cha Siheon’s pupils seemed to waver for a moment, but soon he regained his composure.
“No.”
“…”
“It’s not like that.”
The firm voice extinguished the expectation that had swelled like clouds in an instant.
“Ah… I see.”
Jeong Dayeon’s shoulders visibly slumped, and her expression became as gloomy as a kicked puppy.
The disappointed face was too naked. Cha Siheon, feeling as if he had committed some wrong, awkwardly furrowed his brows.
Cha Siheon, who had taken his hand off the book cover, said gruffly,
“Don’t get hurt at work.”
“…”
“When climbing the ladder, check who’s holding it.”
“Yes…”
“And.”
Cha Siheon stopped talking. Thoughts of not overdoing it or eating properly came to mind after that, but he couldn’t bring them out.
“…Anyway, be careful.”
Having said it briefly as a warning, he turned around. Behind his back, Jeong Dayeon’s gaze watching him with a gloomy face was felt.
Cha Siheon, walking out while ignoring that appearance, clicked his tongue softly.
Did I say it too harshly?
The face that had been looking up at him with drooping eyes kept coming to mind and bothered him.
Why did I have to say it that way when it was just supposed to be a simple “no”?
He really is a troublesome type.
Cha Siheon let out a sigh and muttered to himself as he left the bookstore.