The scent of midsummer lingered heavily in the air.

“Customer number 128, your drink and cake are ready.”

After cheerfully calling out to the customer, Gyu-ul handed over the coffee and cake before plopping down into a seat. Having worked nonstop since the morning, she finally had a moment of rest. It was 3 p.m., and she was completely drained.

“Tired?”

A gentle voice came from behind her as she was fanning herself.

“Gyu-ul, you really saved me today. I’m so grateful.”

Joo Min-jae looked at Gyu-ul with a warm smile, his head tilted, his beautifully arched lips curving upward beneath his prominent nose.

Gyu-ul quickly turned her head, hoping to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks.

“I didn’t save you. It’s no big deal…we’re friends, after all.”

Friends.

That was the one word that tied her to Joo Min-jae, the man in front of her. Every time she spoke that word, a bitter taste lingered on her tongue because, to her, that “friendship” had always been one-sided love.


* * *


“Here, eat up.”

A plate of kimchi fried rice was set on the table. It was so late that they hadn’t had a chance to eat, so Joo Min-jae had prepared it for Gyu-ul himself.

“I wanted to give you something better, but this is all I could manage.”

“It’s fine. I’m so hungry I could eat nails.”

“Just don’t eat the spoon too.”

He let out a soft laugh, his smile looking so lovely.

Watching his smiling face, Gyu-ul felt that all the hard work she’d put in at the café today was worth it.

“But why did the café suddenly get so busy?”

“Someone shared my SNS address on a community page, saying the owner was really good-looking.”

Min-jae shared a link with her. As she chewed on her food, she checked it and, just like he said, the post’s comments section was exploding.

[Title] K-Café Owner’s Visuals Are on Another Level

The comments were full of people saying they had to go there right away and jokes about finding their future spouse.

“Two part-timers quit suddenly, which made things difficult, but I can’t complain about the increase in revenue. I’m buried in debt from building this café.”

Gyu-ul smirked, thinking about how the rich boy, Min-jae, was pretending to be financially strained after constructing a café with an artificial waterfall inside.

Actually, Min-jae’s café had been popular on Instagram even before all this. Today, Gyu-ul was only there because of a phone call from him.

“Gyu-ul, are you busy these days? It’s still a little early for strawberry planting, right?”

“Yeah, I’m not too busy yet. Why?”

“If you’re free, come hang out at the café. We haven’t seen each other in a while. I miss you.”

Upon hearing him say he missed her, she’d dropped everything and come over, just like an eager puppy thrilled at being called by its owner.

Even though she knew all too well that Min-jae’s “I miss you” didn’t mean the same thing her own heart did.

“Honestly, without you today…oh, hang on a second.”

Min-jae paused mid-sentence as his phone started buzzing. The name “Ha-eum Lee” flashed across the screen. Ha-eum Lee was a woman who had recently become close to Min-jae. Her father, a painter and professor, had a villa near the café, so Ha-eum often visited during school breaks.

Unlike Gyu-ul, who spent her life working with soil, Ha-eum was a radiant, sophisticated woman who seemed like a perfect match for Min-jae.

“Gyu-ul, I’ll be right back. I need to take this call.”

“Sure.”

“Thanks. Yes, Ha-eum? Where are you? Ah, got it. Wait a minute, I’ll be there soon. No, it’s fine, I’ll be right over.”

Min-jae glanced back and forth between the clock and Gyu-ul as he spoke. Once he ended the call, he took their empty kimchi fried rice plates.

“Gyu-ul, you’re done, right?”

“Huh? Yeah, I’m finished.”

“Then let’s go.”

It was clear he was eager to leave, likely to meet Ha-eum. Gyu-ul, who had been awkwardly sitting on her chair, finally got up and followed Min-jae out as he turned off the café lights.

As soon as they stepped outside, the humid summer air clung to them.

“It’s late, so be careful going home, Gyu-ul.”

Min-jae, now seated in his luxury SUV, waved at her. Gyu-ul smiled and waved back.

“Yeah, you too. Drive safely.”

“I’ll transfer your pay for today right away.”

“Alright. Remember, I’m a high-end worker, so pay me accordingly.”

“Got it.”

She watched as his car pulled out of the spacious café parking lot, her hand dropping limply after he drove away.