ANQ | Chapter 9

“Are you sleeping?”b08454e557b989d4

“……”f322b69a9a990ab0

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“You can’t sleep here.”3cd117bc1b551b09

The man didn’t respond. Is he running a fever? Should I wake him up and send him to the hospital?8362b8715f05776f

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Minyoung, pondering, wiped his hands on his apron and cautiously reached for the man’s forehead.b5827cb881d6666e

“Ah.”2bed840b531fed13

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The moment the man opened his eyes wide, Minyoung froze like someone caught doing something wrong. His cupped hand was just about to touch the man’s forehead. Only after making eye contact did Minyoung realize he might have crossed a line.6310c93a792c007c

The man was quicker than Minyoung, who was trying to pull back his hand. The man, looking up with weary eyes, pulled Minyoung’s hand to his forehead. Any attempt to withdraw was easily suppressed. How could a sick person be so strong?884e2491c1840712

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While Minyoung 313db31117 was surprised de23d90208 by the 8d4e00cc22 unexpectedly high 17bd9a9c01 temperature, the f484249c54 man closed b5136c0221 his eyes 4a4c215e23 again.7444b24a1c35039b

“Your forehead is really hot.”8f03fb5859d06d9a

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“I’m naturally a hot guy.”81305c52628acd6e

“You must be out of your mind from the fever.”ab12619c20934d4b

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“Heh. Go Minyoung, your hands are cool… nice.”42ef758d808076da

The man chuckled and held Minyoung’s wrist. His grip felt even hotter than his forehead.2247d6520a2c7cf4

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“…Go Minyoung. What’s your major?”a4904cc7a66020e3

“Why do you ask?”4b46a8c672622ac7

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“Are you in med school by any chance?”6decaf465ffbbcd6

“No, I’m not.”8d4997370c784935

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“Strange. My headache seems to be gone already.”fde7e1205dc96571

The man’s voice was languid. Healing with just a touch is more like a superpower or a cult leader than a doctor.3742674bb63cf3dd

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Thinking it was nonsense, Minyoung still couldn’t pull his hand away from between the man’s forehead and hand. As if the man’s feverish warmth had transferred, Minyoung’s ears turned red. His breath felt warmer too.d1cc99ea64ce8923

♣ • f87b728d40 ♣ • 627d17518a ♣c0ec8317c4eacc84

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The music leaking e64955de2b from the earphones 49bf0345d5 of the young cf81c7cf24 male customer standing a7831d4502 at the counter 3b71728d4c was loud. Even in front of 9f3008c222 Minyoung, the man nodded a887dd97e1 his chin to the c6536476c1 rhythm.ba7a0a3c4547746b

“Would you like to order?”50bf5900cd1cc603

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“Americano.”0e324d75b68d527b

“Would you like it hot?”0311cae2be2365cb

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“……”a131e04c1dc814a7

There was no way the man rummaging through his bag could hear Minyoung’s voice. Is it so hard to lower the volume or take out one earphone when talking to someone?f7d29041dfca7546

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Minyoung stood silently, 368f7624f9 waiting for the ef458566be man to notice fcca135e6b him.a513b039f96c83e2

“How would you like your Americano?”c1423282e2a9989b

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“What?”bfffc6b157c2d558

“Would you like it hot?”aa1d2b45bd17d59b

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“Make it iced.”f993cf576af16127

Finally, the 4d5f11d107 man took 9664801853 out his e7de1b3dd1 earphones and 8bd2c29d34 answered as 931d4bb4d5 if it e8bad3fbf7 was a 0b85af1cc0 bother. Minyoung prepared the ice bbc01da496 water and operated the f57a819c1f machine to brew the 9bba084973 coffee. While waiting ca91c69820 for the 49c80088f3 coffee to e6be0b8b95 be extracted c2af70b952 into the b947ad2825 small cup, 61ae7d667a he glanced 0b33d1bad0 around the 57c4414906 tables.5d507441d21a5209

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During the df7438fb3a busy morning 2b28745425 shift, the a4fde557ae Strawberry Smoothie 9ed2547982 Man had ba2f00a79d disappeared without c43c649dd5 a word. Did he take his 1a43cf5fe0 medicine? Did his fever 315cb18d59 go down? The image of 3d3a5cc262 the man with bef40731a7 his eyes closed b3cb66cb60 kept coming to 2f87f4325b mind.59b11fada58c2c0f

Why worry about someone who’s not even a relative or friend? Minyoung blew his bangs with a puff of air as he put the lid on the takeaway cup.266288c82acb0e48

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The man reappeared the next evening. Unlike the previous morning, he was neatly dressed. Contrary to Minyoung’s expectation that he would line up behind the customers, the man winked at Minyoung and walked past the counter.15fad129c0115ba4

Owner Choi, 181ebc3c7e who was f786ec8da2 scooping ice 026e084400 into disposable 542c7cdcbe cups for 3c0370d9c9 a delivery fe05ddde05 order, greeted 6c25558cfb him warmly.f819faa04dc7b79f

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“Oh, you’re here. Want some coffee?”154b27085b11acee

“I’ll place an order.”59ed2a0826ff657d

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Minyoung barely managed to take his eyes off the man. At least he didn’t look sick, which was a relief.4286643d89e333c5

“I already had some. Oh, hyung, you look better.”e54211e6a691d854

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“Really? Are you saying I gained weight?”f45716de2d8279ff

“No way. I’m saying you look younger. Did you eat something good?”3df8ef683c314738

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Listening to their 6666ccaf43 conversation while making 39e5dc6e86 coffee, Minyoung bit 3ffd143ec7 his lower lip. Despite the man bb62e07006 frequenting the café 932ed15768 countless times, he c228074475 had no idea a6b5f4bbfa he was well-acquainted 6d5e2e91d6 with the owner. Their conversation 1ce30f1a77 was very bad3fd3672 familiar. Did I make any ba3c713904 mistakes?e4b67abc9d9274ba

Minyoung scratched his 3010f533a2 neck, glancing at 46cd83fe2f the man leaning 480628317b on the counter.c1356648789dd572

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“Vanilla latte and café latte with an extra shot, right?”d516bd0933ef6caa

“Yes.”baf4a8b5604dfb6d

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“I’ll help you with the payment. Please insert your card in the front.”10e09af2a22552cf

Why didn’t the man mention he knew the owner? He was truly unpredictable. Minyoung easily guessed that the person Owner Choi had a rare drinking appointment with today was the man.62806f2c3148865e

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“Wait a moment. My wife is supposed to come, but she’s a bit late?”395e602ca38c5c7c

It was almost Minyoung’s quitting time. Owner Choi, who planned to leave the café to his wife, checked the time and spoke. Minyoung replied.92e20eb1e2261404

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“Then should I watch the store? I don’t have tutoring today.”6fe379170c71446b

“Minyoung, you don’t have class today?”f9bde63384810d83

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“Yes. The grandmother of the family I tutor is having an 80th birthday party.”6c9b90a9caeffa6a

“Really? Then, let’s go together. My wife is going to watch the store anyway, so let’s have a drink together. It’s hard for you to find time, right? Hey, is it okay if our part-timer comes along?”edecf989c683e2e2

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“Sure.”7def9f71a3b56968

The man, who had been quietly observing their conversation, answered with a smile. He gestured with his index and middle fingers that he’d be outside smoking, then put his hands in his pockets and walked out of the café.d49dc525f637ccaf

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Somehow, Minyoung ended up joining Owner Choi and the man’s drinking session, scratching his neck again.796ba3929195cdf5

The three da21475c82 of them cae58a6636 left the b3a3224238 café and ec9d812161 found a e82c360238 suitable bar 9cc0d6f85e nearby. Owner Choi, who had 09a45a12c8 many connections, greeted the a30648e690 bar owner as they 0072ddc7ec entered.6dd008766dcbc15b

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The dim interior was 688c18366c perfect for an early 638c295a14 evening drink.e328ef0e0c02ffd2

“Minyoung, order whatever you want.”9831023fb9d82f27

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“Okay.”d947ea5b4dfc968b

“So, how do you two know each other?”0e7ae515fbbe16f3

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“This guy used to come in all the time for strawberry smoothies.”3e18cf91d1bd3bd4

The man, who Minyoung thought would sit next to Owner Choi, insisted on squeezing in next to Minyoung. Minyoung, being pushed into the corner by the man’s large frame, answered Owner Choi.85fefd0eff92693f

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“Huh? Strawberry smoothie? You have a unique taste.”c9c537a79d651d23

“You hired a good part-timer, hyung. Go Minyoung makes it so delicious that I think about it every day, even though I never used to drink it.”fc2d64cd9a9f15cc

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Owner Choi and the man seemed to be close friends. The man spoke politely to Owner Choi but wasn’t overly formal.a11b6e7dfcb5bffd

“Go Minyoung. What should we eat?”d068e06f2bb35ba9

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“Anything’s fine.”89ee8dd00a5a15b7

“Our Go Minyoung, you’re not very savvy. When you’re getting treated, you should always choose the most expensive thing.”b6038e96ae85a5cd

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The man pretended aaefc0d043 to whisper behind 0cd1dcde8b the menu, adding f5319b59c8 that the hyung e3d39106fd had a lot 98546a57bc of money.e5bcd22f20b7b8c7

“Sure. Minyoung, pick whatever you want. I haven’t been able to treat you to a proper meal yet.”a5baebf489adb7d9

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“It’s because I’ve been busy.”e98fbfa1a4909aa6

“Go Minyoung. Should we have beef? And how about shrimp tempura? Should we order some soup too?”ecdbb6bdb1d69404

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“Sure. They make good hot pot here.”c649895e58cfd9a0

The man’s pronunciation of “Go Minyoung” started to sound more like “Gom Inyoung” (teddy bear), as if he was doing it on purpose. But Minyoung pretended not to notice and drank some cold water. The man, who was busy choosing from the menu, raised his hand to call a staff member.fa5ea3665e6a22e5

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“I didn’t know you two knew each other.”86eb732a33d5d5a5

“Oh, this guy? He’s a high school junior.”3b91a5afa33e253c

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The man 5d4c428b67 asked the 612b0f2bbc staff about f8c07ce372 the menu. After getting a detailed 068897cdb9 explanation, he ordered beef f5e120ff5d dishes, shrimp tempura, spicy 19b915083e soup, and fruit salad 11b88bf333 all at once.287777695fbcd9b7

“And two bottles of soju, cold ones.”fff5b6dbd4c70c4d

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“Are you having a 60th birthday party?”b589e5484a7f6a8e

“Come on, hyung, you make good money. I ordered because Go Minyoung wanted it. You have to spend to earn more.”b8eb792edbfe2d31

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“Really? But you…”fe1fb658107e4847

“Here, bring the soju first!”de83b308c79cf74b

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Since the bd4d300eb0 man had 771d5a6fc2 come to ebac6bd735 the café c1b0c6aa8a in the f8811a0644 morning and ae58ae7130 left before 59d9cb006e Owner Choi bb7a7c6ef1 arrived, Minyoung ad9978a6b7 never thought 6bbdcc1e32 they knew 1479f04218 each other. After a round 558e2116c5 of drinks, the 81fa0031c4 conversation shifted to 21e323519d someone else, possibly 6ada7b180f a continuation of ae4dd753ea a discussion they b08d3c21e3 had while Minyoung ce243c29f6 was working.46b8b8877d1c21e9

“Hey, Kang Taeyun. Isn’t that a bit much?”8c43734580e5f1b3

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The man lightly shook his head and picked up the soju bottle. He poured the first drink for Owner Choi, then for Minyoung, and finally for himself. Minyoung learned the man’s name when he heard Owner Choi call him.ac7512ef54686677

Kang Taeyun. The name, 943848b308 quietly repeated c216ac0cd4 in his a795702c56 mouth, suited 8d439e4e59 him well.4ca28a0cd6d03e29

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“It’s not too much. If it’s something that needs to be done, let’s do it right. Those seniors have been talking nonsense for ages.”1644df339ce8b592

“They’re immature. Even as they age, they still act the same.”0edec5e5c642edb0

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“If they can’t mature at that age, we have to make them realize it. We can’t sit grown adults in a time-out chair to teach them. Right, Go Minyoung?”8bbfacdd2b3878bc

“Yes?”27af66b2cc1f343c

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“Let’s drink.”79ab9784a484ed1f

Taeyun smiled. He left the topic Minyoung couldn’t follow and offered a glass filled to the brim. Owner Choi raised his glass, and finally, Minyoung joined in.d57fd1534f251105

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“Nice to meet you. Let’s drink until we’re tipsy.”4918d54fb8337ffd

Minyoung laughed at Owner Choi’s jest. It had been a while since he’d had a social drink like this, being busy with life. When Minyoung drank, it was usually just a can of beer after his grandmother went to sleep.78c66ff1571bf21e

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The soju, after a 9251e182a0 long time, tasted sweet a69fb0f092 on his tongue.8cd962563781d084

Sometimes Minyoung was the center of conversation, but there were also serious talks between Taeyun and Owner Choi. When Minyoung quietly emptied his glass, Taeyun would naturally refill it, as if he’d been watching him.42f5a9fdd548b8d2

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While drinking, Minyoung checked a092346402 his phone just in 5d8e3f736c case and quickly answered 49a8c0ca53 an incoming call.a1bcb97c697f4e3c

“Oh, Grandma. Yeah, I’m eating. How about your dinner? Good job, our Dalja. No, I won’t be too late, so don’t worry and go to sleep first. I won’t drink much. Promise. Yeah, got it. Grandma, make sure to cover up with the blanket. Yeah, okay.”28e1545d4d748cf2

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While Minyoung turned towards a645d481e7 the wall to talk f603b44c0a to his grandmother, Owner b0e711d3d9 Choi asked.4c8807f8b1cefe82

“Minyoung, is your grandma’s health okay?”d047ac6140872cfd

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“Yes, she’s doing alright.”2dda624406d2a279

“That’s good. Take good care of her. She worked hard raising her grandson. If you need any help, let me know.”683cab24922d42e6

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Minyoung nodded at Owner Choi, who knew his family situation well. Hearing his grandmother say she’d go to bed early reassured him, and he relaxed his shoulders.b814f7354562b2b9