My Younger Sister Was My First Love

92. Uninvited Guest

“No.”

“Then explain it to me?”

With Jihee’s words, I had to go into serious excuse mode again.

“What?”

“Did Unnie Demi help you out? That’s why you’re like that?”

“No. It was just the first day, and I could’ve helped out too. But it was nothing much. I was just cleaning up the broken cup that I accidentally broke when I was a part-time worker.”

“……Really?”

Her pouted lips stuck out.

It was clear that my little sister was already upset.

“Aish. I should’ve just told you not to take that part-time job. I was too generous. I was too arrogant.”

“No. It’s not a big deal that you cleaned up the broken cup.”

“……It would’ve been better if you had just let me start as a senior instead of holding me back for a year, unable to get a part-time job anywhere.”

With Jihee’s words, a picture automatically formed in my mind.

Jihee, wearing an apron, standing in front of the counter instead of Demi.

I imagined my little sister wanting to show off her senior-like dignity, and it seemed like Jihee’s romance was quite……at least, I understood what she wanted to do.

“We can do it together later. It doesn’t have to be at a cafe.”

“It’s a bit like the Korean phrase ‘let’s eat together once’, but…”

I was accurately seen through.

But it was a fact that Demi, who was with me that day, looked quite cool.

It was a feeling that I couldn’t get from Jihee.

I felt like I was being taken care of rather than taking care of someone else.

It was warm and trustworthy.

It was a moment that fit the phrase “a helping hand” perfectly.

“Anyway, Demi and I will be working there, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“I’ll go for a surprise inspection.”

“Come during your break time. Lunchtime is busy, so exclude that.”

“Then are you telling me not to come?”

Oh. Exactly?

A slight laugh escaped.

“That’s what I wanted to say.”

I didn’t like surprise inspections, but for some reason, I didn’t want to show Jihee to other people anymore.

* * *

The routine of the first university vacation was simple.

It was just a replacement of school seats with part-time jobs.

The tedious routine of school-home-school had changed to part-time job-home-part-time job.

It was the last day of the first week of part-time jobs, a Friday that was barely holding on.

The peak time of lunch had passed.

How could all the customers leave within 15 minutes?

“Jun-ho, can you take out the trash?”

“Yes!”

Despite the busy schedule, I had managed to have a few conversations with the boss.

As a result, I felt like I had become somewhat close to the boss.

The process of learning new tasks every morning was also like that.

The boss’s personality, which was very affectionate, was also like that.

The boss gave off a strong feeling of being an older cousin, someone who was around 28 years old.

After tying up the trash-filled vinyl bags and putting them outside, I wiped the sweat on my forehead with my sleeve.

It was only July, but the weather was already unbearable.

“Is it really hot today?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Do you want to have a drink?”

“I’ll have an iced tea, please.”

“Okay.”

The boss was someone who was full of energy.

Among the people I had recently met, they were the strongest type of E-personality.

They could casually talk to regular customers and even greet them with enthusiasm despite being busy.

According to their own words, they were someone who would do anything to make a living.

I’m not sure, but even if I were the boss, I don’t think I could do that.

“By the way, Jun-ho, didn’t you say you were going on a trip over the weekend? Where are you going?”

The boss handed me a glass and asked.

“It’s Gangneung.”

“Gangneung? With who? Friends?”

“No, it’s a family trip.”

“What’s going on? Are you already going on trips with your girlfriend?”

The boss burst into laughter, as if they had discovered something interesting.

It seemed like they had inferred that I was hesitant and assumed I had a girlfriend.

That’s not true.

It’s not a girlfriend, but a younger sister.

Of course, I had no intention of explaining it.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“So? Why?”

When the question ‘why’ is attached to ‘do you not have a lover’, it’s hard to give an answer.

“Um… it just didn’t work out?”

“What were you doing back then! When I was 21, if our eyes met, that was it.”

The CEO’s bright, beaming smile hinted at how much he had enjoyed his youthful days.

“But it’s not that easy, is it? Romantic relationships, I mean…”

“In what context?”

“That’s right.”

The reason I had a hard time making a girlfriend.

[It’s because the girl I liked was my sister, after all.]

This was too much to handle.

“It’s just not that easy. In many ways.”

“Oh, I see. It seems like there’s something going on? Try telling your sister quickly.”

My

I couldn’t do it, leaving the target behind.

Who is it that knows my number and asks for it?

If I got the number and met them, but it didn’t go well, what would I do?

Would I just ignore it?

“Well, it’s a neighborhood where many young people come and go, so it’s not a big deal. When Minju puts on makeup and makes an effort, she’s really pretty. Honestly, it might even help with sales, don’t you think?”

“If that’s true, I’m sorry I couldn’t help in that aspect.”

I didn’t think there would be anyone who would come to see my face and have a cup of coffee.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. As long as the boss does their job well, it doesn’t matter. That’s it.”

A short sigh escaped my lips at the boss’s tone, reminiscent of a kindergarten teacher.

As we talked, Minju’s face suddenly came to mind.

Just as we finished speaking, the door swung open and in walked Minju, her short hair fluttering.

“Hello!”

“Oh, you’re here early?”

“Yeah, I’m going to start soon after waiting a bit.”

“It’s better than being late.”

“Iljunho, I’ll have a milk smoothie, just one.”

“You can have it.”

“No manners towards your seniors. No manners.”

Minju, sitting at the empty table closest to the counter, stretched out like a customer and soon placed her hand on her chin.

“Hurry up and bring it!”

“Wait, I’ll get it for you.”

There was only one customer in the corner.

We had plenty of time to spare.

Besides, I owed Minju a favor, so this was the least I could do.

Ah, it was time to show off my skills as a seasoned employee (four days in).

With a nimble hand, I successfully made the drink without looking at the manual.

“There you go.”

As I handed her the cup, Minju walked up to the counter with a light step.

“One sip?”

She inserted the straw with a loud “plop” sound and handed me the cup.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“This is almost the best in our store. Don’t say that and try it.”

If she said that, then…

I took a sip, feeling the straw touch my lips, and inhaled deeply.

For some reason, I glanced around and caught the boss’s eye.

The boss’s face, with a faint “heh heh” smile.

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

It was as if I had only taken two small sips.

“It’s delicious.”

“What’s wrong? Did you even drink it? Why did you only drink a little?”

Minju, who had retrieved the cup, swirled the inside with a straw.

“Do a drama shoot with the two of them. Take a drama shoot.”

The CEO, who had approached us, had a hyena-like smile on his face.

“Hey, no way. I’m the only CEO.”

“Liar. This is it.”

Minju and the CEO, who seemed to be very close, looked like they were siblings.

“Do I need to go early? Can you let me in from now, Minju?”

“Add a bonus.”

“One cookie.”

“Okay.”

Minju chuckled as if that was enough and carried the smoothie into the counter.

“Come in!”

“Yeah. It’s good to have a romantic relationship, but you need to do everything beforehand, you know?”

Minju flinched again at the mention of a romantic relationship.

Minju slyly stroked the back of my hand with her index finger.

“Hey, of course!”

“I won’t do it.”

The CEO looked at us with a puzzled expression, waved goodbye, and left.

“It was busy today.”

“It was similar to usual.”

“It’s been a few days, so it’s usual, right?”

“Judging from the big data of the past few days, it seems so.”

“It’s small data, then.”

After that, Minju and I just worked without anything special.

I mainly took orders.

Minju, an experienced employee, mainly made drinks.

“Joonho.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to learn how to make coffee? Just a taste?”

Since there were no customers for a while, Minju had been subtly teaching me.

“Anyway, the CEO will teach you, but it’s hard to learn everything at once, so it’s better this way.”

“Is that so?”

It wasn’t a particularly strange thing to do.

The goal and direction were healthy.

It seemed more fulfilling to do it this way rather than just standing idly by.

“Come here.”

Minju’s wrist grabbed my arm tightly at that moment.

-Ting ting-

The clear bell sound and the opening glass door.

“Ah, what’s this. A cafe all the way here.”

“The atmosphere is nice, but why?”

“That’s why Iseho brought you here.”

There were three customers in total.

Three familiar faces.

Jihee’s eyes were fixed on Minju’s hand, which was grasping my sleeve.

I tried to shake it off, but it was an awkward situation.

Jihee didn’t seem to react much, but suddenly…

Jihee’s hand grasped Iseho’s wrist.

“Hey, you’re buying.”

Jihee didn’t avoid eye contact with me.