Chapter 13

Just as he call ended and Da Hee was about to put her phone down.

The door swung open, and a gust of wind blew in. Against the backdrop of a remarkably clear, sunny day that made the whole world shimmer with a blueish light, Woo Hyun stood there. Dressed in a white T-shirt, he seemed to glow even more as the light reflected off him.

"Welcome."

Da Hee greeted him.

Woo Hyun walked to the counter and looked at the menu. Da Hee stared intently at his face. For a man, his eyelashes were quite long. He was tall, had large hands, and broad shoulders to boot.

To have kissed last night and meet so casually today... this kind of relationship would be difficult for even the heavens to orchestrate. She thought.

Da Hee looked at Woo Hyun and spoke.

"Americano. Hot."

Woo Hyun chuckled at Da Hee's preemptive order.

"Yeah, that one."

"Have a seat."

At Da Hee's words, Woo Hyun sat by the window. He usually came empty-handed, but today he had brought a tablet PC and documents, as if he'd been somewhere before. Looking towards the parking lot, she saw Woo Hyun's car parked there. Woo Hyun appeared busy, alternating between his tablet PC and the documents, so Da Hee placed the tray with the hot Americano beside him and turned to leave.

"Sit."

He said, with his gaze still fixed on the documents.

"Do I seemed like I have nothing to do?"

"Sitting is your job."

"I can't just leave the counter unattended."

"There are no customers."

For the first time, Woo Hyun looked up at Da Hee. Da Hee couldn't figure out what the man was thinking.

"What am I supposed to do while you work?"

"Just be here."

At Woo Hyun's words, Da Hee sat down next to him, crossed her legs, and stared intently at him working. The documents he brought were all related to stocks and real estate.

"Shouldn't you be doing work like this at the office?"

"I can't focus there."

"And you can here?"

"At least more than at the office."

Woo Hyun flipped through the papers and answered effortlessly. Da Hee silently watched him, and then turned her gaze out the window. Just as Woo Hyun said, there were no customers, and she enjoyed the rustle of his pen on the paper and the fresh scent of Cool Water Cologne emanating from him. She leaned forward and looked at the well-tended garden beyond the glass.

When Da Hee opened the café, she put as much effort into the garden as she did the coffee machine. She designed it to be just the right size to fill the view without requiring excessive upkeep. Da Hee loved the seasonal colors. The falling leaves in autumn, the bare branches in winter, and the vibrant green leaves that returned in summer. Woo Hyun glanced at Da Hee, who was leaning forward, staring intently at her garden.

Just as he thought.

She seemed to be looking at him, then quickly focused on something else. He had deliberately asked her to sit beside him to observe a change in her.

Last night's kiss was deep and intense. A tingling sensation, as if sparks were flying, ran down Woo Hyun's spine, making his vision swim even with his eyes closed. After a kiss like that, there should have been some awkwardness or a change in her, but Da Hee remained emotionless. Did she find a kiss like that trivial? Woo Hyun tilted his head and his brows furrowed.

He wanted to see this woman truly flustered.

A perverse desire raised its head, but Woo Hyun suppressed it. There was no need to lose the date mate he had so painstakingly found because of his own unnecessary desires. He had learned firsthand, through painful experience, how troublesome impulsive actions could be.

A short while later, customers arrived. Da Hee moved to the counter. A few more customers followed in quick succession. After busily moving for a moment, Da Hee noticed a shadow fell over the counter and looked up.

Woo Hyun was gathering his tablet PC and documents.

"I'm leaving."

"It's a bit noisy today, isn't it?"

Da Hee offered a courtesy remark.

Woo Hyun, knowing the truth, responded with equal politeness.

"My work's just finished. And Seong Tae keeps calling me to come back."

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to ask who Seong Tae is?"

"Should I? I assume he's your acquaintance."

"What if she's a woman?"

"Then she'd be a female acquaintance. You said you didn't have anyone you love."

Such a concise information processing system. A wry smile played on Woo Hyun's lips. She truly had not even a tiny bit of interest in him. Again, that desire reared its head. He wanted to see this woman falter because of him.

"I'm going."

It was time for Woo Hyun to turn away before he was consumed by that misguided desire.

"Just a moment."

At Da Hee's call, Woo Hyun stopped. Da Hee pushed the cactus on the counter towards him.

"Take this."

"What's this?"

Woo Hyun looked at the cactus as if asking what he was supposed to do with it.

"They say it helps block electromagnetic waves if you keep it near a computer. Take it."

"..."

"You'll be on the computer a lot, won't you, Mr. Woo Hyun?"

"Yeah."

"Take it. It's my favorite cactus. You only need to water it once a month, just enough to slightly dampen the soil. It has strong vitality, so it's unlikely, but don't let it die. And just in case you misunderstand, I'm lending this to you."

"What?"

Lending a cactus barely the size of her palm? Woo Hyun stared at Da Hee in disbelief.

"I told you. It's my favorite cactus. It's a symbol of good luck for me. After I bought this cactus, I was able to get this café at a cheap price. I'll take it back when we part ways, so please don't kill it and take good care of it."

Da Hee placed the cactus in Woo Hyun's hand. Woo Hyun alternated his gaze between the cactus and Da Hee, then gripped the cactus.

"I'll try."

As he turned away, Da Hee added from behind him. 'Trying isn't enough. you have to be desperate.' But Woo Hyun didn't reply.

Getting into his car, parked in the empty lot in front of the café, Woo Hyun placed the cactus next to his tablet PC. Still not feeling secure, he used the tablet PC to brace the cactus, then let out an incredulous laugh. Bracing a cactus with a 1.3 million wons tablet PC?

Woo Hyun drove the car into the alley. He drove slowly, glancing at the passenger seat. The cactus was fine.

'It's a symbol of good luck for me. After I bought this cactus, I was able to get this café at a cheap price. I'll take it back when we part ways, so please don't kill it and take good care of it.'

Woo-hyun furrowed his brows, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on the window frame. He should have asked. Asked why she would lend such a precious cactus to him.

~~~~~

Miel's Translations