* * *

He was witnessing the incredible power of volunteer work firsthand.

“In that case… alright. Oh, and Yeongdeok.”

Yeongdeok paused at Wonjin’s call and turned around.

“If anything happens, call me.”

Without affirming or denying, Yeongdeok simply turned back and continued walking.

Wonjin stood there in a daze until Yeongdeok disappeared from sight.

He sat down on a nearby bench, wondering why on earth he couldn’t get Cha Yeongdeok out of his head.

At first, his interest had been sparked by a guilty curiosity—“What’s gotten into him?”—but now, the feeling had taken on a different form.

After mulling over it, Wonjin decided to post in the community again for the first time in a while.

[There’s someone I can’t stop thinking about] 20xx.03.28

[1000WON: What kind of feeling is it to think that someone can’t live without you?]

Wonjin checked all the posts he had written on the community one by one from the top while waiting for a response.

[Boss quit the company] 20xx.09.15

[Crazy boss suddenly decides to open a chicken restaurant] 20xx.09.14

[Honestly, how did someone with this level of social skills even get a job…] 20xx.02.28

[Is he really a psychopath for not knowing this?] 20xx.02.14

[He doesn’t seem like a human being] 20xx.02.01

[Should I say he’s scary or just uncomfortable?] 20xx.1.29

…

‘Looking back now, I’ve written a lot of nonsense, haven’t I?’

After sighing dryly while reflecting on the conversation he just had with Yeongdeok, Wonjin resolved never to log into his account again and logged out of the community.

And although Wonjin didn’t know it, soon after he logged out, comments started pouring in under his post.

[1000WON: What kind of feeling is it to think that someone can’t live without you?]

ㄴ ? Are you interested in that person or something, Honorary Employee? lol

ㄴ You’re interested, huh? Who’s the other person? Don’t tell me it’s the boss you mentioned before?

ㄴ No way lol

ㄴ lol You arrogant jerk

ꔚ

When Yeongdeok arrived at the shop, the door was already open.

He had hurried to arrive as early as possible, but when he stepped inside, he saw the place already spotless after a finished cleaning.

Jihoon, who was sitting at a table looking at his phone, glanced up as Yeongdeok entered and spoke in a blunt tone.

“Where have you been to come this late? You were gone for so long that I seriously considered reporting you as a missing person.”

“I went hiking. I’m late because I took a shower afterward.”

As Yeongdeok began to tie his apron, Jihoon, who approached from behind, wiggled his fingers and tied the apron string into a ribbon.

“Did you get some divine inspiration in your sleep or something? Why the sudden hiking?”

“I went for volunteer work. They said it would help make friends. It was no help at all.”

After so many failed attempts, even Yeongdeok had to admit it now. Seo Jihoon was better at interpersonal relationships and communication than he was.

As humiliating as it was to admit.

“I need to think about which club to join next time.”

Of course, admitting it didn’t mean Yeongdeok had given up on making friends.

He was the type to keep at something until it was achieved.

At that moment, Jihoon grabbed his shoulders firmly.

“Can’t you just stop joining clubs and all that?”

Looking at Yeongdeok with eyes that seemed to be pleading and begging, Jihoon’s gaze confused him.

“But you were the one who told me to make other friends.”

“That was back then, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

“Really?”

“Yes, so.”

As Jihoon tightened his grip and pulled him closer, the distance between the two closed in an instant.

With a solemn voice, Jihoon asked for Yeongdeok’s understanding.

“Stop meeting weird people and just stay with me.”

“With you?”

“Yes.”

“But I haven’t even introduced a friend to Baek Seonwoo yet.”

Yeongdeok still hadn’t accomplished his goal of crushing Baek Seonwoo’s arrogant nose by showing off a new friend.

So he couldn’t quit making friends just yet.

Jihoon had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded like he needed a friend, so he decided to give him what he wanted.

The two locked eyes.

At the moment when their gazes met in midair, Jihoon spoke softly yet firmly.

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your friend.”

“You? With me?”

When Yeongdeok widened his eyes as if he truly didn’t understand, Jihoon nodded.

“I don’t recall making any verbal agreement to be your friend.”

“Do you think friends need a formal agreement to be considered friends? If your hearts align and you can communicate, that’s what makes you friends.”

Yeongdeok seemed to be deeply pondering Jihoon’s words, as if weighing their meaning.

Jihoon wondered what thoughts were swirling in that quirky head of his, but he patiently waited for him to speak.

“It seems we’re not on the same level.”

“You’re making me want to curse again.”

He could accept someone like Park Haemin as a potential friend, but now he’s talking about levels?

Jihoon barely suppressed his bubbling anger.

“Friend…”

Muttering quietly, Yeongdeok looked at Jihoon and smiled faintly, tugging up the corners of his lips.

He decided there was no loss in accepting.

After all, hadn’t he originally intended to get along with him to take revenge on the writer?

Unaware of Yeongdeok’s calculating thoughts, Jihoon couldn’t help but swallow dryly at the gentle smile that didn’t match his sharp face.

“I see. Though lacking in many areas, I’ll accept you as a friend.”

“What are you saying? I’m the one doing you a favor by being your friend. From now on, pay your monthly friend fee.”

“How much should I deposit?”

“…It was a joke. Can’t you take a joke?”

Jihoon urged him to hurry up and prepare for work since he was late.

That arrogant attitude made Yeongdeok think that, without him realizing, Jihoon must have become the owner of Yeongdeok Chicken.

ꔚ

[Ha Wonjin, I don’t need your help making friends anymore.]

[Ha Wonjin: Huh?]

[Ha Wonjin: Did I do something wrong today…?]

[No, I’ve made a friend.]

[Ha Wonjin: Who?]

[Ha Wonjin: Don’t tell me it’s a dangerous person, right?]

[Ha Wonjin: You need to be careful of people who act like snakes. There are many who try to deceive you with sweet words to take advantage of you. Also…]

…

[Ha Wonjin: Did you get that?]

[You think I’m a fool. I’m blocking you.]

[Ha Wonjin: What? No, I’m just worried…]

[Ha Wonjin: You haven’t blocked me already, have you?]

-This user has been blocked.

ꔚ

[Baek Seonwoo, from now on, you can’t mock me for my lack of communication skills.]

[(Proud Bunny)]

[Seonwoo: ?]

[Seonwoo: ???]

[Seonwoo: By the way, you remember the promise we made, right?]

[Seonwoo: I have something important to say…]

[Seonwoo: Can we meet this week?]

Baek Seonwoo was, in many ways, an extremely annoying and frustrating guy.

He would call people out repeatedly under the guise of a promise.

The day after chatting with him, Yeongdeok headed to Seonwoo’s studio as soon as dawn broke.

Just as he was about to board the bus, his phone buzzed.

[Seonwoo: Are you on your way, Cha Yeongdeok?]

[Seonwoo: I have a favor to ask.]

[Seonwoo: Could you bring me a chocolate latte on the way, hehe.]

Chocolate latte, seriously?

Now he’s even trying to boss me around?

He’d really pushed it this time.

[Get lost.]

[Seonwoo: LOL, pretty please?]

[Seonwoo: (James with puppy eyes emoji)]

Pretty please?

Has his frontal lobe finally rotted away?

Yeongdeok seriously considered whether he should take this guy to a hospital.

[Seonwoo: Anyway, I’ll take that as a yes!]

[Take that as a yes”? What kind of nonsense is this?]

After leaving his request hanging, Seonwoo didn’t send another reply.

He didn’t even bother reading Yeongdeok’s last message.

“Annoying jerk.”

Yeongdeok thought about getting off at the next stop and heading back home, but with the concert Seonwoo had scheduled fast approaching, he decided to endure just a little longer.

After getting off the bus, he stopped by a café before heading to the studio.

He wasn’t there to fulfill Baek Seonwoo’s stupid request.

No, he was just there to get his own strawberry latte.

As he was ordering, the first item on the menu, espresso, caught his eye.

That would suit Baek Seonwoo perfectly.

So, he ordered an espresso as well, extra strong and bitter enough to jolt someone awake.

* * *