I Quit My Job and Open a Café

* * *

I couldn’t finish cleaning the backyard before it got dark.

The roots of the weeds were too long and thick, so it was really hard work.

If I keep going, I might have muscle aches tomorrow.

Drip drip!

My whole body was already covered in sweat.

“I can’t do any more.”

That’s enough for today.

I decided to finish the rest tomorrow.

Now I understand why Grandfather used the shed the way he did.

“Phew…”

I threw the hand tool I was using into the shed and walked into the cafe.

Should I make myself a cold drink?

I was a little tired too, but…

Then I suddenly thought of something.

“Come to think of it, will the drink have the same effect on me?”

Ah.

I got curious.

I didn’t want to do anything, but my tired body couldn’t resist and got up.

In no time, I made a drink.

Then I sat at the table and drank it…

Status

─Mint Chocolate Frappuccino effect applied (24)

Effect

─Fatigue recovery

─Stress relief

As expected, the drink had an effect on me too.

My body, which was tired just a moment ago, felt lighter, and my mind felt clearer.

So, this is how it works.

I kind of understand how the first customer felt now.

If my body felt heavy, it makes sense why the effect would be so noticeable.

Even though I had already felt the effect, I was about to take another sip because it tasted so refreshing…

“Huh?”

I noticed glutinous rice cake still stuck to the ceiling window.

That thing’s still there?

Is it stuck and can’t get down?

“…Hah.”

I dragged my tired body outside.

“Rangi—!”

Soo-ah, who had just come back from school with her bag, called Rangi and appeared in the open space.

Her stamina is amazing.

How can she run like that and shout?

Kids are impressive.

“Ah! Uncle! Hello!”

“Yeah.”

She noticed me and nodded her head as a greeting.

“Wow… hehe!”

She almost fell because of the heavy bag, and I couldn’t help but smile.

She laughed awkwardly, looking a bit embarrassed.

Such a bright kid.

“But uncle, what are you doing?”

“I’ve said this before, but shouldn’t I be the one asking that question?”

“Wow. (Tda. Certain T.)”

“I can hear you even when you talk to yourself.”

“Hehe!”

She talks well, but she still looks like a kid.

Her childlike laughter made me smile back.

It’s the kind of smile that makes you forget the hard day.

“Did you come here to find Rangi?”

“She smells something from here.”

“Smell?”

“Yeah!”

Soo-ah sniffed the air, her nose twitching.

What smell?

The open space is filled with forest scents, so I can’t tell.

“Doesn’t make sense for her to smell something from that far away.”

She’s teasing me again.

I understood too late, and Soo-ah took a step back, smiling..

“Did you just finish school?”

“Yeah!”

“Did you come to get Rangi?”

“Rangi will come by himself when Oppa arrives.”

“Then?”

“I just wanted to see you, uncle?”

“Is that so? You didn’t want a mint chocolate frappuccino?”

“Hehe!”

So Rangi was just an excuse.

Since it was almost closing time, making a drink for her wasn’t a big deal.

“Want to come inside and wait? Or play with Rangi outside.”

“Yeah! Rangi—”

She quickly ran to the roof, and I laughed as I went inside.

Maybe it was the drink’s effect, or maybe it was Soo-ah’s bright energy.

The tiredness from before had completely disappeared.

Even making the drink was…

‘Oh?’

This time, it was really fast.

I might even set a record.

I made the drink quickly and went outside.

“Soo-ah, here’s your drink… huh? Where did she go?”

How much time passed and the kid’s already gone?

She definitely hadn’t come down yet.

I looked up at the roof…

I could see her hat peeking out, not fully hidden.

Was she trying to hide?

I couldn’t help but smile.

It was cute, but also a little silly.

‘How did she even get up there?’

Rangi was a cat, so it made sense, but how did this little girl manage to get up there?

Well, should I just play along?

“Where did she go?”

I looked around the open space, pretending not to see her.

At the same time, I heard rustling noises from the roof and the sound of Soo-ah’s giggle.

If you’re going to hide, hide properly.

It’s hard not to notice when everything is obvious.

Why?

“Ah! Rangi! Shh, shh!”

Even their teamwork wasn’t working well.

Rangi stuck his head out, about to cry, but Soo-ah quickly covered his mouth.

‘Why make it so obvious?’

Playing with kids is not as easy as it seems.

It would have been stranger if I ignored it.

“There you are?”

“Ah! You found me!”

“Don’t run, you’ll fall and get hurt. How did you even get up there?”

“Hehe!”

Instead of answering, Soo-ah just laughed and hid back on the roof.

What?

Was there actually a space there to hide?

“Catch me!”

Her voice came from the roof.

It seemed like she was excited because there was finally someone to play with in the neighborhood.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

But how did she get up there?

‘Ah.’

Then I remembered the ladder that had caught my foot in the shed earlier.

I quickly found it…

“There it is.”

As expected, the ladder, which should have been lying down, was leaning against the side of the roof, like a staircase.

Definitely homemade.

Grandfather must have made it himself.

He really was hardworking.

The ladder had clearly been used a lot, so Soo-ah probably knew about it.

‘She used this to get up.’

I put my foot on the ladder and climbed up with difficulty.

It used to be easy to climb big trees on the mountain behind the house, but now it was hard.

Even so, when I finally made it up…

“Wow…”

I immediately understood why Grandfather had made it.

I lost my words.

From up here, the sky, starting to get dark, mixed with the forest, making a beautiful line.

From below, lying in the open space, the forest seemed to surround and open up to the sky like a well.

But from above, the forest looked like a blue sea, and the roof I was standing on was a small island.

And the sky above was painted with the beautiful colors of the sunset.

I stared blankly at it for a moment…

“Auntie! Over here!”

Soo-ah, who had been peeking out from the other side, called me.

Why?

And before I knew it, Rangi, with his tiny paws, was tapping on my side.

Was he trying to guide me?

I could feel the pink jelly stuck to his paws.

“Ah.”

Anyway, thanks to the two of them, I came out of my daze.

Following Rangi, who was wagging its tail, I headed to where Soo-ah was.

“…I’ve been hypnotized several times today.”

It was the kind of atmosphere that made me follow them even though I knew what was going on.

And when I got to the spot, I understood why they called me over.

There was a small space there.

A flat area where one person could lean.

It was clearly made on purpose.

Because it was the perfect spot.

Beyond the open view, a bright red sunset was shining.

“Sit here. Hehe!”

Soo-ah tapped the spot next to her and smiled.

Plop!

Without thinking any further, I sat down next to Soo-ah.

And I handed her the drink I had brought.

“Thank you!”

“You’re polite at times.”

“Heh.”

I decided to let it go since she was smiling so sweetly.

Well, whatever.

She did show me such a nice spot.

Maybe this is what it feels like to have a niece?

I turned my head back to the sunset.

Goo-rong~ Goo-rong~

The pleasant purr of Rangi and the warm feeling next to me.

The breeze on my face, mixed with the sound of the leaves in the forest, made a soft, flowing sound.

“This place is really nice, right?”

“Yeah. It’s really nice.”

It was the perfect spot to end the day.

I wondered if the first customer had left.

They came by car, so they must have come from far away.

Well… they’re probably leaving in a better mood than when they came.

“Okay, should we get going soon?”

“Huh? Already?”

“The sun sets fast in the mountains. It’s better to leave when it’s still a little bit light.”

I finished my thoughts and stood up.

Since it was a mountain, the night would come quickly, so I had to go down before the sunset disappeared.

But…

“Eh?”

If it weren’t for the small text box that appeared in front of me.

[Small Resting Spot on the Roof]

*Status

─Can be created.

*Expected Effects

─Relieves sleep disorders

─Stabilizes mind and body

“What is this?”

A text box appeared above the roof that Soo-ah couldn’t see.

I was so surprised that I shouted.

“Huh?”

Rangi’s head and Soo-ah’s hat both tilted at the same time.

The cute sight and the text box still showing in front of me made the feeling of the day last longer.

* * *

On her way back to her normal life, Kim Hana enjoyed the calming feeling that stayed with her.

Her whole body felt light and refreshed. She thought it was really a good decision to come all the way out here today.

“Really satisfied. Very satisfied. I have to come here again.”

The view, the inside of the cafe, and the owner who was a little direct but kind.

“Plus, he’s good-looking, so he’s a total keeper.”

Anyway, she felt like she was returning after a long time, happy and refreshed.

Everything she experienced in the cafe felt like it had become a nice memory.

“Ha, really got healed.”

As she looked at the sunset in the window, she felt the peaceful feeling from the day.

Beep!! Ding!!

The phone on the dashboard rang loudly.

At first, she ignored it.

But it didn’t stop ringing.

What’s going on?

She pulled into a rest stop and answered the call.

–Hana?

“Oh, yes, boss.”

It was her boss.

–I’m sorry to bother you on your day off, but there’s something urgent.

“Something urgent?”

–Do you remember the plan that Deputy Kim submitted?

An office call on her day off.

Normally, she would have been annoyed, but today, somehow, she didn’t feel that way.

Has she become more at ease?

She quietly listened, feeling calm.

“Yeah, that’s the one…”

–The original plan suddenly changed, and a new project opened up. We had an executive meeting today, and the CEO liked your plan!

“My plan?”

–Could you bring it to the office tomorrow? I think Deputy Kim will be handling it.

“Me!? “

–Yes, the CEO specifically chose yours.

Kim Hana was so surprised, she almost shouted.

Her plan had caught the CEO’s attention.

Of course, the original plan had been disrupted, and hers was a backup, but still, this was her first solo project.

‘If I hadn’t answered, that would’ve been a huge mistake!’

Seeing her boss’s name on the caller ID, Hana had really thought about not picking up.

If she hadn’t pulled into the rest stop, she probably wouldn’t have answered.

If she had ignored the call, the new project would have been filled with something else, and she would have been stuck with jobs she didn’t want.

How much regret would she have felt then?

This was truly a life-changing moment.

“I’ll get it ready and come tomorrow!”

–Thanks, and sorry again for calling on your day off. See you tomorrow.

“Yes, yes! Thank you!”

After hanging up, Hana’s face was full of excitement.

“Ah.”

She remembered the takeout drink she had.

She took a sip!

‘This is it.’

Her mind and body felt awake and clear.

The excitement slowly calmed down.

She grabbed the steering wheel, feeling composed.

It felt like something good was going to happen today.

Overwhelmed by the sudden good luck, her heart was full as she took the wheel again.

Slowly, carefully, she started driving again.

“Wow, days like this really do exist.”

Everything in the world seemed as fresh and clear as the sky in that cafe.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Even though I changed my sleeping position, I didn’t feel bad.

Actually, I felt even better.

“Ah, I should slowly head to the cafe.”

It felt like the mood from yesterday had completely disappeared, and I went to work a little earlier than usual.

I placed the parking sign in front of the path.

As I went up the open space, I pulled out some weeds I didn’t get to pick yesterday.

–Last night, a thief who assaulted a store employee and stole money escaped through the police’s encirclement.

–The suspect is wearing a big hat, dressed in training clothes, and carrying a large backpack…

–News from the entertainment industry. The schedules of young celebrities have been getting too busy lately…

It was bad news early in the morning.

I turned off the phone radio, which I always turn on while heading to work, and the car got quiet.

Then, one by one, the sounds of nature started to clear my ears.

It was a luxury that I could enjoy because I lived in the countryside.

Of course, it would be a problem if the scary bushes blocked my path.

‘I’ll just deal with it when it happens.’

I felt unusually good.

Just like yesterday, I had a feeling something good would happen today.