Chapter 1242. Reconsidering (2)

The gentle aroma of fresh coffee drifted along the tables as warm morning rays bathed the interior of the cafe.

It was still too early for customers to enter. Still, Seong Ju-Chan was keeping himself busy by setting up the tables. The only way to finish something he was not familiar with as quickly as possible was just to do the best job he could.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

‘Isn’t this weird?’

He had already experienced the torture of pushing his body to its absolute limits to the point of never wanting to go through that crap again. Polishing cutlery, organizing tables, and maintaining coffee machines should be nothing in comparison to polishing his martial arts.

Yet he still sweated profusely. Maybe his body treated training and labor as two different things. If that wasn’t it, he was probably not used to moving his body without relying on his internal qi.

“

Fuu-woo

!”

After cleaning the last table, Seong Ju-Chan straightened his back and scanned his surroundings while sighing deeply. He felt his heart at ease at the sight of sparkling tables.

‘Let’s do our best today, too.’

That was when the entrance opened, causing its chime to go off.

“Welcome!”

Seong Ju-Chan energetically greeted the person entering the cafe, only to clamp his mouth shut. The ‘customer’ was also staring back at Seong Ju-Chan while making an awkward face.

Seong Ju-Chan spoke first. “...Hey. Good to see you.”

The customer, Kim Won-Hyeok, replied, “Yeah, me too.”

“Have a seat, man.”

Kim Won-Hyeok nodded and took up a seat by a table by the corner.

Seong Ju-Chan asked, “How about something to drink? Although I can’t say I’m an expert now, my coffee doesn’t taste half bad. I promise.”

“Got it. But let me pay for the stuff.”

“Nah, it’s cool, man. No need.”

“No, let me. Looks like you guys just opened, so wouldn’t it be bad luck for your first customer to be a freeloader?”

“There’s no such thing.”

Seong Ju-Chan tried to talk his friend out of it, but Kim Won-Hyeok still went to the counter and paid for the drinks, which included his and Seong Ju-Chan’s.

He didn’t return to his table and watched Seong Ju-Chan brew coffee. Since he didn’t know anything about the world of coffee, Kim Won-Hyeok couldn’t tell if his friend was doing a good job or a pale imitation of it. Even then, the impression he got while observing through the eyes of a rank amateur was that... Seong Ju-Chan seemed pretty good at his job.

After brewing two cups of coffee, Seong Ju-Chan carried them to the table and sat on a chair.

Kim Won-Hyeok sat on the opposite side and spoke first. “Hey, man. You don’t look like a total newbie at all. Since when did you get interested in stuff like this?”

“Well... Remember when being a barista was all the rage? I figured learning how to brew coffee wouldn’t be such a bad idea and got myself a barista license back then. But that was so long ago. It feels like I’m starting from scratch again.”

Seong Ju-Chan sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

“Really? But your cafe looks pretty good for a newbie’s, though?”

“

Oh

, this place? Actually, I took it over from someone. This hyung-nim I know originally owned this place. He was expanding his business and wanted to open a new place elsewhere, so he let me have this cafe. I figured doing things this way should be better than starting off with nothing.”

“How’s the business, though?”

“Not sure...” Seong Ju-Chan groaned. “For now, we’re making enough to put food on the table, but you must’ve heard about how poor the economy’s doing lately, right? Things will supposedly get only worse next year, too... Well, we gotta ride it out somehow.”

Kim Won-Hyeok chuckled slightly.

This type of conversation should be a daily occurrence to other people, but to him and Seong Ju-Chan? They had never talked about such stuff before. Whether it was about the economy or the financial markets... Moments like these reminded Kim Won-Hyeok of how removed the life of a martial artist was from the rest of humanity.

Seong Ju-Chan asked curiously. “What are you doing here in the morning, though? Did you get your annual leave?”

Kim Won-Hyeok nodded. “Yeah, I’m on leave. I wanted to stop by and say hello.”

“How did you find out I was working here, though?”

“Finding it out isn’t hard, right?”

“...Yeah, you’re right.”

And then, a bout of silence ensued.

Kim Won-Hyeok silently fidgeted around with the coffee cup before sighing deeply. He then bowed toward Seong Ju-Chan. “I’m sorry, man.”

Seong Ju-Chan blinked his eyes. “

Huh

? For what?”

“For running my mouth off when I knew nothing.”

“Don’t say that, dude. You were right, anyway.”

“No,” Kim Won-Hyeok shook his head. “Inclinations and aptitudes and whatnot, saying you weren’t cut out to be a martial artist... I shouldn’t have said all that stupid crap. You weren’t the strange one, but I was the dumbass who didn’t know how scary things really were.”

“Hey, Won-Hyeok...”

“I had to fight in the war first to figure everything out, man. What you were worried about, why you were so uncomfortable with it all... If I’m being honest, I’ve never thought about stuff like that until then. No wonder I was so full of confidence and sh*t. If I had been as thoughtful and careful as you back then, I’d probably have quit the Assembly, too.”

“...”

Seong Ju-Chan silently sipped on his coffee.

“I’m sorry for yapping like a moron when I had no idea about this stuff. I thought I had to apologize to you,” said Kim Won-Hyeok.

Seong Ju-Chan slowly shook his head. “Nah, man. No need to apologize.”

“Even so...”

“It’s all true, anyway.”

Seong Ju-Chan roughly scratched, awkwardness writ large on his face.

“Even if you hadn’t said all those things, I would’ve still chosen the same path. Actually, I’m thankful for you saying all that stuff. Without hearing the truth from you, I probably would have racked my brain trying to figure this out. So, yeah. I’m grateful.”

“Come on, man...”

“No, I’m serious.”

Seong Ju-Chan helplessly shrugged.

“Thanks to you, I got to start my life again before it was too late. I consider myself lucky for that. I mean... It’s way better than finding out I’m just not cut out to be a martial artist twenty years from now, right?”

“...”

Kim Won-Hyeok bit his lip, hard. “Hey,

uh

... Any thoughts of coming back?”

“...”

“It wasn’t only you, you know? I also got piss-scared during the war. But I somehow toughed it out. Since that’s the case, maybe you could have...”

“At least you got that far, man,” said Seong Ju-Chan, his voice trembling subtly. “But I couldn’t even join you on the battlefield. You said that people choosing to remain as martial artists are that type of bastards. Right now, I’m... I fully get what you mean. Someone like me will never make it as a martial artist.”

Seong Ju-Chan suddenly smiled.

“That’s why at least you should keep striving for success, Won-Hyeok. Like how I’ll try to succeed with my cafe.”

Kim Won-Hyeok was about to say something, only to notice the light in his friend’s eyes and deeply sighed. That light was... one of determination.

Although he had been speaking calmly and gently, it was obvious that Seong Ju-Chan had already made up his mind. Then again, reverting everything back to how it was wouldn’t work, anyway. It was too late for that.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’m glad you came all this way, though. I was thinking of calling you and all, since we just opened shop and stuff. But I wasn’t sure if it’d be good timing. I don’t know what the situation is on that side, after all.”

“Really? I thought you didn’t call me because what I said disappointed you.”

“What? Hey, do I look like a narrow-minded idiot to you?”

Seong Ju-Chan laughed genially.

“Besides, I kinda wanted to contact you after I got a bit better at this whole thing with brewing coffee first. That way, I wouldn’t feel embarrassed about running a cafe, right?”

Kim Won-Hyeok tilted his head. “Why? The coffee tastes great, though?”

“...It’s not because I’m good at it, okay? I just got myself good coffee beans.”

“That can’t be right. Because that means every cafe using good beans should become a success story.”

“I’m telling you the truth, though...”

Seong Ju-Chan chuckled softly. Kim Won-Hyeok also smiled at this sight.

Clink~!

That was when the cafe’s door opened, and customers walked in.

“Good morning!” Seong Ju-Chan loudly greeted the customers and headed to the counter. With a bright smile, he handled the order and gave the customers a coast pager, then got to preparing the drinks.

Kim Won-Hyeok silently observed this scene. He could feel the vitality from his friend’s figure. As a matter of fact, Seong Ju-Chan seemed more energetic and happy than when the two men were training together back in the Assembly.

‘Right. Being a martial artist can’t be everything in life.’

From a young age, they were taught that diligently training over and over again was the only way to become an outstanding martial artist.

Kim Won-Hyeok never entertained the idea of walking down another path. To him, acquiring strength through diligent training was the only way to guarantee success in life.

Even though he should’ve realized that such a thing was unlikely if he had stopped for a minute and thought some more about it.

The noise of all the steam escaping from the coffee machine tickled Kim Won-Hyeok’s hearing.

Bzzzz!

One of the waiting customers got up when his coaster began buzzing and headed to the counter.

He asked Seong Ju-Chan, “What about the syrup?”

“Would you like some?”

“Really, manager? Did your hearing go off or something? Even though I told you to make it sweet.”

“My apologies! Let me add some syrup for you right away.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Seong Ju-Chan bowed deeply at the customer taking the coffee away from the counter. He then returned to Kim Won-Hyeok’s table and sat opposite to his friend.

Kim Won-Hyeok curiously asked, “Not a lot of customers,

huh

?”

“

Oh

, this? It’s still too early in the day, that’s why. Most of our customers work in nearby offices. That’s why things only pick up from around lunch.”

“Really? I thought people usually get coffee in the morning? Like, when going to work?”

“We’re located on the opposite side of the subway station, that’s why. We don’t get a lot of office workers in the morning.”

“I see.”

Kim Won-Hyeok was just asking this and that, even though he didn’t know anything. Because not saying anything would be even more awkward.

He didn’t know how to cheer on a friend now walking a different path from his.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Won-Hyeok.”

Kim Won-Hyeok sobered up from his thoughts. “...

Eh

?”

“Let’s be real, okay? Nothing will be tougher than training like crazy in the Assembly. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Come on, man. This and that are not the same, you know? At least you still get paid in the Assembly as long as you can endure the hardship. But if things go wrong here, you’ll end up working your ass off only to lose everything.”

“But that’s the story for everyone, though.”

“...”

Seong Ju-Chan grinned brightly.

“You know, living on the outside like this taught me a few things. One of them was how nice it was, getting paid on the dot by the Assembly. You really learn how much the Assembly Master cares about us, you see? But if I want to keep enjoying those benefits, I gotta resolve myself, too. And that’s where I failed, Won-Hyeok.”

“

Huh

? What are you even...”

“I’m not saying I regret it, though. I’ll be living as an ordinary member of Korean society from now on. That’s all. I’ll be honest, it’s kinda scary, but... I know I can do this. Did you know that there’s a community of sorts for people who quit the Assembly? Where they keep in touch and help each other out? Seniors and juniors are working together to make a decent living for themselves, you know? That’s why I’m saying I’ll be fine.”

Kim Won-Hyeok slowly nodded in silence.

Their paths were no longer the same, and all Kim Won-Hyeok could do was trust his friend walking on the other path and cheer him on.

“Got it. I should get going, though.”

Seong Ju-Chan seemed surprised. “So soon?”

“Yeah. I now know you’re doing good, so that’s enough for me. Besides, me sitting here will only mess up your business, anyway. How about we go for a drink after your cafe closes shop for the day?”

“Sounds good. Let’s do that, then.”

Kim Won-Hyeok got up to leave. Seong Ju-Chan walked up to the exit to bid his friend goodbye.

“I’m going now,” said Kim Won-Hyeok with a nod.

“See you next time. Don’t forget to do your best in the Assembly, too.”

“...You shouldn’t be worried about me, though?”

Seong Ju-Chan chuckled. “Stop worrying about me, you dummy. I’ll surely find a way to keep going, anyway.”

“

Tsk

...”

Kim Won-Hyeok stared at Seong Ju-Chan for a little while before walking away.

Seong Ju-Chan stared at the back of his friend, then sighed deeply.

‘It’s not easy, now is it?’

Whether it was on that side or over here, trying to live on was not easy at all.

Seong Ju-Chan entered the cafe and closed the door behind him, only for his brows to arch up slightly.

“Sir! Dear customer!”

He urgently walked over to one of the tables with several men sitting around it.

“Our cafe adheres to a non-smoking policy.”

The smoking customer scanned the cafe’s interior. “Eiii, there’s no one here, though. I’ll be done sharpish, anyway, so can’t you look away while I smoke for a bit?”

“Unfortunately, sir, smoking is not allowed in here. Please put it out immediately.”

“Argh, come on! I’m asking for a simple favor here! Where’s your flexibility, mister?”

“Customer, sir!”

“Fine, fine! I’m putting it out! But...”

The man stubbed his cigarette out, then slowly got up. That was when tattoos below his neck hidden under the clothes peeked out.

“I don’t like your tone, Mister Cafe Manager. Okay? What, you wanna hit me or something?”

Seong Ju-Chan frowned slightly. “No, of course not, but...”

“You, come outside for a bit.”

“Customer, I’ll have to call the police if you keep this up.”

“Police can kiss my ass! Call them if you want, but you... I said come outside! You little piece of sh*t!”

Seong Ju-Chan sighed under his breath. That was when the tattooed man threateningly closed the distance and grabbed Seong Ju-Chan by his collar.

“This cafe’s services suck donkey balls. So let me teach ya what real customer service looks like! Come outside, you piece of sh*t!”