The night I arrived, Jiyoon, Bomi, Ilhoon and I cozy up with each other on the second floor of the café after it was closed. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Byun were discussing something on the ground floor.

From the short time we were there, I learned things from them. They are quite friendly. Not quite but really. They are really friendly.

Jiyoon is the eldest from the three but she’s the one who acts cutest and she is easy to befriend with.

Ilhoon, same with Bomi, has 6 other siblings.

“When I went to their house, it was a disaster,” Jiyoon related. “I don’t mean it in the bad way, though. I actually love your siblings’ company. I remember when Ilhoon’s brother, Sungjae baked a cake and then it exploded after the first slice. It was so epic!” she laughed.

“So how many are you in the family, manager?” Ilhoon asked me, propping his right hand under his chin to listen to me intently, ignoring the girls’ giggles. The other two did the same. I laughed at them.

“Well, I’m an only child. My parents work abroad so I stayed with Yesung oppa’s family until I graduated from high school. I rented a dorm then when I went to college,” I smiled at them. “So..” I shifted the topic back to them. I don’t actually like talking about myself. “Are you all here from Jeju?”

“Oh no, not me,” Jiyoon shook her head. “I’m actually from North Korea.”

“Jinja?” I asked surprised.

“Caught you there,” she then laughed. I looked at them puzzled. “I was just joking,” Jiyoon chuckled.

“Noona is actually from Seoul,” Ilhoon laughed.

“She caught you there,” Bomi giggled.

I stared at them for a few seconds then joined the laughter party. I think I’ll like it here.

Just then, Mrs. Byun and Mr. Lee went upstairs and talked to us.

“Mr. Lee will be having a leave for two months,” Mrs. Byun started.

“What? Why?” Ilhoon asked looking at Mr. Lee straight in the eyes. “What happened?”

“Well, Mr. Lee’s old mother is very sick and he has to go back to Samchok to take care of her,” Mrs. Byun storied. “Two months is all he asked, we would still do our best while he’s away, right?”

The three nodded. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Byun smiled. I raised my hand and asked worriedly, “Who would be our barista then?”

“Oh, Manager Jaein, I have a nephew who worked with me here in the café before. He goes here every summer. I thought him everything a barista should know and he is very good by now,” Mr. Lee smiled at me.

“Yeah, manager. Don’t worry,” Jiyoon looked at me and held my hand. I smiled at her to return the gesture.

“So when will Sungyeol go here, Sir?” Ilhoon asked again.

“You don’t want me here anymore?” Mr. Lee joked.

“Anya, that’s not what I meant..”

Mr. Lee laughed loudly. “I’m just joking.” He then ruffled Ilhoon’s hair which earned a pout from the latter. “He’ll be here the day after tomorrow.”