Prologue

Raindrops streaked in long diagonals across the transparent windowpane, vanishing as quickly as they appeared. One by one, then two, these sparkling, fleeting drops multiplied until they covered the entire window.

Da Hee rested her chin in her hand and watched the falling rain. "It's a sudden shower," she murmured softly, gazing blankly. Through the half-open window, the scent of early summer, carried by the wind and rain, wafted in. She inhaled deeply, feeling a refreshing coolness fill her chest. Da Hee closed her eyes.

She loved this time. The silence, the calm, and the occasional cool, humid breeze that swept through.

Few customers sought out Da Hee's shop, tucked away in its quiet corner. On rainy days, in particular, visitors were almost nonexistent. Still, the earnings were enough to live on, and for Da Hee, who cherished solitude in a tranquil setting, it was the perfect occupation.

Ding-dong!

The chime announced the transparent door being pushed open.

At the sound, Da Hee's mind immediately pictured someone. She turned her head, and there he stood, exactly as she had imagined.

Dressed impeccably in khaki trousers, a white knit top, and a stylish cardigan woven with black and gray, he held a long umbrella. Without even looking, he effortlessly placed it into the umbrella stand. Every movement, however ordinary, seemed imbued with a certain grace. He was a very captivating man.

Step, step!

His footsteps resonated as he approached the counter. Habitually, he scanned the menu board. 'He'll order the same thing anyway, an iced-Americano,' Da Hee thought. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the man spoke.

"I'll have an iced-Americano, please."

A card was tucked between the man's long fingers.

"Okay."

Da Hee took the card, processed the payment, and handed it back.

"Please have a seat, and I'll bring it over."

At Da Hee's words, the man headed towards the window seat. Da Hee turned her head to look at the wall clock. 3:30 PM.

The man had first visited this cafe a month ago. When he entered, he had a look that said, 'I can't believe there's a café here.' After ordering an iced-Americano and sitting by the window for 30 minutes, he had kept coming back, every single day without fail. Da Hee knew he quite liked the quietness and tranquil atmosphere of the place, because whenever he sat by the window, gazing at the lush garden, his shoulders would visibly relax.

Thanks to him, Da Hee had even developed a hidden hobby: watching the handsome man who looked out the window. Whether it was a man or a woman, beautiful things were always a pleasure to behold.

Da Hee quickly made the iced-Americano and placed it on a tray. The man remained motionless, staring out the window. Not wanting to disturb his thoughts, Da Hee quietly set the tray on his table and returned to her spot.

The rain outside intensified. If it continued like this into the night, her commute to home would be difficult. 'Should I just sleep here then?' Da Hee thought, recalling the makeshift bed in the storage room.

Since she lived alone anyway, there was no one to bother her if she didn't go home. She decided to assess the weather closer to closing time. It was when she was looking over the meager sales ledger. Her phone rang. Da Hee quickly clutched it, glancing at the man. She didn't want to disturb the only regular customer of her café.

Fortunately, whether he hadn't heard the ringtone or was simply oblivious, the man was still gazing out the window.

Da Hee intentionally turned her back to the man and held the phone to her ear.

"Yeah. Tae Seon."

-Da Hee, can you talk on the phone?

"Yeah, go ahead."

-The day after tomorrow, 'that guy' is coming.

" 'That guy'?"

-The guy you asked for, remember?

"Ah."

Da Hee rubbed her forehead with her fingers, recalling something she had momentarily forgotten.

-He's a good person, so try to meet him properly.

"I'm not looking for someone to go on a blind date with. I just need a guy for a day. Why would I meet him properly?"

-You never know how fate will play out, right?

At Tae Seon's words, Da Hee lowered her gaze with a tired expression. She understood Tae Seon's intentions well enough. But, for Da Hee, it was just a nuisance. Da Hee wasn't particularly fond of people, detested troublesome tasks, and above all, when something required emotional expenditure, her annoyance took precedence. She hadn't always been this way. It started when the men she loved left her.

'You don't know how to love people.'

'You don't love me.'

'Can't you love me a little more?'

'You're too cold.'

The reasons were varied. Da Hee never argued. Even arguing felt like too much effort. She believed she had loved them enough. It was just that she couldn't love them to the extent they desired. Da Hee didn't know how to love more, and watching her so readily accept goodbyes, the men grew even more frustrated. They always broke up because of that gap, and now, Da Hee had given up on love altogether.

"Alright, I get it. When 'that guy' comes the day after tomorrow, we'll talk."

-Okay. Got it. I'll come the day after tomorrow.

"Alright."

Da Hee finished the call and placed her phone on the table. Her face was blank as she gazed at the sink.

Gentle music filled the cafe. Suddenly, lyrics about love falling like a shooting star caught her ear. 'What a bland song,' she thought, turning to face the window. She usually found comfort watching the rain when she was tired. However, her gaze didn't land on the windowpane. The man, who was always looking out, was now looking at her. His head was tilted slightly, and he didn't avert his eyes even when their eyes met. Was her phone call too loud? Whatever the reason, it was the first time she had met his gaze from a distance. The man didn't look away.

Da Hee scratched her cheek for a moment, then leaned forward. Against the backdrop of rain-streaked windows, the man's face, bathed in a hazy sunlight, was beautiful.

When else would she get to see his face in such detail? Da Hee looked at him with an expression of intrigued, yet detached observation, devoid of any particular emotion. The man's expression, however, was unreadable.

The two faced each other in silence. Neither blinked, simply gazing at one another for a long while.

It was a rainy day. And it had been a month. For the first time, this unfamiliar, mysterious, and subtle regular customer showed interest in her, the café owner.

~~~~~

Miel's Translations