Chapter 37: Comic book window (5)
Part 11
The incident happened around lunchtime, when talk of grabbing a meal started floating around.
The bakery sat just off the main road, tucked into a quiet alley. When a car abruptly stopped out front, blocking most of the narrow street, it looked like a nuisance even to me, someone unfamiliar with the area.
Maybe they had a friend nearby to meet. Through the glass, I saw a tall, lean man step out with confident strides. His sharp features contrasted with his slightly disheveled shirt, giving off a rough, almost delinquent vibe.
“…Is it okay to park there?” I asked.
“They’ll get a ticket, obviously,” Youngjin replied.
Assuming he was just popping in for a quick errand, we didn’t think much of it as his steps headed straight for the shop. Maybe he saw the bakery on his way and wanted a snack. It was lunchtime, after all—busy people do that. Just get ready to serve. That was our mindset.
Even when the familiar ding of the bell rang, my thoughts didn’t shift much. Not until the man walked in, eyes and mouth wide open, staring at me like he couldn’t believe it. Just another customer, I thought.
“Welcome,” I said.
“…No way.”
No way?
“It’s really her…?!” he exclaimed.
His voice sent a ripple of unease through me. Really her? What was that about? My mind spun, and his unwavering gaze locked onto me. That exclamation meant someone had shared hard-to-believe info about me. No way…
“Um, looking for something specific? I can recommend something,” I said, trying to steer the conversation away from the uneasy vibe.
But his reaction didn’t budge. If anything, my forced smile might’ve made things worse. His trembling hands and wide-eyed stare made me wonder if he was about to do something rash. My steps faltered, stopping instinctively. I sensed Youngjin quietly moving to my side from behind the counter, and a near-fearful feeling crept in.
I knew I wasn’t in a state to jump into a fistfight like before. My body shrank instinctively under the tense atmosphere. The realization that I wasn’t physically up to handling trouble—
“Um…” His low, gravelly voice cut through, his trembling arm reaching out.
I felt Youngjin’s presence stiffen beside me. I took a step back, and he stepped fully beside me, taking my place.
“What’s up, sir? You can just browse and pick what you want,” Youngjin said.
A brief standoff. The man’s gaze shifted from me to Youngjin, his mouth opening slowly, as if time itself had slowed. What’s he going to say? Don’t. Stop—
“Uh, if it’s not rude, could I get a picture…?”
“…Huh?”
The tense air dissolved into absurdity, deflating like a punctured balloon. My legs nearly gave out from the sudden relief. Stunned, I glanced at Youngjin, whose expression mirrored my own disbelief.
Part 12
“So, the moment I walked in, I knew! When I saw that post on the board, I thought it was a lie, but then I was like, ‘This is totally Cheungjeokun’s sister!’ And you even let me take a picture… I’m so grateful. I’ll treasure it forever.”
“Haha… I’m the one who’s thankful you enjoy my brother’s streams. I’m no celebrity, so my picture’s not exactly precious…”
“What?! Don’t you ever do an ego search on portals or anything?”
I knew what an ego search was. I’d heard some people who put their names out there regularly check online reactions. But me? Why would I?
“Well, I’m not famous or anything, just a regular person…”
Youngjin’s exasperated “Just talk to him” gave me a chance to sit with this customer at a table in the hall during a lull after the lunch rush. Normally, Youngjin’s parents wouldn’t allow this, but I’d apparently made a good impression. …Not that I could think of how.
“Regular person? When you first showed up on Cheungjeokun’s stream, just your neck-down, the streamer boards went wild!”
“…Are female streamers that rare?”
“No, no, it’s not because you’re a woman.”
As expected, he was a fan of Sanghyeon’s stream. My worry about awkwardly scaring off a viewer faded as he launched into a torrent of chatter the moment streaming came up. I just had to nod along. Is Sanghyeon always that cranky? Streaming at dawn every day—doesn’t that bother your family?
“…Huh?”
“It’s like, just hearing your voice is calming. No weird meaning! It’s just the vibe—your voice, your way of talking. When you’re on Cheungjeokun’s stream, it’s like having ASMR on. People say it’s soothing just to listen.”
…And thankfully, he was disarmingly earnest, casually saying things like that. I’d worried about meeting an anti-fan or someone rude, but his pure sincerity mocked my concerns. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek, letting out a nervous laugh and averting my gaze.
“Anyway! You’re super popular on the streamer boards. Post once as yourself, and it’ll blow up.”
“…It’s nice to hear people like me that much.”
He didn’t seem to notice my embarrassment, piling on more praise. Five minutes into talking about me, I wanted to flee from the flattery, but for Youngjin’s parents’ kindness and Sanghyeon’s stream, I couldn’t just leave. This is torture. Can pure kindness be this painful?
“Seriously, some people are saying we should pressure Cheungjeokun to get a better cam to see you clearer…”
Please don’t.
I felt bad for the beaming, excited customer, but the sight of another person through the glass at the alley’s entrance was a relief. A valid excuse to escape this torment. Hiding my joy, I softened my expression with a hint of apology.
Standing from the chair, the customer noticed the new arrival and, despite clear disappointment, didn’t press to keep me.
“Sorry, looks like I need to get back to work.”
“No, no! Thanks for taking time to talk during your break.”
“If you’re a fan of my brother, maybe share your nickname? For later…”
“Oh, sure!”
Come to think of it, most nicknames were too embarrassing to say out loud. But as if my fleeting worry meant nothing, he cheerfully revealed his—a familiar one.
“TwoEyesTooturuBbaraBba! I’m on a cosplay team, handling photography. If you ever need help, DM me on the stream ID—I’ll definitely pitch in!”
“Oh, okay.”
Cosplay teams are a thing? Not just a rich slacker? He’s got a proper job… Amid those stray thoughts, I found myself holding his business card.
“I won’t upload the photo, so don’t worry!”
“Haha… I’ll trust you.”
“Check out the boards sometime! Thanks for your time!”
What a whirlwind. I silently watched him leave, passing the incoming customer like a gust of wind.