"One week…"
Can he do it?
"I hope so."
Minjae stood in front of a modest-size restaurant. It was a modern Korean restaurant wherein you can order the proud dishes of South Korea.
Minjae’s heart was beating loudly as he stared at its exterior. It was modest but lively. The place was packed with people. It undoubtedly should be, since the food was honestly good.
In his previous life, he has been here countless times.
"I wonder if Donghyun hyung is here." Minjae breathed out in a low voice. He was dressed better than he was used to.
Stepping inside the restaurant, Minjae was immediately greeted by a staff member. The man was in all smiles as he took out a piece of pen and paper on his pocket.
"Hi Sir, for how many people?"
"I’m alone."
"Alright, Sir. Please follow me."
Minjae followed the server to a cozy table by the window. The restaurant was even more lively inside. The sound of clinking utensils, the slurping of noodles and the savory aroma of Korean dishes filled the air.
Minjae sat down. The place had changed a little since his last visit.
"Isn’t that…"
Minjae’s eyes slightly widened. At the corner of the restaurant, a wall adorned with framed photos of him and Donghyun proudly stood still. Surrounding it were a few pictures of them with customers and awards the restaurant got throughout the years.
"Did he do this in just a month?" Minjae’s forehead creased before catching a sight of a familiar plaque hanging near the counter.
It read, "Owned and Operated by Im Donghyun."
Minjae couldn’t help but smile. This restaurant was one of Donghyun’s proudest achievements. It had taken him years of hard work and dedication, and Minjae had seen firsthand how much it meant to him.
Minjae saw how Donghyun built this restaurant despite being busy managing him. It was one of the man’s dreams, and he felt like a proud friend, just by looking at it now.
"Excuse me," Minjae grabbed the attention of the server as it returned to his table with a menu on his hand.
"Is the owner, Mr. Im Donghyun, here today?" He curiously asked, his tone polite but eager,
The server’s cheerful expression faltered slightly. He respectfully shake his head and answered.
"Ah, Mr. Im isn’t in right now. He usually comes in during the evening hours. Can I help you with anything else?"
"I see. Thank you for letting me know." Minjae nodded, hiding his disappointment.
’I’ll just take one ramyeon and a soda." He placed a small order, just enough to justify his stay in the restaurant.
"Alright, Sir."
As the server left him alone, Minjae became deep in thought.
’If Donghyun wasn’t here, where could he be?’
Minjae knew the man well enough to have a good idea. Donghyun was not an explorative person, and there were only a few places he might frequent during the day.
After finishing his meal, Minjae left the restaurant, thanking the staff on his way out. Immediately, Minjae’s mind flew elsewhere as he started visiting potential spots where Donghyun might be.
He first checked the nearby gym, a place Donghyun often visited to de-stress. But after scanning the place thoroughly, there was no sign of him.
After the gym, Minjae headed next to a small park where Donghyun occasionally took walks to clear his mind. And again, there was no luck.
Minjae sighed deeply.
’Where the fuck is that guy?’ His forehead creased in frustration. If he only wasn’t pressured by the company.
Minjae also tried contacting the man by his number. However no one was answering the phone. He also tried emailing him, but the man looked like he was not even active on it.
’Is he dead or something?’ He questioned in disbelief, though he had no choice but to go back and continue his search tomorrow.
Minjae spent the next few days searching for Donghyun, his frustration growing with each failed attempt. He revisited the restaurant, hoping to catch him in the evening, but every time, the staff would tell him that Donghyun hadn’t come in that day.
He also just couldn’t ask anyone and the lack of information was getting on his nerves.
"This is ridiculous," Minjae muttered as he sat in his bed, staring at his phone. He had called Donghyun multiple times, sent texts, and even left voice messages. But the man remained unreachable.
"Will I just fail like this?"
Just when he was about to give up, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[You seem to be struggling, Host. Would you like the system to help you?]
Minjae sat up straight, his eyes widening at the sudden offer.
[Would you like a hint?]
[Yes / No]
"Yes," he’d be dumb if he didn’t take this offer.
[The person you’re looking for is at a place hidden in plain sight, a corner of comfort in this busy world.]
Minjae narrowed his eyes, reading the words carefully.
"A hidden place? A cafe?" His mind quickly went through the list of places he and Donghyun used to frequent. Most of them were well-known spots, nothing particularly hidden.
Then, a memory clicked.
There was a tiny cafe that they always visited. It was a quiet, almost forgotten spot tucked between residential buildings.
The place had no flashy signs, no advertisements—just a small wooden board hanging outside with its name etched in faded letters. It was the kind of place only locals knew about.
Minjae grabbed his coat and headed out. If Donghyun was anywhere, he had a feeling this would be the place.
Minjae took a cab to that place. As he arrived at the location, the gentle hum of soft music greeted him. It was blending perfectly with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Minjae’s eyes immediately scanned the room, trying to see if there was a familiar face.
"Finally…"
There, in a corner room, sat the man he had been searching for the whole day.
Donghyun was engrossed in his laptop with a cup of coffee lying by its side. He looked a little better compared to 5 days ago, but you could still see the tiredness in his eyes.
For a moment, Minjae stood frozen.
Finally, the opportunity he had been waiting for.
Taking a deep breath, Minjae approached the table slowly. He was trying to make everything looked as if it was natural.
"Donghyun hyung?" Minjae called softly as he reached unto the table. He looked unsurely as Donghyun stopped what he was doing after hearing his name.
As their eyes met, Donghyun looked visibly shocked. His face knotted as an unreadable expression laced on his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"