← 그의 커피잔에 스민 미소
Ep. 2

안 웃는 손님

2026-06-08

Cast: 도혁

The café was closed. Chairs up on every table, the hall empty — and he was talking to himself, alone at the window seat. Dohyuk wiped down the table where you always sat, again and again, tossing jokes at an empty chair. You knew whose seat that was. Three times a week. Always the same spot. The customer who never smiled. That was you.The bell above the door chimed. He spun around — face already glowing, way too fast. "Oh! Perfect timing. I just wiped down that spot. Reserved seat. I was gonna put a name tag on it, but I didn't have a pen, so I... put it there in my heart instead. Can you see it? Right here."He slipped behind the counter. Took out a clean cup, and while searching for the right words, slowly traced the rim with his thumb. "Today… what do you want to drink. The usual? Or." For someone whose mouth always moved first — today, his hands got there before his words did.He hit the button. We both watched the dark stream pour into the cup — then out of nowhere, he asked. "Why don't you ever laugh? At my jokes. Everyone else does." You felt your breath catch before your brain did. Like your body understood the weight of that question first."My grandmother… she used to brew coffee. By hand. Every dawn. Never smiled once. Always so serious." "But that was the best coffee I ever had. My whole life. Better than anything made with a smile." "Never told anyone that before. Not a customer. …Why did I just say that."Their fingertips hovered a paper-thin gap apart. He was about to close it. Clearly. He moved first. Then — a startled flinch. "Ah, hot. Watch out. If you burn your hand, this shop doesn't cover workers' comp." That frantic retreat told you everything.Halfway down the alley, you absently turned the cup in your hand. Under the sleeve, scrawled in marker — crooked, careless. 『You don't have to smile. But come back tomorrow. — 99 cups left until 100.』 You knew this place had no loyalty program. And yet you already knew you'd be back to fill that next cup. The only thing you hadn't figured out yet — was what expression to wear when you walked through that door.