annyeong | im jaebum

13회

I fixed my green apron to make sure that it was on correctly before getting out of my car. According to Roy, the outfit was the customer's first impression of an employee, and it could make or break their job. I didn't really understand his logic, I mean, it was just clothing. Shouldn't it be fine as long as you did your job well?

Nevertheless, I didn't want to be the one who got fired for having a crooked name tag, so I took one last check of my attire before getting out of the car.

I opened the door and climbed out, shutting the door beside me.

I locked the car over my shoulder with the button on my keys and slipped them back in my jean pocket.

As I approached the door, I noticed that the "Help Wanted" sign on the inner window of the shop had disappeared. Considering that it had been up for almost decades, the lack of the garish red sign seemed like a part of the store was missing.

Did Roy find a new employee? I wondered to myself, prying the door open.

I excused myself through the growing line of customers to get behind the counter. When I was out of the crowd and into view of the employees on job, I saw the reason why the sign was missing.

There he was, in a green apron just like mine. He smiled at the customer as he set her drink on the table. My heart fluttered.

"Erica?" A hand tapped on my shoulder, "I'm glad you're here."

I was met by my manager, Roy. "Looks like we've found some help! That's Mateo, I just hired him yesterday. " He raised a finger towards the coffee makers, where Mateo was trying (and seemingly failing) at making a drink. "I went over the works with him yesterday... but I don't think he really gets how to use the machines yet. You're on drink duty with him, okay? Good. Try to teach him something."

Roy gave me a pat on my back and walked out of the store.

I glanced at Mateo. He was now leaning into the coffee maker with his hands placed on the granite. A cup was directly under the device, with a steady stream of liquid streaming down onto it.

The coffee was filling the cup at a rapid pace, it's level nearing the rim. He'd have to stop it while he still could or else it would overflow.

My legs rushed me to where Mateo was standing with a distressed look on his face. I pushed him aside and slammed my palm on the stop button.

The flow streamed on and the beverage passed the rim and went down and onto the counter. It trickled onto the base of the machine and had even made a mess on the ground before it gave out its last drop. 

Mateo looked mortified.

I crouched down and opened the doors of the lower cabinet, where two paper towel rolls were waiting to be used. I withdrew one from its spot and stood up.

"This coffee maker is weird," I reassured him. "it wont stop immediately when you tell it to, so you have to press the red button before it gets about an inch from the top."

Mateo nodded.

"Don't worry though, I did it too when I first got here. I think everyone did. Roy should have warned you about it, anyways." I placed the roll in his hands. "You clean up the mess, and I'll take care of the drink."

Mateo's expression warmed. "Thanks."

I acknowledged his gratitude with a hum and tentatively picked up the cup that was flooded with coffee and set it aside. Since the overspill made the outside of the cup sticky and moist, the drink was unservable in this state.