건물 사이에 피어난 장미 (Rose in the Concrete Jungle)

Another day at work, another day past the coffee shop, another day to grind. You trundle through the turnstile of your building, beep beep. You trundle into the turnstile.

"Sir, you have the wrong card?"

Ah damn, right, not your credit card, your employee ID.

"Thanks." You nod slightly to the security guard and keep moving. The elevator is quiet and stuffy, just like your cubicle, just like any other day. You nod and harrumph assent on various meetings, and before you know it is the highlight of your day—lunch time! You eagerly file out of the building and go to the local hotspot for you and your fellow colleagues—the cafe next door. Sandwiched between two large office buildings, the cafe served as a convenient place for informal meetings, to "take things offline", as it were. Of course, it also served good and cheap food, although that came at the cost of long wait times, it was a price you and many others were willing to pay—anything to delay going back to the office.

"Hey, the usual?" You had another reason to hang around and let your lunch hour drag as long as possible. The short-haired cashier smiles at you as she is already tapping the order in.

"You got it, thanks." You stand dumbly at the counter as you watch her work the coffee machine, a soft smile on her face when she hands you the drink.

"Here you go. Your food will be out shortly."

"Thanks." You grab your receipt and wait for your number to be called. The drone of the crowd is comforting and neutral, all is fine. You occasionally look up from your phone to see if your food is out, and what the cute cashier is up to.

"Sup man!" You wince internally as you feel a solid thump on the back.

"Hey Joonho." You greet your college classmate, an asshole through and through. He mellowed out slightly after graduation, joining a competitor to your company in a similar role before rising quickly in the ranks. You kept him at arm's length, but also within arm's reach as it was still good to talk shop with—he was best engaged in small doses. Thankfully at that point in time you hear your number called. "Sorry, let me get my food." Dodging through the crowd you make your way to the counter, and she's waiting for you there, pushing your order towards you as you approach.

"Hold on, let me get my order number..." you find yourself fumbling in your pockets, but you are delightfully interrupted by her.

"No need, I know your order, you get the same thing every time!"

"Do I now? One day I'll mix it up for fun."

"Doesn't matter, I'll know." You can hear the smiley face in her voice.

"Cool, thanks a lot! Have a good one." You look for Joonho to quickly bid him goodbye, but he grabs you by the arm.

"Do you know her?"

"Who?"

"The cutie at the counter."

"Oh, no, I just come here a lot."

"Damn, I should come here more often." He releases you and goes towards her.

"Hey there, what's your name?" Joonho asks directly.

"It's Riina," she responds, taken aback at the random question.

"Nice to meet you Riina, I'm Joonho. Say, when do you get off?"

"What? Uhh we close at 4 pm."

"Great, I'll see you then," Joonho says smoothly before walking away, leaving Riina with a confused look. Joonho pats your shoulder as he leaves. "I'll be there when she gets off work, and then there'll be more getting off, eh? Well she'll be getting on me, but I'll be getting off, something like that."

"Fucker..." you mutter under your breath, yep, still an asshole, and a dumb one at that. You take your food and coffee and find a table, digging in slowly as you sought to extend your lunch hour as long as possible. When you finish you spot Riina standing at the counter unoccupied.