Chapter 18: “The Latte Art Championship”

---

Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – Ghost Café

It all started with an innocent mistake.

Min-Ji had been browsing barista blogs while chewing on a chocolate straw. Out of boredom, she clicked "Sign Up" on a banner titled:

> 🏆 National Latte Art Championship: Seoul Division – Amateur Round

Winner receives 5 million won, a gold kettle, and eternal coffee clout.

She didn't think much of it.

She listed the café name as "Ghost Café."

For the participant, she wrote: Sun-Ho Lee.

Because she thought, "What's the worst that could happen?"

---

10:02 a.m. – The Worst That Could Happen

📱 Ding!

> "Your registration has been confirmed, Sun-Ho! See you Saturday at the Seoul Latte Dome!"

Sun-Ho walked by, drinking banana milk.

Min-Ji looked up.

"…Hey, want to win a latte war this weekend?"

---

10:17 a.m. – Panic Training Begins

Dae-Hyun slammed down a practice cup.

"You WHAT?! You signed up Sun-Ho for a national barista battle?! He's barely mastered pressing the coffee button!"

Min-Ji: "It's fine! He's good at dramatic poses. And latte foam. Sort of."

Sun-Ho: "This sounds romantic. I've always wanted to swirl milk while a spotlight hits my cheekbone."

Dae-Hyun groaned.

"We're doomed."

---

Thursday – Ghost Café: Latte Dojo

Min-Ji taped a photo of a championship trophy above the espresso machine.

Sun-Ho stood in front of it, sleeves rolled, foam whisk in hand.

"Today," she declared, "you learn the three sacred latte arts."

The Heart Swirl.

The Rosetta Leaf.

And the forbidden Kitten in a Cup.

Dae-Hyun watched as:

Sun-Ho made a heart… that looked like a butt.

His Rosetta Leaf… became seaweed.

His kitten… looked like a frog wearing eyeliner.

Still, the customers clapped every time.

Sun-Ho bowed after each failed attempt.

"I pour with passion, not precision."

---

Friday Night – Motivation Montage

Cue dramatic K-drama training sequence:

Sun-Ho screaming at the milk frother: "WHY WON'T YOU BUBBLE RIGHT?!"

Min-Ji playing motivational music on a phone: Eye of the Barista.

Dae-Hyun muttering into his apron: "He's gonna pour a croissant instead of a flower, I can feel it."

But slowly… something changed.

By midnight, Sun-Ho poured a heart that looked like… a lumpy heart.

Min-Ji gasped. "It has emotion!"

Dae-Hyun sniffed. "It's not good, but it has soul."

---

Saturday – The Seoul Latte Dome

An arena packed with 1,000 coffee fanatics.

Baristas wearing monogrammed aprons.

Judges sipping and swirling like wine connoisseurs.

Sun-Ho wore sunglasses, hair tied back, apron perfectly pressed.

He looked like a K-drama villain entering a café-themed finale.

They announced:

> "From unknown café Ghost Café… SUN-HO LEE!"

Crowd murmurs.

"Ghost Café? Isn't that where Ryu-Jun cried into his foam?"

"I heard their owner communicates with coffee spirits."

"My aunt's dog wrote a dream note there."

---

ROUND ONE: The Classic Heart

Sun-Ho approached the station.

He glanced at Dae-Hyun and Min-Ji in the front row.

Then he whispered to his milk pitcher:

"…Let's make something… honest."

He poured. Carefully. Slowly.

The heart wobbled. One side was smaller.

But when he spun the cup and lifted it…

It looked like a real, beating, emotional, struggling heart.

The judges blinked.

"…It's flawed," one whispered. "But… it's raw."

They gave it a 7.

He passed the round.

---

ROUND TWO: Freestyle

Sun-Ho stepped forward again.

Dae-Hyun crossed his fingers.

Min-Ji whispered, "Believe in the foam."

Sun-Ho took a deep breath…

And poured a ghost.

A real-looking latte ghost with big eyes and a tiny floating swirl halo.

The crowd exploded.

"IT'S THE GHOST INVESTOR!"

"HE POURED HIS CAFÉ LOGO!!"

"IT'S FOAM WITH EMOTION!!"

The judges nearly fainted.

One cried.

Score: 10. 10. 10.

---

Sun-Ho Won.

Gold kettle in hand.

Trophy.

And a limited edition espresso tamper shaped like a microphone.

---

That Night – Ghost Café

Sun-Ho placed his gold kettle on the counter.

"Can I keep this here?"

Dae-Hyun nodded.

"It's the only trophy I've ever respected."

Min-Ji added a sticky note beside it:

> "I wanted to make a mess… and ended up making a miracle."

Sun-Ho smiled.

"Next, I'm entering the National Croissant Folding Championship."

Dae-Hyun groaned.

Min-Ji whispered, "...I already signed you up."

---

End of Chapter 18