KTS Ch 1

— 3A Sector staff, respond.

“Yes, Section Chief. This is Cheon Woojung.”

— Wine was spilled in front of the aquarium.

“I will go clean it up.”

— Call me immediately if there are any issues.

“Yes.”

I moved to the 3A Sector, which had been left in a mess by a drunken guest.

I walked along the aquarium. The artificial aquarium, decorated to look more real than the actual sea, cut across the center of the party hall.

Under the pretext of searching for traces of spilled wine, I looked at the aquarium. I saw red coral shaped like a crown, watched the green seaweed sway gently, and saw fish swimming leisurely.

Suddenly, my eyes met with a yellow-striped tropical fish that popped its head out from between the sea anemones.

I held up a finger and tapped lightly on the glass. The yellow-striped tropical fish came closer to me.

A blue light shattered over my shoulders.

The intense music, loud enough to feel vibrations from the soles of my feet, and the lights spinning overhead, all seemed unable to reach that place, which approached me in silence.

Just then, a decorative shark moved in the distance.

The tropical fish, unaware that something was coming to eat it, was stupidly looking only at me. Feeling frustrated, I strongly rubbed the glass wall of the aquarium with the microfiber towel I was holding in my hand.

Will it get eaten?

I regretted calling it over. My heart pounding, I opened my palm and pressed it against the glass.

As if my signal had been received, the tropical fish thankfully darted away to hide among the seaweed.

What a relief. It was when I swept my chest in relief and raised my head that my eyes met with a passenger in the VIP section beyond the aquarium.

He was a person from the world across the way.

A man wearing a shirt and tie that suited this place well. Without taking his eyes off me, he thrust a hand into his front shirt pocket. He placed a cigarette between his long, thin lips and took a deep drag, enough to form dimples in his cheeks.

Then he tapped lightly on the aquarium glass.

I thought nothing of it.

Because his action was identical to the one I had made when I tapped the glass to call the tropical fish, I assumed he was doing the same.

Wiping the red stains spattered on the aquarium’s surface, I moved on. The man then moved along with me.

Is it a coincidence?

This time, I moved in the opposite direction. The man’s head tilted in my direction. His previously expressionless face contorted heavily. As if he had encountered something unpleasant.

Was it because a wine stain remained somewhere? Even as I darted my eyes around, the glass was clean.

Tap, tap. The man knocked again, with the aquarium between us.

Drawn by the dull sound, I lifted my head. His dark eyebrows and sharp eyes repeatedly appeared and disappeared between the waterweeds swaying in the current.

I thought it was impossible that a person like that would be calling for me. I looked behind me. It was a foolish thing to do. There was no one behind me but people enjoying the party.

When I turned back around, the man was looking this way and smiling. I looked back at the man and raised the corners of my mouth into a smile.

If, at that moment, I hadn’t smiled, would this entire story have turned out differently?

That is a question I am truly curious about as well.

🌸

At 8 a.m., Cheon Woojung arrived at Incheon Port.

The 16-story luxury passenger ship emitted a yellow light. People were lined up in a long queue at the boarding area. Woojung stood at the very end of the line and thrust his hands into his pockets. It seemed what they said about it being the coldest day of the year wasn’t a lie. Even though he was wearing a black long padded coat and a hat, his hands and ears were stinging.

Originally, it was a day for his math tutoring part-time job. It certainly would have been, if not for a single phone call he had received a few days ago in the evening.

The moment he heard the words, ‘Let’s take a break for a few weeks, and I’ll contact you again, teacher,’ from the student’s parent, he felt a dizzying sensation. In cases like this, you had to assume you would never hear from them again. Woojung tried his best to persuade them. The reason wasn’t so much that he was worried about the student’s grades, but that the 300,000 won tutoring fee he received from this student was truly desperate. However, there was a limit to how long the student’s interest in studying, which had been nonexistent from the start, could be sustained.

Woojung wandered around looking for another part-time job. Tutoring, cafés, convenience stores, bakeries, department stores, even wedding halls—he ran around everywhere. While doing so, he would sometimes receive business cards on the street. The kind of business cards that said he was some kind of director at some entertainment company. After he contacted one entertainment agency, thinking maybe, and was asked to provide investment funds, he stopped giving them a second glance. A world where you need money to make money?

Woojung decided to earn money honestly by working part-time.

There were many days he stayed up all night to earn money. Despite earning money all day long, there was nothing left in his hands. It was because as soon as money came in, it went to paying off debts, leaving no room to spare. Woojung had to pay back the money his father had borrowed, and he also had to pay back the money he had taken out as a loan from a third-tier lender under his name.

The fact that he had entered university with pretty good grades was also buried by life. His classmates, who could cover the entire exam range by studying hard only during the exam period, and Woojung, who had to earn money without even getting to sleep, were running at different speeds.

The feeling after checking his grades after the first midterm exam was devastating. Even elementary school low-grade tutoring positions or academy instructor jobs required him to submit his university grades to keep the position, and scholarships could only be received if his grades were good enough.

Life was not easy. Money was trickling away even when he was just breathing. He wanted to graduate quickly, get a job at a company, and receive a salary.

He wanted to avoid taking a leave of absence at all costs, but he needed more money to attend school in his second year as well.

He looked for jobs that paid as much as tutoring. He tried going to a construction site, but it was, quite literally, a daily job. He couldn’t say a single word and came back last week when they told him, “For the same price, why would we hire you?”

Woojung silently searched for the next part-time job. At the very top of the job search site, he saw a banner flashing in garish colors.

Cruise Staff Wanted / 130,000 per day

He knew all about various part-time jobs, but a job where you get on a ship and are away for a long time was a first in his life. Still, the daily wage was high, so he was tempted. Wondering what kind of work it was, Woojung examined the details page.

[Recruitment Conditions]
Deadline: Always recruiting
Number of positions: 00 people
Type: Irrelevant <Alpha, Omega, Beta all eligible to apply>
Gender: Irrelevant
Age: Irrelevant
Education: Irrelevant
Preferred: Foreign language skills, similar work experience

[Working Conditions]
Salary: Daily wage 130,000
Work Period: 7 days (including 1 day of training) <Room and board provided>
Job Category: Hall serving, party assistance <Beginners welcome>
Employment Type: Dispatched, LX Cruises

A high-income, short-term part-time job worth 910,000 won a week. If he invested just 7 days, the next semester’s 3 months could become comfortable. Once that thought occurred to him, he couldn’t see anything else.

Woojung submitted his resume and pressed the ‘Simple! 5-Minute Video Interview’ button. Then he hurriedly clicked ‘End.’ It was because he was startled to see his own self, lying in his spot, suddenly appear on the screen.

Because it was a small goshiwon room, it was messy all around. Clothes were hung from the foot of the bed up to his waist, and opposite was a desk, with various daily necessities piled up like a tower.

For this kind of part-time job, image was very important. Woojung sat up, pressing his back against the head of the bed, and raised his phone to eye level. It was the position in the one-pyeong small room where the background came out the cleanest.

The phone probably rang three times. The other person answered the call.

— Which son of a bitch is making a prank call.

I must have dialed the wrong number. Startled, Woojung was about to hang up when the other person shouted.

— Don’t hang up. Wait, wait I said!

“……”

— Is this for the cruise part-time job application?

“Yes, I… I was about to. I saw a button that said video call interview and pressed it, but I think I pressed it by mistake. I’m sorr…”

— If that’s the case, you should have said so quickly.

“I’m sorry.”

— Hmm.

The person brought his face right up to the screen and narrowed his eyes.

— Turn your head to the right.

“Yes.”

— Turn it to the other side too.

He did as he was told.

— Did you submit your resume?

“I just did.”

— Wait a moment.

“Yes.”

The person scanned Woojung’s resume and checked his work experience. They also had a short question and answer session about it. Woojung emphasized his experience related to food, beverages, and banquets from his past part-time jobs.

— Since it’s a dispatched position, I need to ask the opinion of the head office’s operations team. If you’re hired, you’ll get a call today or tomorrow.

“Yes, thank you.”

The result arrived the next afternoon. He was hired.

The afterimage of the rough speech and profanity had long since scattered to a distant place. Things like that were things that would become nothing after a night’s sleep. Woojung knew well what would stay by his side for a long time, and what would pass by his side like the wind.

Woojung was to work as a staff member on the China route for 7 days. It was a 6-day cruise trip departing from Incheon Port, passing through Tianjin, Dalian, and Qingdao, and returning to Incheon Port. One of the 7 days was said to be for orientation and training.

He read the instructions on where to come and what to prepare. Toiletries, a change of clothes. Mostly, the items listed were things he could prepare, but one thing caught his eye.

*Must bring a white shirt

For Woojung, clothes consisted of hoodies, short-sleeved t-shirts, and a padded coat. To say, It’s a 910,000 won part-time job, so what’s the big deal about buying one, the only spare cash he had on hand was 13,000 won. Excluding the public transportation fare to Incheon Port, he had to consider that there would be almost no money left.

As he was contemplating, his eyes fell on a pile of clothes hanging in the corner. It was his high school uniform.

Pleased, he hurried to take the clothes down. Although the collar and cuffs were frayed, it was definitely a white shirt. Since the pants and vest to be worn as a uniform would be provided upon boarding the cruise, it was a perfect setup.

And so, time passed, and the promised day was today. For one week, he got to do a high-income part-time job and also have three meals a day provided. It was the best moment that had come to Woojung this year.

The line, which he had thought was so long he wondered when it would shorten, had become short by now.

“I’ll check your ID.”

Woojung handed his passport and ID card to the man guarding the boarding gate.

“Cheon Woojung, confirmed as a short-term dispatched employee. You may enter.”

The bulky men gestured with their chins towards Woojung.

Woojung hunched his shoulders and walked toward the light. The temperature of the cruise he finally stepped onto was warm. So much so that the shivering from the cold wave while waiting outside felt like a lie.

🌸

Woojung waited for about 30 minutes in the cruise waiting room.

During that time, he also exchanged names with a few people sitting next to him. People said that this was a generous place that would contact you again as long as you paved the way once and worked with some sense. He thought it was a relief. Getting acquainted with the agency for a 130,000 won per day part-time job was not a bad thing.

The entrance door opened, and a woman in her 20s wearing a beige uniform came in. She wore a form-fitting outfit, but there was not a single trace of awkwardness. Her proportions and appearance were like an actress who could appear in any drama.

“Welcome to those who have come as cruise staff. Those who are here for the first time today, please follow me.”

A calm voice flowed from between her red lipstick. The woman, who introduced herself as the training supervisor, led Woojung and about ten other trainees on a tour of the cruise’s interior.

An opera performance was being held in the 14th-floor grand theater, and gambling continued nonstop in the 15th-floor casino and arcade. After seeing the 16th-floor party hall and outdoor swimming pool on the top floor of the cruise, his jaw dropped. Because he never thought he would see in person the large chandeliers and high-end carpets he had only seen in movies.

Overwhelmed by the energy he was seeing and feeling for the first time in his life, Woojung gasped for breath. There was not a single place that was decorated plainly. He felt that even if you took the oldest and shabbiest part of the cruise, it would still be several times better than his goshiwon.

The training supervisor, as if waiting for the people’s reactions to ripen, began to speak.

“Do you know why people spend their vacations cooped up on a ship?”

Woojung and all the other part-time workers fell silent. The training supervisor, as if accustomed to this situation, was not flustered by the silence.

“Because they can have fun, fall asleep comfortably, and just by waking up the next day, they can have the amazing experience of arriving in a new city. Once a person gets addicted, they are bound to come back. Because staying here makes you feel like you have everything. Even if that’s not the case outside.”

It sounds like something a cult would say to lure people in. That was the thought that crossed Woojung’s mind. It didn’t matter anyway. All he had to do was earn his money and leave.

After finishing the interior tour, the training supervisor guided the trainees to the convention hall. The worker ants in black padded coats stood in a single file line. Woojung mixed in among them.

The training supervisor finished her greetings and left, and large, bulky men in suits came in. The bulky men had short conversations with each of the trainees one by one. And a long while later, it was Woojung’s turn.

“Cheon Woojung?”

“Yes.”

“Nice mug, good expression, good lines.”

The manager was a man in his late 40s. His hair, slicked back with wax, was shiny. Although he wore a suit, the buttons unbuttoned down to his chest made him look even more delinquent. The manager, who pushed his eyebrows up and smiled baring his teeth, said,

“And on top of that, you’re twenty. Though just barely.”

Woojung was puzzled. He had been warned countless times for having a blank expression while working part-time. But now he was being told his expression was good? He raised the corners of his mouth, recalling the smile training he had learned somewhere.

“Thank you.”

“Look at this one? I thought he was a dazed one, but he’s a cheeky one.”

The manager roughly grabbed Woojung’s chin. When he applied enough force to deeply indent his cheeks, his pale pink lips plumped up. The tip of his nose, catching the white light of the convention hall, glistened.

“Have you been on our ship before?”

“It’s my fi, first time.”

“A virgin?”

I think I saw carp scales on the manager’s neck. Or were they dragon scales… Woojung, feeling disgusted by the rough hands and words, pulled his head back. The manager, after watching Woojung slip from his grasp, muttered, “that son of a bitch,” and pulled Woojung back.

“There’d be a lot of guys and gals who’d lose their minds if we put you in the VIP section….”

The manager made a circle with his left hand, and with his right thumb extended, he repeatedly inserted and removed the finger. Then he giggled.

Everyone knew very well what that vulgar action meant. It was when Woojung, feeling the gazes of the trainees standing next to him and waiting, turned towards him, that he squeezed his eyes shut. A large hand slapped his cheek.

“Save the face value for the customers. Here, if you don’t answer quickly, your mouth will get busted.”

“…Yes, yes.”

“Sense over face value. Huh?”

He was flustered. He didn’t know what else he should say. He didn’t know anything, and he just wanted to hide from the shame of the current conversation.

Just then, the person next to the manager stopped his action.

“Hyungnim.”

“What.”

The bulky man next to him was pushed back by the manager’s fist. Even after being hit, he smiled and said, ‘I’m sorry, Hyungnim,’ trying to curry favor.

“Hey, these kids here are just guys who came to work part-time for a week.”

“…Part-time?”

The manager’s tone, after a long pause, had softened considerably.

“Not new recruits?”

“Yessir, part-timers from the contracting company. The new recruits are waiting for you in the hall across the way, Hyungnim.”

“I thought so. I thought they were our kids. You should have told me that sooner.”

It was strange that he kept calling the manager Hyungnim.

Still, he had some sense. He thought that since this wasn’t a place he would know for long, he should just gloss it over and avoid it, and so he lowered his head deeply. Then, the manager kicked the tip of Woojung’s foot with the tip of his shoe.

“Woojung-ssi. I got a little too carried away.”

“Not at all, Manager-nim.”

The large hand now patted Woojung’s cheek. It was the same spot he had been hit. Scared, he repeatedly said he was okay. Then the manager, with his slit-like eyes, muttered, ‘You better be okay, what else can you do.’

“Seungtae, measure this kid’s size and give him a uniform.”

“Yes, Hyungnim. What about his section?”

“Standard Lounge for the day, Standard Party Hall for the night.”

“A part-timer in the lounge and party hall?”

“I’m not putting him there for his own good.”

“Then why are you putting him there, sir. He’s clearly a complete simpleton.”

“We’ll have to see whether he’s a simpleton or not. And… people here spend more money when their eyes are pleased.”

The manager made a circle by touching his right thumb and forefinger. Waving his hand in front of his face, he backed away, saying, ‘Ah fuck, what a waste.’

“Well then, let’s see each other again, baby.”

A rough hand tapped Woojung’s cheek and chin area before disappearing.

One week. 910,000 won. He could endure it. No, he had to.

“Alright, alright. Let’s get this over with quickly.”

The man who had been following the manager suddenly lifted Woojung’s arms up to shoulder height. He measured not only his shoulder and chest size but also his waist size. Then he handed him a vest, pants, and an eco-bag containing other accessories from a clothing rack he had been dragging around.

After that, basic training followed. He memorized things like the common greetings, announcements, and gestures used within the cruise.

It was strange. The manager was like a gangster, but the manual was quite well-established. Proof of this was the on-site test conducted after all the training was over.

The part-time workers were evaluated on how they handled given situations. For Woojung, who had watched the pre-delivered video after the video interview, it wasn’t a very difficult task.

Woojung saw two people who had listened to the training half-heartedly fail and go home right away. He had exchanged names with them, but they weren’t close enough for him to feel sorry. Woojung parted ways with them without even saying goodbye.

To be perfectly honest, the first thought that came to mind was relief that I was not included in that line.

Worn out from the day-long training and practice, I headed to my cabin.

Woojung held the temporary key card he had received from the manager to the door handle. The heavy door opened, and a pitch-black darkness gaped its mouth. The fact that he had to insert the key card into the card holder to turn on the lights was something he only realized after fumbling around for quite some time.

‘Staff use standard-class cabins. Only managers get the rank buff and use family-class cabins. Standard is the lowest grade of cabin on the cruise. And even among those, the cabins assigned to staff are the ones with the lowest preference, so it’s probably better not to have high expectations. It’s a bit better if you just think of it as a place to sleep.’

It was a piece of information a senior staff member had casually dropped during dinner. So, he hadn’t had high expectations. But as Woojung stepped into the cabin, his eyes grew wide.

He saw a round window that held the night sea and the night sky, and below it, a bed that looked so cozy he wanted to throw his body onto it. Woojung, as if drawn, approached and sat down. He even jumped a few times on the spot. It was on a different level from the goshiwon bed that let out a hair-raising noise every time he turned over.

Next to the bed was a desk. He placed his backpack on it and opened the zipper. After taking out only the clothes he needed to change into right away, he opened the refrigerator located under the desk. It was full of bottled water and soft drinks.

He drank some water and went into the bathroom. The warm tiled floor, as warm as its soft beige color, was shocking. Woojung swiped his bare feet across the floor several times before impulsively stripping off his clothes and throwing them.

He left his clothes carelessly in front of the door and took a shower. He washed away his fatigue under the water pouring like a waterfall from the sparkling showerhead. The fact that he could shower to his heart’s content in a space all to himself was truly wonderful.

With water dripping from his body, he opened the bathroom shelf. It was packed full of towels and toilet paper without a single gap. Woojung, after draping a large towel over his shoulders, opened and closed the shelf several times before taking out two rolls of toilet paper and putting them in his backpack. He planned to use them when he returned to the goshiwon. He worried about what would happen if someone said something, but he felt that if he returned empty-handed, he would keep thinking about it and regret it.

He lay on the bed with his hair damp. He hadn’t dried his hair in the middle of winter, but he didn’t feel cold in the slightest. It was cozy. Unlike the small boat he had ridden as a child, there was almost no shaking or noise. Woojung, who was about to chew on something in his mind, shook his head vigorously and sprawled out on his back.

The halogen lights embedded in a row on the ceiling emitted a warm glow. The yellow light he had looked up at while shivering in the cold outside the cruise was right in front of him.

Maybe this is a part-time job I should be paying 130,000 won for. This part-time job felt that luxurious.

Woojung lay on his side and opened the notepad on his phone.

First day.
Training, successfully completed
130,000 won saved

🌸

5:30 a.m. Woojung’s hands were busy.

Unlike the vest and pants that fit him perfectly as if they were tailored, the sleeves of the school uniform shirt he had brought were loosely coming out.

In a hurry, he tidied the shirt as best he could and forcibly tucked it in. Then he looked in the mirror and pulled down the vest. The fit of the shirt puffed up under his armpits as if it had been inflated with air. Still, he thought this much was bearable.

Woojung headed for the Standard Lounge. The lounge was open from 6 a.m. to midnight, with two shifts. One manager, two section chiefs, and twenty staff members lined up on both sides. Woojung’s spot was at the very end.

After a simple greeting, they headed to their assigned sections. There was an employee who was assigned to the same section as Woojung.

“I’m Seo Dowon.”

With a slender model-like proportion, a small face, and flawless skin, he was a man who naturally drew one’s eyes.

“I’m Cheon Woojung.”

“Woojung-ssi?”

“Yes?”

“Wow, I feel like I haven’t seen clothes like this in a really long time. What’s with the shirt?”

Seo Dowon picked up the shirt that was fluttering beside Woojung’s shoulder with both hands. He carefully examined the shoulder line that came down to around his bicep and the long-outdated sleeve shape.

Woojung, without realizing it, pressed his arms tightly to his sides. Seo Dowon, regardless of whether Woojung was uncomfortable or not, held onto the hem of the shirt and flapped it, creating a breeze.

“I came in a hurry, so I couldn’t prepare clothes in advance.”

“No, I wasn’t trying to say anything.”

Dowon’s eyes, which were looking at Woojung’s shirt, sparkled.

“Why didn’t I think of this? If I walked around looking like this, I’d get a ton of tips.”

It was difficult to understand what Seo Dowon was saying. Before Woojung could shake off his confusion, a hand came up to his shoulder this time.

“Still, you’re much better than the ones who act all nice and coy. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Me too.”

As Woojung nodded his head, Seo Dowon moved closer. He asked his age, asked where he lived, and then quickly became friendly, suggesting they drop the formalities. Their shoulders touched, and their forearms brushed. He, who had let out a clumsy sound of admiration like, “Uh,” slid his fingers and kneaded Woojung’s forearm.

“You’re really soft. You don’t seem like a Beta. Are you an Omega?”

“No. I’m a Beta.”

“…Uh, sorry. My mistake.”

Woojung was an Omega. However, he had never revealed his secondary gender. It was because his late father had repeatedly urged him that it was better to hide it.

“I’m an Alpha.”

It was unexpected. His build was similar to his own and his features were delicate, so he had naturally thought he was an Omega as well.

“It’s okay. I’ve heard I don’t look like one a lot, so I’m used to it now.”

It was a tone meant to brush it off lightly. Wondering what else he should say, he kept his mouth shut, and Seo Dowon, misunderstanding his action, hastily added an explanation.

“Hey, you don’t have to be so guarded. It’s not like I’m some teenage boy.”

“It’s not like that.”

“That’s a relief then. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. Which department and where did you work before coming here? Who recommended you here?”

Do I have to tell this person I just met my personal history of getting fired from tutoring? As Woojung’s 고민 grew deeper, Seo Dowon’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

“Let’s talk later, Woojung-ah.”

Seo Dowon, with a smile for show, pushed Woojung away. It was a reflexive action upon hearing the sound of the glass door opening.

“Director Yoon.”

“Seo Dowon.”

His tone of voice was markedly different from when he was talking to Woojung. Woojung, who was listening intently, turned his gaze towards the two. A man in his early 40s wearing a casual shirt was approaching Seo Dowon’s side. The two, who were close, naturally linked arms.

“Shall I show you to a window seat today as well?”

“That would be nice.”

A few fifty-thousand-won bills came out of Director Yoon’s hand. He crumpled the money into Seo Dowon’s back pocket, which was pressed tightly against him, and kneaded his buttocks. He couldn’t believe it even after seeing the scene with his own two eyes. Woojung stood there for a while, just blinking his eyes.

When the full-fledged breakfast time began, the lounge filled up with people.

There wasn’t even enough time to glance at Director Yoon and Seo Dowon. Woojung repeatedly cleared the empty plates scattered on the tables, refilled the empty food trays, and reset the tables. When he straightened his back, he saw staff members approaching from a distance.

“Woojung-ssi?”

“Yes.”

“They said we can have lunch first.”

Woojung wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist and followed them. They went to the break room. The staff members took their seats one by one, and Woojung followed them and sat down beside them. On the table were all the fine dishes Woojung had seen all morning. Fried rice, beef short ribs, salmon, salad, bread, fruit. Foods that were usually hard to even get a taste of one by one were sparkling before his eyes. Woojung, without realizing it, gulped.

“You’re hungry, right?”

“What’s there to say. Are you even asking that as a question right now?”

“I wasn’t asking you. I was asking Woojung-ssi.”

“Woojung-ssi, what are you doing. Hurry up and eat, then talk.”

His entire attention was so focused on the dining table that he could barely hear the conversation the staff were having.

Woojung accepted the spoon and large plate they handed him. The central food platter spun around, and the staff members served themselves as much food as they wanted to eat. Woojung’s spoon, which had been taking small portions at first, gradually became bolder. The section chief, who was serving food from across the table, asked a question.

“Woojung-ssi, this is your first time working here, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Dispatched?”

“Yes. For a week.”

Woojung didn’t say much, but the staff members sitting next to Woojung and the section chief made a big fuss.

“But what are you going to do, being paired with Seo Dowon of all people….”

“Your matchup luck is bad, Woojung-ssi. It looked like you were doing all the serving by yourself this morning, too.”

“It’s so obvious he’s not here to serve but to sell his body. That cheap vibe of spreading his legs just anywhere. Ugh. He went out with Director Yoon earlier, too.”

One staff member raised his arms high while speaking. He spread and brought his arms together, clapping his hands loudly. The Beta staff members giggled. The rumors about a world Woojung didn’t know sold like hotcakes as a side dish for the meal.

“Hey, you’ve got it backwards. Seo Dowon is that. An Alpha.”

“Huh? Really?”

“I don’t know if it’s true. That’s just what he introduced himself as at first.”

“Wow, shit, that’s crazy.”

“Anyway, Woojung-ssi, just work with him for a few days and then request a section change. We were also paired with Dowon when we first came… There’s an unspoken rule here. Betas with Betas, something like that? We don’t communicate well anyway, and we all want different things. You know?”

The Beta staff members spoke to Woojung without even thinking that he might be an Omega. Woojung didn’t say anything and just nodded his head vaguely. He didn’t want to create any trouble in a job he would be leaving after just one week.

“Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

“I will eat well.”

The meat was really delicious. The beef short ribs grilled by the cruise chef were so high-class that their taste and flavor couldn’t even be compared to the instant meat pieces from a convenience store lunch box.

He also ate a lot of fruit, which he usually couldn’t eat much of. He especially ate a lot of a fruit that looked like a melon but had an orange hue. It was really sweet. The shocking taste made the area below his ears tingle. Woojung rubbed below his ears without anyone else noticing.

The meal ended in 10 minutes.

The plates were collected in a large plastic bin. He saw one of the staff members lift the bin and take it to the kitchen. For this kind of work, there was usually a rotation or the youngest did it. Woojung quickly approached the staff member’s side.

“I’ll do it.”

“It’s my turn today.”

“…Still.”

“You said you’re a one-week part-timer. It’s more annoying to redo the time table to fit in your turn. It’s fine, so go get some shut-eye on the sofa.”

Woojung was left alone in the break room. When he looked back, the staff members had already finished brushing their teeth at the sink in the corner and were collapsing onto the sofas one after another.

Strangely enough, the staff members fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the sofa. It was something that happened in the 3 minutes it took Woojung to brush his teeth. Woojung couldn’t even lie down and sat on the sofa, quietly listening to the sound of them snoring.

After the break ended, he worked for 2 more hours. Clearing, wiping, and setting. Woojung repeated the same tasks like a machine. The shift change happened at the exact time. The section chief beckoned Woojung over. Woojung wiped his hands on his apron and approached with quick steps.

“Woojung-ssi, you worked hard.”

“You’ve worked hard as well. Thanks to you, it was easy to adjust.”

“You work well for a first-timer. You must have worked a lot of part-time jobs outside? You don’t look like it, so I didn’t know.”

What kind of answer should one give to a compliment? Woojung, who had nothing else to say, offered a perfunctory greeting.

“I will work hard.”

“Then I’ll see you at the party hall later. By 9:45 at night. Absolutely no being late.”

“Yes. I’ll see you later.”

The section chief waved his hand and disappeared into the distance.

Woojung, who had returned to his cabin, changed into a yellow hoodie and came out again.

He walked wherever his feet took him. There were many interesting-looking facilities and nice-looking things, but you needed money to properly enjoy all of them. Woojung just watched the people buying things in the shops, enjoying meals, and enjoying desserts, and then came back.

He lay down on the bed. He couldn’t fall asleep right away, so he skimmed through news articles on his phone. The news was abuzz about a cold wave, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in 100 years.

It felt like being in a different world. When a cold wave came, he would hide under the covers, hugging a PET bottle filled with hot water to his side, and he would huddle up while warming the blanket with a hairdryer, but now, he felt cozy even just wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt.

Woojung slowly closed his eyes. Here, every object was in a place where it served its purpose. The hairdryer in the bathroom, the PET bottle in the mini-fridge, and even his own self, lying on the bed in light clothing.

🌸

When he opened his eyes again, the outside was completely dark.

Startled, Woojung looked for his phone first. 9:30 p.m. He had almost been late.

Woojung changed into his uniform and headed for the Standard Party Hall.

Mixing in with the staff, he put on his in-ear monitor and looked around. There were staff members he had seen in the lounge, and there were also staff members he was seeing for the first time. Among them, Seo Dowon was also included.

He could hear the staff members making a fuss, saying it was their first time seeing so many celebrities in one place. He also heard the sound of aspiring actors and models exchanging information to try and get an opportunity.

At 10 p.m., the passengers entered the party hall. A flood of people in tuxedos and dresses poured in. It was a scene exactly like one he had seen in a movie.

The work in the party hall was similar to the lounge. However, since it was a space for a standing party, the fact that he had to navigate through the passengers while balancing a tray with a champagne glass in one hand was a bit difficult.

“Here, two champagnes.”

A passenger took a champagne glass from Woojung and handed him a fifty-thousand-won bill. An unexpected boutonnière appeared in the pocket on Woojung’s chest. When he lifted his head again, the passenger had already disappeared into the crowd.

‘What is this. Is this for me?’

The moment Woojung’s attention was diverted, he bumped into a passenger behind him. It was a female passenger who was shorter than him and appeared to be in her mid-thirties.

He saw a red dress made of a shiny material, slender legs visible through a side slit, and high heels sparkling with jewels. Even to Woojung’s ignorant eyes, they were items that looked expensive.

“I’m sorry, madam.”

“…Haa.”

It was, unequivocally, a sigh filled with annoyance.

Woojung folded the tray he had on his arm and tucked it at his waist, then held out the napkin he had draped over his arm.

A slender hand that was brushing off her hem with her bare hands irritably pushed Woojung away. After straightening her hem for a while, she straightened her back and looked at Woojung with a completely crumpled face.

“…Ah. I hate situations like this. You look like someone I can’t even get mad at.”

“What is it, Yookyung-ah. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Just some little puppy wandering around.”

“What?”

“The way he causes trouble and then looks around nervously is just like my dog at home.”

“Look at her. Starting again. Oh, but he is cute, though.”

“He’s mine. I called dibs.”

“A model? He seems a bit short for a model. An aspiring actor?”

Woojung’s gaze moved busily. It doesn’t look like anything spilled on her clothes…. The moment he thought that, he heard a strange sound.

“Baby, want to come with noona?”

Suddenly, a fifty-thousand-won bill was tucked into Woojung’s chest.

“Why, are you going to take him and get him neutered?”

“You crazy bitch, seriously. Then what about his dick.”

“It doesn’t get hard?”

“It doesn’t.”

“I’ve never raised a dog, so I wouldn’t know.”

“How would a bitch who raises a stud horse know the sweet joys of playing with a puppy.”

“Are you dissing me right now?”

The two women cackled, with Woojung standing in front of them. Woojung repeatedly bowed his head and greeted them. It was when he had said, “I’m truly sorry,” about ten times.

Seo Dowon approached and popped his head out from beside Woojung.

“I haven’t seen you ladies before. Hello.”

This time, the two women’s gazes turned to Seo Dowon in unison. The woman in the red dress smiled prettily at Dowon.

“So it was true that the quality of the water here is good.”

“Excuse me, but what are your names?”

“Oh my, look at this one.”

From what Woojung observed, Seo Dowon was skilled. He called people much older than him Yookyung-ssi and Chaehee-ssi, playing them like a fiddle. He muttered to himself internally. Yookyung-ssi, Chaehee-ssi, Dowon-ssi. No matter what name was brought, the “-ssi” that rolled off Woojung’s tongue was utterly awkward.

As he was standing there, unable to do anything, Seo Dowon whispered in Woojung’s ear.

“Go.”

“…What about you?”

Woojung moved away from the two women, following Seo Dowon’s gently pushing hand. Wondering if it was okay to do this, Woojung looked back, and Seo Dowon stomped his foot with a thud.

Woojung, pretending to tidy up the surroundings, glanced at the three of them. Whatever Seo Dowon had said, the two women were laughing so hard they were even clapping. Afterwards, he also saw hands tucking fifty-thousand-won bills and business cards into the space between Dowon’s vest.

Suddenly, the image of the man named Director Yoon kneading Seo Dowon’s buttocks in the lounge flashed through his mind. Woojung hurriedly turned his body. Whether he touched him or not was not important. He just didn’t want to get used to that kind of sight.

Just then, he heard a murmuring sound from nearby. The section chief called for a staff member.

— 3A Sector staff, respond.

“Yes, this is Cheon Woojung.”

— Wine was spilled in front of the aquarium.

“I’ll go clean it up.”

— Call immediately if there are any issues.

“Yes.”

Woojung took out the plastic bag and rag from under the staff-only tray and moved to the 3A Sector, which had been left in a mess by a drunken guest.

He cleaned up the wine glass that had fallen on the floor. He also picked up the food that had fallen on the floor. There were no barricades whatsoever, but a round space around it was wide open. The people who had been enjoying the party acted as if Woojung was some kind of scary bug. It was strange. It feels like I’m doing a more important job than when I was carrying the champagne glasses….

Woojung, undeterred by the surrounding atmosphere, did what he had to do. As he was checking to see if there were any messy spots, he saw a streak of red wine that had run down the aquarium glass. He took out the yellow microfiber towel from the back pocket of his uniform and meticulously wiped it clean. He cleaned and looked at the aquarium at the same time. He wondered if this was what they called killing two birds with one stone.

🌸

The party hall, past midnight.

Senior Executive Director Sa Gongjun was finally able to step down from the front of the official event. It was freedom finally obtained after finishing the commemorative speech for the cruise opening, greetings with VVIP celebrities, and a flood of business meetings from all sides.

“What’s the rest of the schedule?”

“All official schedules are finished. You may spend your time freely until we dock in Qingdao.”

“That’s welcome news. My dick was just starting to ache.”

Secretary Choi knew his boundaries well. There was no need to add a response to what had just been said. Instead, he chose to appropriately play along and lighten his mood.

Sa Gongjun moved to find an empty space. The place where his steps stopped was the middle of the aquarium. His gaze, which had been leisurely following the movements of the tropical fish, became fixed on one spot.

“Is that the Standard Party Hall over there?”

Secretary Choi glanced sideways at the other side of the aquarium. A staff member was stuck to the aquarium glass, scrubbing it vigorously with a yellow rag. He was wiping so absentmindedly that the thought of having to go over and give him a warning even crossed his mind.

“That is correct.”

“I’ve never seen that face before.”

“He appears to be a part-time worker.”

Sa Gongjun walked, following the boy.

The yellow rag, made drab by the reflection of the aquarium lights, covered the boy’s face. Just when it seemed his hand was lowering, the waterweeds and coral that filled the aquarium took its place.

A thick, sturdy finger tapped lightly on the aquarium glass. He saw a figure lift its head in response to the signal. I want to suck on it. The thought of a cigarette came to mind. His fingers, which had been habitually rummaging through his front shirt pocket, stopped in mid-air.

“Everything I went through so much trouble to procure and put here is just so-so… it would be better to soak that thing in the water.”

Secretary Choi turned his head and examined Sa Gongjun’s expression. He did not want to see the sight of a bloated person floating in the aquarium that had been constructed with such difficulty and permission.

“…Shall I have him removed?”

“No. Just leave it and give me a cigarette.”

Sa Gongjun took the cigarette that Secretary Choi handed him. It was as he was sucking on the filter, enough to make his cheeks sink in. He had definitely told Secretary Choi to just leave it, but he could see the boy on the other side moving away from him. Is he doing that on purpose? His brow furrowed in frustration.

Tap, tap. This time, he knocked on the glass quite hard. Only then could he see the face clearly. Sa Gongjun, with an expressionless face, stared down at the boy’s face. Although it was pale, his round eyes, beautifully curved nose, and plumply swollen lips were clearly visible.

Just as he was thinking of taking a closer look, this time the boy abruptly turned his back. Thanks to that, all he saw was the back of a fist-sized head.

To not even recognize a greeting. He looked like his type, but he seemed a bit too stupid. Sa Gongjun raised the corners of his mouth and smiled. He saw Woojung on the other side smile back at him. Then he suddenly gave a deep bow and disappeared.

“Maybe because he’s still young… he can’t stay still.”

Secretary Choi, who was by his side, asked Sa Gongjun,

“Shall I have him prepared and called to the room right now?”

“Who is this, if not the star of the day.”

Just then, an East Asian man in his early 40s approached to exchange greetings with Sa Gongjun. There were times when mayfly-like creatures who couldn’t seize the opportunity to meet him even after the official event had ended would follow him to the very end and get entangled like this. Sa Gongjun lowered his voice as much as possible and said to Secretary Choi,

“See if there’s a seat in the VIP section.”

“Yes, Senior Executive Director.”

“And I guess I’ll have to get the kids ready.”

Secretary Choi’s gaze flickered towards the approaching person. After looking him over from head to toe, he gave a firm nod and stepped back.

“If it isn’t Director Yoon Seokjoo.”

“What’s this. You didn’t even give me a glance during the opening ceremony, and now you’re pretending to know me.”

“And because of that, Director Yoon, you’re the one to talk to me first.”

“I was just feeling hurt, thinking Sa Gongjun had forgotten all about the old days. How does it feel to have a huge business success?”

Sa Gongjun looked down at Director Yoon with an expressionless face. As his smile vanished, his impression instantly turned sharp.

“It’s not bad. Except for the gnats that keep pestering me.”

Director Yoon’s cheekbones twitched. The wrinkles around his eyes folded into the shape of a smile, but his murky eyes held insubordination. It was because he felt that the status, rank, and hierarchy were not right.

“We should go for a round of golf sometime, right? Should I be the one to escort Senior Executive Director Sa now? Ah, this is damaging my pride, fuck.”

“Would there be a need to go as far as a round of golf. There are plenty of good things here too.”

Sa Gongjun placed his palm on Director Yoon’s shoulder. Then he naturally guided his steps and headed somewhere.

🌸

Having returned to reality, Woojung moved through the party hall with its splendid chandelier. He went up and down the stairs, organizing dishes, checking the catering food, and refilling the drinks. It was endless.

As time passed, drunken guests also appeared. Whether they were rich or poor, their drunken appearances were all the same.

Please clear the plates. Please clean the floor. Please clear the wine glasses. Woojung was called to every spot they made a mess of. He had just come from wiping the aquarium, which had been covered in red wine, and now they were short on champagne. Woojung pressed the pager to find the person in charge.

“Standard Party Hall 3A Sector, this is Cheon Woojung. Requesting champagne as we are short.”

— This is the wine cellar staff. We’re currently bringing up goods from the warehouse… would you be able to pick it up yourself?

“Yes. Just tell me the location.”

— It’s in the refrigerator at the cellar entrance. You can find it by looking for the champagne label.

“Yes.”

It was as Woojung replied and turned around. A 1:1 call came in from someone.

“This is Woojung.”

— Woojung, it’s me, Dowon, can you find it? Should I go with you?

“No, I checked the location before entering the hall.”

— Oh.

The staff gossiped about Seo Dowon. But the Dowon that Woojung had experienced firsthand had surprisingly many gentle aspects.

“Thanks.”

— Bullshit. I was just worried you’d hide somewhere and not come out.

“……”

Of course, his way of expressing himself was a bit rough. When Woojung stayed quiet without saying anything, Seo Dowon hurriedly said,

— It’s a joke. Is everything a documentary to you. If you can’t find it, tell me. I’ll send support right away.

“Okay, Dowon-ah.”

— …….

“And thank you for earlier, too.”

If it hadn’t been for Seo Dowon, he might have been pestered by the passengers in dresses until now. He might have had to pay for the laundry costs and blown a day’s wage, or maybe even more. As Woojung thought about that, his head spun.

— Ah, fuck, that’s ticklish…. I’m leaving.

He opened the back door of the party hall. He passed several doors along a long corridor in a white space and entered the wine cellar. Since it was a space created for wine storage, it was cool.

At the entrance, stainless steel wine refrigerators were lined up. The first had white, the second had red, and when he looked into the third refrigerator, the champagne he had been looking for finally appeared.

He came out with a bottle in each hand. His hands were cold and his feet were on fire. The more the passengers enjoyed the party, the busier Woojung became. During the night shift, he had to be on his feet and moving around constantly without getting to sit down properly even once.

The party finally ended only when it was 2 a.m. Woojung moved mechanically and returned to his cabin. Then he checked the door lock several times. He also made sure to properly lock the auxiliary lock that he hadn’t locked before going to sleep yesterday.

He took off his vest in front of the closet. A yellow piece of paper fell to the floor with a fluttering sound. It felt like his heart was going to burst. There were five fifty-thousand-won bills he had collected one by one while pouring wine.

The first thought that came to mind was whether it was okay to do this. Woojung stacked the five bills and put them in the small safe provided in the room. He decided not to consider it his money until he left this cruise.

He hung the vest on a hanger and took out his phone first.

Second day, finished
Work, successfully completed
260,000 won saved
+) 250,000 additional allowance

The tips he received today were as much as the allowance he would have gotten for working for two days.

Woojung shot up and checked the door lock again. It was unlikely, but it felt as if someone would burst in and demand that money. In the end, Woojung was only able to finish his shower after leaving the bathroom door wide open and glancing at the safe.

🌸

The next dawn. Woojung headed for the Standard Lounge.

On the way, he walked mixed in with a group of staff. The staff who had adapted to the work hours here seemed unfazed, while the staff who had come as part-timers repeatedly pressed the corners of their eyes with the backs of their hands and let out groans.

They lined up in the middle of the lounge hall. Unlike yesterday when the weather was good, the sky outside the window was full of dark clouds. Even if the lights hanging overhead sparkled, it was difficult for them to be as warm as the sunlight that came in from outside.

“Cheon Woojung, see me for a moment.”

Taking advantage of the chaotic moment among the staff, the manager called Woojung to one side. He remembered the touch that had tapped his cheek on the first day of training, saying sense over face value. Woojung moved quickly and stood in front of him.

“Yes, Manager-nim.”

The staff members glanced at Woojung, who was talking separately with the manager. Then they whispered, what is it, what is it. Among them was Seo Dowon, who was standing alone. He asked with his eyes what was going on.

Woojung shook his head slightly as if it was nothing. Then Dowon made a gesture of making a phone call with his hand and waved it by his ear. Woojung nodded his head.

The manager snapped his fingers in front of Woojung’s eyes with a sharp sound. The smell of cigarettes came from his fingertips. Woojung held his breath without showing it and waited for the manager’s words.

“You, you need to change your post. Starting today, your work is changed to the VIP Lounge and VIP Party Hall.”

It was a sudden notice, but he nodded his head without being flustered. Then the manager tapped his cheek, saying where did this one learn the rude habit of just nodding his head.

“Move quickly. The weather outside is bad, so customers will flock to the lounge.”

Woojung moved to the VIP lounge with quick steps. The work was the same as the Standard Lounge. Tidying up the tables of people who came for a meal or tea.

The first customers were a family of four of East Asian descent. Woojung put on a smile and guided them to a window seat.

[Good morning. For drinks, would you like coffee or black tea?]

[Two hot Americanos, please.]

Woojung and the passengers conversed in English. The man who appeared to be the father was trying to seat two mischievous sons in their chairs, and the children’s mother was busy shaking toys she held in both hands beside them.

[May I help?]

[Ah, please.]

Woojung, having received permission from the parents, moved skillfully. He picked up a four-year-old boy who was running around trying to play hide-and-seek under the chair and table. Then the child grabbed Woojung’s nose tightly and spoke in some country’s language. Fortunately, it was a language Woojung was also well-versed in.

[I’m hungry.]

[Something delicious will be out soon.]

[Something delicious?]

[What do you like? Hyung will bring it for you.]

[I want to eat an omelet.]

Soon, the other four-year-old boy, whom the father was seating in a chair, whined that he could eat too.

The clattering sound grew louder. The gazes of the passengers seated nearby began to gather. Woojung knelt between the two baby chairs where the children were sitting and proposed a game of snowman. In Korean terms, it was a game of freeze tag.

He said he would give an omelet, a drink, and a gift to the person who stayed still like a snowman. The two children still played with their hands at the table, but they no longer ran around the lounge.

Woojung, who had stood up, poured hot coffee for the couple who were sitting at the table holding hands. The young couple looked at Woojung with smiling faces. This time, it wasn’t English.

[You’re good with children. And you speak Filipino too.]

[I had many younger siblings… and I learned the language a little when I was young.]

They said this was their third time spending a vacation on a cruise, and they were happy to see a staff member who spoke their language for the first time. Woojung set up omelets, orange juice, and milk for the children, and also brought them the kids’ package provided by the lounge.

The couple handed Woojung a tip after finishing their meal. This time, it was in dollars. When Woojung hesitated, they slid a 100-dollar bill under the empty plate and moved away from their seats.

Woojung looked around needlessly. All the staff seemed busy working in their respective sections. He pushed the folded bill into his back pocket. The additional allowance he had made in an hour was over one hundred thousand won.

Just then, the section chief called for Woojung.

“Woojung-ssi.”

“Yes, Section Chief.”

“Did you say you were a Beta?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes.”

Woojung hurriedly finished his sentence.

“Yes, I am a Beta.”

“That’s great. Go do some room service for room 1601. You can take that trolley over there.”

When he glanced at the trolley, several beverage thermoses were inserted into the bottom shelf, and several stainless steel dome covers were laid out on the second and top floors.

“Room service?”

“Yes. I need to ask you a favor because we’re short-staffed. It’s a VVIP passenger who was in this section until a little while ago, but they went up to their cabin to eat, saying the kids were too loud. The hall is covered, but deliveries are severely backed up. Please do me this favor.”

“Yes, I’ll be right back.”

Woojung pushed the trolley. He took the staff-only elevator and stopped at room 1601. He rang the bell and cleared his throat. He also made a smile by raising the corners of his mouth and lowering the corners of his eyes.

“Room service.”

The door opened without a response.

Firm chest muscles were visible through the gap of a loose-fitting gown. He was a tall and thick-bodied man, the likes of whom Woojung couldn’t even remember seeing a similar build around him.

Woojung, who had unexpectedly seen another person’s naked body, was startled and stepped back. When he took a step back, only then could he see the whole picture. Fortunately, the man in front of him was wearing the black gown provided on the cruise.

Woojung slowly raised his head. After unintentionally scanning from his sturdy-looking shoulders up the smoothly drawn line of his neck to his firm jawline, he was finally able to face the owner of the room.

“…Oh.”

It was the man he had seen at the party hall. Woojung tilted his head back completely and looked up at the man. Seen up close, the man was a handsome man with fine-textured, dark eyebrows, sharp eyes without double eyelids, a nose that stood out prominently even in natural light, and a smooth forehead.

Startled by a face he had only seen in passing once, he almost gave an outlandish greeting that wasn’t even in the manual. There were over five hundred staff working here. There were roughly two hundred staff members in the party hall. The probability that this man remembered him had to be seen as close to zero.

Sa Gongjun’s straight, long lips parted, and a voice that sounded as if it were submerged in water descended from above Woojung’s head.

“You said it was room service?”

An adult man. A person with a certain weight, one that would be classified in a clear adult category, different from himself who was caught between a school uniform and casual clothes. That was the first impression Woojung felt upon facing Sa Gongjun.

He bit his lip. The man in front of him and he were complete strangers, and they were just passing acquaintances who met through room service, but there was a strange stimulation as if his heart was floating.

“I will set up the meal you requested. Which side should I prepare it on?”

“At the table.”

The man opened the door wide and stood aside. Woojung hunched his shoulders and passed by his side. He thought he wasn’t a timid person, just lacking in skill and unadorned. Woojung felt an inexplicable embarrassment in another person’s room and walked looking only at the tray.

He passed through the entrance, reception room, and living room to the dining area. Only then did Woojung realize where the unidentified stimulation that had risen in his heart had begun.

Another person’s space, with traces of use, reflects the owner’s disposition. The clothes dropped on the living room sofa, the liquor glasses scattered on the table, the clump of tissues dropped carelessly beside them. The traces of the room’s owner were blatantly shouting at Woojung. That you are now secretly peeking into the private life of an adult man.

“……”

The man in the black gown followed behind Woojung. A long shadow that stretched from behind to the front swallowed the place where Woojung had set his foot. When Woojung tried to escape by quickening his pace, the shadow followed him by just that much. The closer the man got to Woojung, the more Woojung’s palms became damp. He even had the illusion that the tray had become heavier.

I have to set it up quickly and leave.

Woojung stood at the edge of the dining table, and the man sat in a dining chair.

While he was laying the placemat and setting the tableware, his gaze was drawn to the gap in the open gown. Rather than being worn loosely on purpose, it seemed the gown was too small for his broad shoulders and thick torso, causing it to gape open.

His eyes kept going to the muscles that were so densely woven it made him wonder how it was possible. Without realizing it, he scanned his chest and examined his forearms. Every time the man moved, holding the tableware, the veins running from his elbow to the back of his hand twitched dynamically.

It was as Woojung placed the last plate on the table and was staring blankly at his own white fingers.

“Have you seen enough.”

“…Yes?”

“I said to bring in a staff member, and I thought they brought in a whore.”

Woojung, startled by the man’s sudden attack, quickly lifted his head. He wasn’t the only one looking. The long, slit-like eyes were also looking Woojung over.

Woojung quickly drew in a breath and swallowed dryly. He was embarrassed because it felt like the gulping sound echoed loudly in the quiet space.

“I, for one, don’t mind day or night.”

“I’ll, I’ll prepare it right away.”

“Prepare what. Prepare to finger yourself?”

His face burned. He didn’t answer and turned his back to the man. Woojung, who was placing the stainless steel dome covers on the table in order, forgot to even breathe and focused on what he was doing. He consciously lowered his head and tried not to look at that man.

The man tapped the table with his fingers. As Woojung, who had been frozen in place, lifted his head, he saw pitch-black pupils staring at him without wavering.

“The order is strange. I thought the other staff members started with a morning greeting.”

A rough voice traveled up Woojung’s arm to his ear. He thought it would have been better if it had a sarcastic tone like a little while ago. The man, who had been saying nonsensical things just moments before, was now accurately pointing out Woojung’s mistake.

“Did you not receive training?”

If a problem were to arise and he were to be excluded from work, if he were to not receive the part-time pay he was supposed to get. Horrible assumptions grew and climbed up Woojung’s ankles and thighs. This was no time to be hesitant just because it was an unfamiliar part-time job or because the other person was awkward. Woojung bowed his waist towards the man and apologized.