ETP Ch 52
by soapa“What are you talking about?”
Sungyeon glared at Yoohyun, who had a confident look on his face.
“Sunbae-nim, do you need money?”
“Money?”
Yoohyun tilted his head slightly. He didn’t really care about money, but…
“More is better.”
“Wow, I didn’t know Sunbae-nim needed 12,000 won per hour….”
“How much?”
“12,000 won. And that’s a high rate because it’s a night shift.”
“12,000 won. 12,000 won….”
Yoohyun muttered 12,000 won to himself.
Seeing that, Sungyeon realized something. This guy was just blurting things out because he was angry. Of course, he’d never done a part-time job, let alone any housework, so what was he talking about?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah, with that super condescending look.”
“I’m not.”
When Yoohyun growled, Sungyeon quickly lowered his gaze. He could tell when someone was talking bad about him like a ghost.
“Anyway, I have no intention of quitting my part-time job. Sajang-nim said he’d find someone to work with me, and I’ve thought of a way to handle things myself.”
“Fine, do what you want. I’ll do what I want, too.”
“Oh, come on! You’re not seriously going to insist on working there?!”
“Mind your own business.”
Yoohyun headed towards his car, leaving behind the fuming Bokseung. However, his seemingly unstoppable steps suddenly halted. He paused for a moment, and only after he heard the footsteps of the boy following him did he start walking again.
The two, somehow sulking at each other, didn’t exchange a single word until they arrived in front of Bokseung’s house.
Sungyeon was annoyed by Yoohyun’s strange stubbornness, but he was still grateful. Before getting out of the car, he bowed his head.
“Thank you so much for helping me today. Drive safely.”
“Yeah, go on up.”
“Yes!”
Sungyeon climbed the stairs to his house without looking back. As he entered his house after pressing the familiar passcode, his fingertips began to tremble.
“Ha, fuck. This is so disgusting.”
Sungyeon sat down by the door and hugged his knees tightly. The helpless situation kept replaying in his mind, gnawing at his nerves.
He thought he was fine because nothing had actually happened, but that wasn’t the case. The thought of being scared kept rising from deep within his subconscious and dominated his mind.
The trembling wouldn’t stop, and cold sweat drenched his forehead. It was the first time Sungyeon, who had lived a healthy life for 33 years, experienced trauma.
It was well over 30 minutes later when Sungyeon, who had been crouching dejectedly for a long time, finally came to his senses and headed to the bathroom.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
Yoohyun’s already gloomy mood plummeted five floors down because of Sunjung, who barged into his house early in the morning.
“ cack cack! Fuck, you’re such a ridiculous bastard!”
“What?”
“A part-time job?! A PC bang part-time job? Who? Hwang Yoohyun?!! cack cack!”
Ah, seriously, Kim Bokseung. Is he doing this on purpose to piss me off?
Yoohyun looked at Sunjung with an annoyed face. He wondered how Sunjung found out, and it turned out that Bokseung had told him everything. Upon hearing that Bokseung had even contacted Sunjung first and asked him to dissuade Yoohyun, Yoohyun experienced firsthand what it meant to have a throbbing headache.
“You crazy bastard, wouldn’t it be better to just open a PC bang and hire Bokseung? Just put in three computers. One for you, one for me, and one for Bokseung.”
Hmm?
It was a tempting idea. Nine out of ten things Yoo Sunjung said were useless, but sometimes he said something decent like this. Yoohyun seriously considered the suggestion.
And Sunjung, who had made the suggestion, gaped.
“Don’t you dare seriously consider that! It’s creepy!”
“What?”
“Are you seriously in love with Bokseung?”
“What?”
This time, Yoohyun’s jaw dropped. What was this crazy bastard talking about?
Yoohyun was just momentarily speechless, but Sunjung, who had misinterpreted his silence, jumped up.
“Whoa?! You’re not denying it?! Oh my god! No matter how soft and cute Bokseung is, it’s not okay! He’s too good for a bastard like you! I’m going to introduce Bokseung to a nice alpha later, so don’t even think about it, you punk.”
Sunjung, who had been teasing Yoohyun for being particularly protective of Bokseung, turned serious as soon as he sensed a hint of genuine affection.
It wasn’t that Hwang Yoohyun was a bad guy, but honestly, he wasn’t a good guy either, right? And there’s a reason why people say birds of a feather flock together. No, even if that wasn’t the case, it’s not happening, this guy is definitely not happening.
Sunjung shook his head firmly.
No. Go back.
“Introduce who? If you’re thinking of introducing one of your friends, you’re dead.”
“Hey, why? What’s wrong with my friends?”
“Fuck, how dare you introduce those half-witted…!”
Yoohyun hit Sunjung’s broad back with all his might. Sunjung yelled and looked at Yoohyun with aggrieved eyes.
“What’s wrong with my friends! None of them are as much of a fucking bastard as you!”
“It’s you who sticks to that fucking bastard every other day!”
A childish argument ensued. Yuja, disturbed by the heat emanating from the two large alphas, let out a small, “Meow,” and escaped to a smaller room.
Naturally, their power struggle didn’t end there.
In the end, Bokseung’s request to dissuade Yoohyun wasn’t fulfilled, and instead, it only fueled Yoohyun’s stubbornness.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
[Hwang Yoohyun Sunbae-nim: Passed interview, starting work tomorrow.]
“What?!”
Sungyeon’s eyes widened as he was getting ready for school. He thought he must have misread something…? Who was working what part-time job?
Flustered, Sungyeon immediately called Hyunseop. He knew it would be difficult to get a straight answer from Hwang Yoohyun himself, so he chose to ask Hyunseop instead.
After the ringing tone, Hyunseop’s voice came through.
“Sajang-nim!!”
—Oh, Bokseung.
When Sungyeon asked what was going on, Hyunseop stammered and began to explain how Hwang Yoohyun had been hired.
Last night:
Hyunseop, who had arrived at work earlier than usual, had been working with Bokseung until midnight, on high alert.
Whenever a customer’s gaze lingered on Bokseung even for a moment, Hyunseop would glare at them menacingly. Bokseung had said he was fine, but once Hyunseop started noticing, he found everyone annoying.
Moreover, since Hyunseop was a beta, it was especially difficult for him to notice things happening due to pheromones, making him even more sensitive.
As soon as midnight struck, Hyunseop sent Bokseung home and started writing a job posting.
He couldn’t keep two people on staff all the time, so he thought it would be enough to hire someone just for Bokseung’s shift. However, he was worried whether anyone would apply for a PC bang part-time job these days.
Hyunseop was racking his brains, unable to come up with a good solution, when…
A large shadow fell over the counter.
“……?”
Hyunseop quickly looked up, thinking a customer had arrived, and an unexpected figure came into view.
“Uh, Bokseung went home.”
“I know.”
“Then, are you a customer?”
“No.”
At the curt reply, Hyunseop’s expression hardened in a short time.
He wondered if this guy had come back to settle the score from the other day. Or maybe he had come to meddle and tell him not to make Bokseung work part-time.
However, what came out of his mouth was something Hyunseop hadn’t expected at all.
“I want to work part-time.”
“Huh?”
“You said you were hiring.”
“Huh.”
“I want to do it.”
“Huh?”
Hyunseop kept repeating, “Huh,” even though he wasn’t a seal. Annoyed by that, Yoohyun’s expression crumpled.
A brief silence fell, and Hyunseop’s brain, which had been frozen, started working furiously. Even a quick glance revealed that he was dripping with wealth, making it clear that he wasn’t here because he desperately needed a part-time job, but because of Bokseung.
Is this guy interested in Bokseung?
Hyunseop’s eyes gleamed sharper than before.
Regardless, Yoohyun kept his eyes fixed on Hyunseop’s mouth.
He thought he should at least have an interview since Hyunseop was the PC bang owner. If he was rejected here, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to actually open his own PC bang.
If Bokseung needs to work part-time because of living expenses, I can give him a job. It would be better to work leisurely and earn money than to work at such a busy place.
“Excuse me, student.”
“I’m Hwang Yoohyun.”
“Oh, okay. Hwang Yoohyun.”
“Yes.”
“Are you an alpha?”
Yoohyun nodded at Hyunseop’s question.
And Hyunseop’s displeased expression softened into a smile.
“You’re an alpha, huh?”
“Yes.”
Yoohyun frowned at Hyunseop’s sudden bright smile, wondering where his wary gaze from just a moment ago had gone.
What’s with that creepy smile? It was like the look of someone looking at a plump pig, wondering how to cook it.
Unlike the uneasy Yoohyun, Hyunseop was pleased.
He had been bothered by the thought that Yoohyun might be interested in Bokseung, but thinking about it differently, it seemed like a good opportunity.
He seemed quite strong for an alpha, so if he hired him and had him protect Bokseung, at least riffraff wouldn’t mess with him.
“Are you strong, Hwang Yoohyun?”
“Yes… huh?”
This wasn’t some elementary school bully recruitment, was this really an interview question?
Despite his bewilderment, Yoohyun dutifully answered.
“Yes, I’m strong.”
Because it was a matter of course that he was strong.
And so, Yoohyun was hired on the spot. Hyunseop’s calculation was that if Yoohyun had feelings for Bokseung, he would protect him even more thoroughly.