LCL 72

Even if part-time workers get along well, the boss treats them nicely, or the hourly wage would be high. Dealing directly with customers could be quite challenging.

Physical labor could be tough, but there were often times when the emotional aspect became rather overwhelming.

“Excuse me!”

I was startled by a voice that cut through the noisy place.

“Yes?”

As I turned my head to respond, I saw a man with a scowling face. He looked like someone who wanted to show off in front of his girlfriend or potential girlfriend.

After working part-time for a few weeks, I could tell just by someone’s walk whether they were trouble or not. Troublesome people usually had a dissatisfied look on their faces from the moment they walked in.

As if they were desperate to find fault with something. It was even worse if they were drunk. Their emotions would become intense, raising their voices or sometimes even making threats.

“I rang the bell. Why didn’t you come? There are so many part-timers at this place too.”

This customer also seemed quite drunk. The bell didn’t ring, though. I unconsciously glanced back at the notification board. They might be drunk, but the part-time servers here were only out of their minds with work, and not intoxicated at all.

“I’m sorry, but the bell didn’t ring. Do you need…?”

Before I could finish asking if he needed anything, the man retorted in an irritated voice.

“I did ring the bell. What do you mean it didn’t ring? I heard the ding-dong sound.”

The man looked to be about my age or maybe a year or two older. I could see a buzz cut under his cap. He was either on leave from the military or had been discharged recently. If not, he was probably about to enlist.

“It’s not like you’re ignoring customers, sh…You’re just selling alcohol after all.”

Thinking I was talking back, the man raised his voice aggressively. Like anyone else, I found these kinds of people particularly uncomfortable and difficult to deal with.

I was fine with busy and hard work, or moving heavy and hot things, but dealing with drunk and aggressive people was always overwhelming. I’d rather clean up vomit from the bathroom floor than deal with these types of people.

I rolled my eyes in confusion. As the voices got louder, I could hear murmuring from tables here and there. I tried to compose myself and respond kindly.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Shouldn’t an apology come first? I was going to let it go quietly, but why do you keep provoking me?”

“Stop it. What are you doing? Are you drunk?”

The man’s companions tried to restrain him. The man’s eyes grew even fiercer. He seemed to be making an even bigger scene because he wanted to look good in front of someone important. Dealing with drunk people was never easy.

Just then, I felt a hand pull on my shoulder, which had turned to stone.

“Is there a problem?”

Moon Ji-woo, who had been watching other tables, pulled me back. The man snapped in an even louder voice.

“I pressed the bell several times, but you’re insisting it didn’t ring. I come here often. This isn’t right, is it? I’m even friends with the owner.”

“Ah, the part-timer is new. I’ll give you a free soda, so please calm down. Is there anything else you’d like to order?”

I’ll add an order of rolled omelet, but, no, I’m not saying this to get free stuff, but your employee training is terrible.”

“I see. I’ll bring it right away. I’ll talk to him separately. Young-hyun, apologize.”

Moon Ji-woo nudged my waist. I ended up apologizing to the man, saying “I’m sorry.” As I bowed my head and raised it, Moon Ji-woo said, “Take a break for a moment. I’ll handle that table,” telling me to go rest.

The man’s grumbling pierced through the loud music and bothered me all the way to the break room.

I felt sick to my stomach and had the urge to cry if someone so much as touched me. My pride was hurt from apologizing. It really wasn’t true. Really.

“What happened?”

The kitchen hyung came over and asked. Moon Ji-woo briefly explained the situation and asked him to make some egg rolls. We were left alone. I mumbled with my head down.

“The bell really didn’t ring.”

“Yeah, it didn’t ring. I saw that too. But he’s drunk. It’s better to feed them quickly and send them away before things get worse. It’s better to just apologize and avoid drunk people than to try to win against them. All the seniors here have experienced it. Me too.”

I sighed deeply at his comforting words. Moon Ji-woo was right. It was unfair, but it was better to just avoid drunk people. Their emotions could escalate and lead to bigger incidents.

After Moon Ji-woo left, I decided to rest in the storage room for a while. I went inside and tried to catch my breath. My neck was stiff. I grabbed my neck and massaged it a little.

“Haa…”

I dropped my head while pressing hard. The commotion from outside made me feel even more uneasy. If everyone had experienced this once, and seeing how skillfully Moon Ji-woo handled it, there must be many more customers like this.

I felt pathetic for thinking I’d be good at serving and dealing with customers just because I worked a bit during the festival. A real bar was definitely different from a festival booth.

I sat down on a box nearby. Out of habit, I took out my phone from my pocket. I replied to Lim Dae-han’s message.

Me: [I came to work and had dinner.]

Me: [There seem to be just the usual number of people today, not too many lol]

Since Lim Dae-han was helping with his parents’ business, wouldn’t it be less tiring? But seeing how exhausted he was every time we talked, it didn’t seem to be an easy job. Would it be inconsiderate to go see him on a weekday?

He’d be in the upstairs apartment, but he might be asleep. If I go after work…it seemed like it would be hard to see him. He had his own daily life. I couldn’t be too pushy.

Still, I missed Lim Dae-han. A lot.

“Young-hyun, I heard you had trouble with a customer.”

The boss came into the storage room and spoke to me. My mood hadn’t improved one bit. As I lifted my head, the boss approached.

“Don’t let that bother you. Everyone’s like that when they’re drunk. Just ignore it. Think of them as dogs when they’re drunk. That will make it easier.”

“…Thank you.”

“Well, do you want to leave early today?”

“Pardon?”

“Go home early. It sucks, right? You probably don’t want to see those customers’ faces. And I asked you to come on weekends too. Go, I’ll take care of your tables. Let me see that bastard’s face.”

The boss, known for his foul mouth, spewed all sorts of vulgar curses. Even though it wasn’t even 11:00 yet, he insisted I go home.

At this point, it seems like he just wanted to send me home rather than doing it for my sake…

Anyway, I ended up packing my bag and leaving without even working four hours today. I hesitated a bit, feeling bad about leaving early when it was already getting busy.

The kitchen hyung waved his hand, telling me to go. As I looked around the store, I turned to the table where that man had been earlier, but he was already gone.

“You’re going home?”

As I was awkwardly heading out, I ran into Moon Ji-woo who had come out to take a breather. I replied “Yeah” while catching the elevator. The elevator that had just arrived on the first floor showed no signs of coming up.

The whole building was full of bars, so it would probably take quite a while. Moon Ji-woo let out a dry laugh.

“The boss always sends home part-timers who’ve faced troublesome customers early. Honestly, I think he just sends them away because it makes the atmosphere awkward. To be honest, if you just get on the boss’s good side, you could probably get paid without even coming to work.”

Moon Ji-woo joked. I laughed.

“Moon Ji-woo.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for earlier.”

Come to think of it, I was so flustered I didn’t even thank Moon Ji-woo. Moon Ji-woo repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist.

“We all help each other out. You agreed to cover my weekend shift too, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“I’m thankful too.”

Moon Ji-woo smiled, his eyes curving. Suddenly, I remembered when we first met. Back then, I thought he was quite good-looking, but at some point, I started to dislike him.

People were all dual-natured. Good sides and bad sides coexist side-by-side.

Ding…Just then, with a short sound, the elevator doors opened. Before stepping in, I said goodbye to Moon Ji-woo.

“See you on Friday.”

“Okay. Take care.”

After saying goodbye, I got on the elevator. Feeling the tension release, I grabbed the handle and leaned against it. I missed Lim Dae-han a great deal.

Even if it was just for one moment. Since I got off early today, couldn’t I see him for just a bit?

Making various excuses to myself, I searched for a taxi app. Actually, it would probably be faster to catch one outside than to call one, but it was just one of those days where everything felt bothersome. A day when I wanted to go straight to the saved home address without talking to anyone.

After calling a taxi, I comforted myself. Just for one moment. Just see his face for a moment and come back.

* * *

Throughout the taxi ride, Lim Dae-han didn’t answer his phone. Is he asleep? I asked myself this, but if he wasn’t answering the phone, there was no chance he’d reply to a message.

He usually fell asleep around midnight, but it wasn’t quite that time yet. After about a 30-minute taxi ride, I arrived at his house. I sat down in front of the gate and tried calling one more time.

-The customer is not answering the phone, please leave a message after the beep…

What should I do? It’s not time to ring the doorbell yet. While I was crouching down quietly, guarding my spot, I heard a familiar voice along with a long shadow.

“Is that Young-hyun?”

I jumped up startled. Lim Dae-han’s mother was standing in front of the house, having climbed the hill. She was wearing comfortable workout clothes, as if she had been out just now.

“Hello. Ah, I’m sorry for the late hour. Were you surprised?”

I greeted her, bowing my head deeply.

“Are you here to see Lim Dae-han?”

“Ah, yes. But he’s not answering his phone.”

“It’s not bedtime yet. Why isn’t he responding? Let’s go in together. Go up to the upper house.”

Fortunately, thanks to running into his mother, I didn’t have to ring the doorbell. I entered the gate with her.

“Where have you been?”

“Oh, Pilates. It’s down the hill. I walked there and back for a stroll, and I worked up quite a sweat.”

“Ah…”

She went exercising at this late hour? I let out a low exclamation. I felt bad for not being more sociable.

Of course, his mother didn’t know about my relationship with Lim Dae-han. Ye-jun hyung was good to my mom and dad too. I couldn’t be like that.

“If it’s okay, would you like to go up to the side? The house is quite messy, so it’s hard to welcome guests.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”

“Are you staying overnight?”

“Ah, no. I don’t think so…”

“Stay over. I’ll tell the housekeeper, so come down for breakfast in the morning. Okay?”

“Thank you. Good night.”

As his mother went into the main house, I climbed the small path with almost no incline toward the upper house where Lim Dae-han lived.

While the lower house was a modern-style home, the upper house was a serene traditional Korean house. It was where his late grandfather used to live, but now Lim Dae-han was using it.

Although it was connected to the main house by an indoor staircase, they usually communicated through the installed intercom when they needed something.

I climbed the hill that crossed between the well-maintained gardens. I tried calling Lim Dae-han on the phone again as I walked.

But Lim Dae-han still didn’t answer his phone. I thought he might be sleeping, but…

“Ah, you scared me.”

I ran into him in the backyard. Lim Dae-han was sitting on the wooden porch overlooking the entire backyard. What if he gets bitten by mosquitoes?

I wasn’t the only one surprised. Lim Dae-han just blinked silently.

“…What?”

That was all he said to his boyfriend he hadn’t seen in a while.

“…Hi.”

I answered stupidly too. Lim Dae-han got up, slipped on his slippers, and approached me.

“When did you get here?”

“Uh, just now…”

“How did you get in?”

“I met your mother outside. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“Ah, my phone?”

Lim Dae-han looked around. Then he shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent expression on his face.

“I guess I left my phone’s inside.”

Lim Dae-han and I conversed while standing far apart. The bamboo spread out in the backyard somehow felt eerie. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled noisily.

Lim Dae-han beckoned with his hand. As I approached, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me. We sat side by side on the wooden porch.

“Why did you come?”

“…I came because I missed you.”

“I can’t hear you. Speak louder.”

“I said I came because I missed you.”

When I replied in a clear and honest pronunciation, Lim Dae-han smiled brightly. Before I could ask what was so funny, he hugged me tightly.

I was laid down on my back on the wooden porch. When I turned my head to the side, my eyes met Lim Dae-han’s, who was looking at me. He was so handsome.

“Ki Young-hyun.”

“Yeah.”

“You came because you missed me?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you ditch your part-time job? Today’s your work day, isn’t it?”

“I finished early today.”

“Why?”

At our house, even after dinner, Mom and Dad would sit together and talk. Dad would share every little detail about what happened at work with Mom.

I used to wonder why he talked about every single thing like that, but now I think I understand.

I told Lim Dae-han about the troublesome customer I had today. Lim Dae-han listened quietly. With a sigh, I finished my story. Lim Dae-han caressed my cheek and spoke.

“You must have been annoyed.”

“Yeah, really.”

“Moon Ji-woo helped you well. You didn’t get along at first, right?”

“Yeah, I guess he’s not so bad after all.”

Lim Dae-han played with my hair. I glanced at him. Well, that didn’t mean I wanted to become close friends. Didn’t Moon Jiwoo badmouth Lim Dae-han to me before? It still made me angry just thinking about it.

“Still, I don’t plan to be close friends. He just seems okay to work with…”

Lim Dae-han pulled me closer. I was enveloped in his arms. Lim Dae-han rubbed his cheek against my hair. Our body heat mingled. The high humidity, hot temperature, and sweltering tropical night didn’t matter at all.

“…This is annoying.”

Lim Dae-han muttered lowly. It was such a quiet murmur that if it wasn’t late at night, or if we weren’t in the quiet backyard but in a bustling street or a room with the TV on, I wouldn’t have heard it.

“Huh?”

I lifted my head slightly to look at him. Lim Dae-han was looking at me with a somewhat displeased expression. Is it because I talked about Moon Ji-woo?

I didn’t mean to upset him. Or was it because of the troublesome customer? Whatever the reason was, I didn’t like it that Lim Dae-han was in a bad mood either.