Chapter 55
I smiled at those words and shook my head.
“It’s fine, I can just earn money from a part-time job.”
“…What kind of job are you planning to do?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Maybe serving at a restaurant or working at a cafe?”
“What? Serving at a restaurant is so tiring, why would you do that? Can’t you be an art academy teacher or something? Then I could come every day and take lessons, that would be nice.”
“That, that requires a lot of research… Anyway, it’s hard to do short-term. It takes up more time than you’d think.”
“Ah. We can’t have it taking up too much time.”
Kwon-oh quickly agreed.
He tapped his fingers on the table, thinking for a moment, then spoke again as if he had a good idea.
“Then should I look for something for you? There should be quite a few places looking for part-timers during the break.”
“No, it’s okay. These days you can submit resumes directly through apps. And it would be burdensome if it’s someone you know.”
“What’s there to be burdened about?”
“I’d feel bad if I didn’t do well. Since you introduced me.”
“You think they’d say something to you? Then tell me. I’ll go and scold them.”
Kwon-oh frowned fiercely. He looked ready to get into a physical fight over something that hadn’t even happened yet.
Because of this, I was even more determined not to get a job through Kwon-oh’s connections.
“…I’ll try to find one on my own for now.”
“If you can’t find one, tell me.”
“Okay. Are you not doing any part-time jobs or academies during the break?”
“I have no plans at all. Ah. I might help out at my dad’s factory sometimes if they’re busy.”
“Your father’s factory… that’s in Yongin, right?”
“I might do it, I might not.”
“You should help if they need it.”
“Ugh, no. That’s total manual labor.”
Kwon-oh shook his head, shuddering as if the mere thought was terrible. Just then, I noticed a flower petal stuck to his fluffy hair. It must have gotten stuck when he was running earlier.
I carefully reached out to remove the petal.
“Keep touching me.”
Kwon-oh whispered. He looked just like a puppy. No, more like a large breed dog than a puppy.
“We’re in a cafe.”
“Then let’s go home.”
I nodded, unnecessarily conscious of our surroundings as I rolled my eyes around.
*
From the day exams ended, I frantically searched through online job postings.
Contrary to my worries, there were so many places looking for part-timers that I had to spend more time deciding which one to choose.
First, I submitted an application and went for an interview at an accessory shop on the main street of Yeonhui-dong. It wasn’t close to my apartment, but it best matched the conditions I wanted.
First of all, the hourly wage was higher than the minimum wage. Although the difference was very small, getting even a little more money was important.
And the working days were Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, four days a week. I also liked that I only had to work six hours a day, from 3 PM to 9 PM closing time.
If I had to work from early morning, it would feel no different from during the semester, so I wanted to work in the afternoon if possible.
Anyway, since it didn’t require great strength or skill, was looking for short-term workers, and had suitable working days and hours that matched my situation well, I tried to appeal as much as possible that I really wanted to work there.
When they told me to come to the store, I brought my resume. The owner said he had never seen anyone bring a resume to a part-time job interview and decided to hire me on the spot.
As befitting an accessory shop owner, he had many piercings and quite flashy fashion. He highly valued the fact that I was an art student. As someone who prefers a plain and modest style, completely opposite to the owner, I was a bit worried, but it was fortunate that I got hired in the end.
“What, you found a part-time job? Already?”
Kwon-oh expressed his displeasure, surprised that I had found a job in just one day.
He tried to persuade me again, seemingly genuinely wanting to find me a job through his acquaintances.
“How about an office assistant job instead? You could just do some photocopying in an air-conditioned indoor space and even eat lunch at the company cafeteria. A senior from our department said the company he works at is looking for short-term workers. The work is simple too. They only require basic Excel skills.”
But those conditions didn’t appeal to me. First of all, I didn’t like the 9 AM to 6 PM work hours, and working five days a week was burdensome.
If I worked full-time like that, I wouldn’t have time to hang out with Kwon-oh, so what’s the use of a good work environment?
I firmly refused and started the part-time job the next day. Kwon-oh insisted on coming along to the workplace, saying he was too anxious to let me go alone.
“Am I a child? It’s not a dangerous place, just selling accessories.”
“Ryu Jeong-ha, you are a child. Didn’t you know?”
“What are you going to say to the owner?”
“What would I say to that guy? I’ll stay outside.”
“Ou-outside where?”
“I searched on Naver and there’s a cafe right in front of the store. I’ll watch from the second-floor terrace seat there.”
“…”
I don’t know what to say. Why is he going to such lengths over a part-time job?
Although I was exasperated, I didn’t stop Kwon-oh any further because, contrary to my outward nonchalance, I was actually quite nervous inside.
Okay. Having Kwon-oh nearby for one day might not be so bad.
And so, my first part-time job in life began with the start of the break.
On the first day, I learned how to clean the store, organize displayed products, and pack items for shipping. My main task was to check orders from the online smart store, pack them accordingly, and attach shipping labels.
However, remembering that I majored in art, the owner added another task, suggesting that I try displaying the store’s accessories.
I didn’t mind. The owner said he would pay me weekly after hearing about my situation of being cut off from allowance and in need of money.
Anyway, the first day of the part-time job ended without any issues, making my nervousness seem unnecessary.
So, around 9 PM…
“I don’t like it.”
Kwon-oh brought me to some franchise cafe in a corner of Yeonhui-dong, far from the accessory shop, as if carrying out a secret operation, and offered this opinion.
“The store, or the owner?”
“Both.”
On the first day of my part-time job, he said he had watched me work all day through the glass window from the cafe across the street. Of course, he observed the owner’s appearance and demeanor as well.
“What don’t you like about it?”
“That bastard owner’s face looks nasty.”
“…Really? I didn’t notice.”
“His eyes give me a bad feeling. Didn’t you feel it, Jeong-ha?”
Kwon-oh asked seriously.
The owner was a distinctive man in his early thirties. The skinny man liked skull t-shirts, jingling necklaces, chokers, and dangling piercings. His taste was unique, but I didn’t find it particularly strange.
“His style is a bit unusual… but he’s an accessory shop owner, so it could be like that.”
“If it were me, I’d go somewhere else.”
“Where else?”
“An office assistant job with strong air conditioning, right next to a photocopier and desk…”
“You were trying to say that from the beginning, weren’t you?”
When I glared at Kwon-oh with displeasure, he raised both hands as if wronged.
“I’ve done a lot of part-time jobs in middle and high school, so I can tell just by looking at guys like that. He’s bound to be gloomy and have a nasty personality.”
Kwon-oh said while menacingly crunching the remaining ice in his cup. The current appearance of Kwon-oh saying this didn’t look particularly wholesome either.
“An art academy or tutoring would be better.”
“It would take too long to find something else now… Anyway, I’m not in a position to do that.”
Kwon-oh doesn’t understand how intense entrance exam academies are. Once you get sucked in there, you might be trapped giving feedback to students all throughout the break.
Today, I felt resentful towards Kwon-oh for not understanding my feelings.
“Is it because of living expenses? You could just stay at my place during the break. You won’t have to pay for living expenses, and I’ll buy you anything you need.”
“I don’t want to impose that much.”
“I’m worried about you, Jeong-ha. Is it because your pride is hurt when I say I’ll buy everything for you?”
“Honestly, it’s burdensome.”
“You don’t need to feel that way.”
“I… like it here. Working four days a week for six hours means I can hang out with you in the remaining time. Of course, you’ll be busy too… but still, um.”
“…”
“I don’t want to work too long because it reduces the time I can see you. So what if the owner’s gaze is a bit strange? The most important thing for me is securing time to hang out with you, Kwon-oh, during the break…”
I tried to persuade Kwon-oh, filling my voice with disappointment. Kwon-oh, who had been stirring his empty cup with a straw, suddenly stopped moving.
His black eyes staring directly at me were intense, contrasting with his slightly reddened face.
“Haa, what should I do with Ryu Jeong-ha.”
After a moment, Kwon-oh muttered while rubbing his reddish nape. His reaction made me feel even more embarrassed for saying such cringeworthy things.
Unable to find a place to look, I lowered my gaze, but I was certain that our difference of opinion had been resolved here.
“If you really insist… Well.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Anyway. If that bastard owner says anything weird or mistreats you, tell me right away. Got it?”
“I got it.”
