The Ultimate Freebie Girl
The Ultimate Freebie Girl. ……………
After we both polished off our bowls of gukbap, Yeom Hana stood up first. She yanked a toothpick from the container on the table, clamped it between her front teeth, and chomped down.
"Aah—that hit the spot! Thanks, ajusshi!"
Then, picking her teeth with it, she waved once at the restaurant owner and headed out.
She's more ajusshi than I am—who's calling who ajusshi?
A girl picking her teeth like that in a restaurant? First time I'd ever seen it. Thinks she's Chow Yun-fat or something. No way that kid's a twenty-year-old girl. Maybe she's possessed like me. Could be some middle-aged ajusshi's soul hijacked her body.
I headed to the counter and pulled out my card.
"Forty-eight thousand won."
"Ugh... got it."
Pricey, as expected. But my gut was stuffed, tasted great. And above all, it had been a damn fun ride, so my mood wasn't soured. That's how I'd spin it.
Swiped the card, paid up, and stepped outside.
Yeom Hana was waiting out front, guitar slung on her back. Toothpick still dangling from her lips.
"Oh, there you are! Damn good grub, ajusshi."
What, she waited?
Honestly, I'd figured she'd scarf the free meal and ghost.
"Yeah."
Greetings exchanged—time to split. I turned toward where I'd parked the bike.
"Hey, hold up a sec!"
Yeom Hana called after me.
"What?"
"For you, ajusshi... check this out!"
She grinned wide and shuffled over, fist clenched from her left pocket. Then thrust her hand out—and unfurled her palm.
It was crammed full of mint candies.
"These..."
Mint candies. Easy ten of 'em. Probably snatched from that basket by the register, the one for customers to grab.
"What the hell..."
A sigh escaped me. Free or not, pocketing a whole fistful? Total no-go. Only a cheapskate ajusshi pulls that.
"Hehe, such a tightwad. Here, take one!"
Yeom Hana snatched one up and shoved it straight at my mouth.
"Whoa!?"
I reflexively opened up, and in it went. Sweetness bloomed with that cool mint rush, rolling over my tongue.
Great, can't spit it out now.
Wanted to chew her out, but making a scene over candy? Lame. No choice—I rolled it around my mouth.
"Tasty, huh? Catch ya later!"
Yeom Hana waved goodbye.
I nodded and turned to go.
"Ajusshi!"
She spun back around.
"What."
Grinning like an idiot, she whipped out her phone.
"Forgot—gimme your number, ajusshi."
...Tough customer.
Should've seen it coming. She'd probably angle for more free chow.
"Nah. Free meal's a one-time deal."
I shut it down hard.
Yeom Hana pouted big.
"Man, you're so stingy! Not planning to mooch forever. Swear!"
She flailed her hands no.
"Just wanna hit you up sometimes. Number only!"
"Why bother with a geezer like me."
"'Cause you're fun, ajusshi."
Fun. No clue what went on in that head, but rejection was best.
"Nope."
"C'mon! Pleeease!"
Yeom Hana latched onto my arm and shook it like mad.
"Just give it! Ain't costing you skin off your ass!"
"..."
Tried shaking her off, but damn, she was strong. Eyes from passersby everywhere. Forty-something dude getting ragdolled by a twenty-year-old chick. Prime misunderstanding fuel—the nasty kind.
"Fine, fine. I'll give—just let go."
"Sweet!"
Yeom Hana whipped out her phone. I did the same. We swapped numbers.
"Perfect. Saved! Got ajusshi's digits now!"
She beamed, satisfied.
"Later, ajusshi!"
One wave, then she trotted off—guitar bouncing, full of pep.
"...Phew."
I let out a long breath. What a exhausting kid. Still, not bad. Solid meal, surprisingly enjoyable.
"Time to head back."
Glanced at my watch: already half past noon. Slacked enough—office called.
……………
Back at the office. Plopped down to kick off afternoon duties. Fire off a few paperwork emails, then hit training.
"Sunbae-nim!"
Lee Jin-ah bee-lined for my desk.
"Yeah?"
"Tomorrow's lunch date—you remember, right?"
"Obviously."
Friday lunch. With Lee Jin-ah. My treat.
"Phew, good! Was worried you'd space."
Her face lit up—then dimmed just a touch.
Hm...?
Sudden shift. Hesitant vibe. Curious as hell, but prying felt off. Forty-year-old grilling a twenty-something on personal shit?
Original Han Kang would've stonewalled.
But things are different now, right?
First one-on-one meal with her. We'd gotten a smidge closer? Should be fine to prod.
"Something on your mind?"
Straight-up asked.
"Huh, how'd you know?"
Lee Jin-ah blinked, startled.
"All over your face."
"Ah, haha..."
She scratched her cheek.
"Well... was gonna bring it up later. One more favor?"
"Shoot."
"I signed up for a gym recently."
"Oh yeah?"
Stamina building. Not a field agent, so optional—but smart for health. Urban modern life demands it.
"Yep. But solo? Total lost. No clue where to start."
"Makes sense. Newbies should PT up—"
"You know fitness best, sunbae-nim."
Lee Jin-ah gazed up at me.
"So, tomorrow afternoon—teach me? I'll cover your day pass!"
"Afternoon? Post-lunch?"
Weekday daytime duo lunch-to-gym. Kinda sus schedule.
"You're the pro in my book."
Eyes sparkled.
"Daily trainer, killer bod. Learning from you's a sure bet."
True enough.
Serum aside, Han Kang—I was an exercise beast. Wrestling, kickboxing basics to weights, tire drags, extreme endurance. Eighteen years straight, hangovers or bad days be damned.
Getting props from someone? Felt damn good. Lil smug rush. This what bosses get from sucking up.
One hitch, though.
"Tomorrow's Friday, though."
"Yes?"
"Weekday."
"Yep, weekday."
Lee Jin-ah nodded chill.
"...Gym on a weekday afternoon? That's work hours."
Duh question.
"Half-day off together?"
"Half-day?"
"Afternoon half-day. Lunch, then straight gym."
"Hm..."
Threw me. Half-days easy—policy pushes using leave. But same-day request? Sketchy.
"I'll square it with team lead. Pretty please!"
"You might swing it, but..."
"Just once? Yeah?"
Lee Jin-ah clasped hands, laced voice with aegyo.
Ugh.
Junior begging like that? Tough no. She'd hooked me up plenty: coffee runs, painkillers, even winked at my lunch ditch today.
Payback time.
Right.
"Deal. Handle my half-day too."
"Thank you, sunbae-nim! Can't wait for tomorrow!"
She clasped hands tight.
……………
Friday lunch. Lee Jin-ah's spot wasn't far from the office. Southeast Asian fare—way better than expected, decent price too.
Wallet-friendly pick?
If intentional, thoughtful as hell. Unlike a certain flame-haired firecracker.
She kept the smiles and chatter flowing: coworker dirt, recent flick, hot dramas.
I nodded along, tossed fitting yeahs.
Then—
"Sunbae-nim... you ever gonna, y'know, get married?"
Outta nowhere.
"Hm?"
Set down knife and fork.
"You know. Divorced a decade back. Single dad with baggage—who'd."
"Right, yeah..."
Lee Jin-ah's face softened weirdly. Relieved?
No idea why.
"Still, ever thought remarriage?"
She probed gentle.
"Remarriage?"
"Yeah. Better than solo life, no?"
Deeply personal. Teetering on too far.
She's twenty-seven... eight?
Korea graying up, but twenties-to-thirties gap hits hard. Late twenties? Marriage brain kicks in heavy. Couple more years, worse.
Zero relevance to me.
"Dunno. Good peer intro comes? Maybe."
Didn't land well. Lee Jin-ah clacked her fork down.
"Gotta be peers?"
"Hm?"
"Natural sparks work fine. Age gap or nah."
Ja-man-chu...
True, but why the sermon?
"Sure. Could happen."
Casual nod. Remarriage? Barely crossed mind. No dates even.
But—Lee Jin-ah lit up huge.
"Right!? Knew you got it!"
Ecstatic. Baffling. Whatever—happy's happy.
"Done eating? Gym?"
Paid up, out the door. Gym ten-minute walk, she said.
Afternoon stuck with her.
Weird vibe.