Chapter 110: Room Service
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: Room Service
Work at the Countryside Dining Table was going smoothly.
Everything was proceeding perfectly, like a sailing ship gliding across the water with the wind at its back.
Working hard among the clueless college students even earned me some praise from the seniors.
Even the blunt Part-time Manager—the "lady of the house," so to speak—gave me a small smile, saying I handled a customer complaint well yesterday.
"You're... doing a good job."
Jegal Jae-min, who worked alongside me, used to feel a sense of rivalry, but he seemed to have given up now, merely muttering that I was impressive.
"You're doing well."
With the Part-time Manager's praise, I thought today would pass just as uneventfully as any other.
'What the hell is this situation?'
In an instant, I was whisked away from the hanok and the pond, dragged into the hotel basement to work in Room Service.
Since I was thrown straight into it, I had to learn on the fly. However, it was much easier than working at the Countryside Dining Table, so I adapted surprisingly quickly.
"This is simple."
I even started thinking that coming here was a stroke of luck.
When the food came out, Yoo Ah-rin and the other girls would set up the carts. Then, all I had to do was take the cart and deliver it to the guest's room. That was it.
Lunch rush ended, and it was finally time for our own meal.
While eating in the staff cafeteria, I finally had a chance to talk with Yoo Ah-rin and the others.
"So... I'm basically a fill-in for some guy who ran away?"
At my words, Han Bom from the Design Department nodded vigorously. Since we had hung out at the PC Bang and grabbed drinks at a chicken place before, we were on fairly comfortable terms.
"Exactly. The Department Head increased the T/O for girls so much that there weren't any guys left to go up to the rooms."
"Hmph."
This girl has great pronunciation even while eating.
I leaned back slightly, fearing a stray grain of rice might fly my way, and continued listening.
"He must have struggled trying to do everything alone. We wanted to help and suggested we just go up to the rooms, but they said company regulations wouldn't allow it."
"Hmph, Yoo Ah-rin would've been fine."
Ah-rin was stronger than most men, after all. Honestly, it would probably be safer for her to go up than me.
But despite my teasing, Yoo Ah-rin didn't respond at all, focusing intently on her food.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Lee Seo-ah from the Film Major, sensing something was off, quickly changed the subject.
"How was the Countryside Dining Table? The part-timers have officially labeled it one of the 3 Great Forbidden Words."
"3 Great Forbidden Words?"
"Yeah. One of the three hardest places to work at Gold One."
"It wasn't that bad."
What do they mean, "Forbidden Words"?
"There was a lot to memorize, but once you got that down, it wasn't particularly difficult."
"They said they brought you over because you're a good worker, and I guess it was true."
"At least the Department Head finally acted like a Department Head this time."
"Ugh."
Hearing their conversation, I couldn't help but let out an awkward groan.
I remembered how Department Head Lee Chan-song had basically acted like a thug to snatch me away from the Countryside Dining Table.
The image of the Part-time Manager watching me leave with sorrowful eyes was still vivid in my mind.
"I'm going first."
I thought she was eating fast, but Yoo Ah-rin suddenly stood up, having finished her meal. She walked away coldly without a backward glance.
"...Did you and Ah-rin get into a fight?"
At Lee Seo-ah's question, I just shrugged. Was there even anything for us to fall out over?
Lately, I'd been managing the Bamboo Forest alone. Not that many posts were going up anyway, since it was winter break.
"She's been sensitive ever since he got here."
"Right? She seems like she's in a bad mood."
Listening to the two of them worry about her, I watched her retreating back, but there was nothing I could do.
Eventually, it was time to clock out.
The shift ended earlier than at the Countryside Dining Table, and since there was almost nothing to do after lunch, I spent most of the time folding napkins.
'Room Service is a total jackpot.'
I had been practically dragged here, but the work was definitely easier.
Of course, the atmosphere was much worse.
The constant bickering between the Department Head and the Section Chief ruined the mood, so the part-timers and even the regular staff avoided them like the plague.
From eavesdropping on the seniors, I learned that Department Head Lee Chan-song had caused some kind of trouble and wasn't being treated with the respect his rank usually commanded, which was why the Section Chief felt bold enough to pick fights with him.
'What a mess.'
Clicking my tongue, I finished preparing to leave and spotted Yoo Ah-rin waddling along in her long padded coat.
It looked like she was heading to the bus stop outside.
"Let's go together."
I ran up to join her, but she just glanced at me and kept walking as if she couldn't care less.
"Where are Bom and Seo-ah?"
I asked, wondering why she was heading back to the dorms alone, and she whipped her head around to glare at me.
"Why are you calling them by their names so familiarly?"
Huh?
"...Because we're friends?"
When I asked why she was even questioning something so obvious, her lips quivered.
"They said they're waiting for Ye-rin to finish work, so I'm just going."
And with that, she walked off.
"Hey, what is it? Why are you acting like this?"
"..."
"What's the problem?"
"..."
"Is someone bullying you? Or did the seniors say something weird?"
"..."
"Sigh, this is frustrating."
She wasn't usually this stifling. It felt like she was going through some change of heart and was intentionally trying to keep her distance.
'I don't get it.'
Seeing her deliberately avoid me on the bus to sit elsewhere, I wondered what I should do.
I needed advice. And I knew just the place.
Maybe it was because it was a "healthy" post for once, or maybe it was because I was the Administrator.
The replies came surprisingly fast.
The replies ranged from calling me spoiled to complaining that I was using them too easily, but there were quite a few actual answers.
"Oops."
Yoo Ah-rin caught me.
Even though it didn't really matter, I lowered my phone and pretended I hadn't been looking at it.
I followed her as she marched away after getting off the bus.
"Isn't this photo cute?"
I didn't have any cat photos, so I showed her an ahegao photo Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho took as a penalty while drinking.
"Fuck, my eyes..."
Yoo Ah-rin looked at me with genuine annoyance and disgust.
Hmm, that failed.
Anonymous 11 is banned for a day.
Moving on.
"Want this?"
I didn't have any food on me, so I offered her a peppermint candy I'd swiped from the staff cafeteria.
"..."
She immediately pulled out a chocolate bar and crunched down on it.
"...Give me a bite."
It looked so good my mouth watered, but she just flipped me the bird.
Anonymous 52 is also banned.
"Once upon a time..."
"It's boring as hell, so don't even start."
Jokes weren't working either.
I considered slapstick, but my pride wouldn't allow it.
Anonymous 147, banned.
"Do you want to have se—"
"Gah! You piece of shit!"
I tried following Seo Ye-rin's advice, but all I got was a right hook to the ribs.
I had anticipated it and curled up, so I managed to block it, but it still hurt like hell.
However, it did make Yoo Ah-rin finally look at me.
Even if she was huffing with rage.
Anonymous 69 and 90 are both banned.
"Do you... watch anime?"
"No."
I figured.
"Then how about a scary story..."
"I hate those the most."
That's unexpected.
The advice from the Bamboo Forest was running out. These bastards are never helpful when it actually matters.
Useless ghosts of the internet.
But I still love you guys, you sons of bitches.
"Then the next one is..."
I checked the Bamboo Forest again to see what was left.
"Hmm."
I stroked my chin and glanced at Yoo Ah-rin. She seemed to realize what I was thinking.
"Don't you dare."
She took a step back, looking genuinely uneasy.
"I wonder if... nylon rope would work."
"I said don't!"
"First, let's go to the convenience store and see if they have any rope..."
"D-Don't do it, you pervert!"
Watching Yoo Ah-rin sprint away after screaming that, I let out a hollow laugh.
Seeing her like that made me feel like things were back to normal.
"Hey, Yoo Ah-rin!"
When I called out to her, she glanced back, her face flushed.
I pulled a Chocomong I'd bought for her at lunch out of my bag and tossed it.
She caught it cleanly and stared down at it blankly.
"Drink it."
"I'm not drinking it."
"Then give it to someone else."
"Take it back!"
She tried to throw it back at me, but this time, I was the one who turned and ran away.
* * *
Thud.
Yoo Ah-rin put the Chocomong in the small dorm fridge and went to wash up, her mind a whirlwind of complicated emotions.
-
Checking the Bamboo Forest after her shower, she saw Kim Woo-jin messing around. Yoo Ah-rin realized the corners of her mouth were twitching upward as she stared at the post, so she threw her phone onto her folded blanket.
Rattle.
"Ugh, I'm so tired."
"Good work today."
Min Ju-hee had just finished work and walked in. Since they had been close since the film project, being around her wasn't difficult.
"Oh? Whose Chocomong is this?"
Min Ju-hee, apparently thirsty, checked the fridge first. Yoo Ah-rin flinched for a second but replied as if it were nothing.
"Go ahead and have it. Someone gave it to me, but I don't really want to drink it."
"Really? I'll have it later then."
Watching Ju-hee Senior drink water instead of the Chocomong, Yoo Ah-rin found herself feeling strangely relieved.
'No, don't think about it.'
She told herself not to worry about such things anymore and settled in to wash away the day's fatigue.
* * *
The next day.
"So, first, you knock on the door."
Since there were no orders, Kim Woo-jin was chatting with Han Bom and Lee Seo-ah.
Yoo Ah-rin watched the three of them from a distance.
Kim Woo-jin was telling stories for the two girls who were in Room Service but couldn't actually go up to the rooms.
"Room Service. When you say that, the guest will come out, right?"
"Right."
"Wow, that sounds kind of exciting."
Then, Kim Woo-jin suddenly stopped talking, took a step back, and said:
"The guest comes out. Then, first, you bust out a dance to show how happy you are to see them."
He suddenly started doing a bizarre dance, stepping side to side.
"Like this, see? 'I'm this happy to see you, guest!' Like this, swish-swish."
'Crazy bastard.'
Yoo Ah-rin watched with her arms crossed, thinking it was absurd.
"Pffft! Kim Woo-jin, you're hilarious!"
"Hahaha! Why would you suddenly dance for a guest!"
She didn't remember her two friends having such a low bar for humor, yet there they were, laughing their heads off.
Watching Kim Woo-jin continue his ridiculous steps and the two girls doubling over in laughter...
Grit.
For some reason, Yoo Ah-rin felt her mood souring even further.