55. Poor Convenience Store Part-Timer Shin Sa-rang (20, Virgin)

Shin Sa-rang, the poor 20-year-old virgin working part-time at the convenience store, panicked when the customer immediately started acting like a total asshole.

But she quickly pulled herself together. Clutching the tossed 10,000-won bill politely with both hands, she hesitantly dealt with the customer.

"Uh... cigarettes, right? What kind are you looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for?"

"You know, that one."

"That one...? You mean...?"

"That one, gimme that one. You empty-headed dumb bitch."

"I'm sorry, but if you could tell me the exact name—"

"God, you're so fucking frustrating, you thick-skulled idiot. That one!"

"Is this what you mean?"

I couldn't stand it anymore and butted in. The customer—this asshole—stood in front of Shin Sa-rang but leaned over to hand it to her. I grabbed any old pack of smokes and held it out.

The asshole glared at me resentfully for interrupting.

"You thick-skulled too? Why the hell would I smoke Dunhill?"

"Then is this it?"

"Not Marlboro either, you moron! Hey, you go get it!"

"So what the hell is 'it'...?"

The bitch was obsessively fixated on the suspicious newbie Sa-rang.

"Hey, you got no brain in that head?"

"......"

"What're you doing? Customer's calling, why no answer? Fuck, that's why you're stuck working convenience store, you dumb bitch."

She bullied Sa-rang into submission with ridiculous personal attacks. It was weirdly fixated only on her.

Before the asshole's tantrum could drag on, I took special measures.

"Ma'am."

"You, butt out!"

"Your hands are so beautiful."

I tossed out a random formal compliment, and the bitch looked at me.

"...What the fuck outta nowhere?"

"Your fingers are so elegant. You must get a lot of care done on them?"

"......Yeah, I do. So what."

"I see. Then, could you point to what you want with those lovely fingers?"

"......"

Hearing that, the asshole just stood there. Maybe she didn't expect my calm approach, or didn't want to escalate, but she slowly raised her hand like a kid and pointed to the cigarettes she wanted.

It was Marlboro. I handed one over right away, and she muttered, "Two," before snatching two packs.

"Tch!"

Not getting her way fully, she clicked her tongue and stormed out through the automatic door. She stomped all the way, being an asshole to the end.

That got rid of the bitch, but Sa-rang's expression wasn't great. She'd been blatantly targeted and turned into the bitch's punching bag.

Looks like that crazy sex worker wanted to vent on a young woman. No idea what happened to her today, but she deliberately avoided me and went after the young Sa-rang.

"Jeez, stepping in shit right from the start."

"......"

"Don't let it get to you. Assholes like that are everywhere. They're just bitching to feel better—ignore 'em."

"Y-yeah......"

She looked totally down. I wanted to kick the bitch out from the get-go, but since Sa-rang was scared, I handled it gently. Plus, this was a temp gig at a store run by an acquaintance boss—I didn't want even a tiny controversy.

Once Sa-rang had time to shake it off, she perked up a bit.

"Um... can I call you oppa?"

"Uh... y-yeah, sure, whatever's comfy."

"Then Seon-woo oppa it is.... Seon-woo oppa, what do you think when you see people like that?"

"Uh, wha?"

Such a random question out of nowhere. Like philosophy class or something—baffling—but I had to cheer up the sulky Sa-rang, so I answered.

"Just, like, even bitches like that are living their lives. Gets me pissed when they pull that shit."

"......Really?"

She sighed deeply at my answer, deflating even more.

"I get mad too. But at the same time... I'm jealous."

"Jealous? ...Of an asshole like that?"

"Not her personality—what she's doing for work."

"Work? That woman earlier was clearly......"

"Yeah, probably working in some shady spot."

I beat around the bush on purpose, but Sa-rang knew exactly. She said it knowing full well.

What? Like she'd follow anyone with candy, but wants to sell her body?

The conversation stalled for a moment. As I racked my brain, unsure what to do, Sa-rang caught my troubled look late.

She clarified her easily-misunderstood opinion in detail.

"N-no, of course I'm not envious of that shameful stuff...! ......It's the money."

"Money?"

"Yeah. I don't know details, but I've heard those jobs make bank super fast."

"...Yeah, internet says that."

"Exactly, that's why I'm so mad.... I struggled so hard just to get this part-time gig, and those people do illegal shit and strut around loaded...!"

She clenched her tiny fists, really pissed.

"Is it... college tuition?"

"......Yeah."

Just thinking about it seemed heavy; she let out a deep sigh.

"Scholarship policy changed—no back-to-back awards.... Even without that, living costs are tight, so I gotta keep any job I snag...."

"I-I see......"

"Thought getting into college and scholarships would solve everything... but it's so damn hard......"

Her shoulders slumped. Already petite, it made her look even more fragile. Even watching from the side, my heart ached.

Seems like a complicated backstory. How much pent-up frustration to spill it all to a total stranger like me?

"Ah...... Seon-woo oppa, sorry. First time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meeting and I dumped heavy stuff on you."

"Nah, glad you opened up. You look stressed—wanna rest in the break room?"

"No way. Haven't learned all the work yet, can't slack......"

Hardworking, pure diligence. That's why I wanted to cheer her on even more.

Wasn't like I'd done anything wrong, but my chest stung anyway.

Right then, my phone rang.

Ding~♪

But this tone was that one. The mission alert sound, rarer these days.

What the hell at this timing? I pulled it from my pocket and checked—and I couldn't believe my eyes.

Even reading it twice, three times, it was over the top.

'Ha... God of Delinquency, this timing for this...!?'

First time seeing her today. And it's demanding something too insane to even say out loud.

Even back when I was blindly blackmailing, this is... too much.

No malice, but blurt it out with my loose lips and I'd get slapped or reported—no rice for that.

"Oppa, something wrong?"

"Uh, wha?!"

"Your face looks bad... you okay...?"

"......Nothing."

Yeah, this ain't it. I'll just let it pass.

......Ugh.

But the agony soon bubbled up. Weighing the benefits past missions gave, maybe this was a new trial.

Saying this to a stranger is crazy, sure, but depending on the view, it could help her too.

Feels like using her, but the choice is Sa-rang's.

'Just say it. Mission's here, so up to that point...'

Before speaking, I filled my lungs with air.

"Um...... Sa-rang-ah?"

"Yes, oppa."

"What I'm about to say, feel free to dismiss as bullshit—no need to take it seriously. Punch me after if you want, just hear me out a bit......"

I warned her seriously, desperately. Bewildered face, but she nodded slightly.

"Where to start... so, anyway......"

I squeezed out the words like wringing my vocal cords dry.

Sa-rang was shocked listening but heard me to the end.

***

Shin Sa-rang, fresh-faced 20-year-old girl. Already facing finals in her second college semester, but she still had that newbie innocence.

Plain outfit, barely any makeup—just lotion. Skirt? Two in the closet by season. Mostly durable jeans.

Not that Sa-rang didn't know how to doll up. Just no money in the bank.

Single-parent family, grew up tough—frugality ingrained since kid days. Hot summer? Hit the library with blasting AC. Cold winter? Heat-tech undies, not heaters.

20 years under poverty's curse, no escape. Honestly, no hope it'll end someday.

Never complained at home. Worried more for mom slaving for her sake.

College? Swore no allowance needed, handle it— to lighten mom's load even a bit.

But it's exhausting. Last gig ended in harassment; snagged new one at nice-boss store.

High GPA non-negotiable—studied through nights. Thought high school hell? Campus life melts bones daily.

So lately, jealousy surged. At women selling bodies, even.

Momentarily thought, eyes closed, try it a month or two? But that's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠betraying mom.

Betraying the mom who raised her through lifelong toil.

Still, money desperate. Contemplating hated student loans to survive hell—then a total-stranger part-timer oppa drops insane proposal.

"......That's the gist. Get it?"

"...Yeah."

"Good. Gonna slap this creepy ass for harassment?"

"N-no! ...I'll, think about it."

"Uh, y-yeah. Think hard. If it's no, just say crazy guy's talking shit. Haha.... Oh, here's my number just in case. Really, if it's gross, skip it—mull it over and drop a line on Kakao."

So I got Seon-woo oppa's contact.

Proposal simple: Sell my virginity publicly once.

Bottom line, no different from whoring. Maybe worse, same betrayal of mom.

But just once, nothing after—tempting. And this oppa feels trustworthy.

First sight today, but his sweaty desperation hoping I'd refuse? Builds trust.

Sees I might stray bad, wants to help after hearing my story.

Finished shift, café for homework, late home.

"I'm back...."

No reply—peeked master room. Mom passed out on bed, suit half-off.

Turned over—dark circles from exhaustion again.

"Told you take it easy......"

Seeing always-striving mom sparks thoughts. 5 minutes stroking her face, deep in thought.

Finally, messaged the stranger from today.

***

"Heeek♥ My head's gone weird!!! Melting away like this♥"

"Fuck, you filthy slut!"

"Stoppp♥ I'm sorry! Sorrysorrysorry♥"

I fucked her like a ragdoll. Vented stress doggy-style, draped her over the sofa, pounding like mad.

Female Corruption Lv.4 after ages—potent as ever.

Done, yanked her limp hair like seaweed, warning.

"So cocky, but couldn't last half. Hey, pull that shit again, I'll make you a vegetable."

"Hngh... hweeeek...♥"

Foaming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the mouth. The daytime sex worker bitch.

Tracked via Watch Dogs app. Sweet-talked a bit, then hit her filthy house and railed her.

Test new app, payback for daytime bullshit, revenge for Sa-rang.

Confirmed performance, dressed.

Dark house reeked of booze bottles, snack trash. Moldy whiff, tiptoeing scared of roaches, grabbing clothes.

'Wonder what she'll do?'

Steered her to refuse daytime, but Sa-rang nags my mind.

Virgin on broadcast? First time? Insane.

Kakao!

Daydreaming—phone buzzes in jeans pocket. Sa-rang hunch.

Hold breath, check messenger. Sigh.

"Haaa... so it ends like this......"