Part-time Job (1)
Part-time Job (1)
Time flew by like an arrow.
And then today. Friday with no classes.
I'm on my way somewhere right now.
The destination is a moving center worksite. Today's workplace.
My first part-time job in this world, decided after careful deliberation.
If you ask, 'Out of all the easy, comfortable part-time jobs out there, why did you pick this one?'—I've got a lot to say, but also nothing at all.
In this world, service jobs a man can do are everywhere. Cafes, serving tables, information desks... men are welcomed everywhere, and you can even make money far more easily than with manual labor.
There are also faster ways to earn bigger money.
The so-called 'male sex worker' gig.
Sell your body, or sell smiles at entertainment establishments—and you can pocket a lump sum in no time.
But honestly, my pride won't allow that. It's not like I'm starving to death because I'm desperate for money right now.
What bothers me most, above all, is the aftermath.
The last thing I ever want to see is some fatherless child of mine being created somewhere.
'The aversion to selling my body is strong too... but the thought of a bloodline of mine I'll never even meet being born is even scarier.'
Sperm donation is the same. Honestly, it felt really off-putting.
Even if I conceded a hundred times and donated, I'd hope it just gets buried in some corner of the center's freezer, never claimed by anyone, and disposed of after its expiration date.
Anyway, why did I pick a moving center out of all those part-time jobs?
It's just that I wanted to start with something familiar.
Back in my original world, I've done some manual labor—concrete work, loading and unloading until I was sick of it. So I'm fairly confident in physical work.
I've got the knack and the strength, so wherever I went, I was treated like an ace and loved for it.
Of course, that 'love' came in the horrible form of 'pile on more work for him.'
For now, I'll start my first part-time job with something familiar. Later, I'm thinking of trying a part-time job I've never done before, like at a PC bang or a convenience store.
As I sorted out my thoughts, I arrived at the meeting spot before I knew it.
Time: 7:50 AM.
A 5-ton truck was already parked at the entrance of the complex. People wearing work vests were gathered in small groups, sipping mix coffee from paper cups and blowing cigarette smoke.
I approached what looked like the work foreman—a short-haired, fairly sturdy-looking ajumma.
"Hello."
"Oh, you're here? You're early."
The foreman turned her head with the paper cup still in her mouth. Then she paused when she saw me.
"......?"
"You told me to come by 8 o'clock today."
"Huh? ...Who are you?"
The foreman's brow furrowed.
"Uh... I applied for the part-time job, so I came."
"Part-time? Wait... I think you came to the wrong place... um..."
The foreman looked me up and down, looking flustered.
"Isn't this the moving center part-time job?"
"It is, but... student, you're a man, aren't you?"
"That's right."
"Huh..."
The foreman's mouth opened and shut as if she was at a loss for words.
"Did you not get contacted?"
"No, I did, but... I didn't hear that a man was coming."
She clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"There are heavy loads like refrigerators and wardrobes everywhere here. Are you sure you'll be okay? This is too rough a job for a man."
"I've done this kind of work often before. And I'm pretty strong."
At my calm reply, the foreman squinted suspiciously.
"Uh... hmm... you've got a decent build, but... I've hardly ever seen a young man doing hard labor in my life."
The foreman still seemed doubtful.
"Just let me try. If I can't handle it, you can send me away then."
"Haah... fine. If you insist. For now, try moving some of those boxes over there. They're heavy, so watch your back."
Without much more talk, I put on my gloves and got straight to work.
Blue plastic moving boxes were stacked in layers. They looked heavy, probably full of books.
I grabbed three boxes at once with my gloved hands.
'Not bad.'
I put strength into my back and waist, lifting them steadily. I walked over and thumped them down onto the truck bed.
The female workers around me, who had been unrolling hand trucks and pulling dollies, stopped their work and stared at me.
—"Hey? What the."
—"Isn't that a man? Whoa, look at that build."
—"He lifted that in one go?"
I heard murmuring, but I didn't pay attention and kept loading.
After that, I silently did my share.
I carried a top-loading washing machine on my back and came down the stairs effortlessly, lifted a wardrobe by myself and covered it with a moving blanket.
With skill and strength backing me up, my work speed was twice as fast.
"Oh my, student! No, young man! You've got strength like a champion, I tell you, a champion!"
"Thank you."
I wiped my sweat and downed some water.
Every muscle in my body ached pleasantly. Honestly, using my body suits me better than using my head.
All those stray thoughts disappear, and after sweating it out like this, I feel refreshed.
'Tomorrow I should go to the bathhouse.'
Soaking in hot water and getting a body scrub would be perfect.
I put down the empty bottle and picked up another box.
"Alright, let's take a little break! Have some snacks!"
At the forewoman's shout, work halted temporarily.
A mat was spread out in the shade of the truck, and bread and drinks were laid out. As I sat down in a corner, the female workers swarmed around me as if they'd been waiting.
"Student, your name was Jin-hyeok, right? How old are you?"
"Twenty."
"Oh my, what a great age. Look at that firm skin. Where do you live?"
"Just nearby."
"Which school do you go to? What department? Do you have a girlfriend?"
A barrage of questions.
A classic background check.
I chewed on my bread and replied as curtly as possible.
"Just an ordinary school. Girlfriend... not yet."
"Oh my, really? You're this handsome and no girlfriend? Are your standards too high?"
They giggled among themselves and patted my shoulders and back. I felt hands subtly brushing my forearm, and it made me really uncomfortable.
Then, the forewoman ajumma made some mix coffee and handed it to me.
"Here, our ace. Have a cup of coffee. I put plenty of sugar in it."
"Thank you."
The forewoman plopped down next to me and suddenly grabbed my thigh.
"Oh my, your body really is like a rock. Are you an athlete? How much do you exercise? Look at this—it's rock solid."
"......I just work out regularly."
I subtly pulled my leg away to create distance, but the forewoman didn't seem to care and leaned in closer.
The strong smell of cosmetics mixed with sweat hit me.
"How come you ended up doing such a rough part-time job? It's not like men are short on money. There are plenty of easier jobs out there."
"I used to do this kind of work before. It just came to mind."
"Oh my, how curious. Jin-hyeok student, can you come work for us again next time you're free? Our team doesn't have talent like this."
"...I'll think about it depending on the situation. But I'm a college student, so I'm pretty busy..."
"Of course, of course! You absolutely have to come, okay? Don't go anywhere else, only come to our team. Hm?"
"Yes, banjangnim."
The forewoman tapped the paper cup in my hand and narrowed her eyes.
"And what's this 'banjangnim' business? No need for formality."
"Huh?"
"Just call me noona comfortably. Noona. Why are we fussing over titles on the worksite? Right?"
"Ah... yes."
Noona, my ass. She looks about the same age as my mother.
But I didn't want to argue and make things difficult, so I just nodded vaguely.
"Good, our Jin-hyeok is such a nice boy. I'll put in your daily wage later, so give me your number. I'll send it to you right away."
When I entered my number into the phone she held out, she smiled contentedly and kneaded my shoulder.
The afternoon work went even faster.
When the ladder truck unloaded the items, I caught them and passed them into the room.
Kung.
I caught a side-by-side refrigerator by myself, and the imo organizing things in the living room gave me a seal-like applause.
5 PM. We finished neatly, including cleaning and wrap-up.
"Good work! Shimai!"
The forewoman took off her gloves and shook her hands.
My whole body was drenched in sweat, but my head actually felt clearer.
"Jin-hyeok, let's go for some samgyeopsal and soju after this! Noona's treat!"
"Sorry, I have assignments to do."
"Aww, that's so mean."
I cut off her clinging sharply and escaped the worksite like I was running away.
"Anyway, good work today. Go eat something nice when you're done. I'll send the money later!"
The forewoman's shout came from behind, but I didn't look back.
Walking home sluggishly.
'...Fucking hell, seriously.'
I should never get mixed up with ajummas again. Noona my ass. She looks older than my own mother.
Dragging my exhausted body home, I immediately took a cold shower.
After washing off the sweat and dust, I finally felt alive.
As I lay spread-eagled on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, my phone vibrated.
Jjing-
'Is the daily wage in?'
Thinking it might be the forewoman ajumma, I checked and saw an unexpected name.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
'Why is she suddenly contacting me?'
I swiped the screen with damp fingers.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Jin-hyeok~ What are you doing?
: Are you home? haha
[ Me ]
: Yeah
: Home
: Why?
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Just~ Haha
: What are you doing tomorrow, the weekend?
'...?'
Why is she suddenly asking about my weekend plans?
[ Me ]
: Going to the bathhouse
: But why?
Then, in less than a second, the number next to the chat window disappeared.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Huh? The bathhouse??
: Why would you go there??
Is she that curious? I worked up a sweat, so I'm going to wash.
[ Me ]
: Just exercised and sweated today
: So I'm going to get a jjimjil and a body scrub
The 'typing...' indicator flickered for a long time in the chat input box.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Uh... it's not that, Jin-hyeok
: Are you really going to the bathhouse...?
: Are you going with someone?
[ Me ]
: ?
: Alone
: But why?
'Just say what you actually want...'
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: I see...
: But, um, which bathhouse are you going to?
[ Me ]
: Just the spa in my neighborhood
: I saw it when I passed by before, thought I'd give it a try this time
: The review photos made the facilities look nice
: But seriously, why? Is there a problem?
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Ah... that place....
: No... it's not a problem, but...
: Haa... I'm asking because I'm worried... Are you really going to the bathhouse alone as a man?
: On weekends, that place is crawling with ajummas and women...;;
: Isn't that dangerous...?
[ Me ]
: ? Yeah
: I've gone alone before
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Ah... really...?
: No one talked to you? Didn't stare or anything??
[Me]
: Yeah
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Really...?
[ Me ]
: yup
: I don't pay attention
Are women in this world worried about men going to the bathhouse alone too?
Well, since men are perceived as weak... maybe she's worried I'll slip on the wet floor and crack my head open or something.
But there's a limit to overprotectiveness. Like I can't even bathe alone as a grown adult.
Then it happened.
The 'typing...' indicator at the bottom of the chat window started blinking like crazy. She seemed to be typing and deleting repeatedly because no message bubble appeared. What does she have so much to say?
After a long while, a message finally popped up.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Um...
: Then...
: Hey, Jin-hyeok.
: I was actually planning to go wash tomorrow too!
[Me]
: Oh yeah?
[Shin Ga-young (Class Rep)]
: Yeah yeah!! The hot water at home is broken ㅠㅠ
: So, I was wondering...
: Can I go with you?
[Me]
: Together?
: Why?
[Shin Ga-young (Class Rep)]
: Well... going alone is kind of boring...
: And I'm too nervous letting you go alone...
: No, that's not what I mean!!
: I just want to go to the jjimjilbang and share some eggs or something!!
: I'll buy you something tasty!
I scratched my chin.
She wants to go to the bathhouse together?
Either way, we'll be going into the men's and women's baths separately. The only time we'd meet is in the common hall of the jjimjilbang.
I wondered why she'd bother to come along, but if she wants to come, I have no reason to stop her.
[ Me ]
: Suit yourself.
: I'm going around 9 tomorrow.
: If you're coming, meet me in front of the spa then.
[ Shin Ga-young (Class Rep) ]
: Okay! Got it hehe
: See you tomorrow~
She's spending her own money, so let her do what she wants.
I set my phone down indifferently.