First Day at OX PC Bang
The next day, after a quick shower, I headed to the PC bang. It was about a ten-minute bus ride away, but getting there was no issue. I arrived at the same time as some others and immediately scoped out the place. I'd heard my shift started in the afternoon, but I wanted to check out my workplace early, and I didn't come to PC bangs much except to escape the heat.
I killed about an hour, sat down at a machine, just to see what was around.
"Holy shit... is that a guy over there?"
"Why would a guy come to a PC bang? Isn't it a short-haired girl?"
"Nah, my womb's telling me it's a dude right now."
"Bullshit..."
I overheard the idiots next to me whispering crap about me. I ignored them lightly and stared at the computer screen. I'd bought a gaming laptop back at the goshiwon, but honestly, I wasn't sure if it was as good as a proper rig. Anyway, I'd leveled up enough in real life, so maybe try some other games? Normally I'd play something like Pubg a lot, but that was with friends. When I gamed solo, the safe, solid choice was always MapleStory. My account was still there, so time for some rice farming after a long break. A quick search showed rice prices in MapleStory were still steady, so I had to make a little cash.
While farming rice in-game, I noticed it was lunchtime.
"Fuck, I'm starving."
Hunger hit, so I checked the food order menu.
"Whoa... fuck, this is a PC bang, not a restaurant?"
Back in my day, it was just cup ramen and Netka chips. Now they sold everything from pork belly bibimbap to sushi? This was basically a diner—how the hell did they call it a "game room" anymore? I was deep in thought over the dozens of options when—
"Gotta get the fried cheese ramen."
I quietly ordered the fried cheese ramen, set some cash aside, and went back to rice farming. After about five minutes, the smell of fried cheese ramen wafted from the side.
"Ah, it's here..."
"Uh. Um, hello?"
"Ah... yes, hello. Here you go."
I saw the guy serving and handed over the cash right away. Was he here to work too? More than that, a guy working? First time seeing a dude on the job since coming here—kinda shocking. You hating sperm donation too and slinging shifts? He was trembling but busting his ass, which was kinda admirable. I thought about tipping on the way out, but he'd come in shaking so much the fried egg yolk on the ramen had burst.
You little shit... I got he was pitiful, but a busted yolk? No forgiveness there. Solid excuse not to tip, so I just let him go.
I slowly mixed the ramen and took a big bite.
Oh fuck, chewy perfection! The springy noodles, egg, and cheese exploded with nutty flavor in my mouth like fireworks. Was that guy actually good at cooking? Fried cheese ramen while rice farming in a PC bang? This was the life.
I'd almost finished the ramen and was reaching for the keyboard to farm more rice when—
Buuuzz—my phone vibrated. A message from the OX PC Bang boss.
Yeah, right nearby. Can I head in now?
I wrapped up the texts and got up immediately. Figured the first thing was the interview.
"Hey, hey, part-timer."
"Yes?"
"A guy part-timer's coming in the afternoon soon, treat him nice."
"Got it!"
They were talking about me at the counter, so I headed straight over.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Pardon?"
The lady boss looked flustered, so I grinned and explained.
"The part-timer starting today. Came early and played some games."
"Ah... oh... welcome! Work stuff's at the counter here... the kitchen lady'll explain."
"Got it... but no interview or anything?"
"Huh? A guy's here, why bother with an interview?"
"... Understood. I'll do my best and work hard."
Luckily, no interview—they said start today. We filled out the work contract right away. She explained the morning server was that guy I'd seen, and they needed a guy for afternoon kitchen and serving.
"Alright, I gotta head out for other stuff. Ask her for questions."
"Yes, got it."
Thank fuck this boss kept work and personal separate—no creepy auntie vibes like at the moving center. Yeah, fuck... this is part-time life. I slipped behind the counter.
So... what do I do here now?
**
"Just sit here and wait."
"That's it?"
"Can't have you doing rough work. Relax easy."
"Sir"? The second I heard that cringe "sir" bullshit, my whole body crawled—I nearly passed out. Just drop the damn honorific already. From what I gathered, sit at the seat, pass orders to the kitchen lady behind me, serve when food's ready. Done. Surprisingly simple—this all?
"Call me for orders then."
"Ah... sure."
Quick explanation over, she vanished back to the kitchen. Not sure what to do, I sat at the counter waiting for customers. Computer right there, but gaming on it probably a no-go? Ask later. For now, I zoned out staring at a MyTube playlist.
About ten minutes of sitting like a corpse when—
Ding-a-ling—
"Welcome!"
Door chime rang; I stood, bowed, and greeted. Didn't need to go that hard, but enthusiasm took over?
"Huh? There's... a guy here?"
"What? A guy? Cross-dressing girl?"
"Nah... bones and build are no joke..."
"True... and he just bowed all polite to us?"
"Yeah... I'm making this my regular spot now."
Good reactions—every customer said nice things. Basic: greet arrivals, take orders.
"No orders coming."
"Sir bored? Want me next to you?"
"... You wanna?"
"Huh? Can I?"
"Cook lady's bored too. Come chat till orders."
Five-ish hours left on shift—time to kill anyway. Gotta work here a month; kitchen lady nearby must be bored, so chat till orders.
"Um... what's your name?"
"Oh Seonghun, 25."
"Ah, yes. I'm Oh Haran, 26."
"Ah... sis?"
"Ah... yeah, sis."
What the? Fuck, calling her sis made her grin like she won the lottery. We chatted at the counter, got friendly, dropped formalities quick. Just a year apart, easy. Turns out she played MapleStory too—tastes matched. Mid-Maple talk—
"That sir over the..."
"Sorry to cut in, sis, but it's bugging me."
"Huh? Did I do something wrong? Sorry."
"Nah... not wrong, but can you drop the 'sir'?"
Chatting with Haran sis, "sir" never sat right. Couldn't take it, cut her off to beg no more "sir".
"Ah, got it. Seonghun then?"
"See? Sounds way better. Why stick to 'sir' over my name."
Finally decent address, I relaxed to chat more when—
Buuuzz—pocket vibrated. Pulled phone, checked sender.
Ajussi, school's out.
Heading to the PC bang where you're working. You there?
Coming right now!
Suhyun's message. School out, coming here... yeah, I'm here, so invite her.
She said she's coming. Better wait up front. Sat at counter when—order! Alarm beeped, receipt printed.
First order ever—I checked the paper quick.
"Sis... one fried cheese ramen, please."
"Got it."
Fried cheese order came in—finally, time to move.