Cash Temptations and Yeoryeon's Overflowing Feelings
The revelation that the Primal Stones truly existed turned the world upside down overnight.
Led by the United States, nations around the globe began openly revealing their ambitions to hunt down more of them.
Tower raids, which had fallen into stagnation due to the immense risks and costs, suddenly surged back to life worldwide.
This boosted the status of anyone involved in the industry—Awakeners of any rank, and all the jobs tied to entering Towers.
But that was their story.
It had nothing to do with an ordinary guy like me.
"What can I get for you?"
"One iced Americano, please."
Now that I was an adult, I'd started working part-time at a small independent cafe near home.
A lot of people took on jobs like this before college to save for tuition.
Unfortunately, I hadn't made it into the university I wanted.
There was still regular admission left, but I hadn't had the bandwidth to prepare for it anyway.
So, figuring I might as well make the most of it, I'd jumped straight into part-time work to save up some cash.
Money really is the best.
One day, after I'd fully settled into the cafe routine and was handling customers with ease—
Ding-a-ling.
The bell on the door chimed, and a familiar voice called my name.
"Yuchan. You busy right now?"
It was the boss.
"Oh, you're here?"
The boss was a woman in her late thirties who had way more money than her age suggested. She didn't hassle me much, slipped me pocket money now and then, and was pretty generous overall.
Judging by her mannerisms, the designer brands covering her from head to toe, and the pricey foreign car she always drove, I figured the cafe was just a hobby for her.
"Any customers while I was out?"
"A few just left—all takeout."
"Yeah? No issues while I was gone?"
She glanced around the empty shop and took a seat in the corner.
I quickly brought her a glass of cool water with lemon slices.
"Everything went smoothly today, thanks to you."
I flashed a grin and my best capitalist smile. She looked pleased as she rummaged through her bag.
"Mind closing up the shop for a bit?"
"Sure thing."
At her signal, I locked the door and dropped the blinds.
She pulled an e-cig from her bag, stretched her neck with a groan, and beckoned me over with a wag of her finger.
"Same as always—take care of me."
"Just gotta wash my hands first."
"Okay."
The boss was a smoker and often lit up inside the shop. Of course, it was illegal, so she'd just close up and enjoy it leisurely.
Perks of a hobby business, I guess?
I hadn't been used to it at first, but after a few times, it became routine.
Especially since...
Whenever she smoked, she'd have me massage her shoulders.
"Mmm... right there. Ah, that's good."
"Feeling okay?"
"Hoo... perfect. A little harder. Ahh, yeah, like that."
The pocket money afterward was always very generous.
"Whew, Yuchan, your skills keep getting better. Here, get some food on me."
"Thank you."
Even disgust gets cured by money.
Chimaek with Yeoryeon for dinner tonight.
Pocketing the thick stack of cash, I reopened for business and handled the occasional customer.
It was almost closing time when—
"Oh no, this is bad..."
The boss, fiddling with her phone, muttered to herself.
"Where am I gonna find someone..."
It sounded like she wanted me to hear.
She must've needed staff at one of her other shops.
...Pretend I didn't hear that. Just play dumb.
I had plans with Han Yeoryeon for once, so I busied myself wiping down a counter, ignoring her.
"Hey, Yuchan. Come here for a sec?"
But ignoring her only went so far.
"...What's up?"
"Got plans tonight?"
"Yeah, meeting a friend."
"Oh? How about tomorrow?"
"Uh..."
I thought I'd dodged it smoothly, but tomorrow was free.
"Nothing tomorrow... What's going on?"
"Really?"
She grinned mischievously.
"See, one of the shops I manage had a sudden no-show. Sit down for a minute?"
"Ah... sure."
I sat, half-dazed, and heard her out.
As expected, a staffer at one of her places had bailed abruptly.
"So, I was hoping you could help out."
"Ah... me?"
"I'll pay you properly. Cash on the day, of course. Super easy work. What do you say?"
Cash same-day payout.
That tempted me a little, so I asked for details.
"What kind of work?"
And then.
"Just a room bar. Sit with customers, drink a bit. Take orders, that kinda thing?"
"......Pardon?"
I couldn't believe my ears.
Drinking with customers in a room?
It screamed entertainment establishment.
"Oh, you didn't know? I run bars."
"Ah... first I've heard."
She laughed merrily at my flustered face, like it was adorable.
Then she casually pulled up photos of the place on her phone and started sweet-talking me.
"Just sit like this, cheer on the girls, pour some drinks."
The rooms looked fancier and more upscale than I'd imagined, but the platters of snacks and bottles of premium liquor on the tables gave off a sleazy vibe.
"Tips are insane there. Customers are all upper-class—great manners. Separate incentives too. Our base pay's higher than most places."
"...Ah... yeah..."
"How much you making now?"
"...120."
"Hmm. Come in tomorrow, I'll bump you to 150. Tips and incentives on top. Not many places pay 150 a day."
My monthly wage was 120, and one day there would net 150—plus extras.
Does... does this even make sense?
Gulp. Even I couldn't help swallowing hard.
"What do you think? Wanna try?"
Sensing my waver, she smiled warmly and pressed gently.
And I...
*
"So, what'd you say?"
Han Yeoryeon, sipping her beer, asked with a super serious face.
I speared a fry and answered calmly.
"Told her no."
That I'd turned down the boss's offer.
"Haa... seriously... you scared me!"
She finally relaxed with a sigh, then shot me a sharp glare.
"Did you think I'd go?"
I teased with a grin, and she furrowed her brows in an inverted V, launching into a scolding.
"You made it sound like you totally would, you idiot!"
"Aigoo, sorry~."
Thwack, thwack. She whacked my shoulder with the cushion she'd gifted me, then grabbed her can with a grumpy look.
She's so cute.
Her reactions had always had great feedback—like she was made for teasing.
"Anyway, it felt off after hearing that, so I said I'm quitting."
"Good call! I knew something was up when she kept giving you pocket money for shoulder rubs. That woman's not right in the head."
"Right?"
Clink! We tapped cans and chugged.
Hoo. Yeoryeon let out a crisp breath, set her can down slyly, peeked at me cautiously, and broached the topic.
"...But did you hear about that?"
"About what?"
"Ma Yeonseo... apparently she went to the US this time...?"
It was about Ma Yeonseo, of course.
"Ah... yeah, I heard."
Impossible not to.
Ma Yeonseo, who'd become an S-rank Awakener early on, had stayed low-key until suddenly using her citizenship to switch to the US side.
She'd joined some dream team for Tower raids and Primal Stone hunts.
The country was in an uproar over the talent drain.
Thanks to that, I'd caught wind of her too.
...Anyway, glad she was doing well.
"Why bring her up?"
I sipped my beer and glanced at Yeoryeon.
"Well, uh..."
She dragged it out, treading carefully.
"She's living her life now... so maybe you should live yours too... y'know?"
She met my eyes briefly.
I could guess what she wanted to say, so I quietly looked away, dodging.
"I'm doing fine already."
But Yeoryeon wouldn't drop it, doggedly pushing the topic.
"Not that. You should find someone new."
"Being solo's not bad."
"You're not gonna stay single forever. You really never gonna date again?"
"Not never. Just not right now."
"How long is 'right now' gonna last...!"
"...Dunno."
I kept evading, and finally, she got really mad, her face turning dead serious.
"Think about the person waiting right here...!"
A heavy silence filled the room.
"...You're drunk. Let's clean up."
I tried to brush it off and end the drinking session.
But.
"Kang Yuchan!"
She closed in, shoving her face close like she was done holding back.
"Do you know how much I'm holding back? How lonely I am every night?!"
"Yeoryeon."
"Kids at school keep asking! Why don't you have a boyfriend? It's not like I don't want to— I wanna date like everyone else!"
I had nothing to say, so I scratched my head awkwardly.
Yeoryeon, now a college student, had fully bloomed into her beauty again.
Brown hair down to her jaw, cute bangs half-covering her forehead, a puppy-like charm.
Snow-white skin and a perfect figure that turned heads anywhere.
It really was surprising she was still single.
...Though I was probably 90% of that surprise.
"You... seriously... like...!"
Her flushed face couldn't finish, and she squeezed her eyes shut, yelling.
"Don't I turn you on at all!?"
I froze, staring at her.
She looked so wronged, her eyes welling up red, then grabbed my hand and mashed it against her chest.
"H-Hey!"
Squish. The firm, lacy feel of her bra hit my palm after so long.
Damn, they are big.
Startled by the fresh sensation, I yanked my hand back, trying to calm her.
"Yeoryeon, you're really drunk right n—"
That instant.
"Hic..."
Tears started streaming down her face.
"Hey, hey, don't cry. Why are you crying?"
"You idiot! Sniff. It's all your fault! Sob..."
"Aish..."
I pulled her into a light hug to soothe her.
"I'm sorry, okay? No more tears."
"Hic... I don't know, you dummy... waa..."
But she'd bottled up a lot, and the tears wouldn't stop.
I felt guilty seeing her like that, but I hesitated to make a move.
Lame excuse, but my first relationship had ended so badly I lacked the confidence for another.
The whole 'lover' thing felt too unstable.
So even knowing her feelings, I couldn't give a straight answer.
It was all my fault.
"I'm sorry."
"...Sniff."
"Even if you went to someone else, I couldn't complain."
"...Don't joke!"
I brushed off her glare with a soft smile, gently cradling her head.
After a long quiet embrace, her sobs faded.
"...Yuchan..."
She spoke in a very careful tone.
"...You said you don't wanna date..."
"Yeah."
"...Then, can't we just like each other without dating?"
"......Huh?"
Grip. Her hand clutched my shirt.
She lifted her head cautiously, her messy face meeting mine as she whispered.
"I'm... okay not being your girlfriend."
"Uh..."
Flustered, I rolled my eyes, scrambling for a reply.
"That'd be too irresponsible..."
As I mustered my answer—
"...Mmph!"
Her lips crashed into mine.