Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: First Part-time Job
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Today was my first day at my part-time job.
More precisely, it was called "training."
The boss had explained that they'd include the start date in my pay, but the first check might be a bit light.
I left early to arrive ten minutes before the scheduled time.
At least it wasn't an opening shift. I didn't have the confidence to wake up that early in the morning.
...Instead, I had to stick around until closing.
When it came time to actually open the door, I felt a little nervous. I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The female employee who'd greeted me during my interview was there in the cafe.
I beat her to the punch on the greeting.
"Hello...!"
Now I'd be working alongside this person.
She froze for a split second when she saw me, then covered her mouth with both hands.
"Uh...! You're the one from before...!"
"I, uh, I'm starting work here today..."
She pointed at me with one of the hands still over her mouth.
"You're that person who came last time, right...!"
I scratched my head awkwardly.
"Ah, yeah..."
"Right, right. The boss said a new part-timer was coming today. Um... what's your name...?"
"Baek Eun-hae..."
"Eun-hae-ssi. First things first, want to change into your uniform? See the staff room over there? Go in, get changed, and come back out. The smallest size should fit you."
"Ah, yes. Sure..."
I headed into the staff room she'd pointed out, where the cafe uniforms were hanging.
It was a clean-looking outfit in a nice mix of green and brown.
I changed quickly and stepped back out.
"All changed..."
"The boss told me to show you the ropes. From now on, when you clock in, change right there and jump straight in."
Then she gave me a tour of the cafe, pointing out all the spots.
The counter, the POS system, where the cups were kept, all sorts of unfamiliar machines, the trash bins, the sink.
Trying to cram all that info into my head right away left me dizzy.
Once she'd covered the essentials, I sank into a chair for a quick break.
"School hasn't started yet, so barely any customers—it's a breeze right now. But later? Total hell. Especially from noon onward."
She stared off into space for a moment, then kept going.
"Um... what are your shift hours?"
"Just off on my rest days... On workdays, it's full shifts all day..."
"Whoa, that's rough... I tag-team midway."
"Um..."
In the middle of our chat, one thing hit me.
I didn't even know this woman's name.
Couldn't keep going with "hey" or "over here."
"By the way..."
She tilted her head slightly, like she was hanging on my every word.
"What should I call you...?"
"Oh, did I not say? I'm Yeo A-reum. Come to think of it, I never asked your age either. Eun-hae-ssi, how old are you? Twenty?"
"Tw-twenty-five."
"......"
A-reum-ssi's expression slowly stiffened. Her hands fidgeted like she didn't know what to do with them.
"Twenty-five...? Ah, s-sorry. I mean, I'm really sorry. I figured you'd be younger than me, of course.... D-did I say something rude?"
"Ah, no. No, it's fine.... A-reum..."
For someone I'd just met, should it be -ssi or -nim after her name?
Or maybe her full name?
Calling her just by her first name felt kinda embarrassing this soon.
I mulled it over, but since she'd used -ssi with me, I matched her.
"...How old are you, A-reum-ssi...?"
"I'm twenty-one. Call me by name, casually. Oh, can I call you unnie?"
I preferred keeping work and personal separate.
Polite speech felt more natural with coworkers anyway.
Going casual made it seem like we were forcing a closeness.
Still, with her putting it like that, ignoring it would look weirder, so I just went with it.
Asking point-blank, "Should we stick to polite speech?" would've seemed like drawing too hard a line.
"Ah, sure. A-reum...ah."
After a short rest, she started teaching me more about the job.
A-reum pointed to a laminated sheet taped up at her eye level.
For me, it was just a tiny bit higher—really, barely.
"Drink recipes are all written here, so no need to memorize them. The popular ones stick in your head anyway."
"Got it..."
Right as she wrapped up the basics, perfect timing—a customer walked in.
Thanks to my sharp-eyed senior spotting it first with her quick greeting, not me staring blankly.
I managed a beat late.
"Welcome."
"W-welcome...!"
I turned to see a healthy-looking elderly couple making their way over slowly.
Arm in arm, they were the picture of lovebirds.
While I spaced out watching them, A-reum lightly tapped my shoulder.
"Unnie, wanna try taking the order?"
"Ah, yeah...!"
My hands clenched up without me realizing. Nerves.
The couple occasionally locked eyes, pointing at the menu as they chatted.
"What'll you have?"
"Something sweet."
"You like lemon—how about the lemon tea there?"
"Sounds good."
"I'll take a hot coffee."
Even after decades together, they spoke politely to each other.
Somehow, there wasn't a hint of distance between them.
"......"
"Order up. One lemon tea. One Americano. Lukewarm."
"Ah, yes! Lemon tea and hot Americano, right...?"
"Yes."
"That's ten thousand won..."
The grandpa smoothly pulled a card from his wallet and tapped it.
Of course.
Why had I pictured him fumbling with crumpled bills from his pocket?
Such a narrow-minded assumption.
"We'll let you know with this bell when it's ready...!"
The couple took the pager and headed up the stairs to the second floor.
A-reum must've caught the order from behind the counter—she was already whipping up the drinks solo.
No chance for me to pitch in; both were done in a flash.
Younger than me, but definitely a pro part-timer.
Now I just had to ring the bell.
Then a thought flashed through my mind.
Was it right to make the couple—who'd already gone upstairs—come all the way back down?
"...A-reum-ah, mind if I take it up to them?"
"Huh? Why? No need to..."
"But they've already headed up—calling them down again feels kinda rude.... And no other customers."
"Doesn't matter. Up to you."
A-reum transferred the drinks to a tray.
I carried it upstairs, focusing hard not to spill.
The couple had settled at a window seat bathed in sunlight.
"Ex-excuse me, your lemon tea and Americano are ready."
"Oh dear. We were gonna come down when the bell rang."
"Didn't want you to have to come all the way down.... E-enjoy your drinks..."
I set the tray down quick, bowed, and turned to go.
A thank-you came from behind me.
"Thank you."
Small thing, but it felt nice.
"Hehe......"
Hurrying down the stairs, I realized something mid-descent.
In my rush, I'd forgotten.
The pager—I'd left it with them.
I hesitated, but ended up going back up to grab it.
They said right away, "We were gonna return it on our way out...," which made it even more embarrassing.
Thinking back, there'd been no real rush.
My ears burned hot.
No other customers came after the couple.
Just like A-reum had said, it was dead quiet.
Wasn't the place losing money like this?
Just before it got fully dark, a guy walked in.
"Hello...!"
He looked college-age, nodded at my greeting, and headed straight to the counter like it was routine.
A-reum lit up when she saw him.
They clearly knew each other.
"Do-ha-ya, you're early."
Do-ha—that his name? What was their deal?
"I'm usually here around now. What's up."
The guy grinned, then glanced my way.
"New face. Starting today?"
"Yes..."
A-reum placed her hands on both my shoulders.
"Ah, this is Eun-hae unnie. Starting today. I gave her the basics—if anything's missing, you fill her in."
"Hello. Baek Eun-hae..."
I nodded lightly and looked his way, catching the small earring in his ear.
"Hello. Nam Do-ha. Looking forward to working together."
He extended his hand for a shake, all natural.
I hesitated a second before reaching out—couldn't straight-up refuse.
...I'd be working with a guy like this.
"Okay. I'll change and be right back. You get ready to head out too."
A-reum's vibe had totally shifted now that she was clocking out, leaving us alone.
"Heading home~"
Do-ha changed into his uniform in no time.
A-reum had already swapped back to street clothes and was all set to leave.
"I'm off~"
"Good work."
I wanted to say "good work" too.
But polite or casual? While I hemmed and hawed over it...
A-reum was already gone.
Do-ha came over and looked down at me.
From the first glance, his face struck me as someone I wouldn't mesh well with.
A guy wearing an earring, of all things.
And that pretty-boy look stirred up some jealousy.
Cafes really did hire for looks, huh.
Still, being alone with a guy felt less awkward than with a woman.
At least he was a dude.
"Where'd we leave off? Hm, anything else to teach? Oh, how old are you?"
"Tw-twenty-five."
"A-reum called you unnie, so I figured you were my age... You're noona, then?"
"Uh, yeah..."
Do-ha flicked a glance at the wall clock, then crossed his legs.
"No customers anyway—wanna chat?"
"Th-that okay?"
"Dead hour like this, nothing to do. We can sit and talk. And you're older, so casual from me."
Were part-time gigs casual by default?
I liked keeping work separate...
"Uh.... Yeah, sure..."
"This downtime's only before semester starts. Once classes hit, it's nonstop chaos. Gotta rest while you can."
"A-reum...ee said the same."
Do-ha jerked his thumb toward the school.
"You go to the uni down the street?"
"Huh? Oh, I graduated..."
"No way? Never seen you around. I know tons of folks there."
"Pr-probably kept to myself..."
"Yeah?"
Do-ha's questions just kept coming.
Would've been better if a customer showed up for some actual work—fielding his nonstop barrage was wearing me out.
Eventually, closing time rolled around while we chatted.
Closing cleanup was way better, honestly.
Body a little tired, but mind at ease.
Once the door was locked, Do-ha sidled up all friendly.
"Good work, noona."
"Yeah. You too..."
"You working tomorrow?"
"Yeah..."
"Me too. Catch you then."
Do-ha waved at my back as I headed out.
...Cafes were definitely for the social types only.