Pinch Hitter (3)
After the experiment-slash-meal wrapped up and I parted ways with Seung-yoon, I fired off a message to the boss before heading to my shift. Luckily, things went just as I'd hoped—no big issues.
And as the boss suggested, I messaged the previous shift worker.
It was a bit late, but I still had time, so I slurped down an iced cafe mocha at a cafe near the PC bang while firing off texts. I returned the empty cup to the counter.
"Sniff. Thanks, bye."
"Thank you! Come again!"
The overly enthusiastic goodbye—unlike my usual visits—felt a tad embarrassing. The loud cafe worker's voice drew stares for a second; I quickly wiped my tears and bolted out.
Letsgo PC Bang.
I arrived at my first workplace—and a place whose future looked shaky—and took a deep breath.
"Fuuu—haaa."
This place I'd come to every day suddenly had me on edge today. Heart pounding. Thump thump.
Calming my racing heart, I finally stepped inside. The glass door whooshed open, revealing the super-familiar sight.
It looked even emptier than yesterday? Sad for the boss, but a bit of a relief for me today.
"Hello. I'm the sub for the afternoon shift..."
My voice trailed off quieter toward the end. The guy at the counter, deep in texts with someone, looked up.
"...Huh? Oh? Oh! Ohhh!"
"...?"
He stared blankly for a sec, then jumped up like something clicked, overreacting like his brain was buffering.
"Ah, y-yeah, I heard. The uniform's over there—grab one and change."
"Got it."
I already knew, but I followed his lead to the storage room, opened the wardrobe, ditched my training top, and slipped on the standard black-and-red PC bang uniform shirt.
"Uh... I'll handle the morning checkout."
"Ah, sure."
Figuring the newbie wouldn't know how, he started on the checkout. I naturally grabbed the inventory sheet and jotted down stock counts.
"Whoa, you've got a knack for this."
"I used to work at a PC bang myself."
"Ahh, that explains it. You know orders too, then?"
"Kinda... Gyeong-guk said it's pretty much like my old place, so I get the basics."
"Nice. Well, if anything comes up, I'm meeting a friend here anyway—I'll be gaming, so just ask me."
"Ah, thanks."
"Uh... you're huge, though."
"...Pardon?"
"N-no, I mean your height... it's insane."
"Yeah... I'm pretty tall."
"Yeah. First time seeing a woman this tall in real life. Height, I mean. Height."
"Ahaha. Height, gotcha."
"A-anyway, I'll be at seat 19. Hit me up if you need anything."
"Sure."
His eyes instinctively drifted to my chest—barely stopping an awkward misunderstanding (or was it?)—and with a flushed face, he headed to seat 19.
Alright, few people around—time for some easy mode?
About two hours later...
The PC bang was packed full for the first time in ages, and I was defending the counter nonstop from food orders.
Ding-dong.
Ding-dong.
"......"
Why was this happening? Weren't people flocking to other PC bangs lately? Why? Why here?
In nearly a year working here, it'd never been this slammed.
Full house? Not a big deal. Kiosks handled that these days—no chaos from crowds alone. Pre-AK PC Bang era, weekend afternoons were always full anyway.
But the difference? Food orders were damn near double.
Even if PC bang grub had improved, outside eats were tastier and cheaper. Our menu wasn't diverse like AK's—just ramen or frozen fried rice at best...
Maybe that was a blessing? Simple menu meant knocking out orders fast.
"Lemme help."
"For real?"
Cooking, serving, ringing up, dishes—running ragged, he must've pitied me and offered a hand. Even with experience, a sub struggling tugs heartstrings.
"I'll do dishes and take orders—you handle cooking and serving."
"Thanks."
Ramen bowls piled up in the sink—huge relief.
Man, thinking again, the boss skimping on food setup was a godsend for me. New PC bangs had rice cookers, deep fryers, all that jazz—dodged a bullet. Explains losing customers to them, though...
But damn, was today cursed? Or was the new PC bang closed? No clue, but way too crowded.
"Uwaaaah."
Finally cleared the backlog and slumped over the counter desk.
"Good work."
"Ah, you saved me. Thanks."
Slumped thoughtlessly, but he finished dishes, rang up an ion drink, and handed it over—I shot up with thanks.
"Aw, I should've bought it for you."
He'd clocked out but helped—and now he bought for me. I'd never seen him buy for anyone. My looks? Or genuine pity? His eyes flicking to my face and chest said the former.
Still, pure intentions—I'll take it.
"Today's nuts with the crowd, huh."
Glancing at the packed house, he nodded.
"First time this busy on shift. Lately, with the new PC bang nearby, it's been dead."
"Yeah, heard from a friend."
"Probably 'cause of the new girl... uh, what's your name?"
"Me? Ah, haha... Im Gyeong...guk."
"Huh?"
"...Same name, right?"
"Yeah. Wild."
"I was shocked at first too. Surprise~"
Overreacted guiltily, voice cracking high.
"Total surprise. Hahaha. I'm Se-hoon. Park Se-hoon."
"Ah, gotcha."
Acted like first time hearing a name I knew well.
"So, twenty-three?"
"Yup."
"College grad?"
"Nah, high school grad—been part-timing since."
"Huh. With your looks, you'd get scouted nonstop for entertainment—acting, modeling. No interest?"
"Huh? Eh... amateur level? Can just anyone be a celeb?"
"C'mon, someone like you? Nah."
"Ahaha..."
This face was no joke. Day one transformed—no scouts yet, but yeah, street casting or agency apps would've happened.
Street casting still a thing? Old-school, but my limited circle had none.
"But Gyeong-guk... your friend Gyeong-guk. Why'd he bail?"
"Ah... pretty banged up."
"Oof, for real? How bad?"
"Just... y'know... yeah. So I'll cover for a bit."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. He's out long-term, asked me."
"Must be worrying."
"Ahaha... not that bad."
"Good. So, what kinda friend?"
"What kinda...?"
"Boyfriend? Or guy friend?"
"Ah, just guy friend."
"Ah~ not dating."
"Yeah. Got a BF."
"Ooo... Figures. No BF would be weirder with that face."
The buildup was intense—I blurted it out. Maybe overkill, but his chest glances and fidgeting screamed red flags. Better shut it down. Sorry, Se-hoon—preemptive block.
My media-deep knowledge said guys' affinity skyrockets with any opening. Been there myself. Block that route early. Call me axe-murder paranoid.
Went over natural—no embarrassment.
But post-drop, air got heavy. Convo died—awkward silence.
"Gonna collect those delivered orders."
"Yeah, back to gaming..."
Couldn't hack the vibe—excused myself to work; he had nothing left, returned to his game.
"Haa. Dying here."
Retrieved dishes, trashed and washed 'em, back at counter. Massaged aching legs with light fist taps—better.
That guy's late again today. Too slammed for clock-check, but now past 10 PM, nearing 10:10.
Swish.
Wondering how late as the glass door's buffer scraped the floor—the thug finally slunk in.
"...Yaaawn. Huh? What? Shift change?"
Spotted the stranger at counter—jumped in shock.
"Nah, subbing today. Night shift, right?"
"Whoa. Yeah. Uniform quick."
Stunned by my height (or whatever), he spat admiration and dashed off, weirdly pumped.