Chapter 27

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: The Honey Pot Study Cafe and the Bet

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After quitting her study cafe part-time gig and passing it on, Han Ae-bom had managed to land a new job thanks to Jeong Hye-jeong's favor.

Having trailed after Han Ae-bom without sleeping following the end of my convenience store shift, I confirmed it firsthand. Just as Jeong Hye-jeong said, it was undeniably a honey of a job. The owner, a female boss, didn't seem bad at all. The moment she laid eyes on Han Ae-bom's beauty, she just gave a thumbs-up.

On the flip side, I couldn't quite tell why Jeong Hye-jeong's expression turned even more shocked upon seeing Han Ae-bom. Was she feeling a bit sore about handing over the job now that it was actually happening?

"The usual tasks at the study cafe are... restocking snacks and drinks, and cleaning..."

She really lived up to her Seoul University pedigree. She explained everything so meticulously that Han Ae-bom didn't panic at all and diligently jotted it all down. The more I watched, the more it seemed like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a perfect fit for her.

"...And after work is done, you're free to read books as you like..."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Especially Han Ae-bom—she didn't care one bit about the slightly lower hourly wage. Instead, she looked over the moon about being able to read books or having free time on her own.

"Oh, Hye-jeong. Thank you so much this time. I'll buy you a drink next time. Call me anytime."

"Ah, no... Uh, yeah!"

At the end, Jeong Hye-jeong seemed to muster a bit of energy and shot Han Ae-bom a cautious glare for a moment. Were they acquaintances or something?

Maybe when they were kids, Han Ae-bom, who was three years older, had shaken her down for lunch money or whatever.

'Hey, you little squirt. Come here for a sec? How about jumping in place right now? One smack per 10 won that falls out?'

...Nah, no way that's it.

Han Ae-bom wouldn't do that.

In the end, I headed home tilting my head, unable to figure out Jeong Hye-jeong's weird reaction. Then Han Ae-bom, walking beside me, glanced at me a few times before timidly tugging at the hem of my clothes.

What was this cute little creature?

"Um, Hyunwoo."

"Yeah."

"Th-that... o... No, I mean."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

It was a rare sight. Han Ae-bom was stammering. Ah, she had done it a few times in front of Oh Hana too. Still, somehow... This was a woman who seemed like she could flawlessly deliver a presentation in a massive conference room packed with big shots without missing a single syllable.

So, it felt fresh.

"...Thank you. Really."

It was a different kind of navel-deep gratitude from Oh Hana's. Her 90-degree bow radiated immense dignity and sincerity.

Not that Oh Hana's thanks weren't genuine, but hers had been lighter for sure. Han Ae-bom's, on the other hand, made me feel like I'd accomplished something utterly monumental.

Anyone would think I was her boss who'd just sealed a 100-billion-won deal.

What a wild imagination. Must've picked it up from some drama.

Maybe that's why I tried some ridiculous acting. I patted her shoulder.

"No big deal. Like I said before, right place, right time. I did what I could for you. And I know you'll do great, so keep it up."

Yeah.

Here I was, a guy who hadn't even landed a full-time job yet, letting dust pile up on workbooks while slinging night shifts at the convenience store. And I was strutting around like some elite senior from a top corp, spouting that nonsense.

...The unemployed dude.

But then.

"......"

My half-encouragement, half-joke made Han Ae-bom's eyes go wider than ever as she stared right through me for a good long while.

"Hyunwoo, you casually switch to informal speech sometimes, huh?"

"Ah, uh... Sorry. Just got into character for a sec."

"Pfft, kidding. Kidding."

Kidding? Han Ae-bom was calling it a joke?

"...With you, Hyunwoo, it might be okay to do it a little. No, actually, thinking about it, you're five years older than me. Yeah."

She interlocked her fingers shyly like a schoolgirl, stretched her arms, and grinned.

"More importantly, this means I beat Oh Hana. Hehe."

Ah. So that's what she was looking forward to.

Go easy, please.

We're people under the same roof. No need to bicker so much.

Not because of this quest or anything.

Ah. Was it because of this? No wonder Han Ae-bom was being so friendly with me. Anyone would think she was head over heels in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠love.

By the way, what exactly is "absolute favorability"? Shouldn't it tell me the level or something?

It's not like I can just confess out of the blue.

It wasn't even quitting time yet, but she was coming home.

Beep beep beep beep—the fingers punching in the door lock password were already brimming with excitement and strength.

5844.

Oh Hana punched in the embarrassing passcode without a care and burst in energetically.

"Ta-daaa! The star has arrived!"

She sure could spout embarrassing lines from her own mouth.

"Hehehe, I just couldn't hold back. I unleashed my killer aegyo on the boss today and got off 30 minutes early!"

How badly did she want to see Han Ae-bom's embarrassed face?

"Heh heh, you should be grateful to me, oppa. Because I created the chance for me and Ae-bom to rub up naked together?"

Well, if Han Ae-bom had really lost the bet and ended up bathing together, I'd have thanked you profusely, maybe even bowed. But.

"You sure know how to say the most tasteless things."

"...Huh?"

Oh Hana froze mid-shoe removal upon seeing Han Ae-bom's face, which looked oddly composed now that she was home.

"Anyone would think you won."

"Pfft, no way, that couldn't be."

This was the first time I'd seen Oh Hana so flustered. She was even trying to head to her room with one shoe still on.

"Your shoes! You didn't take them both off!"

"Eep! S-sorry... No, wait. I knew that? I was about to!"

"Sneaking in informal speech again! For real!"

"Argh, annoying! Quit nagging. Even my mom doesn't nag this much."

"I told you that's a really bad habit! I'm being this polite, using formal speech for everything to clearly show I'm talking to you, and what do you do? Sneak it in slyly."

God, why didn't you answer my prayers?

Wasn't this supposed to be the most peaceful route? Why do these two bicker the second they see each other?

"N-no, but really, for real... You got a part-time job? You didn't just grab some sketchy one just to avoid losing to me, right?"

"Ha! As if. I properly got hired at a study cafe. The one you can reach in about 10 minutes' walk from here..."

"Gasp! No way, the 'Honeybee Study Cafe' down the street from Sangdeok Information University?"

What? That gave me chills.

I only learned after going there myself. How does Oh Hana know about it? Am I the only one creeped out?

Han Ae-bom, meanwhile, straightened her posture even more sharply now that Oh Hana had guessed it right.

"That's the one."

"...No way. That's the honeypot of honeypots, super famous for being the ultimate honey job. You got in there? You can't without connections."

Oh Hana really was maxed out on street smarts. Wait, how the hell does she know? Did you go to that university?

Oh Hana's face was as shocked as mine. But then she smirked and nodded.

"Well... it's a bit shocking. But it suits you. Study cafe jobs don't have many crazy customers, just cleaning and easy stuff. Pay's a little stingy, but you can make about 200,000 won a month for rent."

She was so straightforward.

"Congrats. Nice part-time job. A bet's a bet. So now I go first: naked strip show, handstand, body gag, then write my name with my butt, right?"

Han Ae-bom shouted urgently as Oh Hana immediately shed her long padding coat and reached for her panties upon entering.

"W-wait a sec!"

"...Huh? What? Laugh all you want. How often do you get to see someone do a naked handstand in your life?"

True that. In my 29 years, I'd never seen anyone suddenly do a naked handstand in front of me. Butt-writing name? Maybe once at a university MT.

"N-no! That's not it. Ugh! You just don't get it."

"Pot calling the kettle black."

"I mean, I didn't get the job purely on my own power. It was."

Han Ae-bom pointed at me politely with both palms, like she was indicating a trusted senior colleague with years of experience.

"...Hyunwoo helped. No, actually, Hyunwoo did basically everything."

"Huh?"

At that moment, Oh Hana's head snapped toward me with a creak, like a horror movie doll. Chills.

"Traitor."

No, calling me that for this is a bit much. Still, her eyes brimmed with massive guilt. Betrayal overflowed from Oh Hana's gaze.

"Come on, I was trying to make good memories in a normal way. And you call this betrayal?"

Sorry. I'm sorry. Thinking about it, yeah, you're right. But I couldn't help it. The quest...

...I tell myself that excuse, but obviously I can't tell Oh Hana about the quests.

"Talk about kicking away luck that rolls right to you."

"Ahem!"

Han Ae-bom cleared her throat awkwardly, but then shouted.

"Hey! That's not how you talk!"

"Whoa, what happened between you two in that short time? How'd you get so chummy?"

Gulp. Her instincts are too sharp.

"Anyway, so?"

"Since I didn't win purely on my own, let's just call the bet off. I don't really wanna see that from you anyway."

Oh. God might not have heard my prayers, but maybe Han Ae-bom did. It felt like things might smooth out nicely...

"Nah, I don't wanna."

Huh?

"Who cares about the process! A bet's a bet! We made it, I lost, so I gotta follow through. That's basic bet etiquette. This sister's gotta do it?"

You're the one who shouldn't.

"Ah. But you're kinda guilty too, oppa. Come here and join me in panties, writing names with our butts."

"What?"

Why drag me into this?

"Hurry!"

"Eep."

I couldn't refuse; it felt like she'd withhold sex forever if I didn't. Wait, how did Oh Hana get fully naked already?

"Hyah! Handstand... Gahhh! My back!"

"Kyaaaa! What the hell are you doing, you lunatic? Put clothes on! No, just go to the bathroom! You're the absolute worst, I h-hate you...! Wh-what are you doing, Hyunwoo...?"

"...I'll write quick."

It was pure chaos, a total mess.

Dude. Up the reward a bit.