Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Even though I wondered why everyone was so interested in me, the attention died down in an instant. That was reality.
After actually having a conversation with Ahn Gi-pyo and coming out, I felt their gazes for a moment, but soon everyone was busy with their own work.
For example, sending a heartfelt reply to a message that suddenly arrived from a guest who wasn't even coming today. Or politely asking if I could give them a referral since they had no income due to the lack of customers lately... things like that.
From the start, being a host was a profession that was the ultimate form of service industry.
In a way, since we received that much money just from service, we had no choice but to be more meticulous and careful than any other job.
Especially when the customer spending money was a demanding woman.
Conversely, if there wasn't even a customer to serve, that host was practically no different from an anime figure decorating the bar.
Just sitting blankly in the host bar like a doll, killing time, and finishing the day without earning a single cent.
"Number 16, No Mae-guk, reserved!"
"Whoa!"
When a popular host in the host bar got a reservation, even customers at other seats would cheer a little.
Then they'd act cocky, as if they were the ones who would call that man next.
But popular hosts were expensive, so it wasn't easy for just anyone to casually call them.
Nevertheless, women still went crazy for expensive men.
And the hosts who were called at that high price unknowingly carried the heavy burden of having to be worth that money.
"Thank you so much for calling me again today, you cute young lady."
For example, that cheesy line only No Mae-guk could pull off—even he himself got goosebumps all over and found it hard to do.
But still, what could you do?
There were definitely women who orgasmed from that kind of cheesy line.
"...Hey, I'm beat today. Next time, I'll bring you as a plus-one."
He patted my shoulder with a tuk and said that as he left.
I couldn't help but snicker—pisik.
In a way, it was just as Ahn Gi-pyo had said. If No Mae-guk had made fun of me one more time in that atmosphere where it was hard to accept my apology, we would probably have become irreconcilable.
Even if it wasn't our own intention.
People, even hosts, living within this thing called 'society'—that's how it was. We couldn't just live as we pleased.
"Thanks."
"Bullshit."
Even when I thanked him, he cursed at me and left. I could only smile faintly. Come to think of it, that bastard also carried his own burdens and immense pressure, making a lot of effort to keep surviving as a popular host.
I had never acknowledged that effort and instead looked down on him.
Back then, I wasn't afraid of anything.
Drunk on my own popularity, drunk on the confidence that everything I did would succeed... I felt like I was always drunk.
Wasn't that just a child who had only aged?
But by standing in front of a real child, I clearly realized what it meant to be an 'adult.'
And I also found a reason I had to become an adult.
[Plus-one?]
A plus-one meant that a host who had been reserved would bring along a friend he was close with, like a bonus, to expand his connections or take care of him.
It was true that the host profession earned good money when things went well, but if things went badly, you ended up not earning money at all.
Looking at this, being a host wasn't much different from any other job.
In the end, it was a system where the top guys monopolized most of the income. The ones who drove foreign cars, wore luxury brands all over, and even received gifts like officetels or residences were few enough to count on one hand.
The rest of them often received small amounts of money and ended up as punching bags for women exhausted from the harsh society to relieve their stress.
Of course, I was in a situation where I had to accept even that punching bag with gratitude.
"..."
Back in the day, even just sitting in a corner of the hall like this, I'd be flooded with reservations and bookings from women, and my schedule for the month would be packed tight.
Now, only a cold wind blows.
It really was just a moment of glory.
'Rather, it's lucky I woke up from that illusion quickly.'
If I had stayed a little longer in that illusion, that sweet delusion, floundering around, I might have sunk into a deep swamp like quicksand and never come back up.
I blankly looked around.
Not just No Mae-guk, but many hosts were working desperately. Someone might call it vulgar and dirty, but at least among the people here, not many thought that way.
When you faced them directly, you'd realize that hosts were also just people.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! So I'm saying. No, my boyfriend said this to me..."
Fuck, I don't know why she's bragging about her boyfriend to a host.
And then, when the mood strikes, countless women also pay extra and go for a second round with the host.
Seeing this, I understood why hosts gradually developed a repulsion toward women.
"Come on! Bottoms up, bottoms up!"
"Bottoms up!"
"You gotta chug it coolly. What kind of man are you? Our department head drinks better than that!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Let me show you again!"
"Okay! Show me you can drink like a man!"
That woman over there probably received a lot of stress from her company superiors. It's ironic that she relieves it through the host, but at least that's decent.
"..."
So, when is my reservation coming in?
'The manager said my reservation would come in today, right?'
The manager wouldn't have lied to me, would he?
One hour, two hours...
Sitting in the hall, fiddling with my phone endlessly, and throwing darts to look busy, I gradually started to get nervous.
Especially because I wanted to go home early.
Originally, when hosts worked hard, they could do two rounds, three rounds a day—meaning they'd have sex with a woman, come home in the morning, and immediately take on a new customer. Then drink with that woman, have sex again in the morning, spend the rest of the day with her, and then go to work again.
But no matter how much someone loves sex and considers sleeping with a woman in bed a rest.
Once it becomes 'work,' even a host gets tired.
Stamina aside, physical fatigue aside, the biggest thing was that you couldn't ignore the mental exhaustion.
Working that hard also meant that if you didn't go for a second round, you wouldn't make much money. Just like with men, with women, you couldn't ignore the affection that came through sex... through intercourse.
'The reservation fee itself doesn't make big money for the host.'
Considering all the deductions the bar takes, a host's main income ultimately comes from tips and private bonuses from going to the second round.
Or gifts from women.
Looking back, I wonder if we were really worth receiving such big gifts, but I guess when women fall hard, they have this urge to shower us with things endlessly.
Conversely, if you piss them off, you could be harassed beyond imagination.
"Whoa, look who it is?"
I feel like I've heard that line 'Whoa, look who it is?' three times in the two days since I started working.
No, wait, four times?
Did everyone script this or something, or was it a trend?
The only difference this time was that it wasn't a man who said it, but a woman.
But...
'Who is it?'
I had absolutely no memory of this woman's voice, and even after checking her face, there was no sign of recognition.
"...Don't tell me you don't remember? I even brought money to ask for just one reservation, and you coldly rejected me?"
Even if she said that, I didn't remember.
But just from her voice and vibe, I could tell she had more negative feelings toward me than positive.
In the past, I wouldn't have cared whether she felt that way or not.
No, I might have even embarrassed her even more in front of everyone, acting like the woman who got rejected by me was being pathetic.
Ah, so this karma accumulates...
"I'm sorry."
"Even if you say that... No, you don't have any reservations right now, do you? Come here. When else can I have a drink with the great Kim Hyun-woo if not now?"
"Thank you for the reservation."
Honestly, I felt a bit of pride hurt, and in a way, I was angry at her tone that treated me like a complete object or looked down on me.
But I decided to endure.
Right now, I needed an opportunity to get my name out there, and it was true that even a small reservation fee was desperately needed.
Because you never know what the future holds.
Having experienced rock bottom, that sense of crisis hit me more deeply.
Above all, I was no longer alone.
"Let's see. I'll spend up to one million won today, so make me happy however you want. Weren't you once the most popular host here? If I can drink with Kim Hyun-woo for one million won, that's a bargain."
"..."
One of the biggest reasons hosts run away is probably because of things like this.
When they get too stressed or exhausted.
If it were the old me, I might have gotten annoyed or lost my temper and either run away or fought back.
"Thank you for trusting me. I'll do my best to make sure you enjoy yourself."
"...Yeah, let's see what you've got."
At this level, I was actually grateful.
She seemed to have bad feelings toward me, but giving me this freedom meant she wasn't a fundamentally bad person.
Truly vicious people would make you drink from their sock-filled liquor barrel or pour alcohol into their shoes and make you drink.
"Do you prefer something refreshing, something sweet, or do you enjoy the pure taste of alcohol?"
"Just, anything. I drink everything well."
"Then I'll prepare all three."
I said that and brought jelly, fruit soju, beer, and even hongcho separately, piling them up on the table. For snacks, I got standard chicken, french fries, and pizza made by the manager himself.
As for the last dish, even regular customers of this host bar rarely got to taste it.
It might not be as tasty as store-bought pizza, and it was just an ordinary pepperoni pizza, but in a place like this, who makes it is important.
It's not that the manager makes it for popular hosts and not for unpopular ones.
It's just different depending on the manager's mood, I guess.
"As a gesture of apology, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"Tch..."
Ahn Gi-pyo clicked his tongue but then, as if understanding, put on an apron with a strawberry design that didn't suit him and slipped into the kitchen. While the snacks were coming out, I used various recipes I had studied to make the drinks.
First, for the jelly liquor, it was important to make the jelly soju cool and refreshing, so I soaked the jelly in soju and put it in the refrigerator.
Next was the fruit liquor, which is commonly sold in bars.
"I'll help you freshen your palate with a refreshing grapefruit liquor."
Fruit soju 2, light beer 1.
Finally, adding a little hongcho made for a pretty-colored, refreshing fruit liquor with a smooth finish.
"This is a drink made with sincerity, as a token of apology. Will you accept it?"
I naturally brought my face close to hers, gently handed her the glass, and placed it in her hand.
Her face turned red.
"D-don't think you can soften my heart with just this. Got it?"
It seemed like her heart was already half softened.