Hamster's Name
"Missing Shin Serin already?"
Shin Serin was so full of pride—if she'd been at that mud festival, it would've cracked her psyche wide open.
"Having a target for revenge is the best motivation. It gets your heart racing."
I'd never forget my target for revenge. Existing simultaneously in T-16 and the real world? Perfect—double the payback.
The commotion from the neighbor's place kept going. With the police chief and prosecutor general at a drug party, no one was calling the cops.
They were scrambling out of the bathroom, fleeing like rats. Some even rang my doorbell because theirs was overflowing.
The wall pad showed the prosecutor general, looking flustered. The police chief was right behind him.
I had zero desire to lend them my bathroom. I watched the chaos through the peephole.
Secretaries were rushing up with fresh clothes. Others brought blankets and towels. They slunk away from the 15th floor as stealthily as possible.
It took about an hour for things to quiet down.
They'd faint if they knew about the SNS live stream and YouTube videos. Views were already over 100 million.
But it got flagged as inappropriate and taken down.
"What the hell? Who uploaded it to Pornhub?"
It had gone up on Pornhub—bigger reach than YouTube.
"You're fucked, you bastards."
I flipped on the TV, and the Gangnam mud festival was leading the news. Even the Jo Seok Daily, which hated the Dongju Times, made it their headline.
The hyped-up anchor was IDing each mosaic-blurred figure, pronouncing their social deaths one by one.
"Kukuku..."
Cops showed up late, as expected. But investigations of the elite? Yeah, right.
I knew why drug probes never happened here. It's a nation of laws, but they don't get punished by them.
What scares them isn't the law—it's social death.
Less than ten hours left on the countdown.
Suddenly, I thought of Hamster. Stomach growling, I figured I'd grab some convenience store grub.
Ding-a-ling— The door chimed open, and Hamster beamed at me.
[0, 0, 0]
This world was definitely nothing like the Shells' realm. Her fresh, sparkling eye-smile tugged my lips up automatically.
"Sunbae! You're here!"
Cute as hell. Not the blank-faced Joker-smile version. That beaming eye-crinkled grin. Adorably insane.
"You haven't been switching shifts lately. Did that night guy quit?"
"Yeah. Barely any customers around here anyway—he just bailed, heehee. Can't hire just anyone."
The Shells' world was clearly a copy of this one.
"Haven't seen that lady buying wine lately..."
"...We got divorced."
"For real???"
I'd dropped the divorce bomb to gauge her reaction, and she couldn't hide her glee. Realizing she'd overdone it, Hamster pursed her lips, cheeks flushing pink.
Yep, she had feelings for me. Without the dopamine experiments in the Shells' world, I might've missed it.
She liked me more than I'd thought.
And why I was a bad guy.
"But I just realized... I've never asked your name."
"Yu-jeong. U Yu-jeong. Took you a year and a half."
"Park Woojin."
"Duh, I knew that. I was a regular at your chef spot! Loved that aglio e olio. Chef Park!"
Someone actually loving my cooking? Touching.
"You sticking with the convenience store?"
"Opened it to stalk Chef Park. Parents handed it over, sure! Kekeke."
Yu-jeong's laugh was hearty. Who knew Hamster could flirt?
"Haha. Cute stalker."
I naturally reached out and patted her head. Caught off guard, Hamster—no, Yu-jeong—blushed to her ears and shrugged her shoulders.
"Eek."
It was habit from petting her in the Shells' world. She stuck out her tongue, delighted despite the surprise. No resistance to my touch.
"Eaten yet?"
"Nope. Kinda hungry, heehee."
Her being a customer at my restaurant? Loving aglio e olio? Thrilling.
I speak woman fluently. That was her signal for "let's eat together."
I slowly picked ingredients: spaghetti, a pack of peeled garlic, small olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper. Parsley, and 1.5L water.
Rang it up.
"Whoa, aglio e olio stuff?"
Yu-jeong clocked it instantly, reaching for a plastic bag.
"No bag."
"Huh??"
"Mind if I use the stove? You got a frying pan in the back?"
In the Shells' world, I'd cooked for her. She'd devoured it. I knew she loved my food.
"Huh? Oh, sure!"
"Gotta ventilate—I'll crack the back door."
She caught on, cheeks blazing.
"No way..."
"Way. Thanks for being a regular. Been a while since I flexed."
"Ooh?"
"Was gonna eat alone at home, but with Yu-jeong? Sounds good. No dinner plans, right?"
"Wooow!!! Such an honor, Chef Park!"
Worried she'd balk, but she was thrilled.
I headed to the staff kitchenette. Imagining petite Yu-jeong eating here cracked me up. Perfect fit for her size.
Grabbed and wiped the frying pan. Set a pot of water boiling.
While waiting, prepped garlic. Took three cloves, smashed 'em flat with the knife heel.
Thwack—skins peeled right off.
"Garlic scent already—love it," Yu-jeong peeked in, face lit up.
Sliced the peeled cloves thin. Crisp tap-tap on the board, sharp-sweet aroma filling the air.
"Whoa, that rhythm in your knife work!"
Water boiling—pinch of salt, spaghetti in. Floury scent rose as it danced.
"Aglio e olio's garlic and olive oil pasta. Simple ingredients, complex flavor."
Poured oil into the pan—golden sheen on silver. Low heat, fruity olive notes rising.
Added slices. Sizzle.
"Hear that? Garlic meeting oil."
She watched wide-eyed. Garlic shifted: white to gold to brown, scent sharpening then sweetening. Air thick with nutty garlic.
"Whoa, first time smelling this," she sniffed eagerly.
Checked pasta—drained, saved some water. Tossed into pan with pasta water. Louder hiss.
Shook the pan—even coating. Pasta gleamed, caramelized garlic gems nestled in.
"Finishing touch: salt, pepper."
Spices in, then torn parsley—green flecks on gold.
"Done."
Plated on white: glossy strands, jeweled garlic, vibrant green.
"Whoa, that quick? Magic!"
Two plates to the front plastic table. Set chairs, called her.
"Yu-jeong-ah, come eat. Watch for customers too."
"Yesss! Lucky my sunbae's a famous chef!"
She plopped down, beaming. Fork-twirled pasta clung perfectly.
I bit in—sweet garlic, silky oil.
She felt it too.
"Whoa..." Eyes closed. "This taste... so good! Garlic this sweet?!"
The plastic table felt like an Italian village bistro, warm and aromatic. Sunlit gold glowed brighter.
"Real Italy at a Korean convenience store."
She grinned. I smirked.
Meal done in 20 minutes, but our chill date lingered. Until a college kid buying smokes interrupted.
Learned tons about Yu-jeong. Saving for abroad—dream: NASA. Korea University physics major. Quantum mechanics specialist. Elite genius hub.
Cleared the table, back inside. Wanted more talk.
"Whoa, customer again?" Her tease got a chuckle.
After he left, I asked what bugged me. Jejeop explained, but quantum trap? Fuzzy.
"Quantum trap—isolated quantum superposition space? Got Beelzebub the demon in one... but lost."
She blinked, gauging if I was joking. Read my face, grinned, dove in.
"Cool concept. Quantum superposition—Schrödinger's cat, right?"
She geeked out, but I grasped only bits. Rephrased my take.
"So, as observer, my observation locks Beelzebub's isolation?"
"Yep! Observer's will shifts the trapped state—particle or wave."
"Could I data-ize Beelzebub by will? Absorb its powers?"
"Dunno if demons exist... but yeah. Observation collapses state. Treat entity as particle, data as wave—extract info only."
I nodded. Micro-world possibilities endless.
"Got a quantum trap in me. Beelzebub's inside. Too powerful to release—wonder if I can siphon its power."
She pffted, covered mouth. Pitying look, then shook head.
"Hard to believe, but you're serious! So: threaten it. You control its state."
I grabbed her cheeks, pecked her forehead on impulse.
"Kyaa!"
Blushed beet-red to ears.
"Ah... sorry, sorry."
"Sunbae... even if I like you... still... hiiing."
"Sorry!!"
Prayed hands, bowed. She shook head, hid face.
"I'm a girl too. Hate being 'cute lil sis'."
"Huh?? Never thought that."
Neck flushed, pupils shaking. Pouted, gulp, looked up.
"Date next time. Then forgiven!"
She saw our chat and meal as a date. Felt bad there.
"Yeah. Date again."
"Promise?" Pinky out.
Hooked mine.
"Stamp."
Thumbs bumped, she giggled. So lovable—especially knowing she liked me.
"Wanna learn more quantum mechanics."
"I'll explain simple!"
Her lecture flew by—no customers, just us. Date-ish?
Girls love talking a lot in dates. Hers hooked me—crystal clear. Queried unknowns.
Even dinner: truffle oil pasta from Shells' world. Home-sourced ingredients.
"Too honored,