Part-Time Job (7)
From the start, I'd only told them at home that I was doing a part-time job—no details on where, what, or how. Minhwan probably couldn't care less about what I was doing or where. But why the hell is he here all of a sudden?
Even if he knew where I worked, Minhwan wouldn't have given a damn, but ever since he buckled down for his senior year, I'd known he avoided these kinds of gatherings. With my cap pulled low and a big mask covering my face, I still knew instinctively. As he brushed past the entrance, that brief, intense glance—he'd clocked me. The flicker of surprise in his eyes told me he had no prior info on my job. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Doing something totally out of character. Nearly gave me a heart attack. Lucky or just obvious... since Minhwan pretended not to know me, I returned the favor without any awkwardness.
"Whoa... it's been forever since I've seen you drinking with Minhwan hyung like this."
"Haha! Yeah? You hold your liquor better now?"
"Psh, take it slow tonight and find out. You going all the way to the end, hyung?"
"We'll see, depending on how you guys hold up. Haha!"
As the meat hit each table and started sizzling, the upperclassmen grabbed their glasses and swarmed Minhwan for greetings.
Tch. My brother's popular as hell.
While the seniors bonded around Minhwan, swapping updates, the other side was still a battlefield of lingering male rivalries.
"Damn, Yuri, why'd you dress up so pretty today?"
"Yeah, I thought you were gorgeous before, but today you're straight-up crushing celebrities. Didn't you say some agency scouted you?"
".......That was ages ago."
The table crowding around Yuri was chaos.
Tch. Yuri's got fans too.
I scanned the other tables. Paired up guy-girl like some obligatory setup, the awkwardness hung thick. A few tried forcing the energy up, but no real buzz.
Bottom line: booze'll fix it.
"Alright, everyone, listen up. This is the Economics Department new semester kickoff—our first chance to meet the folks we'll study with. Glasses up—toast!"
The student council president raised his glass for the toast, and finally, the vibe started picking up. From there, the energy snowballed, and I got slammed.
"Two more bottles of soju here. Oh, and three beers too."
"Yes, right away."
"Three portions of pork belly, please."
"Coming right up."
Amid the frenzy, no one was being a pain—thank god. Familiar faces, even buzzed, kept it polite.
All but one.
"Meat here."
".....What kind of meat can I get you?"
"Tasty meat."
".........."
I scowled hard under my mask as she tapped her glass and poked the grill with her chopsticks, but Yuri didn't give a shit.
"Booze too."
"What kind?"
"Not bitter booze."
"..........Grind."
Younghwan stepped in laughing, keeping me from snapping, but being near Yuri's table had my heart racing like I was on the verge of a breakdown.
And then there were the less blatant but still stressful types.
"Pork belly here."
The table I dropped it at? Minhwan and the seniors—including that asshole from orientation who'd ragged on me. Cap low, head down, I set the food and turned to bolt.
"So, hyung, graduation means marrying your girlfriend right away?"
"Marriage? Nah, not jumping there yet. Just talking about maybe moving in together, you know, taking it up a notch."
"Whoa? Cohabitating already?"
"Not 'planning' or anything. Don't even know where I'll work. My girl's at a company in Seongsu-dong, so we've gotta figure out distance and all that."
Seongsu-dong? Moving in?
"If you're that sure, introduce her already. Hate getting a wedding invite without seeing sis-in-law first."
"Haha! Next time. I'll bring her. You won't be disappointed—she's fucking gorgeous."
"Ooooh, classic Minhwan hyung."
I lingered a second too long before shuffling back to the counter.
Haaa... fuck.
No denial. Yeon noona worked at an ad agency in Seongsu-dong. If he was talking like that, the rice was fully cooked.
Fuck... I'd even picked out White Day gifts for her—'friendly little bro present' candies and perfume. Pricey shit, so I scraped my allowance and grabbed this gig on impulse.
The boss called me over, noticing my funk.
"Seonghwan? Something wrong? Your face just hardened up."
"Huh? Nah... but with the mask, how'd you see my face?"
"Couldn't see your face, but that table was calling you and you spaced out ignoring them."
"Huh?"
I whipped around—Yuri's table, Younghwan and Hanjin waving me over. My face crumpled.
Fuck. Know when to butt in and when not to.
I trudged over. Younghwan raised his hand, offering a glass. I leaned in low so other tables wouldn't hear.
"Hyung, I'm working—kinda awkward with this."
"Pfft. You think I'm that clueless? Does this look like booze?"
"Ah......"
Cola. We'd shared a few classes, so he was looking out—touched me a bit.
"Thanks, then."
I glanced at Yuri, but she was glued to her phone, ignoring me.
Thought she'd bitch about docking pay for the drink. She'd totally pull that.
Gulp gulp.
"Whoa... perfect timing, I was thirsty. Thanks a ton."
"Heh. Tough night, huh? Big crowd. But looks like the seniors are shuttling between here and the makchang place soon. Hang in there—no more orders coming, just booze flowing."
Comfort like that made Younghwan grow on me.
First day seemed like he only cared for Yuri, but guy's got a good heart deep down...
As I sipped the drink he'd poured and chatted briefly, Yuri stood from her phone.
"Gonna hit the bathroom."
"Yeah? Cool, we'll hold the spot."
"Nah, it'll take a bit. Gotta call home, fix my makeup..."
"Makeup? You're already way past perfect—"
"I'll be back."
Younghwan watched her go, then whispered to Hanjin.
"Man, every time I see Yuri lately, she looks hotter by the day, right?"
Hanjin nodded.
"Totally showed up dressed to kill today—crushed every other girl's vibe. Felt bad for them. Thought she was just saying hi quick to run meet her boyfriend or something. Blind date at least."
"Nah. Asked a few times—no boyfriend. Never even dated."
"Whoa... real solo then? For real? Not capping? Leaving that face untouched is the real crime."
"Untouched? She builds her own fortress."
"Fair..."
Overhearing, I thought:
I'm the one worshipping the solo queen, begging for pics, waiting on her KakaoTalks—what the hell am I doing?
Ridiculous.
Sure enough, once the booze flowed and stomachs filled, orders dried up. By 8 PM, everyone was laughing, barriers gone.
"Hey, send some snacks from the makchang crew and circulate glasses."
"Nah, we'll go. Girls over there too—guys, let's move. Up!"
"Girls? Just juniors. Oh yeah, our dept pride, Korea U's top beauty... who was it? Yuri? Yeah?"
"Yep. Saw her earlier—mind blown. Thought she was pretty at first sight, but today? Full celeb. Jumped off a screen, I'd buy it. Where'd she go?"
"Makchang place? Let's head over. Wanted to chat with her forever, but booze started fast and got stuck here."
"Bullshit... grab your glasses. Move."
The guys passed me, chattering out the door. I glanced at the bathroom corner without thinking.
Did Yuri come out? Didn't see her... Would she bolt straight to makchang right after?
I spaced out, then checked Younghwan's table. They were buzzed red-faced, yapping.
I walked over. "Other folks shuttling to makchang—you guys not going?"
"Huh? Oh, Seonghwan. Nah, we'll hold it down here."
"Yeah, we're not the type to swarm pouring shots. Plus Yuri's shy. She invited us first today."
"Puhaha! My doing. As leader, hooked her up—best seat, class notes sometimes. Even greets me in lectures. Ignores others. Hot."
"Funny, asshole? Licking her toes next."
"What, you prick?"
Something felt off. "Yuri hasn't come back?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, she's late. Wouldn't ghost without saying. Look for her?"
"Dumbass, you don't hunt girls in the bathroom. Let her shit or primp—man up and ignore. Idiot."
"Acting all high and mighty, fuck. Who'd think you got game? Virgin vibes."
"Shut it. Girls at other tables. 8 PM and you're wasted?"
I checked the wall clock.
Just 8? Started 6:30—short and intense. Could be washing up by 9? Hour left...
I watched them bicker, turned for the counter—but paused.
Wait, what?
Clock again. 8 o'clock?
I yanked out my phone, searched KakaoTalk gallery.
Gulp.
2024 March 12, 8 PM
Men's restroom
Fuck?
My eyes shot to the bathroom corner.
No way...?