Stranger

“If you can’t do it until midnight, you won’t get all the pay. But for the tip… To tell the truth, you will make a lot if you just smile. I guarantee it.”

“What’s the job?”

“What do you think? It’s serving as well. But you have to be tight-lipped.”

I glared at Han Juhyeok, who lowered his voice as if he were saying something meaningful. He looked very shallow, but it was me who was in a tight situation.

“Can I go there?”

“Erm… Actually, even I have to get permission first.”

He scratched his head with a dubious face, then threw the cigarette he was holding in his hand on the ground and put it out with his foot.

“Wanna go in first? I just need to ask my manager.”

There was a need to find out what kind of place this is. When I nodded, Han Juhyeok signaled with his chin and walked inside. I followed him down to the basement. 

When I opened the door and entered, there was a neat and classy wide space. On the surface, everything seemed normal, and it didn’t feel strange. It was just the same atmosphere as the exterior of the building and signboard.

Following Han Juhyeok, I entered the door behind the bar, and there were two doors. He entered one of the rooms. It was a small office inside, and there was a man sitting there.

“Manager!”

“Yeah. What is it?”

“What do you think of this friend?”

Han Juhyeok suddenly put his hand under my chin. After pulling my head a bit, the man’s gaze was on me.

“Who is he?”

“He’s my friend. Can he work on Saturday? He said he needs quick money.”

“On Saturday?”

The man furrowed his forehead and then scanned me. His gaze stayed on my face for quite a time. I didn’t like it, but I looked down slightly and waited.

“What do you think that place is? How can you bring him there?”

“Ay, Manager.”

Han Juhyeok acted cute. At a glance, the atmosphere was serious, but the man’s gaze wasn’t that stiff.

“Hey you, can you excuse us for just one moment?”

The man talked to me. I nodded and walked outside. While the door was closing, I heard questions like, is he useful and such.

I opened the closed door of the other room. Maybe it was a dressing room serving as a lounge as well, there was a locker and sofa. I closed it, then opened the door outside. A woman wearing the same uniform as Han Juhyeok was holding a tray of side dishes and drinks, serving customers. Surely, this didn’t look like a weird place, but it didn’t mean I could be completely at ease.

I heard the sound of the door, so I quickly straightened up. Han Juhyeok smirked and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. When I pulled away because it was uncomfortable, his arm fell off, but he didn’t seem to care.

“How about we talk somewhere quiet?”

Han Juhyeok led me to the lounge. I stood by the door so that I could go out at any time, and he sat on a bench-like chair in the middle.

“Have a sit.”

I ignored him and stayed at my place. Han Juhyeok continued on nonchalantly.

“First, it went well. I’ve been working here for quite some time after all.”

Han Juheyok pointed at himself with his thumb and grinned. It was a relief, but I didn’t really feel relieved.

“I’ll tell you the precautions first. Once the work starts, everything you see inside…”

After gathering his thumb and forefinger together, and bringing them to his lips, he drew in the air. I nodded at his pretense of zippering, but it was suspicious. What is there to keeping a secret like this?

“You will know once you are there, but there might be celebrities. The members are random, but you know, right? Entertainers, smiling brightly in the front and talking ill in the back. But you shouldn’t just spread it around, okay?”

“Fine.”

“And you have to be willing to do everything. Stay calm even if you’re offended. Kindness is basic, and you have to be daring to get tips just by serving. Well, I think it might be hard for you, but you just need to smile brightly.”

Han Juhyeok asked for my contact information. Once I told him my number, an address arrived through a message. The maps opened when I clicked the address, and it was a normal-looking restaurant.

[Closed this Saturday]

I looked up, and he told me to go to the restaurant’s basement. Restaurant’s basement. Something was fishy.

“Are you going too?”

“Yeah. Come by 6. Let’s go down together. We have to clean up, and I’ll pass on some of my know-how. Oh! I talked about it, but they can’t give you all the pay. Two hundred thousand. Is that okay?”

“Yeah. I can get more, right?”

“Yep. I made around one million there. You are lucky. It’s not a party that is always open.”

“Serving only?”

“Hmhm. Serving only.”

Even in the barbecue restaurant, sometimes there were old men who gave tips. Most of them were drunk, and he said that the tip should be shared among the employees, so the tip I got was only a few thousand won.

A million just by serving. I’ll have to put up with drunkards, and I’ll have to put up with insults. Can I do it? What will I do if I can’t?

I made eye contact with Han Juhyeok, who was looking at me. Looking at the blank face, I asked.

“But why are you doing this for me?”

It was rather awkward to call it goodwill. Is he thinking of introducing me to work and charging me for a commission or something like that?

Han Juhyeok opened his eyes wide and then smiled oddly.

“Erm… Truthfully, I thought I might meet you again someday. Doesn’t it feel good to know that I’m right?”

“Why?”

“Why does it feel good?”

“Why did you think we would meet?”

He replied with a fainter smile.

“All I learned is to steal, so what else can I do?”

Crazy bastard. I wasn’t curious nor wanted to hear him anymore. I turned around, opened the door, and left. Han Juhyeok followed me outside.

“It’s 6 p.m. on Saturday, okay? Don’t bring someone else. I only introduced you specially.”

I walked out of the building, leaving behind the frivolous voice. It was half past ten. I had to go back quickly.

I hurried up and got on the bus. I arrived home after 11 o’clock, and fortunately, there was no Yeon Woojeong.

After showering, I went upstairs and lay down. It felt like my body was being sucked under the bed. I didn’t feel tired, but my head was heavy. Yeon Woojeong would soon come, and I wanted to see him, but it might be hard if I see him. I didn’t lie nor did I do something bad, but if Yeon Woojeong knows, what kind of response will I see?

He might be disappointed if I told him I worked in a place like that. But Yeon Woojeong said… it won’t be the end even if he’s disappointed in me. I just need to not get caught and be a better person. This time can’t be helped anyway…

“All I learned is to steal, so what else can I do?”

I closed my eyes because I recalled what Han Juhyeok said once again. My body fell down heavily, but my mind was clear.

Not long after, I heard sounds downstairs. It’s Yeon Woojeong. Usually, I would obviously go down and see him, but somehow, it was hard to do it today. I pulled the blanket over to my chin.

I heard steps. The sounds in the living room moved to another place, and I heard the sound of the door opening twice. Yeon Woojeong’s movements were pictured in my head. He soon climbed the stairs.

The sound of Yeon Woojeong, who climbed to the second floor slowly and quietly, stopped for a while. The sound came again, and a weight was placed on one side of the bed.

Maybe he was looking at me? I could just open my eyes because I wasn’t asleep, but I hesitated to do that. I pondered whether to open my eyes or not. Suddenly, something poked my cheek.

It seemed to be Yeon Woojeong’s finger. His finger poked my cheek a few more times. Then I heard a small giggle.

… What is it?

Does he know that I’m up? I was grasping the situation, but his finger left and this time his palm covered my forehead. Yeon Woojeong brushed my hair carefully. The hair covering my forehead repeatedly went up and down following his hand.

Yeon Woojeong’s hand, which brushed my hair a few times, fell off. He didn’t leave.

What is Yeon Woojeong thinking and what kind of face he’s making? Even though I wanted to open my eyes to look at him, I stayed still because I didn’t want to break this moment.

He stayed for quite a long time. I didn’t fall asleep and felt Yeon Woojeong, who was by my side. It felt like my heart was choked.