ALL NOVEL chapter 7
7 – Part-time Job
After seeing Ara off, I changed my clothes.
Today was the day I planned to have a convenience store interview.
Having been idling like an unemployed person for a while, I decided to work because my labor DNA couldn’t bear it.
Since I was planning to attend college concurrently, it seemed like I would focus on weekends and breaks.
Well, since the school and home were close, Ara eventually agreed.
“Squeak….”
Putting on my shoes and stepping outside, the warm sunlight embraced me.
It seems luck is on my side.
***
Due to the sudden resignation of a part-timer involved in a relationship, I had no choice but to urgently find a new part-timer.
And it happened to be during the weekend rush.
“It seems like you graduated not too long ago… but since you got your guardian’s permission, it should be okay.”
While saying that, I heard that they also had experience working at a convenience store.
These days, there are kids overflowing with such determination.
When he said he was coming for an interview, I was quite impressed.
I’m only twenty-six myself, running a convenience store, but it’s common for young people to work part-time from the age of seventeen, relying on their parents’ allowance to study.
“What worries me a bit is that he’s a guy, so you never know…”
Crime often happens involving men, so it’s inevitable to be cautious.
Of course, this place is quite safe, being surrounded by schools and apartment complexes, but running a convenience store could still pose some risks, couldn’t it?
Like suddenly getting hit by a car.
Or being threatened by a robber with a knife.
Or someone might threaten while holding a bottle of gasoline.
“Just in case, we should strengthen the security system a bit.”
And I nodded my head.
As expected, it’s better to prepare for safety in advance rather than regretting later.
While I was thinking like that, someone entered the convenience store.
“Wow… he’s handsome.”
He’s on a level that could rival a celebrity.
To be honest, I wish he could be the face of our convenience store.
Just having someone like him sitting at a checkout counter could bring in many more customers, they say.
But we’ve already hired staff… so I let out a sigh with a tinge of regret.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes? Oh, I’m sorry. Are you looking for a specific brand of cigarettes?”
A customer came in, but I was lost in thought.
Disqualified as a manager.
I wiped the drool around my mouth with my sleeve and asked him for the cigarettes he was looking for.
But the man smiled awkwardly and waved his hand, saying it wasn’t that.
“It’s not that, I have a student coming for an interview today…”
“Yes… Yes? An…interview?”
“Well…I was told he would come now…”
What luck is this?
A handsome guy like this working at a convenience store?
Even if it’s a bit illegal, with a face that could earn millions a month if he went in that direction… Wait, didn’t he graduate recently?
It’s not like that, even if he were to work as a fitting model right now, he’s a guy worth taking, even if I have to beg him to come, but he’s working at a convenience store??
For a moment, my head went blank.
At that moment, the man, for whatever reason, talked around his circumstances.
“I’m sorry. Did I come too early? I’ll come back later…”
“Oh…no! I was just surprised for a moment. Come this way.”
“Yes…”
I was momentarily flustered, but I couldn’t let such a handsome man slip away.
Finally, a flower blooms in my life.
The day this man stands at the cash register, the sales will skyrocket several times over.
“For now, I’ll take a look at your ID and resume.”
“Here you are.”
“Let’s see, born in ’98… name is Yoo Sung-hwan… huh?”
On the certificate, there was a category not for his parents and siblings but for himself and ‘spouse.’
Spouse?
“Are you married, by any chance?”
“Yes? Yes. I’m married.”
Indeed, a man like this must have a woman waiting at home.
It was a bit disappointing.
With such a handsome man, it wouldn’t hurt to try a little charm…
I’ve heard I’m quite attractive too…
Still, I’ve succeeded in getting the top-notch part-time job, so I should be satisfied.
Yet, with a slightly disappointed heart, I let out a deep sigh.
“Ha…ah……”
“Boss? Is there any problem?”
“No, no, it has nothing to do with Mr. Sung-hwan… When can you start working?”
“I can start right away from this week.”
“Then, could you start working from this weekend?”
Though the employer-employee relationship seemed to have changed, if I can hire someone with this level of looks, why not?
The part-timer seemed to have a pleasant personality as well.
“I appreciate you hiring me for the part-time job. I’ll do my best.”
So, that was the end of my first encounter with him.
By the way, was his wife’s name ‘Song Ara’…
It couldn’t be that ‘Song Ara,’ could it…?
***
“Sis, I passed the part-time job interview.”
“Oh, really? Honestly, I didn’t want you to work, but I had to allow it because it’s what you wanted, Seonghwa.”
“Thank you. Just staying still feels a bit suffocating.”
Ara let out a bitter smile and then chuckled.
It meant she knew my personality well.
“So, you’ll be going every weekend?”
“Yes. From 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.”
“I finish around that time on weekends too, so I’ll come pick you up.”
“It’s okay… Sis, you must be tired too, right?”
“How nice would it be to go grocery shopping and have fun together? Let’s do that.”
“Okay. Thank you, sis.”
As a sign of my affection, I kissed her on the cheek.
She had a slightly sullen expression, but when I kissed her cheek, it felt like her lips curved up, not in a misperception, but in reality.
“Setting that aside, the food was delicious today. How did you make this?”
“You marinate the chicken legs in a solution of salt and sugar, then season and bake them in the oven.”
“Hmm… So, you can actually make buffalo wings from scratch.”
While doing so, the sight of him putting each chicken wing and drumstick into his mouth and dismantling them felt a bit peculiar.
Thinking of the mouth that bites and sucks me at night, it’s like a pervert…
He’s truly turned into a perverted bastard.
“Ah… I’ve finished eating.”
“There’s still a lot left, so take your time. I’ll bring out more.”
“As expected of Seonghwan… your sense is different.”
Ara made a considerable amount because she had a lot to eat.
By the way, since we ate all the Altari radish and cabbage yesterday (half of it was taken by Eunji), we bought a large quantity and filled the refrigerator.
After eating all the food, washing up, I lay down on the bed.
Today, I’m exhausted from preparing the Altari radish, so I don’t have the strength to do anything else.
“Noona… let me rest today.”
“Ah… alright. Do I ever force you to do things when you don’t want to?! But still!?”
She chuckled.
It’s been four days since that insatiable desire, but does he not remember?
Lying down with the TV on, there was a slightly suggestive scene.
It wasn’t about biting, sucking, or thrusting, but the vibe was peculiar.
He can create such an atmosphere.
“Seonghwan…”
Looking at Ara, his eyes were bloodshot, as if the ignition was on.
Even though I said no for today…
“I’ll stay still, so just kiss me.”
“Got it!”
I remained tied up like a doll, receiving kisses until I fell asleep.
My lips hurt…
***
“Hello! Starting today, I’m the part-timer for the morning shift.”
“Oh, hello. Are you Mr. Yoo Seonghwan? I heard about it.”
After receiving some instructions from the early shift senior,
I put on the uniform vest.
Hmm~ Wearing a uniform after a long time.
Somehow, my mind feels calm.
Customers who throw money around.
Customers who don’t come back, claiming they forgot their ID.
And even customers who conceptually run away after placing ramen between the shelves.
Memories of experiencing various customers flooded back.
… Is this a hidden camera prank?
After finishing a possible periodic check, I started organizing the items.
Thanks to the early shift part-timer sister, there wasn’t much for me to do,
but can a convenience store really be that quiet?
In the time it took to quickly clear the tables outside, mess them up, calculate, and deal with various tasks,
time passed in the blink of an eye.
“Phew… Let’s take a break…”
Has the convenience store within the apartment complex always been this busy?
It was so relentless that it almost drove me crazy.
It was on a whole different level from the convenience stores I’d experienced before.
It wasn’t some kind of SF fantasy dealing with dimensional beings…
“Well… The boss said we’re free to eat as much as we want…”
Back at the convenience store before coming to this world, it was strictly 4,000 won.
But here, it’s a whopping!!
We can eat as much as we want!!
I was so moved at that moment, I almost shed tears.
For someone like me, a poor orphan, each meal was precious, so even now that I’m well-off, tears still come to my eyes.
“This is what they call labor promotion. I hope those greedy store owners learn a thing or two from seeing this.”
As I ate a cup of ramen and two triangular kimbaps, I nodded my head.
…Even though the food is unlimited, it’s a bit overwhelming to just grab anything and eat it…
Slurp… Slurp…
As I was savoring the kimbap and ramen, a customer came and shoved everything into the pot.
“Gulp… Gulp…”
I feel like I’m going to choke.
At times like this, I need to soothe my throat with some ramen broth…
“Hey, you finished already?”
“Yeah… That will be 7800 won. Do you have a rewards card?”
“No, I don’t.”
After taking the card and completing the payment, she handed it back to me.
But it seemed like the customer had no intention of leaving and was just staring at my face in place.
“Have this while you’re at it. Cheers!”
“Huh? Um… excuse me…”
I could only stare dumbfounded as the high school girl who handed me the coffee ran off.
What the heck?
I’ve never received such a gift before, so I was just bewildered.
Is this some kind of common gift-giving tactic in this community?
“Huh? What’s this now?”
There was a post-it note stuck behind the coffee, and a phone number was written on it.
Huh…?
Do I have a pretty appealing face?