I'm in my suit on Wednesday l morning a week later- well, to be precise at 3:07am. The interview is at 8:00am but I'm setting off at 4:00 to make sure I get there on time. Beomseok promised to meet me at the train station, though I'd rather not see him at all- he's the whole reason why I'm in this mess. I don't care what I'll do or say when I get there, I'm hoping to fail anyway. I sigh and go off to eat breakfast (the earliest I've EVER eaten it) before calling an Uber to take me to the station. The driver asks me a lot of questions- what's my name, how old am I, what I'm doing this weekend,-and even tells me she'll try and be on duty to pick me up again if I'm back in town by at least 12. The train station is packed even though it's only 5:58am- people are running around and glancing at their watches, budging past me without looking back. When I catch my train I fall asleep the whole ride, still insecure that my hair is gelled out of my eyes in an "interview hairstyle" rather than my usual mop (what's the point, my hair doesn't decide if I get the job or not).
Beomseok is nowhere to be seen at the train station, so I ask for directions to the J.R building & some people stare at me as if asking "why does an ugly young man like you want to know where that posh place is?"
I finally get there and see Beomseok heading out of the entrance.
'YAH! Beomseok-hyung! Over here…!' I call.
He turns to me and stares in amazement.
'I thought you'd run late as usual and set off a little later….oh how did you get here??! I'm so, so sorry! Oh… you're so tall and handsome, when I last saw you you were so nerdy and fat!'
The comment gets me off guard, stabbing me and doubling my hidden pain.
'Haha!… thanks…you're stunning today hyung!' I lie. My old friend is as plain and lanky as ever, and he begins to talk non stop about the company, telling me what and what not to do.
'We have the ICIEST manager EVER! He's sooooo cold and he hates us all, he doesn't care how long you work for him, "week old employees should behave like decade old employees," he says. He-'
'But Beomseok, my job's really ok!' I insist, panicking.
'OH MY F-it's 7:49, your interview's coming up!' Beomseok takes me into the building, gets us through the security with his employee pass and we find ourselves in the lobby. It's full of smart-suits, lined with desks and there are elevators and escalators leading off here and there.
'Er…..Mrs. Kang!' Beomseok calls.
A pretty lady looks up from her computer desk and smiles.
'Mr. Han! Is this…'
'Hwang Yejoon, yes.' Beomseok interrupts. 'He's ready for his interview?!'
'Floor 81,' Mrs. Kang smiles.
'Arin, at least take him up!' Beomseok whines. 'I'm on a shift on floor 7!!!'
'Fine, fine,' Arin gets up and clicks on her heels up to me. 'Follow me, young man.'
I follow her up an escalator, down many corridors and up many elevators.
'So you're hoping to be a future employee here?'
'Uh no not really,' I say, but I murmur it so quietly that Arin looks at me expectantly.
'Yes Ma'am.'
'If we're going to be colleagues it's Mrs.Kang or Arin. Never call me Arin In front of our boss, though… he hates work friendships.' Arin whispers.
'Aah, I see.' I shudder. This boss sounds like a monster. 'T-thanks for the advice… I guess..?'
We walk the rest of the way in silence, then reach the interview room.
'Just go in there and give in your name and interview time and they'll give you one,' Arin pats my shoulder and mouths "good luck!"
I can't help feeling nervous as I push my way into the room. It's full of people, sitting as if in a conference or very important meeting.
Uh oh.
They stare as I enter.
'A….annyeonghaseyo..' I say quietly. A smart guy stands up and reaches out to shake my hand.
'Hwang Yejoon?' He asks.
'Yes sir,'
'Jeoneun Taeyong Imnida. Follow me, you're here for a job interview correct?'
'Yes sir.'
Taeyong walks fast from the room and I jog after him. A little way down the corridor he abruptly stops outside a waiting room.
Damn, not even Abba's old office was as strange as this! We go in and I wait in the chair Taeyong gestures to. It's 7:58 right now, I can't help feeling very scared I'll get late. 7:58:18…19…20...….39…40
I tap my knee nervously and the door opens.
'Hwang Ye-'
'That's me,' I shoot out of my seat and walk to the door.
'Good luck,' Taeyong whispers as I pass by.
I follow the lady who called me to the REAL interview room and hear the door close behind me after stepping in.
I'm doomed.
******
The first part of my interview is over!!
I was devastated to find that there's a 2nd part, but it's so hard to mess up because the staff are so intimidating.
Never in my LIFE have I been to a job interview as hectic as this. It's 9:59 and my next interview is at 1:00pm (sorry Uber driver). I decide to stray around town and drink some coffee for a few hours, but it's 12:45 before I even know it. I rush back to the office and ask for directions up and around the building. The boss' assistant comes to collect me (Beomseok, Taeyong and Arin are at lunch) and take me to his office. I never knew the interview was with HIM.
'Good luck,' she pushes me into the room and follows with a straight face.
'He's here, s-'
'You're supposed to hold the door for him.' A broad voice from somewhere in the room makes me flinch.
'Joesonghamnida Mr. Choi,' the girl bows.
'Leave.' Her boss orders.
'But-' she's about to object but then thinks twice. 'Ok, ok sir…'
She steps gingerly from the room and shuts the door carefully.
'Sit,' the boss barks.
I sit in the chair opposite him.
'Name?'
'Hwang Yejoon sir.'
He eyes me very coldly.
My first impression of this guy is he's unfriendly, rude, got a stinking attitude, no friends and he's…..very good looking too.
'You call me Mr. Choi.' He jeers. 'Naneun Choi Yeonjun Imnida.'
"WHAT A SLANG USING BIT*H," I think.
'Yes Mr. Choi.'
'What makes you think you're good enough for my company? I think you just graduated.'
'I er…..' I try to fabricate a reason.
'Aish, I HATE "er" people!' Yeonjun spits. 'Get to the point, you pre-schooler!'
'I'm actually not a pre-schooler!' I automatically get defensive of my maturity, but then realise it was a bad idea.
'Are you talking back to me?' Yeonjun says in a low growl. 'Jinjja?? You really think you want a job here when you can't follow rule no.1?'
'I don't know the rules of this dumb office!!!' I explode. 'Stop biting at me, and I wouldn't be talking when I look like I'm 15! I never wanted to be h-'
'Shut. Up.' Yeonjun interrupts me.
SILENCE.
'This office is the headquarters of all the offices in the country. Oh- and much bigger than your business…isn't it?'
Yeonjun's harsh words are a kick in the stomach- he knows not everyone is as fortunate as him and can afford such a big business-and he's attacking me by that.
'Joesonghamnida Mr. Choi.' I half whisper.
'What department would you like to work in?'
'D-department?!' Oh no, not this now.
Yeonjun glares at me as he pulls out his files.
'Hmm?'
'Uhm… could you…' I stammer. 'G-'
'Give you an example?? Someone doesn't know what job they even want,' Yeonjun smirks. 'I'm assuming you'll need a job that suits your needs yet also strength. This company is highly associated with the music arts, did you know?'
'Aniyo, Mr. Choi.'
'I doubt you do makeup,' Yeonjun sighs, flipping through his plastic file papers. 'Jewellery? Ever studied accounts? You can be a schedule manager. I bet you don't have any qualifications.' Yeonjun is enjoying playing with me. No one should be at this man's hands for mercy at all. 'Boy, tell me what you can or can't do!!'
'I Uhmmm….' I try to think. 'I…'
'There's a second assistant open space. But I can't handle seeing your face everyday…whatever. Fill this.' Yeonjun sneers, shoving a plastic paper at me. It has all the details of the job on it.
UH OH.
I'm in deep, ice cold water.
'Uhm….sir….I… Thankyou sir….'
Yeonjun is staring at me with bold beauty, and a look as if he's ready to suck the life out of me.
Is it just me, or are his eyes tinged red?
And
Well I know I'm gonna die with this boss.