"Why are you so quiet?"
Minji gently nudged Zoya, who was sitting beside her in class. Across the row, Sophia looked over, too, concern flickering in her eyes.
The morning had started like any other.
The five girls had eaten breakfast together, laughed over small things, and headed to the university. Two lectures had passed one after another, but just like yesterday, the other lecture had been cancelled. The second day of the Busan TBS Concert was underway, and the university had granted students a three-day leave from other lectures to enjoy the event.
"Nothing, Minji. I'm fine."
Zoya slipped her laptop into her bag and avoided her friend's gaze.
"No, you're not fine. Yesterday—"
Before Minji could finish, Zoya cut her off.
"Minji, I'm okay. What happened yesterday? I don't even remember. Look at me. Do I seem unwell?"
Minji stared at her.
To anyone else, Zoya looked completely normal.
Maybe too normal.
That was exactly what worried Minji.
After everything that had happened yesterday, after Jeon.J's words, there should have been some trace of it on her face. Some sadness. Some anger. Some hurt.
But there was nothing.
As if she had carefully hidden every crack.
Before Sophia could ask another question, Minji decided it was better to let the subject die.
She watched as Zoya stood.
With her eyes, she silently asked, Where are you going?
Zoya slung her bag over her shoulder.
"I have to go somewhere. I have an interview today. It's important, and I really hope I get the job. Please take notes for the last lecture and send them to me later."
She took a step back.
"And stop asking questions. I'm fine."
Then she turned to leave.
Halfway to the door, she stopped and looked back.
"You all are going to the concert again today, right?"
"Yes!"
Sophia nearly bounced out of her seat.
"We booked VIP access for all three days!"
"Sophia's words made both girls instinctively look around the classroom. Luckily, no one was there. The rest of the students had already stepped outside, leaving the room empty."
Both Zoya and Minji laughed at her excitement.
"Aren't you coming?" Sophia asked.
"Of course I am. Wherever you guys go, I'll go too, for you, with you.
Her smile was warm.
Natural.
Perfect.
Minji noticed every detail of it and hated how convincing it looked.
"Then when will you be free?" Minji asked carefully.
"I'll come to the stadium later. You all go ahead first."
"But how? Yesterday we went together. "Just call me when you arrive," Minji said carefully.
"Okay." A soft smile appeared on Zoya's lips. Then she walked away.
Minji watched her disappear through the classroom door.
And for some reason, the space she left behind felt heavier than before.
The moment Zoya stepped outside the classroom, the smile vanished.
The version of herself she had shown inside the classroom disappeared.
Zoya inhaled slowly and forced herself to remain composed.
"I won't trouble any of you anymore."
The words echoed inside her mind.
She headed toward the bus stop.
Finding a self-comfort job in Busan had proven far more difficult than she had expected. After weeks of searching, today's use of Ji-Ho's reference felt like her best chance.
The address she carried belonged to the restaurant Ji-Ho had told her about.
Maybe today would finally be different.
Maybe today she would be hired.
Hana and Ruhi had also submitted applications at a few places, but they were still lost in the excitement of the concert. But they manage all things then her. Their families supported them financially when needed, and whenever possible, they helped Minji with her online work to earn extra money.
One thing made their friendship special.
None of them competed against each other.
No jealousy.
No superiority.
No wounded egos.
When one succeeded, everyone celebrated.
Maybe that was why they had remained together for so long.
____________________________
An hour later, she reached the front of an elegant building.
Zoya stepped off and checked the address written on the card.
Her eyes moved to the golden sign above the entrance.
The names matched.
This was the place.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the glass doors and entered.
Warm light immediately welcomed her.
The restaurant looked less like a workplace and more like something from a luxury magazine.
A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, scattering soft golden reflections across polished marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the streets of Busan, allowing streams of afternoon sunlight to pour inside.
Fresh white lilies decorated every corner.
The scent of coffee, grilled steak, and expensive perfume blended in the air.
Near the centre stood a grand black piano, while quiet instrumental music floated through hidden speakers.
Everything looked elegant.
Refined.
Far beyond anything Zoya had imagined.
Trying not to look intimidated, she approached the reception desk.
"Excuse me," she said politely. "May I meet Mr Kang Hyun-Woo?"
The receptionist offered a professional smile.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Zoya's confidence wavered.
"No... but if you give him this card, I think he'll recognise it."
She handed over Ji-Ho's card.
The receptionist examined it.
"Please wait a moment."
She disappeared through a private hallway.
Zoya was left alone in the waiting area.
She sat down carefully on a cream-colored sofa and clasped her hands together.
Her eyes wandered across the luxurious restaurant.
A few businessmen were discussing deals near the windows.
Waiters moved gracefully between tables.
Glasses sparkled beneath the chandelier lights.
Everything felt expensive.
Everything felt out of place.
And for the first time since entering—
Zoya wondered if she belonged here at all.
Upstairs, behind a frosted glass office door, Kang Hyun-Woo was reviewing a few documents when the receptionist entered.
"Sir, someone is here to see you."
She placed a business card on his desk.
Kang Hyun-Woo glanced at it.
The moment he recognized the name, a small smile appeared on his face.
"Ji-Ho?"
He leaned back slightly.
It had been months since he had last met the young chef. They weren't particularly close, but Ji-Ho had left a good impression on him during a gathering hosted by a mutual acquaintance.
"A young woman brought it," the receptionist explained.
"Did she mention why she's here?"
"No, sir."
Kang Hyun-Woo nodded thoughtfully before placing the card on his desk.
"Alright. Ask her to come in after five minutes."
"Yes, sir."
The receptionist bowed and quietly left.
Five minutes later, a soft knock sounded on the office door.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
Zoya stepped inside.
The office was spacious yet elegant. A wall of glass overlooked the city, while shelves filled with culinary awards and framed photographs lined one side of the room.
For a moment, she felt nervous.
"Hello, sir."
Kang Hyun-Woo offered a polite smile. He was around 40 to 50
"Please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
Zoya sat carefully across from him.
His gaze briefly shifted to the card lying on his desk.
"You came with Ji-Ho's card."
"Yes, sir."
"How do you know him?"
"I'm a student in Busan. I went to Seoul during my holidays. I worked for a short period at White Bowl Kitchen. I wanted to learn properly because I don't really have professional experience yet.
Recognition flickered across Kang Hyun-Woo's face.
"And Ji-Ho recommended you?"
Zoya nodded.
"He told me to come here and apply for a job."
Kang Hyun-Woo folded his hands on the desk.
"What kind of job are you looking for?"
"A position in the kitchen, sir. As a chef."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You have experience?"
"Not much."
Zoya smiled awkwardly.
"I only worked for a short time. I had to return to Busan because my studies were being affected."
"I see."
"But during that time, I learned a lot."
"What did you do there?"
"At first, mostly preparation work."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"My vegetable-cutting skills were good, so I was usually assigned to the kitchen prep area. While working, I also learned from the head chef and the rest of the kitchen staff."
"I see."
Kang Hyun-Woo leaned back in his chair.
"What made you choose cooking?"
The question caught her off guard.
She thought for a second.
"Because it makes people happy."
Kang Hyun-Woo raised an eyebrow.
"And that's enough reason?"
"For me... yes."
The answer was simple.
Honest.
And somehow, it made him more interested than any rehearsed interview response could have.
"So, Ji-Ho believes you can work in my kitchen?"
A small laugh escaped Zoya.
"I don't know if he believes that, sir. You'll have to ask him."
For the first time, Kang Hyun-Woo chuckled.
That answer alone told him more about her personality than several pages of recommendations ever could.
"White Bowl Kitchen one of the famous and tasteful places in Seoul, and Mr Donghyun, the father of Ji-Ho, is the nicest person in Seoul. Kang Hyun-Woo said with a smile.
"Yes, sir." Do you know Mr Donghyun? Zoya asked with surprise.
Kang Hyun-Woo nodded.
"Who doesn't know him? The entire country knows him. They knew him before, and they know him now." Kang Hyun-Woo paused mid-sentence, a faint smile appearing on his lips before he shook his head. "Never mind."
"So you're still learning."
"Yes, sir."
For a moment, Kang Hyun-Woo remained silent.
Then he nodded.
"Whether we hire someone or not isn't actually my responsibility. That decision belongs to the restaurant manager."
Zoya's expression fell slightly.
"But..."
The older man glanced at Ji-Ho's card resting on his desk.
"You came here through Ji-Ho's recommendation. He's not someone who gives his card to just anyone."
A little hope returned to her face.
"So I'll personally introduce you."
"Thank you, sir."
Kang Hyun-Woo picked up the receiver on his desk and dialed an internal number.
"Please come to my office."
A brief pause.
"Yes, now."
He put the receiver down.
"Wait a moment."
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and a man in his late thirties stepped inside.
He wore a neat black suit and carried a tablet in one hand.
"Sir?"
"Manager Choi Min-Seok," Kang Hyun-Woo said, gesturing toward Zoya. "Please have a seat."
The manager nodded politely before sitting down.
"This is Miss Zoya. She has some kitchen experience and was recommended by Ji-Ho from White Bowl Kitchen."
At the mention of Ji-Ho's name, Manager Choi's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Ji-Ho recommended her personally?"
"Yes."
Kang Hyun-Woo smiled faintly.
Manager Choi turned toward Zoya.
Manager Choi Min-Seok glanced at the tablet in his hand before speaking.
"Sir, at the moment there aren't any openings in the kitchen."
Zoya's heart sank slightly.
"However," he continued, "we do have a temporary vacancy."
Kang Hyun-Woo looked at him.
"Our waitress, Kim Na-Ri, has taken leave for a few weeks due to a family matter. If Miss Zoya is willing to cover her position temporarily, I can manage things until another opening becomes available."
The room fell silent.
Kang Hyun-Woo turned his gaze toward Zoya.
He didn't say anything.
But the look in his eyes clearly asked:
What would you like to do?
Zoya hesitated before answering.
"Actually... I don't want to work as a waitress."
Her voice was quiet but honest.
Manager Choi nodded patiently.
"I understand. But this would only be for a short time."
Seeing her uncertainty, he continued explaining.
"To be honest, most of our staff are university students. Except for the chefs, we don't keep permanent employees for every position. Students come, work for a few months, then leave after graduation or when their schedules change."
He offered a reassuring smile.
"If you work with us for now, there's a good chance a kitchen position will become available soon."
Zoya lowered her eyes.
"It isn't the work itself that's the problem."
"Then?"
For the first time, Manager Choi looked at her carefully.
"I'm not comfortable wearing a waitress uniform."
A brief silence followed.
"Uniform?"
"Yes."
Manager Choi exchanged a glance with Kang Hyun-Woo.
"The standard uniform?"
Zoya nodded.
The restaurant's female service staff wore a fitted white blouse paired with a black knee-length skirt, a tailored vest, and a waist apron. It was elegant and professional, perfectly suitable for the restaurant's image.
But it wasn't something Zoya could comfortably wear.
Only then did Manager Choi properly notice her appearance.
Her loose sleeves.
The modest clothing.
The carefully and gently covered head.
Understanding immediately crossed his features.
"Ah..."
Now he understood.
It wasn't stubbornness.
It wasn't arrogance.
She had personal boundaries she wasn't willing to compromise.
Manager Choi leaned back thoughtfully.
"I see."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Kang Hyun-Woo folded his arms and looked at the manager.
"Well, Min-Seok?"
A faint smile appeared on the older man's face.
"Surely a restaurant as large as ours can find another solution."
"Min-Seok," Kang Hyun-Woo said, glancing at the manager, "she came here through Ji-Ho. See if there's a place for her somewhere."
Manager Choi Min-Seok nodded but remained thoughtful.
Before he could respond, Zoya spoke.
"If you allow me to wear suitable clothing, I can work as a waitress for some time."
Both men looked at her.
"I need a job," she continued calmly. "But I don't want anyone to adjust the system for me just because I came with someone's recommendation. If there isn't a position available, I understand."
For a moment, neither Kang Hyun-Woo nor Choi Min-Seok spoke.
The honesty of her words caught them off guard.
Most applicants tried to use their connections to gain an advantage.
She was doing the opposite.
Finally, Choi Min-Seok nodded.
"Alright."
Zoya looked up hopefully.
"But your outfit must be black and professional. It should match the restaurant's dress code."
A relieved smile appeared on her face.
"I'll make sure of that."
"Good."
Choi Min-Seok opened a schedule on his tablet.
"You can start tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
He turned the screen toward her.
"Our restaurant operates in three shifts."
Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
First Shift: 1:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Second Shift: 9:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Zoya studied the schedule.
"Most breakfast hours are handled by the chefs themselves," Choi Min-Seok explained. "However, students whose lectures begin later in the day usually take the breakfast shift. The busiest working hours actually begin after breakfast service."
A small smile appeared on Zoya's face.
Now she understood why Ji-Ho had recommended this place.
The entire system seemed designed around helping students balance work and studies.
"Can I ask something?"
"Of course," Kang Hyun-Woo replied.
"You seem to go out of your way to make things easier for students."
Both men looked at her.
"I've only been here for a short time, but I've already noticed it. This restaurant's system feels like it was built specifically for students. And yet..." Her eyes drifted toward the glass walls overlooking the city. "Anyone looking at this place from outside would call it highly organized and professional."
Before she could finish, Choi Min-Seok spoke.
"We don't compromise on systems."
His answer was immediate.
"Or on taste."
Zoya blinked.
"Even if a waitress starts on her very first day, you won't be able to tell the difference between her and someone who's worked here for months. That's our standard."
Surprise flashed across Zoya's face.
Choi Min-Seok wasn't bragging.
He was simply stating a fact.
Kang Hyun-Woo noticed her expression and smiled.
"Most students who come here are far from home," he said quietly. "Many leave their families, their hometowns, sometimes even their countries, to chase a dream."
The smile faded into something softer.
"If we make life harder for them than it already is, how are they supposed to study properly?"
Neither Zoya nor Choi Min-Seok interrupted.
"How are they supposed to achieve the dreams they came here for?"
His gaze moved toward the restaurant floor beyond the office door.
"That's why I've always kept my empire open to students."
Then he added firmly,
"But only those who are serious. Serious about their work. Serious about their future. Serious about their dreams."
Silence settled over the room.
Zoya found herself smiling.
Not because she had gotten a job.
Not because of Ji-Ho's recommendation.
But because genuine kindness still existed in unexpected places.
You don't need a religion to show humanity, she thought.
But humanity itself is one of the most beautiful forms of faith.
For a brief moment, her respect for Kang Hyun-Woo grew.
"Normally, Kim Na-Ri works the second shift," Choi Min-Seok explained. "She's a resident, so late-night hours aren't an issue for her."
He paused.
"But you're a university student."
"Student employees are not supposed to work regular late-night shifts. Keeping you permanently on the second shift would create problems with labour regulations and university scheduling."
"I understand."
"So for the first two days, you'll temporarily cover Kim Na-Ri's position while I reorganise the roster."
He scrolled through the schedule.
"After that, I'll move you to the first shift."
"Yes. A few local students currently work there. I'll transfer one of them to the second shift and place you in the first."
Tiring, but manageable.
"For the first two days, however," Choi Min-Seok continued, "you'll need to make a small compromise."
Zoya nodded.
"I can do that."
"Good."
He closed the tablet.
"Thank you, sir."
"No," Choi Min-Seok said with a faint smile.
"Thank Ji-Ho. Without his recommendation, this meeting probably wouldn't have happened."
A small laugh escaped Zoya.
"I will."
As she stood to leave, she felt something she hadn't felt in weeks.
Relief.
It wasn't her dream kitchen position.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
And sometimes, beginnings were enough.
Kang Hyun-Woo smiled gently.
"Miss Zoya, I hope you prove yourself hardworking… so that neither Ji-Ho regrets recommending you, nor we regret hiring you."
Zoya returned a small smile.
"I will do my best, InshaAllah."
Her voice was calm, but inside she felt a slight heaviness.
Ji-Ho's name was being mentioned again and again.
She understood the reason—this job had come to her because of his reference.
But still…
Being reminded of it repeatedly didn't feel comfortable.
Kang Hyun-Woo seemed to notice her expression for a brief moment, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he simply nodded, as if acknowledging both her words and her determination.
"Good. That's all I expect."
For the first time, the conversation didn't feel like an interview anymore.
It felt like a beginning.
To be continued...
Regard,
ZK