The days were scorching hot, but the cool breeze at night made for a pleasant summer.
I'm Shin Hayul, 21 years old. As a college student who doesn't get an allowance, I was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the rent and living expenses eating away at my bank account. I didn't want to end up homeless on the streets after losing my place while attending school, so I applied for a leave of absence from university and started scouring job sites for part-time work from home. While desperately searching for a job to survive, I suddenly recalled what my mom told me before I left home.
"Hayul, you're a grown woman now, so you shouldn't rely on your parents for money. I'll cover your tuition, but you need to handle everything else yourself. And Hayul, when you move to Seoul and live alone, don't let your head get turned by those Seoul guys and bring just anyone to your place. If you get sued for something like that… you'll end up in handcuffs, and your life will be ruined. You understand what I mean, right?"
(What? Does Mom think I'm capable of seducing a guy and bringing him to my place?)
I wish I had that kind of ability, honestly.
I think I'm pretty good-looking, but having gone to an all-girls middle and high school, guys were just too difficult for me to deal with. Still, if I argued back, she might even take away the tuition she promised, so I just nodded vaguely and moved to Seoul to find a place.
"Sigh, your daughter doesn't even have the money to date, let alone deal with guys, and here I am taking a leave from school to find a part-time job. Why is she worried about that?"
Grumbling to myself, I spent hours browsing job sites for a decent gig when a convenience store job posting caught my eye. I clicked on it and read through the details.
[GN Gangnam XX Branch - Hiring Night Shift Convenience Store Worker]
Gender: No preference
Experience: Not required
Hourly Wage: 9,320 KRW
.
.
Additional Notes: Open to beginners, college students on leave, housewives…
Contact: 010-XXXX-XXXX
It looked good. The pay was decent, and since it was in Gangnam, I figured there'd be polite customers and fewer troublemakers. It was also pretty close to my place. Perfect. This was the one.
Worried someone else might snag the job, I quickly called the contact number, arranged an interview, grabbed my health certificate and resume, and went to the convenience store the next day to meet the middle-aged female manager.
"Hayul, you're… 21? According to your resume, you came from pretty far away in the provinces. This seems like your first part-time job. Think you can handle it?"
"Yes! Just give me a chance, and I'll work hard."
My confident response made the manager smile with satisfaction as she nodded.
"You haven't even been to the military yet, but you're already so disciplined. This store is on the outskirts of Gangnam, so it's quieter than other locations, and we don't get many difficult customers, so don't worry too much. Let's sign the contract now and meet again in a few days."
Hearing her words, I felt confident that I'd made the right choice, and my mood lifted. After starting the job and learning the ropes, a few days later, I was able to manage the store on my own.
Today seemed to be going smoothly as well. After finishing restocking the shelves, I sat at the counter to take a break.
"I've done everything I can for now… My legs are killing me, so I'll rest a bit and do another round of the store later."
As I sat on the counter chair, the door chime rang, and a male customer walked in. I was about to greet him but stopped short.
"Hello—huh?"
The moment I glanced at his face, my eyes widened, and my mouth fell open involuntarily.
(Is that a human face? How can someone look like that?)
His face, at a glance, was like that of a refined, elegant cat. Large, beautiful eyes with a languid, slightly droopy gaze. A slim, sharp nose. Lips as red as pomegranates, as if he'd applied glossy lipstick. His jet-black hair, like the night sky, contrasted with his flawless, snow-white skin, making both features stand out even more. It was astonishing that such a small face could hold such striking features.
His face was a harmonious blend of delicate feminine lines and sharp masculine edges. His amber eyes gleamed like those of a wolf. And just below his right eye, there was faint lettering, too small to read from a distance.
(With a face like that, he could be a celebrity, an actor, or… maybe even knock someone out with a single punch.)
I was so captivated by his face, wondering what the lettering under his eye said, when a sudden worry crossed my mind.
(Wait, is he a foreigner?)
His amber eyes and pale skin made me think he might be, but something about him didn't quite scream "fully Western." His appearance felt both familiar and unfamiliar, and his jet-black hair only added to the confusion. As I stood there, mouth agape, admiring his face, he gave a slight nod to acknowledge me and headed straight to a corner of the store.
Snapping out of it, I worried if there was something on my face or if my makeup was off. I hurriedly checked my reflection on my phone, fixed my hair, and returned to my friendly part-time worker persona, my heart pounding as I waited for him.
When I saw him approach the counter with something in hand, my gaze locked onto his hands, and I froze again. His tracksuit jacket was wide open, revealing a black tank top and a lean, defined chest that was clearly visible. For a moment, I felt a rush so intense I thought I might lose control.
His open attire was so bold it felt like something you'd see in America, not Korea. For someone like me, who went through an all-girls school system, seeing a guy's bare chest up close like this was overwhelming. My "first brain" and my "second brain" down below were both struggling to keep me from doing something inappropriate.
(Second brain, please calm down… First brain, help me look away, please!)
This was bad. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his chest. I was terrified I'd be labeled a creep, but I just couldn't look away. If I didn't get a grip, I'd be writhing in guilt. The customer, noticing my staring, glanced at his chest, set a bottle of soju on the counter with an annoyed thud, and zipped up his tracksuit. That finally snapped me out of it.
Panicking that he might be upset, I looked at his face and was instantly stunned again. Up close, he was even more striking than from a distance. And then I could finally read the lettering under his eye, between two small crosses.
[ +ADONIS+ ]
(Adonis? That's pretty… What does it mean)
As I stared blankly again, he snapped his fingers, breaking me out of my trance. Startled, I flinched and hurriedly apologized. He waved it off casually, like it was no big deal. What a kind customer. I'd been staring at his chest, and he didn't even say anything. Truly, he had a cool vibe.
If it were another guy, they might've given me a look of disdain or stormed out. (Though, to be fair, it's my fault for not controlling my gaze.)
Composing myself, I went to scan the items he brought, but it was soju a product I couldn't sell to minors. He looked young, maybe high school age, so I needed to check his ID.
(I need to ask for his ID, but what if he's actually a foreigner? I'll try in Korean first, just in case.)
"Do you have an ID?"
He rested his chin on his hand, looking thoughtful. (Maybe he didn't understand?) Since he might not speak Korean, I decided to try my rusty English.
"H… How old are you?"
He glanced at me with those cynical eyes and responded in a language I didn't recognize. (Not English either?) But he answered my English question, so I was confused. I quickly pulled out my phone to search for a translator, but then I realized I didn't even know what language it was. As I stared at the search bar in a panic, I heard slow but clear Korean from him.
"I'm 22. And I can speak Korean."
Relieved that he understood Korean, I scanned the soju bottle and took his payment. As I did, he made another request in that unfamiliar language.
(What's wrong, sir? Didn't you say you speak Korean?)
I tilted my head, looking at him with confusion, trying to make sense of the situation. He spoke again, slowly, in Korean.
"Sorry. Could you give me a pack of Marlboro Reds and a lighter?"
(Oh, he must be mixing up his native language since he's still learning Korean. That's understandable Korean's tough.)
His pronunciation and sentence structure were impressive, though. kHow long has he been learning?) As I scanned the rest of his items, I remembered how frustrating it was when I first learned English. Feeling a sense of camaraderie, I chatted with him about my own experiences, like how I'd accidentally slip into my native language when I was learning. After finishing the transaction and handing him his change, I kept thinking.
(He doesn't seem like he's been in Korea long. Is he a tourist or an immigrant? I want to tell him about all the great places in Korea.)
And, if I'm honest, I also wanted to see him again. I'd come all the way from the provinces to Seoul, so I figured I was practically a tour guide by now. Mustering up courage for the first time in my life, I asked for his number, offering to be his guide.
Shin Hayul, trying to get a guy's number for the first time.
My fate was now a roll of the dice, and as I waited for his response, my heart raced like I was teetering on the edge of a cliff.
(I don't want to part ways as just a customer and a worker. If he rejects me, should I offer to treat him to something fancy?)
As I agonized internally, he narrowed his eyes slightly, looking thoughtful, and said, "I don't have a number yet… I haven't opened one? Passed one? I'll come back and let you know once I get it."
I briefly puzzled over what he meant by "opened" or "passed" but quickly realized he meant he hadn't activated a phone number yet. Worried it might be a polite rejection, I looked at his face, but his serious expression told me he was sincere. (If he was going to reject me, someone as cool as him would've just said so outright.)
Even a half-success at getting his number made me happy, knowing he didn't outright reject my request. I could feel the corners of my mouth turning up. Wanting to give him my number in case he got too busy to come back, I searched for a piece of paper. As I did, I thought about how to make a good impression and remembered the beautiful tattoos on his body.
The lettering under his eye and the tattoos I'd glimpsed earlier flowers and a fox in black ink, stretching from his upper chest to the middle of his neck and slightly visible on his shoulder—matched his decadent vibe perfectly. I'd never seen a guy with so many tattoos before; he must really love them.
(If I compliment his tattoos, he'll probably like that, right?)
With that in mind, I handed him the paper with my number and complimented the tattoos on his face and body. Hearing me, he widened his languid eyes slightly, bowed his head in thanks, and left the store.
(Did it go well? He didn't react much… but he thanked me, so he doesn't seem upset.)
Feeling a mix of anxiety over whether I'd said the wrong thing and a longing to see him again, I walked toward the store's transparent window to catch another glimpse. Pretending to restock shelves, I stole glances at him outside. Suddenly, I was shocked to see him sit at the parasol table, open the soju, and down half the bottle in one go. He then lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled. Just watching made my stomach churn.
(Who drinks like that? Without any snacks? Even a woman who can hold her liquor would ruin her body drinking like that, let alone a guy who's physically weaker.)
Worried about him, I debated bringing him some ramen when I saw someone in a hooded sweatshirt and loose pajama pants approach and grab his shoulder.
(Who's that? Someone he knows?)
I kept watching and noticed something odd. Normally, a guy would be startled if someone grabbed their shoulder from behind, but he didn't even glance back. He just kept looking forward, calmly smoking. If it was a stranger, he'd at least turn to look, and if it was someone he knew, he'd probably greet them. But he didn't move an inch.
(Wait, no, even greeting seems off in this situation. Who wouldn't be startled by someone suddenly grabbing their shoulder?)
But he was completely unfazed. Then again, given the vibe he gave off, it seemed like nothing could rattle him. I couldn't imagine anyone breaking through that cold, tired expression with fear or surprise. His eyes showed no trace of either.
Of course, I didn't mean he could physically overpower a woman if threatened. Most guys could only win fights against other guys or kids, given the strength difference between men and women.
I couldn't see the face of the person grabbing his shoulder. Their loose clothing hid their build, and their height around 170 cm made it hard to guess their gender. (Most guys are about that height, while women are usually shorter.)
(It's dangerous for a guy to be drinking alone outside like that…)
I kept an eye on them, ready to step in if the person seemed dangerous. When he nodded, the other person moved to sit across from him. Just then, my phone rang. It was the manager. I turned away from the window and answered with both hands.
"Yes, Manager?"
"Hayul! Can you go to the storage room and find something for me? It's important, so I need it now."
(Of all times…) I said okay, hung up, and glanced outside again. The person was still hooded, their face hidden. I rummaged through the storage room for the item the manager wanted, then hurried back to check outside. They seemed to be talking, but suddenly, the customer's eyes widened in shock. He jumped up, stumbled, and rushed off somewhere.
The other person sat there, looking stunned. (What did they talk about to make someone as calm as him react like that and bolt?) Relieved nothing serious happened, I suddenly realized something.
(Oh, I didn't even get his name.)
No big deal i could ask when he came back. With that, I looked forward to seeing him again and returned to my role as Shin Hayul, convenience store worker.
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Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
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