Around that time, when Dohui mentioned he was looking for a part-time job, Jinho happened to say he knew someone who was hiring. It was a club Dohui had been to once before, and since it was kitchen assistant work — and Jinho said he could just turn it down after the interview if he didn’t like it — Dohui agreed to give it a shot.
He hesitated a little since it was night work, but it was also true that the offer of triple the usual hourly wage was tempting.
Im Dohui, 22 years old, a Hanguk University student — why are you trying to do kitchen work here instead of tutoring?
It was a look that said something about this didn’t sit right. When Dohui answered that short-term tutoring gigs during school breaks were hard to come by, the interviewer conceded — well, that’s fair enough — and finally let his shoulders relax.
There’s no time at this point to post a job listing and go through all the interview formalities…… Just give it a try for now. Since you’re Jinho’s friend, I’m taking you on trust.
That said — no matter whose friend you are, there’s no special treatment here. We hire by procedure, strictly. You’re just another employee, so don’t expect any preferential treatment. You’re the youngest one, got it. The youngest.
The manager hadn’t fully dropped his suspicious gaze as he spoke. When Dohui replied briefly that he didn’t mind, the manager clicked his tongue and slid the contract across to him.
During school breaks, I could work longer hours……
The manager welcomed that. He said there was no real reason to turn that down — Dohui seemed diligent, and being able to work extended hours was a plus. He promptly went and printed out a new contract. Thanks to that, Dohui set himself a goal: work hard, save up, and put away spending money for next semester.
―Anyway, if you find something else, look into it. Alright?
“I will. Don’t worry too much. Mom — how’s Grandma doing?”
―How’s she doing. I kept telling her to come live in Seoul, and she stubbornly refused every time — then she throws her back out and starts calling for me. If you ask me, you inherited her stubbornness. If the room’s too small, she can share mine. Does she think three-bedroom apartments are just lying around in Seoul?
She clicked her tongue, saying that her mother refused on the excuse that she wanted her own room when she could just share with her daughter.
Deep down, she knew full well that Grandma was holding out because she didn’t want to be a burden on the family — but whenever she got hurt like this, the worry would get to her and sharp words would come tumbling out of her mouth.
His mom’s sigh filled his ears. Dohui laughed softly. He asked in a mumbled voice, his lips half-frozen.
“So you’ll have to stay there a while, then. When are you coming back?”
―A week? Could be longer.
She said it would depend on how the recovery went, but it probably wouldn’t take too long — told him not to worry.
His mom’s voice was heavy with concern. Over her son left alone, the debt from the failed pork bone soup restaurant, and that son now working kitchen shifts at a nightlife establishment just to pay it off. She said she was sorry for loading such a heavy burden onto him at an age when studying alone should be enough.
At her voice steadily sinking lower, Dohui smiled.
“There you go again. I told you, I’m fine.”
―Still……
“I know, I know. Mom, I’m cold.”
―Are you home?
“Mm-hm. Good night.”
―Okay. Okay.
Dohui hung up and quickly slipped inside the iron gate of his house. The moment the biting wind was cut off, the warmth it had stolen slowly crept back in.
The house was bare without anyone in it, but the air was remarkably cozy. That was thanks to his mom having turned the boiler up high before leaving for Grandma’s place in the afternoon.
Dohui turned the heat down as low as it could go — just enough to kick on occasionally. But with the hot water, he didn’t hold back. Bathing in cold water was something he simply couldn’t bring himself to do.
After washing up head to toe in hot, steaming water and quickly polishing off a bowl of ramen, he noticed 300+ sitting on top of the messenger notification on his phone.
Don’t these people sleep.
Dohui opened the chat and found it already in chaos. He read through it, snickering to himself. Every single thing Jinho had posted as “proof photos from Europe” was a selfie of himself, and his friends had blanketed the chat in curses — who asked to see your face, get that mug out of here.
◀ Group Assignment Team 6 5 ▶
Yeojun
Someone teach this bastard how to use a camera
Gyeongmo
You do it
Jinho
🖕🖕🖕🖕
Seook
Move your face
Cleaned up, that’s roughly the gist. After getting creative insults hurled at him over a few face photos, Jinho finally posted a single photo of the sea.
A brilliant emerald expanse of ocean stretched wide — just the photo alone was enough to make it feel as though the sound of waves was washing into his ears. The exotic scenery surrounding it pulled at Dohui’s heart too.
He wanted to dip his feet into that water right now. Even better if it was warm. I’ll have to go there someday. A new entry was being added to his bucket list.
Not sleeping?
Gyeongmo
I slept during the day, now that break’s started my schedule’s flipped you guys wanna game?
Yeojun
Yo come out, PC bang in front of the convenience store
Gyeongmo
Can’t be bothered
Yeojun
Pathetic bastard
Bunch of freeloaders. Dohui smirked and turned off the screen.
Dohui pulled the thick blanket all the way up over his head and savored the blissful feeling of his body melting away. A welcome wave of drowsiness pressed down on him heavily.
How long had he been asleep.
Dohui opened his eyes to what he thought was an alarm going off. It took a few extra seconds after reaching out to dismiss it before he realized it was a phone call. More precisely, it wasn’t a call — it was a voice call coming through the messenger app.
“Hm……lo……”
His voice, thoroughly soaked in sleep, was even more slurred than when he’d been walking straight into the bitter cold.
―Im Dohui! How’s work treating you.
It was Jinho. He’d told him so many times not to use his full name like that. This guy’s memory was like a goldfish — he did this every single time.
“What time is it, calling me like this…… I’m sleeping.”
―No, no. Wait. Dohui.
Doesn’t this guy sleep. He’d just been cheerfully chatting with the others in the group chat — what on earth did he need to call Dohui for on top of that. And wasn’t he in Europe right now? What could possibly warrant calling a friend at this hour from all the way over there.
“Go sightseeing.”
―Hey, f**k off. I’m sightseeing plenty, thanks. I’ve got a favor to ask you.
“I don’t have money.”
―That’s not it. Jesus, what do you take me for. Why would I borrow money from you. Broke-ass.
Jinho raised his voice, exasperated, and at that, Dohui let out a sigh tinged with mild annoyance and shifted in bed. What do you mean broke, I’m not broke. He grumbled under his breath.
―Whatever. Forget it — what’s your daily rate right now? Do this favor for me and I’ll give you a week’s worth.
A week’s worth…… Dohui, in his hazy, half-awake state, did the math in his head and let out a low groan. The amount was significant enough that he couldn’t just carelessly say no.
―You won’t get an opportunity like this again.
Which was exactly why, even though it sounded exactly like something a scammer would say, he couldn’t bring himself to turn it down outright.
Dohui poked his head out from under the blanket and breathed in the cool air. His mind gradually came back to him. A pale, dim dawn light filtered in through the gaps of the blackout curtains, draping itself over the rounded lump of blanket.
“What is it. I’ll just hear you out.”
―Just receive a package for me.
“Ah…… the way you said that makes it sound genuinely suspicious. Just send it to your place.”
―No, it’s a gift my uncle in America is giving me, but it’s something my mom can’t see. If I send it home, what if the housekeeper receives it? She’d just tear it open and show it to my mom, wouldn’t she? I have zero privacy in my house — even our dog has more than I do.
Hmm…… Dohui pulled the blanket back over his head, curling up as if to signal his reluctance. His sleep-laden voice had no energy to it, and if he just hung up now, he felt like he could drift straight back into his dream. That would be really nice. Oblivious jerk.
―My uncle’s on a morning flight — says he’s departing in the early hours. He said he could stop by where you are on his way.
Just ask someone else. There were plenty of people awake at this hour — why did he have to specifically bother him. He muttered this in a voice thick with sleep. Jinho came right back at him with irritation.
―Hey, is receiving one package really that hard for you? It’s nothing. I’m genuinely hurt.
“But why…… does it have to be…… I’m sleepy, Jinho.”
―Wow, zero loyalty.
“……”
―Fine. 100. I’ll send it right now.
“……A hundred thousand won?”
―What the f**k, you think it’s a hundred won? God, you’re being so difficult. You want me to really ask someone else? Say it fast. I’m about to die of frustration.
Dohui slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. He looked around his room — the same room he saw every day — and turned Jinho’s words over in his head. A million won…… there was so much he could do with that.
“I’ll do it.”
―Smart choice. I’m flying back to Korea this weekend, so I’ll head straight from the airport to your place. Receive it and keep it safe — okay?
“Yeah……”
―I got you that job too, didn’t I. It’s pretty cush, right? You were the first person I thought of. Give me some credit.
“……Good job. Oh — but what’s in it? Is it heavy?”
