Thanks to that, every time the kitchen door opened, I found myself glancing in that direction and straining my ears without realizing it.
After working like a machine for a while, I’d finished preparing all the ingredients. When I had a moment to catch my breath, another nearby employee spoke to me.
“Taeyoung-ssi, you’re fast with your hands. How did you end up applying for this job?”
“To earn living expenses.”
Even as I answered, I kept thinking about Kwon Yujin inwardly. What’s he doing right now, did he see my congratulatory text, things like that.
“Living expenses? Haha. You’re the first person I’ve seen say it so openly. Ah, did you get any chocolate by any chance?”
“No. What’s that?”
“The patisserie made a lot of chocolate while preparing for this wedding, and they said employees can each take one too.”
The employee gestured for me to go inside and take one of the stacked boxes. I wiped the moisture remaining on my hands on my apron, then went to where she was pointing.
I could see chocolate boxes packaged luxuriously. I looked at them with curious eyes.
They were much smaller than what’s sold at convenience stores or supermarkets, and all had different shapes. They were so cute and pretty that they looked like toys or accessories rather than chocolate.
“Is this free?”
“Of course.”
Then I should give this to Kwon Yujin as a gift later. To commemorate winning three gold medals.
“Thank you.”
After carefully setting aside the chocolate, I went back into the kitchen, and the male employee who had been giving me instructions gestured for me to come closer. It seemed there was more work to do.
“Taeyoung-ssi, did you finish organizing what I told you about earlier?”
“Yes.”
“They’re saying they’re too short-handed outside, so take this and go out there.”
He abruptly shoved a glass water pitcher into my hands as he spoke.
“Where should I go?”
“The wedding hall. Go around the tables and fill up the guests’ empty water glasses. Help with serving when you see the need. Got it?”
“The manager said I shouldn’t do serving.”
“But there’s no choice. What can we do when we’re short on staff? Take off your apron and give it here.”
When I stood there holding the water pitcher blankly, he pushed me out of the kitchen as if frustrated.
“More people came than expected, so it’s an emergency. I know you didn’t get hall training, so move slowly and quietly so guests don’t notice you, Taeyoung-ssi. Can you do it?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, this is driving me crazy. The captain’s going to have a fit when he finds out later…”
The employee seemed anxious about putting me in front of guests, hesitating several times before shaking his head. Meanwhile, it seemed he kept getting radio calls through the in-ear he was wearing.
“Alright, I’m sending him now, wait. Anyway, Taeyoung-ssi, go out and take good care of the hall.”
“Yes.”
“Keep your appearance neat.”
“Yes.”
I headed to the wedding hall where I’d fixed the table wheel earlier, holding the water pitcher.
When I entered, a fair number of people had gathered now. Every single one was dressed in neat, clean formal wear.
“……”
Even among these similar-looking people, Kwon Yujin was easily distinguishable. It was because of his notably conspicuous physique. Moreover, there were particularly many people crowded around him.
“Wow, a celebrity’s arrived. Kwon Yujin, congrats on the gold medal? Your mother must be thrilled to death.”
“Thanks. How have you been?”
“Me? Same as always.”
“Hey, give me your autograph before you leave.”
“Ah, why is he like that.”
“No. My girlfriend’s a fan. She couldn’t come today because she had something.”
“My mom’s also waiting for a chance right now, Yujin-ah. Take a photo with her before you leave.”
“I ran into your mother in front of the hotel earlier. Where is she now?”
Kwon Yujin laughed and conversed with people comfortably. Looking very different from usual when he mainly wears athletic wear or jerseys.
With his hair swept back and fixed, he was wearing a dark-colored suit. The suit that fit perfectly on his body was smooth without a single unnecessary wrinkle. The line that naturally narrowed from his broad shoulders to his waist created a neat yet solid impression.
The line of the fabric without a single bit of dishevelment suited Kwon Yujin excessively well, drawing my gaze repeatedly. Even though there was clearly a protagonist at this event, everyone’s attention was focused on him.
‘Since it’s the daughter of Jehwan Group getting married, I guess they’re all from that circle.’
‘As expected, the world is all about sticking with your own kind.’
The conversation I’d heard from employees in the kitchen earlier suddenly came to mind.
“It is Taeyoung-ssi, right? If you’re here, you should say something. How can you just stand still in a corner?”
Just then, the manager belatedly discovered me and quietly scolded.
“Everyone’s making a fuss about seeing athlete Kwon Yujin. Focus on work.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Go around each table, pour water in empty glasses, and if any tableware is crooked, straighten it properly. You heard during training, right?”
“Yes.”
Rather than proper training, all I’d done was hear a general overview of the work in passing before being put on the job. Anyway, since I didn’t completely lack memory of it, I nodded for now.
The manager was really busy and disappeared to another place just like that. The other employees were also moving busily handling their own work, so there seemed to be no one to tell me about my duties.
I went to the tables in the hall for now and slowly poured water into empty water cups. Seeing that the seated guests didn’t say anything in particular, it seemed I could just keep doing this.
Before I knew it, I’d gone around several tables and it was the turn of the table right next to where Kwon Yujin was sitting.
A woman sitting next to Kwon Yujin was touching his shoulder and laughing. Kwon Yujin was also smiling back at what she was saying and constantly whispering something. He looked really happy.
Inside the hall where lighting poured down like rain, he was more dazzling than ever, and the brilliance reflected everywhere seemed to brightly illuminate even the shadowed areas. The elaborately decorated ornaments, wine glasses, and silver tableware that glinted softly as they caught the light all seemed to be set up just for Kwon Yujin.
Even as I poured water at the table next to his, I kept glancing at him sideways.
“Wow, I remember this time. Didn’t you and unni make a bet?”
“You lost. I remember you crying all over and insisting on doing it again.”
“What are you talking about. Ah, thinking about it, that time was really great… But I still can’t believe unni’s already getting married.”
The guests seemed busy reminiscing about memories while looking at Kwon Yujin’s phone. I fixed my gaze on his phone. If he’s returned to Korea, he probably saw my text. Did he just read it and not reply?
“Ah, could you give me some water here?”
Because I was lost in thought, I must have acted too sluggishly. The woman next to Kwon Yujin spoke to me, pointing to her water glass.
Fortunately, Kwon Yujin didn’t turn his gaze toward me. I approached them and carefully filled the water glass.
Coming closer, the information about the woman became clear. She was an omega. Her pheromones were very stable and subtle. A dominant omega perhaps? The sight of her next to Kwon Yujin suited them well.
They say he can’t tolerate other people’s pheromones due to the imprinting phenomenon, but Kwon Yujin didn’t look particularly uncomfortable. Maybe he’s starting to show real progress in his treatment.
Looking at Kwon Yujin’s glass, he had barely drunk any water. It didn’t seem necessary to pour more for him, so I was about to pass by when suddenly a man approached this way quickly.
“Oh.”
The man’s body, who I thought would pass by, tilted and he dropped the wine glass he was holding. In that moment, I quickly snatched the glass floating in the air.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“Are you alright?”
Though a few drops got on my uniform, fortunately the wine didn’t splash onto the surroundings. I held the glass back out to the man.
“Ah… yes…”
“New glasses are over there.”
I told him while pointing to the table where wine glasses were set up. The man looked at me with a somewhat displeased expression and glared.
Is it because he didn’t catch the falling glass properly and spilled it? He glanced back and forth between the glass I was holding out and Kwon Yujin, then immediately turned his body and passed by.
His pheromones remained quite strongly where he’d left. That man seemed to be an omega.
Only then did I realize Kwon Yujin was surrounded by many omegas. He was a dominant alpha and even handsome on top of that, so perhaps it was only natural.
—Shortly, the wedding of Baek Geonwoo-nim and Woo Jaeeun-nim will proceed in the main banquet hall on the 5th floor of The Ardel Hotel. We ask that all guests please be seated according to the guidance. Thank you.
Despite the announcement that the wedding would proceed soon, regardless of age or gender, people kept saying a word to Kwon Yujin every time they passed by.
“What is it, Yujin-ah. Do you know them?”
At the voice heard from nearby, I snapped to attention. As I habitually checked on Kwon Yujin, our eyes met head-on.
