By Zephyria After a long and arduous dawn, the shift ended. Unlike Noh Hee-cheol, who was habitually late, Sae-na was never tardy. Even after changing into her uniform, there was still time to spare, so Ryu Jeong struck up a conversation to check in and chat about various things.
“Ah… so you’re quitting?”
“Yeah. Are there any part-time jobs around here? I’ve been putting up with it because I didn’t have anywhere else to work, but I can’t take it anymore. I need to start preparing for a full-time job soon.”
Sae-na abruptly announced that she would be quitting after this month. She said it was unavoidable because of her job search, but considering her frequent conflicts with the Shop Owner, that seemed to be a significant reason as well. She said she had already spoken with the Shop Owner. It was surprising that the Shop Owner, who usually left on weekends, had let Sae-na go so easily. Seeing Ryu Jeong’s puzzled expression, Sae-na shrugged.
“I thought he would hold onto me and say absolutely not? But he told me to do as I pleased? When I said I was only working until the end of this month, he said I could do whatever I wanted.”
“Uh… why?”
“Isn’t it because this place is getting redeveloped anyway? Isn’t that why?”
Sae-na, speaking as if there was no need to think deeply about it, suddenly looked out the window. The alleyway, revealed by the breaking dawn, looked much more dilapidated and dirty than it had in the darkness. Sae-na, who wasn’t a resident of Wolhyeon-dong, had come to the neighboring neighborhood in search of a part-time job near her home, so she didn’t seem to fully grasp the reality of the redevelopment news.
“The CEO has been saying it for a while, that this neighborhood should have been redeveloped a long time ago. It looks like it’s really happening this time. There’s even an article about it.”
Sae-na took out her phone and showed Ryu Jeong an article, urging him to take a look. Ryu Jeong carefully took the white phone and slowly read the article. The article, marked with the word “Exclusive,” stated that a luxury hotel construction project would be fully promoted under the leadership of Younggang Construction.
The development project is expected to begin as early as the second half of this year (omitted)
A sentence caught Ryu Jeong’s eye as he scrolled down. Seeing the approximate schedule, the reality of the imminent demolition hit home. Feeling inexplicably gloomy, Ryu Jeong rolled his eyes. Lee Do-hyeon’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the article.
“Then you’ll have to move too, right?”
“…Huh?”
“The second half of the year could mean July or December, right? July is only a few months away. 3, 4, 5, 6…”
Sae-na folded her fingers one by one, starting with her thumb. Seeing all five fingers folded, Ryu Jeong listlessly handed the phone back.
“The CEO has a house and a store here, so he doesn’t have to worry about compensation. That’s why he didn’t stop you.”
The Shop Owner, having learned that redevelopment officials were visiting the neighborhood, was desperate to get compensation. According to rumors, he would also be attending the upcoming meeting as a resident representative. Despite having lived in Wolhyeon-dong for so long, the Shop Owner showed no attachment.
“But what about you, Ryu Jeong?”
“What… about me?”
“You live alone, right? Shouldn’t you talk to other people about it? What if they come with wooden sticks and smash everything, like in the movies?”
Would they really? Lee Do-hyeon, who was always kind to him, didn’t seem like he would resort to such violent methods. He had said he would do his best in the compensation negotiations, and Ryu Jeong felt that he wasn’t just saying it to please him. There was no need to mention Lee Do-hyeon. Ryu Jeong swallowed his thoughts and nodded with a bitter smile.
“Yeah… I should.”
“You must be really tired too. So much to worry about. If you have somewhere to go, you should get out of here quickly. You have to leave when the CEO lets you.”
Sensing the suddenly heavy atmosphere, Sae-na giggled and changed the subject. Then, she began to list her plans after quitting her part-time job. Ryu Jeong learned for the first time today what Sae-na’s major was.
“Anyway, I only have to come out nine more times. I came today, so I have eight left.”
“……”
“Have I been talking too long? What time is it… It’s time for you to leave work. Sorry. Go quickly. You must be tired.”
Saying that he was fine, Sae-na waved her hand as if she would push him out. Reluctantly saying goodbye, Ryu Jeong gathered his bag and left the convenience store.
Ryu Jeong, who was walking as if it were natural, suddenly stopped, thinking of the driver. He felt sorry for him, especially since it was the weekend. Of course, the driver had said that everything had been discussed in advance and that it was okay, but no matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t right to make someone old enough to be his father come and go like that. But no matter what he thought, the driver would surely be waiting on time. Ryu Jeong slightly pursed his lips and looked around.
There was a car not far away. Drawn to the familiar black sedan, Ryu Jeong approached it, but stopped abruptly when he saw that the engine was off, unlike usual. The only vehicles usually seen in Wolhyeon-dong were the convenience store delivery trucks or the Shop Owner’s old SUV, so such a sleek sedan must be the car driven by the driver.
But the license plate on the back was different. Confused, Ryu Jeong blinked a few times, then remembered that it was the same license plate as the car Lee Do-hyeon drove, and ran towards it.
“……”
He got closer, but the car didn’t move. This was definitely the car. Was he mistaken? He tried to recall, but it was definitely Lee Do-hyeon’s car. Feeling less confident, Ryu Jeong wandered around the driver’s seat and leaned his face close to the window. The interior was completely invisible through the heavily tinted glass.
Did he go somewhere for a moment? He looked around again, but there was no sign of anyone. He wouldn’t have left the car and gone somewhere else… Ryu Jeong looked up at the slope where his house was located and cautiously knocked on the window with his fist.
Knock knock. Ryu Jeong made a sound as if knocking on a door, stood there for a moment, and then knocked on the window again.
At that moment, the quietly parked car seemed to shake violently, and the closed door burst open. Startled, Ryu Jeong quickly stepped back before he was hit, and his eyes widened as he saw Lee Do-hyeon getting out of the car.
“Ah, Jeong. Did you just get off work?”
“…Were you sleeping here?”
Without even having time to be happy, Lee Do-hyeon’s face, as he got out of the car with a smile, looked more tired than usual. His eyelids seemed slightly swollen, and his face, which seemed to have hastily shaken off sleepiness, even looked haggard. Ryu Jeong stared at him with surprised eyes and unconsciously lowered his gaze. Two or three buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his bare skin, and the tie he always wore neatly was nowhere to be seen. It felt somehow awkward to see him dressed as if he had come out after resting at home.
“Why were you sleeping here? What about the driver… I mean, Chief Yoon? You said work would end late.”
It was an incomprehensible situation no matter how he thought about it. Sleeping uncomfortably in the car, being parked alone in front of the convenience store. None of it was like usual. Had something happened? Feeling inexplicably anxious, Ryu Jeong asked accusingly, and Lee Do-hyeon gave an awkward smile.
“Ah, there was something that got canceled. Chief Yoon took him home, and I told the driver to rest.”
“You must be tired… You should have just slept at home…”
“I just thought I’d feel more comfortable driving myself. I also wanted to see Jeong. I was sitting here thinking about work and must have dozed off.”
“……”
People’s hearts are so fickle. Worry can reach its peak and make you angry, but a single sweet word can melt it away as if nothing happened. Ryu Jeong moved his lips silently and then pressed them shut.
“Shall we get in first? You must have been standing all the time, let’s talk while we drive, okay?”
He felt sorry for her pouting lips, but they were also cute. Lee Do-hyeon, suppressing a smile that was about to burst out, put his arm around Ryu Jeong’s shoulder and led him to the passenger seat. He took Ryu Jeong’s backpack and put it in the back seat, and closed the door only after carefully checking the seatbelt.
Lee Do-hyeon, walking around the hood towards the driver’s seat, rubbed his heavy eyelids hard before getting into the car. He was troubled by how to deal with Kim Mi-hee and Lee Gyu-hyeon, as well as the issues related to the construction of the hotel and its operation after completion. Above all, his physical condition wasn’t very good, perhaps because signs of the rut were appearing. He had managed to drive to Wolhyeon-dong somehow, but judging from the fact that he didn’t remember when he fell asleep, he must have dozed off due to fatigue.
Fortunately, he only felt a little stiff now, and his senses weren’t heightened or feverish.
“……”
Three days… a week at most. That would be enough time.
Ryu Jeong must be tired too. He decided that as soon as they got home, he would have him shower, eat warm food, and then hold him tight and sleep. The thought of burying his nose in Ryu Jeong’s hair, which would smell of the same shampoo, made him smile.
Lee Do-hyeon resolutely let out a sigh that had been building up inside and got into the car with a smiling face.
“Are you hungry? If there’s anything you want to eat, shall we buy it on the way?”
“…What about you, President?”
“I’m fine. Let’s eat what Jeong wants.”
“I eat anything well… Anything is fine.”
“Then shall we get brunch to go near your house? It’s called brunch, but they’re open in the morning too. It’ll be nice to buy some warm soup and eat it, it won’t be too heavy on your stomach.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t know what brunch was. But he had only eaten sandwiches from cafes and convenience stores a few times, so he couldn’t imagine exactly what ingredients went into it or what it would taste like. Still, he thought anything would be fine if Lee Do-hyeon said so, and nodded.
Lee Do-hyeon drove the car without hesitation, even on the narrow and steep slope. He felt quite familiar with the road leading out of Wolhyeon-dong to Lee Do-hyeon’s house, having traveled it several times in the past few days. Ryu Jeong glanced at Lee Do-hyeon, who was driving, and slowly scanned his hand on the steering wheel and his foot on the accelerator.
He suddenly wished he had a driver’s license too. If he could drive instead when Lee Do-hyeon looked tired, he would feel really proud.