DS 142
Side Story#7
From that day on, Eun-myeong began frequenting the steamed bun shop with diligence.
In doing so, he discovered a few things, one of which was that the part-timer was the Boss’s daughter. Since the Boss called her Haera, it seemed her name was Haera.
“Our stuff is seriously delicious, right? See, I told you you wouldn’t be able to forget it.”
The part-timer beamed as she handed him the bundle.
“Yes, it was really delicious.”
Eun-myeong nodded, clutching the bundle tightly in his hand. His cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and puffs of white breath billowed from his mouth.
The steamed bun shop provided slightly seasoned pickled radish on the side, which was a wonderful delicacy. Moreover, the buns were tasty, and talking and hanging out with someone his own age was so fun that he found himself returning again and again.
In truth, the part-timer was usually the one telling the interesting stories. Since he didn’t know many exciting things, he would scrape together small bits of conversation to bring up.
So, when he mentioned the aptitude test he had taken a few days prior, the part[unauthorized copy]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[Read on Read BL Novels]-timer suddenly blurted out:
“Omg, that’s a total crazy cult, a total cult.”
“A cult?”
When Eun-myeong asked back with a confused look, the part-timer blinked.
“What, were there no cults where you used to live? That’s so sad.”
What was “so sad” supposed to mean…
Anyway, from what he gathered, they were bad people who pretended to be friendly just to rip people off.
“I see, so it was a cult…”
Eun-myeong felt a lingering sense of disappointment. He had simply wanted to make a friend, but it seemed they had been trying to cheat him. As expected, Seoul was indeed not an easy place.
“Yes, there weren’t any.”
“That’s why you didn’t know. If those bastards talk to you, you have to shout, on Read BL Novels -->Read on Read BL Novels‘I don’t fucking know anything, everyone get the fuck away!’ and just walk past them.”
He thought the swearing was a bit much, but the way she spoke so refreshingly and decisively was funny, making Eun-myeong giggle and smile softly.
“Excuse me.”
Just then, a customer who had entered the shop called the part-timer.
“Yes, I’ll be right there!”
Eun-myeong hesitated. He squeezed the bundle of steamed buns tightly in his grip.
Today, he had bought both galbi buns and vegetable buns. To eat them while they were at their best, he should have gone home before they cooled down, but he lingered on purpose. He knew he would be alone at home if he returned now, and since he enjoyed their conversation, he wanted to spend a little more time.
“I’ll be right back, can you wait a second?”
However, the part-timer also seemed to enjoy talking with Eun-myeong, as she asked him to wait a moment before stepping away.
“I’ll have the vegetable buns, please.”
“Customer, the vegetable buns were [Read on Read BL [stolen [unauthorized copy]content]Novels]so popular they just sold out. Try the meat buns; the galbi sauce seasoning tastes amazing.”
Eun-myeong stared blankly at her lively way of doing business. Seeing her work with such spirited energy made her look brilliant and cool.
In contrast, he, who was around the same age, didn’t even know what he should be doing and seemed to be drifting around like a wanderer. He felt somewhat pathetic.
“Customer, here is your change!”
The part-timer returned after selling fifteen meat buns.
“By the way, how did you end up in Seoul? Do you work here?”
“Ah, no, I just got married a bit early…”
“What, married?!”
When she asked how old he was to be married, he answered, and the part-timer practically jumped out of her skin, saying they were the same age.
“Omg, that’s totally wild! I naturally assumed you were younger than me.”
The part-timer said she desperately wanted to hear the story and asked on [visit our site]Read BL Novels">Read on Read BL Novelshim to spill the tea, but customers continued to stream in and out of the shop.
In a gap between customers, the part-timer suddenly asked:
“By the way, I’m Kang Haera. What’s your name?”
Having learned her surname as well, Eun-myeong felt a fresh wave of shock. How could a person’s name be so sophisticated? The fact that her name ended in ‘Ra’ was surprising enough, but with the surname attached, it sounded even cooler. Kang Haera.
“I’m Lee Eun-myeong.”
“Actually, it’s been a long time since I’ve talked to someone my age. All my friends go to college. I don’t have any friends to hang out with.”
He had assumed she would have plenty of friends because she was so sociable and cheerful, but to hear otherwise created an immediate sense of kinship.
“Really? I don’t have any either.”
Eun-myeong answered quickly, delighted. As he leaned forward, the bundle rustled against his stomach.
“Yeah, I figured that might be the case, so I mentioned it.”
She spoke with such honesty, not trying to hide her thoughts, and rather than being unpleasant, it felt refreshing. Eun-myeong smiled, his cheeks puffing up.
“Hey, have you been to the front of City Hall?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Eun-myeong shook his head slightly. His hair fluttered softly, brushing against the rim of his ear.
“I heard it’s super fun because people skate there. Want to go with me this weekend?”
“With me?”
He asked to clarify if it was really okay to go with him, but the response was entirely unexpected.
“I heard the hamburger steaks there are the absolute best.”
The absolute best? The absolute best… he didn’t know for sure, but it must be a slang term. Eun-myeong mumbled it to himself. He wanted to use it coolly and appropriately when the timing was right.
Eun-myeong barely managed to suppress the smile that threatened to burst from his cheeks. The fact that he had someone to go out with, and that he might even become friends if he was lucky, made him feel incredibly happy.
“The, the absolute best sounds great.”
Eun-myeong murmured timidly, true to his personality, and smiled secretly.
In the car on the way home, Eun-myeong often spoke on the phone with his Noona, who lived far away. Perhaps her day had been grueling, as she sounded completely exhausted today.
—Sigh, I’m tired to death. I honestly want to kill them all and just quit.
The sound of a beer can popping open echoed through the phone. It seemed she was trying to wash away the day’s fatigue with alcohol. After some more casual conversation, his Noona suddenly asked:
—Still, aren’t you lonely being there by yourself?
“Noona.”
He tried not to laugh too foolishly, but a giggle kept leaking out.
“Actually, I made a friend.”
—A friend? Who?! Hope it’s not some weirdo.
Eun-myeong rubbed his thigh shyly, insisting it wasn’t like that. He then explained about visiting the steamed bun shop for a few days and the conversations he had with the part-timer. [Read on Read BL Novels]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[Read on Read BL Novels]When he mentioned they were going skating in front of City Hall this weekend, his Noona’s voice instantly brightened.
—I’m so glad you made a friend.
His Noona let out a long sigh of relief. She had apparently been worried that he would end up as a lonely outcast after coming all the way to Seoul.
—I’m always worried that man might be making things hard for you.
At those words, Eun-myeong shook his head vigorously.
“Really, not at all. He makes sure I don’t get a single drop of water on my hands. He prepares my meals, peels hallabongs for me one by one, and even… cleans…”
Suddenly, he felt a pair of eyes glancing at him. It was the gangster Mister who protected him. For some reason, that gaze felt like he was looking at a bizarre alien, so Eun-myeong scratched his cheek.
Feeling embarrassed, he omitted the part about how he insisted on hand-washing his underwear, and the man had rolled up his sleeves and done it for him.
He had twisted and wrung them so hard they were curled up like earthworms.
To reassure her that he was doing truly well, Eun-myeong told his Noona about his recent trip to the 63 Building.
“The Boss and I even went to the 63 Building the other day…”
Of course, he carefully picked out only the good parts, like selecting the tender meat from a fish. He left out the part about getting lost, how he had been foolishly scared that he wouldn’t find the man, and how he had almost been tricked by a cult.
—Wow, you went there? Weren’t you scared?
“It was really high. But it was so cool because I could see all of Seoul at a glance.”
By the time they finished their quiet conversation, he had arrived home.
His Noona hung up, saying she was going to wash up and do the dishes, and Eun-myeong entered the house.
He heard a sizzling sound coming from the kitchen and realized the lady who worked at the house was there.
“Hello.”
Eun-myeong greeted her cautiously. Although he was very shy around strangers, the lady was someone who treated him with great kindness and familiarity. She reminded him exactly of Aunt Jeong-hye.
“Oh, the newlyweds are home.”
Newlywed. Eun-myeong mumbled the word to himself. Feeling a bit fluttery, he wandered into the kitchen to peek. Seeing a crab shell and various style="position:relative;display:inline;">[unauthorized copy]fresh seafood, it seemed tonight’s dinner was seafood stew.
“May I help you?”
“Oh, you can just rest. The Boss won’t like it if he finds out.”
The lady tried to dissuade him, but Eun-myeong added softly:
“It’s because I like cooking.”
After a moment of hesitation, she handed him an apron.
Eun-myeong took a blue crab and scrubbed it vigorously. To an observer, it might have looked like he was just rubbing it randomly, but it required a certain technique. He had to aim the brush precisely into every nook and cranny.
Female crabs ripen beautifully in the spring, and while it wasn’t quite the season yet, the size of this one was quite impressive.
“My, you’re quite skilled.”
Eun-myeong, who had been in a trance, shifted his gaze toward the voice beside him.
“Thank you…”
Upon receiving the compliment, his brushing slowed down noticeably. His movements became awkward, as if he were suddenly clumsy.
“Have you cooked crab before?”
“I worked at a sashimi restaurant a long time ago…”
“A sashimi restaurant? I thought you’d have grown up delicately without ever working a day in your life.”
It was truly a strange thing. Everywhere he went, he was treated like a beggar buried in debt, but this was the first time he had heard such a thing.
He realized that his poverty didn’t show. He thought it was a great relief. Eun-myeong smiled softly to himself.
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