8 – Part-time Job (2)
In that world over there, I was somewhat noticeable, but not to the extent of drawing much attention.
Of course, I’ve received a few confessions before, but for someone barely making ends meet, love is a luxury in itself.
Everyone had refused.
I didn’t notice at first because I didn’t have a reason to look in the mirror.
Was it the first time I saw the mirror when I finished Ara and Cheoljeongsa and went to the bathroom?
My face was more androgynous, and my hair had grown a little, giving me a neutral look.
Would it be right to say it was just well-maintained?
It wasn’t like the drastic changes I saw in web novels or comics.
It felt like the frame remained the same, but the style had changed.
“Well… even if I’m popular, I’m a married man…”
I thought as I sucked on a straw stuck in my coffee.
Even if I hadn’t married Ara, it wouldn’t have been difficult to make a living.
The manager of the convenience store where I worked said I could spend unlimited money on meals.
High school girls blushed as they offered me coffee.
The world of gender reversal mixed with the slightly androgynous appearance and gave birth to a new harmony.
Sip.
I didn’t even taste this expensive coffee, just sucked it in.
I’ve become a man of wealth.
“But this is delicious. Is this why women have been sweetening their coffee and living?”
I had never touched anything other than sweetened latte coffee.
So I was surprised by the difference in taste.
It’s somehow like a taste that seems destined to corrupt.
When you taste it, it feels like a taste you’d crave continuously.
“Like Ara noona…”
What perverted thoughts is this guy having again?
I shook my head.
Anxiety, retreat…
Retreat…
Ding.
At that moment, customers started gathering one by one, forming a bustling crowd once again.
Chapter 2 of the Dimension Bell has begun.
To regain my composure, I slapped my cheeks and shouted loudly.
“Welcome! Guests!”
It’s been 4 hours since I started working, and I have 5 more hours until I finish, so let’s work hard until then.
***
“Uueeek.”
16:37.
The number of transactions after lunch is already 150.
There’s no way I can handle this alone.
We need a total of 2 people for calculations, organizing items, and cleaning the store.
Am I supposed to do all of this alone?
I should just take the allowance Ara gives and live like that.
Not doing it.
No, can’t do it.
The door opened with a jingling sound when the bell rang at that moment.
Another customer, perhaps.
“Welcome.”
“Oh, you’re the part-timer for the morning and afternoon shifts.”
“Are you the evening shift part-timer, by any chance?”
“Yes, yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Yoo Hye-eun.”
“I’m Yoo Sung-hwan.”
Same Yoo family.
I casually wiped my hands on my vest and extended them.
She hurriedly took off her gloves and shook my hand.
Is it because it’s cold outside?
“Mr. Sung-hwan, I’ll take care of the closing check, so please take a break. Let me see… What’s this? Eek, what’s going on with the afternoon sales?”
“What? What’s wrong with today’s sales? I thought I was going to die, but it seems like business is booming here.”
“It’s hard to believe… It’s because this is Bed Town, so it’s really quiet except for students after school hours.”
What?
Then, what does it mean that I experienced the dimensional bell attack during the day?
Among them, there seemed to be regions where business thrived to the extent that people returned after coming once. Is this not one of those?
“Actually, there’s an increase in customers from the afternoon when I start working… seems like it has an effect.”
“An effect?”
“They say business does well when a handsome guy is at the front, right? But usually, that happens in places like cafes…”
Hyeun glanced intently at my face.
Turning left, then turning right.
And then her face turned red.
She’s a cute one too.
“Time flies. Well then, good work.”
“You’ve worked hard too, Seonghwan. Shouldn’t you receive extra pay for this part-time job?”
“Oh, it’s not that big of a deal.”
I chuckled and bid her farewell, stepping outside.
The sky only showed the beginning of the sunset, a clear and blue day itself.
It’s tough from the first day of part-time work.
I guess it was a good decision to stick to weekend shifts.
If I had done this during the weekdays, it would have been hell, right?
“Seonghwan!”
At that moment, Ara’s Porsche Boxster GTS pulled up in front of the convenience store.
Every time I see it, I think – seriously cool.
“Sis is here? Did you finish quickly?”
“I came early to pick you up. Hurry, get in.”
Opening the passenger seat door, I sat down and fastened my seatbelt.
Ara, upon confirming my presence, suddenly put on sunglasses and lowered the visor.
Ara lowering the visor, that’s unusual.
“Let’s do something different today. Where should we go from here?”
“Well… how about starting with the mart?”
“The mart? What’s for dinner today?”
I hadn’t thought about it yet, but Ara’s eyes sparkled suddenly.
If she’s showing those eyes, I should make something delicious.
I put on a face that said I’m going to use my culinary skills.
“Today, it’s fillet….”
“Step on it! To Costco!”
Since there were many steak videos in Ara’s YouTube recent watch list, I casually suggested it, and her eyes lit up.
I hope she drives safely.
***
“Sung-hwan, I think trimming your bangs would be a good idea.”
“Indeed, lately, they seem to be poking your eyes.”
I grabbed my bangs, pulling them down, and pouted.
It was so itchy when sleeping; I felt like I would die because of this guy.
I was thinking of just cutting it off with scissors, but Ara wanted to cry, so I gave up.
“I’ll take you to the shop Noona frequents. Get dressed.”
“Now?”
“Well, we have to go now, right? We can’t miss the chance to get rid of the rust.”
I took the clothes Ara tossed one by one.
The execution power is truly outstanding.
“Start the car downstairs and come down slowly.”
“Yes, I got it.”
The entrance door closed with a thud.
I quickly changed into the clothes Ara gave me.
But usually, don’t shops worth going to for idols require reservations or something?
It might be rude to go suddenly…
Ah, whatever.
I wonder how much Ara’s named price is.
Roughly dressed, I locked the front door and headed to the parking lot.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Oh… oh..?”
The place Ara and I arrived at by car was an enormous salon, utilizing an entire building as a beauty shop.
I’ve seen it on the news before; just getting a cut here costs a crazy amount, tens of thousands of dollars.
Thinking about the world on the other side, where I used to go to a men’s hair salon for a ten-thousand-won cut, it was so horrific that screams couldn’t be avoided.
“Noona, why spend tens of thousands on just cutting a guy’s hair?!”
“What are you talking about? Because it’s a guy, you should be even more careful.”
“No… I mean…”
“And soon it’ll be time for college entrance, and you need to tidy up your hair, right? Let’s go in quickly.”
Without any response, I was dragged into the building.
“Oh? What’s the matter, Ara? Wasn’t there still some time left?”
“I’m going to tidy up this one’s hair today.”
“Hmm. Cute, isn’t he? Your younger brother?”
“No, he’s my husband.”
“Right. Ara had a young husband, didn’t she? I forgot about that.”
A strange man with a bizarre permed hair approached me and touched my hair here and there.
Ugh… I don’t like this man…
“Since Ara’s husband, today’s haircut is on the house.”
“It’s okay… Director, didn’t you say your income has been dropping lately?”
“Between us, it’s a bit dull…”
Income dropping?
It’s fascinating that you can make money running a salon of this scale.
“Anyway, go inside. Sung, take care of this one! Haircut here!”
“Yes, Director.”
Once again, I was led… no, dragged inside.
***
“How is it? Is it okay?”
“Yeah. It’s definitely different.”
In the context of martial arts, it was like a beauty salon, but the skill was no joke.
After a little trim and a haircut, there was no noticeable change in style, but the things that bothered the eyes were neatly gone.
So this is what a professional does…
“The head of this place is really famous.”
“I’ve seen it in the news, too.”
It was a news piece about the price, though.
I could definitely understand why idols and actors frequented this place.
And I don’t know what they did, but my hair feels a lot softer.
Can they really bring about such a dramatic change?
If I were an idol or an actor, I’d easily shell out tens of thousands for a cut.
“My hair’s been cut, and I have plenty of time, what should I do?”
Ara’s eyes sparkled.
Those were eyes that hoped for a date.
It was a rare day off, and it was only lunchtime; I felt a little reluctant to go home.
“Shall we go watch a movie?”
“Sounds good! Do we need to book tickets?”
“We can just get them at the theater. It’s a weekday afternoon, after all.”
Ara beamed.
No, I would have laughed.
Although I was disguised with sunglasses and glasses, it was certain even if I couldn’t see it well.
“By the way, what genre do you like, Nuna?”
“Action? Fantasy? Thriller?”
“What about romance?”
“Well… did Seongho… like romance…?”
“He doesn’t like it?”
“If Seongho wants to watch it…”
It seems like even his taste has changed.
Women like provocative and brutal things, and men like movies with a poetic and leisurely atmosphere.
But who am I?
A man who knows the taste of living in the era of macho.
Of course, the date is an action movie.
“I don’t like romance either.”
“Really?”
“Did you forget what I watch?”
“Huh? Oh… right…”
I used to read web novels before going to bed, and Ara would join in to read together.
But of course, it was a 19+ scene, so Ara got excited and welcomed the ending.
I signaled for her to link arms with me.
Here, women take the lead.
Of course, Ara quickly caught onto my intentions and playfully punched me, her eyes sparkling.
Ah… Is a punch really this delightful?
It feels like I might melt away because of her soft and fluffy chest.