episode_0043

#43. The Two People in a Sealed Bar

“………Huh??”

“Ah… Ma’am?”

“……Jiyeon? How could you…….”

“It’s a coincidence… ahaha….”

Shin Yookyung and Baek Jiyeon were assigned the same bartender job at the same time and place.

Was it an incredible coincidence?

…That couldn’t be. Just as Jiyeon had accepted the job through Chaebin’s recommendation, Yookyung had also come to this place at someone else’s suggestion.

“Are you also here for the bartender part-time job?”

“Yes. They just said I only needed to be here for two hours. …Ma’am, you also received the same offer, right?”

“Oh? Oh. I came without much thought, but I never imagined you, Jiyeon, would be here.”

Had Yookyung really received the part-time job offer through Chaebin? Jiyeon thought for a moment, but there didn’t seem to be any particular connection between Yookyung and Chaebin.

In other words, someone else had approached her. Jiyeon was certain.

“You know, I heard there’s going to be an event here soon. Do you happen to know what kind of event it is?”

“I haven’t heard either.”

“I see…. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like a rather prestigious event. I saw people in black suits busily rushing around when I came. ……Ah!”

Yookyung clapped her hands, as if something had just occurred to her. She looked quite excited about being a bartender for the first time in her life.

“I had a slightly strange experience earlier, you know? I was in the elevator, and suddenly some foreign gentleman bowed to me very politely.”

“Really? What happened?”

“It was probably… French, I think. After greeting me, he kept mumbling something in front of me. But when I couldn’t understand him, another staff member nearby whispered something to the gentleman. …In the end, he apologized and just got off.”

“Ah……”

“But that person, I don’t remember his name, but he’s a very famous artist. I saw him in a book. If I’d known this, I should have asked for his autograph…”

“Ahaha, I know right…. I would have done the same.”

To think her work partner was her boyfriend’s mother. Even though they knew each other well, Jiyeon felt a slight suffocating sensation at the thought of spending two hours alone with her.

………No.

No. This is an opportunity! A chance to get closer to the person who will become my mother. Let’s show Ma’am a good side, Jiyeon.

Jiyeon re-examined the bar’s structure.

Outside the bar was a makeshift table. The process was that a customer would tear off an order slip from the table, check the desired drinks, and insert it into a slot, after which Yookyung and Jiyeon would prepare them.

Someone might find it disappointing not to see the bartender’s performance, but precisely because of that, the two of them felt relieved.

“…Why would they entrust such an important task to beginners like us? Drinks are crucial at a banquet…”

“I know, right…. Oh, I should try to contact Doyun again.”

“Do, Doyun? Jiyeon, wait a moment.”

“Yes…?”

“It’s a secret that I’m working here. Haha… Please don’t mention me to him…”

Even though Jiyeon thought, ‘It’s not like she’s doing anything wrong, so why hide it?’, she decided to follow Yookyung’s wishes.

While she was engrossed in looking at recipes, the bar booth opened with a rattling sound. Joo Chaebin, the organizer of the social club, stood there.

“Hello~. I’m Joo Chaebin, who hired you for this party. Thank you for coming today.”

“Oh, CEO-nim…? I was just about to ask…….”

“Alright, alright. First, we need to introduce ourselves, so just wait a moment. …Nice to meet you, Shin Yookyung-ssi, right?”

“Yes…. Wow, you’re truly beautiful. To think such a young person is hosting a party…”

Yookyung didn’t hide her envy and took Chaebin’s hand. Chaebin, unexpectedly receiving such admiring gazes, stepped back awkwardly and bowed her head.

“…You already know the precautions, right? Once the party begins, you cannot leave this booth for two hours. I recommend going to the restroom beforehand.”

“I know.”

“You won’t be that busy. The party isn’t primarily for drinks…. In addition to the hourly wage, I’ll give you tips based on the participants’ satisfaction and a one-night hotel stay voucher.”

For two hours of work, these were excellent conditions. Yookyung immediately rolled up her sleeves and got ready to begin.

Jiyeon, still with lingering questions, approached Chaebin. She wanted to know the fundamental reason why she and Yookyung were working here.

“CEO-nim…. Thaaat―.”

“I know what you’re curious about, Jiyeon. …Everything you’re thinking is correct. This is truly the end of it.”

“Ah……”

Doyun had wanted Jiyeon to quickly end her association with Joo Chaebin. Jiyeon also agreed, but she hadn’t expected the other party to clearly cut ties like this.

With such a clean, no-lingering-taste conclusion, Jiyeon couldn’t say anything more and had to let Chaebin go.

“You called Joo Chaebin-ssi ‘CEO-nim’… Do you know each other?”

“She was my previous part-time job boss. She runs a shopping mall.”

“Is that so…?”

Recently, Yookyung had helped Jiyeon find a new job, so she generally knew the situation.

She hadn’t heard the exact reason for Jiyeon’s job change, but surprisingly, her son Doyun had apparently opposed her continuing to work at her previous job.

“Ahaha… It’s unexpected, right? She’s the CEO of the place I quit…”

“No, it could happen. It doesn’t look like your relationship is bad, either. It seems like a clean end to your employment, doesn’t it?”

“You could say that. I’m very grateful you found me new modeling work, Ma’am.”

“Oh, nonsense! You’re like a daughter to me. That much is only natural.”

Jiyeon was so diligent and amiable that Yookyung wondered, ‘How did such a child become close to our Doyun?’. There was no way Yookyung wouldn’t be fond of her.

Time passed again. 8:40 PM. The two of them prepared shakers, various glasses, and fresh fruits, then took a deep breath.

A flurry of footsteps followed, and then the area around the bar became quiet again. Just then, someone tapped on the table outside. Next, an order slip was passed through the slot.

Jiyeon quickly checked the order slip.

‘Martini…! Where’s the martini recipe? Ah, found it…!’

“Get the olives ready. I’ll make it.”

Yookyung, who had already checked the recipe, was putting ice into a glass. Even though it was their first time, having undergone numerous mental training sessions, they struggled while trying to work together.

While they were diligently working, a noisy sound came from outside.

“You’re quite drunk. If it’s an order, we can help you with it……”

“No, no, it’s fine! I’ll order myself. What’s so difficult about it that I’d need waiters to do it?”

Several dull shoe heel sounds gradually approached the bar. Consequently, Yookyung and Jiyeon inside the booth also tensed up.

‘What is it…? There have been many people walking around nearby so far, but no one has spoken?’

Until now, they had only performed the task of making ordered drinks and handing them to the waiters. Therefore, no one other than the waiters had approached the bar.

“Ah…… excuse me…. The menu… Let’s see. Is there no soju here?”

“I apologize, but we do not stock soju. However, we have many kinds of Western liquor. Would you like to try something suitable?”

“Western liquor, good. Give me a sweet one! Ugh…”

“Understood, then…”

A heavily intoxicated old man and the calmly attending waiter sat down at the table beyond the partition. A new order came in with the sound of the order slip tearing.

Seeing that the non-alcoholic item was checked, Yookyung secretly admired the waiter’s thoughtfulness and began mixing the drinks. Jiyeon sliced oranges and peaches and added the juice to the finished cocktail.

“…Wow, by the way, this banquet is just an appetizer… I can’t believe that couple attended. It’s already so interesting to watch! Exciting!”

“……I apologize, but please refrain from mentioning the party outside the main hall―.”

“What does it matter! Who’s listening anyway? …This is what youth is about. Look, I’m actually envious of you young people who can plan events like this. Even though I have the title of VIP, there was a time when I used to live under a bridge…”

“Finished.”

Jiyeon handed out the completed cocktail through the opening. The old man took a sip, commented that it wasn’t bad, and then left.

…What was that conversation about?

There was nothing in the old man’s words that she could guess. This was because Chaebin hadn’t told them anything about the party in the first place.

……Tap, tap.

Just as she was about to wipe her sweat and rest for a moment, someone tapped on the table outside. But no order slip was delivered.

“…It’s me.”

………?

“It’s me, Senior-nim.”

While Jiyeon was bewildered, Yookyung, with a startled expression, put her face close to the partition. She seemed to recognize the owner of this voice.

“Please come out for a moment. There won’t be any orders for a while anyway.”

“Uh, uh…. But I’m still working right now…”

“It’s fine. Well, there’s something I want to show you…”

To Yookyung, who was at a loss, Jiyeon clenched her fist reassuringly. From outside, the booth door opened, and a sturdy man’s hand beckoned to her.

“It seems like someone you know, so go ahead. I’ll take care of things here!”

“Okay, I’ll just go out for a moment…. This is a secret. …You know that, right?”

Yookyung went outside as if someone had pushed her from behind. Soon, the two people’s footsteps faded, and the area around the bar became quiet again.

With nothing to do, Jiyeon took snacks out of her pocket one by one and munched on them. There was still no contact from Doyun.

“………Ugh, I’m so tired, those truly troublesome customers. What do they think we are?”

“Hey, let’s take a break here for a bit. …Ah, we’re not here to order.”

Jiyeon immediately realized that the two women who approached, chatting, were waiters.

She wondered if it was appropriate to talk in such a place, but Jiyeon decided to leave them be.

“…Don’t go near the old man sitting in the back left. He immediately starts with sexual harassment.”

“Really? Seriously, even if we’re at the bottom of the group, don’t they think we’re too naive? Do they think this is some kind of escort service?”

“Haa… I also want to just grab one of them and properly love him~. How did I end up as a standby…”

“Hey, but that guy who came out earlier, you know. …What number was he?”

“Number 60?”

“Yeah, Number 60. Even though he’s short, don’t you think he’s damn handsome? His beauty was just bursting through his mask?”

“His butt looks smooth… probably his first time, right? Haa… F***, if it were me, I’d just grab him from behind and f***ing……!”

Ahem, the two of them coughed and quickly got up from their seats. Again, Jiyeon listened to the waiters’ conversation, but there wasn’t much to gain.

…Is it a somewhat promiscuous party? Like a club where people rub against each other a little…?

From their conversation, it sounded like a club, but Jiyeon had never actually been to one. She was simply letting her imagination run wild based on overheard knowledge.

The phone rang… The phone rang….

Doyun still didn’t answer the phone. It was deflating to think that the very person who had made such a fuss before she accepted Chaebin’s part-time job offer wasn’t picking up his phone.

Doyun-ah, you seem busy lately…. Although I see you a lot now… I wish we could meet a little more often.

I’m finding it harder and harder to hold back….

Clutching her phone tightly, she took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. Lately, her body had been strangely aching here and there.

About once or twice a week, she felt an ‘unbearable heat’ come over her. She wished Doyun would grow up quickly and fulfill her.

………….?

…….

“…Jiyeon-ah, Jiyeon-ah. Are you okay? You were zoning out for a moment…”

“Ah, Ma’am…! I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize you’d come back…”

Yookyung, who had returned at some point, immediately put on rubber gloves for washing dishes. Jiyeon, startled back to her senses and looking at her, felt a subtle sense of unease.

Yookyung’s appearance before leaving the booth and after returning was subtly different. Her neatly styled bob had strands sticking out as if hurriedly dried, and one of her shirt buttons was undone.

Furthermore, her overall attire seemed untidy, as if she had just thrown it on.

A moment later, it became noisy outside again. Someone was causing trouble nearby. Listening to the voice, it was the old man from earlier.

“……Ah, it’s Number 30 again! Excellent! …That skill in handling young people! My… well, even this old man can’t help but be amazed…, wahahahaha! Hey, waiter! Waiter!!”

“…Did you call?”

“That sweet drink from earlier was good, you know. But wasn’t it non-alcoholic? I’m staying here tonight anyway, so give me something strong!”

“Understood. Please wait inside for a moment.”

“Ehh, come on now. Can’t I even come out to cool my head? More importantly, tell me some information about that Woman Number 30. How many people are ahead of her too. Hiccup.”

“That person has an ‘Alpha’ ring, so we cannot interfere recklessly……”

“Alpha…? That woman is quite annoying, isn’t she…? Hehe, but still……….”

Because I know her name now.

What was it again? The people next to me were whispering among themselves………. Ah.

“Lee Hyeyeon?”

Silently, Jiyeon’s hands, which had been tidying dishes, came to a sudden halt.

……Lee Hyeyeon.

It was a familiar name, but one she had no occasion to call. Of course. No child in Korea would casually call their mother by her given name.

By some twist of fate, the name that came out of the old man’s mouth was the same as Jiyeon’s mother, who had vanished without a trace several years ago.