RB 123

“Hey, bring me two bottles of Fresh.”

“…….”

Eunho carefully observed the customer. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he should retrieve the items himself.

Working night shifts at a convenience store, he often encountered drunk customers. Their unreasonable demands were a daily occurrence. After a few encounters with drunk customers, he learned firsthand that it’s better to quickly give in to their demands and send them away than to confront them.

Eunho left the counter and headed toward the refrigerator. Two soju bottles clanked together. Even as he scanned the barcode, Eunho’s gaze lingered over the drunkard’s shoulder.

Choi Yeorok was staring in his direction. His gaze was so persistent that Eunho couldn’t help but focus his attention on him rather than the customer before him.

“It’s 4,000 won. Do you need a bag?”

“Then what, you fucker, am I supposed to carry them?”

“A bag is an extra 50 won. Is that alright?”

“Hey kid… what are you going to do with a measly 50 won? Just take this.”

The customer tossed crumpled bills onto the counter. At the same time, his body tilted sideways. Barely able to straighten himself, he shouted at Eunho to quickly pack them.

Eunho sighed softly as he straightened out the crumpled bills one by one. The convenience store owner had a black plastic bag set aside for situations like this. To minimize any disturbance, he placed the soju bottles inside.

“Thank you, goodbye.”

Despite the greeting, the drunk didn’t take his soju. He swayed from side to side, rummaging through his jacket. Soon, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter emerged from his pocket.

The man suddenly put a cigarette to his lips, and Eunho’s calm face turned grave. Without a moment to stop him, the drunkard lit it. He took a drag, and a thick puff of smoke wafted out.

“Sir, you can’t smoke here. Please go outside.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Euho hurriedly rushed out from behind the counter. He had to stop indoor smoking no matter what. If he overlooked this, the store owner or the employee would have to pay a much larger fine than the smoker.

First, he grabbed the bag and forced it into the man’s hand. Cigarette smoke was already thick everywhere. Eunho frowned as the smoke and smell wafted toward his face.

“Sir, please go out….”

“Huh? Look at this prick? Did you just push me?”

“This is a non-smoking area. You are not allowed to smoke here.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do! You son of a bitch! Do you know who I am?”

The man screamed. He threw the plastic bag he’d been forced to hold onto the floor. “Crack!” The soju bottles fell and shattered with a loud crash. Green shards of glass littered the floor, and the smell of alcohol filled the air.

His drunken behavior was foul. Still not satisfied, the man tried to grab Eunho by the collar. But his hand only grabbed air. Yeorok had intervened, holding the man’s wrist tightly.

“Who the hell are you? Let go of this!”

“I suggest you stop there.”

Refined threats had no effect on the drunkard. The man, oblivious to whoever was blocking him, was busy hurling curses at the intruder.

Finally, he threw the cigarette he was holding at Yeorok. The spark that hit him in the chest bounced up and landed on his sleeve. A soot stain remained on his clean jacket, and for a moment, a burning smell rose.

“Let go! You little shit! Why is this guy so strong?!”

The man screamed. He tried to grab Yeorok by the collar, but Yeorok’s expression remained unchanged, and he held onto his wrist tightly.

Perhaps angered by the significant difference in strength, the man attempted a reckless headbutt. The outrageous action made Yeorok take a step back. It seemed a fistfight was about to break out.

Eunho belatedly reached out and pulled their entangled arms away. However, his thin body was unable to stop them, and was only tossed around.

Just as he was debating whether to call the police, Secretary Hong burst into the convenience store. He grabbed the struggling drunkard by the collar. He wasn’t in the same situation as Yeorok, so he wouldn’t tolerate his actions.

The drunken man’s verbal abuse continued outside. Soon, the door slammed shut, and the jingling of the convenience store bell was the only sound in the chaos. Eunho stared out of the store, his face blank.

His bewildered gaze turned to Choi Yeorok. His disheveled tie and wrinkled jacket looked pathetic. It made him wonder why someone so upright would do something so out of place.

“…What…”

He was about to ask, “What right do you have to interfere in my business?” but then he closed his mouth. Just being involved with Choi Yeorok was enough to make his head spin. Even in all this, the way he looked at him with concern was irritating.

Instead of speaking to him, Eunho left. He went to the storage room and grabbed a dustpan and a broom. The area in front of the counter was a mess. He concentrated solely on carefully sweeping up the broken glass.

Yeorok, who had been standing guard in front of him for a while, took a step back to avoid Eunho’s sweeping.

“…….”

Eunho silently devoted himself to cleaning. Far from being grateful for the help, he hated the sight of Yeorok constantly intruding into his life. He wished he’d hurry up and leave, but that would mean another unnecessary conversation, so he simply remained silent.

After clearing the glass debris, Yeorok wandered around the counter for a moment while Eunho mopped the floor with a dry mop. He picked out a few items and returned to the counter.

Eunho, who had been diligently mopping, glanced in that direction. What was left on the counter were ointment and bandages.

“I’ll wait, take your time.”

Yeorok said with a faint smile. It was the first conversation they’d had since he’d come to the convenience store today. Of course, Eunho didn’t respond, so it ended up being an awkward monologue.

“…….”

Eunho exhaled through his nose and continued what he was doing. But that was only for a moment, and he became concerned about the person watching his every move. He eventually placed the mop in a corner and returned to the counter.

Eunho quickly scanned the barcode. While calculating, he unconsciously looked down.

The back of Yeorok’s hand was red. It seemed like a mild burn from hot cigarette ash. A darkened mark was also visible on the white back of his hand. The scar, seemingly a puncture wound from a sharp object, had healed in a rather unsightly manner, the black ink still lingering.

“…….”

Why did he just leave it like that? It could have been treated.

It was surprising that Yeorok’s once flawless hand had a scar. But that was all. Eunho quickly lost interest and slid the ointment and bandages in front of him.

Yeorok walked back to the table by the window where he had been sitting. He took off his disheveled jacket and placed it on the chair next to him, then rolled up his shirt sleeves.

He quietly applied ointment in a corner. Even the simple act of tending to a wound seemed meaningful. He was a man who attracted attention just by existing.

Soon, Yeorok stood up, holding his cell phone. He gathered up all the items left on the table and tossed them into the trash can. A bandage was stuck to the back of his hand.

“I’ll go.”

“…….”

It was obvious who he was talking to, but Eunho didn’t even raise his head. He listened intently to the sound of shoes hitting the ground, but he feigned indifference and stubbornly continued mopping.

Only after Yeorok left did he finally straighten his hunched back. He propped the broom he’d been holding like a lifeline against the wall and approached the table where Yeorok had been just moments before.

The place was spotless, without a trace of anyone having been there. Even the chairs were placed correctly. However, Choi Yeorok had left his suit jacket behind.

“…….”

Eunho huffed loudly. The person who even arranged the chairs didn’t have the presence of mind to pack his jacket? That was ridiculous.

Eunho picked up the jacket hanging on the back of the chair. It was so expensive, he couldn’t just throw it away. The luxurious fabric crumpled in Eunho’s hands.

There was a time when he held his clothes dearly. Now, the mere sight of it made his blood boil.

Selfish, cruel, shameless, selfish bastard!

He threw the expensive jacket to the floor and stomped on it. Imagining that it was Choi Yeorok relieved some of the frustration. The kicking continued.

Yeorok exited the alley and walked to the roadside where his car was parked. Secretary Hong, waiting outside, bowed politely and opened the back door for him.

The drunkard from earlier was successfully dealt with by Secretary Hong. When Yeorok, sitting in the back seat, peeked through the window, the convenience store had returned to its former quietness. However, he could see Eunho venting his anger over the jacket he’d left behind, through the glass.

Yeorok smiled bitterly. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and stared out the window.

“It seems like there are a lot of drunk customers.”

“That’s the case the later the time gets.”

“Tell the owner to upgrade the store’s security system. We’ll cover the cost, so be as greedy as he can.”

Yeorok simply gave instructions. The way he ruffled his hair and shook off the smell of cigarette smoke was casual. Having crossed the line once, he no longer hesitated to interfere in Eunho’s life. He acted as if it were natural.

“…Should I take you to the hospital?”

Secretary Hong, sitting in the driver’s seat, examined the back of Yeorok’s hand through the mirror. Seeing the cheap bandage, he frowned in concern.

“Forget it.”

Yeorok didn’t care about his injury. Instead, he straightened his fingers and examined the distinct mark left behind. He didn’t care if the scar remained. Rather, he would look at it to make sure he never forgot his own sins.

“…….”

Since Eunho left, he’s barely been able to sleep. On the days he saw him, he managed to snooze for a few hours. So, he couldn’t stop. He knew how much Eunho despised him, how much he suffered in his presence, but he was unable to give up.

Did people think he enjoyed facing such a reaction? No matter how self-centered he was, Yeorok was equally tormented by Eunho’s cold treatment.

While he was withering away day by day, Sim Eunho stubbornly continued on his path. Even when alone, he no longer felt lonely or cried in secret. Despite his frail appearance, Eunho was a stronger person than he appeared.

Yeorok felt like he was the only one being left behind. If he eventually withered away until there was nothing left but something unsightly, would Euho finally spare him a glance? Perhaps; Euho was kind-hearted, after all. Maybe he’d look back just once.

He didn’t know how long this precarious encounter will last. Yeorok sighed with worry. But the good news is that he saw Eunho again today, so he might sleep tonight.