Chapter Text
Hyun-ju leans over her small sink, laser focused on the vital task at hand.
She needs to finish her other eye of eyeliner.
Hyun-ju is just about to touch the makeup to her skin when she's rudely interrupted by the urgent voice of her roommate.
“Hyun-ju! I left my phone in the bathroom!”
Hyun-ju sighs. “Just give me a minute, Jun-hee!”
“God, you always take forever when you do your makeup.” Jun-hee sighs, her footsteps departing.
Hyun-ju smiles as she flawlessly does her wing of eyeliner. “And I always look damn good because of it.” She mutters taking one last glance in the mirror as she exits the bathroom.
“Finally!” Jun-hee responds, hurrying to grab her phone.
Hyun-ju picks up her green and white apron from the back of the couch, slipping it over her head and pulling it a little too tightly around her waist.
Jun-hee pauses as she opens the stand in the doorway, her eyes set on her roommate.
“What?” Hyun-ju asks.
“C'mon, you've got to pull your hair up! Young-mi got you those earrings to show off!” Jun-hee says, maybe a little too enthusiastically.
“Oh, I don't know…” Hyun-Ju mutters, reaching up to touch her right ear. The small studded diamonds were a celebratory gift from one of her closest friends. She had just hit 6 months on estrogen.
“Ponytails always get the most tips anyways.” Jun-hee says, grinning as she makes her way to her best friend.
“For you maybe.” Hyun-ju mumbles, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Jun-hee stands on her tip toes as she pulls Hyun-ju’s hair back into a short ponytail. “Don't knock it till you try it.”
Hyun-ju accepts defeat as her roommate pulls down two strands of hair to frame her face.
“Done!” Jun-hee says, touching Hyun-ju's bangs one last time before turning away.
Hyun-ju grabs glances at the time, grabbing her car keys. “We’re gonna be late.” 2:46. Their shift start at 3:00.
~
“Hyun-ju, there's a party of 6 coming in 15 minutes. They're yours.”
“Alright.” Hyun-ju responds, tugging at her loose strand of hair.
“It'll be under the name Park.” Her manager says dismissively as he makes his way towards the kitchen.
She nods, glancing out the window before returning to her very important work of refilling glasses of soju and tea.
“Excuse me?” A harsh voice calls from behind her.
“Yes?” Hyun-ju replies, turning around.
A woman sits in her seat, scoffing as Hyun-ju turns to face her.
She feels a pit grow in her stomach as the woman looks her up and down, an expression of disgust painted on her face.
“This bulgogi is cold. And I want a new waiter.” The woman spits out, physically recoiling as Hyun-ju steps closer.
She feels like she needs to say something, like she needs to defend herself, but nothing comes out except for a meek little “Yes ma'am.”
Hyun-ju silently grabs the plate, the thought of dropping it right into the lap of the woman crosses her mind. She smiles at the mental image, but hurries away towards the kitchen.
“Se-mi?” Hyun-ju calls into the kitchen. The pierced woman pops up, a smile on her face.
"Yup?”
“She says her bulgogi is cold. Feel free to spit in it."
“You got it.”
Hyun-ju doesn't consider Se-mi much more than a work friend, but they've formed a little pact. Whether it's a mean customer, or their asshole of a manager, they're always ready to snub or spit for one another.
~
Hyun-Ju glances at the clock. 6:58. The reservation will be here any minute. She waits patiently at the hostess stand, watching Jun-hee fake laugh at a joke from one of her tables. Jun-hee always had a talent for earning tips. Whether it was a bat of her eyelashes, or a fake laugh, she had something that Hyun-Ju could never quite capture. Not that she didn't earn good tips, it was just… different.
“Uhm… Excuse me, ma'am?”
Hyun-ju’s attention is snapped right back when she hears the voice of a man in front of her. He shifts nervously from foot to foot, glancing behind him at his large group. His dark black hair falls slightly over his forehead. Hyun-jus's attention is drawn to the man's large, tired looking eyes. There's a whisper of stubble on his chin.
Butterflies begin to flutter deep in Hyun-jus stomach as she looks over this stranger.
“We uh- I have a reservation…” He mumbles quietly, his voice deep and smooth.
“For Park?” Hyun-ju asks, switching to her customer service mode, pushing out any thoughts she has about the man's appearance.
“Yes ma'am.” He replies, smiling slightly.
“Right this way then.”
Something about his smile makes her breath catch.
No. She doesn't date. Not until she's finished her surgeries. She reminds herself, squashing the feeling.
She leads the group to a large table, bowing her head slightly as they file in.
“My name is Hyun-ju and I'll be your waitress tonight. What drinks would you like to start with?" She asks, taking out her notepad and pen.
“A round of soju for the table!” A man sitting in the far corner exclaims.
The others voice their agreements, except for the man sitting closest to her.
“Erm… I'll just take an iced tea, please.” The man from before says, looking up at Hyun-ju with his dark, kind, eyes.
Hyun-Ju forces her gaze away from the man as she scribbles down their order.
~
Hyun-Ju deftly maneuvers through the busy restaurant, her tray of drink staying impressively still on her palm.
The table cheers as she arrives with their 4th round of soju. She can't help but smile as she passes out the glasses, placing a refill of iced tea in front of the only sober man there.
She tucks the tray under her arm, turning to walk away so she can aid her other customers.
“Excuse me Miss- uh… Miss Young-ju?” A drunken voice calls from the table.
She laughs lightly to herself as she turns.
'Hyun-ju.” She corrects, looking at the man who called her name. The top of his dark hair is tied neatly back while the rest hangs down to his chin.
“That's it! Well, Hyun-chu, my friend here… Gyeong-seok thinks you're beautiful!” The drunk man slurs out, pointing across the table to the man drinking iced tea.
He coughs, choking on his drink. “Dae-ho!” Gyeong-seok exclaims, his face turning bright red as he slams his glass down. “I am so sorry- I didn't… I didn't say that- He's drunk- Uhm...” He stutters out, at a loss for words.
A smile flickers over Hyun-ju's face, but it's extinguished as fast as it came. They're making fun of her. That man is just trying to embarrass his friend. Being flirted with as a joke is nothing new to Hyun-ju.
“I have other tables to serve.” She replies shortly, turning away.
“Wait!” Gyeong-seok calls.
She doesn't even bother turning around. Why can't people just let her be?
The judgemental woman from before yells out to her from the table on her left. Hyun-ju takes one glance at her.
“I'm not your waitress.” She snaps from over her shoulder.
Sounds of gasp and shock come from the women's table. Whatever. She's close enough with her manager for him to let it slide when they inevitably complain.
~
“Hyun-ju!” Jun-hee shouts, hurrying after her roommate.
Hyun-ju sighs, she just wants a break.
“What the hell happened?” Jun-hee questions, her eyes scanning the restaurant as she tries to pinpoint the source of Hyun-ju's unhappiness.
“Just some guy.” Hyun-ju responds, settling into a secluded corner.
“I'll kill him.” Jun-hee responds, her face dead serious.
Hyun-ju lets out a breathy laugh that borderlines a sigh.
"Which table is it? I can take it over.” Jun-hee says, leaning against her best friend's shoulder.
“Table 22. They’ve already eaten. They'll probably just ask for another round of soju. Gyeon- the man in the blue- doesn't drink.” Hyun-ju tells her.
She silently curses herself for using the name of the stranger. She does not know that man. And she has no interest in getting to know that man.
“I can take over table 3 for you.” Hyun-ju offers.
“Oh, you're the best!” Jun-hee grins, nudging her roommate as she prances towards table 22.
~
"Hyun-ju!” Jun-hee practically screams from across the empty restaurant.
Hyun-ju whips around, flinching slightly at the loud sound. “What?”
“What did you do to that table? They left a 50% tip! Five fuckin’ zero!” She yells, jumping in the air.
“You're kidding… That bill had to be around $200.” Hyun-ju states, her mouth agape.
Jun-hee grins as she reaches into her pocket, pulling out a $100 bill.
“There's no way…” Hyun-Ju trails off, feeling the bill.
It's real.
“Oh! And that iced tea guy kept asking about you-
Is Hyun-Ju coming back?’
‘If you see Hyun-Ju can you please tell her I'm sorry.’
‘Can you please give this to Hyun-Ju?’-
Who does that guy think he is? Sure he's hot and all but come on.” Jun-hee says, waving her hands for effect.
“Wait- He asked about me?” Hyun-ju questions, practically frozen in place.
Butterflies stir wildly in her stomach.
“I'm telling you. It was that ponytail. Men go crazy for ponytails.” Jun-hee says, grinning as she hands over the bill.
“Did he say anything else?” Hyun-ju questions, slightly embarrassed by the emotions she's feeling.
“Nah, I just told him ‘I’ll give her the money, but that's all.’ He looked so defeated at that point, I felt kinda bad.” Jun-hee says, shrugging.
He looked… Defeated?
Did this guy actually find her attractive?
No, no, no. No more men. Especially after Jun-hee’s Myung-gi situation. No dating unless he is the epitome of a prince charming.
“Yknow… What was it that they said to make you so upset?” Jun-hee asks, pushing in a nearby chair.
“One of the drunk ones said that ‘iced tea’ thought I was beautiful… I thought they were making fun of me.” As the words leave her mouth, she feels a bit ridiculous, especially with the fact she's using code names at the age of 30.
What is this, middle school?
Jun-hee’s mouth falls open.
“Hyun-ju. You have got to be kidding me.”
Hyun-Ju turns away, a small, regretful smile crossing her face.
“He was totally into you! God, he's probably even rich.” Jun-hee swoons, leaning against a table.
“I don't do dating, Jun-hee.”
“I know, I know.”
“And it's not like I'm ever going to see him again anyways.” She mumbles, looking out the window at the empty parking lot.