Chapter 38: Comic book window (6)

Part 13

After that, time flew by in a whirlwind of busyness. Youngjin’s warning about the post-lunch rush being twice as intense wasn’t an exaggeration. Customers poured in every ten minutes, two or three at a time, keeping me on my feet for hours without a moment to sit. By the tail end of the peak, I was even helping pack cooled bread and restock displays during brief lulls. Before I knew it, the sun was dipping low.

“Good work. For your first day, you were really sharp. Always thought you were bright,” Youngjin’s dad said.

“…Thank you…”

It was 5 p.m. The last customer had left, and the rush was finally over. More than a sense of accomplishment, I felt drained, like something had been sucked out of me. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the chair behind the counter. Youngjin’s dad approached, patting my shoulder with a proud nod.

“Honestly, it’s your first day, so we didn’t expect much, but you were a huge help. You saved us.”

“If it’s like this every day… three people really wouldn’t be enough,” I said.

“Today was unusually busy, though,” he replied, shrugging.

I managed a weak smile, watching him. Youngjin’s mom emerged from the kitchen, looking worn out—unlike her lively self from earlier. Considering the endless stream of bread she’d been baking to keep the displays stocked, she probably hadn’t rested either.

“If you could help out like this, including weekends…” she started.

“Huh?”

“You haven’t set your work hours yet, right?”

“…Oh.”

Now that I thought about it, I’d started this as a light trial to learn the ropes, but it had turned into something full-on. Feeling a bit dazed, I must’ve looked blank, because she scratched her cheek with an awkward smile, seeming to guess my thoughts.

“It’s a bit late to bring this up, haha…” she said.

“Haha…”

When I first heard about the job, I’d thought, I could handle this for a week. But after experiencing it, I couldn’t bring myself to say, “I’m fine helping every day.” Weekends weren’t a big deal since my schedule was open, and post-school, weekends might actually be better. Still…

“…If it’s about five days a week, I could manage until school starts,” I said.

After school begins, realistically, working these hours would be tough. Even optimistically, carving out an eight-hour gap in my schedule seemed impossible.

“After school starts, we can adjust your hours. Five days? That’s more than enough,” she said.

“I’m just worried five days might still be too much once classes begin…”

Three days a week during the semester might already be a stretch. This was just a part-time job—it shouldn’t disrupt my life.

“No, no! You’re helping because our son asked, so don’t worry about it! Five days is already a huge help!” she insisted.

Feeling guilty, I lowered my gaze, but her exaggerated hand-waving and warm tone reassured me. She wasn’t the type to hold grudges.

Part 14

After signing the contract, sorting out insurance, and settling minor details, we agreed I’d take Tuesdays and Thursdays off. I headed home, chuckling at how I’d spent more time declining Youngjin’s dad’s offer to drive me than on the paperwork itself.

“Yoonseo, you’re back?” Mom’s voice, warm and caring, greeted me before I could even say anything.

“I’m home…” I replied weakly.

She must’ve heard the door. As I sluggishly kicked off my shoes, her footsteps pattered closer, and I saw her peek out, still in her apron.

“How was the job?”

“Busier than I expected for a bakery.”

“You didn’t help in the kitchen?”

Her eager expression gave away her real question.

“Nah, a newbie like me? Just customer service all day.”

“Oh, I see.”

“…You don’t have to look that disappointed.”

She didn’t even reply, her face stiffening as she vanished back into the kitchen. I let out a small laugh, dragging my aching legs out of the entryway toward the bathroom. Tossing my sweaty socks into the laundry basket by the door, I heard Mom’s voice again, distant: “Shower quick and come out~”

Hadn’t they eaten yet? I mumbled a “Yeah” that might not have reached her, hurrying to strip off my clothes—outerwear and even underwear—out of guilt.

“…Hope they didn’t notice.”

Carefully, I set down the paper bag with the bakery’s logo next to the laundry basket. They probably assumed I’d brought home bread or snacks because of the logo.

“Everyone’s reactions were pretty good, so…”

Yeah, Dad might feel conflicted, but the rest of the family would likely see it as a fun memory.

Part 15

“Why are you asking me where my sister’s working? Obviously, I’m not telling you the place. Whether I confirm or deny, you’ll believe what you want, so why even ask?”

Cheungjeokun paused his game for a talk session, his eyes narrowing. The question had been persistent since the stream started: Is it true your sister’s working at a bakery?

At first, he brushed it off as a joke, but two hours in, the persistence felt off. Naturally, he searched the community site where the rumor likely started. A post from a young-sounding user. A comment about driving to check it out. Then silence from that commenter, followed by more questions. Damn idiots. She’s not a celebrity—why are they blabbing about this?

“I don’t know anything. My sister’s super capable, so she’s probably doing fine whatever she’s up to. I’m not some clingy guy meddling in her part-time job.”

It’d be nice if that commenter just denied it outright, but their silence only fueled curiosity. Now it was being mistaken as a “chance to see her in person.”

“Look, fan enthusiasm is great, but don’t you think it’s rude to go digging and chasing her down? At least leave me out of it—she’s a regular person, not a streamer.”

• Some people are crossing the line.
• If it’s real, doesn’t it help the shop’s sales?
• More customers don’t mean her pay goes up, idiot lolol.

The silver lining was that the commenter—likely a viewer—stayed quiet. If they’d popped into the stream and said something reckless, this mess would’ve gotten worse. It wasn’t ideal, but stay silent.

With that thought, Cheungjeokun sighed heavily, reading the chat as viewers started bickering. This’ll blow over as a minor incident. In a few days, it’ll be forgotten. For now, he needed to stop the fighting.

“Hey, don’t start fighting. You know my sister hates that.”

• ? You never mentioned that.
• Seems like something she’d hate, though.

“Right. So let’s keep it chill like usual, especially since it’s the weekend and she might be having family time—”

A knock interrupted him. Of all times. Cold sweat prickled his spine. At least his face, visible on the cam, didn’t look too stiff.

• Sanghyeon, can I come in?

Why now?

“Yeah! Come in, come in!”

• Nunabbattajo!!!!!!!!!!!
• Heeeng… Nunabbattajo’s voice, it’s been too long…
• Cheungjeokun, why not keep the streaming PC on 24/7 so she can hop on whenever?

As the chat exploded, his mind raced. The earlier topic wasn’t fully dead. What if they asked her something? Could he cover? How much could he deflect?

The door clicked open, light spilling in like slow motion. Is this okay? Should I ask her to wait? No, I need to shut them up first—

“I got some cute clothes as a gift, so I came to show off,” she said.

Her unusually bright voice snapped his wandering gaze to the monitor. The chat hesitated. Her excited tone rang out. On the corner of the cam, a slender leg in a light brown pleated skirt appeared.