It took 30 minutes to wipe the hardened lump on my arm.
I thought I was going to die.
Even while wiping, customers kept coming in, so I had to work with one arm.
Yunha noona helped me stuff the items into the bag, as I couldn't do it myself.
The after some time she worriedly asked,
"Won't you return home?"
"Not until I've wiped off everything on this arm."
"You must be sleepy, just go home."
"It's fine, really. If you hadn't helped me, I would still be running around the workplace right now."
She then shoved the end of a cone ice cream downward.
If I put it in like that, the bag will tear...
"As a reward for your work, I'm helping out, so don't say anything."
So, I agreed to that.
"Personally, I'd like to give you some extra pay, but..."
"You don't have to. I've already received the bonus from the manager."
I immediately declined.
The bonus the manager gave me was already way more than a day's pay for a part-timer.
I was satisfied with just the day rate.
So, I didn't want to receive anything more here.
People easily earn money and easily become spoiled.
Yunha noona let out a wry laugh and said,
"Actually, I don't have any money to give you. My account is empty this month."
"Is it because of the logistics?"
"That's part of it, and I'm responsible for a few more things. You know how tight things get right before settlement, so please understand."
"I understand. Where can you find a working person who isn't broke right before payday?"
"Chan, are you out of money too?"
I was just thinking about how I would cover the rent shortfall when the manager had deposited some money into my account.
After all, it's not like people are going to starve to death.
"Since my card is still active, at least let me buy you a drink. Chan, do you like chocolate milk?"
"I do, but I can't have it right now."
"Aw, don't refuse it."
"It's not that I'm refusing, it's just that I really can't have it."
I really can't have it.
If this is considered a tip, then a tip it is.
But here is a pro tip: absolutely never consume dairy products while working.
Because one of the peculiarities of working at a convenience store is that you can develop lactose intolerance even if you didn't have it before. If you get an upset stomach, there's only one solution: lock the door and run to the bathroom.
It's an unavoidable situation, but it's also extremely embarrassing.
They don't assign a substitute to cover for you while you're in the restroom, so the convenience store business is practically suspended during that time.
So, it's difficult to just go to the restroom freely.
Even if you have the kind of personality that doesn't care about others' reactions to your bodily functions, it's still better to avoid drinking milk.
Just holding back, the urge to drink milk for a little while will make your body and mind much more comfortable.
Even people who don't have lactose intolerance should just avoid it if someone who has experienced it says not to.
For similar reasons, don't gorge yourself on discarded items either, even if there's a mountain of them. There's a reason why experienced people tell you not to do it.
"Then how about coffee?"
"I'll have an Americano, please. I have a 2 + 1 coupon that I saved up..."
I cut off my words as a customer approached.
It was a red-faced, disheveled-looking customer with pointy ears on both sides - a drunk elf, in five words. He came over and asked me,
"Manager... Where's the, the, soju?"
"It's at the very bottom of the refrigerator corner over there."
After I explained, he started walking in the direction I pointed, his unsteady gait raised my concerns.
He definitely seemed like a troublesome customer.
He brought back a bottle of Chamisul Fresh, which costs 1,800 won.
"That'll be 1,800 won."
"Just a sec..."
After rummaging through his pockets for a while, he handed me a mixed pile of 50-won and 100-won coins. When I counted them, it was short by 100 won.
"Sir, you're short 100 won."
"Huh? No, it's 1,700 won."
"The soju costs 1,800 won."
"But this bottle is 100 won, right?"
He tapped the bottle on the counter as he said this.
"I'll just down it right here, and you can keep the bottle. Then it'll be exactly 1,700 won, right?"
No, it wouldn't be right.
Well, the calculation is correct.
Convenience stores do accept empty bottles, and a soju bottle is worth 100 won.
I don't really care if the customer digs a hole to find the remaining 100 won or does some side gig, as long as the total amount is covered.
The problem is...
"Sir, you can't drink alcohol inside the convenience store."
"Huh? Why?"
Why? Because it's illegal, that's why.
Convenience stores are classified as "rest area," not general restaurants, so it's illegal to drink alcohol inside the premises.
And it's also illegal to set up a drinking session on the tables outside the store.
It's legally prohibited, and morally, convenience stores are not just for adults, right? If kids come in to buy fruit jelly and smell alcohol, how would they feel?
"I understand your position, manager."
After hearing my explanation, he said this, but to be honest, I doubted whether he had actually listened to what I said.
"My home is far. It's far, you see. So just in 5 seconds, no, 3 seconds, I'll drink and leave. I can drink well, don't worry."
"It doesn't matter if you can drink well or not, the point is you can't drink here at all."
"It won't take long, I'll quickly drink and leave, I promise."
Our conversation was going in parallel directions. Meanwhile, a couple more customers had come in and were glancing at the counter while browsing the items.
Overwhelmed by my feelings, I glanced sideways and saw Yunha noona, who had been watching the scene, subtly point to herself.
It seemed to indicate that she could handle it.
Seeing her, I said,
"It's alright".
After all, it was my job to welcome whoever came, whether they were a customer or a nuisance.
"Drinking alcohol here is illegal, and I don't want any trouble, so please promise to drink outside. Otherwise, I won't sell you any alcohol."
"What... what the hell?"
After that, I just ignored him.
A customer who had been browsing items seemed perplexed, so I approached him first.
"Yes, sir. Shall I ring you up?"
"Ah... ah, yes."
Whether the elf fellow stood there dumbfounded or not, I received the items on the counter, rang him up, sent him on his way, and welcomed the next customer.
These gentlemen may not have been human, but at least they didn't cause any trouble.
By the time I had served three customers, the agitated elf yelled out.
"Damn it, I won't drink it, it's filthy, it's filthy!"
"Please don't shout inside the store."
"I'm leaving, you bastard! I'll drink it outside, so just give me a paper cup."
This guy, this is not a neighborhood café, so why would he need a paper cup...?
No, no.
No, I shouldn't say that I sell paper cups, or he'll just start complaining about that too.
I want to get him out of here as soon as possible.
I stepped out from the counter and grabbed a cup displayed next to the coffee machine.
The elf took the paper cup, popped open a bottle, and poured half of it into the cup, muttering.
"Damn it, this fucking world won't even let me drink."
Then he left. As a result, a half-full bottle of soju was left on the counter, the smell of alcohol wafting from its opening.
"I'll go throw this away."
After all, if I empty it and cap it, that's worth 100 won. Yunha noona gave a wry smile and said,
"Let's go outside together. I think it's time for me to head home too."
That's how we walked out together.
I found a nearby drain and poured out the soju, then capped the bottle.
Looking at Yunha noona, she had an electronic cigarette in her mouth.
"Do you smoke?"
"I used to. This is a nicotine-free one. It's not a regular cigarette."
"Oh, I thought it was a regular e-cigarette. These days, nicotine-free ones are also available."
"The problem is I can't quit this. Do you smoke, Chan?"
"I used to, but I quit a few years ago."
"Really?"
I had smoked for around 5 years, from around the time I joined the military until just before I started working.
"How did you manage to quit?"
"It wasn't that I really wanted to quit, but I had no money, so I just naturally quit."
To be precise, I quit because I felt ashamed of myself.
In my first year of working, my monthly salary was so meager that I was constantly short on cash.
Searching every nook and cranny for spare change became a daily routine, and when I managed to save 4,500 won, I'd use it to buy cigarettes.
Around the time I couldn't even find 4,500 won, I looked in the mirror and suddenly realized that I wasn't burning the cigarettes, but the cigarettes were burning me.
After that, I tried to quit.
My method was simply to chew gum, chew and chew, and endure the cravings.
Chewing gum to the point of sore gums made the withdrawal symptoms go away, and the smell of cigarettes became repulsive.
That's how I managed to quit.
Telling this story, Yunha noona tilted her head in admiration.
"It seems like you have a strong will to succeed with that method."
"I'm not recommending it; I'm just saying that's what I did."
After a brief silence, Yunha noona brought up a question.
"Chan, are you going to keep working here?"
"I think so. Why?"
"Seeing that troublesome customer just now, I was worried you might have PTSD."
As she spoke, Yunha noona casually touched the knife on her waist. I felt like things might get messy if I accepted her help.
"I have to keep working. Today's incident is just for today... and I did get my daily pay, so I can't just leave."
"That's good then. What are your work hours?"
"From 10 pm to 10 am."
"Every day?"
"Yes."
"Will you be able to handle it?"
"If I can't then I can't."
"Hmm... so you'll be here for the next few days as well."
I'll keep working, of course.
But it felt like a stray thought that she wished she could come check on me.
I was about to ask, but Yunha noona just grinned and suddenly let out a shrill whistle.
A Pegasus then flew in from the parking lot of the opposite building, landing and snorting.
Is this a paper Thoroughbred or a Holstein?
She climbed onto the Pegasus, resting her head on its mane, and spoke.
"I won't be able to come for a while, but I'll see you again in a few days."
"Weren't you coming every day?"
"The monster-related logistics work is a bit tough, and it takes time."
She sure is busy.
After grabbing the reins, she gave me a final farewell.
"I'm going now. Take care, Chan."
I decided to wish her well too.
"Drive safely at night, Yunha noona."
Noona looked at me with a dazed expression, then burst out laughing and replied.
"Don't worry. I've got years of experience, you know?"
And with that, we parted ways.
After that, I welcomed dozens more customers over the next few hours, and there were a few more troublesome ones, but I let those slide for now.
Finally, the morning sun rose.
And a strong and good morning arrived!