Chapter Text
Minjeong wakes up with a start, panic-stricken from a nightmare. She dreamed that she was impregnated by a loser in a one-night stand and even had twins.
Twins! Can you imagine?
Anyway.
Today is going to be the day.
She jumps out of bed. Her landlord’s spam calls and texts can wait. She greets her pet goldfish and heads to the washroom, peeing as fast as she can and brushing her teeth with the utmost vigour. A fire burns in her gut. All those years of studying for a degree in hospitality management boil down to today.
A chance to serve at a newly established five-star restaurant in Gangnam.
Minjeong could already picture her future. She as Director of Guest Services dressed in a crisp blazer and pencil skirt, standing at the entrance ready to greet her VIP guests. Maybe even meet a celebrity and fall in love. And they’ll live happily ever after in their 20 billion won mansion with 200 staff.
Here goes nothing - her first step to the highly renowned, Michelin-starred…
Sundubu jjigae shop?
There it is. A humble one-storey box in the middle of nowhere. Minjeong checks her phone. Yup, this is it. She looks up at the quiet little shack. And again at her phone.
Dread quickly fills her as she realises this is the precise location. But this shoebox restaurant is the exact opposite of her expectations, a regular mom-and-pop joint rather than a world-class venue.
Behind her, a tumbleweed drifts lazily by. A cat yowls as it bolts from a chasing dog.
What the actual fuck?
As Minjeong racks her brain for a logical explanation, a pretty woman with long dark brown hair strolls out yawning. She doesn’t even notice Minjeong as she flips the sign to ‘Open’.
“Uhm, excuse me?” Minjeong calls out, stopping the other woman in her tracks.
“Oh, look! Finally a line in front of the restaurant!” the woman jokes, laughing.
Silence from Minjeong. The other woman clears her throat.
“So, you want to come in or…?”
“Actually, I want to ask if this is 71 Hanbit-ro? I came here for a job I saw on a flyer. This is Aeri-chan’s Good Stew, right?”
“Yup, I’m Aeri. Let me see the flyer.” She snatches it from Minjeong’s hands.
“Oh, for the waitress job?”
“The table steward job, yes,” Minjeong blurts, flustered.
“Thought this was a high-class spot.”
“Not a five-star establishment right now,” Aeri deadpans, flipping the flyer between her fingers.
“I mean, that’s the dream, isn’t it? But for now, welcome to reality.” She gestures at the tiny shop with a shrug, like she’s introducing a scenic view.
“This can’t be real. Look, according to the ad—” Minjeong points at the paper.
“Exaggerating. That’s what it’s called. The only other staff I have mans the cashier, and she’s too beautiful to be taking orders from drunk men with slimy hands. I was desperate. And here you are.”
“Wait, is this a scam? Did I get scammed?” Minjeong sputters.
“Look at the flyer.”Aeri waves it in front of her.
Doodles of a house with five stars, a stick figure holding a tray, ‘for hire’ scribbled above, and the restaurant’s address in the corner.
“At this point, you scammed yourself.”
Minjeong freezes. She remembers the day she first saw the flyer. She had been rejected from three job interviews, her ex had just dumped her, and she was completely wasted. Two bottles of soju in, she’s stumbling home when she sees a thin scrap of paper stuck to someone’s wiper, flapping violently against the windscreen.
Drunk out of her mind, Minjeong thought it was the most beautiful advert she had ever seen and burst out crying, convinced her life was about to change.
“Never mind, this was a mistake,” Minjeong sighs, shaking her head.
“It’s your life,” Aeri shrugs, turning around.
Minjeong starts to walk away, but more texts flood her phone. Her dang landlord. Rent is due. Her fish is depressed. She’s tired of ramen and cereals for every meal.
Screw it.
“Hey,” Minjeong calls out to Aeri, who’s about to close the door. “When can I start?”
They come in. The cashier, doing her nails at the counter, barely acknowledges them.
“Ning, someone actually took your ad seriously.”
“Oh?” The cashier catches a glimpse of the familiar piece of paper in Minjeong’s hand. “Oh.”
“Hi. I’m Minjeong.” She smiles sheepishly.
“Yizhuo.” She smirks at Aeri. “See? Zero budget.”
“I gave you a budget, Ning. You spent it all on a new waterbed.” Aeri groans.
“Well, yeah, but you love the waterbed,” Yizhuo argues. “You said it’s better for your back when I ride—“
“Okay! That’s enough!”
Minjeong blinks, brain scrambling. She thinks she’s starting to understand the dynamic between these two… and immediately decides she absolutely does not want to.
“Let’s go get ready for the lunch crowd. I’m heading into the kitchen. Minjeong, there’s a menu over there by the door. You have two hours to learn it.” Aeri glances at Ning. “And you, please don’t charge customers based on what you think their zodiac is.”
Minjeong stares at the menu. Only two things: kimchi stew. Tofu stew. She flips it around. There’s nothing else.
“Geminis can choke on seaweed for all I care,” Yizhuo mutters, blowing at her nails.
The lunch crowd turns out to be a grand total of eight people, including a baby.
Minjeong hadn’t imagined her first day on the job going like this, but she rolls with it, taking orders and serving food like her life depends on it.
“It’s a wrap.” Aeri emerges from the kitchen, loosening the apron around her waist. “Wow. That was crazy.”
“Crazy?” Minjeong frowns, eyeing her suspiciously as Aeri moves to stack chairs on tables.
“She’s not being dramatic. Wednesday’s our highlight of the week,” Yizhuo says, slipping a a few dollars into a metal box under the counter.
“For real?”
“Aeri doesn’t need this shop to thrive. She just needs it to scrape by. All of this is to prove a point to her wealthy father.”
Minjeong glances down at her empty stomach.
Must be nice.
“I haven’t eaten properly in a week just to save up for rent.”
Before she can finish, Yizhuo snatches a handful of cash from the box and drops it into her hands like it’s nothing.
“Here. This should cover a month.”
Minjeong’s fingers stiffen.
“What? No, I can’t just take this.”
“Sure you can. Think of it as an advance.”
They both look toward Aeri.
She’s standing with her arms crossed, unimpressed.
“What did I say about handing my money to the homeless?”
“I’m not homeless,” Minjeong says.
“You were about to be though,”Yizhuo says quickly.
“Fair.”
“Come on, Aeri, it’s your birthday. Call it charity, will you?” Yizhuo says.
Aeri grumbles but says nothing more.
“Oh, uhm, happy birthday, Aeri!” Minjeong blurts out awkwardly.
“We’re having a little get-together after the shop closes,” Yizhuo says. “Join us if you want.”
More time with these two? Minjeong isn’t sure she’s ready for that.
“I’m not sure about that,” she mutters aloud.
Before she can even opt out, the door swings open… and time stops for Minjeong.
A stunning woman stands in the doorway, carrying a box of something.
Shoulder-length black hair. Cat-like eyes that could pierce a soul. A smile so bright it could warm Minjeong's icy, dead heart.
Oh no.
She’s hot.
“Did anyone order tof—”
The enchanting woman's foot lands on a stray tofu.
“—argh!”
She slips and crashes flat onto her back, the box flying open as silken white blocks scatter across the floor like bars of soap.
The illusion shatters instantly.
“Dude, what the fuck? First you’re late, now you completely wrecked all my tofu!” Aeri yells.
“I’m sorry! I stopped to help a duck cross a busy road.”
“What a bumbling hot mess,” Yizhuo murmurs, shaking her head as she watches the woman.
“A damn duck? Literally the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day, Jimin,” Aeri says, rolling her eyes.
“I’m not lying! I’m—okay, fine. I’ll just head back to the shop and get new ones.”
“Just help me clean up. You can drop off a new batch first thing tomorrow,” Aeri says.
“Like, before 9?” Jimin asks. “But not even a zombie apocalypse could wake you or Yizhuo up that early.”
“Do not use my phobia against me!” Aeri waves a fist at Jimin, warning her.
“Not us,” Yizhuo says, tilting her head toward Minjeong. “Meet Minjeong, our new hire.“
“Hi.” Minjeong smiles awkwardly, wondering if she should point out the tiny piece of tofu slowly sliding down Jimin’s cleavage.
“Hello! I’m Jimin. I, uh, make tofu and sell them.”Jimin gives a small wave.
The motion is just enough.
The silken piece disappears into the blissful abyss that is the inside of Jimin’s tank top.
Minjeong swallows hard.
“So, we’re counting you in for later, yeah?” Yizhuo’s voice snaps Minjeong out of her thoughts.
“Uhm, sorry, I had something planned with my goldfish—I mean, golf buddies later.”
“Suit yourself.” Yizhuo shrugs.
Phew. Awkward social situation evaded.
Good job, Minjeong. Good job.
Scene cuts to Minjeong wearing a party hat, standing stiffly, singing happy birthday to Aeri with Yizhuo and Jimin.
She didn’t want to be here. Like, really.
But then Jimin had said that she was also coming and that it would be fun. In her head, they were all taking shots at some fancy club. Instead, they’re gathered around a table at the restaurant, wearing ridiculous hats and singing under dimmed lights.
A huge M&M’s ice cream cake sits in the middle of the table.
They clap as Aeri cuts the first slice.
Yizhuo leans over to Minjeong.
“Aeri’s family doesn’t believe in birthdays. They think it’s a sign of weakness.”
Minjeong blinks.
“Sorry?”
“You know that white billionaire guy obsessed with anti-ageing? Aeri’s grandfather’s uncle’s fifth cousin used to be his manny.”
Yizhuo shrugs.
“Her family adopted that mindset. Now they’re determined to live forever.”
“That’s insane,” Minjeong says.
“Well, at least she has her chosen family,” Yizhuo says.
Minjeong looks around the table.
“Is this also why we’re wearing party hats and eating an M&M’s ice cream cake? Because she didn’t get to have a normal childhood?”
Yizhuo leans back.
“Yup. Major daddy issues.”
They start chatting over drinks, everyone going around the table for Minjeong’s benefit.
Aeri was expelled from high school because she didn’t realise it was mandatory. She thought it was optional, like going to the mall or having ice cream. Luckily, she’s a genius who self-taught the entire high school syllabus and 500 types of cuisine after a personal chef once tried to poison her out of spite for her father.
Yizhuo graduated from university but had zero interest in climbing the corporate ladder. She did, however, try a short-lived career selling feet pics (not hers, she swears) to pervy old men. Then she met Aeri and basically found her retirement plan.
Jimin… well, Jimin is neither book smart nor street smart. She only cares about tofu and keeping the family business alive. She’s not interested in dating either.
“Surely you’ve been on dates before,” Minjeong says.
“Yes, but they’ve never worked out,” Jimin says, clearing her throat.
“Oh my god, tell her why,” Aeri snorts.
“For god’s sake, Aeri! I’m getting it checked again next month!” Jimin’s cheeks flush pink.
“Yeah, stop it, Aeri!” Yizhuo giggles.
“What is it?” Minjeong asks, smiling awkwardly.
“She’s never—” Aeri bursts into laughter before finishing.
“Aeri, I-I’m going to kill you,” Jimin stammers.
“She’s never—she’s never been hard before,” Yizhuo blurts, and she and Aeri dissolve into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Jimin hides her face in her hands.
“What? Like, never ever? Is it… broken?” Minjeong asks, wide-eyed.
The laughter only gets louder.
“I don’t know! Ask Jimin,” Aeri says, wiping tears.
“I… I thought I was a late bloomer, but my puberty never came,” Jimin tries to explain.
“No, you never came,” Aeri cackles.
“Oh, laugh all you want, Aeri, but you’re not nearly as blessed as Jimin,” Yizhuo says, winking at Minjeong like she’s having a seizure.
“Hey! You’re supposed to be on my team!” Aeri protests, still laughing.
“You guys are the worst!” Jimin pouts, wobbling away from the table.
“Come on, Jimin! We were just joking! It was a little jokey-joke!” Yizhuo slurs a little, red-faced from the drinks.
Worried, Minjeong follows her outside. A few blocks away, she finds Jimin crouched outside a convenience store, head buried in her arms.
“Jimin, are you okay?” Minjeong asks.
No response.
Oh no. Is she crying?
“Hey, Jimin. Are you upset?”
Still nothing.
Minjeong gently touches Jimin’s shoulder. Her body slumps limply, then suddenly she drops forward like a ragdoll.
“Jimin!” Minjeong panics, checking her breathing and pulse. Thank goodness, she’s alive. Most likely just passed out from the alcohol.
Suddenly, Jimin’s eyes flutter open. Minjeong jumps back. Jimin sits up abruptly, rubbing her head.
“My head hurts.”
“Yeah, you fell hard, dude.” Minjeong points out.
“Oh… hi, Minjeong. You’re here,” Jimin says, her expression glassy and slightly dazed.
“You alright?”
“Yeah. I’m worn out. But otherwise fine. Hopefully my head doesn’t swell up like a balloon tomorrow.”
“Just remember to ice it when you get home, or you’ll look like Shin Chan after a fight with his mum,” Minjeong jokes, and Jimin manages a small smile.
“Is it really that bad though?” Minjeong asks hesitantly.
“Uh, what?”
“Your… condition.”
“Yeah. Tried everything. Hookups. Tools. Visuals. Fruits. Doctor said there’s nothing wrong physically. It’s all in the head.” Jimin explains robotically.
They stare at each other for a while. Silence.
Then,
“Wanna test it out with me?” Minjeong asks.
Oh god. It’s the alcohol hitting her. But she doesn’t care. Her body’s on fire. And Jimin’s body is fire.
“Okay!” Jimin replies enthusiastically.
Without wasting time, Minjeong drags Jimin into an alley and they start kissing. Hot and heavy. Jimin tastes faintly of mint gum and the lingering sweetness of her drinks.
Suddenly, Minjeong feels a blunt object poking at her front and jumps back, eyes wide.
“Jimin, you’re—”
She looks up and sees Jimin fast asleep, standing, snoring loudly, completely upright like a statue.
“So, this batch here can last two to three days if you store it in the fridge. If it slips your mind and the tofus are spoiled, let me know. Aeri has a stack of my business cards on the counter,” Jimin says, lifting the last box of tofu onto the countertop.
Last night had ended in the most bizarre way possible. After snoozing for a couple of minutes while standing, Jimin had jolted awake, gasped dramatically for air, composed herself, and saluted Minjeong before marching off like a soldier on a mission.
This morning, she stopped by to drop off tofu at 9 like she promised. She greeted Minjeong as if nothing had happened, a cheery smile on her face as she rattled on about her small family business and how it’s run by her and her two older sisters. Their shop supplies eight other establishments, but Aeri is her biggest client because she sells mainly stews.
Although, Minjeong suspects it might have something to do with Aeri being her childhood best friend.
“Minjeong, any questions?”
“N-no.” Minjeong gulps, nervous.
“Great! I’ll be taking my leave then. If you need anything, I’m just one call away. But fair warning, when I’m busy crafting precious tofu, I won’t be touching my phone,” Jimin says with glee.
Oh god. She's a weirdo. But hot. Hot weirdo.
Minjeong takes a deep breath.
“Uhm, Jimin?”
“Yes?”
“Do you happen to remember anything from last night?” Minjeong asks carefully.
The full-blown conversation about Jimin’s unique condition? The heavy petting? The medical miracle?
“Hm. Not really. Last thing I remember was Yizhuo talking about school days. Then I must have taken a taxi home and passed out,” Jimin says with a shrug. “Do you remember what happened, Minjeong?”
“Me? Uhm. No. I don’t remember a thing. Nothing comes from to mind. At all.” Minjeong chuckles nervously.
“Okay. See you, Minjeongie.”
“Minjeongie?”
“Is that alright?” Jimin asks, tilting her head slightly. “I give all my friends a cute nickname. Ningie, Ryujinie, Aeritating…”
“Jiminie…?” Minjeong says hesitantly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Jimin smiles back.
“I like the sound of that.”
Minjeong feels a little flutter in her chest but quickly shakes her head, pretending nothing happened.
“Jimin came by this morning?” Aeri asks, fastening her apron. “Saw the tofu.”
“Ah. Yeah. She did.” Minjeong replies curtly.
“Everything alright? You seem flustered,” Yizhuo smirks, propping her legs on the counter.
“No feet on the counter, princess,” Aeri sighs, turning oward the kitchen. “Lunch crowd in an hour. Get ready!”
“Okay, boss,” Minjeong says, avoiding Yizhuo’s gaze.
“So… what happened? You and Jimin walked out together, then what?” Yizhuo wiggles her eyebrows knowingly.
“Nothing,” Minjeong mutters, wiping a table with extra aggression. She wants the floor to swallow her whole.
“Really?”
“Well, there is something.” Minjeong spins around. “She did this weird thing. Stood up and marched away.”
Yizhuo blinks. Then bursts out laughing.
“Typical Yu Jimin sleepwalking again. What a loser. Lucky she’s hot.”
Sleepwalking? Great. Minjeong can never, ever bring this up without sounding desperate.
Lost in thought, Minjeong barely registers a small shadow passing the main door.
She steps outside to check.
“Uh, guys? Come see this.”
Aeri and Yizhuo shuffle over, peering past her. They freeze.
“Is that—?” Yizhuo gasps.
A lone duck waddling toward a busy crosswalk.