67 Getting Scouted (1/2)
”Where are we going, Oppa?” Yeo Ri asked Hyuk. She wondered if they had a place to return to now, after all that commotion the night before.
Hyuk pursed his lips. ”We'll go get our things from the house first. I'm looking into a place to rent; just wait for a little bit longer, okay?”
”...Mm.” Yeo Ri nodded thoughtfully as Hyuk secured the straps of her helmet.
”Ah,” Yeo Ri exclaimed, remembering something. ”Oppa.”
”What is it?”
”Try not to get there quickly. That person is usually home around this time,” Yeo Ri remarked.
Hyuk's body tensed. He wanted to ask how she knew that, but he already knew the answer deep inside. It must have been around these times that he... to Yeo Ri... ... .
”Okay,” he replied. Because of Yeo Ri's warning, he decided to make a stop first. ”Should we have some lunch first?” He asked rhetorically as he pulled into a parking space.
They headed into Hyuk's usual hangout place, Granny's Chinese restaurant. It was the same place that they had went to a while back.
”Oh my, look who's here!” The granny exclaimed as the two entered. ”You finally came~” she broke into a large smile, ushering the two to a seat by the window.
Yeo Ri was perfectly visible to the passers-by who were walking by the sidewalks, attracting dozens of gazes.
Hyuk was dissatisfied with the seating choice, but seeing as there were no other empty seats inside the restaurant, he could only take a deep breath and control his temper.
”The usual?” The old woman asked Hyuk knowingly. Whenever the boy came, he had never ordered something different, so she knew his preferences by heart. ”And since Yeo Ri is here, I'll keep my promise from last time and add a serving of tangsuyuk on the side,” she smiled at Yeo Ri, practically glowing.
Yeo Ri raised her head in surprise and anticipation. ”Granny, you still remember?! Thank you!” She smiled brightly.
”Don't mention it, Yeo Ri-ah,” the woman grinned. ”Ah, that's right. I heard from that boy In Guk that you're looking for work?” She looked at Hyuk with an inquisitive glance.
”Yeah,” Hyuk shifted in his seat. He didn't want to talk about work in front of Yeo Ri. For some reason, he didn't want her to know about the kind of part time jobs he usually had. He knew she would feel bad if she found out; they were rough and had low pay, but he lacked the qualifications to get better jobs. His highest level of education was high school, and these days, not many people wanted to hire a high school graduate from some third rate school.
”That's just perfect, then. If you have some free time, go and peel some onions. I'll pay you—a dollar for every kilogram, how's that sound?”
”Only a dollar? Granny, are you trying to exploit me?” Hyuk raised an eyebrow.
”Fine, fine. Five dollars,” she negotiated.
Hyuk narrowed his eyes, ”Ten.”
”Now you're pushing it. Eight, and that's final,” the old woman frowned, ”Gosh, you're so expensive to hire!” she sighed. This is what happens when you try to be generous, she lamented.
Hyuk smirked, ”sure, if I feel like it.”
”You little...”
”I'll help too!” Yeo Ri interjected, causing the two bickering pair to look at her, simultaneously saying, ”no!”
Yeo Ri shrunk in her seat, ”Why not?”
”No means no,” Hyuk sternly repeated.