Swallow Hunting - Chapter 25.2
Hae-jun explored every nook and cranny of the house like a curious cat in an unfamiliar place. He stood by the window for a long while taking in the view, clapped his hands at the clean bathroom free of mold, and personally inspected the desk’s sturdiness by pressing down on it firmly with both hands.
He also took several photos. He wondered if the day would ever come again where he could live in such a nice house. He didn’t even hope for it to last a lifetime. He simply prayed that Lee Kang-ju’s interest would remain for as long as possible.
He wanted to invite Yohan, who lived in a single room, but he couldn’t bring himself to bring a friend over to a house that technically belonged to someone else. He pushed that plan aside, deciding to ask Lee Kang-ju later when the mood was right.
“Ah, that’s right.”
Lately, he found himself thanking Lee Kang-ju quite often. Knowing the man might be busy, Hae-jun chose to text instead of calling.
[I have moved in. Thank you.]
He picked out a cute one from the free emoticons and attached it. He sent a few more photos and was lavish with his praise, saying it was a truly wonderful place. The number 1 next to the message remained unchanged, but with his cheeks flushed, Hae-jun tapped the keypad even more passionately than when he cursed at the loan sharks with Yohan.
He wanted to rest for a bit in this dreamlike home, but Yohan, who couldn’t stand to see him idle, eventually contacted him.
-Did the move go well?
“Yeah. I settled in well. The house is really nice. I’ll show you later.”
-Good. If you’ve unpacked, come out. Let’s work.
“Already?”
We need to earn every penny we can. Time is money. Don’t be lazy and get out here. I’m heading your way now.
Since he had said he would do it with his own mouth, it felt wrong to put it off until tomorrow. Hae-jun got up with a heavy grunt and stretched.
Perhaps it was thanks to the bright sunlight illuminating the entire room, or because he had escaped the dark, gloomy places he always stayed in, but he felt particularly lively today. A hope, like a small sprout, bloomed within him that perhaps his future wouldn’t be as much of a bottomless pit as he had imagined.
***
The delivery work itself wasn’t that difficult. Once he received a call via the app, he just had to accept it, go to the store to pick up the item, and deliver it. Squeezed into the back seat of the bike between Yohan and the cargo box, Hae-jun listened to Yohan’s lecture the entire time.
“This place is a red ocean these days, so the competition is fierce. That’s why it’s important to look good to the store owners. You have to be proactive. Greet them well. Some people hate it when you show up before the food is ready, so use your wits and stay out of sight until you go in. Are you listening?”
“Yeah.”
“There are plenty of places where the store is a total mess and filthy, but never let it show on your face. Your customers are the owners, not the people receiving the delivery.”
“Mm-hm.”
“If you do well, the owner might take your personal number and call you directly. While we’re working together, make sure to leave a good impression. Got it?”
“Yes, senior!”
Due to circumstances, they couldn’t have a housewarming party, but they had dinner at a Chinese restaurant selected by Yohan. It looked shabby on the outside, but according to Yohan, he had never seen a shop managed more cleanly than this one. The food was delicious too. The picky owner hated the fuss of broadcasts and such, but it was a well known local gem.
The sweet and sour pork, in particular, was amazing. Even after finishing, Hae-jun stared at the empty plate with lingering eyes. It wasn’t because his stomach wasn’t full. It was because Lee Kang-ju had crossed his mind. Since he currently only had dust in his pockets, he couldn’t afford a fancy meal, but he thought something like this might be okay as a way to reciprocate.
The man was wealthy, so he could probably buy this for himself whenever he wanted. Yet, with a feeling that was half a desire to repay a debt of gratitude and half impulse, he ordered a portion to go.
Returning home, he placed the food on the table and plopped down on the sofa. Usually at this time, he would be scrubbing up and getting polished to head to the shop. Sitting here doing nothing felt quite awkward.
Hae-jun slid down the sofa and grabbed his phone. The message he sent to Lee Kang-ju was still unread.
He stared at the food sitting lonely on the table. It was too much for him to eat alone, and he wasn’t hungry. Regardless, since he had bought it, he sent a text just to let him know.
[I had dinner with a friend and the place turned out to be really good. I bought some food, but the portions were large. If you haven’t had dinner, please stop by.]
He waited for five, then ten minutes while killing time, but there was no response. Hae-jun rested his chin on the table and pouted his lips.
‘Did I buy it for nothing?’
He felt like he had just thrown precious money into the air. Hae-jun, now as withered as radish greens dried in a humid place, slumped onto the floor.
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