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February 2013
The new year has arrived and we are already nearing the end of February.
Last year, it seemed like only yesterday that we were layering up our clothes due to the severe cold wave... Jiyeon's nose started to sting at the thought that spring was already returning.
Ding-
"Welcome!"
Six or seven students came rushing into the store with the sound of clear drops of water.
Kang Ji-yeon - "Are there seven of you?"
Kim Seok-jin - "Yes."
Kang Ji-yeon - "Okay, I'll show you to your seat."
Delay led them to an empty table.
They began to huddle together in their seats as if they were used to it, took out spoons from the spoon holder according to the number of people, and placed them gently on the table. Then one of them spoke.
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Kim Seok-jin - "Here, five stone pot rice bowls... and..."
suddenly-
Kim Taehyung - "Hyung, I want bibim guksu!"
Jeon Jungkook - "Oh, me too, hyung."
Min Yoongi- "What, noodles in the morning..~
Eat, eat-"
Jung Ho-seok - "Hey, kids, let them eat whatever they want."
Kim Namjoon - "Just order one more and tell them to share it.
“I’m just starting to grow, so I have to eat a lot-”
Kang Ji-yeon-" ...haha; "
Jiyeon stood there awkwardly, looking around.
Park Jimin- "Ha-, just give me 7 stone pot rice;;"
Jimin quickly sorted out the situation, as if he was in a panic.
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Kang Ji-yeon - "Yes, then you'll get 7 servings of stone pot rice, right?"
Kim Taehyung - "Ah, noona..!
Just make some bibim guksu for me···"(small)
Jeon Jungkook- "Oh, me?"
Kang Ji-yeon - "Okay, lol
“I’ll make 5 stone pots and 2 bibim~”
Taehyung's face was filled with pride, as if he had accomplished something.
Kim Seok-jin - "I'm sorry, because of our kids, every time..."
Kang Ji-yeon- "No, it's okay..!
“It’s actually good because it’s bright and cheerful.”
It feels like I'm seeing my younger sibling...
The regular customers of the restaurant where Jiyeon works are students my age who practice in the basement of this building. They would stop by the restaurant every time after practice. Maybe that's why they got to know each other's faces, and I was able to talk comfortably with some of them. The longest I've seen them is almost three years now. Jiyeon has been working here since she was 17, so it's probably been that long.
Jiyeon, who had been watching them for three years, thought that they were very gentle and kind children for children her age. They were so polite and friendly to her aunt that the restaurant owner couldn't help but love them. I also liked the time when the students came. It was because when I saw the children with their fresh-faced and student-like atmosphere, it felt like I was at school. Although Jiyeon was only 20 years old, barely an adult, school was like a painful finger that she couldn't reach.
Four years ago, when my father's big business failed, my mother was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and fell ill. My father, claiming to save up for his mother's hospital bills, even took out private loans, which only increased his debt.
Moreover, soon after, when things did not go as planned, the father abandoned his family and ran away abroad.
And that winter, my mother passed away after battling cancer.
...
At that time, Jiyeon was only 16 years old.
Unfortunately, she had to make a living with her 6-year-old younger brother, who was 10 years younger than her. Jiyeon started working part-time jobs here and there at the young age of 16, for the sake of her 6-year-old brother.
A year after my mother's funeral, I started working steadily under the direction of a restaurant owner who was an acquaintance of my late mother.
For Jiyeon, who worked day in and day out, the people she met there were objects of admiration. The basement of the restaurant building was a practice room for a small business, and many trainees would come to the restaurant during lunch and dinner times.
...
The 7 trainees I met at that time were there.
Just seeing them come home, sweating profusely from practice, clutching their flailing bellies, and then enjoying their delicious meal, filled me with a sense of pride. It's a bit ridiculous at my age, but perhaps this is how a mother feels...
like that
There were times when I felt satisfied with this life.
But the reality is
It was harsher than I thought.
.
Auntie - "Jiyeon, give me this as a service~"
My aunt handed me some steamed eggs.
Kang Ji-yeon - "Yes haha"
.
Kang Ji-yeon - "Five stone pots and two bibim dishes are here~"
Everyone- "Thank you-"
Kang Ji-yeon - "This steamed egg is free haha"
Kim Taehyung - "Wow!! Thank you-"
Kim Seok-jin - "Oh, Auntie... every time..."
Min Yoongi - "I'll eat well, thank you-"
Kang Ji-yeon - "No, enjoy your meal..."
bang-
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???- Hey, is Kang Deok-bae's daughter here?-
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