[Contest] Destiny
4. Tailing
김여주
I'm trying to get a part-time job.
옹성우
What? Why all of a sudden!
김여주
Um.. just
The voice actor frowned as if he didn't understand what I was saying, then he downed the caramel macchiato in front of him and lightly slammed the desk.
옹성우
No no!
김여주
why!
옹성우
Then who will play with me!!
Anyway, I told you, you're like a kid. When I replied, "What are you doing at the age of 24? You have lots of friends," he pouted, and now his eyebrows are lowered.
옹성우
Do I have to do it?
No. As I firmly cut off the voice actor's words, his mouth pouts out again.
It was inevitable. Although I had boasted to Daniel that it wasn't my money and I wouldn't pay him back, honestly, I was afraid those numbers would come back to haunt me again.
I needed some pocket money too... I muttered an excuse, and Sungwoo said he'd give it to me if I needed it. I can't tell if he's just bluffing or if he really does have a lot of money, but like always, he said "No!" and cut me off with one stroke.
옹성우
I'm not kidding.. If you really need something, just tell me. Okay?
김여주
Okay, okay~ I got it. Ah, it's late..!! I'm going to work now!
Then I heard the voice actor's voice asking, "What!?", but I shouted, "From today onwards!" and quickly left the cafe.
점장
Good work. Here you go, first class.
김여주
Yes.. thank you!
At first, I didn't like the idea of a first-class salary, but thinking about my current situation, I realized it might be a better option. Having experienced all sorts of hardships while living in Busan and struggling with debt, I decided to take it just in case.
It seems like I finished my first day's work well and I feel proud, so I put the envelope I received into my bag and open the door to go out. As soon as I do, a familiar silhouette comes into view and waves awkwardly.
강다니엘
hi
김여주
What is it? How did you get here?
강다니엘
I followed you...
김여주
Are you following me!?
강다니엘
..that's how it is
When I shot Daniel a look of disgust, he rolled his eyes awkwardly. "Since when did that happen?" I asked, and he muttered in an even quieter tone, "Cafe..."
김여주
Cafe!? Are you kidding me? I've been following you all day.
강다니엘
This is my job, so I'm writing... Sorry.
김여주
You should have just talked to me
강다니엘
...because I was worried..
What's bothering you? What? Ah. Finally, as if I'd realized it, I rummaged through my bag, pulled out the envelope I'd just stuffed in, and held it out to Daniel, shaking it.
김여주
Is this what you've been waiting for?
Then, Daniel's expression, which had been staring down at the white envelope with wide eyes for a long time, suddenly distorted.
강다니엘
No... not that
김여주
Then what?
강다니엘
...that guy
김여주
Him?
강다니엘
The one sitting in front of you...
"Voice actor?" I said the name that came out of my mouth unconsciously. He nodded slightly with his expression still distorted.
김여주
Why do you care about him
강다니엘
....
강다니엘
...a boyfriend?
김여주
no!
Boyfriend? A voice actor? If that's what it seemed like, it would be a disaster. The awkwardness of being misunderstood at the beginning of the semester came to mind, and when I waved my hand in denial, only then did Daniel's lips relax.
I think he muttered something like, "Thank goodness...", but I ignored it because I thought I heard it wrong.
김여주
If you don't have any business, go. I'll go home soon too.
강다니엘
....
김여주
....
강다니엘
...hungry.
What should I do? I looked at him with a slightly sad expression, and he looked back and forth between me and somewhere else. I followed his gaze and saw smoke billowing from a small food stall. Oh, now that I think about it, I thought I smelled something delicious earlier. That's where it was.
Gulp
Ah. For a moment, a sound resonated in this quiet place, as if thunder had struck.
...
Unfortunately, it was a sound coming from my stomach.
강다니엘
Phew..
김여주
Don't laugh, seriously.
강다니엘
I'll buy it for you. Let's have some tteokbokki after a long time.
김여주
no.
강다니엘
I heard your stomach is good?
I glared at Daniel with a flushed face. Only then did he pull me in with a bright smile that I hadn't seen him in a long time.
Ah, that smiling face. I really didn't want to follow it... but that face looked so much like Daniel from before... I was dazed and when I came to my senses, I was in a food stall.
강다니엘
Please give me 2 servings of tteokbokki and some sundae too.. Ah
강다니엘
Please give me a bottle of soju too.
김여주
what?
강다니엘
what
김여주
Didn't you come along because of work?
When I spoke sarcastically, Daniel muttered, "Still the same," shaking his head, and then gave a nonsensical reply, "Just like that."
김여주
I'm just going to eat tteokbokki
강다니엘
Why? Can't you drink soju?
김여주
No, I can drink better than you
강다니엘
...I don't think so
김여주
No, it's not.
강다니엘
Then why don't you try it?
Daniel, who was talking so competitively for no reason, was annoyed, so I shouted, "Auntie! Another glass of soju here!" and the person next to me laughed for a long time, giggling to himself as if he found something so funny.
Soon the food came out, and I silently drank my third glass of tteokbokki and sundae, which had become more of a side dish than a meal.
We used to go out to eat tteokbokki together a lot. There was a famous tteokbokki restaurant near my school, and I remember going there almost every day. A smile came to my lips without me realizing it.
And then, after a while, I felt someone watching me, and only then did I come to my senses. Ah... My face is flushing red again. How could I look so reckless after my third drink? After all that bragging.
I slowly turned my head to meet Daniel's eyes. Sure enough, he was smiling, as if he found it amusing. I suppressed the urge to storm out of embarrassment and spoke calmly.
김여주
A funny thought occurred to me.
강다니엘
....
김여주
No, seriously, I heard a funny story today.
강다니엘
....
김여주
...It's true... It's totally funny...
I was about to tell Daniel the truth, who was still smiling even after making excuses, but as I opened my mouth to say, “The truth is...”, a large, thin finger suddenly brushed the corner of my mouth.
강다니엘
You're still buried and eating, you.
And then he sucks his hand and tilts his glass again as if nothing happened.
....
Why? He looks exactly the same as before, but the sound of his heart pounding in his ears keeps confusing him.
Daniel clinked his glass with mine, not knowing whether he knew me or not.
강다니엘
Drink up quickly. I'm going home soon.
And he says.