Side Story 1.9

“Do you always wash your lab coat at home, Pharmacist Hyun?”

Leeseo flinched and turned her head when she heard the question as she was pulling her lab coat out of a cardboard box and putting it on. Suji, who was resting her chin on her hand and idly watching Leeseo, glanced over at the garment steamer standing in the corner of the pharmacy.

“Don’t you use that? If you put your coat in there after work and run the steam cycle, you won’t need to wash it for at least a month. Dr. Jieun bought it for us, saying it’s part of employee benefits.”

“Oh, I do use it, but yesterday, I got a stain on my coat while working. It was in such an obvious spot that I thought it looked bad, so I took it home to wash it.”

Leeseo smiled awkwardly, her eyes darting nervously. She felt her throat dry up as she tried to come up with a clumsy lie. She had assumed no one would care whether she took her lab coat home or not, but realizing that everyone had been paying attention left her feeling utterly flustered.

Unaware of Leeseo’s inner turmoil, Suji cheerfully held up her own lab coat for display.

“Hey, stains on your lab coat are proof that you’ve been working hard! Look at this—mine’s a mess. It’s gotten to the point where some stains won’t even come out anymore.”

Although Suji’s words were likely meant to be casual and without any hidden meaning, Leeseo’s heart sank as if her private life had been exposed. Her eyes darted around aimlessly, and her neck felt hot with embarrassment. Like a chain reaction, she suddenly recalled, in vivid detail, what she had done in that lab coat the previous night. She remembered how the pristine white pharmacist coat had been soaked with stains that had nothing to do with work.

She thought to herself, 

I must’ve gone crazy.

Leeseo lowered her flushed face and buttoned up her coat, trying her best to stay composed. She worked hard to shake off the embarrassing memories that kept resurfacing.

“Oh, Suji, your voice is so loud that your claim about working hard is echoing all the way to the dispensing room.”

Then came a voice from behind.

Jieun stepped out from behind the curtain in the dispensing room. A week ago, she had returned to Korea after a trip exploring various cities in Russia aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Despite Leeseo’s insistence that she should rest for a few more days after such an exhausting journey, Jieun had shown up at the pharmacy on the very day she returned, dragging her suitcase behind her.

She had taken third-class seats on the train to save money, and her haggard appearance spoke volumes about the hardships she had endured. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar sight of her with short hair—she had chopped off her long locks, which she had maintained since college, citing the difficulty of washing her hair on the train.

Even though Leeseo and Suji had looked at her with pity, Jieun had been in high spirits, excitedly opening her suitcase. The single suitcase she had taken with her had turned into two upon her return, one of which was filled entirely with gifts for her colleagues.

That day, they had spent so much time admiring the gifts that they lost track of time, leaving Taegyeom waiting for over two hours to pick Jieun up after work.

“Pharmacist Hyun is just a neat freak. You can tell just by how nice she smells when you’re near her.” 

Jieun teased.

She suddenly hugged Leeseo from behind, sniffing dramatically near her neck with a mischievous grin.

“Stop it.” 

Leeseo said, laughing as she pried Jieun’s arms off her waist. Jieun pouted and grumbled.

“I’m just sad. I think it’d be fun if we could keep working together. But I don’t have the means to pay Pharmacist Hyun’s salary yet. Once I expand the pharmacy by working like a dog, I’ll pay you well and hire you back, so just wait.”

Today was Leeseo’s last day at the pharmacy. After Jieun returned from her trip, they had set a one-week transition period to hand over responsibilities. The week had flown by.

During that time, the pharmacy had been filled with endless chatter. Even after closing, they spent hours laughing and listening to Jieun’s travel stories, often leaving work late.

Though Leeseo didn’t say much, Taegyeom’s patience had reached its limit. It was no surprise that he had been rough with her in bed every night.

“I’ll be waiting. I’m curious to see how much you’ll pay me.”

“To match your level, I’ll probably tear myself apart. I’ll have to work hard.”

Jieun shrugged playfully, then clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“Oh, right! Don’t forget we’re having a farewell party after work today. You’re the star, so you can’t miss it.”

“Today’s the day we’re having beef, right? I’ve been looking forward to it all day!” 

Suji exclaimed, her face lighting up. She shook a protein shake in one hand. She had recently started boxing at a nearby gym and had become obsessed with building muscle, even adjusting her diet. It was thanks to her that they had chosen a famous Korean beef restaurant for the party.

“Don’t worry. I’m the guest of honor, so of course, I’ll be there.”

The farewell party was a special occasion that also included the staff from the pediatrics clinic. Leeseo had grown close to the clinic staff during her time at the pharmacy, so she had no reason to decline. The pediatrician had even offered to use the corporate card, so everyone was looking forward to it.

“Alright, then… Shall we get started for the day?”

Jieun stretched her arms upward and turned on the pharmacy’s exterior lights. Bright morning sunlight streamed through the blinds. The clock’s hour hand pointed to nine, signaling the start of another lively day at Delbit Pharmacy.

***

“Pharmacist Hyun, thank you for all your hard work!”

Beer glasses clinked together with a cheerful sound. Frothy white bubbles splashed up as everyone took a refreshing sip of their drinks.

On the grill, high-quality beef sizzled enticingly. As soon as one plate was emptied, the staff brought out more freshly ordered meat. When eating in a group, it was easy to lose track of how much had been consumed.

Leeseo also took a sip of beer, wiping the foam from her lips. Just then, she felt a short vibration in her pocket. She discreetly pulled out her phone to check. It was a message from Taegyeom.

[Should I come pick you up?]

He asked. Leeseo was about to reply that she didn’t know when the party would end and that he didn’t need to come.

“What are your plans after this, Pharmacist Hyun?” 

Ssomeone suddenly asked, interrupting her. Leeseo put her phone face down on the table. Across from her, Nurse Hong from the pediatrics clinic picked up a perfectly grilled piece of meat and asked her question.

“I don’t think I’ve heard where you’re going next. Are you moving to a pharmacy near your home?”

“Oh, I’m planning to take a break for now.”

It was a natural question, as most people only quit their jobs after securing their next position. Leeseo’s vague answer prompted Jieun to jump in at just the right moment.

“I had to beg Pharmacist Hyun to work here for just two months. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have dared to dream of going on a trip. Thanks to having such a great friend, I got to fulfill a lifelong wish.”

Jieun affectionately squeezed Leeseo’s shoulder and addressed the clinic staff at the table.

“I’m sure it was inconvenient for the clinic while I was away, but thank you for putting up with it. To show my gratitude, who wants to try some Russian vodka I brought back?”

She pulled a bottle out of the shopping bag she had placed under the table. It seemed she had planned this from the start, even asking about corkage fees when making the reservation. The large shopping bag was filled with bottles of potent-looking liquor.

“Oh, mixing drinks is risky, but it’d be rude not to try it since you went to the trouble of bringing it. Let’s just have a taste.”

The staff, already tipsy from the beer, looked at the vodka with eager anticipation. The table was lined with empty beer bottles, but no one seemed ready to stop drinking.

Jieun stood up confidently and opened the vodka bottle. Just as she did, the sliding door to the room opened, and someone stepped in. All eyes turned to the newcomer.

“Sorry I’m late. I had some work to finish up before coming.”

The man who entered smiled warmly, revealing a row of perfectly aligned teeth. It was Dr. Lee.