Chapter 2.1

“Hey, youngest, take this.”

Though her expression was grumpy, the cook’s skill was exceptional as she pointed to a large container. Yoon-jae nodded and swiftly moved to carry it.

As is common everywhere, stir-fried pork was one of the most popular lunch dishes at this construction site cafeteria. The savory smell mingled with the spicy seasoning.

As Yoon-jae moved with the container, her face crinkled slightly. Suddenly, a sharp taste filled her mouth. It felt like she had smelled something spoiled, turning her stomach.

“What’s wrong with her? Cook, did you say something to the youngest?”

The boss lady, who was overseeing the kitchen staff, glanced at Yoon-jae and spoke up. The head cook, who was in charge of side dishes, turned and smirked.

“What nonsense are you spouting when I’m too busy to say anything?”

The cook’s blunt gaze swept over Yoon-jae. Her loud voice filled the kitchen.

“She’s been in the bathroom all morning, not feeling well. I don’t know what she ate to keep throwing up like that.”

Everyone in the kitchen, including Yoon-jae, shared the makeshift dormitory behind the cafeteria. It was inevitable that they knew how often she visited the bathroom.

Suddenly, her heart raced, and her hands and feet went cold. Unknowingly tense, she gripped the container tightly. Yoon-jae calmed her pounding heart and shook her head vigorously.

“It’s nothing. Just feeling a bit unwell.”

She said only that and continued to diligently carry the food-filled container.

“See? The youngest may not be great in the kitchen, but she does everything she’s told without complaint. What is there to nag about?”

“Well, that’s true. For someone so frail, she works well. If only she had better cooking skills, we could keep her around.”

“Even doing odd jobs as well as she does is something. On her days off, she just stays in the dorm sleeping. She’s much better than those who run off after getting involved with a man. Just use her as she is. There aren’t many like her these days. Everyone else claims it’s too hard and quits.”

“Why do you always bring up those kinds of people when you talk, Cook? That woman was good at her job. She even handled side dishes when you were sick.”

“Do you really miss that woman who ran off with the money? Boss, you need to improve your judgment of people.”

The boss lady and the cook bickered over Yoon-jae’s work skills, comparing her to an employee who had run off with the money after getting involved with a construction worker. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

The more difficult the work, the more people spoke their minds, especially those who had been through hardships. They didn’t care if Yoon-jae heard their gossip and evaluations.

Still, it was better than being told she’d never attract a man or that she was too stupid to avoid getting hit. Considering the abuse and crude comments she had endured for over five years, she was grateful.

In any case, being praised for working well wasn’t unpleasant. Yoon-jae felt the same. Despite the tough work, she felt much more at ease now.

However, the new concern that arose today was troubling. Yoon-jae put down the heavy container with effort.

Even though they hadn’t finished preparing lunch, her wrist was already aching. She planned to visit a pharmacy after lunch, thinking about how to find time.

Three months ago, she found a job at this cafeteria on a construction site that had just begun work after being kicked out with only the clothes on her back.

It was a chance encounter. After being thrown out of Baek-geon’s house at dawn, shivering as she walked, Yoon-jae hailed a taxi and headed towards a new city by the sea.

She didn’t know why she sought the sea, which she had barely seen before. Yoon-jae stared blankly at the road leading to the sea.

If she sank deeply into the cold water, she wouldn’t feel any pain.

She wanted to become numb, to forget the pain that struck her body. She no longer wanted to be dragged around, crawling on the ground.

A hollow smile spread across Yoon-jae’s lips. She felt like she had finally found a way to unshackle the heavy chains around her ankles.

She sensed the driver watching her through the rearview mirror. Yoon-jae turned her head and met his eyes in the mirror.

The middle-aged driver quickly looked away. However, he seemed uneasy and stopped the car near a development site where apartments were being built, not by the beach.

‘If you go this way, there’s a walking path. You can see the sea from there. It’s high tide now, so be careful.’

Whether it was awkward kindness or a trick, Yoon-jae was half-forced out of the car by the driver’s suggestion. Lost in the thick fog, she couldn’t find her way.

The salty smell indicated the driver’s words weren’t entirely wrong. She slowly walked through the fog.

But she couldn’t help getting lost. No matter how far she walked, there was no path, nothing.

Tired, Yoon-jae stared blankly at the air. Beyond the hazy air, she saw a dark shape rising. It was an apartment complex under construction.

The half-built structures exposed their dull concrete forms, looking like relics of an apocalypse. Mesmerized by the sight, she suddenly sniffed.

The savory smell of soybean paste soup wafted through the air. The faint salty sea smell was overpowered by the strong scent of green onions and garlic.

Realizing this, a fierce hunger overwhelmed her. Yoon-jae moved her feet unconsciously. Without needing guidance, her feet naturally headed toward the smell.

She stopped in front of a framed building. The smell from inside the shabby-looking door stimulated her hunger unbearably.

Yoon-jae hesitated by the door. She hadn’t planned on going in to eat. The smell merely stirred something inside her.

‘Oh, you startled me.’

Someone coming out of the door let out a startled cry. Yoon-jae also flinched and stepped back.

‘We’re not open yet.’

A middle-aged woman spoke bluntly, looking Yoon-jae up and down. As Yoon-jae retreated, the woman clicked her tongue, frowning.

‘How did you end up here in this barren place? You look terrible. Come in. I can give you a meal.’

‘Oh, no. I didn’t come for food…’

‘What are you saying? It’s obvious you came because of the food smell. Come in.’

The woman spoke irritably and went inside first. Her blunt manner and unfriendly attitude were intimidating.

As Yoon-jae hesitated, the woman poked her head out and shouted.

‘Hey, come in already!’

Yoon-jae hesitated but stepped inside. It was a large kitchen. The people cooking turned to look at her.

‘Who is she? Boss, is she new?’

‘No, just giving her a meal. Cook, is our breakfast ready?’

‘Yeah, just need to set it up.’

The workers all seemed to be around the same age as the boss lady. Their blunt and unreserved gazes stripped Yoon-jae bare.

Despite years of exposure, she still wasn’t used to such looks. She hunched her shoulders.

She could imagine how she looked without seeing herself. Her mismatched T-shirt and pants rolled up, her hair and face a mess.

‘Come here.’

With a brief word, the CEO led her to a seat. Plates piled high with side dishes were placed on the shabby table covered with plastic.

‘It’s not lunchtime yet, so it’s not a buffet, but since it’s what we’re eating, don’t worry and eat.’

The boss, still speaking bluntly, pulled out utensils for her. The cook and the kitchen workers came out and sat down.

Someone brought a tray with bowls of soup. Yoon-jae was handed a steaming bowl of soybean paste soup and white rice.

Seeing the glossy rice suddenly made her hungry. It had been a long time since she had freshly cooked rice.

In the studio apartment, it was mostly delivery or instant rice. Even then, she would leave half to avoid gaining weight and being hit, reheating it later.

Yet, the rice didn’t go down easily. She wasn’t used to accepting others’ kindness straightforwardly.

Yoon-jae managed to put some rice in her mouth. It felt like sand. More than the curious gazes, she felt self-conscious about what she was doing here.

‘Eat heartily. If you nibble, your luck will fly away.’

The cook frowned and pointed out, making Yoon-jae tense up. She was still paralyzed by authoritative tones.

She eventually put down her spoon, having eaten less than half, and pulled money from her pocket.

‘Thank you for the meal.’

‘What meal? Did you even have two spoonfuls of soup?’

The cook clicked her tongue, and the CEO frowned and did the same.

‘You don’t need to pay. I told you to come in.’

The hand extending the money hesitated. Yoon-jae awkwardly lowered her hand. The cook, eating her meal, suddenly muttered.

‘I don’t know why you’re hanging around the construction site since dawn, but if you want to pay, you might as well help with some work while you’re here.’

Yoon-jae nodded unconsciously.

‘If that’s okay, I’ll do that.’

Why did she do that?