The Outsider Omega Wants to Be Alone! Chapter 17

Cheap bastard. Lee Yuseong reluctantly held out his phone to Choi Jigu. Choi Jigu entered his own phone number and pressed the call button firmly. Soon, a vibration rang from Choi Jigu’s pocket.

And so, their phone numbers were forcibly exchanged. Choi Jigu even tenaciously attached a Jigu-shaped emoticon and personally saved his own name.

Bzzzzt.

Therefore, the call ringing now was absolutely not from Choi Jigu.

Lee Yuseong had a policy of not answering calls from unknown numbers. Whenever he did pick up, it was always just public opinion surveys, insurance, or other commercial promotional calls.

A life with few acquaintances was monotonous yet peaceful. It was extremely rare for a call seeking him to come from an unknown number.

‘I won’t answer it.’

Lee Yuseong put the phone down. Soon, the vibration stopped. But then it started ringing again. That changed things. Calling twice meant it was someone with a clear purpose.

“Hello.”

Uh, Yuseong. It’s Wooju hyung.

A soft way of speaking flowed into his ear. Lee Yuseong sat up straight without realizing it.

“Oh, yes. Hyung.”

Sorry for calling suddenly. You weren’t sleeping, were you?

As soon as he called, he identified himself, sought the other party’s understanding, and gauged the situation. It was perfect phone etiquette. Thinking that it was quite different from a certain Mr. Choi who had called suddenly late at night and yelled angrily, Lee Yuseong nodded his head even though no one was watching.

“Yes, it’s okay. I wasn’t sleeping.”

To be precise, he had woken up a little while ago. But there was no need to explain every little detail.

I heard from Jigu that you got hurt, so I called. Are you okay?

Only then did he remember the foot he had forgotten. As he became aware of it, Lee Yuseong wiggled his throbbing foot and answered.

“I think I’m okay.”

Good, that’s a relief.

Lee Yuseong! Get up early tomorrow, get ready, and wait!

From a little distance, Choi Jigu’s shouting voice could be heard. Lee Yuseong’s eyes, which had held a gentle expression, quickly turned fierce.

We just finished closing a little while ago.

At Kim Wooju’s words, Lee Yuseong checked the time. Had he slept that long? But the time was still around 10 o’clock, meaning only about two and a half hours had passed since Lee Yuseong came home and lay down.

“Huh…?”

As if reading the implication in Yuseong’s murmur, Kim Wooju added.

Thanks to Jigu, it seems Momento got incredibly hot. So many customers came today that we ran out of ingredients and closed early.

“Ah.”

The ‘Harley Guy’ who had been heating up the anonymous forum came to mind. There had been multiple comments about going on a pilgrimage, and the last time he had skimmed the forum, he faintly recalled seeing posts with titles like ‘Harley Guy Sighting Confirmation’ and such.

The owner is really worried about you too.

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, Kim Wooju seemed to look after the owner a lot. The other day when he gave him the tiramisu, he had also said things that seemed to defend the owner. Were the two of them that close?

“Um, I really enjoyed the tiramisu.”

Yuseong spoke carefully.

Kim Wooju’s laughter rang out like a cozy autumn breeze.

Owner, Yuseong says he really enjoyed the tiramisu.

It seemed the owner was also there with him. For some reason, his face grew hot, and Yuseong’s neck flushed slightly red.

That’s the tiramisu you were trying to drink coffee with when you burned your foot, right?

Choi Jigu’s voice, not backing down and retorting, could also be heard.

Uh-huh, Jigu.

Kim Wooju reined in Choi Jigu. The owner didn’t say anything, but it was as clear as day what kind of expression he must have had at Choi Jigu’s words just then.

Imagining a thoroughly deflated queen bee, Lee Yuseong made a big resolution and continued speaking.

“It was really delicious. I don’t usually drink coffee at night, but the tiramisu was so good that I absolutely had to have coffee with it. So it was just a mistake.”

Yuseong had long been taught by his father that one must always give due praise for delicious food.

“Please, definitely tell the owner. That it was the most delicious tiramisu I’ve ever tasted.”

After chattering away, a belated wave of embarrassment washed over him. Regret that he might have said unnecessary things followed, but spilled water cannot be gathered back up.

In any case, there wasn’t a single shred of a lie; it had all been completely sincere.

Thank you, Yuseong.

A voice that was neither Choi Jigu’s nor Kim Wooju’s came through. If it was neither of the two, it was the owner.

“Oh, uh. Sir.”

Yuseong’s deduction was not wrong. With a grunt that seemed to acknowledge it, the other party continued.

When I heard you were hurt, I took over the phone to ask what we should do about the part-time job starting tomorrow.

“Ah, yes.”

Now Yuseong’s ears and even his elbows had turned bright red. This is crazy. He had said that without knowing it was him. Was there any way Lee Yuseong would have the courage to say such things directly to the person in question?

Hearing you were hurt, I was worried that it was because of me from what happened the other day, but instead I’m receiving praise. You’re a really good kid.

“…”

He had no immunity to this kind of conversation. Not knowing what to do, Yuseong fidgeted with the innocent blanket, tormenting it with his hands.

So what if your foot is a little hurt. Right? I can’t give up on you.

“Yes?”

What was he talking about.

Feeling as if embarrassment and everything else had been swept away all at once, Lee Yuseong asked back.

As if knowing or not knowing Yuseong’s feelings, the owner spoke in a voice that sounded firmly resolved.

For two weeks, just sit and handle the cashier duties and manage waiting customers, and return to the hall after that.

“Oh, no. Yes?”

Don’t worry. It’s fine.

No, what’s fine. Mister.

I said don’t be so generous to me! If you’re that good to me, my conscience pricks me and it gets hard to run away even just to repay the debt!

Choi Jigu alone was already overwhelming, and now even the owner was acting like this.

“No, well, Sir….”

Thanks to that Jigu guy, we were incredibly busy today. It seems hard to find a new person right away, too. The three of us talked it over, and we thought it’d be best for Yuseong to handle the cashier and waiting customers, while the three of us juggle serving.

They had actually talked it over, the three of them. He was even attaching the justification that taking care of the injured Lee Yuseong was not just for Lee Yuseong’s sake, but a necessary task for the remaining three members of Momento as well.

It won’t strain your foot. Just sit in front of the counter, ring up orders, and when a waiting customer’s turn comes up, call and confirm. The alley in front of our shop is narrow, so we can’t have a long line. That method seemed the best.

“Ah…”

I’m sorry I can’t tell you to rest since you’re hurt. I’m asking you a favor.

At last, the magic words that tempted Lee Yuseong even appeared.

Lee Yuseong was utterly defeated.

He had no choice. It wasn’t in his nature to refuse when someone was going that far, and furthermore, Lee Yuseong needed money.

His parents sent tuition for the first semester, the deposit for his studio apartment, and an allowance of 60 per month… but it was woefully insufficient money for living in Seoul near the Hanguk University area. At best, after paying the monthly rent, he was scraping by with the little remaining money, saving and scrimping to cover his meager food expenses. For class textbooks and other living expenses, he was using the allowances he had saved up during middle and high school.

His parents always asked if he needed more money. Lee Yuseong felt too sorry to ask his hardworking parents for more money than that.

At this rate, including the time to find a new part-time job, he was stuck losing a full three weeks.

On top of that, Momento’s hourly wage was higher than other shops.

‘And the food is top-notch too.’

It was a truly stupid thing, but he couldn’t help the tiramisu flashing through the mind of a food lover.

‘If I quit now like this, I’ll never get to try the coffee, or the other cakes and dishes, ever.’