“I … It was last month. I went there around midnight, because I know that’s when you’re usually done with work. The person who was there told me you stepped out briefly, and invited me to wait for you inside. He offered me a drink … You didn’t come back. You must’ve gone home by then.”

“Hmm. Was this person a man or a woman?

“A man.”

“That must be Sungyun. Why didn’t he say anything to me?” Jimin says she’s tired and lies down. She turns toward the wall. Her shoulders seem to tremble. Is she crying?

* * *

I don’t want to go to Instant Paradise. I hate Instant Paradise. I swing the door open, thinking about quitting. I’m not really late, but Eunyong chastises me, “What took you so long?” An unfamiliar girl in a school uniform politely bows.

“You have something other than the school outfit, right? Get changed and wipe down the tables,” Eunyong tells her, then explains that the café owner hired another part-time employee because it’s summer, and when school is out we get more customers.

“But a high schooler?”

“I know, right? Sungyun chose her. She came by a few days ago to inquire about the job opening.” I notice a blue notebook on the counter, and without thinking much of it, I open it. The notebook is filled with dates and names.

… (oral)/1987.3.24. Kim Sora (Donduk Female Merchant University. Sophomore. Tall-ish)/1987.4.1. Yeonsook Park (middle-school dropout. Fat. Bad body odor)/1987.7.25. Name unknown. (College student. Failed)

Sungyun snatches the notebook out of my hand. He is furious. What the hell was that? It looked secretive like North Korean spy codes. I think I saw Eunyong’s name.

Today is turning out to be the worst. Sungyun constantly barks at me like an angry dog. Wipe down the toilet seats. Why are these plates dirty? Who ate the fruit for sale? Smile at the customers, will ya? It gets to the point that I throw down the rag and scream at him.

“Stop with all the nagging, Jesus Christ! Why are you so riled up? Fuck, you’re acting shitty!”