It was a boring old day as usual for Yongsun, she hated her job, with all her passion. The only thing good about it was her close friend Wheein who works with her and persuaded her to get the job in the first place, and the tips. At first she thought the idea of a tip jar was stupid because no one ever gives tips anymore. They come, buy their lunch and leave with nothing as little as a thank you. But, after all, she needs all she can get, she's struggling enough on her own and trying to maintain the tiny apartment she lives in.
"Seriously, Yongsun, I don't see why you can't just come live with me and Hyejin.'' Wheein shouts from across the counter after seeing Yongsun pull out not even more than five dollars from the jar. "There's no room for me, and as my parents always said, 'you have to work for what you want, don't depend on other people','' The younger girl simply rolls her eyes as if she's heard this excuse thousands of times, which, she has. As if on cue, a familiar loud voice enters the small diner. "Wheein let's go! If we don't hurry we'll miss the movie!'' Wheein stands up immediately on instinct. "Yongsun, please come with us, you need to stop stressing about every little thing and spend time with your friends." Yongsun gave the younger a soft smile but shook her head to decline. "As much as I would love to, I have to work overtime cleaning up.'' Hyejin and Wheein both give the girl a soft smile. "Okay unnie but please don't work yourself too hard, love you!'' Wheein gives her a quick hug and chases after hyejin who was already out the door.
The girl has been taking all the shifts she can get, she really hates every minute in this godawful run down diner, but she does it. She stands up after putting the five dollars she did manage to make in her pocket.
Working in a diner in a tiny city means you often see the same people over and over, some friends and the rest acquaintances. So when Yongsun saw the girl she was caught off guard for a moment. "Excuse me? Earth to, Yongsun?'' Yongsun shook her head, mentally hitting herself for taking so long to answer. "Uh, how do you know my name?'' The slightly taller girl just smirked, and pointed at her chest. "Your name tag? Are you new here or something?'' Once again, Yongsun was caught off guard for a minute, feeling stupid once again. "No, I'm not new at all, but you obviously are.'' The girl behind the counter smirks once again at the supposed to be comeback, or, whatever you would call that. ''Well, miss Yongsun, may I order?''
All the girl had was a coffee, yet, she was sitting at that table across the diner for a couple hours. It confused Yongsun a lot, she'd never gave so much coffee to one customer before. But whatever, the customer is always right. After giving the girl her now fifth coffee, she went back in the kitchen to do some cleaning, but when she came back, the girl was nowhere to be found. There was money on her table and she was gone. Yongsun actually was relieved, that girl really was strange, kinda scary strange. She shrugged it off, she was tired and ready to go home. She didn't need another reason to worry. She grabbed the usual light tip jar and poured out what was in. Out came seven dollars, a chewed up piece of gum, and a piece of paper. But, the paper was written on.
You really are truly a funny person diner lady. I don't know you well but you seem like the kind of person I'd like to know.
And that was it. That's all it said. Yongsun roller her eyes at the stupid greasy note. She'd laughed and assumed it was stupid kids playing a prank on her, trying to get her to think someone took interest in her for once in her life. She crinkled it up and threw it away.
The oh so strange stranger came in for the next three days and ordered more outrageous numbers of coffee. Seriously, this girl was made out of coffee. When Yongsun was making her way around the girl actually spoke to her again, about something that wasn't coffee. "Yongsun, you're sure here a lot, don't you get a day off.'' Yongsun groaned in her head, she's heard this way too many times that she can count "Working pays bills, sitting at home doesn't." And once again, the strange girl smiled at her. "I was just wondering." That was it, that was all that was said. She left at her usual time and Yongsun was getting ready to collect her few tips for the day. Out fell fifteen dollars and another note. "Wow these tips are getting better," She was taken aback by the note as the last hadn't come for a few days
You're really beautiful diner lady, worry less
And that was all this note said. Yongsun actually smiled a little at this one, it seemed to be an actual compliment. The last part made her think a moment though. Worry less? Is it really that obvious? The same as the other day, she shook it off and threw the note away.
The stranger that came in for the first time has come every day this week, talking more to Yongsun each time, but also, never speaking a full on conversation. She received three more notes since the 'worry less' one, none kept except the most recent, which read:
Diner lady, I know your name but I like to think you're my own personal diner lady, even though you serve all these people everyday. You're really special, and I wanna actually know you, but, it would be boring to just give you my number, so, I'm going to give you hints. First hint, I'm taller than you.
She doesn't know entirely why she kept it really, she didn't know if she wanted to know who it was. Did she really care about who was writing these? She's a short person, someone taller than her could be anyone.
"Unnie!" Yongsun jumped from fright at the sudden yelp from her friend. "Yes, Wheein?" Next to her was now standing her shorter best friend. "Yongsun unnie, you have a crush on someone" Her eyes widened. "Excuse me? No I don't, where in the world did you get that?" Wheein just smiled, "You smile more unnie, you're either in love, or have finally lost your mind." That kind of set her aback. Had she been smiling more? "I must have lost my mind." Wheein narrows her eyebrows. "Excuse me, Wheein, I have to work." She moves passed the younger and goes to the now usual blonde that always asks for coffee. Wheein simply turns around and watches the entire encounter from where they were standing. "Thanks Yongsun." Just before she turns around the girl drops her napkin, "Whoops." She gets up from her seat and stands next to Yongsun from a moment, a few centimeters towering her before grabbing the napkin and sitting back down and drinking her coffee like nothing happened. Yongsun just turned around and went back to work.
Diner lady, did you figure it out yet? From what I've noticed you haven't. Here's your next hint short one, I always address you by your name, not diner lady.
Wow great hint, that's my name smart one. If you keep giving me these kind of hints I'm never gonna find out who you are.
Work has gotten a lot more interesting that she has been receiving the notes, and gets to see the mysterious person that also arrived around two weeks ago. Yongsun wishes she knew more about the girl, something is just captivating about her and she's not here. "Earth to Yongsun?''
Speak of the devil.
"Oh sorry, miss" that made the blonde girl look up at her. "You know, I've been here two weeks and you still haven't asked me my name, isn't that a little unprofessional, Yongsun?" She's once again taken aback, this girl, is, uh, something. "Sorry, uh, what's your name?"
"Byulyi." It was silent for a moment, part of which caused by Yongsun not knowing what to say. "Byulyi, that's pretty." Was all she managed to say. "Will you please sit down with me, Yongsun" She'd be lying if she said she didn't hesitate for a minute. She doesn't really know this girl but quite honestly, what could she possibly do in a public place, so, she sat down.
To her surprise, the gi- no, Byulyi, had a lot of in common with her and was actually sweeter more so than scary. The two ended up talking about random things. Yongsun doesn't know how much time passed before a familiar voice was calling her. "Yongsun! Boss said you didn't have to wor- oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?" Byulyi was the one to answer this time. "No, I should really go anyway. This was fun Yongsun, thanks." and with that, she was up and away. "Anyways, you're coming to mine and Hyejin's tonight, and no, you really don't have a choice. "I'd love to spend time with you guys lets me just go get the few dollars I might have earned today."
I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet diner lady, you're very oblivious, but it's endearing. Last hint, you now know my name.
p.s. you're prettier up close
It was then it finally hit Yongsun. Byulyi. Of fucking course it was Byulyi. She couldn't help but smile, part from for herself for finally figuring it out and part from the effort this girl has gone through just to get through to poor, oblivious Yongsun. It took her a minute to actually think of what to do. And, when Wheein and Hyejin weren't bothering her, she wrote a note.
You really made quite the effort to get through to me. I'm really sorry for being stupid. But, I like you Byulyi and you should take me out sometime, just, not a diner please.
-diner lady
