Dammit. Looked like he'd be eating meat and drinking soju alone after closing tonight.
He complained constantly, but the weekend rush always brought in enough customers to make a living. It helped that he’d hired his part-timers on the cheap.
Hiring high school students was a stroke of genius, he mused. So naive, so easy to exploit.
By law, he was supposed to pay them minimum wage. Instead, the owner paid his part-time employees a clean eighty percent of that, pocketing the difference.
He’d just cut their wages, claiming it was because they were high school students.
“Students should be studying, not working,” he’d tell them.
If they didn't like it, they could find another job. But they always took the bait.
Thanks to that little trick, the owner had been able to dodge a fair amount of taxes.
And besides, that kid, Park Jin-ho, agreed to it. An orphan like him should be grateful I gave him a job at all.
He wasn’t even that good for business.
Yeah, it’s time to cut him loose and find a new part-timer.
The kid would be an adult this year or next, anyway.
If he suddenly demanded his unpaid wages or asked for a raise, things could get difficult.
Best to get rid of the scrawny guy and find a pretty girl to work the weekends, he thought. A cute face would definitely boost sales, wouldn't it?
As a greasy grin spread across his face, the sound of the front door opening cut through the quiet.
The boss, who had been wiping down a table, turned reflexively. A practiced smile was already forming on his lips.
“Welcome!” he began, but the word died in his throat. It wasn't a customer.
It was the high school part-timer he’d been mentally trashing just a moment ago.
The boss’s expression soured instantly.
The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a mask of pure irritation.
“What are you doing here now? And who’s that with you?”
“This is my younger brother.”
Why would a high school kid bring his sibling to work on a weekday he wasn’t even scheduled for? An uneasy feeling settled in the boss’s stomach.
“What do you want? You’re not here to work, are you?”
“I’m here to quit.”
The unexpected announcement twisted the boss's face into an ugly knot.
He had planned to fire the kid anyway, but hearing him quit first left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“What am I supposed to do if you just quit on the spot?”
“It’s not on the spot. It’s Monday. You have plenty of time to find a replacement before the weekend.”
“Who do you think you are, quitting just like that? Don’t you need the money?”
“Do I need your permission to quit?”
“Who the hell do you think you are, brat?”
The boss narrowed his eyes at Park Jin-ho, but the glare lasted only a moment.
“Fine, whatever. You want to quit, then quit. Got it? Now get out.”
“But I’m not finished here,” Park Jin-ho said.
“What else could you possibly want?”
“You’ve been paying me eighty percent of the minimum wage because I’m a high schooler, right? But you’re supposed to pay the standard rate.”
“You agreed to that, so—”
“Do you have any proof of that agreement? I was a kid. I didn’t know any better until recently.”
Park Jin-ho smirked, and the boss faltered, unable to reply.
Park Jin-ho pressed on. “And that’s not all. You made me work past two in the morning. Did you know it's illegal for a minor to work past ten p.m.?”
The boss was taken aback, the color draining from his face as he realized the trouble brewing.
“You didn’t provide meals, you swore at me for no reason, you abused your power… I didn’t see it until now, but you’re a real piece of trash.”
“What did you just say, you little brat? How dare you speak to an adult like that!”
“I’m nineteen now. I’m an adult, too. And if you keep talking to me like that, I won’t stand for it anymore,” Park Jin-ho said, his voice firm.
To his own surprise, the boss found himself at a loss for words in the face of Park Jin-ho’s sudden confidence.
“So, what is it you want? You want me to apologize?” the boss asked, his voice strained.
“Yes,” Park Jin-ho replied. “I want a sincere apology.”
This bastard… Does he really think I’m going to apologize to some punk? the boss seethed internally.
“If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to report you to the labor department. We can also press criminal charges for everything else you’ve done,” Park Jin-ho threatened.
The boss knew he was in the wrong. The threat of a report was terrifying; hefty fines could even force him to close the business.
“Alright, I get it. Just an apology, right?” the boss said through gritted teeth.
“A sincere one,” Park Jin-ho insisted.
Damn this little punk… The boss’s pride stung, but he had no choice.
If a single apology could make this go away, it was a cheap price to pay.
The boss bowed his head slightly. “I’m sorry, Park Jin-ho. I was trying to save a few pennies, so I docked your pay. I’m truly sorry and I’m sincerely reflecting on my actions. Please don’t report me.”
“That doesn’t sound like an apology. It sounds like an excuse. And it’s not the least bit sincere,” Park Jin-ho said coolly.
“Damn it, what more do you want from me?” the boss grumbled.
For a moment, his temper flared and he was about to explode, but he forced himself to stay quiet.
“See? You’re still angry. It seems you don’t really want to apologize at all,” Park Jin-ho pointed out.
“Fine! I’m sorry, okay? Is that enough? What else do you want? The wages I docked from you?”
“No, I won’t ask for the back pay.” A slow grin spread across Park Jin-ho’s face as he slid into a booth and sat down. “Instead… bring me something to eat. After I fill my stomach, I might not feel so much like reporting you anymore.”