Healing at the Academy Convenience Store (CP)

In the heart of Seoul, there stands an unremarkable convenience store. Spanning an area of 25 pyeong (approximately 82.6 square meters), it is just one of many franchises found anywhere.

"Young-jin."

"Yes, Boss."

"Why Boss? I told you to call me brother."

"···Haha. Yes, Brother. What's up?"

I have been working part-time at this place for three years. Lee Young-jin, a passionate young individual, promptly responds to the boss's call.

"It's not time for a shift change. What's the matter?"

"Just lock the door for a moment and come inside the office."

Following his instructions dutifully, I head to the office where my 'brother' sits on a chair, looking up at me.

"I locked the door, Brother."

"Good. It's hard to talk when customers come in… Anyway, Young-jin, how old are you this year?"

"······I am twenty-nine, according to Korean age."

"Kid, you're still insisting you're not thirty yet."

"Oh, why? I'm twenty-nine. It's disheartening to be at this age. Does it make you feel better to rub it in?"

"Fine, I got it. Anyway, Young-jin, you'll be reaching your third year here next month, right?"

"Yes."

"You've been here for quite a while. Hmm."

"Thanks to you, Brother. Yeah."

I am what you might call an orphan.

After graduating from high school, I brought five million won with me to Seoul. With a deposit of two million and a monthly rent of three hundred thousand, I managed to secure a small studio apartment. I took whatever job came my way.

I take pride in having done every kind of job.

At the age of twenty-six, after struggling with a herniated disc, I finally found my place in this convenience store after wandering aimlessly.

The convenience store is my sanctuary, my refuge.

No supervisors breathing down my neck, no backbreaking labor of loading and unloading trucks, no peer pressure to drink alcohol.

Just wake up in the morning, tidy up, arrange the shelves, assist customers, and when it's time for a shift change, go home.

This, undoubtedly, is an easy and carefree life.

I worked hard, and the boss, a few years older than me, became like a local older brother. It was genuinely comfortable.

"···Hmm."

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

The boss stared at me intently and then, with a hint of difficulty, began to speak.

"Young-jin, don't you have any dreams?"

"Dreams? Like when they restock the discounted seasoned pollack roe mayo triangle today?"

"······Not that. Sigh."

The boss rubbed his head. What's with him? Did he forget to wash his hair?

"For three years, you've never caused any trouble. You serve customers well, handle difficult customers with ease, never make mistakes with the POS machine, and keep the store clean. You neatly arrange the displays, promptly fulfill delivery app orders···."

"Hah, I'm the ace of our neighborhood convenience store. There's no one as skilled as me."

"You've never been late because of drinking… Are you still obsessed with that game?"

"D/Z SAGA? Yes. I'm still hooked on it. I'm trying to discover a new route this time."

"···Yeah. Your hobby is immersing yourself in a single mediocre game for your entire life."

"Hey, no bad language, not allowed."

"······."

Why is he looking at me like that?

This game isn't that bad.

Well, okay, it's a lousy game. But can't we accept it if people spend around ten thousand hours playing it?

"Anyway, I'm a little worried."

"What's the matter?"

"I'm going to Australia this time."

"············? You go there often."

"No, it's not that."

He tilted his head. Australia? Why? Going back to Melbourne for skiing?

If it's for a vacation, I could just cover two shifts.

···No.

The atmosphere feels strange.

On second thought, he wouldn't have brought this up if it wasn't important.

"Um, going means···."

"I'm emigrating. I'm leaving for good."

"Oh, I see."

I nodded. It's a pity. It's an inevitable event.

In the life of part-time workers, circumstances change depending on the boss… and after three years, it's a long time.

"I'd like to settle everything as much as possible before I leave… but you're in the way."

"Why? I can manage well on my own. Just continue playing that lousy game for a month or two and then find another part-time job."

"······No, that's not what I mean, Young-jin."

"Yes, Boss."

"Do you want to take over this convenience store?"

"······Yes?"

I never saw this coming.

Is this some kind of sick joke?

"People come to this neighborhood looking for you, and you know that the convenience store's sales are enough for you to make a living, right?"

"···I know. Even if I hire two more part-timers, there will still be profit left."

"Yes, that's why I want you to take over. I'll sell it to you at a discounted price."

"Why all of a sudden? Are you not emigrating but running away?"

"Damn it, get out, you bastard."

"I'm sorry, Boss."

We looked at each other and chuckled.

"···Well, I'm not short of money. When I go to Australia this time, I won't be able to come back for at least twenty years. So I'm trying to settle things, and you're the one causing the most trouble when I try to clean up here."

"Why do you say I'm causing trouble?"

"So you're not interested in taking it over?"

"You should hurry up and leave."

"Bastard. You're stubborn to the end. Anyway, I'll try to make the transfer fee as reasonable as possible, so give it a try."

"···Me, a boss?"

"Why not? Are you scared? Wasn't Lee Young-jin the man who never backed down from being the convenience store master of Seongbuk-dong?"

"···What are you talking about? Fine, I got it. I'll be the boss. Whatever. If you get bored while skiing in Melbourne, order from Baemin. I'll deliver it right away."

"···You bastard."

My brother laughed with genuine happiness, and I laughed along.

At first, I thought I should borrow some money, but the transfer fee my brother mentioned ironically almost matched the money I've saved so far.

It was a ridiculously cheap price, and he probably gave me consideration.

"···Lee Young-jin, from a convenience store part-timer to a boss."

"Who becomes a convenience store manager these days?"

"Well, anyway. ···haha."

"Yeah?"

"Never mind. The passionate heart of a man named Lee Young-jin, the heat that evaporates the tears…".

"······."

"I'll be back in a bit."

"Sure."

I walked outside with the contract and a full heart. I straightened my back, which couldn't bear without a painkiller, and looked up at the sky.

As I danced down the street to the rhythm of hip hop, my tears went unnoticed by anyone.

And then…

Screeech!

Bang!

"Ah!?"

My vision blurred. My body floated in the air, and an indescribable pain and weightlessness overwhelmed me.

Thud!

After falling headfirst, my body bounced once more, and then, thunk, hit the ground.

Through my blurry vision, I desperately tried to make out what had hit me before fading away.

And then…

"Shit…"

Lee Young-jin, a 29-year-old with a fiery spirit,

On the cusp of his thirties, he was hit by the supply truck from our convenience store and lost his life.