Chapter 5: The Truce

The uniform is ill-fitting and so are the shoes. Shin is so uncomfortable to even move but still manage to serve the wines without spilling them. She looked at the time and was quite relieved to see that the program is about to start. She'll be heading straight to the locker room the moment the lights die. She will the take the heels off, her feet's burning she couldn't take it anymore.

Alex is an angel. That part time job he offered is an answered prayer. After she was fired, she applied for jobs online but still none of them replied. The job is light, and the VIP's gave wholesome tips. She don't need to worry for paying the bills that month, and of course, she promised a new doll for Yeori when she gets home. But still, part time jobs won't sustain their daily needs. She needs to find a secure, good paying job or else they will sleep on the streets.

The broadcasting company on where Alex works held an annual awarding ceremony for VIP's. It's an event where influencial people gather and present their works, charities, and also a platform to promote businesses. The place was packed with elites, high profiles and celebreties wearing their extravagant dresses and stunning suits and Shin was delighted seeing some idols present in that event. It was such a pleasure to experience such a magical night but her aching feet killed the vibe he couldn't hold on any longer.

"I need to go change my shoes. My feet is killing me," she told her co server after the lights went out.

"Sure. Food service will start in fifteen minutes. It just a short video presentation. Do it fast."

"I'll be back before you know it," she assured her.

Without wasting any second, she stormed the hall out to find the rest room. It was her first time running around the unfamiliar building and she guessed the rest room is just around the corner. Luckily, she found a door and she sighed for relief. Shin pushed it hard and was bolt out.

A cold breeze greeted her face. How funny, she found solace in the dark rooftop. She closed her eyes as she inhaled the wintry like air. From where she stood, Shin can see the busy night view of the streets of Seoul. An almost perfect scenery. A nice view of cityscape she failed to see. She stood there for a while. Thinking deep is something she never did for a very long time. How nice to experience it just for a little while. She jolted when she she heard a loud pop, as fireworks filled the dark of the the sky. Shin mouth opened wide in astonishment.

In that glittering sky, she's seeing daisy like flickers as the stars of earth, as if they were born to bring sparks of white to the black. How lucky for her to experience a fireworks night as if her dreams were drawn in light upon the starry-black.

She was in awe when suddenly, there's a strong feeling she's not alone in that silent place. She slowly turned her sight at the far corner of the rooftop and right there, she saw a woman in her glittering black dress holding a cigarette on her right handand casually staring at her. She nearly shrieked.

"My apologies" she bowed her head down. "I just wanted to rest my tired feet."

"No worries. I'm about to get back in," the lady answered as she throws the cigarette butt on the floor.

Shin paused and was confound. The lady's voice is utterly familiar. Her tone is something that's tied to her hearing. Shin froze when she gets a flashback on what happened to Lana's and the encounter that made her lose her job. And she was right on that hunch.

The lady walks pass on her and slowly stopped. She, on the hand, also remember who she was. "What a coincidence. We met again" the lady said with her usual superior tone.

Shin sighed in exasperation. She felt a sudden rage boiling down inside her skin. After all that happened, the lady is still not sorry for what she did. It frustrates her even more.

"Why, are you going to get me fired again? Don't stress yourself out this time. This is only a part time job," she snapped back.

"What are you talking about? I got you fired? How? When?" the lady continuosly asked.

Shin scoffs with the lady's utmost skepticism. "You heard it right. Back at Lana's a month ago. Because of your senseless whining, I lost my job! Thank you very much!" she sarcastically quips.

Shin knows the conversation is going nowhere and she is displease looking at Mrs. Jeon's still face. Shin cannot read her. It's like she turned subtle and unbelievably tamed. She had an impassive expression smeared on her face. She looks very much different from their heated encounter back in the store. She paced forward. The time of food service is almost up she needs to go back inside. Shin walks past Mrs. Jeon and fervently bump her with her shoulders. She wanted revenge and want it so bad, but the situation did not conspire and shoving the lady is the best she can do. How cruel and shameful. Even in her most planned vengeance, she still emerged as the loser.

Mrs. Jeon, although aghast, felt funnied by the sudden, intended push. She stood still as she went to pull out another cig.

"Want one? I can see you're fuming. Why don't you stay and join me. Believe me, one stick can lighten you mood right away,"

Shin stopped and was mystified. Mrs. Jeon is a total enigma, and she can't tell why, but her foot suddenly stopped and felt like there's a wave of motion trying to spin her around. She looks at the lady once more. Mrs. Jeon is once again beaming with glittering diamonds.

Shin scoffs hard seeing the sparkling shoes on Mrs. Jeon feet. "I thought that shoes was too ordinary for you. Why are you wearing that trash right now?"

Mrs. Jeon was shocked with the precipitous, scornful remark but was so quick to recover her poise. The girl has all the right to be bitter but one thing she knows for sure, she don't intend to make her lose her job.

"If you can tell me what I did wrong that day, there is a chance that I will either change or explain to you how, but from my perspective, it was the right course of action to do so. You didn't attend to me right." Mrs. Jeon states before blowing the smoke up in the air.

Shin was open mouthed on what she had heard. The lady ridiculed her even more. She slacked and was about to give her most blundering contradiction but was again ceased by Mrs. Jeon.

"But on the other hand, we had met on the day when I'm not in my good self. I admit I was a bit harsh," Mrs. Jeon uttered and was amused. The crack up laugh is so fake to hear. "Like when am I in my good self? You know why I'm hiding here all alone? Because my husband is flirting with young girls inside. He didn't give a damn if I do the same too. But I won't do it. I'm not distorted like him."

"I-I don't get the idea why you're telling me that," Shin implausibly muttered.

"Do you want a job, Miss? I can give you one. You can earn triple than what you got in Lana's."

Shin's eyes went bigger and her jaw dropped, she couldn't move. Questions lingered in her head but couldn't hold loose her tongue for an inquest. Mrs. Jeon got her again without any way to disagree. It's as if whatever she do, she has some strings being controlled by someone powerful, and there's nothing else to do but to move where the strings are taking her.

"Let's call this a truce. I will give you a job, you take it, then we're quits. I don't want people to hold some grudge on me. It's taking my luck away. So, are you in?"

Shin was still unmoved. It seems like the wintry breeze sets her foot to froze and her tongue tied. Her thoughts rumbles even more. Accepting the job means her problem is solved. Rejecting it means she stood on her ground and saved her pride. But to hell with pride. She got bills to pay and a kid to survive.

"I guess that silence is a yes," Mrs. Jeon winning smiled appeared. She then took a card out of her pocket. "Here, take this. That is the address. Report for work as soon as possible. Your boss will tell you about your job description," she instructed.

Shin stared on the stiff paper offered to her. She was reluctant to accept it but something inside her pushed her to finally take it. Mrs. Jeon vanquish smile appeared even more.

"What's your name?"

"S-Shin," she softly hushed. "Shin Park."

"Shin," the lady repeated it while nodding her head. "I'm Stefania Jeon. Well, I guess this is it. I wish you luck with your new job, Shin."

....