'I’m almost at my limit.'
I bit my lower lip while tapping my fingers on the plexiglass of the convenience store counter as if playing the piano. The irregularity of my heartbeat began to build, and I habitually glanced out the window.
The sun sunk below the neighboring apartment complex–it wasn't a highrise building, so it was my indication that the sun would set soon. Too soon for my good.
“He’s late,” I growled under my breath, clenching my hand into a fist and slamming it onto the counter, causing a few packs of gum to drop from the display. “Again!”
The older man, who’d been in the store unusually longer than the average customer, flinched at the sudden sound. He scowled in my direction.
Even though the look in his eyes made me want to poke them, I buried it away and raised my hands and bobbed my head forward into a short bow. “I’m sorry.”
'I’m already reacting adversely… '
The man’s eyes narrowed as his lips pressed into a tight line in response, but he resumed walking around the aisles aimlessly with his hands buried in his jacket pocket.
I couldn't hold back the urge to roll my eyes and they landed back outside, searching desperately for the next part-timer.
I checked my watch. 7:20 pm. I should’ve been home by now, but this night-shift part-timer was always late! I told the boss time and time again that I had to leave the store by 7:00 pm, and he assured me that he would have a talk with the evening shift.
The lingering customer finally started to make his way to the counter holding a bottle of water in his right hand. I eyed his left hand buried in his pocket still, which looked as though it was bulging more than a hand would cause.
“Are you ready to check out?” I asked politely.
He slammed the bottle of water onto the counter with a grunt.
“Just the water?” I gritted through my teeth and forced smile.
“Are your eyes just for decoration? Do you see something else here?” He barked at me. “Hurry up.”
'Don’t let it control you. You can let it slide.' I chanted to myself. 'You need this job. Think about Dad… '
My eyes were closed, and I let out a long breath while grabbing the water bottle.
Just as I scanned the bottle to ring him up, the man scowled through his beer-stained teeth. “Kids these days are so useless. You’ll probably work in a convenience store all your life and never amount to anything.”
Snap.
“What the f*ck did you just say?” I flared my nose with a glare.
His eyes widened for a moment before he recollected himself and clenched his jaw. “Did you just swear at me?”
“Are your ears for decoration, old man? I asked you what the f*ck you said.” I crossed my arms and refused to back down.
His eyes shifted side-to-side and I could see his flight-or-fight senses urge him to lean back and create some space between us. “You’re c-crazy.”
I brushed my hair out of my face and shook my head. It was always the short old men who had complexes. At 5’11, I was taller than most females and males in Korea, but this was an extra little man.
'But, he finally got something right.'
“You’re right. I am a little crazy.”
Leaning forward, I grabbed his left hand and yanked it out of his pocket in one swift motion. My deceptively lean build disguised the years of taekwondo training, and his wrists felt brittle in my firm grip.
I smirked as we both stared at the green glass bottle in his hand. “I thought you only wanted the water?”
I could feel him trembling in my hands, not only was he little, but also weak. The fear spilled into his eyes as he desperately searched for an escape.
'It’s too late to escape, the sun has already set.'
“Time’s up, old man.” I shrugged. “You picked the wrong time and person to piss off today.”
“Y-you better let me go right now!” he stuttered with a pathetic resolve. “O-or, or–”
“Or, what?” I tightened my grip and pulled him closer. I could break this glass bottle in his hand if I wanted to. That would teach this f*cker a lesson–
Ding dong. The door flew open with a sudden gust and the boy grasping onto the handle huffed, “I’m here, Noonim*!” (*Noonim means an elder "sister" with higher honorifics than noona.)
The part-timer flung up from his deep bow and looked up through his shaggy ruffled hair. His eyes widened as he took in the scene.
“Y-you there!” the man yelled, deciding he'd found a suitable escape route. “Call your manager right now and tell him this crazy worker a-assaulted me.”
The part-timer straightened immediately, clearly unsure what to do. “Assault…?”
I yanked the soju bottle from the customer’s hand and slammed it onto the counter. Untying the apron behind me, I tossed it over the bottle and made my way toward the door.
“Call the cops if that man tries to steal again,” I instructed. “I’m leaving.”
The part-timer nodded quickly and the old man lunged forward and grabbed my wrist just as I stepped away.
'Now who’s the crazy one… '
“I’m going to turn you into the cops…!” he shouted.
I slowly craned my neck to glare down at this literal gnome of a man. At this point, I was unhinged, there was nothing stopping me now.
But before, I could say anything, the man yelped and pulled his hand away quickly when our eyes met.
He stumbled back a few steps before scrambling out the door and yelling behind him, “I b-better not see you again, or I’ll r-really sue you for assault.”
“For a garden gnome, he sure runs fast," I chuckled.
“I’m really sorry, Noonim!” The part-timer was bowing so low and straight that I thought I could eat a bowl of ramen on his back. “I should’ve been here to handle him.”
'Pfft, like this skinny little kid could handle anyone. I could flick him in the forehead to oblivion.'
I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and without looking back said, “There better not be a next time.”
Ding dong. The door shut behind me.
“If I see that part-timer one more time when I’m Night Gomi, I’m going to beat his soul into the next dimension.”
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