Sihoo looked at Hayoon curiously.
“Porridge can cause indigestion?”
“Yeah,” Hayoon replied. “If you get sick from it, there’s no fixing it. Even chugging soda or pricking your finger won’t help.”
Sihoo shook his head, recalling a time he’d gotten sick from porridge. The porridge he’d served the man was finely ground, almost imperceptible, crafted to be gentle on the stomach—a dish made with care, infused with the field’s ingredients.
Hayoon, sensing Sihoo’s effort, smiled. “You put your heart into every dish, don’t you?”
Sihoo grinned back. “Hyung, hungry? Let’s eat once he leaves. Gotta clean the dining area too.”
“Yeah, I’ll tidy up after he’s gone,” Hayoon agreed.
“Wow, that was amazing,” the man said, bowing repeatedly in thanks. Despite Sihoo’s insistence that the porridge was free, he pulled out his wallet to pay.
Hayoon waved him off. “No, it’s fine.”
Sihoo had told him not to charge. The kitchen soon became a battlefield of orders, keeping Sihoo rooted there. The man paid only for the takeout and prepared to leave.
Jingle. The door chimed as someone entered.
“Oh? Aren’t you the customer from last night?” a woman’s voice said.
Hayoon’s face soured. It was Goo Sukyoung, the owner of Mom’s Place. The man’s expression hardened, his lips pressing into a thin line. He was furious.
Unfazed, Sukyoung flashed a bright smile. “You and your girlfriend enjoyed our food last night, and now you’re here?”
The man’s voice was sharp. “Listen, ma’am. Your food sent me and my girlfriend to the hospital.”
“What?” Sukyoung shook her head, still smiling. “Must be a misunderstanding. Didn’t you go drinking afterward?”
“No,” he said firmly. “Right after eating, our stomachs twisted, we broke out in cold sweats, and—ugh.” He shuddered, recalling the ordeal.
Looking at his takeout, he continued, “I was going to bring this to my girlfriend and then confront you, but since you’re here, let’s talk.”
“What? That’s your issue, not ours. Got proof our food made you sick?” Sukyoung’s voice rose.
“I’ll spell it out. It feels like you’re trying to ruin our business,” the man shot back.
Their voices escalated, tension filling the air. Sihoo, watching from the kitchen, grabbed a frying pan and ladle, stepping out and banging them together. Clang.
“Enough,” he said coldly, stopping them.
Sukyoung shouted, “Hey! Who do you think you are, butting in?”
The man stepped back, covering his ears.
“And you!” she continued, pointing at Sihoo. “I told you to drop those menu items. Why haven’t you? Think I’m joking?”
Sihoo glanced at Hayoon, who made a circling gesture with his finger. Sukyoung, seeing this, stomped her foot. “What’s with you kids? Mocking an adult?”
Sihoo closed his eyes briefly, then spoke icily. “Ma’am, are you causing trouble in someone else’s business? For an adult, you lack manners. Leave.”
Sukyoung, arms crossed, raised her voice further. “Listen to this kid! I’m not causing trouble. This customer’s making baseless claims, so I’m responding.”
The man stepped closer, glaring. “You asked for proof? Fine, I’ll show you.”
“You called me ma’am? I was being nice, calling you a customer. Show me your proof!” Sukyoung snapped.
The man glared fiercely, then stormed out, shouting to Sihoo, “Sorry for the scene. I’ll be back.”
As he left, Sukyoung turned to Sihoo, jabbing a finger. “Can’t you open your eyes? Did your parents raise you like this?”
At the mention of his parents, Sihoo’s face darkened. Hayoon shook his head. “She crossed a line.”
He knew what was coming. Stepping behind Sihoo, he grabbed his shoulder. Sihoo glanced at Hayoon’s hand. “Hyung, I’m fine. Let go.”
Hayoon released him. Sihoo stepped toward Sukyoung, looking down at her. “My parents passed away. If you’re an adult, shouldn’t you know better than to cause a scene in someone’s business?”
His voice was so cold it sent chills. His piercing gaze seemed to freeze her. Sukyoung flinched, stepping back. “Get back to your own shop. Stop ruining our lunch rush.”
His calm tone was more intimidating than any shout. Sukyoung hesitated, stumbling backward. “What kind of eyes…”
To her, Sihoo’s gaze felt predatory, like it could tear her apart. Fear gripped her. Tch. She turned, fleeing the diner.
Jingle. She bumped into an incoming customer. “What’s with that lady?” they muttered, watching her go.
“Next door,” Hayoon said, approaching to check if they were okay. The customer nodded but looked annoyed. Hayoon apologized, guiding them to a seat.
“I went to that place once. Nearly threw up watching them cook,” the customer grumbled.
Hayoon, handing them a menu and water, noticed their phone and widened his eyes. Whoa.
In the kitchen, Sihoo grabbed coarse salt, sprinkling it at the entrance before returning. Hayoon leaned in, whispering, “Customers are upset with next door.”
“Upset?” Sihoo asked.
“Yeah, that guy’s Instagram was full of complaints,” Hayoon said.
Days later, jingle, high school students entered. Sihoo ducked into the kitchen. Hayoon greeted them with a smile. “Welcome! You’re here a lot lately. Early for lunch, huh?”
It was Juha and Saessang, regulars from the nearby high school. They grinned. “We saw tons of praise for this place on Instagram,” Juha said.
“Praise?” Hayoon asked.
“Look!” Saessang showed her phone. Hayoon glanced at Sihoo in the kitchen. “Your heart and effort are shining through.”
Seated, the girls scanned the menu, spotting Today’s Special—56804’s random draw. “One Today’s Special, one three-dish bapsang, and one hamburger steak,” they ordered.
“Another person coming?” Hayoon asked.
“Nope, just us,” Juha said.
“That’s a lot. Sure you’re okay?” Hayoon asked.
Juha grinned. “We’re growing kids. We can eat tons.”
“Got it,” Hayoon said, heading to the kitchen.
The girls typed furiously on their phones. Saessang asked, “You posting that?”
“That crazy lady needs to know what she did,” Juha replied, uploading a video to Instagram titled What Happened at 56804 a Few Days Ago. It described sneaking out of school, seeing Sukyoung cause a scene, and slamming Mom’s Place for bad food. #FightAt56804 #CheckTheVideo
Juha didn’t know how far it would spread.
In the kitchen, Hayoon saw Sihoo with a stainless steel bowl of clams and mussels. “Desalting again in the dark?” he asked.
Sihoo shrugged. “Thought I was sulking over her? Nah, this fight’s easy.”
“Easy?” Hayoon said.
Sihoo smirked. “Kicked her out with a raised voice, but I’ll make sure customers choose us for taste and service.”
Hayoon, watching Sihoo sprinkle salt on the clams, felt a chill. This guy’s scary sometimes.
As Sihoo cooked, sizzle, Hayoon returned to the dining area. “Welcome, take a seat!”
A customer asked, “What’s with next door?”
“Huh?” Hayoon tilted his head. “What happened?”