He Saw Everything

“One order of pork belly for three people and one bottle of soju here!”

“Yes, coming right up!”

With orders pouring in non-stop, Haejin hurriedly ran around inside the barbecue restaurant.

After graduating high school, Haejin found a part-time job at a barbecue restaurant to become independent and support himself.

Even though he left at the same time every day and tried to remove the smell, the strong scent of meat wafting from his clothes eventually led his aunt and uncle to discover his part-time job.

Surprisingly, his uncle allowed it.

His uncle reasoned that now he was an adult, he should repay their upbringing costs with his earnings.

When he was in school, they likely prevented him from working part-time, fearing it would neglect housework.

But after graduation, with more time, he managed housework promptly, so they seemed to think of using him in other ways.

Of course, contrary to his uncle’s wishes, Haejin had absolutely no intention of repaying them.

He planned to work hard for a month and use that money to rent a one-room apartment immediately.

But whatever the reason, being allowed to work was fortunate for him.

He had one month.

To afford a decent one-room apartment, he needed a high-wage part-time job.

He considered factory, construction site, or parcel loading/unloading jobs known for high hourly wages.

Luckily, a high-wage barbecue restaurant job opened near his home.

Restaurant jobs were generally tough, hence the higher wage.

It was also a famous local eatery, making the work even more demanding.

Due to high turnover, they welcomed even short-term workers, so he got the job.

Even past dinner time, as soon as a table cleared, new customers entered as if waiting, creating a bustling scene.

“Welcome, I’ll guide you to a seat, this… way…?”

Busy and tired, he greeted new customers diligently, but upon seeing a familiar face, Haejin froze unconsciously.

…Beomwoo-ssi?

Why is he here?

“Aren’t you going to seat us?”

“Ah, th-this way, please.”

As Haejin stood frozen mid-motion, Beomwoo looked at him with a ‘what are you doing?’ glance.

Under that intense gaze, Haejin belatedly snapped to attention and guided him to an empty seat.

Even while seating him and bringing the menu, Haejin couldn’t comprehend the situation.

What were the odds of him walking into a pork belly restaurant where he worked, even if it was a local favorite?

He wasn’t even from this neighborhood.

Moreover, unlike other customers, he was alone.

Solo customers at a barbecue restaurant were rare, and from his past life, Beomwoo rarely frequented such places.

…This doesn’t seem coincidental.

He was the one who had investigated him thoroughly, and he had no reason to be in this neighborhood, so it was hard to believe this was mere coincidence.

Then he must be here to demand marriage again?

That was the only reason he’d seek him out.

Although he didn’t say anything upon entering, perhaps because the place was crowded, he’d likely speak when ordering.

So Haejin stood nervously by his seated side.

“May I… take your order?”

“Two servings of pork belly, please.”

“Ri-right away.”

But contrary to Haejin’s expectation, Beomwoo ordered normally, just like any other customer.

He felt foolish for being so tense, expecting something strange.

‘Was it really a coincidence? That can’t be…’

He thought Beomwoo had no reason to be in this neighborhood, enter an unfitting barbecue restaurant, especially alone in a suit.

He was certain it wasn’t coincidence, yet seeing him act like he didn’t know him was confusing.

Afterward, when delivering the ordered meat and grilling it, it was the same.

He only glanced occasionally, never initiating conversation.

He didn’t know his ulterior motive, but at least he wasn’t making things awkward during work.

He was busy too, so he tried to focus on work, but the more he thought ‘don’t mind him,’ the more he became conscious of him.

Even in casual wear on a crowded street, he’d stand out.

Sitting alone in a suit at a barbecue restaurant inevitably drew attention.

It wasn’t just because of their connection; anyone would notice.

While busily moving amid orders, his eyes naturally wandered.

While grilling and cutting meat for another table, Haejin accidentally bumped a customer’s water glass with his forearm.

The stained glass cup tipped over, spilling its contents.

Water dripped onto the floor beneath the table.

The seated customer hastily leaned back, frowning sharply.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing, spilling water?!”

“Gasp, I’m sorry…! I’ll clean it up right away.”

Startled, Haejin bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, apologizing first and trying to handle the situation.

He knew he had made a mistake due to distraction, so he felt even more apologetic.

The customer brushed at his wet pants, then raised his voice.

“Cleaning isn’t the problem; my clothes are soaked!”

“I’m really sorry…”

“Is sorry all you can say? What about this? You need to take responsibility!”

“Th-then at least the dry cleaning bill…”

“Dry cleaning bill? Ha, you think I’m doing this for money? How am I supposed to be like this now?”

This was his first such mistake.

He needed to handle it and take responsibility, but he couldn’t think of anything beyond paying for cleaning.

Moreover, it seemed like the customer was causing a scene to get money, though that wasn’t his intention.

What should I do?

Even with some part-time experience, he’d never faced this.

In his past life, he never really experienced social life, so he didn’t know how to handle such situations.

Flustered, his mind went blank.

As Haejin fidgeted with his lips, unable to speak, the angry, panting customer looked at his face and suddenly changed his expression.

“But… you’re an Omega, right?”

Just moments ago, he was filled with rage, but now, perhaps due to his face or sensing faint pheromones, he said something else.

Whether he was Omega, Beta, or Alpha, the mistake remained unchanged—why bring up his secondary gender now…?

Finding it strange, Haejin didn’t answer.

The customer, seemingly convinced he was an Omega, slyly lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Young Omega, doing tough work… Really hard up for money? Want some allowance from this uncle?”

“……”

The sleazy tone and visibly changed attitude made Haejin’s expression harden involuntarily.

Just moments ago, he only felt sorry because he was at fault, but now it felt like he’d caught the wrong person’s attention.

In this society, it was common for Omegas to be seen as potential s*x partners and treated lightly.

Although he had experienced it in his past life, since marrying Beomwoo, he hadn’t engaged in outside life much, so this treatment felt unfamiliar.

By nature, he was too passive to speak up against injustice.

Being a part-time worker who had made a mistake towards this customer left him unsure how to reject this.

As Haejin could only offer an awkward smile without saying anything, the customer, perhaps not thinking he was smiling out of discomfort, subtly touched his buttocks.

“Instead of taking orders and grilling meat here, you’d earn more by smiling pretty and shaking your ass.”

“……”

Not satisfied with just touching, he even groped.

It seemed he knew Haejin wasn’t in a position to refuse and took advantage.

With many customers and onlookers, how could he do this…?

Moreover, Beomwoo was here.

He must have seen, given the raised voices.

The thought of him witnessing this was unbearable.

Just as Haejin couldn’t take it anymore and was about to speak, the hand groping his buttocks was pulled away.

“That’s enough.”

Distracted by the customer, he hadn’t noticed, but Beomwoo had approached and was pulling the customer’s hand away.

Since entering the restaurant, he hadn’t acknowledged him and remained quiet.

Haejin never expected him to intervene, so he was surprised.

Looking at him with shocked eyes, Haejin didn’t want to cause him trouble and tried to say it was okay.

But the interrupted customer, groaning as if his wrist hurt, made a fierce face again.

“Argh! You, you, who are you?”

“I intended to just watch, but this won’t do.”

“You deliberately placed the glass near this student, didn’t you? Did you think no one would notice?”

The customer tried to intimidate with a scary face, but Beomwoo didn’t even blink.

But… what? Deliberately placed?

He had been distracted, so he didn’t know if it was true, but murmurs from nearby reached his ears.

Customers watching the situation whispered, “He did it on purpose!”, “He was groping his butt until stopped,” treating the customer like a pervert.

Several people had been glancing earlier, but with Beomwoo personally intervening, more eyes turned their way.

Sensing this, the harassing customer’s face, already flushed from alcohol, turned redder.

“A-ah, no! Do you have proof I did that? What are you going to do about it?!”

“Can you take responsibility for those words? Evidence should be on the CCTV over there. Shall we check?”

Beomwoo pointed with his eyes to a camera mounted on the wall and ceiling, as if he had noted its location.

From its angle, it might have captured if the glass was deliberately placed.

“No, why go that far? Tch, damn it. Just my luck… Lost my appetite, can’t eat anymore.”

It seemed like an unjust accusation, but the customer, who had been angrily claiming innocence, suddenly changed his tune, stood up abruptly, and headed to the cashier.

He didn’t even touch the meat Haejin had been grilling, fleeing as if escaping.

After the customer left, Haejin shifted his gaze to Beomwoo.

Regardless of his ulterior motives for being here, he was grateful for the help.

Haejin bowed to him and expressed thanks.

“Th-thank you.”

“Let’s talk after your shift ends.”

As if not one to miss an opportunity, he spoke as if saying, ‘If you’re grateful, make some time.’

Honestly, he wanted to ask if they could talk now, but there were other customers around, and work had piled up while dealing with the incident.

Delaying further would inconvenience others.

“My shift ends in about two hours…”

“Then I’ll wait.”

Beomwoo answered without hesitation.

For someone whose time was gold and impossibly busy, even knowing when his shift ended suggested he might have known from the start.

So he really came here on purpose.

Given the situation and his own excuse, he really… couldn’t refuse this time.

Haejin reluctantly nodded.