It was on the first day of spring when I first met her. The first day of my first year in highschool, the first blossoms of spring, and the near empty train.
She sat just right across from me at the time, dark hair let down as she let herself be drawn into her book. An unbothered beauty straight out of a painting that drew me in.
She's so pretty. The first thing I noticed about her was her school uniform, it was the same as mine but as far as I knew the first years and second years, I hadn't met her yet.
Then she must be a third year student. An upperclassman. This had been the first time I'd seen her. I usually never wake up this early but today was different. But perhaps it's because of this mistake that I got to meet her today.
Days continued to pass by just like that, and I found myself waking up earlier than usual to take the early train. And everyday, without fail, she'd be in her seat with her nose dug deep into a book. As my simple crush drew long, I started growing more curious by the day.
What book was she reading?
What other things is she into?
What was her name?
And yet with the months that passed, I never got the courage to ask, nor did I ever find out at school. With out schedules to different and being on different floors, the only time I ever get to see her was this train ride in the mornings.
I cherished these little moments.
Until one day I had missed my alarm completely. It rained, and my umbrella broke. Not only that but my pants were soaking wet from the rain. But worst of all, with my already limited contact with her, I had missed a day to see her.
Could this day be any worse!?
As the train pulled up in front of me, I was easily dragged into the crowd, squished to the point I could barely move my wrist.
Ah, right. This hour was always crowded. I had completely forgotten what it was like around this time ever since I had changed my routine. I might as well try my luck again tomorrow. I resigned.
But it was as if Lady luck was by my side. The one sat in front of me was the Third year senior. Dark hair, focused eyes, and that same book. There was no mistaking it, and I felt as though all this train of misfortune wasn't for nothing.
I could barely contain a smile on my face. She must've ran late too. It almost felt like the universe had conspired for us to meet today.
"Haneul, are you listening?"
No, I wasn't. I barely heard a word spoken to me. The drink in my hand barely touched the tip of my lips.
Elijah looked concerned, So I took a sip of my drink.
"You've been spacing out lately. Are you sure you're okay?"
Me? Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?
"Yeah, I'm just...recalling some old things."
For some reason, I keep remembering that senior from before. That year, she graduated without me even knowing her name. I barely even struck the chance to talk to her. I guess I'm regretting it now.
"What old things?" This seemed to interest Elijah.
"You know, that senior I told you about years ago." I've long since graduated highschool. Now even as a freshman in my first year in college, I'm still thinking about her.
How could I not? I've only seen her for a year on my train ride every morning, and after she graduated, she stopped riding the same train as me. That was the time I realised how much I messed up by not talking to her.
"Ha ha ha! I told you to talk to her."
That. He did. But I was too afraid to get close at the time. As the naive and timid teenager that I am, I convinced myself that I was content with just seeing her from afar.
But as the naive and timid young adult that I am now, I wanted to punch my younger self for not taking the chance when it was right in front of me.
"Whatever, there's no point kicking myself about it now."
Thud
I dropped my head on to the table.
"By the way, didn't you say you were looking for a part time job recently? How's that going?"
I silently praised Elijah for his great topic changing skills as I pulled my head back up.
"Oh that. Yeah, something came up and I fell short on rent. I needed an extra job,"
A kid spilled juice all over my computer and broke it. The mother apologized so profusely and I couldn't bring myself to make her pay for the damages when it looked like she was already on the verge of a meltdown.
But I didn't expect the fee to be so high! I was totally getting scammed. Totally! But at the same time my computer has been working better than it did before. The only problem left was that now I couldn't pay for this month's apartment fee.
"Did you find one yet? Because I found an open slot for you. The convenience store right across my apartment is looking for a night staff,"
Thanks a lot. In any case, I would've accepted the offer then and there but there was one thing about Elijah that made him odd.
And it's that he's rich.
The convenience store across his apartment likely meant the rich neighborhood a 50 minute train ride from here. And that was too far for my liking.
Plus I already found a job.
"Thanks, but I already found one. It's just a few minute walk from my apartment, and the pay sounds good too,"
Not only does it sound good but all I gotta do is test out a few toys. And I'll get paid every after testing session! If I could finish a couple or three I could earn more money than I need for the rent, this was perfect.
Who knows why they're paying someone so generously for trying out a couple toys. But I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity like this.
"Well if you're still up for it later, I'll give you the store's phone number. When do you start your new work?"
Truly kind of Elijah to do all that for me, but I'm almost completely certain I won't be quitting this new job soon. I have a really good feeling about this.
"I'll be heading there tomorrow for a better discussion on what I'll be doing."
The company accepted me almost immediately the day I sent my application stating my interest in the job. Must have been my lucky day or they were desperate.
Whatever.
Tomorrow came in a blink.
It's just less than a fifteen minute walk from my apartment. Just inside an orange building on the third floor and the company's name plaque will be seen displayed by the door. That's what the email sent to me wrote. I followed it down to the last word, and lo and behold— The company's plaque written in swirling letters on the third floor inside the orange building, just as described.
It was a relief to know it wasn't fake, nor did it seem sketchy. Unlike the last time I applied for a job, it looked like they'd harvest my organs to sell in the black market. It was a good thing I flaked.
Maybe that's why god sent me this miraculous job as an apology for my near death experience. I can't say I'm still mad anymore.
I looked down at my outfit. Hopefully I don't look too casual, although they did state they could care less about what I wore but it's common knowledge company's lie about those sort of things just to try and test you.
I pressed the button on the monitor.
Bzzzt!
The buzz echoed in the other side of the door, and I couldn hear footsteps shuffling from behind.
"Coming!"
The door pushed back, revealing a lady with bleached hair gathered into a messy bun on top of her head. Despite her dishelved appearance and tired eyes, she dragged her smile across her face.
"Come in, come in. You must be Haneul, right? I'm Karaage Tani, this small company's co-owner,"
Karaage Tani, she's the one who replied to my application and sent me that email. The email that was sent to me had sounded too casual to the point it started to give me doubts about this job being real. Turns out the email had reflected it's sender.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you."
The inside of the room was far better and brighter than the sad hallway of the building. Compared to the empty halls, the company's unit held a sweet scent, and a calm atmosphere. As soon as we stepped further in the room, the space grew wider, and inside were divided spaces for other employees.
"You have no idea how much you saved our skins by taking in this job. The truth is the person who usually does this just quit recently after a breakdown about the device's complications."
Complications? Were the toys so difficult that a grown adult couldn't figure out how to use it? Then wouldn't that be a failure in design?
"But now that you're here, I'll leave it to you since no one else wants to take up the job!"
A strong hand gave me the pat of my life as the air was practically knocked out of my lungs.
"Yo, Tani, who's the cute kid?" One lady turned to ask.
Cute kid? How embarrassing.
It felt like I was fourteen again surrounded by my aunties.
"This is Haneul. He'll be replacing Naosu from now on, so be kind to him, Furui! We can't afford him leaving too,"
Another lady with dyed hair and a mushroom accessory sticking out of her head chimed in.
"Tani, you shut up too! Look at the poor boy, he's scared to bits"
Yes, aunty. That's one way to help me want to stay. Why are they talking about this job like it was some dangerous game of Blue Wire Red Wire.
"So, uhm, what should I do now?"
Please let's just move on before I change my mind.
"Oh right, come here."
I followed her quietly as she walked up to one of the empty desks. Right there, sealed shut sat a white box. One which I graciously took as she handed it to me.
"This is all the toys you'll be testing out. And after that, you'll need to send a detailed feedback on each device. Pros, cons, the likes."
I shuffled the box in my hands and felt the items inside shift. It sounded like there were a couple or so stuff in there, yet the box felt so light.
"This stuff should usually be explained by the designer but she's running late per usual. You'll be working with her from now on so forgive her tardiness this one time,"
Her?
Tani tapped the box lightly with her finger.
"Her designs are usually really complicated. There's already two people who've quit out of frustration including Naosu. Hopefully you won't quit too."
The hand that tapped the box in my arms now gripped desperately on to my shoulder.
Help!? Is this REALLY how they plan to keep staff from leaving? This is starting to scare me now, you know!?
Why is she showing such a scary face?!
"I'm pretty sure Fuan left a manual inside too, so be sure to check it out. If you have any questions, direct it to Fuan, the designer. She'll be here the next time you come back."
Clap!
Tani clasped her hands together.
"Alright! That seems to be about it. See you sometime next week, Haneul."
Just like that, she bid me farewell.
That just left me even more confused. She was already sending me home?
"Wait that's it?"
I blurted out completely confused.
Wasn't I going to test these out here?
"Yep, that's it. Oh, and don't bother bringing these back, they're yours to keep. Don't worry, it won't come out of your pay."
She winked.
Not one thing about what she said clarified anything to me at all, but I was certain of a few things.
One: I got paid for every box I finish testing out.
Two: I'm an assistant to the toys designer.
Three: This was work I could take home.
How convenient was that? So I asked no further and headed on my way. Karaage Tani was a kind lady to walk me to the door and wave me off.
I got home pretty quick and set the box on my bed as I sat down. Part of me felt anxious to open the box after the way everyone in that office acted.
Surely it's not that bad. They're probably over reacting.
With that in mind, I carefully opened the box.
...
...?!
"What the hell!?"
What are these?
Why are they in the box?
I thought these were suppose to be toys for kids, not for adults!
They were all in weird shapes and forms, ones even I can't comprehend nor describe. There was no doubt about it. No matter how I look at it, these were adult toys.
I slammed the box shut and sealed it with tape. There was no way I was using these things.
Never!
To hell with the money! I'd rather take up that offer Elijah gave.
In no more than just a few minutes, I had reached the building I had just previously visited, abusing the bell hysterically.
No sooner than a second, I was face to face with Tani once more.
"Alright, alright! I'm coming, calm down."
She barely caught a glimpse of my face when I shoved the box into her arms.
Without even needing to look in the mirror, I already knew my face was beet red.
"T-this...! Take it back! I won't be using them at all!"
Seeing my flustered face and reaction, Tani knew exactly what happened.
"Ha ha ha! Don't be like that, let's talk it out."
Without accepting the box, she strode back inside, laughing. I followed closely, having no choice at all as held the box of evil and embarrassment in my hands.
"What exactly is the problem, Haneul?"
What's the problem? Everything about this is the problem!
"I can't do this job. Nope, I won't. I thought you said I'd only be testing out toys. I didn't think it be sex toys!"
I slammed the box at a nearby empty desk, face redder than the anger emotion himself.
"Well what adult would be testing out toys for kids? Wouldn't it have been obvious since I stated a specific age range? Also I stated the job description really carefully, you know. You can't just be blaming people because you don't read."
Tani ranted off with crissed arms. Furui leaned her head back from her seat, huge round glasses glaring at Tani.
"No you didn't. You left out the really important part of the job description, Tani."
Her voice dragged out on listlessness but one look of her face immediately sent shivers running down Tani's spine. On her computer screen, she had pulled out a digital copy of the Job Flyer I'd seen before.
"This only says toys, and it doesn't even mention majority of what the person would be doing. Anyone would've misunderstood easily."
An empty plastic bottle flew out of nowhere and directly hit Tani on the head.
"Boo! Tani, you're a scammer!"
The lady from earlier jeered.
"Tsk, shut up, Gomi! You're the one who double checked it and orinted the flyers!"
Just...Just what the hell had come into my life. By now I was practically drained. I just wanted to go home, and maybe look for another job.
Maybe I can survive the job Elijah offered. Surely those rich neighborhood civilians can tip generously. Right?
"Are you sure you want to quit?"
Tani asked, in all seriousness since I saw her this morning. I nodded.
No matter how desperate I can be, my ego wouldn't be able to handle the shock of earning money by testing out how good a dildo feels like.
Tani nodded in understanding, and there I thought she'd let me go. The next second, she dropped to the floor, bawling her eyes as she held on to my leg.
"Nooooo! Please don't quit! I'll raise your pay, just please don't quit!"
What. the. fuck?
Is this seriously how a co-owner should act?
How did this company survive this long?
"No one else is willing to do this job. Every other guy who tried to take the job immediately ditched after seeing the toys. It's been a month!"
Tani sobbed.
Gosh seriously, is this supposed to be my problem? All I wanted was a small job enough to cover the losses I had this month.
I wasn't even trying to be greedy! (Liar)
I tried to shake her off my leg but her grip was too strong. I couldn't even budge my leg.
"If it's a matter of no one taking the job because of how it looks, then obviously it's an issue of the design, isn't it!?"
I tried to shake her off again for good measure but she wasn't even fazed as she sobbed out loud. I turned to her co-workers for help but these cowardly aunts immediately averted their gaze once I turned to them.
Seriously!? You guys aren't going to do anything?!
"If you're having trouble with employing someone to test out the product then maybe you should take this out with the designer and keep me out of it." I groaned in frustration.
Vivid images of the three tentacled device inside the box in front of me cane flashing to mind, causing heat to rise up my face.
"Who the hell would design it like that anyway!?"
"Me. Do you have any problems with my designs?"