Eun Mei grunted as she carried the heavy box to the side of the bicycle store and started to replace the displayed parts with newer models. She wasn’t exactly “restocking” the shelves and bins since the number of items sold wasn’t that many, but still, she needed to replace the products with the newer version to show they had the newer model available.

She'd already cleaned the floor, as well as the bathroom, and assisted two customers wanting to buy some parts for their bike. One wants a new chain, and the other wants a better handlegrip.

For the last month or so, Eun Mei has been working for her boyfriend's father's business, and as far as she can tell, it was her dream job. Her knowledge of bikes made it easy for her to deal with the customer, despite her inherent dislike of talking to people. But their mutual interest in the subject made it slightly more bearable for her. Besides, the pay she is getting is almost double the minimum wage. If she is to hazard a guess, Eun Mei believes that she is the highest-paid employee in the entire town by now.

Of course, she is unaware of the fact that Kim Jung Hee's profit in the junkyard alone already doubles what she is getting. Jung's salary in the clinic is also three times her own, but who's counting?

All that matters is that Eun Mei is satisfied for the moment. When she accepted Cho Garam's affection, it wasn't exactly part of the deal, but it was expected that Eun Mei would be getting some sort of preferential treatment, so when she did apply for Garam's family business, she was the favorite choice.

A sudden arm snaked around her slim belly, and she almost threw a quick elbow behind her to stop the intruder. However, Eun Mei realized that it was Garam at the last minute, so she stopped her attack and let him hug her instead.

"Where have you been?" she demanded, a bit annoyed. "I've been doing all the chores here left by your father alone for a few hours now. Last I heard, we are both employees here, not just me."

"I have a bike to deliver," Garam explained.

Eun Mei glared at him. Even if the customer is on the other side of town, the journey would not have taken him more than 2 hours. He has been gone for almost 4 hours now.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"You know how it is."

"Whatever," she said. "Just finish the inventory, and we are done for the day."

"Oh, come on, baby," Garam whined. "I'm still all sweaty and dusty from my travels. Can't you just do that while I change? I promise later I'll treat you to a big sundae in town."

Eun Mei had some choice expletives she wanted to tell Garam, but she kept her mouth shut. After all, she is indeed the junior employee around here. So she sighed and did the last chore as well.

"Just grab the clipboard, go down the basement, and count the available parts in the list so we can tell the difference and see what we need to get more of, okay?"

I know what inventory checking means, she wanted to say. Instead, she just smiled and gave him a sardonic salute. She walked down the basement and opened the lights. The space is big enough to handle all the spare parts on the list, so she shouldn't have any problem finding the things on the clipboard.

Her eyes suddenly slid to the beautiful dolphin bracelet on her wrist, and she hesitated for a moment. Jung Hee is greeting her more formally now, she remembered, and she wasn't really sure that she liked it. She remembered the exuberant greetings she kept getting from the dork since they were little, and she thought this formal approach was what she wanted from him. But now that he is leaving her alone, she sort of... missed it. The loud greetings, she means. Not the guy himself. She still sees him almost every day. It just feels weird that she is not fending off her puppy dog's attention these days.

She shook her head angrily. Stop daydreaming, Eun Mei; you still have work to do.

When she looked at the basement, though, one of her thin, beautiful eyebrows rose in surprise. because in the middle of the room are prominently stacked boxes upon boxes of medicines.

Why would there be any medical supplies in a bike store? Eun Mei asked herself.

Tentatively, she read one of the boxes.

Eliquix Apixaban (5mg) film-coated tablets, the box said.

Suddenly, Cho Garam was bursting out of the stairs and stopping in front of her. They stared at each other for a moment. "Are you okay?" Eun Mei asked.

"Aaahh... yes, yes, I am," he said as he placed his hand on his knees as he catch his breath. "But let me deal with the inventory checking, okay?"

Another of her eyebrows rose. "What? why?"

He sighed and touched the bridge of his nose. "You were not supposed to be here, I forgot to tell you. Father wants this place only available for me to handle. Its a family thing, okay. So let me get this chore out of the way. Just... handle the reception desk upstairs instead, okay?"

Hesitantly, Eun Mei let him have the clipboard and then let herself be dragged out of the room. What the hell is going on here? she thought. giving a final look at the boxes before leaving the area.

But then two more customers arrived, and Eun Mei's attention returned to her job, and she forgot all about the medical boxes in the basement.

*****