As with most things, with both excellent food and better company, time flew and the night needed to reluctantly end for these friends. Nayeon knew that Soo-Young would be included in her budding friends list. And this seriously annoyed her equally immediately and immensely. After all, Soo-young had an irresistible charm that was impossible to ignore. No matter how hard she tried.

  Even more annoying was that every time Soo-Young had walked by, which was many times as she was a waitress and it was her job to walk all over bringing people their orders, Nayeon was re-captivated all over again and again. She was too annoyed to even notice that she was far from the only one, but she was the only one that got even more angry by it.

  Nayeon felt like Soo-Young was taunting her by funting herself in front of her. Well, in fact, Nayeon was not totally wrong. Soo-Young was making sure to walk in front of her as often as she could. And was overly conscientious in her gentle ministrations of them. Seulgi was being exquisitely taken care of. The problem was that so was Nayeon. The difference was that there was a very subtle hint of sarcasm in Nayeon’s treatment. There was absolutely nothing overt enough to be called out. However, the saccharine sweetness grated on her nerves.

  The charming girl made it very difficult to stay annoyed with her, but Nayeon was a determined soul. She could do whatever she needed or wanted to do. Even staying mad at this irrepressible imp.

  After about two hours, Seulgi and Nayeon were finally finished with dinner and needed to clear out so they could make room for the next set of guests. The restaurant was busy until Soo-Young left and a bit after. They were busy as long as the doors were open. Especially on days that Soo-Young worked. Which was about as often as the boss could convince her to come in. It would not be couth to say ‘beg’. But it was still a close thing.

  The fact that she made more in tips in a month than the manager made sary in a year didn’t hurt. Granted, it was odd, as tipping was not really a thing in a Korean restaurant. But, she would not decline free money, even if it was technically frowned upon. It also didn’t hurt that she shared the tips with the manager and kitchen staff. Once a month, she took everyone out for beer. Well, everyone that is not on duty, at least.

  Both Nayeon and Seulgi were foodies who worked out a lot, so there were no leftovers to take home with them. They grabbed their jackets and started to head to the door. They kept chatting about whatever came to mind.

  They heard a musical voice behind them saying “Nayeon! What? No goodbye?”

  Nayeon stuttered in her step as she was on the way to the door. She could almost feel like she was being baked alive by the warmth of the smile that she was desperately trying to ignore. Nayeon determinably marched to the front door, leaving poor Seulgi to tend to the bill and that wicked waitress.

  This brought all of her pns for revenge that she had already forgiven and forgotten, crashing back. Gritting her teeth, Nayeon stalked out the door while Seulgi, ughing softly, paid the bill at the front counter. In a very rare fit of pique, Nayeon could be softly heard swearing through gritted teeth.

  Soo-Young’s liquid trill chased her new friend out of the restaurant’s doors. Soo-Young could teach a master css on annoying people through utterly sarcastic politeness.

  Sighing, Seulgi thought to herself: “This girl is going to be so much trouble. And fun. But, mostly trouble.”

  And Seulgi was right. Entirely too right

  After signing the receipt, she smiled at the hostess and left to meet Nayeon at her car. Nayeon had a charcoal grey 2018 Kia Carnival. She even got the semi-sporty model.

  Seulgi joined her at the car and climbed in. Nayeon was still grumbling when she got it. It boded ill, but at least it was not pointed at her. For now. Soon, she’d remember Seulgi’s part in the shenanigans and then things would go back to how she was trying to avoid.

  Oh well. She’d get Yeji to run interference.

  Yeji was having a pleasant evening with a potential boyfriend when she had a very dark premonition come over her. This worrying had nothing to do with her new toy. She excused herself for a moment and went to the dy's room. She checked herself over and there was nothing out of pce on her, so the impression must be coming from outside. She was right. She was worried that this feeling was about her friends. She was, again, right. She was worried about something bad happening to them. She was right in three ways. Knowing her friends, there were shenanigans afoot amongst her friends that were going to bring her troubles. Again, this was true. But she didn’t know that the source of the disturbance was outside her circle of friends as she was assuming.

  At this point in her life, poor Yeji had a very, very dark foreboding that her life was about to get ridiculously, stupidly more complicated than she was comfortable with. Two opposing forces were about to opportune her free time. She was seriously tempted to check to see how much vacation time she had free. What was that saying, retreat is an essence of valor? Or something close to that.

  Needless to say, Yeji’s life was about to get very complicated between both Seulgi and Nayeon trying to solicit assistance with pranking each other. Yeji was not aware that a rogue element in a fiery waitress was about to be added to the mix, too. Unfortunately for both of them, Yeji was perfectly willing to py both of them off each other and prank them both. Adding a third – yet unknown - element to it would just be reaping more benefits. And why not? This might just be a whole lot of fun. She’s done it before. And will probably do it again. Just subtly.