Road to Utopia - NCT

2 - Noodle Attack

"Two bowls of noodles for table 3!" I heard the cook yell, hitting the bell to notify either me or the other waiter, who I had not learnt the name of yet. Since he was occupied trying to ask for an order, I went to grab the tray.

"Here's your order, sir." I said, placing the bowls down onto the table.

"It's about time. I've been waiting for almost 10 minutes." The man at the table glared at me.

"We have a policy of serving customers in less than 20 minutes and if we don't then you can have a refund."

"I'd like a refund then." What, why? Did he not hear anything I just said?

"You didn't meet the requirements of a refund." I stated. "If you have a problem with your food, like finding a hair, then we can issue a refund, but that would be unlikely since the cooks wear three layers of hairnets."

He stood up. "Well, I don't want this anymore and I want to speak with your manager for the lack of respect from you. I don't think talking back to me - a valued customer - would be acceptable."

I bowed slightly. "I'll get the manager then. Please wait here."

I left and went to the door next to the kitchen. I knocked on the door and waited for a reply. Once I heard a muffled voice, I asked the manager to come out. He sighed and came out to face the customer. Honestly, I kinda want to shove is noodles in his face, my hands twitched at the thought. But I have to stay calm; I couldn't lose another job. Is this how I lost my other jobs: angry impulses?

"Jisung, are you coming out or not?" The manager asked, making me stop my swirl of thoughts and go back out to the front. "Care to explain?"

"He wanted a refund and said I was talking back to him when I was just stating the restaurant's policy."

"Sir, how long have you been waiting for your order." The manager turned to the customer. For some reason, my head started to hurt a little, but I brushed it off. Maybe it was the stress of this certain customer.

"Like 25 minutes! It's ridiculous! I asked if I could have a refund and this boy refused." He lied.

"Oh, I'm so sorry sir, let me get you a refund." The manager went to the cash register to get some money out.

Huh? He's taking a liar's side over mine?

I wasn't sure what happened next but the next thing I knew there were strings of noodles hanging over the customer's head and shoulders, soup base over his clothes and a broken bowl on the floor. To top it off, half an egg stayed on top of his head.

"Jisung!"

I snapped out of my small trance and looked at him with wide eyes. I didn't even know what happened! Did I do this?

The customer started to close the distance between us and I breathed heavily, hyperventilating almost, and tried to ground myself by leaning into the chair next to me but also to get away from him. However, luck was not on my side because I just landed on the floor, breathing even more heavily and almost passing out.

"It's not his fault." The other waiter interrupted while trying to clean up my (?) mess. "It was only a 10-minute wait; he's lying so he doesn't need a refund."

"Wow, I'm sorry I didn't believe you, Jisung." He slowly said. It's a little late for that? "I'm sorry sir, but you're going to have to leave. I won't stand for liars in my restaurant."

He scoffed. "Wow, these kids. I'll have you shut down by next week for this. I'm not a writer for no reason." He showed us an ID card, which showed he worked for the national newspaper and left. Well, after he kicked a few chairs and slammed the door shut. Well, that's another job I lost.

I was still feeling a little disorientated and shaken, not really paying attention to what happened around me, but I felt a pair of warm hands on my face. "Jisung, look at me." It was barely a whisper but I somehow managed to look at the waiter. "Focus on me and we're going to breathe together. Ready?"

He started some breathing exercises and I slowly and shakily followed. "Good, good. Keep going."

Eventually, after about seven minutes, I managed to breathe normally but I felt really tired, so I started to close my eyes a little.

"Mark, take him to my office and lie him on the couch." was all I heard before I lost consciousness.

~~

"Who...what..." I mumbled.

"Ah, you're awake." The waiter noticed, coming towards me with a glass of water. "Here, drink it. You had quite the episode today that we had to close early."

I sipped the water. "Episode?"

"Yeah, you like got really angry and shouted 'stop lying and just eat your noodles'. Then you dumped his two bowls over his head, threw the bowls away - which, by the way, will have to come out of your paycheck - and then had a panic attack?" His eyes sparkled then got confused.

"Really?"

"Yeah, do you not remember? Man that was so cool!"

"Ugh, I've probably been fired again."

"Nah, Mr Lee is pretty chill about it. He said something about you standing up to your morals is not a reason to be fired."

Wow, that's the first time that someone hasn't fired me within 24 hours. I'm actually really surprised.

"Oh, but try not to make a big scene of it next time. He prefers his bowls in one piece. Just speak to him quietly in the corner next time."

"Sure." I smiled. "Wait, who are you again?"

He chuckled. "I've said this like five times already! I'm Mark, and the manager is Taeyong, but don't tell him I told you that."

"I can hear you, you little punk!" A yell from the front came. "Just hurry up and tell him the deal."

Deal?

"Ah, I know it's really random, but do you take the government pills?"

"I throw them up afterwards, why?" Where is this going?

"Keep doing it. I know it's highly dangerous to keep throwing up every day, but don't have it."

"But why?"

He brought his face closer to mine and whispered. "For you to be useful to us and not fire you, don't have it."

"And I'm asking why! If you can't tell me, then I'm quitting."I shifted myself to stand up and I headed towards the door.

"There was a time we didn't have to have them or get them shoved down our throats." I stopped, my hand hesitating over the doorknob. "This society we live in is fucked up. The Utopia Party may be in power, but they're not bringing their so-called 'utopia' to Korea."

"Say what now?"

"Basically, Taeyong and I are in this group who are trying to bring the true utopia to Korea."

"And this concerns me because..."

"We're recruiting and I think you'd be a perfect fit for my sub-unit."

"What if I don't want to be in this 'group' or your sub-unit?" It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure I'm willing to risk my life for humanity just because two people I met in the last 24 hours told me to.

"Oh, then it's simple." Taeyong, my boss, walked into the room.

"I'd have to kill you."

END

I wonder if it's more obvious now.

I managed to plan out what each member does but by now it just feels a lot like a mafia story...sigh...