"You need to pay rent." Jay blurted out, making Y/N choke on her water. "What? Did you think you'll live here rent-free?"
"Well, I..." She stammered, momentarily lost for words. Yes. Yes, she did.
"Do you even have enough money?" He asked and she gulped. Was it enough for living in Busan? She didn't know. She quit her job a few days after the accident, she had some money in her bank account but had no idea when she'd need more.
"I'll have to find a job." She said, looking down at her fidgeting fingers. "I don't even know if I'll stay for long... I don't know."
Jay stared at her as he folded his arms over his chest and leaned back. "I'll let you live rent-free for one month. But just one month. You'll have to pay me if you want to stay here for longer."
"Okay." Y/N immediately agreed, grateful for his offer. "Thank you so much."
"Grandma will kill me." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "But you know what? You can pay in another way.
Frowning, she leaned back against the couch and stared at him confusedly. "How...?"
"You can help us in the bar." He said, thinking deeply about it. "You won't have to find a job so that would be a win-win."
"What am I supposed to do?" She didn't know anything apart from codes and numbers. She had no knowledge about how to manage a bar or how to make drinks or anything so it was confusing how she'd contribute with anything there.
"I doubt you can be any good as a bartender, no offense. Can you cook?" She shook her head no at his question and he pressed his lips together. "Then you can be my barback."
"Bar what?" Y/N's frown deepened as she leaned forward.
"Barback, a bartender's assistant." He explained. "I'm a bartender, and you'll be my barback. Don't worry, you'll only have to keep everything stocked and clean and that's about it."
"Oh..." She nodded. "Can I really work with you?"
"Of course." He shrugged.
"Shouldn't we talk to the manager first?" She asked and his mouth curved into a smile. He had a good feeling about her being his barback, and the funny thing was, the manager knew already.
"I know him very well, he wouldn't mind you working with us." He muttered and she nodded, smiling a little.
"Thank you, Jay. I don't even know how to return your kindness." Lowering her head, she sighed. She hated being indebted to people, especially when the gesture extended beyond what she felt she deserved.
"Just don't get drunk and make a scene again." He chuckled and Y/N remembered what she did while drunk.
"Did I do anything other than... pole dancing?" She whispered a little and he kept staring at her before he leaned forward.
"You cried a lot." He whispered before snorting. "That was funny, I should have recorded it to show you later. Are you hungry?" He asked out of the blue and she didn't know if she could nod or not. She was hungry, but if she tells him, he'd have to cook for her.
"Yes, but I'll try to cook this time. You made breakfast." She said and his eyes widened in fear.
"No, no. You really don't have to." He shook his head with an awkward chuckle and she just nodded. "But if you really want to help, you can cook the rice."
"Okay." She nodded. She thought that wasn't a bad idea, but when the two of them sat at the kitchen table to eat lunch, she realized it was indeed bad. "So..."
