A Beginning in Busan
"Why are you so quiet?"
Minji gently nudged Zoya's arm.
Zoya was sitting beside her, her laptop open in front of her. Across the row, Sophia glanced over as well, concern flickering across her face.
The morning had started normally.
The five girls had eaten breakfast together, laughed over small things, and walked to university like they always did.
Two lectures had passed.
The next one had been cancelled.
With the second day of the Busan TBS concert underway, the university had given students a three-day break from their regular lecture schedule so they could attend the event.
Everything should have felt exciting.
But Zoya had barely spoken all morning.
She quietly shut her laptop and slipped it into her bag.
"Nothing, Minji. I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
Minji lowered her voice.
"Yesterday—"
"Minji."
Zoya cut her off gently, but firmly.
"I'm okay."
She looked directly at her.
"What happened yesterday? I don't even remember."
Minji stared at her.
"Look at me. Do I look sick?"
"No."
"Sad?"
Minji hesitated.
"No."
"Then?"
Zoya gave her a small smile.
"I'm fine."
To anyone else, she looked perfectly normal.
Maybe that was what made Minji more worried.
After everything that had happened yesterday—after Jeon J's words, after the humiliation, after the way Zoya had walked away—there should have been something.
Anger.
Sadness.
Hurt.
Anything.
But there was nothing.
She had hidden it all so carefully that even her smile looked real.
Minji finally decided not to push her.
Zoya stood and adjusted the strap of her bag.
Minji raised her eyebrows silently.
Where are you going?
"I have to go somewhere."
Zoya checked her phone.
"I have an interview today. It's important, and I really hope I get the job."
She looked between them.
"Please take notes for the last lecture and send them to me later."
Then she pointed a finger at Minji.
"And stop asking questions."
A tiny smile appeared.
"I'm fine."
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
"Oh—and you guys are going to the concert again today, right?"
"Yes!"
Sophia practically jumped out of her chair.
"We booked VIP access for all three days!"
Her voice echoed through the empty classroom.
Zoya and Minji immediately looked toward the door.
Thankfully, the other students had already left.
Minji burst out laughing.
"Sophia, why are you shouting?"
"I'm excited!"
"That much is obvious."
Zoya laughed too.
The sound was light.
Natural.
For a second, Minji almost believed her.
"Aren't you coming?" Sophia asked.
"Of course."
Zoya smiled.
"Wherever you guys go, I'll go too."
She paused.
"For you. With you."
Her smile was warm.
Perfect.
Minji watched her carefully.
Too perfect.
"Then when will you be free?"
"I'll come to the stadium later. You guys go ahead."
"But how will we know when you arrive?"
"Just call me."
Minji nodded reluctantly.
"Okay."
Zoya gave them one last smile.
Then walked away.
Minji watched until she disappeared through the classroom door.
And somehow…
the empty space beside her felt heavier than before.
The moment Zoya stepped outside, the smile disappeared.
Completely.
She stopped for a second in the corridor and inhaled slowly.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
I won't trouble any of you anymore.
The thought returned.
The same thought that had followed her since yesterday.
She swallowed and continued walking.
She had spent weeks searching for a job in Busan.
A job she could manage alongside university.
A job that would let her support herself without constantly depending on anyone.
Today, she had one more chance.
And this time, she had Ji-Ho's recommendation.
She looked down at the card in her hand.
Maybe today would finally be different.
Maybe today…
she would get hired.
Hana and Ruhi had also submitted applications at several places, but their schedules were different. Their families supported them financially when necessary, and whenever they had free time, they helped Minji with her online work so she could earn some extra money.
None of them ever treated friendship like a competition.
No jealousy.
No comparison.
No—
Who is doing better than whom?
When one of them succeeded, the others celebrated.
When one struggled, the others stayed.
Maybe that was why their friendship had lasted this long.
One Hour Later
Zoya stepped off the bus and looked up.
A tall, elegant building stood in front of her.
She checked the address on the card.
Then looked at the golden sign above the entrance.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The names matched.
"This is it…"
She took a slow breath.
Then pushed open the glass doors.
Warm light immediately surrounded her.
The restaurant looked less like a workplace and more like something taken straight from a luxury magazine.
A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, throwing soft golden reflections across the polished marble floor.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the streets of Busan.
White lilies decorated the corners.
The air carried the mixed scents of fresh coffee, grilled steak, and expensive perfume.
Near the centre of the restaurant stood a grand black piano.
Soft instrumental music played somewhere in the background.
Everything was elegant.
Refined.
Expensive.
Zoya suddenly became very aware of her simple clothes.
She straightened her shoulders.
Don't be nervous.
She walked toward the reception desk.
"Excuse me."
The receptionist looked up.
"Yes?"
"May I meet Mr. Kang Hyun-Woo?"
"Do you have an appointment?"
Zoya hesitated.
"No."
She pulled the card from her bag.
"But if you give him this, I think he'll recognize it."
The receptionist took the card.
Her eyes briefly moved over the name.
"Please wait a moment."
She disappeared through a private hallway.
Zoya stood there for a few seconds before finally sitting on a cream-colored sofa.
Her hands folded tightly in her lap.
She looked around.
Businessmen were talking quietly near the windows.
Waiters moved between tables with practiced ease.
Crystal glasses caught the chandelier light.
Everything looked perfect.
And suddenly, Zoya wondered—
Do I really belong here?
Upstairs
Behind a frosted-glass office door, Kang Hyun-Woo was reviewing several documents.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
The receptionist entered.
"Sir, someone is here to see you."
She placed the card on his desk.
Kang Hyun-Woo glanced down.
The moment he saw the name, his expression changed.
"Ji-Ho?"
He picked up the card.
A faint smile appeared.
It had been months since he'd last met the young chef.
They weren't close, but Ji-Ho had left a good impression on him during a gathering hosted by a mutual acquaintance.
"A young woman brought it," the receptionist explained.
"Did she say why?"
"No, sir."
Hyun-Woo thought for a moment.
"Alright."
He placed the card down.
"Ask her to come in after five minutes."
"Yes, sir."
The receptionist bowed and left.
Five minutes later—
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Zoya stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately moved around the spacious office.
A wall of glass overlooked the city.
Shelves displayed culinary awards and framed photographs.
She suddenly felt even more nervous.
"Hello, sir."
Kang Hyun-Woo smiled politely.
"Please. Have a seat."
"Thank you."
Zoya sat across from him.
His eyes moved toward the card on his desk.
"You came with Ji-Ho's card."
"Yes, sir."
"How do you know him?"
Zoya folded her hands.
"I'm a student here in Busan. During my holidays, I went to Seoul and worked for a short time at White Bowl Kitchen."
A faint recognition appeared in his eyes.
"I wanted to learn properly," she continued, "because I don't have much professional experience yet."
"And Ji-Ho recommended you?"
"Yes."
"What kind of position are you looking for?"
"A kitchen position."
She hesitated.
"As a chef, if possible."
Hyun-Woo smiled slightly.
"You have experience?"
"Not much."
Zoya gave an awkward little smile.
"I only worked there for a short time because I had to return to Busan when my studies started getting affected."
"But you learned something?"
"A lot."
Her face brightened slightly.
"At first, I mostly did preparation work."
She smiled.
"My vegetable-cutting skills were good, so I was usually assigned to the prep area."
Hyun-Woo chuckled softly.
"And then?"
"I watched the head chef. The other kitchen staff taught me things too."
He studied her for a moment.
"What made you choose cooking?"
The question caught her off guard.
She thought about it.
Then answered simply.
"Because it makes people happy."
Hyun-Woo raised an eyebrow.
"And that's enough?"
"For me…"
Zoya smiled faintly.
"Yes."
There was no rehearsed speech.
No impressive explanation.
Just honesty.
Hyun-Woo leaned back.
"So Ji-Ho believes you can work in my kitchen?"
Zoya let out a small laugh.
"I don't know if he believes that, sir."
Hyun-Woo looked amused.
"You'll have to ask him."
A genuine chuckle escaped him.
That answer told him more about her than a carefully prepared interview ever could.
"White Bowl Kitchen is one of the most respected restaurants in Seoul," he said. "And Mr. Donghyun…"
He smiled.
"He's probably one of the kindest men."
Zoya's eyes widened.
"You know Mr. Donghyun?"
"Who doesn't?"
Hyun-Woo laughed softly.
"People knew him before. They know him now."
He paused.
Then waved the thought away.
"Never mind."
Zoya smiled politely.
"So you're still learning."
"Yes, sir."
Hyun-Woo was quiet for a moment.
Then he placed his hands together on the desk.
"Whether we hire someone or not isn't actually my decision."
Zoya's expression fell slightly.
"The restaurant manager makes that decision."
"Oh."
"But…"
His gaze moved toward Ji-Ho's card.
"You came here through Ji-Ho."
Zoya looked up.
"He doesn't give his recommendation to just anyone."
A small spark of hope returned to her eyes.
Hyun-Woo reached for the phone.
"So I'll personally introduce you."
"Thank you, sir."
He dialled an internal number.
"Min-Seok?"
A pause.
"Come to my office."
Another pause.
"Yes. Now."
He hung up.
"Wait a moment."
A few minutes later—
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
A man in his late thirties entered.
He wore a neat black suit and carried a tablet.
"Sir?"
"Manager Choi Min-Seok."
Hyun-Woo gestured toward Zoya.
"Please sit."
Min-Seok nodded and took the seat beside him.
"This is Miss Zoya."
Hyun-Woo continued.
"She has some kitchen experience and comes recommended by Ji-Ho from White Bowl Kitchen."
At Ji-Ho's name, Min-Seok's eyebrows lifted.
"Ji-Ho recommended her personally?"
"Yes."
Min-Seok looked at Zoya.
Then at the tablet.
"Sir…"
He hesitated.
"At the moment, there isn't an opening in the kitchen."
Zoya's hopeful expression faded.
"But…"
Min-Seok continued.
"We do have a temporary vacancy."
Zoya looked up.
"Our waitress, Kim Na-Ri, has taken leave for a few weeks because of a family matter."
He placed the tablet on his lap.
"If Miss Zoya is willing to cover her position temporarily, I can manage the roster until another kitchen opening becomes available."
Silence.
Hyun-Woo looked at Zoya.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't need to.
The question was clear.
What do you want to do?
Zoya took a breath.
"Actually…"
She hesitated.
"I don't want to work as a waitress."
Min-Seok nodded calmly.
"I understand."
"But—"
"It would only be temporary."
Zoya remained quiet.
Min-Seok continued.
"Most of our service staff are university students. They work for a few months and leave when their schedules change or when they graduate."
He offered a small smile.
"If you start here, there's a good possibility that a kitchen position will open soon."
Zoya lowered her eyes.
"It's not the work itself."
Min-Seok looked at her.
"Then what is it?"
Zoya gathered courage.
"I'm not comfortable wearing the waitress uniform."
"Uniform?"
"Yes."
Min-Seok exchanged a glance with Hyun-Woo.
"The standard uniform?"
Zoya nodded.
The female service staff wore fitted white blouses, black knee-length skirts, tailored vests, and waist aprons.
Elegant.
Professional.
But not something Zoya could comfortably wear.
Only then did Min-Seok look at her properly.
The loose sleeves.
The modest clothing.
The way she kept herself covered.
Understanding slowly crossed his face.
"Ah…"
His expression softened.
It wasn't arrogance.
It wasn't stubbornness.
It was simply a boundary.
Min-Seok leaned back.
"I see."
Silence settled over the room.
Hyun-Woo folded his arms.
"Well, Min-Seok?"
The manager looked thoughtful.
"Surely a restaurant like ours can find another solution."
Hyun-Woo nodded toward Zoya.
"She came here through Ji-Ho."
His tone remained calm.
"See if there's a place for her somewhere."
Min-Seok nodded.
Before he could answer, Zoya spoke.
"If you allow me to wear suitable clothing…"
Both men looked at her.
"I can work as a waitress temporarily."
She continued before either could interrupt.
"I need a job."
Her voice was steady.
"But I don't want anyone to change the system for me just because I came with someone's recommendation."
She looked directly at them.
"If there isn't a position available, I understand."
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Most people would have used a recommendation to demand an advantage.
She was doing the opposite.
Finally, Min-Seok nodded.
"Alright."
Zoya looked up.
"But your clothing must remain black and professional."
Relief appeared instantly in her eyes.
"I can do that."
"Good."
Min-Seok opened the schedule on his tablet.
"You can start tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
He turned the tablet slightly toward her.
"Our restaurant operates in several shifts."
He explained the schedule carefully, making sure it wouldn't interfere with her university classes.
"The few days will be slightly difficult because you'll be covering Na-Ri's schedule."
Zoya nodded.
"After that, I'll move you to the earlier student shift."
He scrolled through the roster.
"There are several local students already working here. I'll move one of them to the later shift and place you in the earlier one."
Zoya studied the schedule.
It was tiring.
But manageable.
And now she understood why Ji-Ho had recommended this place.
The system was built around students.
She looked up.
"Can I ask something?"
"Of course," Hyun-Woo said.
"You both seem to go out of your way to make things easier for students."
Both men looked at her.
"I've only been here for a short time," Zoya continued, "but I've already noticed it."
She glanced toward the restaurant floor outside.
"The system feels designed around students."
A small smile appeared.
"And yet the restaurant still feels…"
She searched for the right word.
"Perfect."
Min-Seok answered immediately.
"We don't compromise on our system."
His voice was firm.
"Or our standards."
Zoya looked at him.
"Even if someone starts on their first day, you shouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and someone who's worked here for months."
He closed the tablet.
"That is our standard."
Zoya's eyebrows lifted slightly.
He wasn't bragging.
He genuinely believed it.
Hyun-Woo watched her reaction.
Then his expression softened.
"Most students who come here are far from home."
His eyes moved toward the city outside.
"Some leave their families. Some leave their hometowns. Some even leave their countries."
He paused.
"They come here because they're chasing something."
Zoya listened quietly.
"If we make their lives harder than they already are…"
His voice became softer.
"How are they supposed to study?"
Neither Zoya nor Min-Seok spoke.
"How are they supposed to achieve the dreams they came here for?"
He looked toward the restaurant floor.
"That is why I've always kept this place open to students."
Then his tone became firm again.
"But only those who are serious."
Zoya met his eyes.
"Serious about their work."
A pause.
"Serious about their future."
Another pause.
"And serious about their dreams."
Something inside Zoya softened.
She smiled.
Not because she had gotten the job.
But because she had found kindness in a place she had entered expecting nothing.
You don't need a religion to show humanity.
Her eyes lowered.
But humanity itself can be one of the most beautiful forms of faith.
For the first time since entering the restaurant, she no longer felt out of place.
"Normally, Kim Na-Ri works the later shift," Min-Seok explained.
"She lives nearby, so the hours aren't a problem for her."
He looked at Zoya.
"But you're a university student. Keeping you on late-night shifts permanently wouldn't work with your schedule."
"I understand."
"So for the first two days, you'll temporarily cover her position."
He checked the tablet again.
"After that, I'll reorganize the roster."
Zoya nodded.
"I can manage."
"Good."
Min-Seok closed the tablet.
"Then we're done."
Zoya stood.
"Thank you, sir."
Min-Seok smiled faintly.
"Don't thank me."
He nodded toward the card on the desk.
"Thank Ji-Ho. Without his recommendation, this meeting probably wouldn't have happened."
Zoya laughed softly.
"I will."
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
A strange feeling settled inside her.
Relief.
It wasn't the kitchen position she'd wanted.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
And sometimes…
a beginning was enough.
"Miss Zoya."
She turned.
Kang Hyun-Woo smiled.
"I hope you prove yourself hardworking."
His eyes briefly moved toward Ji-Ho's card.
"So Ji-Ho doesn't regret recommending you…"
Then he looked back at her.
"And neither do we."
Zoya smiled.
"I'll do my best."
She paused.
"In Sha Allah."
She turned toward the door again.
Her expression remained calm.
But somewhere inside, something still felt slightly uncomfortable.
Ji-Ho's name had come up again.
And again.
She understood why.
This job had come to her because of his recommendation.
Still…
She didn't want to feel like she had been handed something.
She wanted to earn it.
Behind her, Kang Hyun-Woo watched her for a moment.
Perhaps he noticed something in her expression.
But he said nothing.
He simply nodded.
"Good."
Zoya stepped out of the office.
The door closed quietly behind her.
For the first time in weeks, she stood in a hallway without feeling completely lost.
She looked down at the card in her hand.
Tomorrow.
She had a job.
Not the job she had dreamed of.
Not yet.
But she had a place to start.
And sometimes, the smallest beginning…
was the first step toward something much bigger.
To be continued…
Regards,
ZK💌