Work Text:
Today marks Jimin’s one week anniversary of working at the fish store.
Today is also the first day her manager isn’t there to assist her.
Jimin didn’t even know how she got hired in the first place.
At a fish store.
A FISH store
“I don’t know anything about fish!” That’s what she told her good friend, Soeun, when she was informed about the job offer.
“It’ll be fine- I know the manager, she’ll help you! Also, I doubt you’d need much knowledge about fish for the job- it’s not like a ‘fish genius’ or whatever is going to walk in!”
Recalling Soeun’s words made the tall girl feel less anxious,
“Yeah, Kim Jimin, it’s not like a fish genius is going to walk in anytime soon!” Jimin laughed to herself, continuing to wipe the counters.
And then a chime was heard.
“Oh? Welco-“
“WOAAA- WHAT KIND OF GOLDFISH ARE THESE??” Jimin looks up to see a girl, assumably in her late teens, running towards the tank of what she did not think were goldfish,
What the…
“Are they ranchus or lionheads? I can’t tell the different sometimes…” The girl rambled on about the fish, “You know, right? You work here.”
Oh, Jimin obviously didn’t know the answer, so she waited for her manager to answer for her- wait.
“Me!?” The newly-hired employee pointed at herself. The girl nodded. Jimin took that small time of eye contact to analyze her face. It was very bright at that moment, especially her sparkling eyes.
She must be really passionate about fis-
Oh no.
She’s not THE fish genius… is she?
But wait she’s kind of cute…
“Hmm… You don’t seem like you know either. I think they’re ranchus. Lionheads have slightly smaller heads I think?” The customer laughed, observing the fish, “Ironic, right? They’re called lionHEADs, but their heads are smaller.” She then turned her own head to look at Jimin again.
Oh god,
She IS the fish genius.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know these were goldfish- uh, I thought they were discuses or something.” Jimin spoke.
“Discus? Those are discuses over there!” The human-fish-breed-encyclopedia pointed towards what Jimin would describe as an oddly-patterned, flat fish.
Damn. I really got that wrong-
“You really don’t know much about fish, don’t you?” The sudden question from the girl caught the worker by surprise,
“No wait, I do know a few things about fish-” (A lie) “-It’s just my manager usually does the talking with customers, while I just clean the counters. She isn’t here today if you can’t tell…”
The statement must’ve activated a lightbulb in the customer’s head as Jimin noticed her eyes slightly widen,
“Ah! So you’re the fish janitor!” She said confidently, “Why would the manager leave a janitor in charg-“
“No- I’m not a janitor.” Jimin interrupted.
“But, you said you just clean? Isn’t that what janitors do?”
“I do other non-cleaning things too!”
(Another lie)
“Oh. Really? What things would that be then?”
“I can check out fish for customers!”
(Another lie)
Jimin really didn’t know where these lies were coming from- Jimin doesn’t usually lie?
It might be from the energy in the fish store or-
(No, it’s just Jimin decided that she wanted to impress the cute fish girl.)
“Oh really? In that case, can you help me check out one of these ranchus?” Jimin paused.
Oh god.
“Yeah!” She said confidently, “I can do that!”
(And that was yet another lie)
“Cool! I’m Jaehee by the way.”
But hey, at least she got the cute girls name.
It can’t be that hard to bag a fish, right?
—
“…Do you need help?” Jimin felt Jaehee watching her as she used a bag to chase one of the ranchus underwater,
“No, I got this, I- stupid fish!” The girl’s rage caused the watcher to snicker, “Wait, wait, I got this-” Jimin turned her face away from the tank as her “quick” hand movements caused some tank water to splash around.
“You’re having a lot of trouble, let me try.”
“…Okay, but I’m warning you, it’s difficult!” Jaehee nodded,
“I’m up for the challenge!” With her agreement, Jimin handed the future ranchu owner the bag in which she was struggling with. She watched as the girl trapped and closed in the same fish effortlessly, “Done!”
Jimin just stayed silent in awe.
She really is the fish genius.
—
After catching the fish, the two girls moved to the front counter,
“Okay, your total is one hundr- DAMN why is this fish so expensive!? You sure you want to buy this thing?”
“Yup! It’s worth it- I mean, look how cute it is!” Jaehee pointed at the orange fish. It kind of just swam around mindlessly. The girl behind the counter really didn’t know how to respond,
“I mean, yeah- it has…” She quickly observed the fish, “A big ribcage? I mean- yeah, the fish’s visibly large ribcage makes it stand out!” Jimin mentally patted herself on the back for that one.
That definitely impressed her.
Improv is my passion-
“Fish don’t have ribcages.”
Oh.
Jaehee laughed,
“You really are just the janitor, aren’t you?”
“No! I’m a cashier too! So, what’s your form of payment?”
“Ah yes, payment…” Jaehee halted the conversation to pay for the fish.
Oh no, this means she’s about to leave.
Kim Jimin, do something.
“Oh also, we have this rewards system thing, so like, do you want me to sign you up? I just need your phone number.”
“Oh? An awards system? How does that work at a fish store?”
…
Of course, this reward system did NOT exist, so Jimin had to use her improv skills once more,
“I think it works like a punch card? After a certain time, you’ll get a… Free fish? I don’t know, though, my manager just told me about this briefly-“ Jimin’s act was interrupted by a sudden burst of laughter from the customer,
“You can just ask me for my number, I’d say yes.” The fish lover’s words left Jimin speechless yes again, “People have already tried that on me before. Your improvisation skills are good, though, people don’t usually think fast enough to respond to my question.”
Jimin, again, really didn’t know what to say. Scratch being a fish genius, this girl was just a genius in general, “So, are we exchanging numbers or?” Jaehee held her phone out. This let the worker snap out of her small trance,
“Oh! Yeah- I mean, sure, why not? But only because you asked.” Jimin tried to keep her cool as she pulled her own phone out of her pocket, handing it to the girl in front of her.
After exchanging numbers, Jaehee picked up the plastic bag her ranchu stayed in.
“So, I’ll see you later then?” Jimin asked. Jaehee raised her eyebrow,
“Are you assuming that I’m coming back here?“
“Oh, you’re not? I thought my service was pretty great?”
“I was just joking, of course I have to come back since you signed me up for that rewards system! I gotta get my free fish!”
“Oh, yeah? I think if you come and visit at least 10 times then you’ll get that reward.” Jimin joked.
“Oh alright! Then I have to start coming here more often!”
“..Oh really?” The cashier didn’t want to sound too happy, so she tried to keep the excitement to herself.
“Don’t worry, I’ll try my best not to distract you while you’re cleaning the tanks.” Jaehee winked. Jimin squinted,
This girl’s confidence going to kill me .
The fish genius noticed the worker’s lack of response and smirked, “Okay, now, I have to go. I got to get this guy home.” Jimin nodded, still unable to say anything. Jaehee laughed, “You’re cute. I’ll see you around, janitor!”
Wait did she just call me-
“I’m not a janitor!”