Novel Lived
Chapter 3 - Where Do You Think You Have Money?
Chapter 3 - Where Do You Think You Have Money?
Chapter 3: Where Do You Think You Have Money?
– I’ll bring the detailed documents next time. Meanwhile, don’t cause any trouble and behave yourself. You know what I mean, right?
Kim Eun-ha left these words behind and disappeared abruptly. Seeing her rush out while answering a phone call, it seemed she was quite busy.
Anyway, since my boss’s first order was to behave, I quickly finished cleaning and returned home.
“What should I do with this now?”
Lying in my tiny room, I stared blankly at the ten million won showing in my bank account.
It didn’t feel real, and the amount was somewhat ambiguous for actually doing anything.
“I thought it was more money than this.”
10,000,000 won.
It seemed like a huge amount until it was in my account. Once there, I realized there wasn’t much I could actually do with it.
The first thing that came to mind was, of course, my student loan. I couldn’t even graduate because I didn’t have the money, and I wanted to pay it off quickly, but…
“That would be too anticlimactic.”
Even pouring all ten million won wouldn’t cover a year’s tuition. Thinking this, I felt how ridiculously expensive the tuition really was.
“Should I get a new phone?”
My faithful companion throughout my 20s. It proudly bore the scars of a hard time, cracked and broken in several places.
I had always envied my classmates who switched to the latest models as soon as they came out.
“Damn, that’s expensive.”
A quick search revealed that the latest models started at a minimum of one million won, going up to two million. The price range was staggering.
They boasted laptop-comparable specs, ultra-wide cameras better than the naked eye.
I was tempted by all the advertisements, but the desire to buy vanished the moment I saw the price tag.
“I’m not going to play games on my phone.”
There wasn’t much among the numerous features that seemed useful to me. High-performance cameras are for people who actually have something to photograph.
“Then, maybe cryptocurrencies!?”
I sprang up with a sudden flash of inspiration but quickly abandoned the idea after a few internet searches.
With the global economic downturn, both cryptocurrencies and stocks were continuously falling. Of course, experts say you can make more money in a bear market, but…
“Like that’s going to happen.”
Having devoted my life to acting, I was far from such fields. I didn’t even have seed money, let alone being sure about my daily meals.
I had some knowledge accumulated for portraying ‘Park Do-Hyun’, but knowing something in theory and practicing it were worlds apart.
“…Should I just give it back?”
I even had such thoughts.
Kim Eun-ha’s offer was too tempting, but the thought of becoming the very ‘parachute appointment’ I despised made me uncomfortable.
“…Hmm?”
As I aimlessly fiddled with my phone, a familiar name caught my eye. My fingers fluttered uncertainly in mid-air.
Woong- Thud-!
As if waiting for this moment, a call came through with impeccable timing. Startled by the sudden vibration, I accidentally dropped my phone on my head.
“Ugh… Hello?”
– Huh? Why does your voice sound like that? Are you hurt somewhere?
A familiar voice came through the receiver, filled with concern. I quickly rubbed my forehead, suppressing the pain.
“It’s nothing. I just dropped my phone in a hurry.”
– Be careful. Are you hurt?
“No, no. I’m fine. But why are you calling at this time?”
– You don’t always have to call for something important. I just wanted to check if our son is eating well.
Hearing my mother’s worried voice, I swallowed my words, unsure of what to say.
However she interpreted my silence, Mom spoke in a much more cautious tone than before.
– If you’re busy, son, we can talk later…
“It’s okay. I’ve finished everything for today.”
– You finished earlier than usual?
“Well, it just turned out that way. But, Mom.”
– Yes?
A sudden, inexplicable impulse spurred me on. Thanks to that, I blurted out the thought that had popped into my head without any filter.
“Are you short on Dad’s hospital bills?”
– No, I was just calling to check on you…
“I’ll transfer some money to your account right now. That should cover things for a while. Buy something nice for yourself for a change.”
– Son! Where do you think you have money…
Where do you think you have money.
Those words echoed in my head.
Although Mom meant to comfort me, her words painfully pricked at my heart, contrary to her intentions.
‘Right, money was the issue.’
I had been reluctant to talk to Mom. The updates she shared always weighed heavily on my heart.
I consoled myself that not asking my parents for money was an achievement, but in reality, I just wanted to avoid facing the truth.
‘I’ve been too immature all this time.’
My parents had lived a life of sacrifice.
When they were younger, they worked in factories to feed my younger siblings, and later, they gave their all for me and my younger brother.
Despite a lifetime of living for others, all they had to show for it were worn-out bodies, far too aged for their years.
‘The world is so unfair.’
Working hard doesn’t always guarantee a happy life. Just look at my father lying in the ICU.
As these thoughts filled my mind, all other worries faded away. My mind cleared remarkably, and I quickly came to a conclusion.
“Mom.”
– It’s okay. Use that money to buy yourself something nice.
“I got a job.”
– Huh?
“I landed a decent role.”
– Oh… Is that so?
I swallowed a bitter smile at her unspoken sentiment, feeling her heart through the phone. She probably hoped I would quit acting and get a stable job. Sorry to disappoint, but…
“I got a big signing bonus.”
– You’re not doing anything dangerous, are you?
Dangerous, indeed.
It might be the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done, getting involved in a mucky battle over billions, maybe trillions of won. But still…
“It’s with a very famous corporation, so don’t worry. If this goes well, our family can finally enjoy some luxury.”
– Hmm, alright. You know best, son.
“Of course. Whose son am I?”
– Anyway…
She sounded disapproving, but I could hear the unmistakable joy in her voice. The reward for a single sentence was excessively precious.
“Anyway! Use the money I’m sending you well.”
– No, don’t…
“I have to go. An urgent call.”
– Son!
Click-
I cut off the call without hearing more and immediately transferred all the money, except for my essential living expenses, to my mother.
Woong, Woong-!
My phone started to wail madly. Reading the stream of text messages from Mom, I bit my lip in silence.
Mom: Son, Son!?
Mom: I told you not to send it.
Mom: …Can I really use this money?
Only then did I reply with a simple “Okay.” Even after the notification that my message was received disappeared, Mom remained silent for quite a while.
Mom: …Thank you, son!
Her response came after a significant amount of time. I had no idea what was happening on the other side of the phone, but somehow, I didn’t want to think too deeply about it.
“…Money really is good.”
I had heard her thanks.
I was so used to hearing complaints that this kind of response felt awkward. It was a strange feeling, neither entirely pleasant nor unpleasant.
Woong-!
Lost in thought and staring at the ceiling, my phone vibrated again.
Boss: Hello.
Boss: Are you free on Tuesday?
Boss: If you read this, answer.
Pfft-
I couldn’t help but smile as I read the message. The heaviness in my chest surprisingly lifted.
Me: I have prior engagements.
Boss: Don’t lie.
Me: It’s true.
Boss: Who are you meeting?
Boss: Answer.
Boss: Quickly.
I could almost see Kim Eun-ha’s scowling face. It’s strange how vividly I could picture her after just one day.
Feeling mischievous, I deliberately took my time responding.
Me: I’ve promised to have a deep conversation with myself through meditation on Tuesday.
Boss: …Stop the nonsense and be at Mirae Department Store by 6 AM on Tuesday.
Me: In the morning?
Boss: Yes.
Her unyielding attitude left no room for negotiation. This made me want to rebel, like a contrary kid.
Boss: If you’re even a minute late, our contract is void. And I will reclaim the ten million won deposited in your account.
Me: I thought it was a donation?
Boss: Why would it be?
Me: …That’s harsh.
Boss: What can you do about it?
Boss: Just don’t be late.
Me: (Sulking emoticon)
Boss: (Glaring emoticon)
Oh-
I couldn’t help but exclaim when I saw the last message. I had thought she was the type who didn’t use emoticons, given her typically stern responses.
“She’s got a surprisingly good sense of impact.”
There was a certain fun in teasing her.
Of course, if I crossed the line, she’d mercilessly toss me into the Pacific Ocean. But she seemed more human than I thought.
In that case, I should do my best too. After all, I’m a professional who’s being paid for this job.
‘Yeah, let’s give it a shot.’
Dudu-Du-
After suppressing a laugh, I tapped on my phone, composing a thoughtful reply. I needed to make sure I didn’t offend my valuable employer.
* * *
Kang Woo-ju: Understood. Madam!
Kang Woo-ju: (Loyal emoji)
Goodness-
After checking the message, Kim Eun-ha shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it. She didn’t respond further and put her phone down on the desk.
“…I told you not to call me Madam.”
Doesn’t it make her seem too old? Surely, by their national identification numbers, they should be of the same age.
‘He must be doing it on purpose.’
Despite it being such an obvious ploy, when she talked with Kang Woo-ju, she felt as if she was getting unnecessarily involved.
However, even amidst this, there was something curious: it wasn’t that she felt entirely bad about it.
‘…He has a strangely compelling charm.’
Click-clack-
Kim Eun-ha got up from her seat and walked towards the window. Pulling back the blinds, she could see the night view of Seoul through the glass window.
It was a dazzling sight, but Kim Eun-ha’s gaze was fixed elsewhere.
– This is Park Do-Hyun.
As if someone had turned on a video in her mind, Kang Woo-ju’s eyes and voice, completely immersed in acting, replayed in real-time.
The confident gaze stemming from a strong sense of self. It had an atmosphere more chaebol-like than most actual chaebols. It was as if…
‘It was like looking at my grandfather.’
Sigh-
Kim Eun-ha swallowed a laugh. Comparing a man who sold his life for just ten million won to a chaebol group chairman was absurd.
– Second place is meaningless to me.
Yet, even amidst these thoughts, Kang Woo-ju’s method acting kept haunting her vision.
Shiver-shiver-
Even now, recalling that moment gave her goosebumps, let alone when she first encountered it in person. The moment she saw it, she thought, ‘This is it!’
‘A show window couple…’
She had laid out the plan, but she had never imagined it would actually proceed.
It was a plan she had doubts about, but recalling Kang Woo-ju’s face made her think that it might turn out to be a fun experience after all.
‘Let’s keep him by my side for a while and observe.’
Whether what she had seen was just a fluke or Kang Woo-ju’s true ability would become apparent soon enough. If it’s the latter…
Grin-
Kim Eun-ha quietly lifted the corners of her lips. Her smile, reflected on the glass window, sparkled dazzlingly, merging with the night view of Seoul.
*****
Notes:
1) Show Window Couple – A couple that appears perfect to the public, like a display in a show window, but may have issues privately.