Chapter 4: Pick up the phone if you don’t want to be left behind

“How about this one?”

Han Yeoreum asked, handing me a blanket. The soft, fluffy texture felt like touching a cloud.

“It’s soft.”

We were at a department store in the city center. The furniture displayed on the gleaming marble floor looked so luxurious that it felt more like visiting an art museum than shopping.

“Then I’ll take this one.”

Han Yeoreum clicked her tongue throughout the entire checkout process.

“See? What do you mean there’s nothing to help with? There’s a mountain of things to do.”
“I wasn’t particularly inconvenienced.”
“Even so, sleeping on the bare floor with only newspapers is a bit much. You said not to worry, but you didn’t even change the batteries in the door lock.”
“I didn’t know about that.”

I’d been lying around ever since I moved in. If she hadn’t come over this morning and abruptly asked, “Isn’t there anything I can help with?”, I still wouldn’t have known.

“It’s a good thing I was the first to notice. What if a thief broke in or something…”

Her sharp nagging flew towards my ears, but I didn’t respond. This was her way of finding comfort.
Just like what I was doing.

“Come on. We need to buy a refrigerator and a washing machine before it gets too late.”
“I’ll eat out anyway, and there’s a laundromat near the house.”
“Look, I know you have money, but you need to save where you can. If you keep spending like that, you’ll run out quickly.”
“Okay.”

I replied casually and followed behind Han Yeoreum. Just then, a familiar buzzing sound came from my pocket.
It was a push notification from the Bitcoin exchange app.

“What are you doing?”
“Hold on.”

Across the smartphone screen, countless red triangles flickered, and a single blue inverted triangle caught my eye.
It was the Pia Coin I had invested in yesterday.

“Hey?”
“Go ahead. Something came up.”
“Okay.”

Leaving Han Yeoreum’s receding footsteps behind, I opened the news app on my phone.
Why was the coin, which had been rising so relentlessly until yesterday, suddenly falling? And all alone amidst a bull market.

<Mars Dorgdain, “Pia Coin is a massive scam… suspending its use in our vehicle payment services.”>

The reason was undoubtedly this.

It doesn’t matter. Compared to the profits I’ve made so far, this is a drop in the bucket.
The moment I quickly sold all my coins, dozens of push notifications, accompanied by thunderous vibrations, filled the phone’s screen.

[010-4XXX-XXXX]
Dojin can you see this?
[010-4XXX-XXXX]
Dojin lol
[010-7XXX-XXXX]
Hey answer the phone
[010-9XXX-XXXX]
Dojin it’s me
[010-9XXX-XXXX]
Call me now
[010-2XXX-XXXX]
Why did you block us
[010-2XXX-XXXX]
Hey
[010-4XXX-XXXX]
Answer the phone Dojin

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
The smartphone continued to vibrate intensely. Although they were unknown numbers, it wasn’t difficult to guess that the messages were from my former colleagues.

[Incoming Call – 010-4XXX-XXXX]
[Incoming Call – 010-2XXX-XXXX]

I decided to just answer the phone. It seemed faster that way.

“Hello.”
“Oh… Dojin, it’s Dojin’s voice… Oh, you finally answered…”

A languid yet sharp voice reached my ears. Only one person I know has a voice like that.

“Oh Minseo, what’s up?”
“What’s up…? What’s u—?”

Oh Minseo repeated my words in an exaggerated tone and sighed.

“That’s what we want to ask… Why aren’t you coming to work…? It’s almost been a week…”
“I resigned.”
“Come on… What resignation, we all know you’re joking…”
“What are you talking about? I clearly—”
“Dojin? Is that you, Dojin! It’s me!”

A frantic voice cut me off as I was about to respond to Oh Minseo’s absurd question.
I frowned at the sudden loud noise.

“Do-Dojin…? Are you listening? I know you’re listening! Where are you, where are you right now! Are you outside? Aren’t you cold? Did you eat? Where did you sleep? I’ll come get you. Just tell me which building you’re in, no, just tell me what’s around you. Dojin…!”

It wasn’t hard to imagine her expression, her voice trembling precariously with unshed tears.
I’m weakening. The urge to apologize and lean on her rises from within.

“Dasom,”

But I decided to calmly say what I needed to say.

“I’m really reflecting a lot. I was incompetent and just took up space, burdening everyone at the company.”
“Do-Dojin?”
“And I’m most sorry to you.”
“What…?”
“W-What are you talking about! Just tell me where you are! I’ll come right now—”

I hung up and blocked Dasom’s number.
It was a one-sided declaration. It didn’t feel good, but if I didn’t do this, I would only cling to her again, and that would lead to a new vicious cycle.
That can’t happen.

Buzz.
My smartphone vibrated again.

[010-9XXX-XXXX]
Dojin the connecction is bad I’ll call you back
[010-1XXX-XXXX]
Dojin is everythin ok?
[010-2XXX-XXXX]
I was wrong dont block me
[010-7XXX-XXXX]
Are you mad I didnt come right away?
[010-5XXX-XXXX]
I’m sorry I’ll come now just tell me where you are

I turned off my phone and headed to the appliance section.

“Are you done? I picked out a few, so take a look and…”
“Sorry, but something came up, I have to go. Just buy whatever you want.”
“What? Why?”

Han Yeoreum blinked her round eyes at my words.

“My phone broke, I need to get it fixed.”

****

“After all that picking out…”
“It wouldn’t have made much difference even if I chose. Just buy anything.”
“Still, since it’s your money, you should choose. I can’t just spend that much money carelessly.”
“Then you could have gone back and come out later. There’s no reason to follow me…”
“How long does it take to buy a phone? Let’s finish everything today since we’re already out.”

Han Yeoreum, who had been grumbling, suddenly frowned. The sun, which had been hidden behind the clouds, peeked out and stabbed at her eyes.
I suddenly noticed the lint on Han Yeoreum’s clothes. I hadn’t noticed it indoors under the dim lighting, but now they looked practically like rags.

“Why don’t you buy some clothes?”
“I told you, I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily. I can just wash and wear my clothes.”
“Just buy some. It’ll be troublesome if you get suspicious looks wearing those.”

Han Yeoreum fiddled with her sleeve with a complicated expression and then nodded.
After walking for a few minutes, maintaining a slight distance, a phone store came into view.
I hurried inside.

“Welcome. Which website did you see?”
“…?”

Website?
Do you have to check a website before buying a phone these days?

“Compu.”

Han Yeoreum answered while I was pondering the meaning.

“Ah, Compu. You saw that. Please have a seat.”

I gently patted Han Yeoreum’s back.

“What was that about?”
“Just sit down.”

I sat down, practically pushed into the chair.

“How can I help you?”

The clerk spoke first. He smiled and pulled up a chair.

“My phone is broken. And I want to change my number.”
“I see. Do you have a specific model in mind?”

A specific model.
Now that I think about it, I saw an online ad for a foldable smartphone called the Sirius Fold 2. I’ll go with that. It seems suitable for watching movies.

“Yes, I’m thinking of getting the Sirius Fold 2.”
“The Sirius Fold 2! Actually, we’re currently running a special discount on the Sirius Fold 2. I’ll give you a really good deal. But please don’t tell anyone. My manager will be upset if he finds out.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re more thankful that you’re buying from us. Now, if you look at our partnered credit cards…”
“Forget that. How much is the phone at full price?”

Han Yeoreum interrupted the smiling clerk as he held out a pamphlet.

“Yes, yes…? Uh, that is, 1.82 million won…”

I nudged Han Yeoreum’s shoulder again, but she just continued talking with the clerk using terminology I didn’t understand, without looking at me.

“…That will be 1.2 million won in total.”

The clerk, with a look like he was about to burst into tears, handed me the contract. His initial bright and cheerful demeanor was long gone.

“Hey. I’m also changing my number. Why are you excluding that discount?”
“Ugh…”

After finally signing the contract after much back and forth, I received the smartphone from the clerk.

“…C-Customer? What would you like to do with the data on your old phone? Photos, contacts, and so on. We can transfer them for you if you’d like.”
“No need.”

I didn’t want to be reminded of the time I burdened them.
That was the moment I turned on the new phone.

[010-98XX-XXXX]
Dojin
[010-98XX-XXXX]
Changed your number lol

…

[010-71XX-XXXX]
Not only blocking, but changing your number too?
[010-71XX-XXXX]
You’re really pushing it
[010-71XX-XXXX]
Answer the phone if you don’t want to die

[Incoming Call – 010-71XX-XXXX]

“Hey, isn’t this a defective product? What kind of phone starts blowing up as soon as you turn it on?”

Han Yeoreum glared at the clerk with narrowed eyes.

“T-That’s impossible. We don’t joke around with our products.”