episode_0051

I went outside with Jiwon and asked where he owed money.

“What are you going to do knowing that?”

“If there’s a way I can help, I want to.”

Thinking that way, I asked Jiwon for directions.

Jiwon refused.

Probably because he didn’t want to cause any more trouble, he must have thought he was causing enough already.

But… I didn’t want to see Jiwon struggling.

“I’m your boyfriend! So, please trust me a little.”

A perfect boyfriend. I tried to be that person for Sung-ah noona.

Not needed anymore.

Jiwon made me realize that.

Even if he’s not that person, there’s someone beside me who loves me.

Jiwon made it clear that I don’t have to suffer anymore.

“Just stay by my side… That alone is enough.”

“I feel incredibly lonely without you.”

As I said that, tears seemed to well up in my eyes strangely.

Acting tough all this time and getting emotional here would make me look pathetic.

I tried to hold back, but tears started flowing inexplicably.

Really… I can’t be without you.

Thinking like that, I looked at Jiwon.

Jiwon wiped away my tears.

“Why are you crying, idiot… If you cry, I feel like crying too!”

Saying that, Jiwon also looked at me and shed tears.

Crying together like a pair… It’s ridiculous.

**

After sobbing in the city, Jiwon came back from where he owed money.

Jiwon’s dad paid off some of it, so the amount was slightly less.

The amount… 10 million won.

A significant sum for a young adult to repay.

How am I going to repay all of this?

“I only helped. I’ll stop at a certain point.”

Saying that, I got up, found an ATM nearby, withdrew cash at an open bank, and returned to my seat.

“I’ve come to pay off the debt.”

With that, I handed over the wad of cash.

“Yes, Mr. Kim Jiwon has repaid the loan limit of 10 million won.”

Saying that, I took the bundle of money and left.

Jiwon looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Hey.”

“Why?”

“You said you were just helping.”

“Yeah, that’s why I helped.”

Upon hearing that, Jiwon looked at me as if he couldn’t understand more.

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

After staring at Jiwon for a while, he finally spoke.

“Why do you have so much money?”

“I don’t have it now; that was the money I had saved up.”

“No! Why do you have saved up so much money?”

I didn’t know what to say to Jiwon’s question.

If I were to be honest…

“My family is wealthy.”

Dad is a construction company CEO, and Mom is a social worker.

Born between them, I never lacked anything.

I also worked separately while receiving rent and allowance.

There was already a bit more than 10 million won in my account.

Now, there might be only tens of thousands left.

Seeing Jiwon flustered, I took him outside.

As a congratulatory gesture, we went to an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant.

Ordered beer, drank and ate together.

Although Jiwon still looked dazed, his expression seemed really happy.

We drank together with Jiwon like that.

Feeling somewhat confident, I decided to buy him a new wallet at a nearby department store.

Since the debt was cleared, buying a new wallet symbolized welcoming new money in.

And when Jiwon liked a particular wallet,

I went to pay for it.

I wanted to pay confidently, but it was expensive.

The wallet cost around 300,000 won…

Since I said I’d buy it, I had to show a cool image here.

So, I handed over my debit card for payment.

I transferred everything from Jiwon’s wallet.

Just a one hundred won coin, a receipt, and an ID card. That’s all.

“It’s a bit pricey…”

Seems like I bought a bigger wallet for no reason.

With that, I suggested we head back home with Jiwon.

Seeing me like that, Jiwon also proposed going back together.

“Oh… my luggage.”

“Oh…”

Come to think of it, Jiwon just came out of the goshiwon.

“Let’s go back tomorrow to pick up the rest.”

Saying so, Jiwon nodded with a smile.

The next day, I brought Jiwon back to the goshiwon where they were staying.

To call it luggage would be an overstatement.

Just one bag and one laptop.

Nothing more.

After grabbing the belongings, as we were about to leave…

“Even if the student leaves immediately, they still need to pay!”

“Pardon? Oh… okay.”

Saying this, Jiwon tried to take something out of their bag instead of their wallet.

“Here’s the money.”

Saying that, they handed me an envelope with cash inside.

I took two crisp 50,000 won bills and asked them to leave quickly.

I thought the goshiwon owner was being unreasonable.

They must be having a field day being so unreasonable.

Thinking this, I picked up Jiwon’s stuff and we left the place.

As we walked back home, Jiwon checked something on their smartphone.

It seemed like a KakaoTalk message, but as soon as they read it, they put the phone away.

“What was the message about?”

Upon Jiwon’s words, I asked what it was about.

“Just some game ad or something.”

“Oh… I see.”

Although that’s what they said, it didn’t seem like a game at all.

I felt a bit suspicious, but decided to check later.

Back home, I put Jiwon’s things back in their room.

There wasn’t much change, just an extra bag.

But strangely, the room felt full to the brim with just that addition.

While inside, Jiwon mentioned stepping into the bathroom for a moment.

Carefully closing the door behind them, they left.

I turned up the music in the room and decided to take a look at Jiwon’s phone before they returned.

What could have caused their bright expression to darken so suddenly after reading a recent text?

I suspected it wasn’t an ordinary message, so I picked up the phone and entered the password.

456852. A simple cross-shaped password that Jiwon had mentioned without realizing.

Opening the phone, I checked KakaoTalk and found strange messages.

Upon checking the messages, the sender was none other than…

**

I don’t know what to say to Jihoo.

I’ve cleared my debts and even given him gifts, food, and a place to stay.

I only want to repay Jihoo’s kindness, but I’m unsure how.

The biggest issue is our father…

He found out about the debt clearance and immediately contacted me asking where the money came from.

He demanded pocket money from his son.

If he sees me now… he’ll be shocked.

No… that man isn’t someone I’d call a father.

Just a bastard.

Sigh… What should I do now?

I want to talk to Jihoo about this situation.

But the moment I bring it up, it might cause more trouble.

I feel incredibly sorry about it all.

So, I have to handle this on my own somehow.

With that in mind, I left the bathroom, composed myself, and went back to the room.

“What are you doing?”

“Just going out for a bit.”

Jihoo was changing clothes, getting ready to go out.

I have no idea where he’s headed.

I just told him to take care and jumped onto the mattress.

It’s soft.

The goshiwon bed was hard and uncomfortable, unlike here.

Thinking that I should live where I used to, I settled in the room, ready to catch some sleep.

Now I can relax.

Even though I’ve been living without a plan, it seems I need to make one now.

In such a comfortable place, solutions don’t come to mind involuntarily.

Right now… I just want to sleep…

Thinking that way, almost losing half my mind, I began to drift off to sleep.

I really… want to repay Jihoo. What could I do?

What I can do… is there anything else?

“Repay with my body?”

Yeah… seems like that’s the only option.

Thinking like that, I took out various clothes from the bag.

Cosplay outfits I planned to try if a broadcast started just in case…

Indeed… is this the answer?

**

Near the darkened house, waiting to meet someone after leaving Jiwoon at home.

After about 30 minutes of waiting, I saw a man approaching.

Thinking it might be him, I went closer and asked, “Are you Jiwoon’s father?”

As I appeared, his father was surprised and looked at me.

“What are you doing here!”

He said, starting to get angry at me.

“Jiwoon… Is this Jiwoon’s father?”

Upon my words, the man nodded.

“Hello. I’m Kang Jihoo, a friend of Kim Jiwoon.”

Looking at his father and saying I’m Jiwoon’s friend, he came closer and asked me to bring Jiwoon.

“I’m sorry, but Jiwoon isn’t here.”

“Why isn’t our son here! Bring him to us right now!!!”

Sensing the loud voice, I immediately tried to calm him down.

If this reaches the house, Jiwoon might come out.

Thinking so, I tried to calm his father and said, “Jiwoon’s debt is now cleared.”

“And… she should be free now too.”

Saying this, I handed him an envelope with money.

“Hey! What’s this dirty money for… Use it…”

The money inside amounted to a whopping 50 million…

With that much, he probably won’t come.

Instead, I’ve become completely destitute now.

It’s not savings; it’s money borrowed from my father.

I should think of it as repaying.

I thought this was the cleanest way to do it.

The father who received the envelope said it’s fine and turned back, but…

Will it really end like this?

I don’t know… but.

At least, he will be a little freer because of this.

Ring–!

Just as they say even tigers speak the truth, a message came from Jiwoon.

When I asked what was going on, Jiwoon said there was an urgent matter and to come home quickly.

What could be so urgent…

Since she said to come quickly, let’s hurry and go.