episode_0348

– Did you keep studying?

“That’s right. It really feels like my head is splitting.”

– That’s amazing.

Choi Yi-seo’s voice over the phone was mixed with admiration.

I knew he was studying hard because it was midterms week, but I didn’t know he was studying until late at night.

– But don’t overdo it. When you’re tired, sometimes it’s better to just sleep and do it tomorrow.

“Is that so?”

– Yeah, so don’t do it to the point where it’s harmful to your health. In particular, it’s best not to eat things like late-night snacks.

“… … .”

– It would be nice if I could eat a late-night snack and study. Usually, I get tired after eating something. That’s why there are many kids who just eat a late-night snack and go to sleep. Minji is a typical example.

“… … .”

– In that case, it’s better to just sleep. Okay?

“Yes, Mom.”

– You said you’d kill me if I called you mom one more time.

“Then don’t take care of me like a mother! How much are you planning on nagging me about when we start living together?”

– What if we live together?

Choi Yi-seo is flustered and cannot answer properly.

Because that kind of appearance is cute, I continue to appeal more actively.

“Then you’re not going to live together? You’re not going to say anything if I leave my clothes anywhere, are you?”

– … … You have to put them in the washing machine properly. And turn the clothes inside out properly.

“What about throwing out the trash? Do you have a separate duty schedule?”

– Isn’t that something that the person leaving can just throw away? Why decide on something else?

“What about the dishes?”

– Shouldn’t I? I don’t think you’ll do it.

“If you tell me to do it, I’ll do it.”

– Okay, I think it’ll be easier for me to do it than for you to do it.

◦Let’s do it in rotation.”

– Is there anything to rotate?

“If you, me, Seo Ye-rin, and Yoo Ah-rin take turns doing it-.”

– Where are you now? No, are you going to listen to the lecture together tomorrow? Take care.

“… … .”

– Because I’m going to be very sick tomorrow.

It’s a bit scary because the playful words are strangely sincere.

Anyway, the mood changed a bit by having an awkward conversation with Choi Yi-seo.

“Ugh!”

I look out the window while stretching.

I was concentrating on my studies while looking at the sunset.

When I raised my head again, the night sky was now spread out before me.

A landscape with only the moon floating around without a single star.

When I open the window, a strong wind comes in and makes me feel good for no reason.

Choi Yi-seo told me not to study until late at night, but it is now 1 AM.

Judging from the fact that she hasn’t slept yet, Choi Yi-seo must have been studying as well.

‘Let’s try a little more.’

I feel quite motivated.

Talking to Choi Yi-seo was the right answer.

dripping.

“Mr. Woojin.”

A small voice interrupts my will.

I can hear a voice coming through the wind, as if someone is calling me from outside through the crack in the door.

“Mr. Woojin.”

I thought about ignoring it, but eventually I opened the door.

There, Choi Jin-ah was smiling, wearing the same outfit as last time.

“How about a hamburger today?”

“Lee Seo told me to stop eating late-night snacks.”

“Aren’t you going to eat? Let’s eat together. I was going to order the new menu that just came out, Woojin.”

“Why are you making me do that? Jinah, you can just order it for me.”

“I’m going to eat a Big Mac.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

So you’re saying you want to test out a new menu with me?

“Why can’t a person like this go to my father and say a word?”

“Woojin is a little more comfortable. He can’t be this shameless to other people.”

“I guess so.”

If you go somewhere and do this, you’ll get slapped.

I know because I’ve been hit a lot.

“So you’re not going to eat a hamburger?”

“… … Please give me a size up fries with Zero Cola.”

“Yep!”

It looks like you feel better because we’re eating together.

While I was humming and ordering a hamburger, he naturally came into my room.

“Would you like to eat in Mr. Woojin’s room?”

“… … .”

“Huh? You don’t like it?”

“No, let’s do that.”

Because if you eat in the break room on the first floor, you might get caught again. Choi Jin-ah sitting on the bed looking at her cell phone.

Although I was a little uneasy, I sat back down at my desk and picked up my pen.

I started concentrating with the intention of studying a bit before the burger arrived.

A few minutes later, I felt a presence behind me.

Choi Jin-ah was staring at me from right behind.

“Why?”

“No, it’s a bit unexpected. I thought Woojin was the type who didn’t study or anything.”

“What type of person doesn’t study?”

“You barely studied in elementary school. But you were the type that strangely got good grades.”

My grades weren’t that bad.

“Jin-ah, don’t you study? You’re going to college.”

“I took a leave of absence this semester. I’m in a cold war with my father, and I’ll be caught right away when I go to college.”

“True.”

Life is so strange.

“So why do you study?”

“Yes?”

“Your brother inherited the company anyway. I don’t think Woojin would bother studying if he doesn’t need to.”

Well, that’s not wrong.

Since financial freedom can be achieved if you put your mind to it, there is little motivation to work towards something.

Is that why?

Actually, I don’t usually tell stories like this to other people.

For them, it was something they had desperately wanted since I was born.

But Choi Jin-ah is like me.

Maybe that’s why it was easier to talk.

A certain sense of distance that comes from polite speech must have also played a part.

“Originally, I studied because of my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriends?”

“Ahem, you don’t necessarily have to correct it.”

“So? You studied because of your girlfriends?”

“Yes, I thought I had to become someone that could be trusted. Especially to Seohan.”

“… … .”

“I wanted to show that he was a chaebol, but he had something else special about him. That’s why I wanted to catch these three people.”

I wanted to be a trustworthy man.

The easiest way to show that was through studying, or to put it bluntly, grades.

“But now it’s a little different.”

I still want to give children faith.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

“I want to be faithful to the present.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t have much time left… … .”

He whispered softly, but Choi Jin-ah heard him and tried to ask what he meant.

“Ah, delivery.”

I received a text message saying that the food had arrived just in time, so I ended up going down and getting the hamburger without asking any questions.

and.

The look in Choi Jin-ah’s eyes as she brought the hamburger was quite sharp.

“There’s not much time left. There’s no particular reason, it’s just because of the military?”

“There’s no other reason? You’re just looking down on Korean men!”

“Are you insulting me?! No, I was just worried that it was something serious because you were talking vaguely like you had a time limit?”

“That’s incredible! Going to sacrifice yourself for your country!”

“Ah, I know, me too! I’m not going to ignore you! But you’re talking like you have a fatal disease-.”

“My early 20s are dying!”

“Okay, just eat the hamburger. Oops, I said something wrong. Sorry!”

They sit on the floor and eat hamburgers facing each other.

“Can you give me just one bite of that?”

Choi Jin-ah wants to eat the new menu because it looks interesting.

“Please give me one cheese stick.”

“… … .”

I thought about it for a while, but eventually I just grabbed a cheese stick.

“Hmm? The taste isn’t as bad as I thought? But it’s a bit salty.”

“It’s not bad when eaten with cola. I don’t think I’d order it again though.”

“You’re being sarcastic.”

Woof! Woof! Woof!

The phone rang just then.

I was wondering who was calling me at this hour of the morning, and it turned out to be my older brother.

‘What’s going on?’

This is not the kind of person you would call at a time like this.

First, put down the hamburger and answer the phone.

“Hello?”

– You were awake.

“Oh, it’s exam period.”

– Are you studying?

“Then why don’t you do it? I’m a student too.”

– Haha.

A satisfying laugh.

It seems like he doesn’t feel too bad hearing that his younger brother, who is like a loser, is studying.

“Why did you call? It’s usually when your brother is sleeping.”

Even after my question, my brother paused for a moment. I knew he had something to say but was having a hard time getting it out, so I kept my mouth shut and waited.

Then, I slapped the back of Choi Jin-ah’s hand as she tried to sneakily touch my cheese stick.

“Ouch.”

‘I’m going to go after you.’

– Woojin.

“Huh?”

– When will the exam end?

“It’s going to end next week? Why?”

– Phew, then I’ll send you the address via KakaoTalk, so go to work there from then on.

“Huh?”

What the hell is this?

I tried to tell him to stop making such ridiculous excuses, but my brother’s mood was not good.

– It won’t be a problem, and even if you go, I won’t ask you to do anything difficult. At most, it’ll be something like cleaning up or running an errand for coffee.

“No, wait a minute. Dude, I’m a college student. It’s not like it’s vacation, I just finished my midterms.”

– Okay, after you finish listening to the lecture that day, you can just go to work.

“Why are you suddenly like this?! Are you doing this because of the successor or something? Last time, after the Yoonji incident, my father told me to think about it until I graduated from college!”

– My father told me to do it.

“Father?”

– It seems like you decided that it would be a good idea to gain practical experience even now.

“Your father changed his words?”

The space between the eyebrows is narrowed.

My brother probably doesn’t know either.

It’s not a good sign that my father suddenly changed his words like this.

“Brother, Dad, what… … Where does it hurt?”

When I ask cautiously, the older brother closes his mouth for a moment.

“We’re family. Don’t hide it.”

To my request, my older brother answered honestly with a sigh.

– I don’t think my father would suddenly act this way.

“… … .”

– So, I’m looking into it.

“Okay, if you find out, please let me know.”

– Woojin.

“Huh?”

– Work hard.

“… … .”

Stop.

The call is disconnected.

I stare down at the cell phone that I took off my ear.

It was a remark that left a lingering impression.