DFLT 34

Extremely tense, Yeonoh offered a cautious greeting.

“…Hello.”

Not a chance he was feeling fine. Considering their history, Kwon Jonghyuk and I were not on terms to be exchanging greetings. Let alone speaking casually to each other. Kwon Jonghyuk, a relaxed smile on his lips, slowly closed the distance between them.

“You were a little surprised to see your hyung show up so suddenly, weren’t you?”

“…What is it?”

As if displeased by Yeonoh’s defensive posture, Kwon Jonghyuk furrowed his brow deeply.

“Why are you making me feel awkward? Anyone would think I’m bullying you.”

Before a bigger commotion could break out with the sneering Jonghyuk, I had no choice but to take him to a nearby cafe. Unfortunately, the only cafe in the area was the one where Seowon worked, which was a drawback. It was a huge relief that it wasn’t Seowon’s shift. Yeonoh, feeling like a sinner, simply kept his head down.

“Hey, man, did you commit a crime? Lift your head. It’s been ages since guilt by association was abolished, you know?”

Kwon Jonghyuk, who hadn’t erased his smile, looked at Yeonoh across the table as if he pitied him. But Yeonoh was lost in thought. It wasn’t that his father wasn’t responsible for the accident that day, but he had lost his life too. He had just been trying to make a living, working himself to death, and then he really did die. Then, poverty is the crime. The words my mother used to say like a sigh were really true. Being poor was the crime.

“What brings you here.”

“What’s the hurry. You could at least ask how I’m doing.”

It was a pointless thing to say. Could the reason Kwon Jonghyuk, whom I had seen only once six years ago, had come all this way really be just to ask about my well-being? Seeing him beat around the bush instead of getting to the point, it seemed his purpose was a topic not easily brought up, so I couldn’t let my guard down. Kwon Jonghyuk, who had gulped down half of his iced americano, leisurely crossed his legs.

“You don’t look like you need to be asked something like that.”

“What?”

“Heard you got into a big company, wearing an expensive suit and all. You must be doing well.”

Kwon Jonghyuk gestured towards Yeonoh with his chin. They say life is a comedy when seen from a distance and a tragedy up close. Kwon Jonghyuk probably had no way of knowing what I had been through today wearing these clothes. As Yeonoh remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together at Kwon Jonghyuk’s thoroughly sarcastic jibe, it happened.

“But isn’t this a bit irresponsible? Because of your father, I’m still busting my ass.”

“Irresponsible, Mr. Kwon Jonghyuk─.”

At Kwon Jonghyuk’s overtly aggressive tone, Yeonoh opened his mouth, lowering his voice as calmly as possible. If the situation got worse, he would be the one at a disadvantage, and if there was a misunderstanding, it needed to be cleared up. But before he could finish his sentence, his words were cut off.

“You should at least fulfill your basic human duty.”

“…The settlement money, we gave it to you. The one hundred million won we gave you by scraping together everything we had and even taking out a loan.”

At that, he snorted.

“The head of a household died. Isn’t it a bit of an irresponsible act to tell the rest of the family to live off that money for the rest of their lives?”

Where in the world is there an irresponsibility worth a hundred million won. Besides, one hundred million won was the amount Kwon Jonghyuk had proposed and ultimately accepted. But, yes. That’s true. I know better than anyone that it can’t end with just my father’s death, and that a life cannot be converted into money. Yeonoh, feeling drained of strength, opened his mouth.

“…What should I do.”

The tips of Kwon Jonghyuk’s fingernails tapped the surface of the table at regular intervals, tap tap tap. Kwon Jonghyuk’s lips opened, as if he had been pondering for a moment, his eyes darting back and forth.

“Fifty million.”

“What? Fifty… million?”

As if the settlement money was the price of an item on a market stall, Yeonoh asked back with a dumbfounded expression at the audacious act of demanding fifty million won so nonchalantly.

“I was too naive back then. I thought a hundred million was a lot of money.”

Did he mean he had intended to get his hands on a large sum of money through his father’s death? Yeonoh recalled the situation back then. He vaguely remembered that Kwon Jonghyuk, who was five years older than him, was studying for the civil service exam at the time. But still, the matter had already been settled with a signed agreement, and there was no guarantee that this would be the last time. However, as if to make a point, Kwon Jonghyuk lifted his head high. Yeonoh, who had forced himself to straighten his stiffened expression, slowly began to speak to resolve the situation.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. The settlement was finalized back then, wasn’t it?”

“The settlement was finalized, six years ago.”

“Mr. Kwon Jonghyuk!”

At Kwon Jonghyuk’s behavior that went beyond common sense, Yeonoh, who had been holding it in well, raised his voice without realizing it. As the surrounding gazes fixed on him, he lightly bowed his head, apologizing, and then continued speaking.

“It’s difficult for us if you suddenly act like this.”

“Exactly. If you act like this, the person who will be in the most trouble is probably you.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Heard you got into TG Group. You must be making good money, right?”

How did he know I got into TG Group? I felt a sense of wonder, but that wasn’t what was important in this situation.

“Making good money? I’m still paying off the debt I took out for the settlement money back then.”

“Really? But what business is that of mine?”

“Anyway, I can’t give you that amount. The matter is settled, and if you go as far as a lawsuit, then I have no choice.”

I answered firmly, feeling that I shouldn’t let myself be swayed, but Kwon Jonghyuk just started laughing his head off.

“How do you think it would be if a post with your real name went up on Rewind?”

“What, is that again…”

“If rumors start spreading that your father killed someone, do you think you’ll be able to hold your head up and go to work?”

For a moment, my blood ran cold, then it seemed to heat up again, then it rushed backwards. It was no different from saying he would take another person’s life into his own hands and play with it, and try to make a better life for himself with my father’s life. Yeonoh had lived for six years, unable to feel sorry for or mourn his father. Every time he felt the distinct void, he suppressed the sorrow that welled up, reminding himself over and over that it was a truly conscienceless act and vowing that it was his duty.

I was so angry it felt like my skull would split in half, but I couldn’t get angry. I had no idea what Kwon Jonghyuk, with his irrational thinking, might do if he got upset.

“It was a heart attack. It’s truly regrettable, but Mr. Kwon Jonghyuk’s father was in the back seat.”

“What does that have to do with anything. It’s still the same that your father killed someone.”

If he said it like that, there was nothing more to say. The answer to this conversation was probably already decided anyway. There was no way I had fifty million won in spare cash. Right now, I was doing everything I could just to pay off my debt. More than that, what I hated most was myself for thinking of compromise first even in this situation. How was this any different from showing all my cards to an opponent who was poking at my weakness and begging for mercy.

But if rumors spread at the company…. I didn’t even want to imagine it. It was obvious that everything I had built up while struggling amidst discriminatory gazes and among Alphas would come crashing down before I could even do anything. Whether the post was true or not, as Kwon Jonghyuk said, the truth of the matter wasn’t important.

Ji Yeonoh, father, murder. In the end, these three keywords would be what got linked together. And what if I tarnished the reputation of Seo Heonyoung, whom I had served for three years? What would I do then? Even if I quit immediately, getting a new job would be a problem.

My vision went black. So this is what it feels like to be stuck in the mud. I couldn’t fall for Kwon Jonghyuk’s scheme, but I couldn’t avoid it either. My head was spinning so much trying to figure out how to resolve the situation that I was getting dizzy.

Then, suddenly, the two checks came to mind. I thought it was the worst when Seo Heonyoung handed them to me, but to think there was a worse worst. Swallowing a sigh, Yeonoh took out the checks.

“Th, this is all I…”

“Fuck, this one is torn.”

Ah…. Yeonoh lamented inwardly. I had torn this check, which I had received as the price for throwing my pride on the ground, with the solemn conviction that I would not compromise with reality. It didn’t take long to realize that it was nothing but a fit of pique. Seo Heonyoung was right, and Ji Yeonoh was wrong. As always.

Yeonoh’s shoulders drooped as if in resignation.

“I can go to the bank on Monday and get it exchanged. I’ll deposit it right away.”

“Don’t try any tricks. You think I don’t know you’re trying to get away with just two million won right now?”

Does Kwon Jonghyuk not have the awareness that a sum like fifty million won doesn’t just fall from the sky? As Yeonoh bit his lip and hesitated to answer, he pointed to the pieces of the check with his chin.

“So, that two million won, is it possible right away on Monday?”

Seeing him get tempted by two million won while demanding fifty million, I wondered if he needed some quick cash. Yeonoh cautiously opened his mouth, just in case.

“…If I say I can’t give you more than this, what will you do?”

“If you want to hit rock bottom, then go ahead and try it, you fucker.”

Kwon Jonghyuk ground out a curse through his teeth and let out a scoff as if he found the situation absurd.

“For now, send the two million first on Monday. If you don’t want to see me storm into TG and cause a scene.”

Leaving only his own words behind, Kwon Jonghyuk got up from his seat and left the cafe, as if he wasn’t even curious about Yeonoh’s intentions. Letting out a long sigh, Yeonoh rested his elbows on the table and tousled his hair.