DS 42

While weaving the cast net, Eun-myeong let out a deep sigh.

“Phew.”

Eun-myeong’s time flowed faster than others’. From dawn to night, and sometimes from night to dawn, he worked without rest, hastily filling his stomach when it felt like it would stick to his back. Then another day would quickly pass.

Two days of rest meant that much of a hole in his salary.

This month, he only made twenty cast nets. He felt like absolute human garbage. Eun-myeong’s mood would hit highs and lows depending on the number of nets made.

 I need to increase the workload a bit…. Thinking this, he picked up a tube that looked completely out of place in this luxury suite.

Whoosh! When he blew air into it firmly, the tube inflated like a balloon. He neatly folded the cast net inside. With the tube fitted snugly on his arm, he left the room.

About 20 minutes from the hotel, he walked along the sea. His feet moved quickly at the thought of collecting money.

Far away, someone in red clothes was standing on the beach.

“Hyung!”

It was Young-hee. He jumped up and down with one arm raised. Then he came hurrying over, his feet sinking deep into the sand. He was so enthusiastic that he kicked up clouds of sand.

“Oh, Young-hee.”

Eun-myeong waved slightly. Today, Young-hee had his hair styled up with wax, and with his red jersey and many earrings, he looked just like a delinquent youth.

“Damn, look how rough your hands are.”

Young-hee was shocked seeing Eun-myeong’s hands. Though he had trimmed his finger and toenails to look clean, he couldn’t help the raw, reddish skin where it had peeled.

‘Showing all your flesh like that, not even knowing to be ashamed.’

The man’s words echoed in his mind.  He had twisted his mouth in irritation, looking at Eun-myeong’s hands in disgust. Did his hands really look that ugly?

“No, this is just from weaving nets.”

Eun-myeong shook his head in embarrassment. He quietly pulled his hands back.

“I couldn’t make many nets this time.”

Young-hee kicked the beach with his sneakers in frustration.

“Hyung, can’t you quit this and do something else? I mean, who makes these anymore?”

Young-hee frowned deeply. But with his youthful face, he didn’t look scary at all. It was probably because of the Boss. The man’s naturally terrible expression had built up Eun-myeong’s immunity.

“If I want to work at the fish restaurant, this is all I can do.”

Milk and newspaper delivery were things of the past now. People bought milk at convenience stores and read news on their phones.

“Hyung, then want to come pull nets with me at dawn?”

“Nets?”

“Yeah, you did it with me a few times before.”

Previously, when Young-hee said he was going fishing with his father, Eun-myeong had gone along. Starting at dawn and ending by afternoon. His body had ached all over as if a one-ton truck had run over him. He felt like boneless, soft meat.

Still, 70,000 won per day was quite good…

Though the thought of going to the fish restaurant afterward made his vision go dark, Eun-myeong steeled himself. Work hard while young, Eun-myeong! His usually faint eyebrows furrowed uncharacteristically.

“Okay, I’ll go too. Need to earn money.”

Young-hee was glad and patted Eun-myeong’s shoulder, calling him a real man. Even at that small gesture, Eun-myeong’s thin shoulders sank deeply.

“Hyung, you know it’s my birthday soon, right? You promised to buy me chicken.”

“Of course I remember.”

With 70,000 won he could definitely buy chicken. Being the hyung, he could buy cola too.

“Then should we go to your house that day?”

“Uh…?”

At the sudden question, Eun-myeong hesitated. His house meant the shanty that had already become a wasteland.

“…No, my house won’t cut it.”

Eun-myeong mumbled. His house was now in an even worse state than after the storm. Seeing it would make Young-hee faint from shock.

“Then what do we do? You don’t have a phone. Last time I called your house lots but no one answered.”

Young-hee rubbed the back of his head roughly. Listening, Eun-myeong suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, I have a phone.”

Young-hee’s eyes grew wide.

“Oh, you bought one?”

He shook Eun-myeong’s shoulders vigorously, saying let me see.

“Wait, I’ll show you quickly.”

Eun-myeong shyly reached into his pocket. When he took it out to show, Young-hee’s eyes looked like they might pop out.

“Crazy, where did you get this, hyung?”

Asked like this, Eun-myeong didn’t know what excuse to make. He rolled his eyes around for a while, choosing his words. Seeing this, Young-hee explained.

“You must have saved money making lots of nets.”

Only then did Eun-myeong nod in agreement. Then he let out an obvious sigh of relief. Seeing this, Young-hee sighed inwardly. Who lies like that?

“…This is really expensive though, wow, our hyung must have saved really hard.”

Young-hee thrust his camera forward, suggesting they take a photo. He put his hand on Eun-myeong’s shoulder and clicked. The flash went off unexpectedly, making Eun-myeong close his eyes.

“Damn, you closed your eyes, hyung.”

Young-hee giggled as he looked at the photo.

“Here’s my number.”

Looking at the phone, the screen had already changed, and there was even a heart after the name ‘Young-hee.’

“Want to hang out with me, hyung? Let’s go watch a movie downtown. They say there’s something really steamy showing.”

Young-hee narrowed his eyes as if sharing a secret. Eun-myeong thought for a moment before quietly responding.

“But Young-hee, you’re still a minor.”

“Wow, I can’t believe those words just came out of your mouth.”

Young-hee slumped his shoulders, acting shocked. Though he’d soon be an adult with the new year, he was still a minor.

“Besides, I have to go to work.”

“You really won’t agree to go with me at all.”

Young-hee waved his hand dismissively, saying he was just kidding anyway.

“Alright, have a good time at work.”

Eun-myeong nodded docilely.

“Yeah, I’m leaving.”

“You have to buy me Young-hee’s seasoned chicken!” Young-hee spoke emphatically, as if trying to extract a promise.

“Okay.”

Eun-myeong gently waved back. As he slowly turned sideways, his round cheeks were visible. Young-hee blankly watched his retreating figure.

Following the footprints buried in the sand with his eyes, he could see the small back. Frayed jeans, a knit sweater with stretched-out cuffs and long, unkempt hair. Poverty clung to every part of him, but Young-hee couldn’t look away.

It was strange to see someone looking like that with the latest phone model. Having a phone worth nearly 2 million won, yet being disappointed about receiving ten thousand won less than usual for the fishing net.

…Moreover.

Earlier, when trying to save his number, Young-hee had clearly witnessed that name in the contacts list.

‘Boss.’

That suspicious contact name. His heart dropped the moment he saw it. Who could it be? Who is this bastard?

“Ah, fuck!”

Young-hee roughly messed up his hair that he’d spent nearly two hours styling. He yanked down the zipper of his fashionable jersey.

“Who is that bastard!”

Rich enough to buy him a phone? Is that why he didn’t even blink when I bragged about ten million won?

Eun-myeong, you’re really something, you know?!.

They say a man’s first love follows him to the grave. 

“Damn it!” 

Young-hee cursed as he fell backwards. Lying spread-eagled on the beach, he let out an “Aaagh!” 

Somewhere, seagulls cawed.

* * *

Eun-myeong stopped at the market. He went into a household goods store and bought a bar of laundry soap. Then he lingered around the display rack full of lighters.

What would suit the man well? There was one with a tiger on it. The tiger, baring its teeth and growling, looked incredibly fierce at first glance.

“How much is this?”

The shop owner held up his palm to Eun-myeong.

“Five bills!”

Five thousand won for just one lighter? Eun-myeong felt a bit discouraged.

“Can I touch it?”

“Oh, of course. You should touch it, look at it, try lighting it too.”

Eun-myeong carefully picked up the lighter. The tiger’s gleaming eyes were extraordinary. Though it was a bit disappointing that it didn’t have the textured feel of an alligator skin lighter.

That must be the price difference. Eun-myeong lingered there for quite a while.

“Welcome!”

Meanwhile, new customers came and went. Some middle-aged women were looking for rubber basins for making kimchi. Sensing the possibility of a bigger sale, the owner suddenly relegated Eun-myeong to the background. Left alone, Eun-myeong continued examining and fiddling with the lighter.

A whole month of weaving fishing nets earned him 20,000 won, the lighter in his hand cost 5,000 won. And after going fishing at dawn, he’d have 70,000 won in his hands.

After doing some mental calculations, Eun-myeong pulled bills from his pocket. Though it was nothing compared to what the man had done for him, it would be nice to repay his kindness with even a small gift.

On his way out, he stopped by a shoe store and bought comfortable slippers. His sister had mentioned in their text messages that there weren’t any market slippers near where she lived, which was inconvenient. That left him with 19,000 won.

Just as he was about to leave the market, he spotted a street vendor selling steamed buns. Eun-myeong hesitated. He was about to pass by to save money, but then turned back.

“Mister, I’d like some steamed buns.”

“Sure, how many?”

“How much are they?”

“Three for a thousand won.”

Eun-myeong calculated two for himself and estimated the man’s portion.

“Six, please.”

After considering their height and build differences, he figured ordering twice his portion would be right.

On the way back to the hotel. His hands were heavy, but he felt good. His footsteps quickened to match the rustling of the bags.

Standing before the brilliantly lit hotel as usual, he felt a bit embarrassed by the plastic bags in his hands. The black color made them even more noticeable. The hotel staff member standing at the entrance seemed to be eyeing him.

Though worried he might be stopped, the staff member instead opened the door for him, seeing his hands full of bags.

“Th-thank you.”

Eun-myeong was so grateful he turned around and bowed once more.

“Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome. Have a peaceful day.”

Eun-myeong hurried his steps.

What time would he come today? It felt strange to be so curious, as if he’d been waiting all this time, about someone who had been so uncomfortable around him.

…Surely it would still be uncomfortable if they were together now. But since this was the first gift he’d bought with his own money, he was curious about how he would react.

I really hope the boss likes at least this.

What if the lighter doesn’t work right when the man tries to light his cigarette? Since he has a bad temper, he might get annoyed and throw the lighter in the trash. Like those dress shoes.

Just as he was thinking this. The elevator door right beside him opened. The next moment, a familiar scent wafted over. Color instantly rose to Eun-myeong’s face.

“Boss…”

But Eun-myeong quickly covered his mouth.

“Huh.”

The man was with someone. Ah, he’s with a guest. Eun-myeong gasped, then immediately realized who the person standing beside him was.

The bag of steamed buns dropped from his hand with a thud.