Between A and B C15

Chapter 15

After finishing the ice cream and preparing to drink the coffee, a text message arrived. I set the cup down in the holder and checked my phone, and in that instant, the good mood I had been in plummeted sharply.
[Send me 3 million won]
“……”
The number wasn’t saved, so it showed up as nothing but a string of digits. I stared at the message when, beside me, Jung Woojin spoke.
“When I go out, people recognize me, so I can’t really walk around freely. I usually just drive sometimes. I know a lot of good driving courses, so if you ever feel bored, stifled, or stressed, please contact me. I’ll come right away.”
“……”
“On the way, we can grab something simple to eat, or, like today, we could buy whatever you feel like and eat it in the car……”
His voice, lifted with enthusiasm, gradually seemed to grow distant, until it felt as if I were alone and everything around me was darkening.

When was the last time he contacted me? It hadn’t even been two months, and already he had burned through the money. He had raged and cursed, saying he was working, but most likely he had quit quickly or never started at all. I didn’t need to see it to know.

[Waiting on payment, so send it quickly]
[For fuck’s sake, this is humiliating]
[Send it]
[Hurry]
[Hurry up and send it]

The vibrations came one after another. Woojin stopped mid-sentence and turned his head to look at me. Feeling the weight of his gaze beside me, I slid my phone into my pocket and spoke.
“Something urgent just came up. Could we meet another time instead?”
“……”
The childlike excitement that had lit his face slowly clouded into bewilderment, and my heart sank. He looked at me for a while, then silently pulled the car over to the shoulder. His voice was heavy with concern.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s not that…… Something just came up.”
“Is it company-related? I heard you got scolded because of the photos taken of us last time. If it’s because of that……”
I cut off his rushed words and shook my head.
“No, it’s not that. It’s a personal matter. Something urgent came up, sorry. Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to something good.”

I felt so guilty I couldn’t even look him properly in the eye, while the phone in my pocket kept vibrating, this time with incoming calls.
“It’s all right. We can see each other next time. Where are you headed? I’ll take you. Should I drive you to the dorm?”
“No, I’ll just get out here and take a taxi. I’m really sorry.”
“I truly don’t mind. At least let me drop you off nearby. It’ll be faster than a taxi.”
“No, really, it’s fine. It’s not far from here. I’ll get there quickly.”

As I unbuckled my seatbelt, Woojin suddenly reached out, gripping my knee tightly with one hand.
“This isn’t something serious, is it?”
“……”
It didn’t hurt, but I was startled into silence. Then I brushed his hand away and replied,
“No, just…… a family matter. Here, you take this. You like walnut pie, don’t you?”

I placed the walnut pie and crumble back into the paper bag and opened the door. As I stepped out, my eyes fell on the coffee he had bought. Since it was for me, I felt I should take it, so I picked it up and said,
“Thanks for the coffee.”
“……”
He turned his head slightly away, his face hidden. Confused, I stared for a moment at the back of his head before stammering,
“I’ll be in touch later.”

Only then did he turn back toward me. Whether it was my imagination or not, his face looked paler than just moments ago. Earlier, his insistence on driving me had been a little troublesome, but now, thankfully, he only nodded without a word.
“Yes, contact me later. Please take care.”
“Y-yes…… Anyway, sorry. It was all so sudden……”
“It’s fine. Take care.”
“Mm.”

Bewildered, I stepped out of the car. Before closing the door, I glanced back once more. Our eyes met, but he said nothing, so I spoke first.
“You too, be careful.”
“Yes.”

As soon as the door shut, the car drove away. I stood there for a while, staring at the spot where it had disappeared, before sighing deeply. Meanwhile, the phone in my pocket continued to vibrate.

I drank the coffee Woojin had bought, sucking it noisily through the straw, then pulled out my phone and checked the screen. Staring at the detestable number, I sighed again and answered.
“Hello.”
—Hello? Hello? You fucking bastard. Why are you just answering now! Didn’t you see my texts? You did, so why the hell did you ignore me, you son of a bitch!
The flood of curses the moment I answered made me sigh again. I pulled the phone slightly from my ear and sipped the coffee, then, frustrated, popped the lid off and drank directly from the cup.
—Send me the money!
“Don’t you have a card?”
Chewing on ice, I asked, and his voice thundered again.
—Fuck! Just send the money! Can’t you understand plain words? Didn’t I tell you I’m waiting to pay? Didn’t I? And now I’m standing here, embarrassed as hell, staring at my phone.
“You can just use the card. Is it cash-only?”
—You talk too damn much, fucker! Just send the money first, then talk…… What? I said I’m paying now, I am. Why the rush? It’s not like I’m refusing. Ah, fuck. You’re nagging me to death. Hey, are you new here? Didn’t you just start working? Get your manager!
“……”
—Didn’t hear me? Call your manager, damn it!
“Where are you……”
I asked as the shouting grew louder, but before I could finish, the call was cut.

Should I call back or not? After hesitating for a long while, I thought about the mess it could cause later, and decided I had to handle it. I called again, but it rang out until the end with no answer.
“Haa.”
In just that brief span, I felt as if I had aged ten years. My coffee was already gone, ice chewed down to nothing, leaving only an empty plastic cup in my hand.

When I lifted my head, white clouds drifted across a vivid blue sky. The weather was beautiful, and just a short while ago my mood had been light. Now, it was as if sticky grime clung all over my body.

I stared at the sky, steadying my breath, until I spotted an empty taxi approaching. Raising my hand, I flagged it down and got in. With another sigh, I set off toward that wretched place.

After paying the fare and stepping out, the old apartment came into view. I stood there staring at it until the security guard spotted me and approached.
“Hello.”
“Yes, hello.”
My own face weary, I returned the greeting. But the guard lingered, hesitant. Swallowing the curses that rose, I asked,
“Has my brother been causing a disturbance at night again?”
“Well…… that, and he’s been smoking in the bathroom and on the balcony. There have been a lot of complaints.”
“I’ll speak to him.”
“We’ve already gone up several times, and he just says he understands but never changes. The family that moved in upstairs says the smoke from the bathroom is so bad they can’t live there.”

Looking at his troubled expression, I once again had to act like the guilty party.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him.”
“You must have a hard time, really…… poor thing.”

We weren’t particularly close, but ever since I moved here as a child, we had exchanged greetings. Because of Kang Sumin—that good-for-nothing bastard—the guard and I had both suffered enough that we regarded each other like comrades.
“Oh, right. You said you’re not a student anymore. I keep forgetting.”
“It’s fine. Call me however you like. I meant to bring you a box of Bacchus next time, but I rushed over today and forgot.”

I smiled awkwardly, but the guard waved his hands.
“Your thought is enough. Don’t worry about it.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, I entered the building and he resumed his patrol. Speaking with someone who had known us since childhood, who understood everything, eased my heart a little. Really, what use was anger? It would only hurt me. I no longer wanted to waste emotion on that man.

Breathing deeply a few times, I went up to the ninth floor. Fishing out the keys from a worn milk pouch, I stepped inside. The stench was foul. I opened every window and turned on the lights, but it was hard to tell whether this was a human dwelling or a pigsty.

What on earth was he thinking, living like this? It was so filthy I briefly considered cleaning, but decided against it. Even if I did, within days it would be a pigsty again.
“Ha.”

My head throbbed, and I pressed my temples when the sound of the door opening reached me.
“A part-timer trash like you dares to ignore me.”
“……”
Kang Sumin entered without the slightest surprise at finding me there, collapsed onto the sofa, and lit a cigarette.
“What’s with your eyes? Anyone would think you’re the older brother, you fucker.”

He slurred like a drunk in broad daylight, picking a fight with me.