A Story No One Knows Yet 2
“Anna?”
“Joo-in? At this hour...?”
Anna's face twisted in confusion as she took in the sight of me, backpack slung over my shoulders and sweat pouring down in thick beads. I hesitated, plunged into thought.
“What's troubling you, sis?”
“Well...”
Anna's expression grew troubled as she began to speak, and in that instant, a dizzying haze washed over my mind. Her words started unfolding like photographs—vivid scenes and dialogue materializing before me.
Photos and sounds... My body, still unaccustomed to this high-density sensory overload from the Memory Book, protested with vertigo, but I clenched my fists tight, determined not to miss a single frame or word.
Anna's familiar back faced a man in his thirties, smirking with a sleazy grin, as they sat in what looked like a café. A glass of water sat before her; across the table, steam rose from a hot cup of coffee in front of the laughing man.
“Eun-young... I had no idea you were such a big deal out there.”
Her hands trembled in his tight grip before she yanked them free, her voice deflating with exhaustion.
“Uncle, do you really have to go this far? You know better than anyone what kind of monster he is. How can you do this to me after all I've suffered under him—or to Eunsu?”
“Uncle? Call me Uncle Myung-in, sweetheart. We're not even blood-related anyway. Checked the family registry—your dad's name isn't even listed anymore. Wouldn't it be better to stick with me than end up on the streets?”
“How... how can you say that...”
“Running off and warming other guys' beds is fine, but I'm off-limits? For Eunsu's sake, couldn't you just put up with it a little...”
“I'll make damn sure a bastard like you never gets near Eunsu.”
Anna couldn't stand being near the monster any longer. She screamed it out and stormed from the table. From behind her, the man's curse-like words slithered out, turning my stomach like I might vomit right there.
“You'll regret this... You think you and Eunsu can get even a spoon from your dad's fortune?”
What kind of fucked-up family is this? But why can't Anna and Eunsu claim their inheritance?
Exhausted and reeling from the dizziness, I sank to the ground in front of Anna like my legs had given out.
“You okay?”
“I'm fine. How about you, sis? Ready to leave?”
“Huh?”
“This is that monster's house. Aren't you going somewhere else?”
“...”
I unslung the backpack from my shoulders and set it down in front of her.
“What's your dream, sis?”
“Me? Water business.”
I jolted upright in shock, staring down at her. For a split second, her face lit up with the innocent mischief of her age, and she burst into bright laughter. It was the first time I'd seen her smile so purely.
“Surprised? I wanted to be a café owner.”
“A café?”
“Yeah. You might not know it now, but cafés are gonna be big business down the line. I saw it firsthand working there.”
“You mean...”
“The papers mentioned Tenpro, but I didn't have the guts to go that far...”
“So then?”
“I worked at a café run by a retired Tenpro girl from Gangnam Tenpro. Lived there, too. She'd always say, 'Don't end up like me.' I'd pop home when I worried about Mom... That's how it went. Pouring coffee alone in that café felt so warm, fragrant, perfect. Home was just screams and flying objects. Only regret? Never finishing school.”
“Shouldn't you sue the newspaper?”
“Truth in reporting.”
“What?”
“Headline screamed 'Gangnam Tenpro alum!' but the fine print just said I part-timed at her café.”
“That's...”
“Sure, defamation's possible, but lawsuits cost money. Everything's money... What could I even do?”
“So your dream's running a café?”
“Yeah...”
“Couldn't you go back and keep working there?”
“She's got her own position to think of. She gives spots to runaway girls like me to keep us from worse places. But I'm an adult now—no more work there. They have rules because spots are limited.”
“So you'd jump at the chance if it came?”
“Sure... What about you? No school tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow... wait, it's Sunday already.”
As I answered, I unzipped my backpack and pressed a thick wad of bills into her hands. She realized what it was and nearly screamed; I clamped my hand over her mouth.
“Screaming now'll wake the whole neighborhood. Nod when you're calm and can talk.”
She nodded, tapping my arm to let go. I slowly backed away, releasing her.
“What... is this...?”
“Not dirty money.”
“But... you have this much cash?”
“Truth? I won the lottery.”
“What?”
It really was a lottery win.
“Then give it to your mom.”
“Already set some aside for her.”
I patted the inside pocket of my jacket.
“But why show it to me?”
“You're an adult now, right?”
“Yeah, next year officially.”
“That's why—it's an investment. Let's partner up.”
“What? You into cafés too?”
“Not exactly my thing, but I can back your café dream. Just...”
“Just...?”
“I want to set up a corporation. You as CEO, me owning 100%.”
“You want me as a front?”
“Not a front—nothing illegal. I'm just a minor.”
“I heard about this from Kana.”
“Kana?”
“She's active now. Overheard her venting to the boss—retired Tenpro lady.”
“...?”
“Gangnam Tenpro girls make bank, but lose more to the clubs. Debts pile up sometimes. Best retirement's starting your own business like the boss. Second best? Landing a sponsor and becoming a corp CEO. Kana said some decent guy's been pushing her to do it, but it's not clicking. Keeps asking the boss for advice—stuck in my head.”
“Not asking you to do anything dangerous.”
“Still, I'd be CEO of a corporation?”
“Right. In return, I hold the shares...”
“How much salary?”
“Use whatever you need as expenses. But blow the capital, we're both sunk—you know that?”
“What? I wanna succeed on my own merits.”
“How's 3 million won a month?”
I pulled two more million-won bundles from my bag and placed them in her hands. At the time, 3 million was big-league corporate salary.
She trembled, clutching the cash. I waited for her to calm.
“Why not spend it yourself—why through me?”
“Still a student—everything's a hassle. Don't wanna worry Mom either.”
“Then...”
“We'll invest through the corp. No losses, so it'll fund your café later, no problem.”
“Not right away?”
“Not yet. Rent a place for a while.”
“What?”
Disappointment flickered despite the cash pile, but no outburst—room to talk.
“Economy's tanking soon. Hold cash. You'll feel when it's time to invest—no need for me to say.”
“Got it.”
“Not curious why?”
“Kana said: If someone asks you to CEO a corp, don't question—just do it.”
“Without knowing what they'll ask?”
“What's worse than rock bottom? She got curious once, asked—and it ended right there. Consulted the boss, who said: Screw up once, no second chances. Learn from it, wait for the next shot.”
“Sounds reckless.”
“To escape that world? Nothing's off-limits. Kana too... Me neither. Truth? Been thinking of starting Tenpro life over kowtowing to that bastard. Boss lets minors work the café, but adults? Hooks you up with Tenpro spots.”
“Not purely saintly, huh.”
“Boss has her reasons too.”
“So, the corporation...”
“I'll handle it—know pros for that.”
“Huh?”
“Not ex-Tenpro, but worked with 'em. Sharp on this stuff. Accountants, lawyers—split across firms. Traces scattered; no full picture without deep digs. Fees higher, sure.”
“Worth the extra fees.”
“So, set up the corp and wait?”
“Yes.”
“I'm fine, but Eunsu worries me.”
“Change names, move.”
“What?”
“By the time corp's set and life's sorted, you'll sense the timing I mentioned. Swap cash to foreign currency if you can.”
“You really...”
“I gain too—it's an investment. Let's make it work, CEO.”
Instead of a handshake, I handed her the bag. Even if she took the money and vanished without the corp, it'd spawn a new Singularity. This cash was shadow funds—not lottery clean. Without a legit business to launder it, future plans hit snags. Rewards weren't always usable daylight cash.
Legs heavy, heart light, I headed home through the alley.
In a spot that looked like a hotel lobby, a man reading a spread newspaper rose with a familiar nod as Mun Jin-myeong entered. They headed to the hotel café, exchanging light greetings until coffee arrived. Then, as if their easy chatter had been a lie, silence fell.
“Safe coming out here?”
“Crowded spots are safer.”
“Knew country coffers were being gnawed by rats?”
“Believe me if I say no?”
“If you didn't know, China's already got us.”
“Knew foreign reserves were plummeting. President's real-name financial system stops blind money from fleeing easy.”
“Too late?”
“Prep started pre-handover. Fifth Republic holdovers blinded us.”
“Thought up to Fourth Republic was for the people...”
“No Five-Year Plans, no growth. Fourth did the work, ate the hate. Traitors just fattened up.”
“Worse than traitors gorging—their 'justice' followers scare me more.”
“What...”
“That's why I stepped back. Waited for U.S. capitalism to force its way in. Then they push local autonomy.”
“Ram through dictatorship with 3S, now scared of handover—local autonomy?”
“Yeah... It'll set us back a century.”
“When?”
“Laws exist, but traitors' influence? World Cup?”
“What? Reserves bottomed out—crisis sure, but World Cup?”
“Distraction. Local autonomy roots Fifth Republic scholars.”
“Next president...”
“Betting on him—planting locally. Won't pan out, so they're regrouping.”
“Local autonomy hides all Fifth Republic scum?”
“Your Excellency's highways made one-day nation. Splitting it? Just padding their pockets, weakening admin, blinding the public.”
“Safety orgs lose power at least.”
“Big fire or disaster? We'll see. Centralized fixes vs. finger-pointing locals.”
“Spare the fire services...”
“Fire, defense—big budgets. Decentralize, they'll fragment. Fires become local problems—irresponsible.”
“Other downsides?”
“Roads won't connect properly per region.”
“What—refusing infra cooperation?”
“Local gains clash. No central plan for national good—just pandering.”
“Tax waste on roads, ports by whim.”
“Roads exist, but ports, airports trouble.”
“Stop it how?”
“Unis packed with faction giants.”
“Only distorters left?”
“Diversity good, but two camps fighting over theory? Doubtful. Centralized power suits small nations punching big.”
“Even West cuts local power for central—us reverse?”
“Yeah. Politicians' seats only reason. No intellectuals call it.”
“Local split bloats expenditures.”
“National Assembly, councils—salaries, perks, junkets. People's future bleak.”
“Got countermeasures?”
“Crisis? Elders move. But age means last chance... After, no help.”
“Got a promising kid I'm watching.”
“What?”
“Early stage, but...”
“Your eye? Trustworthy.”
“First thing he saw in my eyes: need foreign cash.”
“Future says stockpile forex. Domestic dried up—source abroad. I'll check too.”
“No doubts?”
“Now? Protects inner market firms at least. You with no intel vouch for him? Help, don't hinder.”
“Still man-focused?”
“Small nation grows on talent. No regrets serving His Excellency. History judges me, but I believe it was for Korea.”
“Yeah... Joseon onward, heroes beat odds.”
“No Chungmugong, Imjin lost... Haha!”
“Post-liberation? His Excellency's grace.”
“I believe so.”
“Really?”
“You thought my man-focus extreme? Shocked at first contact.”
“Not changed... He's great, but human limits. Limitless man?”
“Current candidate? Great, but age...”
“Huh... We'll see.”
“Kinda exciting.”