Chapter 86: Phone Call
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 86: Phone Call
With the shoot ending on Sunday, the movie filming that felt like it would go on forever finally drew to a close.
I thought we might all have an after-party, but since my real work was just beginning, Senior Ju-hee was considerate enough to suggest we gather later.
Thanks to her, I avoided the disaster of having to edit all by myself while everyone else was off celebrating the end of a major assignment by getting wasted.
"Yawn."
The editing was in full swing.
After finishing my mundane Monday lectures, I was currently at a PC bang, working on the footage.
I’d tried doing it at home on my laptop a few times, but the lag was so bad that I just gave up and came here.
"Here, take this."
"I didn't order anything."
"It's on the house."
Chan-woo brought over a bowl of Jjapagetti.
This was the best PC bang near my house, and I’d come here because Chan-woo worked here, but seeing him in person made me feel a bit restless.
It’s not like I actually did anything.
Even so, the feeling that I’d done something wrong made it hard to look him in the eye.
Ugh, seriously, Yoo Ah-rin.
I cursed Ah-rin internally and focused on the editing while slurping down the complimentary Jjapagetti. I figured if I let my thoughts wander, things would just get complicated.
Midterms were over, and the festival had passed.
Now final exams were approaching, and break would be here soon.
Last break, I lived like a total wreck, unable to overcome the pain of heartbreak. This time, I planned to live like a decent human being.
Maybe I should go on a trip?
Going abroad might be a stretch, but I wondered what it would be like to go backpacking across the country.
It would be a bit cold since it’s winter, but it should be fine if I bring a tent and stuff.
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I found myself searching for camping gear.
From tents to portable heaters, burners, and various tools—it was surprisingly fun to browse.
"What's this?"
A voice chilled my spine from behind.
"That's strange."
I tried to jump up and run, but the weight pressing down firmly on both my shoulders forced me back into the chair.
I tilted my head back slightly to see Senior Ju-hee, her white hat pulled low, looking down at me with her lips twitching.
"I distinctly heard you were editing."
"S-Senior... it's not what it looks like."
"I even ordered a coffee for myself after hearing where you were sitting. What do you think I should do about this?"
The pressure on my shoulders increased until I felt like they might dislocate, so I shouted out in a panic.
"Ah, no, Senior! I've already finished today's portion! I was just taking a quick break!"
Only then did Senior Ju-hee relax her grip. While rotating my stiff shoulders, I immediately played the video I had edited.
It was still only the beginning of the film, but after watching it all, she suddenly grabbed my head with both hands and started ruffling my hair.
"Whoa! Woo-jin! You did so well! Seriously, great job! Hah! Our cutie is back!"
"I never went anywhereeeee!"
My words trailed off as I complained about the dizziness. Regardless, Senior Ju-hee wore a satisfied smile as she handed me one of the iced coffees Chan-woo had brought.
"Drink up. Wait, didn't you just start today?"
"Yeah, I did. But I'd practiced a bit on my own, so it went pretty smoothly."
"Man, as expected, Woo-jin is a hard worker."
She sat down in the seat next to me and sipped her coffee contentedly. I’d been thinking about stopping for the day when I was looking at camping gear, but seeing how happy she was made me want to do a bit more.
As I went to close the window with the camping supplies, she watched me curiously and asked, "Are you going camping?"
"Ah, I'm thinking about traveling once break starts. I don't really have a part-time job anyway."
"Really? Must be nice."
She let out a sigh.
Between her obsession with scholarships and living in the dorms, it seemed like she was struggling financially.
"Camping is great. Phew, I want to go too."
"Let's go together then."
"Not this time. Invite me next time. I have to work a part-time job this break."
Working a part-time job?
"Are you going somewhere specific?"
When I showed interest, she took a sip of coffee and spoke with a hint of regret.
"You have to move out of the dorms during break, right? So I looked for a job that provides accommodation."
"Are you going to another region?"
"Yeah. You know that place in Gangwon-do? The one with the casino and the hotel."
"...Gold One Hotel?"
"Yeah. I heard the Food & Culinary Arts and Hotel Management kids are going there for their practicum this time. So I decided to tag along and work there too."
"I heard there are some scary thugs there because of the casino."
At my words, Senior Ju-hee chuckled and crossed her legs. Her bare legs, wearing slippers despite the weather, momentarily caught my eye.
"What does that matter? I just have to go back and forth between the dorms they provide and the workplace."
"I guess that's true."
Still, there was no changing the fact that she was going there to suffer. How hard would it be to live and work with strangers in a completely different city?
"How did we get here from talking about camping gear? Anyway, that's the plan."
Senior Ju-hee brushed it off and leaned in again to look at my screen.
"But isn't camping gear kind of expensive?"
"It is. I'm looking for the best value for my money."
A faint shadow of worry crossed her eyes. It seemed she felt the contrast between herself, who was going off to toil at a part-time job, and me, who was planning a camping trip.
"But now that I think about it, it'll be pretty cold this time of year."
I closed the window and changed the subject. Senior Ju-hee seemed to realize I was being considerate on purpose, as she gave a smirk and let out a sigh.
"Where wouldn't it be cold? Have you eaten? Let's go, I'll buy."
"Let's just eat here. Is there any need to go somewhere else?"
Maybe because we’d just talked about money, I didn't really want her to treat me. Even if I offered to pay, I knew she would insist on buying.
"Hmm, it's been a while since I've been to a PC bang... Oh? The menu here is more diverse than I thought?"
Fortunately, she seemed to take an interest in the PC bang menu, humming to herself as she scrolled through the options.
* * *
"Sssip."
After finishing our meal.
We remained in the PC bang instead of going elsewhere.
Senior Ju-hee, her hat still pulled low, had a look of intense concentration in her eyes.
"Whew."
She kept letting out pained sighs, rubbing her chin as if she were deep in thought.
"...Senior."
Seeing this, I called out to her cautiously. She jumped in surprise and looked at me.
"Wh-What?!"
She looked flustered.
I glanced at the Hwatu board on her screen and asked tentatively, "It's... not illegal, right?"
"...Does it look that way to you?"
I was worried it might be a game involving real money, but she scratched her neck, looking embarrassed.
"Of course not. It's just game money...!"
Flashy effects suddenly exploded on the screen. I’d never played Hwatu, so I didn't know what was happening, but judging by how her face turned pale, it didn't look like a good turn of events.
[You have been kicked out!]
Having lost all her money, she was booted from the game.
She stared at the game money payment window that popped up and slammed her hands onto the desk in frustration.
"Uwaaaaah!"
She made a surprisingly cute sound.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she suffered. Watching her, I suddenly felt concerned.
"Senior, just in case, I'm telling you now—don't you dare step foot in the casino when you go there."
"..."
The way she glared at me through narrowed eyes reminded me of a cat trying to look like a tiger.
It looked like she wanted to pounce on me and vent her frustration if she had any excuse, but since she didn't, she just huffed and puffed in agony.
"Y-You can't pull a shotgun here."
Chan-woo stepped in to stop Senior Ju-hee as she looked ready to slam the desk a few more times. Her hands froze in mid-air, searching for a place to land.
Eventually, they reached for the pack of cigarettes she’d set aside.
"I'm going for a smoke."
"Got it."
Leaving Senior Ju-hee behind, I went back to looking at camping gear.
I thought about playing a game, but I felt lazy, so I was just browsing.
It really is more expensive than I thought.
I wondered if I really needed top-tier gear, but then again, I felt like I might as well buy something good if I was going to buy it at all.
While I was weighing my options...
Vibrate!
I received a text.
It felt strange that it came as a phone message rather than a Tok.
"What are you doing?"
A familiar voice called out to me.
It was Yoo Ah-rin, standing there with her hands shoved into the pockets of her oversized hoodie, looking down at me with a crooked posture.
There had been a strange atmosphere yesterday, but the current Ah-rin didn't seem much different from usual.
"What the? What brings you here?"
I knew she hated coming here because of Chan-woo.
Ah-rin sat down in the seat next to me with a deep frown and let out a sigh.
"Jeong Chan-woo told me."
"...Who?"
I reflexively turned to look at her and asked again. She reached out and pushed my face away as she sank into her chair.
"What are you staring at!"
"No, you just said...!"
Just as I was about to press her on the fact that she said Chan-woo told her...
Vibrate!
Vibrate!
My phone went off again.
It was another text, so I checked it with a look of annoyance.
"Wait, Chan-woo told you I was here?"
"Why is this guy being so clingy?!"
I was focusing on Ah-rin again when...
Vibrate! Vibrate! Vibrate!
This time, he was actually calling.
"Sigh, hold on, I need to take this."
"Is it Ye-rin? Or I-seo?"
"My brother."
"...You have a brother?"
Ignoring Ah-rin's question, I answered the phone. A voice colder and stiffer than anyone I’d ever heard pierced my ear.
— If you don't come home this break either, consider your allowance and your room gone.
"What kind of bullshit is that? Since when did you ever give me an allowance?"
— I've already spoken to Father.
"...Hyung."
— So you do know when to back down.
"Did you think I was going to say that? You bastard. I'll just work a part-time job. Bye."
— You? A part-time job?
I wanted to snap back at my mocking brother, but...
"Ah! U-Woo-jina! I... I can't hold it in anymore!"
"...?!"
Ah-rin suddenly leaned her face close to mine and let out a moan. I reflexively jerked my body back, and Ah-rin gave me the middle finger with a mischievous grin.
— Sigh.
I heard a sigh from the phone.
"Wait, hold on. Don't get the wrong idea."
— Are you fooling around with women again?
"No, it's not like that...!"
I was about to deny it immediately when...
I felt a sudden chill.
"Again?"
Did he just say... again?
— ...
There was no answer.
My Big Hyung, who never backed down, chose silence this time.
"You... how do you know I dated Yun-ji?"
I stood up abruptly to demand an answer.
— I've said all I had to say. Come home during break.
With that, he hung up.