#27. My Master (1)
"What'd you do with your settlement money?"
"Bought a motorcycle."
"You're insane?"
"A motorcycle figurine. Heh heh."
"A toy? Ugh, you scared me. I thought you bought a real one."
"It's not a toy—it's a figurine."
"You sure didn't blow it on a car, at least."
"Turns out there's more random stuff to spend on than I thought. Figured it wasn't time for a car yet, so I held off. You said next settlement'll be even bigger, so maybe then."
Once the members gathered, talk about the settlement money came up without me even bringing it up. They'd all come back to the dorm loaded with bags from the start.
"Brought some souvenirs for you guys."
Kyungtae hyung was first to pull out his 'gifts' and hand them over. Surprisingly, every single one of them had bought presents for the others without missing a beat.
"Whoa~ We're not even doing Secret Santa or anything... What's all this?"
"Right? Didn't expect everyone to bring stuff."
"Yeah. Would've felt awkward if I was the only one who didn't."
"I got super embarrassed 'cause I just grabbed cheap junk..."
"I just picked up some local souvenirs while wandering around."
"Mine's snacks!"
Unwrapping the gifts: pajamas from Kyungtae hyung, a blanket from Eungyu, a chocolate set from Uyeon, a golden Maneki-neko piggy bank bought overseas from Jun, and Jeki...
"Whoaaa!!"
"Daeeebaaaak."
"Jeki hyung flexing!!!"
He'd gone all out with actual gold rings. Engraved on them in stylish lettering: Airplane.
"If things go south someday and we're broke, sell 'em. That's why I got gold."
Jeki watched the cheering members, acting all gruff like it was no big deal out of embarrassment. But the guys were already losing it over the rings, chanting his name nonstop.
"Let's snap pics and post on SNS!!"
"Haesol hyung's first, though."
"Okay, okay."
The ring recipients slipped them on quick as could be.
"They look so cool."
"Not tacky at all—Jeki hyung picked perfect."
Finally, they got to mine. I'd gone with hoodies—nothing beats the versatility of a good hoodie you can throw on anywhere.
"Hoodie! Navy's my fave! Feels nice too."
"It's my color!"
"Pink for men!!"
Favorite colors for each.
"Pic of us in these with the rings? SNS perfection!"
"Hilarious."
The kids squealed in delight, brainstorming photo poses. I just chuckled along before asking,
"So, what're you guys doing with your settlement cash?"
"Gave mine to Mom!"
Uyeon to his mom.
"Stashed in the bank."
"Same."
Eungyu and Kyungtae to savings.
"Already blew most of mine."
Jun's answer was unexpected. Eungyu gawked.
"Gasp! That much already? On what?"
"A house!"
"You bought a house?!"
"Not with that money alone. Combined it with my savings."
"Phew, scared me."
Good—no one wasting it frivolously.
"Why ask, though?"
"We're still young, and this is big money. Without adult guidance, bad stuff happens. Figured I'd warn you upfront and offer help if needed."
"What about you, hyung?"
"Half invested, half on luxuries."
The guy worried they'd blow theirs hears I splurged half and they boo him.
"Whaaat~!"
"Thought you spent it all smart."
"What's 'smart' spending anyway?"
"Huh?"
"You said it was well-spent. When does spending count as 'well-spent'?"
They pondered my question.
"Money makes money, right? Spending so it earns more?"
"How?"
"Invest?"
"Stocks?"
"Those are risky. My mom almost got kicked out over stocks."
Uyeon, your money's safe, right?
"But outside stocks or investing, how else does money make money?"
"Just deposit it?"
"Next one's bigger, and you'll park that in the bank too? Banks push funds anyway."
"Oh... yeah?"
They weren't clueless—picked up bits here and there.
"Expect folks saying they'll grow it for you. Lots get scammed, lose cash and friends."
"Why friends?"
"Scammers are always 'close' ones."
"!!"
You can't ignore money woes living. Broke? Stress. Rich? More stress. Age irrelevant.
"My luxury was a lifelong dream buy. Everyone's got that one dream item. Got mine—feelin' good, no splurges soon. Other half? Gave to an acquaintance to invest."
"What if it tanks?"
"Handles chaebol funds. Mine's peanuts—barely took it as a favor. That's why I'm asking you. Wanna grow yours? Pool it with mine there. No regrets."
No quick takers. Thank god. Would've lectured otherwise...
"Invest mine pleeease!!"
"...Uyeon, didn't you give to Mom?"
"I'll get it back. She'd just bank it or blow on old habits. Great chance—trust you! No big returns needed, just keep principal safe!"
Smack!
"Ow!"
"See? That's what happens trusting 'friends' with cash."
"Dummy Uyeon."
"Scammed!"
"Even close pals—no casual money deals."
"If my ' acquaintance' bolts with it? How's our bond? I'm a victim too."
"Ruined. You're hurt, but my money's gone—can't not blame you."
"Exactly. Don't auto-trust friends—suspect 'em twice. Their word might be bullshit."
Rubbing his forehead, Uyeon pouted.
"What! So that chaebol investor pal was a lie?"
"Nah, real."
"Eh? Thought fake!"
"Ooh, real chaebol money guy?"
"How much growth?"
I'd just warned against blind trust, and they're hooked. Gotta lose a nose somewhere.
Tsk tsk tsk. Jeki, who'd been listening, clicked his tongue.
"One minute ago: don't trust pals easy. Why fall for it?"
Jeki'd earned via composing forever—no panic over sudden cash.
"Can't help it. Gotta get burned to learn. No lecture beats experience."
"Still weird watching 'em get scammed."
"Ignore. They'll beg you later. Lecture then—not too late. Money? Earn more."
This punk... Money on demand? Not arrogant, but sneaky-irritating sometimes.
Thinks 'cause he's good, everyone's capable. Makes you feel pathetic.
'Can't do it? Why? This easy thing? No way—kidding, right?'
Mocking a skinny guy vs. a fat one? Feels different receiving. Same for incapable folks—salts wounds.
To us who can earn? Casual. To others? Insulting.
"Aish, so you takin' it or what?"
"Hand over if someone's investing for you?"
"'Cause it's you! Strangers? Scary no."
"For real?"
"Yup!"
Uyeon's kitten eyes hard to dodge.
"Why no fear givin' me money?"
"Even if you lose it, you'd take responsibility."
Even lil' Uyeon had reasons.
"Trust hyung too!"
"Obvious—Haesol hyung wouldn't trust shady."
"Ah~ Shoulda saved some. Wanna join."
"You bought house."
"Still, missin' investment shot sucks."
What? All want me handling?
"For real?"
Good for them, yeah. Silbia won't squander. Grow big together.
But how'd they know? Not their certainty level.
"Better than bank."
"Everyone's in—me too?"
Even Jeki jumping in, sans house-buyer Jun? Surprise.
"I'm the trust icon?"
"Didn't know?"
"Reliable."
"More than Kyungtae hyung, honestly."
"Hey, why hit quiet me?"
"Truth. You think so too."
"Ahem!"
Social experience showed, apparently. Deeper trust than thought.
Sudden emotion.
Jun aside, all opted to invest via me. Returns multiples later.
A few days after investing their cash.
"Good call trusting hyung. Whoa~ Thought stories, but real folks hittin' me up to invest. How'd they know I banked?"
Minus living expenses, all-in invested—no stress over windfall. Can't squeeze blood from stone.
"Next settlement? You handle. Too big—scary. Mom? No way now. Only trust you!"
Uyeon especially spooked. His mom'd nearly melted his cash snow-like. Thought deposit, but friend's tip: high-risk stocks. Uyeon flipped, yanked with loss—then it tanked. Nightmares for days.
Post-that, Uyeon butters me as savior nonstop.
"Had a ridiculous one too. Some half-forgotten kid calls beggin' cash? How'd he get my number? Mystery."
Post-Uyeon, others wised up—investment deals with "interest optional."
Grasped handling big sums' weight. Jeki wrong—my nagging worthwhile.