Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Tears in the Recycling Bin
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“That’s why... I did my best, but I still feel like something’s lacking... Maybe I’ve become a nuisance now...”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And I even stormed out in a fit of anger. ...I’m done for! Waaah!”
Baek Jae-ha burst into loud sobs. Jeong Da-on gave her a troubled smile and patted her back soothingly.
He’d been baffled to find someone crammed into the recycling bin out of nowhere. At first, he thought it was a drunk, but there was no smell of alcohol.
It had been fine coaxing her out of the bin. But then she’d suddenly grabbed him, pouring out her woes, leaving him in an awkward spot all around.
‘At first, I thought she was some delinquent...’
Her bleach-blonde hair and flashy look were more than enough to spark that misunderstanding. Her clothes were a bit rumpled now, but they were stylish and right on the latest trends.
Anyway. As he listened to her story, Jeong Da-on couldn’t help feeling sympathetic.
“Jae-ha, why think so extremely? From what you’ve told me, the person who brought you in doesn’t seem that heartless.”
They’d exchanged names and even ages during the conversation. Since they were close in age, they’d switched to casual speech.
“He took you in when you had nowhere to go, gave you a job, and even helped with the deposit for your place at first.”
“Yeah.”
“And the college talk was probably with good intentions.”
Jeong Da-on pictured a kindly uncle figure in his mind—naturally, an older middle-aged man came to mind.
‘If he’s the type to front the deposit for her place without hesitation, he’s gotta have money. Gave her a job too, so he’s a successful businessman. Doesn’t seem like he’s out to take advantage of her. And offering to support her through college... Sounds like a genuinely good guy?’
It seemed like Baek Jae-ha was overthinking things out of fear of being disliked.
“It’s too late now anyway. Go apologize in the morning and say you’re sorry. That should do it.”
“...You think?”
“Yeah. And going to college is just another life experience. I’m on leave myself right now to help with Mom’s business.”
Jeong Da-on scratched the back of his head sheepishly. It felt a bit embarrassing to say that as a leave student himself. Still, school had its own fun back when he was attending.
“...Do you think I’d fit in there?”
“Huh?”
“Colleges are full of kids from good families, happy homes.”
“...”
“High school was tough because of them. I’d wonder why I was the only one suffering like that. What was obvious for them was never obvious for me. I’d even resent my dead parents. Why’d they have me just to leave me alone? Why not just not have me at all? ...If I have to go through that again, I don’t want to go.”
That made sense. Jeong Da-on was inwardly surprised—he’d never even considered it.
But he quickly gathered his emotions and spoke.
“That’s exactly why you should go.”
“...”
“You need to learn how to live among people like that.”
“Ugh.”
Baek Jae-ha let out a groan, as if hit right in the gut. She whipped her head away stubbornly. Jeong Da-on pressed on without backing down.
“I get it’s hard to face, but you can’t keep avoiding it forever. You’re basically handling your job all by yourself, right?”
“...”
“I see why your guardian wants you to go to college.”
They’d only talked briefly, but it was clear Baek Jae-ha was awkward with people.
Anyone else wouldn’t wear such an openly dissatisfied expression even if they disliked what Jeong Da-on was saying.
‘Hmm. I didn’t plan on getting this involved.’
But hearing her story tugged at his heartstrings. And from what he could tell about her nameless “guardian”... he didn’t seem all that smooth with communication either.
‘The college talk could’ve come at a better time.’
As a successful businessman, he probably handled business meetings fine. He just seemed a bit weak at casual one-on-one human conversations.
Well, that could happen.
It was a shame their communication wasn’t clicking.
‘Reminds me of when things were rocky between me and Dad.’
When Han Mi-ae’s business was slow, back-to-back fights would leave Jeong Da-on firmly on his mom’s side.
He knew his dad always worried about and loved the family. But he always expressed it so bluntly and roughly.
“If that’s how you feel, how about this?”
Jeong Da-on thought it over and spoke up.
“...What?”
“I’ll tutor you.”
“Huh?”
Baek Jae-ha’s eyes went wide.
“And next year, you enroll in the same college as me. Better than being surrounded by total strangers, right?”
She stared blankly at his grinning smile. How could a total stranger make an offer like that?
“Of course, it’s not free! Call it tutoring in exchange. Help out at our shop sometimes when we’re short-staffed. Sound good?”
“...That’s really all?”
“Yeah. But you have to do the homework I assign properly.”
At that, Baek Jae-ha nodded cautiously.
“Promise.”
Jeong Da-on held out his pinky, and Baek Jae-ha hesitantly extended hers. Their eyes met, and he flashed a grin.
Vrrr!
Right then, her phone started vibrating wildly.
“Eek!”
Baek Jae-ha jumped up in surprise. She pulled it from her pocket, and the screen showed:
[Repay Kindness with Rival Peach]
It looked like a call from that guardian. She swallowed hard, and Jeong Da-on gestured for her to answer.
“...H-Hello?”
Her voice trembled as she picked up.
“I haven’t been drinking. Yeah... ...Just. Felt a bit upset, so I went for a walk. Nearby.”
Well, well.
Jeong Da-on narrowed his eyes. She was acting totally different from how she’d been with him.
Her voice was subdued, her tone forced calm. She reeked of trying to act mature.
She’d been bawling just moments ago, her voice still hoarse, but she masked it perfectly.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. ...Right now?”
Huh.
Something up? Baek Jae-ha looked flustered.
“Nearby? No, hold on. I’m not alone. Right now..., yeah?”
He’s coming here.
Jeong Da-on started gathering himself to leave. He should slip away. Oh, give her his number first.
That’s what he thought.
Until he spotted Song Woo-yeon walking right toward them.
“...Huh?”
Song Woo-yeon’s eyes widened too upon seeing them. He had his phone to his ear, mid-call.
‘Come to think of it, they said they were meeting around here. Kim Jong-chun and Mom. Guess it just wrapped up.’
Happiness Snacks was nearby, so it made sense.
‘Might as well walk her home since it’s late, then head to the shop. Tell Mom to go ahead without me.’
Right then.
“...Owner?”
Baek Jae-ha greeted Song Woo-yeon first.
“?”
What? How do they know each other? Jeong Da-on was puzzled. She’d said she had no ties or friends around here. How the heck...
The mystery solved itself soon enough.
“Jae-ha. What are you doing out this late? It’s dangerous.”
“Sorry...”
Song Woo-yeon naturally scolded her, and she meekly took it.
“...Huh? ...Huuuh?! Ohhh!”
The final piece clicked, and everything fell into place.
‘The successful businessman uncle who fronted her deposit and hooked her up with a job! That was you, Woo-yeon?!’
The middle-aged man image shattered, replaced by Song Woo-yeon. Unbelievable.
And that scolding tone—what was that? Acting like he was some ancient wise elder.
If anything, between Baek Jae-ha and Song Woo-yeon, he was the one who needed to watch out more on dark streets...
“But Da-on, you and Jae-ha already knew each other?”
“Oh, no. We just met here. By chance.”
“Oh, really? Thanks anyway. I was worried. Relieved to hear you were together.”
Song Woo-yeon let out a deep sigh of relief.
“No need to worry...”
Baek Jae-ha muttered softly, and Song Woo-yeon shot her a sharp glare.
“You bolted out like that, no contact till now, didn’t even go home.”
Fair enough to worry. Jeong Da-on nodded, then realized something odd.
“How’d you know she didn’t go home?”
“The downstairs neighbor called—water leaking. They went to check and no one was home, so they called me.”
Song Woo-yeon looked like he’d rushed out in a panic too, so it rang true.
He’d probably been out with Kim Jong-chun and Han Mi-ae when the landlord called and freaked him out.
“Phew... Anyway. Jae-ha, if you don’t want to, we won’t talk college anymore. I must’ve been pushing my own selfish ideas. Sorry.”
“N-No!”
The unexpected apology made Baek Jae-ha flinch.
“I think I overreacted. Sorry... ...I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
“Huh?”
Song Woo-yeon looked up at her with wide eyes. Baek Jae-ha steeled her resolved face.
“I’ll try going to college.”
“...!”
Song Woo-yeon’s face lit up in shock, then broke into a beaming smile.
“So.”
That night was the only time I felt moved by Baek Jae-ha’s first step into society.
I muttered to myself, standing in front of the shop where I’d agreed to do some business consulting at Han Mi-ae’s request.
“You don’t know why business is bad?”
...I had a pretty good idea.