The Shared Economy
"That... that’s not really in the category of 'giving,' is it?"
"I'm just joking."
What the hell. That kind of joke is terrifying, Eunbyul.
"I won't resort to blackmail. Actually, about my dad," Eunbyul began, recounting what had happened at home. She told him there was a man she liked so much, but while they seemed close professionally, they hadn't gotten close as a man and a woman. When she told her father, he had said:
"First, induce him to be interested, then create a situation where you have leverage over him, and after binding him with that, seduce him."
"...Your father said that?"
"Yes. ...This is a secret, but my dad said he got married that way, too."
Though shocked, he composed himself and spoke. "...I don't think I'm that kind of person. Don't try to bind me."
"Yes. I suppose you're right. At first, I really did try to do what my dad said, to bind you, Senior... but I realized that true love wouldn't be achieved through threats or anything like that."
"That's right. There's a woman right there who believed in that and ended up getting divorced."
The two of them looked at Jia, who was sitting slumped over in a lonely, pathetic heap, then turned back to face each other.
"And while it might be fun for me to do that, we should both have fun together."
"Uh-huh."
"So, Senior... how about I cut out the middle part? Induce interest, and then just go straight to the seduction! How about that?"
"....Sure, I guess that sounds... okay."
He wasn't sure if it was actually good, but at least she wasn't bringing up that contract anymore.
"Master, that woman..."
"I told you to be quiet."
"...Hing."
Jia, having tried to expose another lie for no reason, felt dizzy as the situation reversed yet again. She slumped down, bracing her body with her arms against the floor. What kind of situation was this? The little vixen whose only merit was her youth turned out to be the daughter of a golden-spoon family. Resigned to the reality closing in on her, she recalled what she used to say.
'I'm only seeing you because I feel sorry for you, you idiot.'
'You can't live alone without me, right? Isn't that right, Suhyun?'
'If I leave this house, men will be lining up for me.'
'Treat me well. If you let your eyes wander, I'll go meet someone better looking than you in a heartbeat.'
She had boasted like that, but in reality, no men had ever contacted her. Of course, she hadn't exactly revealed the divorce, but even if she had, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. No, she would have preferred it not to be revealed at all. Why? Because...
"....Master."
Whenever she gathered with other women and the topic of divorce came up, she always heard the same things.
'Hey, a divorced woman is just a piece of meat dropped in front of a hunting dog.'
'...?'
'Being divorced is already a label that says you're an easy woman. You don't have to worry about chastity, and your sex drive skyrockets in your 30s. They all think you'll be lonely, so they pounce, trying to get a one-night stand. They probably don't even worry about pregnancy! They assume a divorcee will take care of it herself.'
'Ah....'
'Hey, is that all? Most of them don't even think about dating a divorcee. It's proof that there’s something wrong with you somewhere if you’re divorced.'
'That's right. It's the same for men. A woman who wants to meet a divorced man? None exist.'
'Exactly. It's the same from a man's perspective. Building a family and living with a divorced woman? They’d never even consider it. They’d feel like they were taking on a headache.'
When she was in her early 20s, drinking and talking with friends, she heard things like that often, but Jia always thought to herself: She had Han Suhyun—a cool, warm, upright man with no character flaws. She had been gripped by a sense of superiority, believing she would never have to worry about such things.
"..."
Drunk on that superiority, Jia had failed to consider one fact: whether she was actually perceived by Suhyun as a cool, pretty, warm woman with no character flaws. And having failed to realize that until the moment of their divorce, she had ended up becoming the first divorcee among those very friends who used to have those conversations.
"Hic, sob, Master.... ugh, sob, hng...."
"...?"
Eunbyul watched Jia, who was sitting on the floor crying sorrowfully, while sipping her delicious wine. Then, she felt his gaze on her. Seeing him try to avoid approaching his ex-wife because he was worried about Eunbyul's reaction, she said:
"Ugh, why are you so worried about that? ...Both of you were already naked anyway."
"...I'm sorry."
"Forget it, just hurry up and find out why that woman is acting like that."
He walked slowly toward Jia, hugged her, and sat her on a chair. He pulled out some tissues for her, and Jia spoke.
"...I thought we would never, ever get divorced, but it’s just so sad that we really did...."
It seemed the habit she’d picked up back at her studio apartment had resurfaced here. Jia continued to sob as she spoke her thoughts. She said it was all because her personality was bad, because she had become strange, because she had changed. She said she never imagined divorce in her life, and it was so sad and she felt like dying; she had hoped he wouldn't fall for a woman younger than her, but now it was all over.
While Jia kept talking, he met Eunbyul's eyes and thought that, well, that could happen.
"I'm sorry, I was so..."
"Yeah. I know, so stop crying now."
"...Yes, I'm really sorry. Master."
Eunbyul examined his expression as he looked at Jia, then looked at Jia as she wiped her tears. Then, Jia thought to herself:
'...I haven't dated anyone else, but Seo Jia and Senior have.'
'They must have built up a lot of memories. They were married, after all.'
'Those are things I haven't experienced...'
'If I leave that woman alone, she'll keep getting in the way.'
'Senior is favorable toward me, but that’s because of work... it could change...'
'I have to seduce him as soon as possible. Or have him take me.'
'To do that...'
And then, Eunbyul spoke.
"...Senior, you know."
"Yes, Byul-ah."
Calling her 'Byul' now felt natural. He thought it might be because of work, but he still liked it. He could just make her feelings change. Eunbyul smiled faintly and said:
"...Even if you know who my parents are, please don't... intentionally ignore or push that woman away."
"..."
It wasn't said out of kindness. She was a nuisance. If he kept touching her.
"But the divorce..."
"She's still regretting it now. Thinking, 'I shouldn't have done that.'"
"..."
"You're a kind person, Senior, so please forgive her."
Jia opened her eyes and looked at Eunbyul. The look in her eyes gradually changed from 'Who is this little vixen pitying?' to—'Oh, this is a good thing.'
"...Instead, Senior."
"...?"
"I want to come to this house often, too. Quite often, and for a long time."
"....Uh, su...sure. Sure. But about your father..."
"I'll explain it well to him. I was thinking of getting an officetel to live on my own anyway, so I might just buy the place next door."
Then, after a moment of contemplation, he asked:
"Didn't you hate Seo Jia?"
"Whew..."
In the end, he fell for that expression again. She couldn't hide her thoughts. That was why Eunbyul said:
"...If we keep fighting like this, I thought you might kick both of us out of the house. Senior."
"That is true."
"So I thought you could just love both of us."
"What... what is that, what..."
Eunbyul chuckled, moved her chair closer to Jia, and said:
"I don't know what Senior likes. I don't know what food you prefer, or what you dislike. I don't know what positions stimulate you, or what kind of lingerie designs you like. I don't even know what kind of image you want in a woman, so I'll be incredibly clumsy in bed. The same goes for everything else."
"..."
"I don't even know what you do when you wake up in the morning. Those memories are etched into Jia-unnie's mind. Whether you eat breakfast, whether you shower before or after, whether you exercise, or read. I don't know what you do on weekends."
She was honest. It was true. As of now, it was as if Eunbyul had suddenly appeared in his world, fully grown. He couldn't easily give his heart or feel comfortable with her.
"So, I'm going to get help from Jia-unnie here."
"Un...nie?"
"Yes, I... I won't be rude like I was earlier. Instead, Unnie, please teach me. What Senior likes. What you dislike."
"....? But, if you do that, Master might fall for you..."
Eunbyul sighed deeply and spoke in a frustrated tone.
"Either way, if things go on like this, Unnie will eventually be kicked out of the house. You won't end up well."
"...."
"If it's going to be like this, if I'm by your side to make Senior comfortable, Unnie can teach me well, gain favor with Senior, and restore your image. Isn't it better to have love divided than to receive no love at all and only be hated?"
"Hmm..."
"And you said it earlier when you were spreading your legs, that you wouldn't mind if he met other women. So you shouldn't mind."
He thought it was a rational idea. By doing this, Eunbyul not only gained the opportunity to visit his house often, but she could also avoid seeing Jia have a hysterical breakdown even if she had sex with him. Also, since she really didn't know what he liked, she thought having Seo Jia—who was essentially the 'Han Suhyun Encyclopedia'—by her side would be helpful. On the other hand, there was a huge merit for Jia, too. If she came to the house, he wouldn't say a word to her and would just do his own thing, but if Eunbyul chimed in with a good attitude, Jia could talk to him, and if things went well, couldn't they have sex, or even share a drink? Under the guise of teaching her something, she could climb onto his lap or get pinned underneath him and go to heaven. And the feeling of sharing felt more positive than the feeling of being robbed.
"...Fine, then.... Let's do that."
"Great. Let's get along well."
Eunbyul's expression as she said that was a beaming smile, while Jia's was a mix of worry and relief.