Licensed Realtor Yoon Seoyeong, 28 (2)
“You want to buy our bathhouse?”
“Yes.”
“Who would?”
Yoon Seoyeong brushed a wet strand of hair behind her ear before answering.
“I'm afraid I can't tell you that just yet.”
Jinsu's eyebrows twitched.
“You're pitching me on this without even knowing the buyer's name? On what grounds?”
“Because we haven't entered the formal contract stage. I was simply asked to convey the buyer's intent to purchase first.”
She tapped the documents resting on the counter with her fingertip.
“In exchange, the terms are quite good.”
“How much are we talking?”
Seoyeong named the figure.
“…….”
Jinsu stared at her in silence.
He wondered if he'd misheard.
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Jinsu fell quiet for a moment.
For a worn-out, single-story building like Geumcheontang, that was not money that came easily.
And the redevelopment wasn't even confirmed yet.
“That's a lot, isn't it?”
“It is a lot.”
“You seem underwhelmed, honestly.”
“Well, it's not like I'm planning to sell.”
“I'm sorry—why not?”
When Jinsu seemed reluctant, Seoyeong started talking faster.
“Frankly speaking? For Geumcheontang's current situation, these conditions are far from a bad offer. The building is old, and there looks to be a lot of work ahead of it.”
Her gaze swept over the shabby counter and walls.
“There's the redevelopment hanging over you, too. With this amount, you could make a fresh start somewhere else and still have plenty left over.”
Jinsu shook his head.
“Not selling. It's not my call to make anyway.”
Even so, he looked down at the paperwork again.
On paper, the number was tempting.
So tempting that reasons to sell came flooding in far faster than reasons to keep clinging to a bathhouse.
Crumbling facilities.
Repair costs.
Redevelopment.
The pile of headaches his father had left behind.
It wouldn't have been strange to think, why not just sell it all now and live comfortably?
And yet, strangely, his heart wouldn't go along with it.
Above all, the underground spring water surfaced in his mind.
The changes already happening in his own body were far too obvious to dismiss that water as ordinary.
“Regardless—I'm not selling.”
Seoyeong blinked.
“It's a good opportunity.”
“What is it with everyone being so desperate to get their hands on Geumcheontang?”
“Think it over again. The terms themselves are genuinely excellent.”
She slid the letter of intent toward him.
“I'm not asking you to decide right now. Just give it some serious thought.”
“…….”
“A price like this doesn't come around often.”
Jinsu glanced up at Seoyeong sitting across from him.
Her white blouse, soaked earlier when the water hit her, still hadn't dried.
The damp fabric clung to her upper body, and the faint outline of her bra showed through beneath it.
That alone was enough to set something stirring in his pants.
“Ahem.”
Jinsu cleared his throat.
“I'll be in touch. You should head home for today.”
“You'll consider it positively, won't you?”
“I'm just the son. I don't have the authority.”
“Oh, come on, don't be like that—”
Just then.
Tap.
A single raindrop struck the window.
Tap.
Tap-tap.
Jinsu turned his head.
“Huh? It's raining.”
The sky, clear just moments ago, had somehow turned a dull gray.
Drops began falling one by one beyond the entrance, and in no time dark wet blotches spread across the sidewalk.
Pitter.
Pitter-patter.
Seoyeong looked out the window too.
“I didn't bring an umbrella.”
“They said we'd get a lot of rain today.”
“Really?”
“Better head back before it really comes down.”
As Jinsu moved to see her out, Seoyeong's eyes darted around for a moment.
Then, as if she'd just thought of the perfect excuse, they suddenly lit up.
“Oh! A cup of coffee, please! A guest shows up and you won't even offer her a drink? Really? Hehe.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes. Something like instant coffee mix.”
“I do have some.”
“Then make me one.”
Apparently she had no intention of leaving after all.
Jinsu regarded her for a moment, then rose from his seat without a word.
It's just a cup of coffee.
He put the water on to boil right away.
“Want a lot of water in it?”
“Yes. Just fill it about eighty percent of the paper cup.”
Jinsu pulled a paper cup and a stick of coffee mix from the shelf behind the counter.
Rip.
He tore the packet open, dumped the contents into the cup, and poured in the hot water.
Stir, stir.
He gave it a few turns with a teaspoon, then held it out to Seoyeong.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Seoyeong took the paper cup with both hands.
“Whew.”
She blew on it and took a sip.
“Mm.”
“Is it okay?”
“It's good. You make coffee well.”
“Coffee someone else makes always tastes better.”
Sipping her coffee, Seoyeong picked the conversation right back up, smooth as anything.
“About what we were discussing.”
“What about it?”
“The purchase offer. Please, think it over seriously. This is an opportunity, a real one.”
Jinsu looked back down at the letter of intent.
“I'll think about it. I'll get back to you.”
But Seoyeong didn't look like the type to give up easily.
“Your father is traveling, right?”
“Yes.”
“When is he expected back?”
“No idea.”
“Are you running this alone? I don't see any staff.”
“That's how it is, yes.”
“You took over suddenly?”
“Yes.”
“Did he have another job before this?”
“Electrical work. Facility maintenance.”
“Oh, so he was in a skilled trade.”
“Just a company man, really.”
Jinsu sighed.
“Honestly, I don't even know why I'm still here doing this.”
Seoyeong smiled.
“I think it suits you, though.”
“What does?”
“Being a bathhouse owner.”
“Not really.”
“How old are you, anyway?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Young.”
“And you?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“So you're two years older.”
Jinsu looked at her with mild surprise.
“Twenty-eight and already a licensed realtor… that's impressive.”
“Impressive?”
“Yeah. Do you have your own office?”
“It's a partnership. With a friend of mine.”
“Ah….”
Jinsu nodded and turned to gaze out the window.
At some point the streaks of rain had grown thicker than before.
Ratatat.
Rattatatat.
The daylight was fading fast, and raindrops kept battering the glass door of the entrance.
And then—
Wheeeeeeeeng—!
A fierce wind suddenly began to howl.
CLANG!
The bathhouse entrance shook violently.
“Huh?”
Seoyeong turned to the window in alarm.
Ku-boom! Kwa-kwa-kwa-BOOM—!
Thunder and lightning erupted all at once, and the rain began pouring down in sheets.
It was a different dimension entirely from what had been falling moments ago.
Water hammered down as if the sky had torn open, gale-force winds raged, and the view of the building across the street dissolved into a churning white haze within seconds.
Wheeeing!
THUD!
Somewhere nearby, the sound of a signboard tearing loose could be heard too.
Seoyeong hastily set down her paper cup and stood up.
“I should get going. Thank you for the coffee.”
“Hurry, then. This rain is no joke.”
“Ah—my umbrella!”
Seoyeong glanced around.
“Could I possibly borrow one?”
“An umbrella, let's see….”
Jinsu rummaged behind the counter and dug out a long umbrella from the corner.
“Take this one.”
“Thank you so much!”
Seoyeong's face broke into a bright smile.
“I'll bring it back tomorrow, I promise.”
“Hold onto it tight so it doesn't fly away.”
“It's not going to fly away.”
Laughing, Seoyeong opened the door.
Shaaaaaaa—!
The raging wind and rain swept straight into the room.
“Eek!”
Seoyeong hunched her shoulders.
Jinsu grabbed the door quickly, brow furrowed.
“Wow… think you can even make it back in this?”
“It'll be hard to even use an umbrella.”
“My office isn't that far, though. I just need to run for it.”
“Get home safe.”
Jinsu held the door while Seoyeong opened her umbrella.
“I'm off!”
“Be careful.”
“Yes! See you again!”
Seoyeong dashed straight out into the rain.
Ding-a-ling.
The door closed.
Jinsu watched her retreating figure through the glass for a moment, then returned to the counter.
The letter of intent still lay right where she'd left it.
“Hm….”
Jinsu picked up the paper.
The Geumcheontang building and its land.
An offer to buy at a price far above market value.
“Planning to snap it up early in anticipation of the redevelopment, huh.”
Not a chance.
Jinsu set the papers down.
“Not selling. No—I can't sell.”
The owner was still his father.
And with the underground spring water to consider, he couldn't possibly hand it over recklessly.
Jinsu tossed the letter of intent into the trash can.
“Ah… I should probably start heading home myself soon.”
Jinsu rented the second floor of a detached house a short distance away.
Shaaaaaaa—!
“How am I supposed to get through that.”
As Jinsu stood deliberating—
“KYAAAAAAAH!”
A sharp scream suddenly rang out from outside.
“…Huh?”
Jinsu's head whipped around.
“What was that?”
Again.
“KYAAAH!”
It was definitely coming from outside.
“Someone's in trouble!”
Jinsu bolted from his seat at once.
Ding! Ding!
The moment he opened the door, the howling wind and rain lashed his face.
“Ugh!”
He could barely keep his eyes open.
Wheeeeeng—!
KRAKOOM!
KWA-BOOM—!
Thunderclaps hammered mercilessly at his eardrums.
Along with a torrential downpour that seemed to crush against his skin.
Shielding his face with an arm, Jinsu scanned his surroundings.
On the sidewalk a short distance away—
There was Seoyeong, who'd just left.
“KYAAAAAH!”
She was desperately clinging to one of the street trees that lined the road.
The storm was ferocious.
Her hair had tangled across her face and neck, and her white blouse and black suit skirt, drenched through, clung tight to her body.
Far off in the middle of the road, the umbrella Jinsu had just handed her rolled over and over in the wind, flipped inside out.
“Somebody, please help me!”
“Ms. Yoon Seoyeong!”
Seoyeong's head turned.
“Mr. Jinsu!”
“Hold on tight!”
Jinsu rushed over as fast as he could.
Splosh!
Splosh!
Within a few steps, his clothes were soaked through.
“Give me your hand!”
“H-here!”
In that instant—
Wheeeeeeeeng—!
Another gust of wind came tearing through.
“Eek!”
Seoyeong staggered and fell against him.
“Whoa—!”
Jinsu caught her in his arms without a second's delay.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yes…!”
“Let's get inside first!”
Wrapping his arms tight around her, Jinsu hurried back toward the building.
Splosh!
Splosh!
A moment later—
BANG!
Inside, Jinsu shoved the door shut behind them.
“Hah, hah…!”
Kururung! Kwa-KWANG!
Shaaaaaaaaaaaa—!
Outside the door, the furious wind and rain kept howling on.
“Haa… hah….”
Seoyeong collapsed right where she stood, sitting on the floor and gasping for breath.
Drenched from head to toe.
Her wet hair stuck to her cheeks and neck, and water dripped steadily from her white blouse.
Jinsu wasn't in much better shape himself.
The two of them caught their breath for a while.
Seoyeong was the first to speak.
“…How am I supposed to get home now?”
Instead of answering, Jinsu looked out the window.
KWAAAAAAAAAANG—!
The rain was only getting worse.
“If anyone steps out there right now, they're dead.”
“Unbelievable….”
“Neither of us is going home today, Seoyeong.”
Jinsu heaved a long sigh and turned to face her.
“We might have to spend the night here.”
“…Here?”
Seoyeong looked up at him, dazed.
Her rain-soaked blouse, heavy with water, clung to her body without leaving anything to the imagination.
Her deep cleavage, and the bra beneath, were plainly visible through the fabric.
