Were You a Gold Spoon?
“……So, what the hell is going on here right now?”
Kim Taeksu shot Shin Jaewoo a baffled look as he asked the question. And there was good reason for him wearing that expression.
It's only been a few days.
Kim Taeksu had met Shin Jaewoo last Wednesday. At that meeting, he'd ripped into him, calling him pathetic and all sorts of names. The reason? Kim Hyeju's cheating. Kim Taeksu had witnessed the affair firsthand. In other words, he knew exactly who the guy she'd cheated with was.
So why the fuck is that bastard here now?
Kim Taeksu's irritated glare shifted to the man who'd come with him. Han Taeho. The most insufferable prick from their college days. The one who'd always bragged because he had money and connections.
Shin Jaewoo spoke up.
“……You explain it to him. Oh, and Taeksu? You know he's my 'friend', right?”
Kim Taeksu's massive curiosity piqued. Shin Jaewoo tossed the explanation over to Han Taeho, who flinched at the word laced into those words.
Fuck. To a beggar like him...
What Shin Jaewoo wanted right now was crystal clear.
-hyung's friend is like a hyung to you too, right?
It was the essential step for Han Taeho to earn forgiveness.
“Ha, haha…… So, Taeksu hyung. Here's the thing.”
He couldn't quite bring himself to use full polite speech with him. But the hierarchy was sorted clean. He even called Kim Taeksu “hyung.”
Sudden hyung? Hey, is this fucker insane?
Kim Taeksu's eyes flicked to Shin Jaewoo. Taeksu hyung. Not even Taeks hyung—he'd never imagined hearing “hyung” from Han Taeho's mouth.
“Truth is, this whole thing with me and Hyeju cheating…… it wasn't like that.”
He had to defend himself on his own. But at those words, Kim Taeksu's eyebrows shot up—and even Shin Jaewoo glanced over. Han Taeho flinched and quickly corrected himself.
“No, I did cheat. Yeah, but…… it wasn't like I really betrayed our hyung, okay?”
Shin Jaewoo had given him two orders. One: Treat my friend like a hyung. Two: Explain away the mess with Kim Hyeju yourself.
Though the truth didn't matter much there.
Shin Jaewoo watched with keen interest as Han Taeho spun his excuse. Time for some trashy drama plot twist.
“You know this too, Taeksu hyung—our hyung was seriously thinking marriage with Hyeju back then.”
“Yeah. And you're the dogshit bastard who seduced her. Fuck. What the hell are you even babbling about now?”
“Heh heh. Yeah, I'm a dogshit bastard, but that doesn't mean I betrayed our hyung. Anyway, that's just how it is, right? How many wives betray their husbands after marriage? You can't just marry anyone blindly.”
Kim Taeksu thought to himself:
What bullshit is this asshole spewing?
It was technically true, but not something you could nod along to. Like Steven Yu saying, “Every Korean man has a duty to serve in the military.” Since Shin Jaewoo was staying quiet, he let it play out.
“I told our hyung. It's sketchy. This girl doesn't really love you. She'll definitely stab you in the back after marriage.”
Han Taeho needed to survive right now. To do that, he had to pin all the blame on Kim Hyeju.
“Of course, hyung wanted to believe her. He didn't listen to me. So I told him, 'Fine, let me test her out.'”
“……So you seduced Hyeju to test her?”
“Ah, seriously. I didn't think she'd fall for it that easily.”
Han Taeho said it like he was making excuses. Kim Taeksu wore a look of utter disbelief, his gaze shifting straight to Shin Jaewoo beside him.
“Is this fucker telling the truth?”
“……That's what he says.”
“Hey!”
Kim Taeksu bellowed in anger.
“Why are you yelling? He's just saying that's how it went.”
Han Taeho's words—and Shin Jaewoo's attitude—left Kim Taeksu floored.
Acting like it's someone else's story...
Even amid it all, Han Taeho kept talking.
“Me? Trash, yeah. But our hyung's the one who saved trash like me—why would I betray him?”
“……More importantly, why are you suddenly calling Jaewoo 'hyungnim' and shit?”
“Come on, Taeksu hyung. I've always been our Jaewoo hyung's little bro.”
Han Taeho. His lips trembled, but he was well-trained. Utterly shameless. He'd truly become Shin Jaewoo's little brother now.
What kind of plot twist is this shit?
With that thought, Kim Taeksu turned to Shin Jaewoo this time. Shin Jaewoo's response was even more absurd.
“Can't exactly call him my brother-in-law, right?”
Hearing that retort, Kim Taeksu found himself nodding.
“You two really are brothers. Be brothers. You crazy bastards.”
Shin Jaewoo smirked at that. Kim Taeksu's reaction was intense. But the real fun started now.
“Taeksu.”
“What, you punk.”
“From now on, Taeho's our little bro.”
“So you forgave him for that?”
Kim Taeksu knew Han Taeho's story was heavily edited.
Test Hyeju for hyung? Yeah right.
But the outcome was similar enough. Kim Hyeju was that kind of woman. Pretty face, but for marriage? Worst choice ever. Dodged a bullet.
“Forgive? Nah, that's not the point.”
Shin Jaewoo shook his head.
“Taeho's our little bro now.”
“Fuck. So what?”
“Then wouldn't Taeho's friends be our little bros too?”
This time, Shin Jaewoo veered in a new direction. Kim Taeksu didn't quite get it. But Han Taeho caught on immediately.
That's it!
Kim Taeksu was a friend. But Shin Jaewoo hadn't called the others “friends.” So what did that make them?
If I can't make the rest hyung's little bros, then they become my hyungs!
Shin Jaewoo planned to sort out the other college buddies too. Honestly, aside from Kim Taeksu, he hadn't been close to the rest. All because of Han Taeho. The ringleader who'd subtly ostracized him.
And yet these two stuck together anyway.
So Kim Taeksu was his friend. But the others? Shin Jaewoo didn't consider them friends.
“Hahaha. Of course, hyungnim.”
Han Taeho laughed loudly.
“I'll have everyone sorted by the next meetup, hyungnim.”
“Let's do the next one next weekend.”
Shin Jaewoo said. That also meant Han Taeho had until then to fix the hierarchy.
“You can handle it?”
And all the meetup planning, venues, everything was on him. Han Taeho replied with a sycophantic grin.
“Of course, hyungnim. Who'd say no to your orders?”
“Good. Do well.”
And right when Han Taeho stepped out for a moment.
“So, what's the real deal? Did you beat his ass?”
They'd already scrapped once back in college. And Han Taeho's face clearly looked punched.
Beat him till he listened?
That's why Kim Taeksu was asking in this vibe.
“You think a few punches would make him listen?”
Kim Taeksu nodded at Shin Jaewoo's retort. Fair point.
“……Yeah. So why's that bastard acting like that?”
Shin Jaewoo looked at Kim Taeksu. A thought that hit him while thinking of the other classmates.
This guy's trustworthy.
The so-called friends had all fallen for Han Taeho's temptations. Even the fiancée he'd promised marriage to. They'd all subtly ignored or betrayed him. Through it all, Kim Taeksu stayed the same. A friend he could count on.
“……What reason would make him listen and bow his head?”
“Dunno.”
“He thinks I'm stronger than him.”
“This?”
Kim Taeksu raised his fist again.
“Idiot? That won't work. I said it a minute ago—already forgot?”
Kim Taeksu lowered his fist at Shin Jaewoo's jab.
“I know. But if not that, then what? He's not gonna bow just 'cause you're smarter. If he sees you have more money than him……”
“Bingo.”
Kim Taeksu mumbled on, and Shin Jaewoo cut in with the answer. But that answer only confused him more.
“……You expect me to believe that?”
Kim Taeksu eyed him suspiciously. Totally understandable. “He's the one I've known longest.” Like with Kim Minseo. She'd doubted even after he told her the truth. Hard to believe out of the blue.
“Believe it or not, up to you. Not like it matters anyway.”
Shin Jaewoo shrugged it off casually. Only then did Kim Taeksu's attitude shift.
“……It's real, huh. What, you win the lottery? Nah, even first prize wouldn't make that prick bow like this.”
“Inherited recently.”
Shin Jaewoo confessed plainly. Maybe the first time he'd said it outright. Kim Taeksu's eyes went wide. The friend who'd known him longest—which meant he knew his family situation too.
“Turns out I had a grandfather.”
He added. He'd agonized over saying it before, but once out, it felt refreshing.
Gotta tell Aunt Miyoung and Minseo too.
No need to spill the exact amount anyway.
“Fuck. Were you a gold spoon this whole time?”
Kim Taeksu cursed, glaring with a mix of betrayal and shock. But from that glare and curse, Shin Jaewoo could tell. He hadn't changed.
“Hey. You cover the bill today?”
A little change? The bill was under 50,000 won anyway. Pocket change to him now. Then Shin Jaewoo spotted the guy returning from his break.
“……Nah, someone else'll cover it.”
A few tens of thousands was no burden for him—or that guy—anymore.