You Keep It
"Wow, that was so much fun. Right, Seungwan?"
"Y-Yeah... It was definitely unique and different."
She doesn't look like she had fun at all.
Dojin, who was following behind them, smiled faintly as he watched the two.
It was painfully obvious that Seungwan absolutely detested the abandoned school.
In contrast, Dohee's energy was at an all-time high.
Come to think of it, Dohee was never scared of ghosts.
She wouldn't even blink at Eastern ghost movies, let alone Western horror or exorcism films.
On the other hand, she was terrified of human-driven thrillers more than anyone.
Back when they were dating, Dojin had found this quirk of hers quite unusual.
But after they got married and he learned the reason behind it, his perspective changed.
Right. Why fear ghosts when humans are the real monsters?
To someone who had been constantly exploited and abandoned by the very family that should have protected and supported her, humans would always be the true source of terror.
"Oppa, when did you say you were going to remodel this place? Let's come back again before then!"
"Please let go of me, Ms. Na Dohee."
"Huh? Seungwan, what's wrong?"
"Do I know you? I don't know who you are. Please come by yourself next time."
Seungwan shook off Dohee's hand and marched ahead. Dohee laughed and chased after her.
She knew exactly why Seungwan was acting like this.
She really turns into a little rascal when it comes to Seungwan.
Was it because of the scars she carried?
Dohee usually built walls around herself, never letting people get past a certain distance.
Dojin and Seungwan were the only two exceptions she allowed into her space.
Perhaps that was why she played so many mischievous pranks on the two of them.
Seungwan had even expressed her delight, saying she was glad Dojin was around now to share the burden of Dohee's antics.
"Oppa! Hurry up!"
"Yeah, just a second. Let me lock the gate."
Dojin locked the main gate of the abandoned school with a newly purchased padlock and headed toward Seungwan's car.
In that brief moment, the two women had already climbed inside.
"Wow, that was so fun. But it's a shame we didn't see the kittens you mentioned last time."
"I know. Last time, they came out even though I didn't call them."
"Feral kittens are naturally very wary. Since there were three of us this time, they probably hid."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Huh? Does that mean I won't get to see the kittens? I was looking forward to it so much."
"Aw, my sweet Dohee! You really wanted to see the kitties, didn't you?"
"Hehehe."
As Dojin patted her head, Dohee's pout vanished instantly, replaced by a bright, sunny smile.
Watching this unfold from the driver's seat, Seungwan's expression gradually contorted into something bizarre.
Ah, I haven't seen that face in a long time.
Though Seungwan might not know it, that look had been dubbed the couple's "signature reaction" in the past.
It was a complex mix of emotions—happy to see her friend happy, yet utterly disgusted by the lovey-dovey display.
Amused by that subtle blend of expressions, the couple used to show off their affection even more in front of her.
"But seriously, when are you going to start managing this place? Looking at the schoolyard earlier, it seems like there's a lot of work to be done."
"Exactly. It looks like it's going to cost a fortune... Should I come over on my days off and help cut the weeds?"
"Hahaha, it's fine. I have enough money for this. Not to brag, but I've saved up quite a bit from working since high school."
Dojin spoke confidently, but the worry didn't fade from the two women's faces.
Seeing their concern, Dojin finally revealed what he had been holding back.
"And I don't have to use my own money for the remodeling. There's someone who's going to help me."
"Oh?"
"Huh? Really? That's amazing! I was seriously planning to come here after work and run a lawnmower if things got desperate."
Dohee let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
A warm feeling swelled in Dojin's chest.
He knew she meant every word.
The wife who had trusted and loved him more than anyone before his regression was still the same, trusting and following him blindly in this life.
While Dojin was lost in his emotions, the two friends began their usual banter.
"Pfft, what time do you think you'll finish work to come all the way out here and mow the lawn? This is the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do, buses barely run here."
"Of course I was planning to bring my bestie with me. Right, Seungwan?"
"Ah, seriously, who is this lady? Let go of me! Let go!"
"Aww! Why are you being like this between us? Are you abandoning me just because I have a boyfriend now?"
"Shut up, you human leech! If you're going to use me as your personal chauffeur like this, at least pay for gas!"
"Aww! Of course I'll pay for gas! When have I ever not paid? I can even throw in a kiss on the cheek as a bonus. Come here, honey. Let me give you a big fat kiss! Mwah, mwah!"
"Ah! Get away! Gross! Filthy! Go do that to your boyfriend!"
Listening to their playful bickering, Dojin turned his head to look out the window.
He wanted to take this opportunity to organize his thoughts about what had just transpired in the principal's office.
"Whew."
With a short breath, Dojin pressed the call button without hesitation.
The ringtone played for a few seconds, and then a warm, grandmotherly voice answered.
"Yes, Dojin. It's been a while. What's the matter?"
As soon as she answered and got straight to the point, Dojin's face relaxed.
He had been nervous because it had been so long since they last spoke, but her unchanging voice put him at ease.
Thanks to that, Dojin spoke in his usual comfortable tone.
"Hello, President. How have you been?"
"Oh, you. Just call me Director like you used to. I'm always the same. How about you?"
"I'm the same too. Thanks to you, I'm pulling my own weight in the world."
"Hohoho. Even though I know it's just pleasantries, it's always nice to hear."
"Of course not. I always mean it."
Dojin added playfully, matching the tone of a grandson teasing his grandmother.
But in truth, he meant every word.
To Dojin, who had entered the world as an orphan, this woman was a benefactor who had shown him the kind of warmth even his own parents never had.
Perhaps sensing his sincerity, the person on the other end of the line didn't say much in response.
"Well, I think that's enough pleasantries. So, what did you call for? Knowing your personality, you wouldn't have called just to say hello."
Hearing her prompt to get to the point, Dojin wiped the smile from his face and spoke seriously.
"President. I'm going to resign at the end of this month."
A sudden notice of resignation.
To an outsider, it might seem strange for him to suddenly announce his resignation to an unrelated elderly woman, but it wasn't odd at all.
She was the current president of the factory where he worked.
"Hohoho! Is a mere manager bypassing all middle management to report his resignation directly to the president?"
"I'll submit the formal resignation letter to the department head. I just felt I should tell you personally, President."
"My, you certainly have a way with words. You were such an innocent child back at the orphanage, but you've grown quite sly."
"Hahaha..."
Dojin laughed awkwardly at her words.
Though she was currently the president of the company, she had once been the director of the orphanage Dojin grew up in.
Both the orphanage and the factory belonged to the Daum Welfare Foundation.
As the chairperson of the foundation, she took turns serving as the representative of its various subsidiaries every few years.
A few years ago, she had taken over as the president of the factory where Dojin worked.
"Manager Park is going to be heartbroken. Personally, I'm very sad to see you go too. I thought you, Dojin, could have made it all the way to factory manager."
"Hahaha, thank you for thinking so highly of me, but that would have been impossible. There are so many people with more experience than me above my rank."
"Pfft, as if those useless slackers could last long enough to become factory manager. So, is that all you wanted to say? I get the feeling you still haven't gotten to the real point."
Seeing that the elderly woman had seen right through him, Dojin stopped beating around the bush.
"President. No, Director. I bought the Jeong-a Elementary School property."
"...You did?"
For the first time since the call began, the director fell silent.
That was how shocking Dojin's words were to her.
"Why... did you buy that? It's been closed for five years, so the maintenance costs will be higher than the purchase price."
"There's something I want to try doing there. But you remember exactly when it closed. Since you didn't participate in the auction, I thought you had lost interest entirely."
"Hoho, how could I ever lose interest? Jeong-a Elementary was the school I founded right after the orphanage. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see it so clearly."
"Then why didn't you buy it back?"
Honestly, Dojin had wanted to ask this question for a long time.
Even if you can't run it as a school because there are no students, you could use it for something else.
There were plenty of precedents.
Cafes, pensions, campsites, various training centers...
Many people bought school properties to run businesses.
But the director had not purchased Jeong-a Elementary.
"How could I buy that place again? The children suffered so much because of my son... If I have any conscience left, I shouldn't buy it back. Hohoho."
...
Dojin was left speechless by the director's self-deprecating tone.
He had heard that her son, who was the chairperson at the time, had done something illegal at the school.
The issue had been so severe that all the enrolled students had to be transferred to other schools.
It seemed the director had given up on the school property out of guilt for what had happened back then.
"Hohoho, but I'm glad you bought it. It's much better that a graduate like you has it rather than a complete stranger."
...
"Still, I was once the chairperson of that school, so I should send you a small gift. I heard the school is in terrible shape. I'll send some people over soon to clean it up for you."
"No, it's fine. I can do that myself. I plan to film that process first, so please don't touch anything."
"Oh? Hohoho, are you doing that 'YouTuber' thing too? I heard it's popular among young people these days, but I never expected you to do it, Dojin."
The Dojin she knew was the diligent, ant-like type.
She had thought of him as someone who prepared everything steadily without looking away, so it was quite fresh to hear he was starting an uncertain YouTube channel.
But Dojin's next words shocked even her, despite her long years of experience.
"I paid the remaining balance today and was looking around the school. And I found a stash of cash under the floorboards in the principal's office."
"..."
"I think... your son, the former chairperson, buried it there..."
Dojin had intended to tell her the amount and ask her to take it back.
However, the director's reaction completely surpassed his expectations.
"Stop! That's enough. It must be the money that wretched rascal buried. It's probably some of the money he stole from my safe back then. You keep it, Dojin."
"What? All of it?"
Dojin's voice rose in shock at her unexpected words.
It was a whopping 8 billion won.
No matter how wealthy the director was, this was an amount she could never simply ignore.
Or so he had thought.
"How much could he have hidden in that tiny room anyway? Just think of it as a reward for lifting a burden off my chest. Or a housewarming gift for the school. Usually, when someone buys property, their close acquaintances give them a gift."
"No, but still... at least hear the amount first..."
"I told you, it's fine. If it bothers you that much, just report it to the police. I'll pay you the maximum finder's fee anyway."
"...If you insist, I'll accept it gratefully. But you can't go back on your word later, Director."
"Hohoho. Even if a hundred billion won comes out of there, I won't take it back, so don't worry. But I do have one condition."
"A condition?"
Dojin's voice trembled slightly.
It was a favor attached to 8 billion won.
No matter how easygoing he usually was, he couldn't help but feel tense.
But the director's next words were much simpler than he expected.
"Come visit me after you resign. I want to see your face after all this time, and I'd like to hear what you plan to do with the school."