The Temptation of Five Million Won

Bank balance: 12,473 won. I stared blankly at the screen until a sigh slipped out unbidden. The end of the month, and once again, I was flat broke.

"Haa..."

I shoved my phone into my pocket and looked up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight—perfectly clear, which somehow pissed me off even more. The world was so bright and sunny, but my bank account was a wasteland. My name is Han Si-woo. Twenty years old this year, a run-of-the-mill college sophomore. Average family, average looks, average grades. If there's one thing that stands out about me, it's my poverty.

Allowance from my parents wasn't enough to scrape by, so since starting college, I'd tried every part-time job under the sun. Convenience stores, cafes, gas stations, flyer distribution, moving companies... and most recently, delivery gigs. But that delivery job was the problem.

Two weeks ago. It was a drizzly night, and I had three chickens loaded on the back of my scooter, racing down a back alley.

"Gotta hurry..."

Time was tight. One star review for being late meant a scolding from the boss. I cranked up the speed. That was my mistake. The wheel hit a slick manhole cover and skidded sideways. By the time I came to, I was tumbling across the asphalt.

"Ugh..."

Luckily, no major injuries, but my right leg was fractured. All three chickens ended up splattered on the ground, and the scooter repair came out of my paycheck. In the end, four weeks in a cast meant no work and zero income. Add hospital bills, and I was left with just over ten thousand won.

I got the cast off three days ago. My leg was recovering okay, but my bank account showed no signs of life. Even this week's food budget was looking dicey.

"Part-time jobs... anything out there?"

Lying on my bed in my tiny studio, I scrolled through job apps on my phone. Convenience store pay was too low, and delivery? Trauma city for now. As I kept scrolling, one ad jumped out at me.

Five million won. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Yep, five million. Half a mil for a week? Was there really such a job? Wait, isn't this risky? A new drug trial means testing experimental meds on people. What if there are side effects? What if something goes wrong with my body?

But then my balance flashed in my mind again: 12,473 won.

"...Sign me up."

I hit apply in 0.3 seconds flat. No hesitation. Only rich people can afford to overthink five million won.

A few days later, the confirmation text came.

And today, I was on that shuttle. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Glancing around, it was packed with young guys and girls my age—about forty in total, twenty each. All lured by the money, probably. Their faces mirrored mine: half excited, half uneasy. The unease winning out a bit.

Watching the cityscape give way to mountains through the window made my stomach twist.

Isolated research center in the mountains... In movies, that's where shit always goes down.

I was lost in pointless fantasies, staring out the window, when—

Tap.

Someone poked my shoulder.

"Huh?"

I whipped around. And there was a familiar face: round cheeks, brown ponytail, crescent-moon eyes crinkled in a big grin.

"Whoa? Si-woo!"

It was Park Ha-young. Same major, one of my few friends. Always bright, loud, the mood-maker of our department.

"Ha-young? What are you doing here...?"

"New drug trial gig! No way, you signed up too?"

She plopped down next to me with a grin.

"Five mil, five mil! Couldn't pass that up, right?"

"Y-yeah..."

A wave of relief hit me. Truth be told, the idea of a week locked in a mountain lab with strangers freaked me out.

"Dude, I'd have been scared solo, but you're here—phew!"

She punched my arm. So she was the shoulder-poker.

"Same... Feels better with someone I know."

"Right? Let's crush this week, Si-woo!"

"Yeah, you too."

Ha-young started chattering away: what she'd do with the cash, what the trials might be, what the other participants were like. Her nonstop energy melted away my anxiety bit by bit.

About an hour in, the bus pulled up to a white building deep in the mountains: the research center. Three stories, sleek and modern-looking. But surrounded by nothing but peaks, the isolation hit hard.

"Whoa, legit in the sticks..."

Ha-young hopped off, looking around.

"Cell signal work here?"

"...Yeah, bars. Good."

Participants filed out and into the building. Following the staff, we headed to the changing rooms first.

"Please wear the provided lab clothes during the trial period. Store personal items in the lockers."

The lab clothes were white short-sleeve shirt and shorts. Like hospital gowns, but simpler. I changed quick and stepped out. The hallway was filling with white-clad participants, like some group retreat.

Strolling casually, I froze. By the window at the end of the hall: long black hair cascading to her waist, shimmering in the sunlight. Slim face, flawless white skin, big clear eyes gazing outside quietly. Even in lab clothes, her long, smooth legs stood out.

Yoon Seo-yeon. The undisputed campus beauty everyone knew. A senior, but first time seeing her in person. I'd glimpsed pics on SNS and forums, but the real deal...

...way prettier than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠photos.

My heart thumped hard. I stared like an idiot. Then, beside her, familiar yellow hair caught my eye.

Na Ye-jin. Shoulder-length dyed yellow, sharp features. Lab clothes on her looked like runway fashion. A different vibe from Yoon Seo-yeon, but stunning.

The two were famous besties—opposites that clicked.

Why are they doing a gig like this...?

Curious, but no way I'd approach strangers. I just stole glances from afar.

Then—

"Hey."

Whack.

Something smacked my back hard.

"Ack!"

I spun around. Ha-young stood there, arms crossed, half-lidded eyes glaring up at me. Not a happy face.

"Han Si-woo."

"Y-yeah?"

"What were you just doing?"

"N-nothing, just..."

"Just? Drooling over Senior ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yoon Seo-yeon."

"I wasn't drooling!"

"You were this close. Heart-eyes and everything."

She shook her head pityingly.

"C'mon, just surprised to see school people here."

"School people? Who doesn't know Yoon Seo-yeon? She's on the boards daily."

"I know of her, but first time IRL..."

"And you lost your mind, huh."

She smirked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and elbowed my side.

"Wake up, Si-woo. No way she'd notice you."

"...I know, I know. Just looking."

She was right, obviously. A girl like that and a nobody like me? I cleared my throat and looked away.

Moments later, the announcement blared.

Everyone started moving, murmuring.

"Physical exam? What's that about?"

Ha-young tilted her head.

"Probably checking health before trials?"

"Oh, yeah. Guess I go girl side. See ya, Si-woo!"

She waved and dashed to B Wing. I followed the guys to A Wing.

Glancing back down the hall, I saw the girls heading to B. Long black hair swaying slightly in the breeze—Yoon Seo-yeon. Na Ye-jin was saying something beside her; she nodded with a quiet smile.

My steps slowed without thinking.

...A week together. Maybe a chance to say hi?

Lame thought, I knew. But hey, earn five mil and ogle the campus queen? Not bad. I chuckled to myself and headed to A Wing.