Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Scratch-Off Windfall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Inner Thoughts: Wow, that girl is really cute and pretty.]
Inner Thoughts: She's totally my type. Should I ask for her number this time?
Inner Thoughts: Is that guy her boyfriend? They don't match at all?
Inner Thoughts: Why is a girl that pretty hanging around with such a loser?
Inner Thoughts: Does the guy have money? He doesn't look rich?
He headed to the lottery shop, brushing past the inner thoughts of the people around him.
He entered the lottery shop.
"Do you sell scratch-off tickets?"
"Yes."
"How much are they?"
"We have three kinds: 500 won, 1,000 won, and 2,000 won."
He pondered.
What should he buy?
500 won? 1,000 won? 2,000 won?
"I'll take six of the 1,000-won ones."
"That's 6,000 won."
He paid 6,000 won and received six scratch-off tickets.
The reason he'd specifically chosen six 1,000-won tickets was simple.
'Gut feeling.'
Pure gut instinct. Nothing more.
"A-young, here. I'll give you one."
He handed a scratch-off ticket to Choi A-young.
It was a small gift for her.
'No way it'll win, right?'
Or maybe? It could happen.
He'd eaten a Lucky Cookie and gotten second prize before.
Well, if it did hit, it'd be her luck.
"Really? Thank you!"
"If you win, you have to buy meat, okay?"
"Of course! I'll treat you to beef!"
"Nice. Hope you actually win. Free beef sounds good."
Jin-seong immediately started scratching his ticket.
A flicker of anticipation stirred inside him.
After the Lucky Cookie second prize... maybe this time too? Could luck strike again?
He scratched diligently.
'Damn.'
What a shame.
No wins at all.
Not even 10,000 won, let alone 1,000.
Total bust.
'Crap, just wasted money.'
He tossed the ticket in the trash. His hopes shattered. He vowed never to buy scratch-offs again.
"A-young, let's..."
He started to tell Choi A-young they should leave the shop.
But the words wouldn't come.
Choi A-young was silently shedding thick tears like chick peas.
Choi A-young and Jin-seong's eyes met.
"Oppa... I... 20 million won... I won 20 million won..."
Her voice trembled violently.
Inner Thoughts: Mom's hospital bills... This money will cover them.
Inner Thoughts: I was worried about the bills... even thinking of picking up a night shift...
Inner Thoughts: But that's my situation. He bought the ticket with his money... Shouldn't I give it back to him?
Inner Thoughts: Yeah, I should give it back, right?
Jin-seong glanced back and forth between Choi A-young's face, her inner thoughts, and the ticket several times.
"......"
About a minute of silence passed. Their eyes shook fiercely.
'Should I ask for it back? Or play it cool and let her have it?'
Honestly.
He never dreamed she'd actually win.
But now that she had 20 million won, greed bubbled up.
"...Split it half-half?"
After immense internal struggle, he shamelessly made the offer.
"...Deal!"
The deal was struck. They'd split it amicably.
'Yes! 10 million won!! On top of the 44 million, another 10 million for free!'
Inner Thoughts: 10 million won will more than cover Mom's hospital bills.
They faced each other and grinned broadly.
"A-young!"
"Oppa!"
Reason flew out the window.
Overwhelmed with joy, they pulled each other into a fierce embrace.
'A-young's the best!'
'Oppa's the best!'
Thirty seconds later, they came to their senses.
'Nice.'
A faint peach scent wafted from her.
The weight of her bra and midriff pressed against him plainly.
Her soft, warm body was no joke.
"Jin-seong oppa, thank you so much. You saved me."
"I'm thankful too. That was your win, but you shared half with me."
"Nah, no way. You gave it to me, so of course we split it."
"I'm really glad I met up with you today, A-young."
"Me too. Me too. I almost had a disaster without you."
"Thanks."
"Thank you."
Sipping a Complex latte.
Choi A-young reminisced about her first meeting with Jin-seong.
The first time she saw his KakaoTalk profile picture.
Pig-like, ugly, and his clothes were shabby as could be.
No one would feel favorably toward him.
He was the polar opposite of her ideal type.
'He was really not my type.'
If Lee Ji-seong hadn't urged her, 'He's a good guy. Just meet him once,' she never would have.
She wouldn't have even messaged him.
In fact, she planned to meet once and say, 'You're not my type,' then distance herself.
'But.'
Meeting him changed her mind.
He wasn't as ugly as she'd imagined. His personality was gentle and kind. And he lived diligently.
'I could tell he liked me, but he wasn't pushy. Above all, he had confidence.'
Not bad. A good person. Dating felt burdensome, but she wanted to be like good oppa-little sister.
"What're you thinking about so deeply?"
Choi A-young snapped out of it. Jin-seong returned from the bathroom. She shook her head.
"Hehe, Oppa, aren't your lips dry? Want A-young to order dessert?"
"Nah, I'm good. We're getting bingsu after lunch, right?"
"Oh yeah! That's right! We planned bingsu!"
"You got me 10 million won, so bingsu's on me."
"No way! You helped me cover Mom's bills, so I have to treat!"
"Hospital bills?"
"Ah... Yeah... Well..."
Choi A-young spilled her situation.
Her mom had surgery. Another one coming up. She'd added her part-time savings to the bills. Struggling with shortage. Even considering a night job.
"Is your mom okay?"
"Yes, the doctor said one more surgery and she'll be fine."
"That's a relief. And you? You okay?"
"Huh? I'm not sick or anything?"
"You've been stressing out without me knowing, right? You good?"
"Yeah, I'm fine now. Thanks to you, all my worries are gone."
"Glad to hear it."
"Hehe, thank you. Really, thank you."
Choi A-young smiled brightly.
Inner Thoughts: Talking with Oppa puts my mind at ease.
Inner Thoughts: Oppa seems like such a warm-hearted person.
Inner Thoughts: If I had a real brother, would he be like Jin-seong oppa?
Favorability shot up sharply.
Lunchtime came. They ate spicy rice cake. Extra spicy. Then headed for bingsu.
Inner Thoughts: I met him casually... we're not even dating... but it feels like a lovers' date.
Inner Thoughts: But Jin-seong oppa's lost so much weight. He looks way better than before. Even more handsome now.
Stuffed, they walked to digest.
'Huh? Arcade?'
An arcade caught his eye.
"A-young, ever been to an arcade?"
"No? Never."
Choi A-young had lived a life far from games since birth.
No arcades, no consoles, no PC games, not even mobile games.
Not even Candy Crush, Go-Stop, or Marble Mania.
"Not into games?"
"Yeah, no interest. I'd rather read comics or look at puppy pics in that time."
"Wanna check out the arcade?"
"Sure, why not."
Choi A-young wasn't particularly excited about the arcade.
But she wasn't against it either, so she agreed readily.
They entered the arcade.
"Any game you wanna try?"
"Hmm..."
Choi A-young scanned the interior.
Dead empty.
Machines crammed together.
"That one over there looks okay."
She had no clue what was what.
Just pointed at something decent-looking.
"Tekken? Super fun. Let's play."
"Sounds good."
So that's Tekken.
"I'll explain the controls."
He briefly explained: movement, attacks, defense, combos, etc.
Inserted coins into the machine.
The game started.
Jin-seong picked Paul. Popular, powerful, cool character.
Choi A-young, on the other hand...
"Huh? Ling Xiaoyu? That's tough to play."
"She looked pretty, so I picked her."
Female character. Cute Chinese girl.
High difficulty.
"I'm a total newbie. Go easy on me."
"Got it. I'll hold back."
He meant it.
Jin-seong was pretty good at Tekken, actually.
Played it like meals in school arcade days.
High-level player.
'Ahh, this cool, heavy feel... been too long.'
Tekken after so long felt welcoming and familiar.
Like reuniting with a childhood friend.
'Light jab to close in...'
Jin-seong's Paul darted swiftly at Xiaoyu.
Threw a light jab.
'Huh?'
Jin-seong couldn't help but be flustered.
'Blocked?'
Xiaoyu blocked the jab effortlessly.
Luck? Probably backed up into block?
'How about this?'
Paul crouched low. Tried a low, concise kick.
Low kick.
'Gah?!'
Perfectly blocked.
'Gotta mix it up.'
Psychological warfare.
Faked a low kick, threw a light jab.
Land it, follow with power combo.
"...?!"
Flustered.
Blocked too easily.
In the ensuing match.
It was like Xiaoyu read Paul's attack patterns.
Dodging every which way like future sight Haki.
"Too slow."
Choi A-young murmured softly. Xiaoyu's counter began.
Helpless.
Xiaoyu's attacks were vicious. Took hits without landing a thing.
"What the hell..."
A curse slipped out. KO'd. Zero hits landed.
He stared at Choi A-young in disbelief.
Inner Thoughts: Trash.
Inner Thoughts: Sucks.
Inner Thoughts: Boring.
Jin-seong's brows furrowed.
His shoulders trembled faintly.
Park Ha-yeon calling him a pig didn't faze him. Choi A-young calling him ugly didn't either.
Why?
Because he was a pig. Ugly too. He coolly admitted it. Sad but reality.
But.
But still.
He couldn't tolerate being called trash.
Tekken pro called trash? Tekken master dissed?
"Hey, no more going easy."
Say you got wrecked, you wench!!
"......"
Jin-seong hung his head.
"Yawn..."
Choi A-young yawned.
Inner Thoughts: Trash.
Yawn and "trash" before the loser.
Perfect teabagging.
"Yes, I'm trash. Totally."
He had to admit it.
He bowed before the SS-Grade Game Talent.