Stock Club Showdown
Kim Kyung-soo, the stock club president, scowled at me, clearly pissed that I was trash-talking his precious holdings.
"What the hell are you talking about? Why do you think selling Korean Air was smart?"
The mood had been all praise for him until I dumped cold water on it, so he snapped at me, offended.
"How much capital do you even have?"
Bullets—that's slang for how much money you're trading with.
"Uh, about 3.4 million won."
"Ha! You're talking stocks with that piddly amount? I'm moving 50 million won in stocks right now."
"What? Does not having money mean you can't even talk about stocks?"
"What did you say, you little shit?!"
I fired back boldly, and Kyung-soo yelled in rage.
"Hey, cut it out. Senior, what are you doing to the kid? Hyun-su, you too—knock it off."
Lee Soo-min, the vice president, stepped in to stop it.
"No, seriously. What does some low-tier retail investor punk know? I'm not letting him into our club. Got that?"
"Wanna bet on it?"
His "low-tier ant" bullshit got under my skin, so I proposed a wager.
"A bet? What kind?"
"I'll bet Korean Air hits the daily limit down today. What do you say?"
"Pfft, hahaha! Limit down? You joking? A 30% drop? Korean Air? Fine, let's bet. If I win, you stay the hell away from the club and kneel to everyone here apologizing."
"And if I win?"
Kyung-soo hesitated at my question. My confidence made him wonder if I knew something.
That's when Park Woo-jin chimed in.
"That guy's hopeless. Senior, you'll crush him. My uncle works at an investment firm, and he said Korean Air's on a growth streak. Sure, it might dip today, but limit down? No way."
Woo-jin had joined the club following Ye-rin, but he was already in a bad mood hanging with weirdos like her crowd. His support revived Kyung-soo's spirits.
"If you win, I'll quit the club and hand you the presidency. Everyone agree?"
There was some murmuring, but most nodded. No one thought Kyung-soo could lose.
"I'll agree too. Wow, a freshman as club president? Hope that's okay."
I brimmed with confidence. I'd already seen the future where Korean Air tanked to limit down today.
"Let me make it clear: Korean Air hits limit down at 1 PM. It'll start plummeting around noon. If you're near home or a PC bang, sell fast."
My rock-solid certainty made the room buzz.
"You gonna believe this newbie? That's ridiculous."
"I said it plain. If you don't buy the limit down call, sell today and buy back tomorrow—no big loss."
A few headed out to dump their shares. Even Soo-min senior hesitated.
I approached her. "Soo-min senior, trust me once. Sell if you can."
It was nearly 11 AM now. The idea of something exploding at noon gripped Soo-min.
"Soo-min, we've known each other forever. You're not falling for that punk's crap, right?"
Kyung-soo yelled as even Soo-min seemed swayed. Ye-rin was the most flustered—she'd brought me here with good intentions, not expecting this chaos.
I went to Ye-rin and quietly took her hand.
"Ye-rin, don't worry. You don't trust me?"
"No, I do... but limit down for real?"
"For real."
Ye-rin was so panicked she didn't even notice me holding her hand. Surprisingly fragile mentally.
Woo-jin saw it, though. Rage boiled seeing me hold the hand of Ye-rin, the girl he liked.
"Hey! Who the hell are you to flirt in front of seniors? You come to our club and just stir shit. Apologize and get out."
"What? Says the scammer-lookin' dude~"
I shot back without backing down.
"What'd you say?!"
"Park Woo-jin, stop."
Lee Soo-min held back Woo-jin, who looked ready to swing.
Only then did Ye-rin feel my hand. Her expression softened at the reassuring touch. Strength flowed into her grip on my hand. I felt her heart too.
"Hyun-su, I thought well of you, but this isn't cool for the club."
Soo-min scolded, still neutral as vice president.
"Senior, I just shared my opinion. Kyung-soo senior dismissed me."
"True, but..."
Soo-min had seen it—Kyung-soo overreacted—but as president and friend, she couldn't fully side with me.
I leaned in and whispered, "Since you said you think well of me, senior—sell Korean Air quick and buy LK Chemical. Not too late."
"What? LK Chemical?"
She was shocked but doubtful. My second whisper convinced her; she bolted from the room.
Kyung-soo's face turned beet red seeing Soo-min, his three-year ally, bail on him for a newbie.
'That fucking bitch. Should've just fucked her.'
I got his frustration. He'd probably lusted after her, and now she ignored him for me—infuriating.
Soo-min returned fast, USB ready. Noon approached.
"Soo-min senior, anywhere to watch TV here?"
"Yeah, big TV in the main building lobby."
"Let's head there. We'll know soon enough."
Everyone moved to the main building. Kyung-soo and Woo-jin trailed curiously.
As club members entered, students buzzed around the TV.
"What the hell? For real?"
"Whoa, America's going nuts. Insane!"
Soo-min shoved through to see: breaking news on TV—Iraq War. Full U.S.-U.K. invasion underway.
"N-No way..."
Soo-min froze, mouth agape. My final whisper: "War breaks out in Iraq." That's why she sold Korean Air for LK Chemical.
"Aaaahhh!"
A scream nearby. A club member checked Korean Air on the lobby search laptop.
Already down -15%.
-15% (Plummeting)
"Disaster! Sell now!"
Club members crowded the screen. Those who'd ignored me dashed out madly. Kyung-soo tried too.
"Senior, too late. Limit down in 20 minutes. Told you to sell—ego got in the way."
Kyung-soo twitched, mouth opening for retort, but his holdings silenced him. He sprinted to a PC bang.
I called after his frantic back: "It'll recover somewhat in a couple years. Hang tight."
He was too busy running to care about my mocking tone.
"Hyun-su, how'd you predict this?"
"Tensions between the U.S. and Iraq simmered since 9/11. Due time—it blew up."
"Fine, Iraq War prediction. But why Korean Air specifically?"
Soo-min asked; Ye-rin eyed me curiously too. I'd nailed Korean Air's crash perfectly.
"Korean Air expanded big lately on good earnings—biggest bet on the Middle East."
I pulled up articles on the laptop to show them.
"Iraq War shreds those routes. Massive losses. Senior, you sold Korean Air and bought LK Chemical, right?"
"Yeah."
"See?"
LK Chemical was at limit up, trading halted post-1 PM.
Limit Up! Trading Halted
"Sold shares don't matter—what we hold does."
Ye-rin and Soo-min gaped at me. Hot girls like them staring in awe? Pure bliss.
"What's Iraq War got to do with LK Chemical?"
Soo-min recovered and asked.
"Iraq, Middle East—oil. Oil prices spike helps refiners. But prolonged war hurts too."
Common knowledge.
"So? Why LK Chemical mooning when others aren't?"
I searched more articles.
"LK Chemical isn't just Middle East—they inked U.S. and Russian oil deals recently. Stock was up a bit already, but Iraq War makes them Korea's only war-proof player."
"You... you're a genius..."
Hearts popped in Soo-min senior's eyes, just like Ye-rin's. Ye-rin's loyalty was sky-high now.
She checked her portfolio—insane gains.
I'd doubled her money in nearly a day, as promised.
"Hyun-su, mind giving me your number?"
Soo-min approached. Ye-rin glanced anxiously—less time clinging to me now?
"Sure, senior. Here. Looking forward to working together."
"Of course, President. We'll take good care of you~"
I spoke like my presidency was a done deal.
"Vice President, can you gather all members in the club room at 3 PM?"
"Huh? Possible, but why? Acting president already might spark backlash."
She worried for me. "Don't people need time?"
"They need money, not time. Gather 'em—I'll handle it."
"Okay... got it."
Soo-min agreed readily. 'Hyun-su can pull it off...'
"Thanks, senior. Ye-rin, let's eat. Starving."
"Yeah... okay."
She took my offered hand naturally and followed. Soo-min's drama made Ye-rin realize her feelings crystal clear.