High School Reunion
"Ahem, so get this—I got a job at a major corporation! Just recently!"
There are certain unspoken rules about class reunions. Like how people show up just to brag about how much better they've done than everyone else. As Jeong Usik let out a sigh, regretting that he'd even bothered inviting Kim Jisoo on a whim, he fired off a text.
Thinking back to how Jisoo used to get picked on daily in school just for his face and name made Usik wonder if he'd made a mistake inviting him at all.
"Hey, who're you texting like that? Girlfriend?"
A guy who only vaguely knew Jisoo's face and name was suddenly acting all buddy-buddy and prying.
"Nah, just someone."
Usik glanced over at Kang Heisu and Lee Hanseok sitting at another table. He had no idea how the seating had ended up like this, but right now, he felt like he'd been dumped alone in the middle of enemy territory.
Usik sent the message, set his phone down, and started scanning the table. He'd told Jisoo to come to their table, but this one was packed with the assholes who'd tormented him the most back in school.
Fuck... why the hell am I even here?
Usik wondered why he was stuck here while they all bullshitted among themselves. He tried to get up and move, but...
"Hey, Usik."
"What."
"That Kim Jisoo guy—is he not coming?"
"Why do you care if I haven't even heard from him?"
Usik had always been the type to shut down anyone he didn't like. At over 180cm tall with a solid build from working out, guys eyed him warily whenever he got close to Jisoo.
"Nah, just curious. Wondering how well that loser's doing these days."
Just as the tiresome bragging routine was about to kick off, the room suddenly buzzed with noise.
"What the—why's everyone making such a racket... uh...?"
Usik turned to look out the window where everyone was staring. There was a ridiculously expensive foreign luxury car, and a sharply dressed guy in glasses—the chauffeur—was opening the door and bowing deeply to someone stepping out.
"Holy shit, that's insane. Isn't that car worth a fortune?"
"Looks like it's pulling up here?"
"Who's that guy?"
"What's his deal? Girlfriend?"
"Didn't we rent this place out today? Just us?"
The murmurs grew louder, the excitement building as two men approached the entrance. One was the chauffeur from before, bowing politely. The other was decked out in high-end clothes, a pricey watch on his wrist, hair slicked back perfectly—dripping with swag.
And Usik recognized him instantly, letting out a smirk.
"What a fucking clown."
***
"Have a wonderful time, sir."
I accepted the bodyguard's polite bow and stepped inside. The place had been noisy just moments ago, but now it was dead silent as I scanned the tables.
"Uh... who... are you...?"
The guy who'd been mid-boast like he was giving a speech stepped forward, asking in a formal tone.
"We rented this place out today..."
Back in school, this asshole sat behind me every day, kicking my chair with his foot. Han Siun, the pathetic bully.
"Hey, Siun. Long time no see. You gonna pretend you don't recognize me?"
I threw my arm around his shoulders in a casual bro-hug.
"Uh... wha...? Who...?"
"It's me, Kim Jisoo."
"Wha...?"
His jaw dropped. I glanced around the room.
"Kim... Jisoo?"
"That Kim Jisoo...?"
"No way... him?"
"Impossible."
Whispers erupted everywhere.
"Wait, no—hold up. You're Kim Jisoo? For real?"
Han Siun's face twisted more by the second. This is exactly what you get for inviting me just to show off.
I caught Usik's eye across the room and waved. He shrugged back in response.
"Why'd you show up so late?"
"Got held up with some stuff."
"No, wait—hey, who's that guy outside still standing there?!"
Pointing at the bodyguard lingering by the door, he demanded an answer. I shrugged it off casually.
"My driver."
"What?"
"Told you—my personal driver."
His face crumpled hilariously. Even if it wasn't the bodyguard, with the money I had now—and the money I'd make soon—I could easily afford a real one. For now, though, time was tight, so I'd borrowed him. Not exactly bluffing. Well, maybe a little. But who cares—he wasn't a fake chauffeur right now.
"You're full of shit."
"Why would I joke about that?"
Still doubting, he blocked my path, but I brushed past and headed to Usik's table.
"...That watch—isn't that a super expensive one?"
His eyes locked on the timepiece on my wrist, his expression turning dizzy.
"Not that pricey. Just a little over ten million won, I think."
"Ten million... isn't pricey...?"
Usik shot him a puzzled look, which I got. To me, it was a solid investment. And it wasn't even that much money—not for the me of recent days, or the others here.