GC Ch 15

Boss Chu’s face was deeply contorted. While it looked like he had crumpled it out of habit without much emotion, it was also strangely peculiar in an inexplicable way. It was as if he was dumbfounded, thinking, ‘What kind of guy is this?’ Well, come to think of it. Up until just a minute ago, I was a guy cowering as if I were about to mess myself with shit or piss, and then suddenly blurting out words rapidly as if I had swapped my persona, so he too was bound to be inwardly flustered. With such an expression, Boss Chu didn’t ask a thing and just waited for my words to start again.

“That is because. It’s none other than because I felt apologetic toward you, Boss.”

“….”

“Hearing your words today that this is money given because I’m suffering, because I’m pretty, I suddenly had that thought. Ah, I must never take this money with me. It’s not just any money, but pocket money that Boss gave thinking of me, so rather than having that precious thing completely stolen by someone else, I’d rather just not take it at all….”

“….”

“If you’re a human being, you should follow your conscience and keep your morals. That’s why I cannot take the money you give me, Boss. I won’t take it. Even if you give ten thousand won, one thousand won, or let alone one hundred won.”

Did I speak with too much force? Looking back after finishing my words, the thought crossed my mind that I should have acted moderately emotional instead. No, an appeal of this level was necessary to pleasantly convince Boss Chu. While also obediently obtaining the result I wanted.

“The above was my heart.”

Facing Boss Chu with a look in my eyes pleading for him to please fathom this deep intention, I waited for an answer. Raising his chin, he looked deep inside me.

“….”

“….”

His crumpled face slowly smoothed out, and his closed lips moved as if smiling for a moment. No, not just for a moment, but he really smiled.

“That’s true, but.”

“Pardon?”

“That this place really is a declamation contest venue. You’re just plain first place.”

“….”

“Not having a gift for words, my ass. This is all glibness.”

His lips speaking like that parted coolly to the side, to the point where his straight teeth were visible. A moment later, he even laughed out loud.

“So you hated having it stolen that much? Enough to tell on them to me? That’s why I told you to use my money, didn’t I? How about it, should I ask you again?”

“….”

As if the silence were no big deal, he laughed once more. A bit clearer and a bit louder.

“Got it. Let’s talk about that again later, and today just go back empty-handed. Then everything’s set, right?”

My face turned hot from having my inner thoughts exposed, but I didn’t care in the slightest. I felt like I could go back and gladly be beaten by those two with a happy heart. Applauding inwardly, I bowed low to Boss Chu.

“Thank you for being understanding, Boss. Then I will quietly take only the coffee money.”

“No. Leave that too. Tell them I said to put it on my tab, saying I’ll stop by in the near future.”

“…Yes. I will tell them as such.”

Boss Chu made a hand gesture telling me to leave now. Even during that time, Boss Chu’s dick was still fighting a tough battle inside his narrow pants. It seemed like the zipper had opened a bit, unable to endure its momentum. That shape was excessively massive, giving off a strong, surging energy of the mighty Taebaek Mountain Range. My mind felt uncomfortable for no reason.

“…Then Boss. Have a good day and goodbye.”

After bowing deeply and greeting him politely, I took backward steps between the table and the sofa and came out. Putting strength into the hand holding the bundle, as I tried to straighten my waist, he called my name.

“Minjo-ya.”

“…Yes.”

“We’ll see each other again tomorrow.”

“….”

“Tomorrow, just make it a little less tough for me.”

“….”

The voice continuing the ending words with ‘Got it, right?’ was unnaturally sweet.

I don’t know when he had lit it, but the tip of the filter he inhaled from was glowing red. That scarlet ember closely resembled those eyes staring straight at me.

∞ ∞ ∞

Returning without a single cent of money, unable to even get the coffee money, the situation unfolded into a spectacle well worth seeing. As if they were planning what to do with the money ripped off today, the moment I showed them my empty pockets, the expressions on those two bastards contorted instantly. They seemed to think I would earn at least as much as yesterday.

“Is your bad habit flaring up again? It was just yesterday that I told you not to lie!”

In front of the secluded storage room, Kim Jeongsuk spoke in a low voice as if shouting. Because there were customers in the hall, she couldn’t scold me openly and was pushing me up against the narrow storage room. Red rouge was smeared on her front teeth. Because the distance was so close, she must have kissed Gang Munsu and done everything with him, so my gaze went there unintentionally. Feeling nauseous, I quickly shifted my gaze to the bathroom door across from us. At the same time, I answered half-heartedly.

“I’ve never lied. What I told you earlier is everything.”

A moment later, Gang Munsu appeared with an expression denying reality. He was on his way back from thoroughly searching the bright red Matiz I had driven. The body search had already been finished earlier. The touch scanning my crotch was so disgusting that I couldn’t stand it and almost swung at his face.

Gang Munsu, who must have searched for money even lifting up the seats, pushed past Kim Jeongsuk and stood in front of me with a flushed face. In his hand were the 40,000 won I had intentionally put in the console box. It was money received from Team Leader Baek this morning, but they would probably think it was what was left over from spending the 50,000 won handed over yesterday.

“Fucking bitch. You came back after acting like total shit over there, didn’t you?”

Grabbing my hair as if he were going to tear off my scalp, Gang Munsu jabbered somberly. Not wanting to lose, I opened my eyes wide and retorted.

“I didn’t? I came back after acting fucking like a regi?”

“Then why does a gentleman who even requested you by name suddenly shut his mouth tight? Yesterday he gave as much as three hundred thousand, didn’t he?”

“How should I know that? Fuck, I’m not Gung Ye either, so by what means would I look inside Boss Chu? Well, there must have been something that wasn’t to his liking.”

Like Gang Munsu, who hated being talked back to, his expression contorted sharply. “Why you fucking bitch, if it’s no, it’s no,” he said, raising his hand high. Kim Jeongsuk, who was watching, quickly caught hold of that hand and intervened.

“I told you if he gets scratched he can’t work. He’s not a kid you can fix by beating, this one is a kid you have to push logically.”

Now even the word ‘logically’ came out. After throwing a fit at Miss Jin for being so crazy about money, the ones who were obsessed with money were none other than themselves. Kim Jeongsuk poked my forehead again and again with her index finger newly painted in purple polish.

“If a stupid idiot bastard is going to pull a scam, pull it properly. On credit? Don’t make me laugh.”

She blew out nasal breath and sneered fiercely.

“You don’t know well what kind of person Chu Gio is. Boss Chu is a guy who, if nothing else, pays for his coffee without fail. Rain or snow, if he drank my coffee, he’s a guy who pays for it on the spot. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I know well because I’ve heard he’s that kind of person. But as for that kind of person, my goodness, did the sun rise in the west today or what, because he put it on credit?”

“Should I count to three? One.”

“Ah, I’m really frustrated. Saying he’d stop by sometime, he told me to put it on his tab! If you can’t believe it, try calling Gimun to see if it’s a lie or not!”

“….”

When I shouted with an expression looking like I’d die of unfairness, Kim Jeongsuk twitched her lips and glared at me silently. Narrowing her eyes, she began to look into me as if she were going to pull out my eyeballs, and I immediately got a feel for what she was trying to do. She was definitely trying to judge whether it was a lie or not. It was a method used when there was no clear physical evidence like a host bar business card, and as seniority built up while dealing with hundreds of girls who ran off with money, its accuracy was quite high. However, I was the type to slip away easily like a loach. Because I, too, was in the 23rd year of a indebted life.

Before long, Kim Jeongsuk relaxed her eyes and tapped Gang Munsu.

“Let him go. There are customers in the hall too, so let’s stop here for today. If it’s a lie, it’s bound to be caught anyway.”

Since the news brought back was the truth, she had no choice but to see only the truth. Gang Munsu let go of my hair with a disappointed expression at not being able to beat me. Kim Jeongsuk had a similar expression as well.

Stepping back with a swagger, Gang Munsu changed his attitude and threw a taunt.

“Foolish idiot, foolish idiot. You got ousted in just one day. You know that? How foolishly and uselessly you must have acted for him to do credit when he never does. Give it up, just drop it.”

Since he hadn’t seen Boss Chu’s condition with his own eyes, he could jabber like that. Leaving them to say whatever they wanted, I walked into the bathroom. The whispering voices of Kim Jeongsuk and Gang Munsu could be heard through the thin door without anything left out.