Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

“No. I was just going for a walk.”

“You walked all the way here?”

Cha Yeowoon nodded blandly, offering no further explanation. He continued walking, and I matched his pace.

“I got paid today, do you want to grab some food…”

“Senior, have you ever tried drinking?”

Alcohol instead of food. An unexpected conversation came from Cha Yeowoon.

Conveniently, there was a convenience store right next to us. Alcohol were prominently displayed at the entrance.

* * *

“Old-fashioned.”

Cha Yeowoon muttered as he received a can of sikhye.

“Underage drinking is illegal.”

“Why isn’t senior drinking sujeonggwa?”

“I wanted to try what you like.”

While opening a can of sikhye identical to Cha Yeowoon’s, I leaned back on my chair. We had settled at an outdoor table in front of the convenience store.

“Don’t do something like that. It feels like my heart is going to burst.”

“Yeowoon, hearts don’t burst easily.”

Cha Yeowoon faintly smiled. I tore open a pack of jerky and chips I had left under the parasol and pushed them toward him. Even without alcohol, snacks had the power to uplift the mood. Snacks were legal, after all.

“What is it?”

“What?”

“Why were you spacing out? It’s not like you’re a zombie, staggering around.”

“I got rejected by my first love.”

“That’s rough.”

“I heard Cheon Sangwon also got rejected. Seems like brother is popular among guys.”

“Okay. If I can’t find a job after graduation, I might as well seduce and eat off some guy.”

“You can eat off me. While it’s already hot.”

“Where can I find anything to eat off you? You might need to put on some weight.”

Although it was a joke, Cha Yeowoon didn’t laugh. He was less visibly distressed than before, but he was still down. The can of sikhye and snacks couldn’t uplift him.

“Did senior work part-time again today? Should I quit everything and get a job too?”

“What nonsense are you saying?”

The situation turned serious, so I took it seriously. Cha Yeowoon quietly sipped his sikhye.

“Why? Is it because of money?”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to…”

What…There was no way to ask. Cha Yeowoon was adamant. The aluminum can crumbled in his grip.

“I don’t want to look pitiful to senior.”

“I don’t think you’re pitiful.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“Hey.”

“I can only do this much for senior.”

Cha Yeowoon took out a canned drink from his pocket. The can of sujeonggwa, guarding my desk every day, crossed the table and landed in front of me.

“Senior keep making me like you. It’s unfair.”

What did I do? My protest failed before I even attempted to respond. Cha Yeowoon’s eyes were teary.

“Whenever I need someone, senior appears. Saying you’ll do anything for me. It’s unfair, telling me to like someone else after that.”

Cha Yeowoon stood up. The plastic chair made an unpleasant noise as it scraped across the ground.

“I’m trying to think of you as a friend. Trying not to like you more, enduring it. Senior doesn’t know.”

Another confession. A very sincere one. Once said, it left me speechless.

“So, senior just for a while, leave me alone.”

Cha Yeowoon spoke so quietly that only the words ‘let me alone’ reached my ears.

Of course, I couldn’t just let him be.

But I couldn’t catch up immediately and could only watch his retreating back. It was the consequence of kicking his pure heart.

He left without looking back. Although I was the one left standing in front of the convenience store, it felt like I had somehow abandoned that child.

[ Sub-Mission: $2250 ($820) ]

[ Reward preview. ]

[ You can see what is causing Cha Yeowoon the most difficulty right now. ]

At that moment, the message window prompted a deal.

* * *

Anything was possible if you put your mind to it. That was a saying from an academy where I used to work in the past.

Tap, tap–

Clack, clack–

Tap, tap, clack, clack–

My fingers skillfully danced on the keyboard. The mouse darted back and forth like lightning. Soon, it became one hand on the keyboard and one hand on the mouse. If I was playing the piano, it would have been a masterful performance.

“M-Myeongha, I’ve been wondering what you’ve been doing since earlier.”

On the monitor pointed to by Ahn Gyeonghun, a kitten was peacefully sleeping.

Soft music was flowing from the speakers. The sound of crickets chirping was subtly added. Of course, they were all free sources.

“8-hour sleep music video on loop.”

“Why are you making that?”

“I can generate revenue by inserting ads in between.”

“Really?”

“Not a lot. But videos like this tend to rank well in searches and can get a lot of views.”

“Wow.”

While listening to the admiration, I uploaded the video and opened a Hangul window I had left down. The file name was . I was in the process of creating an emotional story.

“Wh-What’s that?”

“I’m searching for writing contests with prizes and sending in stories.”

“What kind of prizes? Do you need them?”

“There are things like cosmetic sets, fans, gift certificates, etc…I’ll sell them secondhand.”

“Big brother, have you been doing only this on the computer since earlier?”

Ahn Sia, who had been fiddling with her phone, came up to me.

In the living room of the Ahn siblings’ apartment, I had been solely working on the computer since earlier. Making videos, searching and writing drafts for contests, creating a blog for posting ads, and so on.

Originally, I planned to work in a PC room, but their computer lacked the necessary programs for video and photo editing. It seemed this computer was used by Ahn Gyeonghun to create the photos for the shopping mall.

“Oh. Ahn Sia, how many followers do you have on social media?”

“240,000. Quite a lot. Why are you suddenly asking?”

“I created an account. Follow me.”

“You started a social media account? Big brother, you don’t usually do this kind of thing.”

“I plan to sell the account.”

I showed Ahn Sia my account that I had created earlier on my phone. I had set the profile picture to one of the photos Ahn Gyeonghun had taken. If I gained some followers while working, I could sell it later.

“Big brother, did you get into debt?”

Ahn Sia asked in a serious tone.

“Ehm. I’m being sold to a shrimp boat next month.”

“Don’t joke! Are you in urgent need of money? Can I lend you some?”

“You trust me enough to lend me money? Gyeonghun said the same. You siblings should be careful of scammers.”

Ahn Gyeonghun was Ahn Gyeonghun, but Ahn Sia was the boss, so $1500 or so wouldn’t really be noticeable. If I had the choice, I also wanted to borrow and repay.

Actually, I had already tested whether I could use the trick of borrowing a small amount for a moment and then returning it. I had asked my grandmother, but the number in the Sub-Mission didn’t budge.

It only counted the money I earned. Indeed, the world wasn’t easy.

“It’s just because something has come up where I need to save money in a short period of time.”

I shook my head and focused on writing my subway experience story. I needed to make it emotional at the end.

Nevertheless, I was a wandering professional part-timer who had made a living on his own. I had done dozens of these trivial things.

Whether the profit would be substantial or not, these were typically matters that easily consumed time without much return. For minors, it was usually difficult earning money.

As the number of part-time jobs increased, I would have less time to spend with Cha Yeowoon. As a result, I had decided to focus on more important matters.

Last time, he barely called me as he collapsed. If he was having money troubles, there was nothing I could do because this guy wouldn’t answer me even if it killed him.

“What the hell is happening that you’re doing this?”

To the seemingly genuinely curious Ahn Sia, I kindly provided an answer.

“It’s for my favorite child.”

* * *

As I worried about earning money, my daily schedule became even tighter.

In the morning, I would wake up early and do the side job I had received through a connection between my grandmother and the owner of the lunchbox shop before heading to school. During break, I would work on my other side jobs. At lunch, I would write information articles for my blog. In the evening, I would deliver lunchboxes. At this rate, wouldn’t I earn the title of “Tae Myeongha, who became rich at 19”?

“What are you doing?”

Even when Cheon Sangwon came to my class, I was diligent. The needle and thread moved through my hands skillfully. In front of my splendid skills, he smacked his lips, seemingly impressed.

“Cross-stitch part-time job. If you’re free, sit down and do it too.”

“Brother’s appearance doesn’t suit doing this kind of thing…”

I used to be much better at this when I was younger, but after a long time, it was indeed difficult. Ahn Gyeonghun was helping me on the side. Cheon Sangwon received the cross-stitch needle with a sullen expression.

“Right. Why don’t you follow me back on social media?”

“I’m going to sell that account. Did you find out what I asked you to do?”

“Was that what it was? No wonder Ahn Sia kept tagging brother’s account for no reason. By the way, brother is really a ruthless person. I can’t believe you would ask a guy you rejected to spy on another guy.”

Cheon Sangwon complained as if he had been waiting. Anyway, there was a lot to say.

“I’m originally a bad guy. Answer quickly. How was Cha Yeowoon in your class today?”

“He studied hard.”

“In the track and field club.”

“He ran really hard.”

“How does he look?”

“I don’t know. He always looks to be in a bad mood when I’m with him.”

This part wasn’t very helpful. In fact, Cha Yeowoon generally treated everyone with a face that looked annoyed.

I couldn’t just sit back until the reward for the Sub-Mission was given, so I had been interrogating the 2nd year students about Cha Yeowoon’s activities. The information sources were somewhat limited, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

“Why don’t you ask him directly?”

“I am asking.”

From time to time, I would check on Cha Yeowoon’s condition. If I couldn’t see his face because of our schedule, I would send a text.

[Tae Myeongha] : How are you feeling today, Yeowoon~?

[Cha Yeowoon] : Don’t do that it’s scary

The responses were like this.

[Tae Myeongha] : ㅎㅎwhy

[Tae Myeongha] : Was that too sweet~~~?

[Tae Myeongha] : Do you want to go home together today~~?

[Cha Yeowoon] : Your tone is strange

[Cha Yeowoon] : Let’s just take the bus together

It was suspicious. Even when he didn’t insist on walking home together, he never shied away from being close to me. Now, he only insisted on taking the bus together.

On the way home and on the bus, Cha Yeowoon just quietly sat there. Unlike the bus to Jebudo, he didn’t fidget or look around, nor did he subtly sit next to me.

[ Favorability: 36 ]

He liked me more than before.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“I’m admiring you because you’re handsome.”

“…Don’t joke with that kind of comment.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“Then that’s more of a reason not to say it.”

“Wow, I can’t even say you’re handsome now?”

It seemed like Cha Yeowoon had already withered. During our visit to Jebudo, he appeared livelier, but now he seemed more reserved.