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'1 million won deposited.'
'1 million won deposited.'
'1 million won deposited.'
Oh.
Forgot about it, but...
Checked my bank account—3 million won more.
Total balance: 8 million won.
'Hmm…'
8 million even after spending.
How many months to hit 8 million? At this rate, I could reach 20 million.
But, like, no tax audits or anything, right?
'What're you earning from? Why's there millions coming in?
Joonhyung, eyes open. Don't look dumb. Answer properly!'
Feels super sketchy.
Noona's handling it, right?
But how's she handling it?
Gotta ask her later…
'Tax audits—usually don't come unless you're dealing in hundreds of millions.
But next year, health insurance or local taxes might flag you.
Unless you're earning crazy money, it's not a big worry.
Still, better prepare for a year from now.'
That's what I found online.
A year… a year from now.
I'll probably be in the military then.
If I'm in the military, it's fine, right?
'Yo, Joonhyung, you in trouble? MPs outside.'
'Huh?'
'They're here to arrest you for illegal filming.
You shooting porn out there? Crazy fucker.'
'…Huh?'
Fuck, no way.
Stop imagining weird shit. Don't jinx it…
"Hah."
Still, money coming in feels good.
Was kinda broke, feeling guilty using uncle's allowance.
Now my wallet's fat, and it's boosting my mood.
'Where to spend it?'
Almost 10 million soon.
Could buy a used car, maybe?
Or sell the house to ditch Juha and Yoo In-ha, move somewhere nicer…
"Fuck."
Almost late again today.
Had to shower, but Yoo In-ha took forever, nearly made me late…
Future's looking grim…
'Should I buy some Ripple?'
If it pops off?
Quietly sell the house and bounce. 'Mheehee.'
Ripple, Ethereum—been catching my eye.
Heard they've nearly tripled recently.
Kinda scary at the peak, but…
With U.S. election hype, it might be fine.
Just 5 million. Just 5 million. If I lose more than 5%, I'm out!
'Ouch.'
Leg hurts.
Went to the hospital for the soccer injury—not major.
Just a stretched ligament and some muscle damage…
Cast would help, but I said no since it's optional.
"No intense exercise."
"Best not to use it at all, rest for about two weeks."
Intense exercise…
Won't do it, obviously.
But soccer's on hold. Might miss the tournament.
All that grinding for nothing… what now?
No clue what to tell the seniors. Could maybe push through a day, but…
'Hiss.'
What about filming?
Is that intense exercise? Almost asked the doctor.
Would've looked so pathetic…
Haaah.
Gotta film again this week.
Worried about where and how…
They wouldn't film at my place, right?
---
"You fucking bastard!"
"You hit it, you fucker!"
Ohh.
Been a while since this movie.
YouTube popped up a recap.
'Who wrote the bullying survey?'
'Wanna die, fuckers?'
…
PTSD's hitting.
Old memories flooding back.
Honestly, female delinquents aren't scary.
They're weaker than guys; I could probably take them.
But it's not the girls themselves…
It's their community that's terrifying.
There's always male delinquents around them.
Even if you beat a female delinquent in a rage, the aftermath is fucked.
Beat the guys too? There's their seniors. And seniors' seniors. And their seniors…
Thinking about it, it's endless, so you don't even try.
Though, if your assigned delinquent's a girl, you thank your lucky stars. Better than a guy, right?
'Today, we're investigating school bullying.'
'Heads down. Look up, you're a suspect.'
Fuck.
Teachers knew but did WWE-style surveys.
Writing something wasn't useless, but it didn't flip things either.
Heard it's different now, but…
'Yo, write it, fucker. Write it!'
Honestly, few said that.
Most quieted down on survey day.
Even the ones who'd mess with you chilled out.
'Write it or not?'
'Uh, dunno.'
Didn't have a reason to write.
Nothing would change.
My situation was decent. Welfare, I guess? Fuck, is that welfare?
'Finished? Eyes closed, hands behind.'
Teachers collecting papers one by one.
That weird silence was wild.
Delinquents tense, shuttles hopeful.
'Maybe it'll change? Change?!'
No chance.
But those WWE surveys weren't bad.
Delinquents quieted down for a day.
A week of peace, kinda.
Then hell resumed, fuck.
'…Eye contact.'
After submitting, locking eyes with Juha or Yoo In-ha.
That strange tension…
Testing the bond between delinquent and shuttle.
'Yo, I treated you good, right? Right, dude?'
"Yo, Joonhyung, come here."
"Uh, yeah."
No words.
'Wrote it? Huh? Did you?' They don't ask.
Just stare into your soul.
'Did he write or not?'
"Ugh, fine, go."
"Uh…"
Yoo In-ha quiets down that day.
Dopamine creeps up.
'So you guys get tame too, huh?'
If they knew I thought that, my pants and underwear would've been shredded…
"Yo, Park Ye-young, to the office."
"Why, fuck!"
"Dunno, just go."
"Fuck!!"
One by one, called out.
Juha and Juri didn't care.
'Call me, whatever. Go, zone out. Hit me, I'll report you.' That vibe.
'Clatter clatter.'
Yoo In-ha was the only one shaking.
No kiosk trips, biting nails, trembling.
'Glance.'
Why you looking at me?
'Didn't write, right? I'm not that bad, right?' Shaking.
"They stopped calling."
"Yeah."
Relief on uncalled delinquents' faces.
Some psychos thought, 'Sweet, can I mess with them more?'
But most eased up, treated their shuttle better.
Fuck.
"Yo, to the kiosk."
"That was close, fuck."
Kinda disappointing when it ended with nothing.
Wonder what would've happened if I wrote Juha, Juri, and Yoo In-ha's names for fun.
Can't imagine it.
"Yo, Joonhyung."
Right after thinking it's fine, Yoo In-ha clings, giggling.
Relieved, like 'Told you, right?'
Kinda wanted to see her despair if called out.
"Buy bread."
This bitch!
Anyway, feels like ages ago.
Over a year, probably.
Memories hit out of nowhere.
'Hngh!'
…
At my front door.
Sounds of Pohang Port laughter from inside.
Yoo In-ha's done with school, huh?
She's just moving in, fuck.
"Hah…"
The shuttle life never ends…
'Hngh' as I pull the door handle.
"Hnghh!"
Giggling.
Kicking off my shoes, I see Yoo In-ha sprawled on the sofa, laughing her ass off.
Having a blast, huh? Better than moping, I guess.
"Back, Joonhyung?"
Yeah, I'm back…
To deal with you!
As if. I drop my bag limply and head to my room.
Feeling drained… just my imagination, right?
"Yo, what's in the black bag? What'd you buy?"
"Shine Muscat. Was cheap…"
"Yum. Wash 'em quick."
Wash 'em yourself, fuck!
Was gonna wash them anyway, but…
Being ordered makes my blood boil, fuck!
'Whoosh.'
Fuck, my life.
Or maybe… I'm starting to think it's partly my fault.
I'm into this, huh? Fuck.
"Wow, sweet."
"Yeah, so sweet…"
Brain-tingling sweet.
Got Shine Muscat cheap recently.
"Where's Juha?"
"Dunno, went home, I think."
Got it.
But if Juha's gone, why're you still here, fuck?
'Mhhng!'
Not even that funny, but she's loving it. On her period or what?
What's this?
Yoo In-ha's phone on the table.
Looks like… Bitcoin?
'Why's the screen so blue?'
Why's it all blue?
Everything's turned blue. Is this right?
"…"
Yoo In-ha, grabbing a Shine Muscat, freezes.
Her face suddenly drops, super sad.
Fuck, what? What's wrong? Why all of a sudden?
'Hng… hnghh…'
No way she invested, right?
Trembling, she lets out a 'hnghh'.
"Fuck… fucking bastards…"
…
Why blame others for your investment?