There were many truths Kang Jin-woo held dear:
Money talks.
Free things are sacred.
Vending machines are just socially awkward ATMs.
It was the first Sunday morning in the dorms, and Jin-woo stood in front of the old vending machine at the end of the hallway, glaring at it like a man facing an ancient rival.
"You and me again, huh?" he muttered, hand already fishing in his hoodie pocket. "You thought last time was luck, didn't you? But no… it was finesse."
He inserted a 500-won coin. The machine whirred. Jin-woo cracked his knuckles and pressed B2—his old faithful: Cool Lime Sparkle Energy Soda+. The button lit up.
The can dropped with a soft thunk.
Success.
"Easy," he whispered, bending to retrieve his prize. But he didn't stop there.
"Oh no, my sweet metallic friend," he cooed, placing his ear dramatically against the glass. "I know you've got more in you."
He reached into his bag and pulled out… a bent paperclip.
Back in the dorm, Yuna was brushing her hair while watching a baking tutorial on her tablet. She paused the video as the door slammed open.
"Behold!" Jin-woo announced, holding up not one but three cans of soda.
She raised an eyebrow. "You used coupons again?"
"Even better," he said, flopping onto his bed. "Negotiation."
"Please don't tell me you scammed a vending machine."
"I persuaded it. Gently. With tools."
"You're going to get electrocuted one day."
He cracked open a can and took a dramatic sip. "If I die, bury me next to the C2 slot."
"C2 is milk coffee."
"I have no regrets."
Yuna set down her brush. "So, what's your plan today? Convincing the laundry machine to spit out free socks?"
"Tempting," Jin-woo said, "but no. I'm scouting new targets. Cafeteria staff. Lost-and-found. The finance club."
"The finance club?"
"They hoard grant money like dragons hoard gold. I'll pose as a struggling entrepreneur."
"You are a struggling entrepreneur."
"I'm offended by your accuracy."
Later that day, Jin-woo prowled the dorm like a man on a mission. He made small talk with upperclassmen, took photos of the club bulletin board, and casually asked the janitor how often vending machines were restocked.
At one point, he was caught eavesdropping on a group of girls talking about dorm kitchen access. He pretended to be lost.
"Noona's probably going to yell at me," he muttered as he slunk back to the room.
But when he opened the door, he found Yuna sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by ingredients.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Cooking," she said, stirring a bowl. "The microwave on the third floor actually works. Want some gyeran-mari?"
"Egg roll?" His eyes lit up.
"Only if you do the dishes."
He made a pained noise. "Free food shouldn't come with conditions."
"Life does."
They ate sitting on the floor, using chopsticks with different lengths. Jin-woo looked like he was experiencing divine enlightenment with every bite.
"You know," he said between mouthfuls, "this is dangerously good. You could sell this."
"I have," she said casually. "Once made ₩300,000 in a week selling bentos to sad engineering majors."
"…Marry me."
She laughed. "You'd have to beat three other guys who offered me their ramen collection."
Jin-woo clutched his chest. "Savage."
That night, the hallway vending machine was mysteriously taped off with a note:"Under maintenance. Suspicious activity detected."
Jin-woo stared at it, dead inside.
"Farewell, old friend," he whispered, pressing his forehead to the plexiglass one last time.
🖼️ Bonus Illustration Description:
Scene: Jin-woo squatting in front of a vending machine like a seasoned thief, dramatically inserting a bent paperclip into the coin return slot. Behind him, Yuna stands with her arms crossed, sipping from a can, watching in amused disbelief.
Caption:"This isn't hacking. It's economic outreach."
That night, Jin-woo was lying on his top bunk when he heard Yuna's voice from below.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"…Did you really get three sodas with one coin?"
"I'll never reveal my secrets."
"…Was the paperclip clean?"
A pause.
"…Define clean."
"OH MY GOD."
She pelted his bunk with a pillow.
Later, with the lights off, they lay in silence, the soft hum of the hallway light outside filtering through the window.
"Hey Noona," he said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"If I made a vending machine fortune-telling service, do you think people would pay for it?"
"As in… you press a button, and it gives you a soda and a vague prediction of your future?"
"Exactly."
"…How vague are we talking?"
"Like… 'A handsome man will offer you sugar water and destiny.'"
She snorted. "It might actually work."
"I'm going to be rich."
"You're going to be arrested."
Jin-woo smiled in the dark.
Maybe. But until then…The hustle continued.