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“Really? So what? A rich kid? Did they come in place of their parents?”
Suddenly, Hyun-seo’s eyes lit up. Her expression hinted at ulterior motives if the person turned out to be around her age. Hyun-soo sighed.
“He’s our age. He said he personally sponsored us, not on behalf of his parents.”
At this, Hyun-seo chewed on her cigarette filter and furrowed her brows.
“Does that make sense? How could someone our age sponsor us for such a long time? Where does the money even come from? Is he really from a wealthy family?”
“...”
“Is he? A rich boy?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“What else did you find out, you dumb girl?”
Puffing out a long trail of smoke, Hyun-seo let it drift over Hyun-soo’s face.
“There is something I found out.”
“What? Stop dragging it out and tell me already. My body’s getting cold.”
“The sponsor... we know him. That person.”
“What?”
Hyun-seo, who had been stubbing out her cigarette in an empty tuna can, suddenly looked up.
“Who?”
“You heard me. Who I said.”
“You mean the son of the housekeeper who used to work at our place?”
Hyun-soo avoided eye contact, lowering her gaze. Recognizing the affirmative answer, Hyun-seo let out a bitter laugh. What an ironic twist of fate.
“That sly fox. Watching us secretly from the shadows all these years while sending money?”
“...”
“I thought his family was dirt poor with no connections. Where’s the cash coming from?”
“I don’t know. I don’t either.”
“Did he win the lottery or something? Life’s so unfair, damn it.”
Hyun-soo stared blankly at Hyun-seo, who rolled her tongue along the inside of her cheek, deep in thought. Finally, she turned back to Hyun-soo.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Why did you send those photos?”
“What? The nude ones?”
“Yeah.”
“Win-win situation. Kill two birds with one stone. Get it?”
Hyun-soo didn’t respond. Instead, she retrieved her bag, pulling out checks and cash before handing them over to Hyun-seo. Hyun-seo’s already wide eyes doubled in size.
“Where’d you get this money? Are you prostituting yourself?”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“Whatever. Stop making that face. Where’s the money from? Let me see.”
Snatching the money, Hyun-seo grinned ear to ear.
“It’s because of that. Sending those pictures.”
“What?”
“Because of the money. You’re obsessed with it.”
Slowly, the smile faded from Hyun-seo’s face as she held the cash tightly in her hands.
“How could someone who claims to take care of her sister fail so miserably, yet manage to spend someone else’s money?”
“Are you serious right now?”
“It’s your fault. All your fault.”
Hyun-seo stood up, facing Hyun-soo directly.
“Who told you to start the fire? Who made Mom die?”
“Why are you bringing this up now?”
“After Mom died, my life went to hell. And it all started because of your mistake.”
“...”
“And Dad? Missing, sure, but obviously dead by now. Whose fault do you think that is?”
“...”
“All this misfortune—it’s because of you. Everything started with you. Understand?”
“...”
“And still, you act so high and mighty. Such bad luck you bring.”
As Hyun-seo neatly stacked the bills, she suddenly smiled. Then, she slapped Hyun-soo’s cheek lightly with the wad of cash.
“Money feels good, doesn’t it? What’s the problem?”
“Don’t do that.”
“Just think of it as a blessing. Weren’t you worried about when the sponsorship might run out? If it’s someone we know, just keep looking good, right?”
“What?”
“You and Yoon Guk—you liked each other back then, didn’t you?”
“…No.”
“Don’t lie. I saw it too. Just try to impress him again.”
“It’s not like that!”
Frowning deeply, Hyun-seo leaned closer and smirked.
“If you don’t want to, fine. Do it anyway. Bodies react regardless of what the mind thinks.”
“What do you mean?”
“Use that pretty body of yours. What’s the point of having an ass if you’re never going to use it? Are you a nun? A Buddhist monk?”
“Are you insane?”
It was a blatant suggestion to sleep with him. Hyun-soo, exasperated, pushed Hyun-seo away. Hyun-seo scowled—she hated physical contact with Hyun-soo.
“I came back to Korea relying on the sponsor for most opportunities. I’m aiming for the main role in a big project. You get it, right?”
“...”
“From the looks of it, Yoon Guk has become someone important. Hold onto that connection tightly. Make sure I benefit from it. Got it?”
Hyun-seo’s command bordered on yelling. Hyun-soo finally spoke.
“Are you really that insecure?”
“What?”
“Are you really that unsure of your own abilities? With your skills, you shouldn’t need this kind of luck—”
“Don’t joke around.”
“...”
“It’s not about doubting my skills; it’s about being certain of your rotten luck. Every single thing you touch turns to ruin.”
Hyun-seo sneered deliberately, her mocking face chillingly cold.
“Do you have to talk like that?”
“After Mom, then Dad. And now me? Are you trying to destroy me too? If not, shape up and behave.”
“Sister. Please...”
“Yoon-seok’s staying over tonight. If you’re uncomfortable, go sleep somewhere else.”
Without another word, Hyun-seo left. Not long after the door closed, moans and creaking sounds resumed.
Hyun-soo collapsed where she stood, her legs giving out. She had no idea what to do. Despair washed over her.
‘For years, I’ve fed, clothed, and sheltered you with my money.’
‘So now you understand whose leash you’re on, right?’
Guk’s voice echoed loudly in her ears. No matter how hard she tried to forget, his words only grew clearer with time.
‘Use that pretty body of yours. What’s the point of having an ass if you’re never going to use it?’
‘Bow low. Grovel. If you’re brave, spread your legs—but I’ll pass. Friends shouldn’t do that, right?’
Hyun-seo’s words intertwined with his, swirling chaotically in her mind. It saddened her to realize that the good times were truly gone, and adulthood meant nothing more than cold calculations.
Buzzzz.
Her phone vibrated just then. A text from ‘Sponsor Han Se-myung.’ Hyun-soo hesitated—was this really Guk’s number? Should she save it under his name?
[Hotel ONYX, 71 XX-ro, XX-gu, Seoul, Tomorrow AM 10:00]
The message contained only the location, address, and time. No further explanation. But Hyun-soo instinctively knew it was an invitation. He wanted her to meet him there at that time tomorrow.
But why a hotel? Surely, it couldn’t mean what she feared.
Shaking off the impure thoughts clouding her mind, Hyun-soo doubted Guk would stoop to such behavior. At least, the Guk she knew wouldn’t—not unless he’d changed drastically...
‘Think carefully.’
‘Opportunities like this don’t come around often.’
“Please, just be quiet... please.”
Caught in a whirlwind of memories and Guk’s words, the sounds of Hyun-seo and the man entwined filled the air—moaning, laughing, ignoring Hyun-soo completely.
Raising her dry hand to wipe her weary face, Hyun-soo stared at the phone on the floor. The simple text seemed harder to decipher than any world-class riddle. Should she really go looking for answers? She wasn’t sure.
Getting up, Hyun-soo placed the phone on the dining table and staggered toward the bathroom. Maybe washing her body physically would somehow cleanse her troubles too.
Soon, the bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water filled the room.
In the empty living room, the phone screen dimmed, and the text disappeared.
She didn’t sleep a wink all night. It wasn’t just because of Hyun-seo and the man’s relentless noises throughout the early morning hours. Even with her eyes closed, Guk’s image haunted her relentlessly.
“Ah... I didn’t sleep at all.”
Still unable to rise, Hyun-soo rubbed her tired eyes. The clock was nearing 9 a.m. After checking the time, she flipped the phone over and stared blankly at the ceiling.
“To go or not to go. To go? Or not?”
If she claimed she hadn’t wondered how Guk had been doing over the past decade, it would be a lie. She figured they might cross paths occasionally. But meeting again? She hadn’t dared dream of it. Whenever such thoughts surfaced, she crushed them ruthlessly, knowing she didn’t deserve such luxury.
So shouldn’t she stay away? To avoid playing into this cruel twist of fate, shouldn’t she refrain from showing her face to him again?
But then, what about Hyun-seo? Her dreams and future? Hyun-soo knew better than anyone that Hyun-seo had returned to Korea counting on this major project backed by the sponsor. If she disobeyed him, she’d lose the project and risk losing the sponsorship too.
To Hyun-seo, born with golden threads binding her to influential sponsors, the existence of a benefactor was paramount. She herself had admitted it was irreplaceable. Knowing this, what would happen if Hyun-soo didn’t show up today? If she refused to bow low and grovel as he demanded?
Five minutes until 9 a.m. An hour remained until the appointed time.
Eventually, Hyun-soo slowly got up. Sleeping on the hard floor with only a thin blanket left her body stiff, but she forced herself to stand.
“...”
Her reflection in the living room mirror resembled a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse. Then again, with her leash in someone else’s hands, perhaps there wasn’t much difference. Hyun-soo gave a bitter smile.
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