Chapter 42
Chapter 42 – With the Night’s Protection
“Yes, you know just like all sorts of stuff . ”
Jaegun scratched his head with an embarra.s.sed face .
Dasul opened her mouth, indifferent .
“There are a lot of girls who do that because of the money . When they’re done, they quickly come back to work at the karaoke bar . ”
“Hm, yes . ”
“I don’t go because I don’t need money but there are some people that want to go and have a drink together . They give me the same hourly wage but I don’t even go . That’s because when I do and they get drunk, they badger me to go to MT . It’s so frickin’ tiring . ”
Jaegun took out a memo and was jotting points down . .
Dasul added while picking up a pickle .
“There are people that do it in the karaoke bar instead of going to MT . ”
“Inside?”
“There are places that don’t allow it, but some do . They order soju and sushi and the sides and sell panties and stuff . ”
“Panties… sell?”
“Before doing it, they sell their panties . As a greeting . If they get about 30-50 dollars, they take off their underwear . You think the men will be able to stand it? They drink a lot and then completely lose it so they give 100 more dollars and go all the way . ”
This was information coming from a current worker .
Jaegun diligently tried to write down everything that Dasul said . His hands were hot and sweaty as he was writing a lot .
“Ah, it’s a bit cold . ”
Dasul murmured while rubbing her arms .
Jaegun stopped writing and said to her .
“Let’s switch seats . I think the wind is cooler there . ”
“Just sit . ”
As she said that, she went around the table to sit next to Jaegun . Her perfume permeated into his nose .
“You write really fast and well?”
Dasul said as she looked at the memo .
Dasul turned her body towards Jaegun while keeping her gaze . And then with her skinny legs, she put them on top of Jaegun’s legs . Jaegun froze .
“It’s warm like this . Why, is it heavy?”
“No… it’s fine . ”
Dasul’s breath was coming directly to him .
The girl continued to talk to Jaegun who felt strange .
“Where was I? You have anything else?”
“Ah, yes . I want to know about the rude people and accidents that have happened . ”
The interview continued .
Dasul said with her legs on Jaegun’s legs like they were a couple .
As time went by, Jaegun got used to it
The other people didn’t care at all .
All of them were having their own conversations within their own group .
“Thank you . I think that’s good . ”
Jaegun covered the memo up .
There were two empty bottles on the table .
Jaegun only drank like 3 or 4 cups . Dasul alone drank a bottle and a half .
“It was hard, right?”
Dasul put her head on Jaegun’s shoulder instead of answering .
A sigh came out of her lips .
“No, I said before . I feel good because I feel like a star . ”
“Hahaha . ”
“I want to be a star . Why do you think?”
“Because they get a lot of money?”
“There’s that but… no it’s fine . ”
Dasul pulled away and picked up a bottle .
Jaegun took the bottle away and poured her a drink .
“You’re really kind . Considerate . ”
“No I’m not . ”
“What’s your name? I don’t ask this a lot but I’m curious . ”
“You don’t even tell yours so why ask . ”
“My name is Dasul . ”
“I know it’s a fake name . ”
“Hmp, fine . ”
Dasul drank another cup .
Jageun got worried .
He didn’t know what her drinking limit was, but she drank alot .
“I want to meet my mom . ”
Dasul said as she put it down
Jaegun looked besides him . A big sigh came out as it was mixed with old memories .
“There’s those songs . Those songs that the singer sings to find their loved ones . They want them to listen to their songs and contact them . ”
“I know . ”
“So I want to be a star . If I can go on TV, Mom will recognize me . She left me and ran away… But if I become famous… she’ll contact me . ”
Dasul put her head down with her lips closed .
Her two eyes were filled with warm tears .
“I’m sorry . I must have been tired today . Why am I like this . ”
Jaegun gave her a tissue .
Dasul took it and tapped her eyes .
“Actually I was tired because I had a rude customer . I got angry so I left and there was a message from you . So I answered you right away . ”
“… Yes . ”
“I’ll be like this for a bit longer . ”
She put her head on Jaegun’s shoulder .
Jaegun’s two eyes were looking at the ceiling .
His shoulders were heavy .
It wasn’t because of her head . It was the weight of her confession .
‘It … won’t be a simple fun read . I promise . ’
Jaegun thought of another reason for the novel in his head .
He will write a story that will comfort her mind . Jaegun was quietly pouring himself a drink in the corner of a loud bar .
***
Nexon’s office . Mobile planning tea,
The employees were all having a depressed face . Team Leader Suhee was the same . It was the feeling that they were the sh.e.l.l of themselves .
“Cheer up, team leader . ”
“I’m fine . Hemii was the hardest worker . I’ll be at the restroom . ”
Suhee didn’t go the restroom but to the rooftop . There was a park that employees could rest on but there was no one there because of the cool weather .
“Phew… . ”
Suhee sighed as she got a coffee from the vending machine .
The game that they were making was about to be sc.r.a.pped . It was very common for games to get canceled especially in the mobile team . The feeling of despair felt bigger this time .
‘Jaegun’s scenario was good…’
Jaegun’s scenario that he put so much effort into was about to be sc.r.a.pped . She didn’t feel good when she thought of that .
Suhee pulled up her phone . Her fingers were looking for Jaegun’s name and was pressing the call b.u.t.ton .
“Ah, Suhee . ”
“You answered quickly . Writing?”
“No I wasn’t writing . I came out . ”
“I see . ”
There was loud noise and music coming from the other side of the phoen . Suhee tilted her head and asked .
“Where are you? Karaoke bar?”
“Ah? Yeah, I have work . ”
“That’s funny . What work do you have instead of singing at a karaoke bar? You went with Jongjin?”
“No, not Jongjin . Someone else . ”
“Ok . But when are you gonna buy me food . You promised to buy me something when I came to congratulate you for the Digital Award .
Suhee said .
With a hm, Jaegun answered slowly .
“Ah, Yeah, I will . Ok . When’s good?”
The hesitant voice disappointed Suhee and she bit her lip .
She was hoping for a meeting today .
It was then . .
“Hey, let’s have another bottle of beer . ”
“Wait . Wait . Let me call . ”
Suhee’s eyes brightened .
It was definitely a girl’s’ voice .
Jaegun definitely answered to that voice . That means it wasn’t a pa.s.sing girl but a girl that he came with .
“h.e.l.lo? Suhee?”
“Yeah, I’m here . ”
“Today might be hard . How about tomorrow . ”
“Tomorrow? Hm… let’s see I have no idea . I’m not sure if I have an appointment tomorrow . I’ll check when I get back . ”
Because of her pride, a lie came out .
Actually Suhee didn’t have any appointments today or tomorrow .
“Then check and call me . ”
“Ok . I’ll hang up . ”
Suhee plopped on the bench after the cal .
When she put her hand on her chest, she could feel the fast beating . Small sighs came out of her lips .
‘It must be a girl that he knows . ’
Even though she repeated the thought, she wasn’t comforted .
Suhee opened the photo folder on her phone .
When she put in the pa.s.sword, a photo came out .
It was a picture of her and Jaegun standing together in college .
***
‘Sigh, this is getting me again . ’
Inside a cafe .
Jaegun sighed repeatedly as he was reading the story that he wrote on his phone .
‘The conversations with the female main are so bad . The scenes that have emotions are terrible . Her s.e.x is a girl, but she acts like a boy .
It wasn’t only Jaegun’s thoughts .
Professor Han Hesun said the same thing when he sent it to her days before .
The female main’s actions seemed bad so she couldn’t get into the story as well .
‘Rika, what do I do? I need your help . ’
Rika’s two eyes with a special light opened .
‘I need the power that made me feel Somii’s emotions that time . But what do I do? I can’t ask Somii to come to my house . Amd I can’t go to StarBook’s office and write next to Somii . It’s not even a fantasy book that was contracted with StarBooks . ’
Jaegun wrinkled his face and shook his hair .
It was a serious issue .
To feel that he needed a female’s emotions this bad .
“Isn’t the hair a bit shorter than the picture?”
The two girls at a nearby table was looking at Jaegun and whispering . Jaegun was deep in his thoughts that he didn’t feel the gaze that was headed towards him .
“He must have cut it . I think it’s right . Look at this picture . It’s the same . ”
“What if it’s just a similar person . ”
“You say that now? Since you lost the rock paper scissor, you’re just saying stuff . Just go . Quickly . ”
One girl with her phone came up carefully . And then she tapped the end of the table and said .
“… h.e.l.lo . ”
“Yes?”
Jaegun lifted his head, surprised .
A girl he had never seen before was standing in front of him with her face red of embarra.s.sment .
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, but… I was wondering if it was right . ”
The girl showed her phone .
His gaze went to the screen .
It was the ‘Today’s book’ section on Navin .
The interview with writer Ha Jaegun who wrote ‘A Dumb Woman,’ was on the screen .
“Ahah… . Yes . ”
“It, it’s right?”
“Yes, that’s me . ”
As he answered, the girl covered her face with her two hands . And then she gestured to her friend at the table .
“It’s Writer Ha Jaegun . ”
The two girls stood in front of him .
As their suspicions were confirmed, they were spitting out words quickly .
“I was unsure but it really was you . Ah, oh my G.o.d . I’m so happy . ”
“As soon as I saw the interview, I bought the book . You have no idea how much I cried . And now I’m reading ‘90s Child and that’s amazing too . ”
“How long has it been since you had a cat? It’s a Russian Blue? I also have one . It’s also female . ”
“Ah, I should’ve brought my book . I left it . I need to get it signed . ”
The girl pulled up her phone and asked Jaegun anxiously .
“I’m really sorry but could you take a picture with me?”
“Ah, yes… sure . ”
As soon as Jaegun allowed it, . The girl asked a nearby employee to take a picture .
“I’m sorry but could you take a picture?”
“Yes, sure . ”
The two girls crouched in front of Jaegun, each to their side of him . One girl was covering her mouth while one girl was posing with two Vs with her hands .
The employee took the picture .
“I also followed your twitter . It’s Dallebongbong . I would feel amazing if you followed me back . ”
“Ah… . yes . ”
Jaegun answered .
He remembered that he had told Navin his twitter . He hadn’t used it in a while and he forgot it .
“Ok . I’ll do it as I sign in . ”
“AH, So good! Thank you so much . I’ll tweet this picture too!”
A few people nearby were looking at them .
They had faces like who was that to deserve this commotion .
He was glad, but also embarra.s.sed . It was a strange feeling . He couldn’t believe that someone he didn’t know could recognize him .
‘Navin is really strong . There’s people who recognize me . ’
It was just then .
“Please sign for me too, Writer Ha Jaegun . ”
Is there another person?
As he turned around, he broke into a smile .
It was Suhee .
Her outstretched two hands were holding A Dumb Woman .