Big Life

Chapter 42

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 .