Seo-yeon sat alone at a corner in the restaurant, staring at the contract before her while looking visibly distracted. She seemed to be lost in thought as she didn't notice anyone or anything around her.
"After paying the three million won, party B would be paying a million won for rent each month. Party B would be responsible for any damages on the building and if refused to do so Party B would be fined or even sent to court."
Seo-yeon took a deep short breath, drinking the bottle of beer before her. The contract only seems to get even worse the more she keeps reading it, so maybe she shouldn't read it anymore. She dropped the paper and buried her face in her palm while trying to clear the lump hanging in her throat.
"Why is my life so miserable?"
"Seo-yeon, what are you doing with a beer?" A familiar voice pulled her out of her deep thoughts as she slowly lifted her head back up to look at the person who interrupted her moment of sorrow.
"Good evening to you too Ma-ri." Seo-yeon groaned as her best friend Ma-ri took the bottle of beer away from her while giving her the 'no more' kind of gaze.
"We've talked about this habit of yours already Seo-yun, you have a child who won't like it when he sees his mother getting drunk. You don't want to teach him bad habits do you?" Ma-ri frowned.
She was upset about the fact her friend was drinking again but she wasn't going to ignore the fact that something must have caused her to drink at this particular hour of the time.
"What's wrong?" She proceeded to ask with a much calmer voice.
"Everything is wrong Ma-ri." Her half broken friend responded, the pain evident in her tone, "Everything in my life is wrong. I'm wrong, every inch of me is wrong. My whole life is upside down."
"Oh come on Seo-yeon, don't say that. Tell me what's wrong?" Ma-ri sat beside her while stroking her back gently. Seo-yeon placed her head on Ma-ri's lap and started sobbing, the tears she had been trying so hard to control finally escaped as they streamed down her beautiful dark brown eyes.
"Do-yun and Eun-ji happened." She broke the news, "They bought this building from its former owner and now they are trying to make my life miserable."
Seo-yeon pointed at the file on the table, diverting Ma-ri's attention towards it and she quickly grabbed hold of the file, thoroughly glancing through what was written on it.
Her mouth remained agape when she read the content of the contract and had to blink the shock from her eyes.
"Who does this madwoman think she is? This is absolutely not fair! Are they trying to push you out of business? Three million won is too much to be paid in a month. You don't even make up to a million won a week not to talk of three million won in four weeks? That's so mean." Ma-ri threw the file back to the table, unable to hide the disgust and hatred she felt for those mad couples.
"And I have to buy drugs for Ji-hoon every two weeks." Seo-yeon couldn't help but list out a lot of responsibilities she had to fulfill, "four hundred thousand won per month, I have to pay the workers their salaries as well and now that also. I'm just going to close down for good." Seo-yeon buried her face in Ma-ri's skirt, sobbing quietly.
"I can help you with the workers and Ji-hoon's medicines but I don't think I can help with the bill at all. Seriously, it's too much. Maybe I'll call my father to send my…."
"No need to do any of that Ma-ri." Seo-yeon shook her head in disapproval while cutting her friend off, "I still owe you a lot and I can't burden you with my own problems. You equally have your life to live and I have been nothing but a burden to you. I'm sure I'll find a solution, don't worry." Seo-yeon smiled bitterly.
"And you think those sentences would make me change my mind? Never." Ma-ri countered back, "I would help and that is final. I have nothing good to use my money for. I would rather help you than use all my money in the club." She hissed and Seo-yeon defeatedly nodded knowing it was nearly impossible to win an argument with Ma-ri.
Once she says her decisions are final, it always is. It would only be a miracle if she changes her mind about that particular thing.
Knowing her from highschool, she doesn't allow anyone to decide for her or make decisions she knew would never bring any positive results, she decides for herself and all the time they were right. She usually had that luck.
"How was work today?" Seo-yeon asked, brushing the earlier topic away and wiping her tears with the back of her palm.
"It was fine." She responded and suddenly twitched her lips, "that stupid boss of mine was trying to get close to me again. I am really not interested in fat dumb people like him seriously. I am a beautiful young lady who is going to be one of the top lawyers in a few months time. If not for the fact I refused my dad's help I would have been that old man's boss. He is so stupid." Ma-ri complained and Seo-yeon could only watch as her friend ranted about her bad day.
Seo-yeon had expected those complaints since she didn't go out partying that night. Ma-ri might be from a very wealthy home, but she still acts like a middle class and sometimes someone from a poor family. It didn't surprise Seo-yeon because she was also from a rich family, only her stupid decision landed her in this crazy circumstances she was facing today.
"It's okay Ma-ri. I'm sure he's not going to try nonsense with you anymore. Let me guess, you're staying here tonight?"
Seo-yeon raised her brows and the other lady nodded her head affirmatively.
"I want to see Ji-hoon tonight. It's been a long time since I last saw him. I missed his cuteness and sweet voice." Ma-ri replied dreamily and uttered in a tiny voice. "Momma, Ji-hoon hasn't had his breakfast yet. Can he have a bowl of cereal?" Her little mimic of little Ji-hoon each time he came asking for cereal made Seo-yun chuckle heartily.
"Stop being a weirdo and come upstairs."
Seo-yeon picked the file on the table and led Ma-ri up to the apartment.
"What are we having tonight? I don't want any leftovers from the restaurant. Should we order pizza? I would like that for dinner tonight." Ma-ri raised a brow as Seo-yeon opened the door to the apartment.
"You know Ji-hoon doesn't eat pizza at night." Seo-yeon turned the lights on and placed her apron on the rack. "I'll be making some Kimchi for us once I go get him in an hour."
"You know it isn't good to leave him outside for too long." Ma-ri informed out of pure concern, "his minder is a very nice lady to have agreed to wait till nine pm for you to come pick him." Ma-ri frowned, pulling off her shoes and jacket.
"She works from six in the morning till nine pm and latest nine-thirty pm. It's her job." Seo-yeon naturally replied, walking into the kitchen to prepare the things she would use to make Kimchi for them.
"I can never do that kind of job." Ma-ri frowned.
"That is why you are a lawyer. Just stop talking about that and…."
Seo-yeon's words were cut short when her phone suddenly rang at the end table, gaining her attention and she hurriedly walked over to go recieve it.
"Good evening, how may I help you?"
Ma-ri watched as her friend's expression toned down and her face immediately went pale while her eyes widened like she just heard a terrible news, "what?!! What's wrong with Ji-hoon? I'll be there now!"
Seo-yeon quickly dropped the phone and searched around for her bag, her actions only got Ma-ri worried as she asked.
"What happened? Who was that on the line?"
"Ma-ri, please let's go to the hospital. Ji-hoon's ailment kicked in."