4:55 PM SEPTEMBER 21ST 2022
A restaurant ten minutes away.
"Em… Jeong op-pa, you don't have to do this… this is too much for me."
Sung Iseul nervously said, when she saw the massive bowl of Bibimbap with two boiled eggs that Jeong ordered. Though a bowl of Bibimbap is not an expensive meal to many. But to Sung Iseul it was. She was still trying to wrap her head around why Jeong was being so nice to her, even though she had no way of repaying the kindness.
"You don't need to be reserved… think of this as a thank-you gift."
After speaking, Jeong turned his gaze toward his bowl of Bibimbap, he picks up the chopstick beside the bowl and ate the Bibimbap with gusto. Though he told her not to be reserved, he was actually the one who could not wait to eat.
"A- thank you gift…?"
Sung Iseul had a confused expression. She could not understand why Jeong Op-pa would thank her. Instead, it was she who should thank him. She thought in her mind with a peering expression.
"But… but Jeong op-pa… I haven't done anything for you… why are you being nice to me?"
Iseul questioned Jeong's motive, she knew that Jeong had a reason for being nice to her, but since she didn't know the reason, she became cautious of him. She stared at Jeong, nervously waiting for an answer.
"…"
While Iseul waited for an answer, Jeong was so focused on his meal that he never heard a word Iseul said. The only thing in his sight was the untouched food in front of him. He had the thought of eating Iseul's meal too, because he was still starving. After all, he has been starving for what almost seemed like weeks in the weird dream he had. But he could not be so shameful to ask for her food.
After not receiving a reply from Jeong, Sung Iseul pondered in her mind. And after a while, she shook her head from side to side. "Jeong Op-pa is not that type of person." She thought in her mind. Denying the idea that Jeong had an ulterior motive for being nice to her.
*Flick*
"Ouch…!!"
Iseul felt a sharp pain in her forehead. She looks up to meet Jeong's gaze.
"What are you thinking so hard about? Your food is about to turn cold." Jeong asked.
"Ah, Um - Um, I'm Sorry…"
Iseul apologized. With a sad expression, she could not believe that she was doubting someone so nice to remind her to eat her food before it went cold. Iseul could not help but admire Jeong more.
"Huh? Why is she making that expression? Did I hit her too hard?" Jeong thought in his mind.
Jeong could not watch Iseul waste the food he bought for her with his last money. He was strapped for cash and hungry, tempted by the thought of eating Iseul's food. And the only way to remove such thought was if the food was gone. That was the only reason he reminded her to eat.
While Jeong watched Sung Iseul eat, he thought about how he acted all cool when he quit his job, knowing that he had no money and felt stupid, but he did not regret what he did. "… guess I have to search for a new job tomorrow." He thought in his mind as he ate the remaining food left in his bowl.
"Oi…! San Jum, increase the T. v volume. Something big is happening."
An old man in a yellow shirt and black shorts spoke in a loud voice at the young man wearing the restaurant apron. His words attracted the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Curious about what he was watching, they stopped eating and turned their gaze towards the T. V hung on the wall.
[KTV NEWS:]
. [Today the new C.E. O of Jang pharmaceutical would take office. After the former CEO, 'Jang Gim' got into a tragic accident, losing his life. As you can see, behind me is the entrance to Jang pharmaceutical, where the new C.E. O would be announced. Many - many people here are anticipating and curious to see who the new CEO is…]
The reporter on the T. V announced.
"Tsk… I thought it was something important. It's just the rich, picking a new figurehead."
A huge rough looking man sitting at the back end of the restaurant complained. After complaining, he picked up a soju bottle, poured a little into a small cup, and drank it. It was already his third bottle.
"If you don't know anything, just shut up, so intelligent people can watch."
The skinny man sitting in the front row spoke fearlessly with his gaze fixed on the T. V in front of him. There was no need for him to see the face of the person who spoke such thoughtless words, he thought. While scuffing.
"... Oi, did you just say am stupid?"
The rough-looking man asked in a menacing tone as he stared at the skinny man with a fierce gaze.
"The new head of Jang pharmaceutical would decide what the country's economy would look like in the coming years. And if you cannot grasp that simple logic, then you are indeed stupid."
The skinny man ignored the question. There was no way he was going to waste his time exchanging words with some low life, but he found it in his grace to explain the situation to him. And the only reason he ate in this restaurant was that it was the closest restaurant to his company. If not for convenience, he would never eat at such a place with ruffians, he thought.
The rough-looking man clenched his hand into a fist, as he stood up from his seat with a frown on his face, walks close to the skinny man, and stood behind him with a menacing gaze. He could not believe he was disrespected by a man who look like a twig he could snap with little effort. He raised his hand and held the skinny man's shoulders before saying.
"Stand up and say that to my face!" He spoke in a heavy tone.
"Ah… this is why I don't talk to uneducated peopl–"
The skinny man was shocked when he turned around and saw the huge, towering, rough-looking man who had rage written all over his face. His breath quickened as fear grabbed his heart.
"Wh–what… i… just said… um… haha… I was just joking around Hyung-nim. It was just a joke… a joke."
He tried laughing what he said off, but he could see the rage in the rough-looking man's eyes.
"Hahaha… a joke, huh?... why don't you continue talking smart like before?"
He held the skinny man by his tie, pulled him off his seat, and held him by the neck.
"Urrrghh…! Forg- forgive me Hyung-nim… I – keeukkk!!"
The skinny man struggled desperately to escape from the man's hold, trying to gasp for air. But as he struggled, the hold got tighter. He glanced around, looking for someone to save him but, he noticed that everyone evaded his gaze. They pretended not to see what was happening. After seeing how they ignored him, he had a scornful expression.
"Hey…! Leave him alone. Why are you being such a bully?"
The rough-looking man was surprised after hearing those words. He could not believe that someone stood up to him. He knew that most of the people in the restaurant would never have the guts because they knew who he was. And the only people with such lion guts were either new in this area or people who liked to play the hero. He turned around to see who spoke while holding the skinny man with one hand. He glanced around and saw how everyone avoided his gaze from fear, which was as expected. But while looking around, he noticed a little girl who stared right back at him without fear.
"Ha…!"
He wondered where the little girl had got the liver to confront him. As he pondered, he noticed a young man behind her eating bibimbap with gusto. As an expert in the art of karate, he can see the fighting power of his opponent after years of fighting experience. He measures the capabilities of the young man out of percussion, but after checking his caution turned into hostility.
"Tsk… bitch you think you can talk to me because of your boyfriend is here?" The rough-looking man asked in a condescending tone.
"..."
Surprised by the rough-looking man's words, she looks behind and noticed the man was referring to Jeong as her boyfriend. She became flustered and her cheek became blushed. She turns her gaze back to the rough-looking man.
"Don't–don't say nonsense, Jeong Op-pa is not my boy–boyfriend–"
*BOOOOMMMM!!!*
"Kyaaaaahhhhhh…!!!"
"Arrrghhhh…! What's going on? Is the world coming to an end?"
Pain spread both inside and outside the restaurant as the thunderous sound echoed as the earth shook violently, causing people to fall, and windows shattered. It felt like a bomb exploded.