As the front door closes with a slight thod, Taesan raises his head from the study.
"Late again?" he says with a questioning but still calm voice.
"Sorry, hyung, I....I..I..", Jaewon stammers, thinking of an excuse as usual. "I had to... had to help my classmates with something."
"Hmm...yeah" Taesan comes out of the study, drinking coffee from his cup.
"Hyung, dinner?"
"I had my dinner. The food is in the fridge. Warm it up and have it. But first, go freshen up." Taesan says with a low, cold demeanor.
"But hyung...I wanted to have dinner with you," Jaewon pouts. "Tae... I already had my dinner... I'm sorry, dude. Next time", Taesan speaks and proceeds to his study.
Jaewon quietly finishes his dinner and put athe dish in the dishwasher. He enters Taesan's study. He pats Taesan's shoulder. "Hyung...are you mad?". Taesan stays silent. Jaewon closes Taesan's book and makes him look at himself. "Hyunngggg... please don't be mad at your bestfriend....", he again pouts. Taesan doesn't look in Jaewon's eyes. "Yeah, but you have plenty of time for your other friends, huh?" he replies in a soft and gloomy tone.
Jaewon turns Taesan's chair and makes him look at him. "Hyung, you are my bestfriend, I can't do that. It's just I'm busy now-a-days." Taesan replied, "Whatever," and frowned.
"Hyung..." He waited for a second .
"Can you lend me some money... like some
₩275,400...?" Jaewon asked in a requesting tone.
"Jae, you took some money like a few days ago."
Jaewon's facade fades, and he rolls his eyes, putting his hands in his hoodie pocket. "Yeah, but that was like barely anything! Come on, hyung, just a little this time." He tries to give him more puppy eyes in hopes he'll give in.
"What for?"
"I have to buy some stuff for my assignments, and won't you help.." he pouts and gets closer, "..your bestfriend?"
"You know I can't say no to your pouty face."
Taesan replied smilingly. He moves to his wallet and hands Jaewon his money.
"Thankkk you, hhyung. My best hyungg!!" Jaewon launches himself at Taesan to hug him.
"Ahh..okay okay. Now go sleep," Taesan pats his back.
Jaewon chats a bit more about' college with his hyung and then proceeds to his room. He shuts his door.
"So easy as a peasy," he smirks and laughs.
"Hyung is so easy to manipulate.. hahahahah." he smirks, and with a sinister, quiet laugh, he makes his bed and goes to sleep. "Such a piece of fool. I am proud of myself for making that fool manipulate so easily. He simply does what I say..hahaha. That thing..." chuckles and giggles "such a blockhead!"
"Now tomorrow I'm gonna have a nice dinner with my friends" he smirks and then proceeds to his sleep.
The next Day.
"Hyung. Good morning. I'm going to college. See ya at evening." Jaewon shouts as he closes the main door.
He straight goes to his friend's house.
He is a bit more dressed up than his usuals.
"Heh man! Let's go," he shouts. Lee-won runs down the stairs and greets Jaewon.
"Did you get the money?" "Yeah, man. A total of around ₩200,000." Jaewon says with a 'show-off' voice. Lee-won replies, "How did that Taesan even agree for this.. huh?" "I have a way with him. He listens to me every day, and I can milk him for anything." He laughs, and both the friends leave for college.
After college, Jaewon and his buddies visit Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul, a posh restaurant in Seoul. It was nighttime time, and the place was beautifully lit. "Wow! This place looks much better than in photos," Jaewon comments. "Yeah, Jae, this place looks so bu-jain (flashy)," Haewon adds. All of the buddies chose a table and seated, with the girls taking photos for Instagram.
"Well, I never thought Taesan would be such a fool to give you money like he had mountains of it. He's incredibly easy to control and manipulate"
"Yes, Ella, he really can't say no to me at anything; I literally maneuver him." Jaewon laughs as he requests the waiter. They order a gourmet dinner and some wine and relax for the evening.
"The fried steak curry was so good, it must be expensive."
"Yes, it was. But we have or Jaewon treating us."
"Yes guys, enjoy my treat for me scoring the highest in my class," Jaewon raises the wine glass. "Cheersss!"
"CHEERSss!"
After finishing the bill payment, they ride to their respective homes. While Jaewon, who still had a few Wons left, decides to go to Kangwon Land (gambling bar). He stays there, betting all his money, winning a few, and enjoying himself at the bar with the ladies and wine. It is like a treat he was giving himself for his score. He gets back home at one in the morning and stumbles and is inebriated. He tiptoes to his room, closing the front door quietly and obligingly, not realizing that eyes are watching him. It doesn't even take him a minute to fling himself on the bed and fall asleep since he is that exhausted.
He dreams envisions himself thoroughly enjoying the money from Taesan, basking in the luxuries of a wealthy lifestyle. His mind is filled with visions of a life of abundance.
He's unaware of the fact that a pair of eyes are watching him sleep through the corner of the door.