SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Everyone heard, right?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
During lunchtime, the butchers from the market gathered one by one at the market rest area.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
This was right after the news about President Park had spread.
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“He collapsed after just two days…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Kim let out a sigh as he smoked his cigarette.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“We all expected this, didn’t we?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Choi spoke coldly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“President Park hasn’t even been open for a year. No regular customers, weak funds…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Still, to fall this quickly…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Lee scratched his head.
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President Choi lowered his voice.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“To be honest… Now that MegaMeat has moved in, it’s going to be hard for any of us to survive.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Everyone fell silent.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
No one denied it.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Six shops… No, now it’s just five. If even half of us survive, that counts as success.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“So how do we make sure we’re in that half?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“We have to follow our 10% rule. Be stricter about it.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Choi tapped the table.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I checked yesterday, and already the prices are all over the place.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What’s the problem?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“President Lee is selling pork belly for 2,280 won, President Kim for 2,100… The 10% rule is already falling apart.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Kim, who was selling at lower prices than promised, made excuses.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Customers say we’re too expensive compared to MegaMeat…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“That’s how you end up like President Park!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Choi raised his voice.
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“If MegaMeat is at 1,980 won, we should be at 2,180. Exactly 10%. That’s the rule we set.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Lee took out a piece of paper.
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“Let’s go over it again.”
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[10% Rule Confirmation]
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MegaMeat Pork Belly 1,980 won → Ours 2,180 won
MegaMeat Neck 1,780 won → Ours 1,960 won
MegaMeat Front Leg 1,480 won → Ours 1,630 won
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“If you can’t keep to this, from then on, it’s every man for himself.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Yeah. If you don’t want to end up like President Park, we’ve got to stick together.”
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“But honestly, even 10% is a big difference…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Kim said worriedly.
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“Then what, drop it to 5%? We’re already selling at a loss.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Choi spoke firmly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“10% is the minimum line. If we can’t even keep that, we’re all finished.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Fine, fine.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
They all agreed reluctantly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“But President Jung is still doing his own thing, isn’t he?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I heard he doesn’t even sell pork belly.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“That’s crazy. A butcher shop not selling pork belly.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
President Choi snorted.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Leave him. He won’t last long anyway. After President Park, the next will be…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He trailed off, but everyone knew.
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“Alright, from today, stick to the 10% rule.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Okay.”
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“We’ll meet again tomorrow morning to check prices. If needed, we can raise them little by little.”
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One by one, they left their seats.
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They all wore uneasy expressions as they departed.
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*****
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Dad, we have twenty-three subscription customers this week.”
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It was a service we had developed over the past month.
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Every week, on a set day, we’d prepare the same cuts in advance.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Attorney Kim gets 500g of sirloin every Wednesday, Professor Lee gets a special assortment every Friday…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
My father looked over the ledger, impressed.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“This really is convenient. For us and for the customers.”
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“And we give them a 5% discount on top, so everyone wins.”
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The door opened and a young couple came in.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Excuse me, do you also offer the subscription service here?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Word of mouth was spreading.
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“Yes! Just let us know the day and cuts you want…”
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I explained enthusiastically.
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The couple nodded and signed up.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Junho! Mrs. Park is here!”
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Like clockwork, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Mrs. Park came in.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Hello! Here to pick up my usual order.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I took out the pre-packed bag from the fridge.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
[Ms. Park Youngsook – Thursday]
Grade 2 Aged Korean Beef 300g
Pork Cheek Meat 200g
Marinated Ribs 500g
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“It’s so convenient having everything ready every week.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Mrs. Park beamed brightly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I went to MegaMeat on their opening day, but the line was long and they didn’t even have the cuts I wanted… This place is much better.”
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In the evening, Section Chief Choi dropped by.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Boss, I’m here to pick up my weekly meat.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Oh, Section Chief Choi! Just a moment.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
[Mr. Choi Jinsu – Friday]
Pork Cheek Meat 300g
Grade 1 Bulgogi 500g
Pork Front Leg 1kg
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Section Chief, even with MegaMeat around, you only come to our shop?”
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I asked carefully.
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“Of course! Does MegaMeat have pork cheek meat? Does Junho handpick aged meat for me?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Section Chief Choi laughed.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“But more importantly, you remember what I like here.”
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*****
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
After closing, we totaled up the day’s sales.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Eighty-seven thousand won…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That’s a 30% drop compared to before MegaMeat opened.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It was thanks to the subscription service and our regulars that we managed to keep even this much.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Almost no new customers today.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad nodded.
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“It can’t be helped. We can’t beat the MegaMeat name.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Still, we’ve managed to keep our regulars.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“That’s something to be thankful for.”
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Through the window, I could see MegaMeat.
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It was still bustling with customers.
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“Dad, maybe there’s just no helping it when it comes to customers.”
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Dad gave a bitter smile.
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“Yeah. Anyone who’s not a regular goes to MegaMeat.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I didn’t know brand power was this strong…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
TV ads, internet banners, social media…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
MegaMeat was everywhere.
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‘MegaMeat, The Nation’s Butcher Shop’
‘Quality guaranteed by Park Jeongnam’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Small shops like ours couldn’t compete with that kind of marketing.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
*****
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
MegaMeat, week two since opening.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Yes, this is Junho’s Butcher Shop.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Several calls came in every day.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Oh, you’re interested in our specialty cuts subscription? Yes, we offer that.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Delivery?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Sorry, for now we only do in-store pickup…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I hung up and sighed.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Just this week, we’d had more than ten delivery inquiries.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Junho, another delivery request?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad asked.
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“Yeah, they said they saw us on Instagram.”
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“Oh, that?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I showed him my phone.
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Someone had posted a photo of our shop’s specialty cuts.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It had over 500 likes.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
JunhoButcherShop #PorkCheek #SpecialtyCutRestaurant #SubscriptionService
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Young people find places like this these days.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Guess this is just how things are in 2025.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
At that moment, I suddenly thought of President Park’s shop.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He was gone now, but the online sales equipment should still be there.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He’d said he’d sell all the fixtures in one go back then…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Dad.”
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“Hm?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What if we took over President Park’s shop?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad turned around, surprised.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What? Where’s this coming from?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Online sales. President Park’s shop should still have all the equipment.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Are you out of your mind?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad nearly jumped.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“We’re barely keeping one store afloat with MegaMeat around, and you want to open another?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“No, that’s not it…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Junho, do you know how much our sales have dropped?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I know. But…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“How are you going to handle two when you can’t even run one properly? That’s a death wish!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad’s voice grew loud.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“You saw what happened to President Park. Do you want us to end up like that?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Dad, just hear me out.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“We don’t need to shrink away first.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“We’re not fighting against all 350 MegaMeat stores in the country. We just have to compete with the one in our neighborhood.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad paused.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“President Park was weak in offline sales. We’re different.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Still…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Online inquiries keep increasing. We’d be fools to ignore this.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I called the realtor to check directly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Apparently, President Park had left in a hurry and left all the equipment behind.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“There’s packaging machines, a vacuum sealer, a large freezer… All still there.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“And what would you do with that?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Use it just for online orders. Do all the packaging and shipping there.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad shook his head.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Money? How much do you think it’ll cost to buy all that?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I’ll look into getting a loan.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“A loan? You don’t have any credit.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I froze.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Ah…’
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I was still thinking as the Kim Junho of 2157.
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The world’s top meat designer.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Top credit, plenty of assets.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But right now, I was…
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
‘Jeong Junho.’
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Civil service exam student Jeong Junho.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Unemployed for three years.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
No money in the bank, not even a credit card.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“That’s right…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I muttered without thinking.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“What’s right?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ah… That I don’t have any credit…”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I was finally seeing reality.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
What kind of life Jeong Junho really had.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Studying at the library every day.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Unable to even keep a part-time job.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Living off my parents’ allowance.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
How could a penniless job seeker get a loan?
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Junho, you have to face reality.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Dad was right.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I’d been too naïve.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Still thinking with the mindset of 2157.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Forgetting the reality of Jeong Junho.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It was bitter.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
But this was reality, and I had to accept it.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
*****
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
10 p.m.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I was tidying up the shop when a familiar silhouette appeared outside.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Minjae?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Through the glass, I saw Minjae standing there.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
His shoulders were slumped, so different from last time.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Junho hyung… are you here?”
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I opened the door.
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“Hey, Minjae. What brings you here all of a sudden?”
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“Ah… I… You’re working, right? I’ll wait outside.”
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“What are you talking about? Come in.”
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“No, it’s fine. I mean it. Talk to me after you’re done.”
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Minjae shook his head and walked back out.
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He crouched next to the flower bed in front of the shop and took out a cigarette.
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Something was off.
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Last time he came, he’d been excited about his new startup job.
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Ten minutes passed.
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Minjae just kept smoking.
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He was already on his third.
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“Hey? Isn’t that Minjae?”
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Dad, returning from the bathroom, looked out the window.
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“Yeah, it’s him.”
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“He doesn’t look good. I bet something happened.”
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Dad looked at Minjae with concern, then took off his apron and said,
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“Junho, I can finish closing by myself. Go check on him.”
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“I still have to tidy up the display…”
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“Don’t worry. Go on. He’ll catch a cold out there.”
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I went outside.
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I sat next to Minjae.
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“Hey, what’s up? Did something happen at work?”
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“…”
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“Let’s go get some soju or something.”
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“Hyung, I’m fine. You must be tired too…”
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Minjae kept apologizing.
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“Come on, let’s go. You must be hungry.”
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I led Minjae to Uncle Sungjin’s Yukhoe restaurant.
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It was past 10 p.m., but the lights were still on.
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“Welcome!”
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Uncle greeted us cheerfully.
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“Oh? You brought a friend!”
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“Hello,”
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Minjae greeted him weakly.
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Uncle seemed to sense something.
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“Take a seat in the corner. Somewhere quiet is best, right?”
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As soon as we reached the corner table, Minjae dropped into the seat with a thud.
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“What do you want to eat?”
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“Whatever you’re having…”
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“Yuksasimi okay?”
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“Yeah…”
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We sat in silence as we waited for our food.
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Minjae just kept fidgeting with his fingers.
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“Minjae.”
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“Yeah, hyung.”
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“Take your time. I’ve got all night.”
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Minjae lifted his head.
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His eyes were bloodshot.
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“Hyung… At the company…”
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He couldn’t finish his sentence.
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Uncle brought over the yuksasimi.
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Slices of red meat neatly arranged on a plate.
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“Eat first, then talk. Everything’s harder when you’re hungry.”
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Minjae picked up his chopsticks but couldn’t eat.
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His hands kept shaking.
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“Hyung…”
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“Yeah?”
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“Today…”
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His eyes filled with tears.
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“I got fired from my company.”
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“What? Out of nowhere?”
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“The investment… stopped coming in.”
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Minjae finally managed to speak.
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“Developing technology costs money… but the investors pulled out…”
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“But you’re a key member there.”
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“Key member or not… If there’s no money, it’s over. I guess saying I was fired isn’t right, more like the company went under…”
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Minjae emptied his soju glass.
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“This morning, they called us in all of a sudden…”
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“Those bastards…”
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Now I understood.
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Why he kept smoking outside.
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Why he couldn’t talk.
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“Hyung, what do I do?”
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Minjae choked up.
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“I worked so many nights… for it to end like this…”
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My heart ached.
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My hardworking junior, losing everything overnight…
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“Minjae…”
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“I haven’t told my parents yet. I’m scared they’ll be disappointed.”
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Minjae’s shoulders trembled.
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