Smooth Sailing After Divorce
Episode 5: Last Chance, A New Start (2)
“So...... in conclusion, you’re asking to borrow money?”
“You could say that.”
“What about me would make you trust me enough to......”
“Well, don’t you already trust me?”
Dongho’s eyes narrow. In his gaze as he looks at me, doubt and curiosity linger simultaneously. If I had to add anything else, contempt too.
It makes sense, since the present Dongho isn’t my best friend yet.
Four years from now, we’d grow close enough that he’d even lend me his house, but right now we’re merely in the same department—nothing more than acquaintances who joined the company at the same time.
If we count the time we’ve worked together, it’s been one year at most. It was a reaction that could easily surface when nerves were on edge from adjusting, let alone bringing up a money problem.
“You’re well aware that this is quite a difficult situation, aren’t you, Mr. Bongjin? I understand what you’re saying, but...... honestly, I’m a bit taken aback.”
“Why would I make this request of all people, Mr. Dongho? I must have plenty of other close friends.”
“It might not mean much coming from me, but...... do I perhaps look easy, or gullible, or something like that?”
“No, not at all. How could I dare say that the youngest son of the Dongjeom Group is lacking in any way?”
“What did you say?”
Dongho raised his voice, seemingly flustered. He looked quite surprised, his mouth hanging open.
“Don’t worry. No one knows yet.”
“How did you......”
“I have my ways. I’m not trying to blackmail you with it; I’m just making a proposal.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
I steeled myself and stared at Dongho.
Having grown accustomed to Dongho’s personality over the past four years, I probably knew it better than anyone—perhaps even better than his own family.
That was precisely why I could make such a bold offer.
The flustered Dongho needed time to organize his thoughts. Without a word, I took out a sheet of paper and held it out to him.
Dongho’s gaze lowered, followed by a brief silence.
“I think that over the past year, you’ve more or less finished evaluating me. It’s the same for me. Of course, this might be an unreasonable request, but I believe it’s a sufficiently valuable proposal.”
“One billion won...... repayment on February 1, 2018. Interest rate of one hundred percent?”
“I’ll even pay ten percent in late fees. Monthly. I can give you my ID, whatever you need. You already know that I have a little too much to simply make off with a mere one billion won, right?”
It hadn’t been long since I learned of Dongho’s identity. It took about two years before I thought we’d grown close enough.
In some ways, it was something he’d said while drunk. Did he regret saying it? He had revealed his identity in a fit of anger, but that didn’t seem to be the case. If I had to say, it might have been out of frustration.
The guy was, so to speak, taking successor lessons.
The reason there had been no significant promotion for over four years was purely due to his ambiguous position. From the start, this place had aspects that made it ambiguous to call it a Dongjeom Group business site.
In the end, both he and I had wound up shouting that this life was ruined, but we weren’t there yet.
At this point in time, Dongho was surely plotting to gather his own people and rack up achievements. He might have even known that if he was weeded out here, it would be over.
From that perspective, this proposal was sure to be material that could pique his curiosity. It was a situation where he had nothing to lose.
“If you wish, you can write the promissory note yourself, Mr. Dongho.”
“If it’s such a good offer and an investment...... why aren’t you using your own money, Mr. Bongjin?”
“Because I’ve been shackled.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to keep it secret from my wife.”
“That’s strange. I thought you two got along well.”
“The details are trade secrets. I’m telling you this precisely because I trust you, Mr. Dongho. I trust you even more than you trust me.”
Dongho’s expression hardened. He looked like he was deep in thought.
Anyone would have had the same reaction. But somehow, an inexplicable confidence surged through me. As if Dongho and I from four years later already existed, I felt like a fairly solid relationship had already formed between us.
A short silence followed.
As expected, one billion won was too large an amount. Even if he was the youngest son of a minor chaebol family, it must be burdensome to suddenly produce that kind of money.
Moreover, since he was a son who had been cast aside, it was probably too much after all......
“Let’s give it a try.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I’ll trust you, Gim Bongjin.”
This time, it was me who faltered. He had accepted more readily than expected.
I had anticipated a much longer conversation. I had fully intended to lower the amount if he wished, and thought of giving up if it wasn’t feasible. Such a cheerful acceptance was, in light of Dongho’s personality, somewhat unexpected.
“But I have a condition. We’re talking about a sum as large as one billion won changing hands; let’s go into business together.”
“A partnership?”
“As Mr. Bongjin said, I did a little background research on the people around you. They’re all ordinary people, like me. Average folks, you might say.”
“Is it all right to go into business with an average person?”
“What you’re doing right now isn’t the act of an average person. It’s enough to pique even my curiosity for no reason.”
Dongho was already signing the blank spaces on the promissory note. His face, more relaxed than before, wore a leisurely smile.
Well, asking to borrow a whole billion won outright wasn’t something one did in their right mind.
“Where you’ll use it is a secret, right?”
“Of course. I can tell you when I repay it next year, though.”
“Please help me, Mr. Bongjin. They say those who acquire money are third-rate, those who acquire honor are second-rate. But my grandfather always said that those who win over people are first-rate. And I don’t know why, but I keep feeling that I can trust you. As if my heart is telling me to.”
At those words, I broke into a smile without realizing it. Even at a different point in time, Dongho was still Dongho.
“You have a heart destined for success. Let’s do it. I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be, but what the hell, I’ll help you, sure.”
“Words alone won’t be enough, right?”
“Huh?”
Dongho reached for the promissory note again. Below the simple conditional sentences, he arbitrarily wrote out some words. After writing the modification date and his signature, he thrust it toward me.
[4. The debtor, Party B (I Sukja)’s son, Byeong (Gim Bongjin), shall enter into a partnership contract with Party A following the repayment of the principal. Interest shall be extinguished simultaneously upon entering into the partnership contract.]
“You don’t need interest either?”
“Let’s call it a partnership deposit.”
A smile spread across Dongho’s face.
At this point, it was rather me who was astonished. Was Dongho always this cheerful? Perhaps he simply had the misfortune of lacking opportunity—blood will tell, as they say.
“Then the contract is established like this, Mr. Dongho.”
“So it is. Let’s shake hands.”
I took the hand he offered. It was a familiar hand, but thinking that this was four years ago made it feel alien.
Whether or not Dongho knew how I felt, he shook my hand vigorously. Whatever thoughts and ambitions each of us harbored, in my heart right now, there was only Bitcoin.
This was how I overcame one great mountain.
* * *
“A swift deposit. You’ve got guts, big guy.”
I think I said it might take up to a week. But Dongho deposited it in just two days.
While waiting leisurely, I checked my bank account without a thought. I don’t know how many times I rubbed my eyes at the sudden string of nine circles in the opened account.
“I should find out if they deduct taxes on this.”
I had no memory of ever handling such a large sum of money. At the bewildering amount, an inexplicable worry surged up for no reason.
“Mom would faint if she saw my bank account. I should spend it quickly before anyone finds out.”
What was the best way to maximize gains while minimizing income tax?
Should I invest through an overseas account? But wouldn’t I have to pay taxes eventually if I brought it back to Korea?
Being still at the company made my head spin. Between future plans, company work, and more importantly, avoiding my wife’s eyes.
Should I just quit? But if I suddenly did that, the suspicion would only grow.
While holding my throbbing head, I inadvertently felt a gaze over the partition.
[Wink.]
Dongho made a smug grin as if asking whether I’d checked. Along with a triumphant expression.
“Sigh......”
I turned my eyes back and returned to the monitor. There was a mountain of work that needed to be resolved within this week. I was also mindful of those around me after forcing through a vacation day the day before yesterday.
It seemed like I’d need to work overtime today. Come to think of it, this place might be better than home. How much harder would it have been if the baby had already been born?
My chest felt tight just imagining it. Rather, now is better.
* * *
“Hey, honey. It’s me. I think I’ll be late today? Go ahead and eat dinner without me.”
—Huh? What, what’s going on. Why again.
An irritated voice flowed out.
I had finished dinner early and called when I had a moment. In my heart, I didn’t even want to acknowledge her, but if I did that, she’d use it to pick a fight again. But Minju would never react nicely just because I called in advance.
“There’s a company project. I think I might be late for the time being.”
—What is it? What’s so important that you’re working overtime and leaving your pregnant wife behind? Are you going to a room salon again?
“Room...... are you going to talk like that?”
—If not, just say it’s not. Why are you getting annoyed? You just have to say no.
“When have I ever gone to one? Is that something a wife should say?”
—That’s not what’s important right now. Who would stay still when you’re leaving your wife who’s about to give birth and comfortably staying at the company? I’m so distressed I could die, and you just have to talk like that? Do you have to beat down your wife to feel refreshed?
My heart began to pound as if it would burst. Before, I had the mindset of a dog with its tail tucked, but now I was in the position of a fighting dog consumed by rage.
Here we go again. I thought it had been quiet for a while. Rather, this reaction even put me at ease.
I should have been used to it by now, but these patterned conversations still disgusted me. If it were the me of this time back then, my mental state would have wavered.
“Then...... should I quit everything here and go home? If I get fired, will you earn the money? Don’t say things you can’t take responsibility for.”
—What? What did you just say. Are you really going to keep talking like that......
“Acknowledge that my work is important too, just like family. Let’s not cross the line. I’m hanging up because I don’t want to listen to you anymore.”
—Hey!!
There was no denying that I was a bit worked up.
Should I have pressed further? Would it have been better to smooth it over?
My heart was still thumping. Various scenarios unfolded like a panorama.
No matter which way, a fight was bound to happen. I wouldn’t avoid a fight coming my way.
Sorry, but I didn’t want to back down at this point either. This wasn’t a fight that ended just because you endured it once.
Minju was the type who wouldn’t be satisfied after receiving one concession. No, perhaps all humans were like that, not just Minju.
“Whew......”
I calmed my mind with a deep breath. The phone kept ringing, but I switched it to silent. And I rejected every incoming call after that.
The phone that had been ringing like crazy gradually subsided. I knew that answering now would only be an emotional drain.
At this point, she must be going crazy and thrashing around the room. No, or perhaps......
I moved the automatic recording file from my phone to the cloud.
The voice files I had started collecting in this manner were already approaching ten. Not all of them were phone recordings.
“She knows I’m not coming anyway...... she wouldn’t invite Yang Geumtae all the way to the house. Even if she’s a crazy bitch.”
Actually, it didn’t matter either way. The recorders hidden throughout the house would provide clues in one way or another. If not inside the house, then outside.
It was a shame that I couldn’t attach a recorder to Minju’s mouth.
Still, if I piled them up one by one like this, it would work. The cornerstone for a new life.