Must've spread that I'm back or something.
The lunch spot's packed.
No adults, just older friends and peers.
Feels like everyone I haven't seen in years showed up. Their stares are giving me cold sweats…
"You said you're in college? Where at?"
"Uh… Cheongshin University."
"Oh—Cheongshin."
The guy asking gives an awkward smile, trailing off.
A nowhere uni in the middle of nowhere… the kind delinquents love.
He clears his throat, probably regretting asking.
Kinda bitter.
Thought college wouldn't matter much.
First time there, the facilities and vibe bummed me out, but I was like, *Gotta work hard, whatever!*
Now, introducing it in front of people? Kinda embarrassing.
Should've studied harder.
Not like I'd do better if I went back in time…
"You doing okay these days?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good…"
Nothing much to say.
They're all curious, talking to me, but…
No fun conversation starters.
Didn't go to a great school.
Not exactly a fun guy either.
Same old me, nothing new, so no real topics.
No big changes from years ago. Kinda bitter about it.
What am I supposed to say to "What you up to?"
*Been filming OnlyFans and gambling, life's fucking great, wanna see?*
Can't say that.
Show them OnlyFans, and the church would implode.
I'd be branded Satan, banned for life. *Sob.*
'Hah.'
What can I do? This is me.
Wanna be fun, have lots to talk about.
But I'm just… me.
"Any church gossip you heard? Been some stuff going on."
"Oh, really? Like what?"
"Some cult stuff lately…"
Conversation shifts to church talk.
Better than talking about me.
Guess normal people just fade like this.
Brief spotlight, then back to the background. Feels weird.
---
"See ya, Joonhyung. Come back next time."
"Come for sure!"
Older friends wave me off, smiling.
They're not two-faced, which is nice.
Not like, *Oh, shitty school? Useless.* and turning away.
Feels like they try to see me for me.
That effort's kinda sad, though.
Honestly, I'm smarter than before.
Playing soccer at uni, working out, body's better.
But it's just my own small progress—nothing others notice.
During talks, I got lost in dumb fantasies.
*Went to a great school, so people ask, "How's the vibe? Fun major?"*
*"Damn, Joonhyung, you got hot, what you been up to?"*
*"Yo, hit big on Bitcoin? That Benz yours? Give me a ride!"*
Wasted time daydreaming.
I'm such a loser. *Sob.*
'Hmm…'
There's *one* topic that'd top it all, but…
Saying it would ruin everything.
Not about being an attention whore, just… wanna be useful.
Someone valuable to the group.
When'll I be that guy?
Make a few billion on OnlyFans, maybe? Fuck.
"Where to now?"
An Yujung says, rubbing her nose.
Why aren't you guys leaving?
Old playmates stick around, staring at me blankly.
"How 'bout shaved ice?"
Shaved ice?
Not bad.
It's getting hot, and sweet-tangy sounds good.
Nothing to do after lunch, so why not.
We shuffle to the shaved ice place. Ooh, shop's cool.
"We'll call you when it's ready!"
God, my mouth's watering.
Old-school shaved ice with syrup, strawberry too. Used to be too pricey to eat often!
"Ugh, so cool."
Yujung sits by the window, fanning herself.
She's all grown up, huh. Hard to know where to look.
Summer's making it worse.
"Comfy."
Without the older folks, it's easier with just us.
We sprawl out, soaking in the AC.
Same-age friends are definitely comfier.
None of us have achieved much, so we just giggle together.
"School life fun? Manageable?"
"Uhh…"
Fun?
Kinda… not really.
Getting dragged to soccer, cross-dressing, hauled around by Park Ye-young…
Is that fun?
"It's fun, I guess."
"Nice."
Gotta say it's fun, what else can I do?
Wish I had one friend I could be real with.
*Fuck, I'm still getting jerked around by delinquents and fucked. Save me!*
"What you up to these days?"
What's Yujung doing? Heard she didn't go to college.
She wasn't dumb, so that's surprising.
"Practicing baking. Gonna open a bakery."
"Oh, bakery."
Parents setting her up?
Baking suits her. Seems like she'd whip up stuff efficiently.
"Come to church next week. I'll show you my baking."
"Can I eat it?"
"Of course, duh."
Oops, slipped up.
Juha's been making such shitty food lately, I asked out of suspicion…
Yujung sighs, pulling out her phone.
"Check out my stuff."
Phew, dodged that.
Been a while since I saw her annoyed face.
"Whoa…"
Looks better than expected.
Visually impressive. But Juha's food looks good too…
Gotta smell and taste to know. PTSD from that weird, painful flavor…
"Shaved ice is ready!"
Hell yeah.
Red bean shaved ice with colorful syrup comes first.
The kind we made with self-serve machines as kids.
Looks so good.
"Yo, pics first, pics!"
We hold our spoons, waiting for Yujung to snap photos.
Four guys holding spoons, looking like Dumb and Dumber.
"Ooh, tasty, tasty."
"Nice."
The syrup-soaked ice beats the toppings.
We eat in silence for a bit.
Comfortable silence.
Soft English music from the shop fills the quiet.
"Nice weather."
Yeah.
We gaze out the window, watching passersby.
It's wild. Feels like we met in elementary school yesterday, and now we're adults sharing shaved ice.
Their faces feel the same, but their grown-up bodies make it weird.
Yujung's tall as hell now… almost 170? Same as me, fuck?
"You still live at the same place?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Same spot.
Same apartment from ten years ago.
Bit shabbier now, but yeah.
"We used to hang at your place a lot."
Yeah, we did.
Eating fruit, playing PC games, doing picture searches in books.
My place was chill, no one bothered us, so we gathered there often.
"Can we come over?"
Uh…
My place?
Sure, come over! …Not.
"W-Well…"
Used to be fine, but not anymore.
How do I explain this? Sweating in this cool shop.
Eyes shaking like crazy.
"What, you hiding something?"
Yujung grins, sipping her shaved ice.
This little… What you think I'm hiding? Why my eyes shaking?
"I mean, you can, but…"
My place is currently occupied by two crazy delinquents.
Need to evict them, but I'm too weak.
"Yo, yo, yo."
Yujung smirks, nudging me.
Fuck, what's she imagining? I'm not hiding weird shit! Or… am I?
"I get it, man. We're adults now, huh?"
Get what?
You gonna get me filming porn with two delinquent girls?
Or think I'm some freak with onaholes displayed in my living room?
"Ugh, pervert."
Think what you want…
No way they're actually coming, just talk, right?
"Just call ahead if you do…"
"Yeah?"
Yujung nods, chomping her shaved ice.
They're not *really* coming, right?
---
Whoa, Im Hyunsu.
Juha stands in front of a bar, lips parted in an "O."
Heard he opened a bar, thought it was bullshit, but it's real.
Where'd he get the money?
*Ding.*
"Welcome to Bar Market!"
"Welcome!"
Tons of staff.
Juha looks around, curious.
Fancy-ass interior.
"Hey, Juha. You came?"
Im Hyunsu slinks out from the kitchen, all smug.
Acting like a big-shot owner.
"Sit, sit. What you drinking?"
Water's fine, duh.
Juha crosses her arms, scanning the place.
"This really your place?"
"Of course it's mine, fuck. Whose else?"
"Where'd the cash come from?"
"Business, like I said."
Yeah, no way he got it extorting pocket change.
Heard he made money delivering, then quit 'cause it sucked.
Said he's doing some weird money-making with others.
"Cola, gimme cola."
Hyunsu sets down a can, his wrist flashing a shiny watch.
Looks expensive. Juha blinks, staring at it.
"Got this watch. Fucking dope, right?"
"How much?"
"Two mil. Was gonna go pricier but held off for a car."
Two million?
Juha pauses, thinking.
Should I knock him out and swipe it?
"You look tired. Shoulder massage?"
"Wanna die?"
"Even if I did it, you'd bitch."
Juha sighs, pulling out her vape.
Can I use this here?
"Vape's fine. Cigarettes, no. Customers can't, but you're good."
Why am I good?
Juha puffs, looking around again.
Can't get used to this place.
"Yo, lemme show you the kitchen. Spent a fuckton."
"Not curious."
"Just look, c'mon."
Called me to brag, huh?
Juha clicks her tongue, standing.
"Hey, my friend, my friend. Keep working, don't mind us."
"Hello!"
Quit with the arm-around-shoulder shit.
"This cost three mil. This was, what, five mil? Fridge was pricey."
Didn't ask.
Juha puffs her vape, nodding slightly.
Spent a ton, huh. Wonder how much he's milking this place.
"Business good?"
"Hell yeah. Delivery's insane too."
Hmm…
Heard he's running a jokbal place next door too.
Two businesses?
"Ugh."
Juha yawns, tired of his bragging.
Staff keep glancing over.
"Yo, where's everyone else? You said you invited them."
"Did. They're late."
Feels like a lie. Probably invited me early to show off.
"What you up to lately, Juha? Hard to catch you, fuck."
"Nothing much."
No reason or need to tell him.
Juha sits back, puffing her vape.
Hyunsu's eyes lock on it.
"Yo, heard you were job hunting. Find one?"
"Yeah, got one."
"Where?"
"Just a convenience store."
Hyunsu smirks.
"How much they pay?"
"Minimum wage, probably."
"Minimum? Fuck, places still pay that?"
What else would they pay, fuck?
Max wage?
"Yo, work here. Was gonna hire another anyway. Minimum wage, screw that."
"Here?"
Juha frowns.
"How much?"
"Fifteen thousand an hour to start. Tons of kids get twenty."
Twenty thousand?
Five hours, that's a hundred grand.
Juha pauses, thinking.
OnlyFans is all she's got going.
"Work afternoons or evenings.
Tired? Leave whenever. Super easy, just serve."
Hmm…
Heard bars make bank.
Juha thinks it over.
"Not saying you have to. Do it or don't."
"You said it's busy."
"Yo, guys handle the hard shit. Never worked a bar?"
Guess so.
Couple months could net a few mil.