8-2
by Han Yong-un
“What kind of savings are you talking about?”
Sun-young smiled with a slightly awkward expression.
“So, does that mean you haven't saved anything?”
“Can you really call that savings? The little bits I've collected… at most, it would be around two hundred won.”
“Is two hundred won a small amount of money?”
Dae-cheol looked at her in surprise.
“Regardless of whether the amount is large or small… saving that much in this situation is not an easy task.”
Only then did he bring the glass to his lips.
Sun-young quietly listened to Dae-cheol's words and then slowly opened her mouth.
“I understood what you meant, sir.”
Her voice had become a bit firmer than before.
“How I saved money in a situation like mine… that's what you're saying, right?”
“No, that's not what I meant—”
“No.”
Sun-young shook her head slightly.
“But I also understand your concerns, sir.”
She briefly lowered her eyes and then looked back at Dae-cheol.
“Still, that money… it's not dirty money.”
“……”
“The customers and the landlady sometimes felt sorry for me and gave me small amounts of money. I just saved it without spending it recklessly.”
There was an oddly strong conviction in her voice.
“My body may be lowly, but I didn't want to live with a lowly heart.”
The air in the room became quiet for a moment.
Dae-cheol fiddled with his glass and spoke slowly.
“I didn't mean it in that way.”
“……”
“Even if Sun-young has saved money that isn't honorable… what right do I have to doubt that?”
At that moment, Sun-young's expression hardened just a little.
“…Well, that's true.”
She forced a smile.
“Whatever I do, it's not something someone like you should be concerned about.”
Though she said that, a chill ran through a corner of her heart.
Sun-young had truly believed in Dae-cheol until just a moment ago.
So she had even made excuses because she didn't want to be misunderstood for no reason.
But Dae-cheol's words—
‘No matter what kind of person you are, I am someone who cannot care.’
That's how it sounded.
Sun-young suddenly felt her face heat up, realizing she had been too reckless.
Dae-cheol seemed to read her expression and immediately continued speaking.
“No, I misspoke.”
He let out a light sigh.
“It doesn’t mean I have no doubts… it means I am not worthy of that.”
“……”
“In fact, even now, I want to ask Sun-young about her past. I have many curiosities.”
Dae-cheol smiled bitterly.
“But even if I think about it, I am not in a position to do that, am I?”
Upon hearing that, Sun-young felt even more sorry.
“Why would you say such a thing?”
She quickly eased her expression and spoke.
“If someone like you is not worthy, then who is?”
Sun-young smiled shyly.
“I am just happy and cautious to be talking with you like this…”
Dae-cheol shook his head.
“No. I may not know about other qualifications…”
He looked directly at her.
“But I have no right to doubt Sun-young.”
“Why not?”
“To doubt Sun-young means…”
Dae-cheol paused before continuing in a low voice.
“It ultimately means I love Sun-young.”
In that moment, Sun-young's eyes widened.
“……Why does that not make sense?”
Dae-cheol looked at her while slightly bending at the waist.
“Because I am not worthy.”
His voice was exceptionally low and subdued, perhaps due to the effects of alcohol.
Sun-young suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.
“No.”
“……”
“Why do you think you are not worthy?”
Dae-cheol smiled weakly.
“It can't be.”
“Is something wrong?”
Sun-young had already developed a worried expression.
“No.”
But Dae-cheol's expression was still dark.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
Dae-cheol shook his head.
“It's just that sometimes this happens when drinking.”
He looked down at his glass and muttered.
“Shall we have another drink?”
Then he loosened his hands and rested his chin on them.
Sun-young became more anxious.
“Why are you like this… Is there something you're worried about?”
She poured enough alcohol to almost overflow the glass.
Dae-cheol took the drink and smiled bitterly.
“It's nothing serious.”
And he spoke slowly.
“It's just that I'm not a good man.”
After that statement, there was a brief silence.
Dae-cheol leaned slightly and began rummaging through his pocket.
“I'm starting to get drunk now. Let's settle the bill.”
“Huh?”
Sun-young sat up with a surprised expression.
“What do you mean by settling the bill?”
“If you've drunk, you have to pay for the drinks.”
Dae-cheol said calmly while looking for his wallet.
“No.”
Sun-young hurriedly waved her hand.
“I treated you, so why should there be a bill?”
“But this is the house's alcohol, how can you just drink it?”
“This is not the house's alcohol.”
Sun-young's voice became a bit firmer.
“I bought it with my own money.”
“……”
“Do you think I would treat you with someone else's alcohol?”
Dae-cheol was silent for a moment.
Sun-young looked at him and smiled quietly.
“I have enough money for that much alcohol too.”
Then she added.
“Even if it's just a little bit saved up… I can treat you to a drink.”
Dae-cheol said with an embarrassed expression.
“If you buy me drinks with money you've saved up like that, wouldn't it make you feel even more sorry?”
At that moment, Sun-young's complexion changed slightly.
“Why is that something to feel sorry about?”
She spoke in a quiet but clear voice.
“You say it’s nothing special even after saving someone who was about to die…”
“……”
“If it’s a shame for me to treat such a teacher to a drink…”
Sun-young paused for a moment.
“Does that mean that all the good things in the world are done by men, and that women like me are not even considered human?”
Dae-cheol couldn't say anything.
Sun-young slowly lowered her head.
“I know I’m not living like a proper person.”
And she added very quietly.
“Still, I’m someone who has the heart to treat my benefactor to a drink.”
The room fell silent.
Dae-cheol looked at her for a while without saying anything, then spoke softly.
“……Thank you.”
He tried to say more but ultimately swallowed his words.
And he quietly got up from his seat.
“Thank you so much for today.”
Sun-young tried to hold him back, but—
Dae-cheol left the room without looking back.