He shouldn’t have let that Seongbuk-dong customer go.
But how?
Unless he flew from Gangnam to Seongbuk-dong, it was an absolutely impossible customer to catch.
Even though he knew that fact well, Jiwon was gloomy and didn’t feel like working. But he couldn’t not work at all either.
He sat in a daze the whole time, then barely came to his senses and caught one customer. It was a heavily drunk customer and his manners were shit too. Nevertheless, Jiwon didn’t show his displeasure and drove the car to the location the customer designated and safely finished parking.
His arm felt like it would fall off. He chewed painkillers and looked at his watch.
Is it already this late?
Since the customer’s destination was an unfamiliar place, he turned on the map app and walked to the bus stop. While doing so, he looked around for a kickboard, but somehow didn’t see a single one. As an alternative, he checked if there was a substitute driver pickup bus or vehicle. On days like this, there were no vehicles either. Having no choice, he transferred buses and subways twice and arrived at Hwangje Room Salon.
He clocked in and headed to the nearby convenience store as on any other day.
“Hyung!”
As he was about to press the convenience store automatic door button, Han called out to Jiwon. He was panting as if he’d been running.
“What, why are you walking so fast? I thought you were speed walking.”
Han grumbled but smiled brightly.
He gestured for them to go inside quickly. Han, who passed through the automatic door, naturally went to the beverage corner and picked up three coffees with straws, and as soon as he finished paying, he held one out to Jiwon.
“Two-plus-one.”
“Thanks.”
When Jiwon said this while receiving the coffee, Han rolled his eyes saying, “Ah, really. There you go again.” But soon a smile appeared on his scrunched face.
“Let’s go. Let’s talk while drinking.”
The two sat side by side at the bar table inside the convenience store overlooking the street. As if promised, they stuck in their straws and gulped down the coffee first. As the sweet coffee went down, his depressed mood improved a little.
He was taking two more sips when Han held out his latest smartphone in front of Jiwon. It was a page that read “Interview Participant Precautions.”
When he raised his eyebrows, Han urged him to read it quickly.
Jiwon lowered his gaze and read the text.
Those who have received the acceptance text message, please pay special attention to security. Interviews will be conducted in 3 rounds, and information about the 2nd interview will be announced only to those who pass the 1st interview.
※ You must sign a confidentiality agreement before the interview, and if you do not sign, the interview will be canceled.
※ Regardless of whether you pass or not, those who normally complete the 1st interview will be paid 3 million won in cash as an interview fee.
※ On the day of the interview, you must bring your ID and resident registration abstract.
- Interview attire: White shirt, black suit top and bottom, dress shoes, tie is optional
- Interview location: 25th floor, Taeseong Building, Sagye-dong, Yongnam-si, receive temporary pass at lobby
- Interview date and time: June 7th, Friday, 3:30 PM
※ If you will be late for the interview time, please contact us in advance. Depending on the reason, the interview may be canceled or postponed, so please understand.
– SuperX Model Agency
There was no content about what kind of work it was, but he could roughly guess. It was because of that phrase ‘model agency.’
In this industry, companies with the name model agency were usually host bar intermediaries. If not that, they shot adult films or arranged prostitution.
But setting everything else aside, the part that caught his eye was that the interview fee was 3 million won. And it was 3 million won just for attending the interview, regardless of whether you passed or not.
Curiosity arose.
When Jiwon looked at Han, Han grinned.
“Hyung, you haven’t gotten it yet?”
“What?”
“No, I’m asking if you didn’t get a call?”
Jiwon just blinked as if he didn’t know what Han was talking about. Then Han, frustrated, took the smartphone and after a few touches, held it out to Jiwon again.
A text message was visible on the large, clear screen.
[Han Seoho, we sincerely congratulate you on passing. We are sending a link regarding the 1st interview, so please check it. – SuperX Model Agency]
“Didn’t you get this text, hyung? Didn’t Maybach say anything?”
“Maybach?”
They were talking about the interview and suddenly Maybach—I can’t follow Han’s conversation at all.
“Yes, Maybach. You know, the fucking huge person.”
“…Why would that customer contact me…?”
Jiwon, who had spoken up to here, sighed, “Ah.”
It wasn’t a missed opportunity. Even though substitute drivers were everywhere, the customer had even called the call center specifically looking for him. It was Jiwon who had rejected that opportunity, but the other side had extended their hand again. Through Han’s mouth.
Jiwon hurriedly took out his phone and checked the call log. In the missed call history, there were two numbers starting with 070 along with the name “Fucking Bastard.” It was those phone numbers he hadn’t answered, thinking they were insurance or loan advertisement calls.
“Is it this number by any chance?”
When Jiwon showed the 070 number, Han nodded vigorously.
“See, you got it too, hyung. But who is this ‘Fucking Bastard’ here?”
Han asked with curious eyes.
“Ah. My hyung. My real older brother.”
When Jiwon answered hesitantly, Han said, “He really is a fucking bastard.”
“No matter how I think about it, hyung is a saint. If it were me, I would have already killed him.”
Han got angry as if it were his own business. Jiwon just smiled bitterly.
“Oh right, we shouldn’t be doing this—hurry up and call.”
Han urged.
“Where?”
“The missed call!”
“Now?”
It was past midnight.
“It’s too late. Even if I call, they won’t answer.”
“Aw, hyung, really. What agency is like that? They all connect to personal cell phones.”
Han insisted.
“Still…”
“The interview fee alone is 3 million won.”
He added that when would they ever touch that much money again?
His heart was eager, but what if he called at this hour and made a bad impression?
He didn’t want to act hastily and miss the opportunity.
“I’ll do it tomorrow morning—”
Before Jiwon could finish speaking, Han reached out and took Jiwon’s phone. He winked one eye as if to say just trust him.
A moment later, a triumphant smile spread across Han’s face.
‘See, they’re answering.’ He spoke silently.
“Sorry for calling late, but I got a missed call. Yes. Yes. Kim Jiwon. Yes. Just a moment… Here, hyung. Take it.”
Jiwon, who received the call unexpectedly, brought the phone to his ear.
- Is this Kim Jiwon himself?
It wasn’t the voice of someone who had just woken up.
When he said yes, they asked for his phone number.
It was extremely stiff and businesslike.
- I sent a text. Did you receive it?
Jiwon hurriedly took the phone from his ear and looked at the screen. There was a text notification.
“Yes. I received it.”
- Check the text and come at the time written there.
The call ended without even waiting for Jiwon’s answer.
“Did the text come?”
Han was anxious.
“Yes. Here.”
“What would we have done if you hadn’t called?”
Han waited for Jiwon’s praise with an expression that said I did well, right? Jiwon said “Thanks” once, then checked the text.
When he clicked the link, the same page Han had shown him appeared. However, the interview time was different.
10 AM. Jiwon was puzzled after checking the time.
“Huh? Hyung’s is at 10. Is the time okay?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”
Not just fine—it was a time prepared for him. Because it was the only free time in his day.
He even felt as if the agency knew his schedule.
Has the story already gotten to them?
It felt uneasy. But he didn’t show it to Han and just pretended to be happy.
A little later, Han went to the room salon to greet customers, and Jiwon, left alone in the convenience store, called somewhere. Soon he received two advertisement texts, and didn’t answer the call that came from the loan shark named President Choi.
After killing time for another ten minutes or so, he sent a text to “Fucking Bastard.”
[President Choi contacted me. What should I do?]
Ten minutes later, a reply arrived.
[For now, say you’ll pay it back.]
After checking, he immediately looked for President Choi in his contacts.
[I will pay back at least part of it. Please give me your account number]
He sent the text to President Choi.
Whew, is this done?
There was nothing wrong with being careful, but if he was too careful, he couldn’t do anything. For this matter, there was no other way besides confronting it directly.
Jiwon decided to only think about the fact that he had gotten an opportunity. He would soon find out whether it was shit or soybean paste.
