Of all times, that’s when Kkotmoa was coming in through the back door, shaking off moisture from his wet hands. Damn it. That bastard Kang Junwoo really ran over like a dog and put his arm around Kkotmoa’s shoulder. I should’ve just let him when he put his arm around my shoulder instead. Kkotmoa’s height on the physical examination records was 173cm. Perhaps because of that, Kang Junwoo at 183cm, 10cm taller than Kkotmoa, made him look like a much younger sibling when putting his arm around his shoulder.
No, it’s because of his face. It’s because Kkotmoa, who still can’t shed his fluffy child-like appearance, is stuck with Kang Junwoo, who instantly transforms into a new employee when wearing casual clothes with his old-looking face. It was a really disgusting sight.
“Kkotmoa, let’s go together.”
That barking dog bastard, seriously.
“Where to?”
“I’ll buy you food. Do Hyeondo’s hotel steak is seriously amazing.”
While I was racking my brain on how to detach the dog bastard sniffing around the flower scent, they approached me. Kkotmoa, who escaped from Kang Junwoo’s arm, calmly packed his bag and tried to chase away the sniffing dog bastard.
“I have plans today though.”
“With who?”
“With Hyeondo.”
“Really? That works out well. Let’s go together. This bastard is coming too. And I have something to tell you.”
Kkotmoa stared straight at me as if asking if it was true. His face full of curiosity only showed pure innocence asking if we weren’t studying today. That somehow strangely didn’t sit well with me. Because it seemed like he had nothing to do with me besides studying. We’re third-years, the June mock exam that’s the nationwide joint academic evaluation was right around the corner, and it was an exam that was essentially checking CSAT scores in advance, yet I suddenly didn’t want to tutor him. Even though I knew Kkotmoa carried around the study guide organized by mock exam type that I filled practice notebooks with and looked at it until his hands wore out every day.
“Let’s eat today before going. We finished early so we have some time.”
The truth was, maybe I wanted to feed Kkotmoa hotel steak. I definitely didn’t like that bastard Kang Junwoo coming along, but since he was the one who set this up, it would be funny to chase him away now. I’m not such an unscrupulous bastard.
Seeing Kkotmoa’s face looking like he was pondering made me anxious, so I quickly added.
“He said he’s buying. We have to eat anyway. Let’s take this opportunity to bleed him dry.”
“Mm, should we?”
“I’m only buying for Kkotmoa, okay? You buy your own food with your own money. Anyway, rich bastards are too much.”
The dog bastard barked woof woof from the side.
“But really, can you buy for me? Isn’t a hotel really expensive?”
“What do you take the youngest son of Kangsan Group for? As if I couldn’t buy a friend a mere hotel steak. Of course I don’t buy that expensive stuff for just anyone. I’m buying it because you’re our Kkotmoa.”
“Okay. Thanks. I should eat it deliciously.”
If I had known he would smile so happily and brightly like that, I would have said I’d buy it. I can buy it for him several times until he gets sick of that steak and can’t eat it anymore. I didn’t know why I couldn’t casually mention family background or money in front of Kkotmoa like Kang Junwoo did.
“Oh my, Hyeondo-gun. It’s been a while. Are the Chairman and his wife doing well?”
As soon as we took a taxi and arrived at the hotel restaurant, the general manager overseeing the restaurant recognized me and greeted me. Kkotmoa looked at me with curious eyes from the side. Rather than my shoulders rising, I was worried whether Kkotmoa might feel distant from me.
“Yes.”
“Since you came in your school uniform, I’ll guide you to a private room.”
I answered in short, stiff responses as usual and was immediately guided to a private room. Our hotel restaurant looks like it only has a hall when you just look at it, but there were also several rooms separately prepared for VIPs. Occasionally when I came in casual clothes with Kang Junwoo on weekends, we ate in the hall, but when we came in school uniforms, we always went to a private room. This was also something Mom ordered. She said it doesn’t look good to be eating at a hotel restaurant in school uniforms. Dad said can’t the successor of D Group even do that, but naturally he surrendered to Mom. Now I wasn’t even curious why Dad let Mom win. When we entered the room and sat down, the manager gave us menus and left.
“I didn’t know when I saw you at school, but you really are the son of D Group. I was a bit surprised seeing that old lady being so polite to you.”
As soon as she disappeared, Kkotmoa quietly whispered to me. This must be why I didn’t suggest coming here first. Because I was worried he might really feel distant from me.
“Hey hey, it’s not just that lady. Social gatherings that meet quarterly are fine since we’re the same age, but occasionally when attending corporate events or big parties, it gets worse. Even people old enough to be grandfathers are desperate to look good to him.”
This is why I didn’t want to bring that dog bastard along. Because he barks woof woof without distinguishing what can and can’t be said.
“Just order.”
I curtly cut off the conversation. Kkotmoa was looking at the menu with a serious face. There were over ten types of steak alone, plus other menus, so it would be overwhelming.
“Kkotmoa, is there anything you want to eat? Just say it, I’ll buy everything today.”
“This is my first time at a place like this so I don’t know what’s what. Does this 380 written here mean thirty-eight thousand won?”
He pointed to the cheapest steak on the main menu and asked. 380 wasn’t thirty-eight thousand won but three hundred eighty thousand won. I didn’t feel the need to explain. The menu the manager brought wasn’t a regular menu but a VIP one. Of course, even the regular menu had a few items from the VIP menu mixed in, but among ordinary people who came for the atmosphere, there were hardly any who ordered them. I quickly opened my mouth first while looking at Kang Junwoo trying to explain.
Because Kkotmoa said he liked that I was kind.
“If you order à la carte you have to pick everything from appetizers to dessert so it’s annoying, see the course here? Since he’s buying anyway, order a course. My recommendation is today’s special course. They make today’s special course with the highest quality and freshest items of the day. And since you like mango juice, let’s ask them to change just the dessert to mango ice cream or mango fruit.”
“Okay. I don’t know well so you order for me.”
“We’ll have today’s special course.”
“……Are you crazy, Do Hyeondo?”
Kang Junwoo would naturally have today’s special course too. We ate that every time we came. But Kang Junwoo suddenly became serious. I couldn’t tell what twisted his mood.
“Why, you fucker.”
“Wow fuck, I almost threw up before even eating. What’s with that disgusting tone of yours, fuck. My recommendation is today’s special course. Since you like mango juice, let’s ask them to change just the dessert to mango ice cream or mango fruit. Wow fuck, I really almost threw up.”
The dog bastard started barking woof woof again. He barked noisily while mimicking what I said as if trying to copy it. Kkotmoa, seeing the dog bastard speaking human words, found it fascinating and giggled while his shoulders shook.
I cleanly ignored Kang Junwoo. The manager, who never moves directly unless for special VIPs, came to take our order. Kang Junwoo who likes it cooked through ordered well-done, I who enjoys meat juice ordered medium rare, and since Kkotmoa said it was his first time, I ordered medium appropriately for him.
“Do you guys come here often?”
“No.”
“Don’t you come at least once a month? When we came frequently, we came every Saturday. Once you eat here, it’s really so delicious you’ll keep thinking about it. You’ll probably keep thinking about it too, right? Tell me whenever you think of it. Since you’re my friend, I’ll specially buy it for you. If you drop Do Hyeondo’s name, they’ll give you a discount.”
Ah, really what should I do with that rabid dog bastard.
My answer of no was buried just like that. That bastard made things difficult by barking without tact. Fortunately, Kkotmoa didn’t shrink back and just nodded with a face that said I see, and quietly waited for the food. The kid who usually chatters away was being too quiet, which bothered me again.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“Huh? No. It’s just my first time at a place like this so it’s awkward. When we eat out on birthdays at my house, we always ate pork belly. Well, that’s been impossible since last year though.”
“Kkotmoa. Is your family that difficult?”
That wasn’t just rabies level. Seeing him dig into someone else’s wounds so casually, I almost threw my water cup. I glared at Kang Junwoo, barely holding back wanting to give that crazy dog bastard euthanasia injection right away. But Kang Junwoo didn’t stop even though he knew I was glaring with murderous intent.
“I actually saw you yesterday at the teachers’ office. The homeroom teacher giving you an envelope saying the teachers collected money. That’s also part of why I asked to eat together today.”
“Ah, you saw? Mm, originally it wasn’t that difficult but since last year it’s been a bit like that.”
“Why? Did something suddenly happen that required a lot of money? Or were you scammed?”
“It’s just personal family matters so it’s a bit awkward to talk about.”
“Why didn’t you take that money?”
“I don’t want to be pitied. Even though my family has little money, we’re happy. The family really cherishes and takes care of each other. Honestly, when you said you’d buy me food too, if it seemed like pity, I would’ve refused. But it just looked like buying for a friend so I followed along feeling good. Still, I thought it would be really expensive but seeing there’s a thirty-eight thousand won one made me feel a bit more comfortable.”
Kkotmoa was that kind of kid. Not someone who didn’t want pity because he didn’t want to become miserable and servile, but someone with a firm core who didn’t need pity because he was sufficiently happy as is. A beautiful flower that looks endlessly fragile when seen with the eyes, on a stem that seems like it would snap right away, but whose roots are firmly and properly established deep in the ground so it can’t be easily pulled out—a wildflower that captivates with simplicity rather than splendor.
At his answer delivered with a neat face smiling without wavering, Kang Junwoo didn’t ask anymore either. The puppy who seemed like he would bark woof woof that it wasn’t thirty-eight thousand won but three hundred eighty thousand won suddenly became quiet. Then, unsuitably choosing appropriate words, he watched Kkotmoa’s reaction.
“Okay. Well, if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to…… But still, what’s the point of having friends. Not just any friends, but friends who have overflowing money like this. If there’s anything we can help with, tell us. It’s not pity like you think, it’s because we’re friends, so how should I say…… Ah, when I need flowers, you deliver them for me. Like that, when you need something, we can help too…… Ah, fuck. What am I even saying. It’s too cringy, I can’t say anymore.”
