Jaeho walked through the neighborhood with ₩302,000 in his pocket alongside three brand new iPhones in hand. and the smile on his face was a constant as this brought back feelings of when he was a kid.
Jaeho noticed this neighborhood was like stepping into another world. Each house were more impressive than the last. Massive estates with neatly manicured lawns and high quality iron gates stood behind beautiful driveways. Cars parked in front but not just any cars, European cars, luxury SUVs, even a red sports car taking a beating under the sun, cost more than most people made in their enitre life.
The people here dressed differently too. Clean, pressed clothes that looked effortlessly expensive, designer bags hung over shoulders, the kind of wealth that came from never having to worry about money, never having to check a bank balance before shopping.
Jaeho passed a woman walking a small dog, her outfit probably worth more than the total money he had seen in his entire life. A man in a tailored suit stepped out of a house, adjusting his watch, something Swiss, no doubt, competing with the sunlight who shone the most.
This was a fantasy. A world he could only dream of living in someday but there was a chance at this life.
But he didn't let himself dwell on it too much. Dreams were fine, but reality was what mattered.
He had ₩302,000 now with his debts were cleared. He had work lined up with Yura and things were finally moving in the right direction.
He adjusted the bag containing the IPhones in his hand. He planned to give one phone to Jia and one to Serin, but only for use at home. He didn't want them carrying expensive phones to kindergarten.
Kids could be cruel, and if word got out that the "poor orphans" had the latest iPhones, it might paint targets on their backs as the phones themselves would draw attention. But this could change.
But at home? The chances of their friends spoiling the phone was close to zero.
Jaeho tucked the bag closer to his side and kept walking incase someone had the smart idea of snatching it from him.
Eventually, the pristine neighborhood gave way to familiar streets, smaller buildings, narrow alleyways, convenience stores with flickering neon signs that showed they needed to be replaced.
The change was drastic, and Jaeho had no idea when the smile from his face faded.
He made his way to the nearest subway station, descending the stairs into the underground platform. The air was cooler down here with the smell of metal.
The train would be cheaper than a bus, and there would be no traffic to worry about as well.
Ms. Ahn was standing near the far end, scrolling through her phone, her expression was distant as well.
Jaeho's first instinct was to approach her, maybe say hello. But then he hesitated. If he talked to her, she would ask questions. And this was something he wasn't mentally prepared for as it would put an unnecessary dynamic in their relationship. He didn't want to interact with her after school.
So he hung back, keeping his distance, blending into the crowd waiting for the next train.
The train arrived as a metallic screech echoed, brakes reverberating as it slowed to a stop. The doors opened, and people rushed forward right away.
Jaeho stepped inside, moving toward the middle of the car, gripping the shopping bag firmly.
It was unusually crowded for this time of day, people pressed together, holding onto the overhead rails to balance himself. The cheaper trains were always like this.
Ms. Ahn stepped into the same car a few feet away, still focused on her phone, she had no awareness of his presence. Jaeho glanced at her for a second before looking away.
She wasn't wearing her usual teacher attire, no pencil skirt or blouse today. Instead, she had on a fitted colored sweater that was tight and showed her shape, her narrow waist was more pronounced and the size of her breasts. A loose skirt just above her knees, showing off her long legs. A brown leather jacket hung over one arm as well.
Her hair was down and loose instead of being pulled back in her usual professional style, hanging over her shoulders.
She looked… different. Younger, and more relaxed.
Jaeho looked away quickly, gripping the overhead rail with one hand, the shopping bag with the other as the train shook forward.
The crowd shook around him, people shifting and swaying with the movement of the train. Someone bumped into him from behind, pushing him slightly forward. He steadied himself, keeping his eyes fixed on the window, watching the tunnel walls blur past as the train sped past them.
Ms. Ahn was just a few feet away now, close enough that he could hear her phone buzzing with notifications. She sighed softly before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Jaeho kept his head down, clutching the bag nervously, he didn't want to be noticed.
The train rumbled on, carrying them both towards their various destinations but Jaeho was wary of his environment because there was a chance someone would try to rob him.
The money in his pocket suddenly felt heavier as well as the phones in the bag.