“You need to control your temper.” Park Jonghyun said to Woosung.
“Patience is not always a virtue.”
“Whatever. Instead of buying us dinner, buy us drinks.”
“Drinks?”
“Chanjong, that’s ok, right? How about you, Yeoreum?” Both nodded. Park Jonghyun continued right away. “Then let’s go. How about soju and pork belly?”
No one really cared about the dinner. What they really wanted to know was how Woosung became a successful developer. Woosung wasn’t interested in spending time with his friends for today since he has a lot of things he had to finish, but he felt like he owed them.
“Pork belly? I can buy you steaks if you want.”
“Wow! I knew you’re rich!”
“Steaks are expensive. Pork belly is just fine. When you become even more successful, you can buy us steaks then.” Yoon Chanjong replied cautiously.
“Haha, I don’t mind buying you expensive dinner.”
His friends didn’t know about Woosung’s financial situation. They didn’t know how much he made last night.
“Well, let’s go.”
They ended up at a small pork belly eatery.
“Please get us five bottles of soju and two beers.”
Park Jonghyun ordered by the time they set foot on the store and asked Woosung.
“So your temper hasn’t changed, but your skills certainly have. You need to explain yourself.”
“Hmm…Where should I begin?”
“From the beginning.”
“Let’s drink first.”
Park Jonghyun filled everyone’s glasses. After a few sips of beer, Woosung started to explain. He described how hard he studied during the winter break. He learned fast, and he developed a plugin for Visual Studio for his work. He ended up making it available for free online, and Microsoft contacted him and asked him to speak at the conference. Woosung also briefly explained how he met Jang Gwangchul.
It was an unbelievable story, but the three had no choice but to believe it. Park Jonghyun finally asked.
“So you just did it? That’s it?”
“Haha, I guess that sums it up.”
“I can’t believe that you are actually a smart person.” Park Jonghyun murmured.
“Hahaha, at least smarter than you.”
“Hey, hey! My GPA was 3.5, while yours was 3.0.”
“But the joke’s on you. I have a job, and you don’t.”
“Dammit!”
Park Jonghyun finished his drink.
“Gosh, this tastes great!”
It was nice to chat with his friends. Woosung felt carefree for once after a long time. He couldn’t believe he almost forgot all about these amazing people. After having more drinks, Park Jonghyun asked.
“So the only thing left for you to do is to find a girlfriend. You have an awesome car, so there must be girls lining up to date you.”
Cha Yeoreum was right there, but Park Jonghyun asked anyway. Woosung glanced at her and answered.
“Not yet. I have so much to do right now.”
“Really? What could be more important than your love life at the age of 26?”
“Hahaha! You could never understand.”
As they bantered, Cha Yeoreum glanced at Woosung. Their eyes met, but Woosung looked away. Yoon Chanjong noticed this and asked.
“By the way, you two are working together, right? Woosung works for Nuri Finances, and Yeoreum too, right?”
Park Jonghyun’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow, it’s like you guys are meant to be together. Good luck to you. You would be lucky to have Yeoreum back.”
Park Jonghyun said excitedly, but Woosung answered with a firm tone.
“That will never happen. It’s not the right time anyway.”
Cha Yeoreum flounced by striking the table with her glass.
“What do you mean not the right time? It should be either yes or no, but you always are so vague about everything.”
Woosung didn’t like hearing this. One of the reasons why they broke up was because Woosung disliked Yeoreum’s nagging.
“Well, what about you?”
“What about me?”
“You are always so angry. You got annoyed at everything I did and said. When I asked you what was wrong, you wouldn’t even answer me.”
“You should’ve known.”
“I never spoke to you in anger while we dated. In that 6 months, it was always you who got angry.” Cha Yeoreum couldn’t answer him. Woosung looked at her with his cold eyes. “Was I supposed to always take your anger? When I yelled at you that one time, do you remember what you said to me?”
Woosung knew that they could never get back together. He read somewhere that there was an 82% chance a couple would get back together, but only 3% chance it would work out long term.
When Cha Yeoreum couldn’t answer, Woosung replied.
“You told me it was over. I was so patient for you, and at the end, it was you who wanted to end it.”
Cha Yeoreum kept drinking. She was immature then, Woosung was too. Was it because they were so young?
“You are still such an idiot.” Cha Yeoreum said to Woosung as she stood up.
Then she walked out. Park Jonghyun looked at them in shock.
On his way back home, Woosung felt relieved. He now knew that without a doubt, Yeoreum and he could never get back together. They would fight and break up again anyway.
Whatever he thought he might still feel for her was just him reminiscing. He remembered the bad times with her. The way she looked at him towards the end of their relationship.
He knew she looked at him in a different light now than in his previous life. The only difference was that he was successful now. She was showing interest because he was a better developer and not because she genuinely loved him.
He was done with her.
He returned home and went back to working on MQTT where he worked until late into the night.
The next morning.
When he arrived at work, what Woosung saw made him feel gloomy.
The desks were littered with empty frozen food dishes, pizza trays, and energy drink cans.
Park Junwoo, Kim Yonggun, and Yoon Gihwan.
They worked all weekend. Woosung remembered working this hard in his previous life. This was necessary to become successful, but it was such a hard road.
Woosung asked, his voice quivering.
“What’s this? Did you guys work all weekend?”
Yoon Gihwan woke up from a nap and answered.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Both Kim Yonggun and Park Junwoo woke up as well and greeted Woosung.
“Did you guys go home at all?”
Yoon Gihwan put his hand on Woosung’s shoulder and answered.
“Don’t you remember telling us that if we can’t show you what we can do, you won’t keep us? So we’re working hard.”
Woosung bit his lips as he wallowed in his own guilt.
“I told you to work hard, not nonstop.”
Woosung remembered how he used to work like this. It was such a hard time. Yoon Gihwan tapped his shoulder and replied.
“If you aren’t smart, you should work harder to make up for it.”
Woosung smiled bitterly. He used to say that all the time.
“Ha…ha…”
“We don’t want to embarrass you, so we’re going to do our best!”
Kim Yonggun agreed and added.
“That’s right. Now, before the market opens, let’s have a brief meeting about what we accomplished over the weekend.”
Woosung bit his lips again. He was ready to work. He wanted to work even harder so he doesn’t disappoint these people.
