[CONTENTID1]04[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]PINK POLAROID[/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3]Word Count: 4k/ Published On Dec 02 2020[/CONTENTID3]

[CONTENTID4]

           All living things are controlled by their environment.

           No matter how suddenly the environment changes, one must adapt well quickly. We can’t choose what is strong or weak when we are born into the world, but we will die if we don’t adapt no matter how we are born. That death can’t be held accountable anywhere. Therefore, even if you have soft and smooth skin, you have to harden yourself in order to live in a place with harsh, strong winds. Even if you get scratched and hurt a lot, you have to make a very thick epidermis for yourself so that you won’t get hurt on the inside. Such a fate has been the case for all living things, including Kim Minjeong.

           “I bought cigarettes from you a few times. I don't know if you remember.”

           Timidly. A shy high school boy from the area scratched the back of his head. Minjeong didn’t give him a single glance even as she calculated his total.

           “I think I bought it about five times."

           Still, the boy didn't give up and murmured. Minjeong, who finished calculating with an indifferent face, only saw him then. And asked coldly.

           “You want to smoke?”

           “Huh? No. Why?”

           “If you keep talking like that, you won’t be able to buy cigarettes from me starting today, so I was just wondering why you were saying crap like that.”

           A monotone voice that spoke coldly. The boy was at a loss for words. Minjeong spoke, handling the purchased items with indifferent eyes as if it was bothersome.

           “Take it and get lost. Don’t ruin my mood.”

           Minjeong’s soft skin was getting firm.

///

           The hourly wage at the convenience store where Minjeong works is 8,600 won.

           Working from 6 pm to 11 pm on weekdays, five hours a day, makes 43,000 won. 215,000 won for a week. That would be 860,000 won in a month. The tobacco sales are between 500,000 won and 700,000 won. If she earns money like that, she could save about 300,000 won to 400,000 won a month. The problem was that it wasn’t sold long enough to save money, and there were a lot of unpredictable cases in life that required money. Kim Minjeong only had 200,000 won in her hands even though she worked for a full year.

           When she thought of "200,000 won", she immediately thought of the weekend trip expenses that Minjeong had used last time when she went out with her friends. It cost about that much when she didn't go abroad and played in Korea for a while. Even though it was a trip that felt like she didn’t spend so much.

           Minjeong had never regretted leaving the house, but sometimes it became a little difficult when she found such an inevitable gap. The difference between the two situations was nowhere near narrow. That was her experience and ego that could not be separated from either side. It would have been bearable to some extent if she had lived her whole life in scarcity. Poverty came like a bolt from out of the blue when she had lived as if she only had sunny days. She didn't complain because she brought it on herself, but she still thought it was harsh.

           “So, you’re going to work part-time on the weekends too?”

           “I think I have to.”

           “Wouldn’t it be better to save a little more money until your mother comes back instead of leaving?”

           “I want to visit her…”

           Minjeong had planned one thing. She would visit her mother in America during summer vacation. Even if Minjeong didn’t talk about every aspect of her reality, she thought she could gain the power to endure if she saw her mother. Giseok was worried about Minjeong, who wanted to visit no matter what happened. Once she was there, her mother could do something about it, but the plane fare was up to Minjeong. She couldn’t use the 200,000 won she had now for an airplane ticket. Minjeong had also learned that squandering without preparation was prohibited. That was why she had to earn new money from this point forward. To be honest, even if she earned money starting now, affording the round-trip ticket would be difficult.

           “I can lend you some. But even then, it’ll be difficult.”

           “That’s why I’m planning to work on the weekends.”

           “Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? As the famous Princess Kim.”

           “Shut up…”

           Princess Kim, daughter of a big corporation, has been Minjeong’s nickname since she was young. He made it for her because of her coy and pretty visuals, yet very picky and sensitive personality. Although, she now had to live more like a lion than a princess.

///

           Yu Jimin has never been busy on weekends ever since she was ten.

           Even when she was resting at home, she always had to do everything planned on her schedule. For example, if she decided to oversleep and rest well on Sunday, she would plan until what time she would sleep and even decide what book to read and what snacks to eat. A perfectly controlled life in her own hands. Yu Jimin was used to and comfortable living like that. So, it was the first time something like this happened today.

           She pushed back her entire schedule, meeting with her friends to play squash, eating breakfast, drinking coffee, watching a movie, and shopping, just to follow Kim Minjeong to her weekend part-time job interviews.

           “Why the sudden interview in the morning? Without eating too.”

           “I ate before leaving.”

           They were on their way to a part-time job interview at a café, Minjeong’s first part-time candidate.

           Now Minjeong showed her generosity by replying, even if it was terse, to at least one out of the five messages Jimin sent, but Minjeong didn’t know what would have happened when she fearlessly replied to her on the weekend.

           Jimin persistently asked where Minjeong was going since the morning. Jimin, who was able to meet Minjeong by pretending to be upset, pretending to be angry, and even begging, canceled all her plans and rushed out. Minjeong has yet to wear the clothing that she had given as a gift, but Jimin did not care. She was proud of her for replying to the message, and she was grateful that she met her without ignoring her until the end. She was a person who was endlessly optimistic and generous towards the things she liked, and never gave up on them. She liked Kim Minjeong the most among the things she liked, so she was especially unique.

           Anyway, Minjeong ate breakfast and Jimin wasn’t able to eat it. Jimin was especially hungry because by now, it was time to eat breakfast according to her schedule. On the contrary, Minjeong ate breakfast, which she usually didn’t eat, because of the interview, so her stomach was upset.

           “I’m hungry. Let’s eat something at that café. Cake. It’s on me.”

           “I’m fine. Sunbae should eat it.”

           “What kind of taste would it be, if I eat it alone?1”

           “The cake flavor.”

           Jimin laughed at that answer. It wasn’t surprising. The Jimin from these days would laugh even if Minjeong cursed. Jimin asked without taking her eyes off Minjeong’s side profile. With a playful smile.

           “Why do you act like that? With what belief?

           “Belief in what and act like what?”

           “You. What do you believe in so much that makes you so cheeky?”

           Minjeong did not falter even though other hoobaes would have flinched.

           "It's because I don't have anything to believe in."

           “What are you on about?”

           "I don't believe in anything, so I don't see anything2...… There's nothing to be scared of."

           "Is that why you’re talking casually?"

           Jimin clicked her tongue as if she was dumbfounded. Then something surprising happened. Minjeong smirked as she walked. Jimin almost fainted. She couldn’t believe Kim Minjeong smiled. When she was someone who couldn’t sleep even if Minjeong had shot back an angry face and cursed at her. In fact, she couldn’t even believe that she reacted to her words.

           "Hey, did you just laugh?”

           Minjeong didn’t answer and walked faster. Jimin quickly followed and tried to see that expression again but failed. Before they knew it, they arrived at the café for the interview. Minjeong disappeared into the café.

///

           It was a private café that was a little further down the alley from the downtown area.

           It was not a franchise, so there weren’t that many menus and there was a fair share of customers. The young owner had a good spirit and an elegant impression which was rare for a man. The coffee’s taste was not bad, and the interior was decorated beautifully, so word of mouth was spreading little by little about the place. Since the number of customers had increased, he was in search of a part-timer for the first time, and the first applicant was Minjeong. Minjeong wanted to work here the most among the places she browsed through. She had three part-time job interviews today alone, and among them, she chose this café as her favorite choice and came here first.

           "You're a high school student."

           “Yes.”

           "There's no problem with that.”

           You're using honorifics. Pass. Minjeong thought that in her mind. However, Jimin, who was watching Minjeong’s interview with her chin over her hands in the corner table, was thinking, "Why is he snickering like that? Feels ty." The cafe owner asked Minjeong this and that. “Have you ever worked at a cafe? Have you handled the machine before? Do you want to come over here for a second?” Minjeong followed the man around like a baby chick, nodding and answering with a smile. Jimin watched her instead of eating the cake she had ordered because she was hungry.

           She felt a strange feeling. She couldn't explain it because she didn't know how it happened or what emotion it was. It was a feeling where she could hardly think of anything else. As Jimin's eyes followed Minjeong, the innocent cake was sliced by the fork. When she walked over to Jimin after the ten minute interview, Minjeong asked with her eyes wide open.

           "What's wrong with this guy?"

           Minjeong pointed to the cake that was smashed. Jimin spoke, poking her fork again over the crumbled cake.

           “Th