Chapter 15
I rushed to the door and saw that Mr. Choi was already waiting for me at the gate. He bows at me, and I greeted him while hearing my phone beep with consecutive notifications from our group.
I ignore it and open a file with the record of the workshop studios I will be going to today. There's the Samcheong-dong where I originally planned to check because the attached pictures are just suitable for the workshop I'm planning to open up. Mr. Choi is reliable, and I entrust the management and other niceties in the shop, but before I think of anything, I might first purchase a place.
The distance is only 1.3 miles from Seoul, and I prepare it nearby. I spent my time checking the other places, but the location was far more than I thought.
"We're here, Miss." Mr. Choi notified me.
I look outside and see the neighborhood. The building has white paint painted on the wall, and it stands out because of the modern exterior. There's also a terrace on the second floor. It has an art gallery ambiance.
Mr. Choi approaches a lady when we enter the shop. She politely bows at me and jerks her gaze to Mr. Choi.
"We're here to check the area. I plan to buy- I mean to rent this place." I said and smiled at the lady who looked at us in bewilderment.
"Please have a seat here." The lady leads us to the near vacant table and chair. Mr. Choi remains standing at my back while I sit at the chair and look at the lady preparing tea for us.
She sat across from me. I look at her trying to study her expression. I don't want to be misunderstood by her and appear irrational because I'm young, but I have no time to delay any further.
"I'm Ae Bora. I got this building as an inheritance from my parents. I don't have any relatives, and this place has so many memories... If it isn't rude, may I know what kind of business you will open?" Ms. Bora is speaking formally, making sure that she has a distance from me. She remains friendly, but I know that she doesn't trust me.
"Are you saying that because I'm still young?" I asked, trying to test her.
"Ehem... I- I can't just sell it to..." Ms. Bora stopped speaking and tried her best to get back her lost composure. She looks at me with a determined expression.
"Ms. Kim. I plan to sell this building where my parents have a lot of memories... I know I'm rude to you, and I apologize for that, but I have the right to judge because I want this to..." Ms. Bora stopped talking after seeing me smile at her.
"I understand your intentions, but you don't have to be worried. I will buy this building with a good plan in mind." I told her and explained to her that the craft workshop I've been planning to open soon. Luckily Ms. Bora is a fine woman. She also gives me advice since she's familiar with the industry.
"How about I hire you as a manager of this place?" I asked with enthusiasm.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Kim, but I'm planning to live overseas after selling this place. My work is already there, and I can't disregard this place while living far away." Ms. Bora explained and sipped tea from the light blue cup.
"What a loss. Then.... How about?" I smiled at her while looking at the crafts in the shop. Many of them are unique and beautiful. I plan to make my decorations, but I also want to use them because they are pretty to look at.
***
Mr. Choi handed me the deed of sale. I read it and checked the stamp we both signed before getting it back to the brown envelope. I'm currently inside the car and done with the transaction. I just double-checked the contract.
"Mister. Do you think it's fine that I buy that building? I'm not sure if I could do good." I asked him because I felt unfamiliar anxiety after I finally signed a contract.
"You've done well so far, Ms. Jia. You also control your temper so well. I'm glad about that." Mr. Choi compliments me. I blushed because it's my first time receiving it, even though I didn't do much.
"Don't tease me, Mister! By the way, Can you schedule cleaning the workshop? I think next weekend will be good. I wanted to do it personally. I want to check it more, but I just can't today... I feel that Ms. Bora needs this time to stay in that place." I mumbled and saw a smile from Mr. Choi in my peripheral vision.
"I understand." Mr. Choi answers me. I sigh and look outside the window as the car drives in the road.
***
I received a text from Yumi. She's asking me to go to school because of the club meeting. I pouted when I replied, okay. I plan to work now that I already purchased a building. I also need to find an artist and study more designs. I have so many things to do, and I only have 98 days! But I can't reject Yumi. Attending the meeting is for the club activity too.
To Yumi
I'm on my way.
-End.
I replied to her message and told Mr. Choi to send me off to school. I lean on the backrest of the car and check my outfit. I'm glad I'm wearing decent attire today. I don't have time to go back home and change, but since it's the weekend, it's safe to wear casual clothes.
I picked up a mint jacket I always left in the car to use whenever I got cold. I'm wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and black converse shoes. Earlier I wore a coat to look mature, but I did not need it this time, so I wear the mint jacket instead.
We arrived at the front entrance of the High school building. Even on weekends, there were still students loitering on the campus. I bid my goodbye to Mr. Choi. I stepped inside. My phone rings when I'm already on the stairs.
"Yumi?" I answer her call while walking my way.
"Where are you?" She asked. I heard noises in her background, and I couldn't hear her voice.
"What? I can't hear you." I said and stopped walking.
"Jia! We're at the coffee shop! I'm sorry, I thought we would be meeting in school." I finally heard Yumi. I bit my lip and checked that I'm already on the last step of the 3rd floor. I already climbed up, and I can see the clubroom door a few meters away from me.
"Alright. Just send me the address." I said and was about to turn back, but I saw someone entering the music room door.
"Okay. Take care. Bye!" Yumi ended the call, and after a second, I received a message from her saying the name of the coffee shop and the address.
I walk in the hallway to see if it's one of the members and plan to tell them that the meeting place has changed. I open the door and see a girl wearing glasses sitting at the chair with her pencils and a sketchbook.
"Who are you?" I asked, crossing my arms. I frowned after I got a glimpse of her work and saw the familiar face of Lee Yejun.
"I-I...." She closed her sketchbook in panic and stood up. Her eyes are everywhere, and she can't focus in any direction. She lowered her head and stayed still while hugging her sketch pad as if her life depends on it.
"I-I'm sorry, sunbae!" The girl bowed before me and looked scared. I glance at her and think she's familiar, but I can't remember where I saw her.
"It's forbidden to come here if you're not a club member. Are you planning to join in?" I asked in curiosity. I don't want to get mad and freak her out.
"I-I.... I want to join!" She roared, which made me startled, and looked at her weirdly.
"Okay. But the president is not here. I can give you an application form, and you can turn it in on Monday." I said to her casually. The girl is still not looking in my side and remains lowering her head.
In the past, I judged her and will look at her weirdly, but it changes now. I went to the cabinet that Yumi showed me before and got an application form. I handed it to her after.
"Fill this up and prepare for a test. For me, I got accepted after I played piano." I explained to her. She flinches after hearing the piano part, but I didn't mind it.
"You can play the instruments that you're comfortable and confident in. The president will be the one who judges you, so Good luck!" I said and stared at her. She flinches again and bows to me after accepting the paper. She leaves hurriedly without saying anything.
"What a weird girl." I unconsciously mumbled.
--
I look around and check the club room. I forgot that I needed to go to the meeting place and went to check the whole area. For a moment, I feel like there's something wrong in the room. My intuition is sharp, and I'm familiar with this feeling. I started to check the drawers, the tables, chairs, and the instruments. I found nothing. I'm about to check the working desk when I stop and look at the shelf. There are different kinds of books and albums perfectly arranged on the shelf. I frowned when I saw a red light coming from a black book near the edge of the rack.
"Camera?" I whispered in my mind and got the tiny devices that tape at the upper edge of the shelf. It was so small that it was hard to notice it.
I check the device and frown. This thing is very familiar to me... I also used this in the past. The device is small but not preferred if used in spying. It was 65*12mm in size and colored black. It can record a long distance and can last for 600 hours. Amateur people will use this, but I can't recommend this type of device because first, It was noticeable. Also, a simple phone can detect this thing. I wonder how many recordings were saved on this device. I quickly opened my phone and connected it. I saw almost 200 voice recordings, and I copied everything. I plan to listen to this later.
I perfectly put it back to its original place while erasing my prints. I guess my habit in the past when I did those evil things is still imprinted on me. My phone rings, and I see Yumi's name on the caller id. I didn't answer it after knowing that there's a recording spy in the club room. I let it ring until I can finally leave the room and lock it.
End of chapter 15.