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Putting strength into her trembling legs, she hurried down the hallway. As soon as she entered her room, she locked the door and slid down against it until she collapsed onto the floor.
Her body smelled of Hunter and the fishy scent of semen.
Jiyu threw the underwear and the check onto the floor. Then, she hugged her knees and buried her face in them.
[I really hate you, Jiyu Parker.]
[You... make me into a son of a bitch.]
[From now on, handle the contraception yourself. I'll let it slide today, but next time, I'm just going to fuck you however I want, even without a condom.]
The blue eyes that glared at her while spitting out those harsh words had felt like the eyes of a wounded, fiercely snarling beast.
Fearing that Daisy, who was sleeping in the next room, might wake up, Jiyu spent a long time sobbing silently, her shoulders shaking, before finally lifting her head. With a trembling sigh, she wiped away her tears and trudged into the bathroom.
After finishing her shower, she lay in bed and sent a text to Ae-jeong.
「Mom, good news. I got a hundred thousand dollars. I'll deposit it into your account tomorrow. Let's talk on the phone tomorrow morning for the details.」
As she reached out to turn off the bedside lamp after putting her phone down, Ae-jeong called her immediately. It seemed she hadn't gone to sleep yet.
Jiyu didn't have the strength to lift a finger, but she pushed herself up, leaning her back against the headboard.
“Yeah, Mom.”
Where on earth did you get such a large sum of money? I told you I'd handle it, no matter how it turned out. I've told you until your ears bled never to go into debt in your own name...!
Feeling the fear in Ae-jeong's voice, Jiyu sighed and cut her off.
“Hunter lent it to me.”
It was half-truth and half-lie, but Hunter's name still had the effect of silencing Ae-jeong. A sigh of relief echoed from the other end of the phone.
Phew, was that it? You should have told me beforehand. I was so worried you might have used a loan shark... Anyway, you're indebted to Hunter in so many ways. Did he say when you have to pay him back?
Jiyu paused.
The events that had happened in his room today flashed through her mind.
“Um. He said... I could pay it back slowly, later.”
Ae-jeong continued to chatter in a slightly brighter voice.
What did I tell you when you were little? I told you to get close to Hunter, right? It's so great to have a wealthy friend; he just lends a hundred thousand dollars like it's nothing. I guess there's always a way out. Who would have known the day would come when we'd receive such help from that wild child Hunter. I've lived long enough to see everything...
Jiyu felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.
“Mom, I'm tired, so—”
Ae-jeong cut her off, continuing to list her own thoughts.
First, let's pay off half the debt, and keep the rest for Columbia tuition. Let's put out the urgent fire first, and for the remaining debt, I'll pay the interest monthly from my salary, then we can pay off the principal little by little later.
“Mom.”
Once the loan shark is paid off, I'll pay back the money borrowed from Hunter...
“Mom!”
You startled me. Why are you shouting, Jiyu? You scared me.
“We have to pay the debt first.”
What do you mean? You have to save the tuition for college...!
Jiyu shouted sharply.
“Mom, please! Just listen to me for once. I've lived my whole life listening to you; can't you respect me now?”
A stunned silence followed over the phone. She had never talked back to Ae-jeong like this before. Not even during her rebellious teenage years.
Jiyu's voice sank back into a whisper.
“Let's pay the debt first with this money. College is a luxury for someone in my position. I'm more scared that you'll have bad thoughts again because of the debt. Don't ever think about leaving me alone in this world again, Mom.”
I told you I wouldn't do that anymore, why do you keep...
When Ae-jeong's voice finally returned, it was blunt, as if she were holding back tears.
“I'll figure out college on my own. I can try again next year after the debt is paid.”
I said I'll pay back the money borrowed from Hunter. If Columbia is too much, go to Berkeley or Michigan. They give full scholarships.
Jiyu couldn't tell Ae-jeong that she couldn't go far because, in exchange for the money borrowed from Hunter, she had agreed to be his jinx—no, who was she kidding—she had agreed to be his sex partner.
Jiyu let out a deep sigh and answered slowly.
“No. I'll give up on college. I want to pay Hunter back as quickly as possible.”
Fortunately, there was no interest or repayment deadline on the money she borrowed from him. Because she didn't know when she would be able to pay it back, she had simply asked for the money, but she intended to pay it back as fast as she could. She couldn't let her life be mortgaged to his jinx forever.
Jiyu, are you crazy? Not going to college, why on earth would I...
“Mom. I'm an adult now. Please respect my decision. And... becoming rich or entering high society. That's your dream, not mine. My dream is just for you to stop suffering and for us to live together again without worrying about how to make a living. That's why I want to become an adult who can pull her own weight quickly. That alone is overwhelming, so please stop forcing unreasonable things on me. I... I struggle sometimes too, Mom.”
Finally, the tears she had been holding back burst forth. As she sobbed quietly, the sound of a sigh mixed with whimpering flowed from the other end of the phone. After a long silence, the sound of Ae-jeong blowing her nose was heard. Then, a nasal voice spoke.
I'm sorry, Jiyu. My sweet daughter. I'm so, so sorry. What luck did Seong Ae-jeong have to give birth to such an angelic daughter? In my unfortunate life, you are my only blessing, my only blessing. Jiyu, I really won't have those bad thoughts anymore. I promise...
“Thank you. I love you, Mom. I'll go to Brooklyn this weekend. I want to paint your nails for you.”
At those words, Ae-jeong wailed like a child over the phone.
✾ ✾ ✾
A few days later, Lauren called Jiyu to the family room, saying she had something to discuss.
Thinking that the time had finally come, Jiyu mentally prepared herself and followed her into the living room. It had been nearly two years since she had stayed at the Hamilton residence as Daisy's babysitter; it was time for her to leave.
She planned to use the hourly wages she had saved to get a shared room with a roommate on the outskirts of Manhattan. However, she would have to ask to stay in this house until she found a place.
Since the Hamiltons were planning a summer vacation to the South of France soon and would stay at their Hamptons villa after that, she didn't think they would kick her out harshly.
The thought of having to make such a shameless request again made her feel discouraged already. But she had no choice. She had to learn how to overcome shame and be brazen.
As Jiyu sat quietly on the sofa in the family room, Lauren offered her some pre-prepared tea and asked.
[Olivia, have you decided which college you're going to?]
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Jiyu replied with an awkward smile.
[Ah... I've actually decided not to go to college and just get a job.]
Lauren's eyebrows arched elegantly.
[Why? Hunter mentioned that you'd likely go to Berkeley. He said they offer full scholarships.]
Jiyu was slightly flustered. She hadn't known that Hunter had told Lauren that.
[I thought about it, but then I realized my mom is still here alone... I think it would be better to try for college again after I save some money.]
Jiyu lowered her gaze.
She felt a sense of guilt that she could only tell Lauren a half-truth, while the real reason she was staying here was the price for the money she borrowed from Hunter.
Lauren looked at her intently for a moment before speaking in a cautious tone.
[Olivia, I'd like to make a proposal. I'm absolutely not forcing you, so please listen and let me know your thoughts.]
With a hint of curiosity in her eyes, Jiyu looked up.
[As you know, Daisy has finally overcome her dyslexia. I can't tell you what a relief it is; they said if she couldn't fix it by the fourth grade, she'd have to move from Aster School to a special education school.]
Lauren let out a sigh of relief.
[The school has been accommodating her until now, but from now on, she needs to catch up with the curriculum. So, I was thinking of hiring a live-in tutor. And Hunter recommended you. Since you've gone through the entire Aster School curriculum and have excellent grades, there's really no better candidate than you.]
Jiyu had a general sense of where this conversation was heading.
[So... would you be willing to be Daisy's live-in tutor for the four years of college? You'd just need to help her with the curriculum and homework, focusing on core academic subjects, from Monday to Thursday. Fridays and weekends are your free time. I'll pay you the market rate for an Ivy League undergraduate, which should be more than enough to cover your tuition and spending money. I can even advance the tutoring fees for the first semester.]
There was no need to think twice. It wasn't just a straw being thrown to a drowning person; it was a massive log that could support her entire weight. It would be foolish to reject such kindness out of some meager pride. Besides, that kind of pride had already hit rock bottom.
[I'll do it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.]
Jiyu bowed politely.
Lauren was a grateful person who had reached out to her whenever she was struggling. Thus, Jiyu sincerely hoped that the day would come when she could repay the kindness she had been shown.
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