Let's earn some money!

Park Woojin stared blankly ahead, which Renji and Daeho found unusual. They were used to Woojin's constant chatter during their lunch breaks, but today he was silent and distant.

"Hey, Woojin!" Daeho flicked his fingers in the air, trying to snap Woojin out of his daydreaming.

Woojin blinked a few times before turning to face Daeho and Renji, who were looking at him with concern.

"Is something wrong?" Daeho asked.

Ever since Taejoon and his group had stopped bothering him—despite Taejoon's return from suspension—Woojin had been by his side. Seeing him so troubled now, Daeho wanted to offer some help.

"Sorry... there's just a problem at home," Woojin said with a weak smile.

"What is it? You can tell us. We might be able to help," Renji said, his tone earnest.

Kim Daeho nodded in agreement.

Feeling he had no choice, Woojin explained the situation—the debt his family owed and the urgency of coming up with 10 million won. As he finished, a heavy silence settled over the table.

Daeho was the first to break it. Scratching his head, he said, "I'm really sorry, Woojin. I wish I could help, but my family's struggling financially too. I'm afraid I don't have the money."

Woojin shook his head. "It's okay, Daeho. I understand."

Renji then spoke up. "I can lend you some of my savings, though I'm not sure if it'll cover everything."

"Are you sure? It's your savings," Woojin asked, a hint of worry in his voice. He didn't want to refuse the offer, but he was genuinely concerned about imposing.

Renji shrugged. "It's fine. I don't have any immediate plans for it, so you can use it. Just pay me back when things get better."

"Thank you, Renji! This will be a huge help," Woojin said, his relief evident in his expression.

He continued, "My mother's been struggling with the stress, and I want to support her as best as I can. Unfortunately, my job doesn't pay enough to cover our expenses, so we haven't been able to repay the debt in time."

"Don't worry. You'll get through this! Cheer up!" Daeho exclaimed, his voice full of encouragement.

Woojin felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, his heart warmed by Daeho's words.

But then, reality hit him hard.

Later that night, Woojin sat on his bed, counting the money he'd managed to scrape together. The combined amount from his part-time job, Renji's savings, and what little his mother had saved up still wasn't enough to cover their debt. They were still short.

A dull headache pulsed through his temples as he stared at the scattered bills in front of him. Gritting his teeth, he got up and splashed cold water on his face, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The dark circles under his eyes were becoming more prominent, the toll of sleepless nights and constant stress.

The debt was eating away at him, and the looming deadline was only two weeks away. Days were slipping by too quickly, and the pressure of finding a way to gather the money was overwhelming.

_________________

"The hell are you doing? Haha!" Laughter filled the classroom as a group of boys pointed at Song Kang Dae, who was flailing around in a bizarre dance, while Kim Sohee recorded everything on her phone.

Despite the jeers and laughter, Kang Dae didn't seem to care. He kept dancing to the loud music, moving his body awkwardly as if trying to mimic a worm wriggling on the ground.

"Shake your body more!"

"Yeah, that's right!"

"Feel the music!"

The onlookers were in stitches, laughing uncontrollably at the spectacle in front of them. Meanwhile, Kim Sohee was focused, barking out instructions to Kang Dae, who clearly had no talent for dancing.

"Okay! That's a wrap!" Kim Sohee finally shouted, rushing over to Kang Dae's side to show him the video. Kang Dae watched it with a curious expression before nodding in satisfaction.

"I'm gonna edit this now!" Sohee said excitedly, darting back to her classroom, leaving Kang Dae gasping for breath after his impromptu performance.

The onlookers continued to mock Kang Dae's dancing, but he just ignored them. As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter what they thought—as long as they got paid.

Park Woojin, who had been quietly reading a book, looked up, baffled by the scene that had just unfolded. What were they even doing?

He had been lost in thought when Kim Sohee had burst into the room, dragging Kang Dae along and demanding that he dance in front of everyone. Despite the ridicule, Kang Dae had gone along with it, showing no shame in his crude, awkward moves.

As the class returned to normal, Woojin overheard someone mention something that piqued his interest. "Did you hear? Kang Dae and Sohee made a ton of money off that last video."

Woojin's ears perked up. Money? His mind began to race as he considered the possibility. Could it be true? If so, how much money could they have made from something as simple as a dance video?

His curiosity got the better of him, and he quickly decided to find out more. If there was a way to earn some extra cash, no matter how odd, it might just be the solution to his problems.

"Hi..." Park Woojin greeted Kang Dae warmly who was eating together with Kim Sohee.

"Oh! Park Woojin!" Kim Sohee waved energetically and motioned Woojin to seat in their table.

Woojin thanked her and took a seat beside Kang Dae.

"How have you been?" Sohee asked.

"Oh I'm fine. Thank you for asking." Woojin replied.

"Wait a second... Do you two know each other?" Kang Dae asked, clearly confused. He looked between his friend and Woojin.

"We do!" Sohee chimed in, nodding. "I ran into him at his part-time job at a convenience store. I happened to be passing by and saw him working there."

"Ah, that makes sense," Kang Dae said, nodding in understanding.

"But hey," Sohee began, "something's different about you, Woojin. Or is it just me?"

"Tsk, it's not just you," Kang Dae interjected. "He really does look different lately."

Woojin smiled shyly, unsure how to respond to their comments as they both scrutinized him.

"You've definitely changed. You look taller and more confident," Sohee observed, raising her eyebrows playfully. "Hey, how about starring in one of our videos? Your looks could really help us get more views!"

Kang Dae studied Woojin's face, nodding in agreement. "Yeah! You've got a different vibe from your friend, Renji. You're more charming—don't tell him I said that, though. Renji's handsome too, but he's got that intimidating aura."

Sohee laughed. "Honestly, I never noticed how good-looking you were before. Maybe it was because you always seemed so gloomy and withdrawn. But now, look at you!"

"Uh, t-thanks?" Woojin mumbled, blushing as both of them laughed.

After the laughter died down, Sohee looked at him seriously. "So, what do you think? Wanna join us? It'll be fun, and you can earn some money too. We can discuss your share once the video takes off and we get paid. It's totally up to you."

Woojin paused, considering her offer. After a moment, he looked up and nodded firmly. "Yes, please! I could really use the money. I'll be in your care!"

Kang Dae and Sohee exchanged a pleased look and gave him a thumbs up.

"Awesome! We'll see you on Saturday," Sohee said, winking playfully. "We'll make some great content, and I'll fill you in on the plan. Just be ready!"

Woojin gulped, wondering what he had just signed up for. But whatever it was, he was in!

As Woojin walked down the hallway, he couldn't shake the nervous excitement building up inside him. Being in one of Sohee's videos was something he'd never imagined, but the chance to earn some extra money was too good to pass up, especially with his family's situation weighing heavily on his mind.

Woojin slipped into his next class, which was thankfully a quieter subject. He could use the time to think.

The class droned on, but Woojin's mind was elsewhere. He thought about what Sohee and Kang Dae had said. Was he really that different now? He hadn't noticed much of a change to himself. Well, maybe, just a bit?

Saturday came in a blink of an eye.

He's getting ready for today when his phone buzzed with a message.

Hey, Woojin! Just wanted to give you a heads-up. Please bring a change of clothes—something casual but nice. We might shoot outside, and I want everyone looking their best!

– Kim Sohee

Woojin stared at the message, feeling a little more nervous than before. What exactly were they planning? He typed out a quick reply.

Got it. I'll be ready.

– Park Woojin