Series Title/AU: My Baby Brother is the Strongest Character
<<read the synopsis and content warnings first>>
Featuring: Goo Kim, J High students
Illegal Toto Arc: Lookism Ep. 83 - 90*
*I highly recommend reading the arc again if you don’t recall what happened. Otherwise, the flow of events or certain references may not make sense.
“One hot green tea latte with oat milk and no sugar for Miss Ang—”
“Jace, if you keep calling me that I’m going to start buying drinks at the café across the street.”
Jace chuckled and placed extra tissues on your tray. “I’m sorry, force of habit.”
You raised an eyebrow and grabbed your drink. It was Friday night so the coffee shop was packed with teenagers and young adults. One specific topic seemed to float around:
“Did you win?”
“I’m close, I can feel it.”
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Snail game.”
“Ah, how can odds come up four in a row?”
Even the two guys waiting in line—
“I bet it all on right three, left odds.”
“You’re nuts.”
Jace must have caught you eavesdropping because he covered his mouth and muttered, “Thank you for your lecture last week, nurse. Vasco was so moved by your lesson that he photocopied the handouts and gave them to the kids near his house.”
Last week was when you held the miniature anti-betting seminars for each department. You’re glad Vasco paid close attention, but he has always been a well-behaved boy even in the canon timeline. It was someone else that worried you.
You thanked Jace for the latte and left for your seat.
The other barista, John, whispered to Jace when he thought you were out of earshot, “Hey, you know her? Can you introduce me?”
“Don’t even think about it. She’s got a boyfriend.”
“And a rich one, too. She’s got some expensive shit on—see that necklace? It’s worth at least 18,000,000 won!”[1]
You almost tripped at the number, though you weren’t that surprised. Gun had lavish taste.
Whatever. Enough worrying.
Weekends are meant to be enjoyed.
You put your phone on vibrate and opened a new romance novel.
***
“I don’t know about this, Jiho,” Duke said, pushing down the straw into his iced Americano, “the nurse already warned us about online gambling.”
“Ah, c’mon this is nothing like those scams she showed us. This website is legit, perfectly harmless.”
Duke fell silent. He was never interested in betting in the first place, but after last week’s lecture he’d become more vigilant and even warned his grandmother about random solicitors.
As Duke thought of ways to dissuade his friend from further betting, someone reached for Jiho’s head and began tousling his hair.
“What a coincidence!” They were two guys wearing their school uniform, and from the way Jiho hunched over, it was obvious that they weren’t his friends.
“I blew all the money you loaned me before. Let me borrow fifty—argh!”
Something green and sweet-smelling spilled over his shirt and pants as someone hit the floor along with their belongings. All eyes fell on them.
Duke looked over the table and gasped, “Nurse!”
You groaned, prying yourself off the marble.
Jace jumped over the counter and ran over to you. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Weak ankles.” You glanced at the student. “Look at your shirt, oh, I’m so sorry! Good thing the matcha was already cold or you would’ve been in trouble, huh?”
The guy forced an eye-twitching smile. “Yeah. Hahaha…”
“Can you get up, noona? Is your foot okay?” Jace asked, helping you gather the things back in your purse.
Instead of answering, you grabbed onto the table and pulled yourself up. You then dug into your pocket and gave the soaking student 5,000 won.[2] “I’m really sorry. This should cover the laundry.”
His thinly-veiled irritation was replaced with a genuine smile and he snatched the money without hesitation. “Yeah, all is forgiven. Sorry but we gotta run now.”
He gestured for his buddy and they sprinted out the doors.
You sighed. “I overheard them talking about gambling—”
Jiho flinched, which Duke did not miss
“—and I really hope they won’t use the money recklessly.”
Duke then bowed his head and said, “Um, thank you, miss.”
You tilted your head. “For what?”
He wasn’t sure himself.
“Um, nurse?” Jace handed over your purse and phone separately. “I’m sorry but your phone kept vibrating.”
“Uh, oh. I forgot to check my messages. I gotta go, sorry for the mess!”
“It’s nothing. Be careful on your way—and she’s gone.” Jace shook his head.
He and Duke stared at the door. Though they weren’t sure, the two of them shared a single thought: you did it on purpose.
He then turned to Jiho. “You all right?”
“Y-yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s just that…” Jace saw Jiho’s face, flushed with shame, and kept quiet. “Nevermind.”
“I should go now.” Jiho excused himself.
Behind the counter, the other barista gazed at the door and grinned.
Later that night, Duke visited the convenience store with Jiho. Zoe was there, of course, right next to Daniel.
“Daniel, you say something,” Duke pleaded. “I tried to tell him not to go through with it, but I think he’s already addicted. He even lent one of the baristas money. He just keeps going around, gettin’ robbed.”
“Geez, you’re overreacting.” Jiho insisted. “John is a good guy! He’s been working at the café since forever. He’s always been nice, handsome, and popular with girls!”
“Then that just makes him all the more dangerous,” Zoe reasoned. “The nurse already discussed this during the lecture, remember? Er, right, you weren’t listening.”
The store bell rang.
Daniel greeted, “Welcome—ah.”
The four teens blinked. There was a man beside you. He was tall, lean, and draped in designer clothes, but it wasn’t your “boyfriend” from the festival. This one had blonde hair and wore a cheeky smile.
Zoe covered her mouth.
Daniel whispered, “Do you know him?”
“Not personally, but this guy apparently approached unnie in front of everyone and asked her to be his friend.”
“Friend?”
“That’s what I heard. The rumor didn’t blow up because of the exams…”
You and your friend approached the cashier. “Hey, guys.”
“Hi, nurse.”
“Hello, Miss Angel—”
“Knock it off.”
The blonde man’s cheeks puffed up. “Did they just call you—”
“You must’ve misheard.”
“No, I definitely heard the word ‘angel’.”
“Shut it.” You then handed four meat buns to Daniel. “Can you heat these for me, please?”
“S-sure. Give me a moment.”
Your blonde friend looked at Jiho. “Hey, you. Why did you call her angel?”
“Don’t answer that.”
“Tell me or I’ll beat you up~ ♪ ”
Jiho flinched and you tugged on the blonde man’s cheek. “Don’t threaten my kids.”
You smiled apologetically at Jiho. “Sorry. Don’t worry about that, he won’t beat you up without proper motivation.”
All four of them screamed internally: That’s definitely worth worrying about!
Zoe cleared her throat. “Unnie, it’s rare to see you with someone.”
“So I’m your first?” The blonde man lit up. “Lucky~”
You clicked your tongue.
“A-anyway, what’s your name, mister?”
He let out a theatrical gasp. “Mister? Mister? My face is still poreless, ya know! At least call me oppa!” [3]
You pinched his cheek again.
“Ow, ow, ow! Why do you keep assaulting my beautiful face?”
“Because I can’t afford to hurt your clothes. And it’s not like I’m pinching you hard.” You let go of him. “I suppose introductions are in order. Everyone, this is Goo Kim, he’s my…”
You looked at him.
He winked and puffed his chest, expectant.
You looked back at the kids. “He’s a thing.”
Everyone: “!!!”
He grabbed you by the shoulders and began shaking. “You’re so mean! At least say I’m an acquaintance if you don’t want to call me your friend!”
“This is revenge for being annoying.”
“I swear you remind me of—” his phone rang and he spun around to answer it. “Yello? No, I’m still not back…”
The teens watched as he went to continue his conversation outside. They could tell it was a work call, even though he remained grinning like a fool. In their hearts they couldn’t help but think: what a weirdo.
Zoe wanted to press you for more details, but there was a new customer inside.
Jiho waved at him. “John, you’re here!”
“I was scared I got the wrong address. Jiho, why’d you ask me to come here of all places?”
“Just ‘cuz I planned to meet some guys I know here.”
“I see… Are these your friends?” John’s eyes wandered over to Zoe, or more specifically, over her chest.
Daniel silently moved in front of her, blocking his view.
The man shrugged and then went over to Jiho. “Here, your loan.”
“Wha—this is over 140,000 won! But I only gave you 71,000 before.”[4]
“Interest. I won 714,770 won.”
Everyone else gasped, but you only watched. John told Jiho that he received a “tip” and that he was willing to let Jiho in on some inside information.
“It’s easy money,” the barista pitched. “But don’t feel pressured to try if you don’t want to.”
He met your eyes and smiled, looking harmless, like you didn’t catch him staring at your necklace. He must’ve realized that it was a different but equally pricey one.
“You wanna try too? Just trust me, it’s easy.” He was good, you’ll give him that. You wouldn’t be surprised if he managed to scam a bunch of innocent girls with that charm of his.
You crossed your arms. “Are you sure about this? I may not be a teacher but I’m still considered a mandatory reporter, you know.”[5]
“Huh?”
“I’m saying—” you took a step forward “—that if you try to rope these students into gambling, I’m legally required to report you.”
“Hey now, take it easy, it’s not that serious—”
“—not that serious? Do you know how many teenagers have killed themselves over debts they couldn’t pay back?”
“K-kill? What are you talking about?”
His back hit a display case, knocking down several cup noodles.
“This is my way of telling you to quit while you’re ahead. Don’t go dragging innocents into your little schemes.”
He gritted his teeth. “You’re really getting on my nerves—”
“—and you’re already on mine. Better go back to your boss and tell him to pack up before the cops arrive.”
“Why you!” John raised his arm—
You braced for the hit.
“Noona!”
“Unnie!”
“Geez, you can’t do that, man. Tsk, tsk.” Goo was holding onto John’s wrist. “Even the biggest pervert I know doesn’t hit girls without their consent.”
“Let go of me—ah—argh!”
Goo forced him to his knees then turned to you. “Should I break his arm?”
“No, that’s too much. Let him go for now.”
“Are you serious?”
“If you break his arm then you’ll end up in jail.”
“We’ll claim self-defence.”
You ignored him and knelt down so you and John were eye level. “I’m too tired to spend the whole night at the police station, so promise me that you won’t approach Jiho or any of the students again and we’ll let you go.”
“Fine! Fine, I promise I won’t come near them again, just—ow! Let me go, please!”
You nodded at Goo, who rolled his eyes but obeyed.
John scrambled off the ground and ran out the store, mumbling something, probably cursing you.
“Look at him go, he moves like a cockroach. Lol.”
“Thanks for your help,” you said, bowing.
He scrunched up his nose. “Ugh, here you go again. Stop being so formal, it’s gross. Anyway, who was that creep?”
“He was a barista at one of the coffee shops here. He was trying to scam the students into betting.”
“Betting, huh? I’m surprised you didn’t fall for his schemes. That kind of pretty boy is really good at that kind of stuff.”
You recalled all the gachas you played in your past life, every fifty-fifty you lost. “Well, gambling is the fastest way to hemorrhage money, and I love money more than men.”
Goo blinked. Then he howled in laughter that shook the whole room, “BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
You checked up on the kids. “You guys okay?”
They slowly nodded.
“You guys should be more careful. Don’t go lending your hard-earned money to random people, no matter how good-looking they are,” as you said this, Jiho refused to meet your gaze.
You paid for the meat buns and left four bottles of green tea on the counter.
“Bye, noona!”
“Take care on your way home, unnie.”
“Thank you for the tea.”
Zoe squealed. “Unnie was so cool!”
“That was dangerous though, good thing that blonde guy was here.”
“Tell me about it. Ah, Jiho, where are you going? Jiho!”
But he was already out the door. The three friends exchanged glances.
“Should I go after him?”
“Don’t, he probably feels embarrassed. Let’s leave him alone for now.”
***
“So in the end you did go to the cops,” Goo yawned, walking you back to your house. “Man, what a pain. How long does it take to write down a statement?”
“No one told you to wait for me. You should’ve just gone home.”
“What kind of friend would I be if I did that? Besides, you should have told me you were going to report him, we could’ve dragged him to the cops right then and there. I’m sure that guy and his boss have relocated by now.”
Jiho’s red-faced humiliation appeared in your mind for a brief moment. You shrugged. “Well, what’s done is done.”
“Still, you’re lucky I was there. What would’ve you done if he beat you up in front of the students?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” You made an OK sign and said, “I would’ve sued him for all he’s worth.”
Goo sucked in his lips. “Pft…PWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” He bent over, arms around his waist.
“Are you done? You’re going to wake up the whole neighborhood.”
“I knew you were special.” He put a hand over your shoulder. “Been a while since someone made me laugh that hard. What should I do?”
He flashed you that Jokerized smile of his. “I don’t think I can ever let you go.”
You tried to scoff, but the sound that left you was a giggle.
It can’t be helped. You loved silly men.
[1] 18,000,000 won = 734,400 PHP = 12,591.46 USD
[2] 5,000 KRW = 204 PHP = 3.50 USD
[3] Oppa. Korean term for "older brother," it is used by younger girls on older guys.
[5] A mandatory reporter is a person required by law to report known or suspected crimes, especially towards minors. E.g. school teachers, medical professionals
