Black Label [EN]: Chapter 25

Black Label 24

25. Amidst the Busyness, Mr. Song

The next morning, Jaeseung woke up and immediately called the 택배 [Korean word for delivery] company.

He had nearly 50 택배 packages to send out that day.

Since he couldn’t send that many items himself, he contacted the company.

“Yes. If you could come by two o’clock. Yes, you can pick them up all at once then. Yes. Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”

After ending the call, Jaeseung took a long breath and began to put on his school uniform.

‘Hmm, I should look for an affiliated 택배 delivery company to work with from now on, shouldn’t I?’

Not only the 택배 delivery issue, but there was also a mountain of other things to take care of.

First of all, he had to solve the supply problem since he couldn’t sell because he didn’t have enough stock prepared.

Dongdaemun.

A visit to Dongdaemun [a large shopping district in Seoul known for its wholesale and retail clothing markets] was urgent. He needed to go to the fabric market to buy more Coated Denim fabric and place additional orders at the production factory.

Since he was going anyway, he thought he should also buy fabric and subsidiary materials to use for making samples of the designs he would release next.

‘Anyway, I’ll have to leave school early around lunchtime….’

As soon as Jaeseung finished preparing for school and stepped into the living room, his mother, Kim Eunhyung, quietly spoke.

“Jaeseung, eat breakfast.”

“Mother. Do you have some time to spare?”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Soon, Jaeseung told her about what had happened, summarizing it as much as possible in a calm tone.

Kim Eunhyung listened to Jaeseung’s story, nodding and occasionally showing surprise.

Soon, Jaeseung showed her the 입금 [Korean word for deposit] history text messages on his phone and continued.

“This is yesterday’s sales.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yes.”

The moment Kim Eunhyung’s eyes reached the phone screen, she widened her eyes and asked again.

“Oh my, son! H-How much is this…?”

Sometimes, a few numbers have more persuasive power than well-crafted words. Jaeseung knew that fact well.

After taking a glance at Kim Eunhyung, Jaeseung carefully brought up the main point.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you after it got a little bigger and surprise you… but I need your help, Mother.”

“Help? What kind of help?”

“There are too many tasks to handle today. I was wondering if I could leave school early, but could you help me?”

She was someone who would help. In every way, no matter what. Even if she opposed it, he was prepared to be disobedient for today.

Originally, around this time, Jaeseung often skipped school as a daily routine.

After a moment of consideration, Kim Eunhyung nodded slightly and replied.

“Okay, 접수 완료 [Korean term meaning ‘received’ or ‘accepted’] received. I’ll call the teacher, Mom will.”

“Thank you. And… perhaps….”

As Jaeseung trailed off, Kim Eunhyung smiled warmly and said.

“Son. It’s okay, speak comfortably.”

“Could you spare some time this evening? I was hoping you could go to the real estate agency with me.”

“응? [Korean interjection, similar to ‘huh?’] Huh? Real estate agency?”

As Kim Eunhyung asked quietly, Jaeseung nodded a few times and replied.

“Yes. It’s difficult to work at home, so I’m planning to set up a studio.”

“And?”

“I need the consent of a legal representative to sign the real estate contract.”

Soon, Kim Eunhyung nodded again and replied in a very gentle tone.

“That’s 접수 완료 [Korean term meaning ‘received’ or ‘accepted’] received too. Okay. I’ll call you as soon as I finish work at the factory this evening.”

“Mom.”

“응? [Korean interjection, similar to ‘huh?’] Huh?”

“Thank you so much for believing in me.”

In response to Jaeseung’s bright reply, Kim Eunhyung said in a small voice, almost to herself.

“Mom is more thankful.”

“네? [Korean interjection, similar to ‘huh?’] Huh?”

“No, no,” Kim Eunhyung said evasively, slinging her handbag over her shoulder and speaking quietly.

“Mom should go to work for now. I’ll call the teacher on the way and explain everything, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, Mother. Have a safe trip.”

“Okay, son. See you in the evening.”

Kim Eunhyung smiled brightly, immediately grabbed her sneakers, and left the house. She opened the front door and stopped abruptly before taking a few steps.

“Haa-.”

As if there was a lump of fire in her chest, hot breaths kept escaping.

‘Wouldn’t pounding my chest with my fist relieve that frustration?’ she thought, and began to pound her chest several times.

Son.

It was because of that achingly painful word. That two-syllable word was the saddest word in the world for Kim Eunhyung.

That son had changed beyond recognition in the past few days.

His tone, his eyes, his behavior. Everything.

And today, she witnessed the biggest change in her son.

탁- Tak.

Soon, Kim Eunhyung squatted down in place, and her old handbag touched the floor. She buried her face in her arms and began to sob.

“끄으윽… 흐윽… [Sounds of sobbing] Keueuk… Heueuk…”

She was a clumsy mother who didn’t know what to do when she first faced her son’s deviation, just pacing around anxiously.

She was scared, she didn’t have the confidence to handle it, and she wasn’t born a mother from the start. She had turned a blind eye to her son’s deviation, using the excuse of being busy.

Today, she saw her son’s dream. She faced her son’s talent for the first time, something she had never tried to look into.

In the face of her son talking about his dream, she saw the freshness that could only be felt in the wild grass of May.

For some unknown reason, she couldn’t take a step.

She wanted to say it. She wanted to say she was sorry, that she was a clumsy and immature mother, and she was really sorry. She was really sorry that she had only looked for all the problems in him. That’s why she was even more sorry.

Kim Eunhyung had to squat in place for a long time, facing the cold winter wind with her whole body.

* * *

That afternoon.

After finishing all the 택배 [Korean word for delivery] delivery shipments, Jaeseung headed straight to the Dongdaemun [a large shopping district in Seoul known for its wholesale and retail clothing markets] fabric market. He had to move diligently to finish all his work before his mother’s 퇴근 [Korean word for leaving work] time.

‘Let’s buy the denim fabric first.’

As soon as he stepped into the fabric market, he moved along a familiar path.

First, he started heading to the 단골 [Korean word for regular] store where he had previously purchased denim fabric.

Before long, the store owner, who was chatting with the owner of the next store, greeted Jaeseung happily.

“Oh, you came?”

“Yes. How have you been?”

“It’s only been a few days since I saw you… what….”

The store owner trailed off, then took out a can of drink from the 간이냉장고 [Korean word for mini refrigerator] and handed it to Jaeseung.

“You must be tired from coming such a long way. Have you eaten?”

“Yes. I ate something simple.”

“Okay, what are you looking for today?”

“The coated denim I took last time.”

At Jaeseung’s answer, the store owner smiled very happily and asked back.

“Wow, the product must be out?”

“Yes. I started selling it yesterday.”

“How’s the reaction?”

“Fortunately, the initial quantity is sold out.”

Soon, the store owner muttered, “Congratulations, congratulations…,” and began to rummage through the ledger.

As Jaeseung waited silently, the store owner began to continue speaking again.

“월 플라워 [Korean pronunciation of ‘Wall Flower’], here it is. Okay. How much quantity do you need?”

“Give me one hundred and sixty 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards today.”

As soon as Jaeseung answered briefly, the owner of the next store added in a sarcastic tone.

“Hey, young boss. If it’s a hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards, it’s a hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards, and if it’s two hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards, it’s two hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards… what’s one hundred and sixty 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards?”

At that, the store owner retorted.

“Mr. Park! If you don’t know, be quiet! Our boss bought forty 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards last time, so he’s trying to match it to a hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yard units this time. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

“I didn’t know, what. How would I know that?”

“Why are you meddling when you don’t even know that? If you don’t even know that, you should close up shop. What are you bragging about….”

Although the expression was harsh, it was also evidence of how close they were.

Jaeseung, who was watching the two people bickering, smiled slightly.

Originally, the small store owners in the fabric market preferred to sell any fabric in units of one hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards.

Because transactions usually took place in units of one hundred 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards, they were reluctant to have awkward leftover fabric.

That’s why they would give 면박 [Korean expression for ‘giving someone a hard time’ or ‘reprimanding’] a hard time to those who tried to buy awkward quantities.

Soon, Jaeseung spoke quietly.

“Um, boss. The shipping address is different from last time. I’m going to send it directly to the production factory.”

“Okay, write down the address later. I’ll ship it right away before evening.”

“Ah! Boss. And do you happen to handle 명품 [Korean word for luxury] bag fabric too?”

“Hmm, you mean genuine fabric?”

“Yes.”

The store owner, who had been 침음 [Korean word for humming] for a moment, shook his head a few times and replied.

“We don’t have it, but I can get it for you. How much do you need?”

“Can you get me a small amount?”

“I can get it for you, what. Exactly how much?”

“About eight 마 [Korean unit of measurement for fabric, similar to yards] yards.”

It was because his mother’s bag, which he had seen this morning, kept catching his eye.

He wanted to make a pretty decent handbag using genuine fabric from a 명품 [Korean word for luxury] brand and give it to her as a gift.

Soon, the store owner snapped his fingers and asked back in his unique, cheerful tone.

“Do you have the business card I gave you last time? 태양사 [Taeyangsa – a company name] business card.”

At that, Jaeseung replied in a slightly trembling voice.

“Yes. I have it.”

He was referring to President Song Inhyuk’s business card. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to contact him yet because he wasn’t ready, but he had been carefully keeping it.

Soon, the store owner came close to Jaeseung and continued speaking in a whisper.

“That 태양사 [Taeyangsa – a company name] president has been in that field for a long time.”

“That field?”

“복각판 [Korean word for replicas], ‘짝퉁 [Korean slang for fakes]’, I mean.”

I know. He’s been in it for a long time. A really long time.

“If you tell me which brand of fabric you want, I’ll get it for you through that friend.”

“Ah…. Yes, thank you.”

He keeps getting involved. He wanted to build a relationship carefully, like stacking a tower, with someone he really wanted to keep by his side. That’s why he was even more careful.

But he keeps having 접점 [Korean word for contact points]. Even if he doesn’t force it, even if he forgets about it for a while, that name keeps popping up.

Soon, the store owner smiled brightly, revealing his even teeth, and said.

“I’ll tell him, so contact him.”

“네? [Korean interjection, similar to ‘huh?’] Huh?”

“Wouldn’t it be cumbersome for each other to talk through someone else? For me, for the young boss, and for 태양사 [Taeyangsa – a company name] President Song too.”

The words “President Song too” seemed to echo in his ears. Like an echo. Soon, Jaeseung nodded a few times with glistening eyes.

Okay. It’s time.

It’s time to build a relationship.