Black Label [EN]: Chapter 35

Black Label 34

35. Keep Going

Another week passed. The weather remained chilly, and the new year had begun.

From 2010 to 2011.

As January 1st dawned, that familiar feeling returned, as it did every year.

The strange sensation of growing another year older, even though it was just another day.

As the year ticked over, I sat with my family in front of the living room TV, listening to the New Year’s bells. On the morning of January 1st, I made a point of writing down my New Year’s resolutions.

It was a conscious effort to lessen the sense of crisis I felt every year, the feeling of ‘Oh no, I’m getting old.’

However, writing my New Year’s resolutions felt empty without ‘Quit smoking’ and ‘Quit drinking,’ which I always wrote first.

And, on the last day of 2010.

I submitted my resignation from school.

The day my classmates started their winter vacation, I was no longer a student.

* * *

“Jaeseung, I’m curious, what does it feel like?”

Youngguk, who was spending most of his time at the studio since vacation started, suddenly asked.

Youngguk was still helping Wall Flower with odd jobs, doing it ‘for free’.

“What do you mean?”

“How does it feel to drop out?”

“I don’t know?”

What could I say? It felt bittersweet.

I was giving up high school life, which I’d never experience again, right before graduation.

However, I didn’t want to sacrifice so much time for that small amount of regret.

Well, no regrets, anyway.

“It’s just bittersweet. It also feels like I’m on vacation.”

“I guess….”

Youngguk trailed off, packed his laptop into his bag, and said quietly.

“Jaeseung, I’m going to music academy for now.”

As he’d mentioned before, Youngguk started attending ‘music academy’ during winter vacation.

Jaeseung thought Youngguk’s change was much bigger than his own dropping out of high school.

Someone who’d never been truly dedicated to anything gaining ‘passion’ for something.

What could be a greater change than that?

I sincerely hoped this challenge would positively impact Youngguk’s life.

“Youngguk, wait a minute.”

Jaeseung opened his desk drawer and handed over two black boxes with the ‘Wall Flower’ logo.

Both boxes were smaller than the ones used for his mother’s handbags.

“What’s this?”

“Put them in a shopping bag. One’s for you, and one’s for your mother.”

“For me and my mom?”

“Yeah.”

They were wallets and long wallets made from the leftover lambskin after finishing the handbags for sale.

I’d made a few extra for gifts, including Youngguk’s and his mother’s.

“It’s a wallet, just made with leftover fabric. But I made it carefully, so don’t worry about the quality.”

“Ah….”

Youngguk stared at the box, dazed, then continued, his voice slightly trembling.

“Jaeseung, thank you so much.”

Jaeseung retorted, trying to sound casual.

“Youngguk, I’m not giving this as a gift.”

“Huh? What do you mean….”

Just as Youngguk was about to speak.

“This wallet is something you bought with your allowance. It’s really good fabric, but at a cheap price with a friend’s discount. Got it?”

Jaeseung stood up and added quietly.

“Make sure to tell her when you give it to her. Thank you for believing in me.”

Youngguk, who’d been standing silently, looking at Jaeseung with trembling eyes, smiled contentedly and replied.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Go quickly. You’ll be late for the academy.”

I didn’t say it, but I’d also put a few 50,000 won [approximately $40 USD] bills in Youngguk’s wallet.

I included it, knowing he’d need things as he started learning music.

It was also a small reward for his hard work and a way to support a challenge that could change his life.

* * *

Several days later, the ‘For The Mom Edition’ handbag went on sale.

No, it almost sold out as soon as it was released.

Despite being priced at 700,000 won [approximately $560 USD], it sold out the next day.

Fortunately, I avoided passing off unsold stock to President Song.

“Hooa.”

Jaeseung, sitting at his office desk, stretched while looking at the monitor.

The monitor displayed an Excel file summarizing sales figures. Currently, Wall Flower’s sales were still in the 500,000 to 600,000 won [approximately $400 – $480 USD] range.

Except for the day the ‘For The Mom Edition’ handbag was released.

Since I hadn’t added any new items, sales should have dropped as usual.

The fact that sales were maintained was thanks to the Coubacouba online store.

Sales, sluggish for a while, slightly increased upon entering the store.

‘I need to release new products soon.’

Jaeseung began looking through the ‘Swatch Book’ piled on his workbench.

It was a fabric sample booklet sent by 택배 [Korean delivery service] from his regular fabric store.

I couldn’t go to Dongdaemun [a large shopping district in Seoul] every time I bought fabric, so I changed the transaction method.

“Let’s see….”

Jaeseung began writing down the fabric items to be selected as the base for this clothing line in his notebook.

There were three types of products to be released this time.

First, ‘jeans,’ ‘leather rider jacket,’ and finally, ‘cotton t-shirt.’

Was it because I’d been constantly visualizing basic fabrics? It didn’t take long to select them.

First, I visually checked the sample, then stroked it a few times, and if I liked it, I wrote it down.

After completing the selection, I immediately called the fabric store owner.

“사장님 [Korean for ‘boss’ or ‘owner’], how have you been?”

– Oh, yeah. I’ve been well.

After exchanging New Year’s greetings, I told him the product numbers of the fabrics to be ordered.

– There are many kinds? Are you making a new sample?

“Yes, that’s right.”

– Let’s see, the goods should arrive around midnight, is that okay? I have many orders today.

“As long as you send it to me by today.”

Anyway, I had something to do before the fabric arrived. First, I had to buy simple ‘Fabric Paint’ to use for this clothing.

It was the most essential material for the clothes to be released this time.

Then, I had to go to a large supermarket and buy small props.

Still, if there was time left, I could nap on the mattress in the corner of the office or study TOEFL.

– Okay. I got it. I know you’re busy, but come visit sometime. I’ll treat you to chicken 칼국수 [Korean noodle soup].

“Thank you. I’ll call you before I go.”

– Okay, okay. I’ll text you when the goods are shipped. Take care!

After finishing the call, Jaeseung took a deep breath and immediately called Youngguk.

“Youngguk, can you help me today?”

* * *

Jaeseung, having finished buying all the materials with Youngguk’s help, sighed.

“Haa….”

Several bottles of fabric paint and various materials. Even drinks and instant food to keep in the office refrigerator.

Even though Youngguk and I shared half, I still held three shopping bags in both hands.

“Why are you sighing like that? You’re going to make the ground sink.”

At Youngguk’s words, Jaeseung shook his head and answered quietly.

“A car. I need a car.”

“Huh?”

“I mean a car.”

No matter how I thought about it, it seemed necessary.

Even if I had to endure hardships buying materials, supplies, or groceries, using public transportation to Dongdaemun was a big ordeal.

It wasn’t just the time; it felt like all my energy was drained.

Also, if I bought a car like a Starex [a popular van in Korea], I could load a small amount of goods directly without waiting for delivery.

“It would be nice to have one. You have a lot of things to go back and forth….”

Jaeseung nodded and was lost in thought.

‘Okay, let’s hold on for two months.’

In two months, my birthday will come. I’ll be 18, qualified to get a driver’s license.

As we walked, talking, we arrived at the shopping center where the office was.

While taking the elevator to the 6th floor, Youngguk asked, puzzled.

“By the way, what are you going to use the paint and brush for? Are you going to paint the office walls more?”

“I’m going to use it to make clothes.”

“Huh? You’re going to use paint to make clothes?”

Ding-!

As the elevator door opened, Jaeseung stepped forward and answered.

“I suddenly thought of it when I was painting with you last time.”

“What?”

“Painting Jean.”

Painting Jean.

A name that suddenly came to mind while looking at the jeans and t-shirts with paint stains while painting the office walls with Youngguk.

It’s probably still unfamiliar.

Several brands have released painting clothes, but they haven’t received much attention.

Jaeseung put the plastic bag in front of the office door and added confidently.

“These clothes will increase Wall Flower’s sales several times.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It will also make my name and Wall Flower’s name several times higher.”

Ding-!

The office door lock released with a clear sound.

Jaeseung groped the wall and turned on the office fluorescent light.

“Let’s start.”

More passionately than before, properly.

First, I organized the materials before the fabric arrived.

Organizing the materials for the new product and stacking the groceries neatly in the refrigerator.

While organizing the refrigerator, Youngguk suddenly spoke.

“Hey, Jaeseung.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t we look like a newly married couple?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

At Jaeseung’s nervous question, Youngguk smiled and replied playfully.

“We go grocery shopping together and organize the refrigerator like this. In my opinion, we are definitely a newly married couple….”

“Shut up, you.”

Not long after finishing the 정리 [Korean for ‘organizing’] while bickering, the fabrics I ordered arrived.

There were three types of denim fabric delivered.

Three types of denim fabric to be used for ‘Paint Jean’.

Although not the highest quality, I carefully selected the three most cost-effective denim fabrics in the ‘Swatch Book’.

First, I’d make samples of all three, carefully distinguish the advantages and disadvantages, and then select the main fabric.

“Youngguk, please spread some vinyl on the floor first.”

“Okay.”

While Youngguk spread the ‘김장용 vinyl’ [vinyl used for making kimchi] he bought from the supermarket on the floor, Jaeseung started other preparations.

First, I took out the fabric paint and gently loosened the bristles of the brush by receiving warm water in a water bottle.

‘Hmm….’

First, the most important thing is the ‘Quality’ of the product. If it sold well just because it was sprayed with paint, Paint Jean would have been popular for half a century already.

From the fabric material and sewing to the overall design. The first priority is to make perfect pants.

I thought it should feel like adding a point by using paint on top of such pants.

“What should I do now?”

“Watch.”