The sharp December wind cut across her face.
Bohyun arrived first, a luxury shopping bag swinging from his hand.
“Bought a Gucci wallet. Six hundred twenty thousand won.”
Mina forced a small smile and nodded.
Taesu and the others arrived one by one.
Favez came last. His face looked even paler than usual.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s go.”
Bohyun led them down a narrow alley and into the basement of a building.
Neon lights flickered wildly.
CLUB PARADISE
The door opened, and music poured out like noise crashing over them.
They walked through a dark corridor into the VIP room.
The professor was already seated on the sofa, a glass of whiskey in hand.
“You’re late. Sit down.”
The students took their seats one by one.
A U-shaped table was already set with side dishes and ice buckets.
Bohyun handed over the shopping bag.
“Happy birthday, Professor.”
The professor opened it.
A high-end wallet—black leather, gold logo.
“Oh, this is nice,” he said with a grin.
“Knew I could count on you, Bohyun. You’ve got taste.”
“We all chipped in,” Bohyun said.
“Good. Thank you. We really are family.”
The professor waved over a waiter he clearly knew well.
“One bottle of Royal Salute. And a Macallan too.”
The waiter—nicknamed Pig Dad—smiled broadly and nodded before leaving.
A couple of rounds in, the professor was clearly in high spirits.
“Mina, your paper’s been good lately. Keep it up.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“And Favez—your experimental results aren’t bad either.
I’m thinking of sending you to a conference next month.”
Favez bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
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The professor raised his glass.
“To our family’s success!”
Glasses clinked.
The music grew louder.
Four empty bottles already crowded the table.
More food kept arriving.
The professor’s voice grew louder, slurred.
“Hey, let’s order one more. Hennessy XO!”
Bohyun hesitated.
“Professor, we’ve already had quite a lot—”
“A lot? It’s my birthday!”
The waiter returned with the bottle and set it on the table.
The professor stood up, swaying.
“I wanna go dance!”
He staggered out into the hallway.
The students exchanged glances and began silently calculating the bill—
no one saying a word,
just gripping their glasses.
Taesu stood up.
“I need to use the restroom.”
He stepped out.
When he returned, his face was tense.
“Is the professor back?”
“No. Why?”
“He got into an argument with someone outside.
We tried to break it up, and then—he disappeared.”
The students stared at one another.
Bohyun pulled out his phone and called the professor.
Ring tone.
No answer.
“I’ll text him.”
Professor, are you okay? Where did you go?
No read receipt.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Favez spoke quietly.
“…I think he went home.”
“Without telling us?” Mina asked.
“He was drunk,” Bohyun said, nodding.
“He probably paid already. Let’s head out.”
A knock on the door.
“Excuse me, you’ll need to settle the bill.”
Bohyun stood.
“Oh—our professor should’ve paid already.”
“I’ll check.”
The waiter returned.
“It hasn’t been paid.”
Silence fell over the room.
“…How much is it?”
“Three million eight hundred thousand won.”
Heads lowered.
No one stepped forward.
“Please complete the payment now.”
Bohyun’s hands shook as he pulled out his wallet.
“I’ll… put half on my card.”
Taesu followed.
“I’ll take the other half.”
Each paid 1.9 million won.
The waiter handed them the receipt.
“Thank you.”
Bohyun folded it.
“Let’s talk to the professor on Monday… and get reimbursed.”
They nodded silently.
They stepped out of the club toward the taxi stand.
The temperature had dropped sharply, the wind biting through their coats.
As taxis arrived, people left one by one.
Mina and Favez were the last to remain.
“…Go home and rest tonight. Don’t think about anything,” Mina said.
Favez nodded.
Mina opened her notebook.
December, 2003 (Friday)
Professor’s birthday – Gangnam club
Professor: “Going to dance” → hallway altercation → disappeared
No contact
Bill: 3.8 million won
Paid by Bohyun + Taesu (1.9 million each)
Plan to speak to professor Monday
She set down her pen and stared at the ceiling.
Three point eight million won.
He’ll pay them back… right?
Mina opened the lab door.
The lights were already on.
In the half-open professor’s office,
he sat reading the newspaper, coffee in hand.
She greeted him and walked to her desk.
Soon after, Favez, Bohyun, and Taesu arrived one by one.
The sound of slippers dragging announced the professor’s approach.
“Oh, everyone’s here? You’re a bit late today,” he said, smiling.
“I drank too much last night and headed home early.
You all got back safely, right?”
Silence.
Bohyun spoke.
“…Yes, Professor.”
“Good. Let’s work hard today too!”
Mina and Favez exchanged a glance.
None of them said a word.
The professor returned to his office, sipping his coffee.
The club bill never left his mouth.
Monday morning.
Bohyun walked toward the professor’s office.
“Professor, about the club bill from Friday—”
The professor looked up.
“Oh, that? Got it. I’ll take care of it later.”
And that afternoon—
the labor office investigator called.
“Mr. Favez, we’re beginning the investigation into your complaint.”
It is a ritual.
but through participation.
Who pays first.
Who assumes responsibility for someone else’s excess.
not happen:
when everyone has already learned to absorb it.
From here on, endurance begins to crack.
the bill is mentioned.