Yuri Han, a junior associate at an architecture firm, already hated the day. She'd slept through two alarms after drinking too much with friends the night before. One hour late, and her manager exploded—screaming about professionalism like it was a criminal offense.
"I should quit this job," she muttered, stomping down the street.
With coworkers out for lunch, she wandered toward Core Luxe Mall. Retail therapy, her preferred coping mechanism.
The first floor gleamed with glass and marble. Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton all flaunted their logos from behind thick security glass.
She stared through one display, imagining herself buying a bag on a whim.
Then reality slapped her.
Her card was nearly maxed out. Over ₩8 million in revolving debt. Barely ₩1 million of credit left. No luxury today.
So she made a familiar detour—Virelle, a mid-tier designer brand. Fifth visit this month. She was enough of a regular that staff greeted her like royalty.
Today would be no different.
Until she reached the store's entrance—and stepped into chaos.
Someone had spilled coffee on the tile. A janitor was furiously scrubbing with a mop. Just as Yuri passed, the mop brushed her foot.
Her brand-new shoes. Bought on sale. Still her pride for the week.
"Are you kidding me?!" she shouted.
The janitor, a woman in her late fifties, bowed repeatedly.
"I'm so sorry, miss!"
Yuri's voice pitched higher.
"Sorry? That's it? Do you even know how expensive these shoes are?!"
"I'll clean it—"
The janitor pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, crouching low.
"Don't you dare touch me!"
Nearby customers began staring. A suited woman rushed over—Manager Jina Seo, according to her name tag.
"What's going on?" she asked quickly.
Yuri jabbed a finger at the janitor.
"She just mopped dirty water onto my new shoes. What are you going to do about it?"
The janitor bowed again.
"I deeply apologize."
"Is that an apology?" Yuri snapped. "She should be on her knees for this!"
Jina turned to the older woman.
"Ma'am… if you made a mistake, please kneel and apologize properly."
The janitor looked around, eyes wide, searching for anyone to intervene. There was no one.
"Do you even have the money to pay for these?" Yuri sneered.
The janitor flinched.
Her trembling knees bent—
But then—
Clack.
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
It was me.
The janitor turned to look.
"E-Eren…?"
A young woman stepped between us, eyes flicking to me with annoyance.
"Who are you? Why are you getting involved?"
"She's my mother."
"…What?"
That shut her up.
I didn't say more. I didn't have to.
I had just entered Core Luxe Mall to pick up some new clothes. But the shouting across the lobby caught my ear.
And that voice… I knew it.
My mother had always said she worked in customer service. Never once mentioned she was pushing a mop in a uniform like that. She didn't want me to worry.
Now here she was, being yelled at like trash in front of strangers.
I clenched my fists.
"What happened here?" I asked.
"She got my shoes dirty," Yuri said, arms crossed.
I glanced at the shoes.
Black. Spotless.
"Where exactly?"
"Right here! Are you blind?"
"They look fine to me."
She huffed.
"Whatever! I can't wear them anymore. I demand compensation—or I'll file a complaint with the Consumer Agency."
The manager bowed.
"We're very sorry, miss. We'll handle it."
So this is what it looks like—people in power shoving the weak into corners. The manager was bending over backward for the wrong person.
Yuri puffed up more.
"You know how much these cost?!"
I stayed calm.
"How much?"
"₩600,000!" she declared.
A store employee mumbled behind her.
"Um… they're ₩330,000 now. On sale."
I held back a smirk. Then pulled out my wallet.
"Fine. ₩600,000, right?"
My mom gasped.
"Eren, what are you doing—?"
"It's okay."
I counted out twelve ₩50,000 bills.
Yuri reached out greedily.
But I didn't let go.
"Apologize first."
She blinked. "What did you just say?"
"I said, if you want this money, apologize to my mother."
Yuri hesitated. Glared. Calculated.
Then, with an exhale, bowed slightly toward my mom.
"I'm… sorry. Maybe I overreacted."
It was dry as toast, but whatever.
She reached again.
I pulled back.
"One more thing."
"What now?"
"Take off your shoes."
"What?"
"You said they're ruined, right? Then if I pay you for them, they're mine now. That's how exchanges work."
She looked like I'd slapped her.
"You're not going to wear your shoes and take the money, are you? That's fraud."
Her pride burned, but money won.
With a grunt, she pulled them off and tossed them aside.
Only then did I release the cash.
She snatched it without a word.
I grabbed the shoes, walked to the nearest trash bin, and shoved them in.
"You don't throw away people. You throw away garbage."
Yuri spun toward the manager.
"I'm reporting this store! Just so you know!"
Jina Seo bowed again.
"I sincerely apologize, miss."
Whatever. Let the mall handle it.
I turned to my mom.
"Let's go."
She looked like she was still processing what just happened. She followed me wordlessly toward the exit.
As we stepped out into the cold, she muttered.
"I should've stopped that before it started…"
I shook my head.
"You don't have to do this anymore."
"But—"
I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her.
Her body felt… small. Like paper. I could feel every bone in her back. When did she get so thin?
She had spent her days scrubbing the mall floor for people who couldn't even say thank you.
I blinked away tears.
"From now on, Mom… I'll handle everything."
She paused. Then, with a soft voice, patted my back.
"When did my son grow up like this?"