Was there any news more joyous than the news that one’s former company went out of business? He pushed the cigarette filter with his tongue to the edge of his mouth before puffing once. He saw the cigarette turning red in the corner of his vision.

“I knew he’d run one day.”

The internet news company, Mint News went out of business. He got this news through a junior that he used to work with. He tried visiting their website just in case, but only a ‘404 Not Found’ error greeted him. That was yesterday. His junior insulted his now-ex-president for not paying him for his manuscript over some booze. That was his junior’s way of asking Dongwook to pay for the booze. Although Dongwook was never close to this junior, he sympathized with him since he was suddenly thrown out onto the streets, so he paid for the alcohol and paid for the taxi as well. He was worried if that junior went home safely, yet his ego also wished for that junior to never contact him again.

Dongwook put out the cigarette that he had only puffed by about a half before standing up.

“Auntie, bill please.”

“I’m busy, so leave it over there! Also, you aren’t allowed to smoke anymore in the shop, so keep that in mind.”

“I can’t even have one after my meal?”

“I’m not the one making decisions. What am I supposed to do?”

Dongwook took a piece of crispy rice candy which was placed under the counter, before leaving the restaurant. In front of the restaurant, which looked like it would disappear into nothingness after a typhoon, was a tall building covered in glass. This place was where...