The Taste of Money (1)
One night in Gangnam.
A matte-black sports car was racing down the crowded main road.
It attracted so much attention that even people in the distance turned their heads to stare.
After smoothly pulling into an alleyway, the car arrived in front of a certain building.
‘EXODUS’
Unlike a normal storefront, Exodus only had a small neon sign.
As if enticing people to come inside, while also willing to let the ignorant pass by.
A man who was stationed in front of the building approached the sports car.
“Welcome to our store.”
Two young men exited the car from the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
Both had a good build and style, but the driver was especially eye-catching.
His looks could easily be mistaken as having been chiselled from marble.
“Hey. It’s been a while.”
“Ha-ha. Stop joking with me, Sir. After all, you just visited us last week.”
The owner of the car laughed lightly as he tossed a key to a valet.
Then he followed the man who had greeted him, heading down the stairs into the basement.
Boom-Boomboom-Boom
They passed through a corridor into a hall that was lit up by red lights. The lights wavered in time with the drumming of a slow and strong beat.
Inside the hall that was packed full of tables, the two men had reserved special seating.
They had the ideal front-row seats to the stage.
‘Every time I come here, I just can’t get enough of the view.’
On the inside, the two men were already drooling.
Exodus deserved to be called a pioneer of innovative entertainment culture.
Although there were clubs and show venues, this place had the best of both, and you got to enjoy it with the company of the ladies employed by the store.
Frankly speaking, the store had merely mixed together all the various different characteristics of nightlife entertainment, but it wasn’t to the extent of being overly lascivious.
As soon as the two men entered, girls dressed in party clothes flocked towards them.
“Kyaaa!”
“The oppas are finally here?”
“Hurry up. Get over here.”
There was a reason why the two lone guests had reserved group seating.
They wanted all these enticing ladies to be able to sit on the sofa with them.
As tips were their main source of income, the girls’ wishes were no different to those of the two men.
Because they could earn more than their daily wage just by picking up the scraps from their table, the top of which was loaded with champagne and snacks made from all sorts of delicacies.
While receiving this passionate hospitality, the two men took their seats.
“We were a bit late today.”
“That’s right. The show should be starting soon.”
On the stage, women started dancing while dressed in skimpy clothing that barely covered the vital parts and looked like it belonged to a circus.
A performance that toed the line between art and obscenity shone under the spotlights.
How much time had passed?
As the hours rolled on, the atmosphere livened up until no one in the hall was left without a smile.
Colorful confetti floated down from the roof as small torches burst into light.
Drunk on excitement, one of the men held money-guns in both hands and showered the money onto the stage and the audience.
Whiiiing- Whiiiing-
“Kyaaaa-!”
“Wow!”
Cheques rained down like confetti.
It wasn’t play money or 10,000 won notes, but the white of 100,000 won cheques that fluttered in the air.1
At this endless flow of money, the hostesses and waiters stopped working and started to crawl on the floor.
The women who had been assigned to other tables could only look at that sight while enduring the bitter taste of regret.
“Hey. At least keep pouring the drinks.”
“Yeeees.”
The other customers who noticed this felt their moods sour uncontrollably.
Although they had come here to be treated like kings, a real king had arrived and shown them all up.
This frenzied episode passed and the main show finally came to an end.
In place of the music with a strong beat, a slow and tasteful song that matched well with drinking began to flow.
The two men lounged in their seats imperiously, as if they had the whole world at their feet, and tossed back their shots.
***
Footnotes:
1. 10,000 won is about 8 US dollars. South Korea doesn’t issue notes larger than 50,000 won, but Korean banks can issue cheques that are worth 100,000 won that can be used by anyone.