Gender Reversal Politics

17. Apsu

You don’t even see me as a mother.

As she looked at her grown-up son, Lee So-jin felt her stomach fill up. Even though she knows she didn’t do anything right, she said that.

It is a little awkward to use the expression that she has grown up to her son, who is not even a daughter, but when it comes to Suho, she doesn’t have the right words. Wasn’t she a member of parliament? It’s the first choice, but it’s the same as being the best against public officials.

In fact, she hadn’t even imagined that Suho would win until the first time he applied for a proportional representation seat at the Peace Party. There were times when she still felt awkward.

‘I did cause a lot of trouble. No, it’s not just a nuisance.’

But she couldn’t spit out the money without knowing why.

“You want me to give you 30 billion right now?”

“Yes. In this place.”

… Giving itself was simple. Her profits from her short selling are deposited in a fund specializing in virtual currency in the form of coins linked 1 to 1 with the dollar. Transfer it to her son’s wallet and you’re done. It was not difficult to cash in later.

But she couldn’t respond without hearing why she was asked to give it away or where she would use it.

“Lee Soo-ho. Still, it’s polite to give your mother the least explanation. How can I get that much money without knowing the reason… !”

“It’s in my mother’s hands, but it’s not my mother’s real money. If she thought she could really have the money, she was wrong.”

“I admit that, but I need to know what you are thinking.”

“If you still need an explanation, yes. I can tell you this much. With that 30 billion, I have no intention of enjoying a movie of wealth. But I have no intention of escaping the crisis by sprinkling bribes here and there.”

“If you are going to make a donation….”

“I don’t do donations. You will know more about it tomorrow.”

It means that he has no intention of sharing even the details with himself.

His expression was so determined that I wondered why he hit the wall so far.

It seemed difficult to define the son’s attitude simply as disappointment or hostility toward his parents. Judging from the experience he has accumulated since his days as a police officer, the emotion on his son’s face is probably.

‘Disbelief?’

Yes. It was disbelief.

“You mean you won’t trust me after all.”

“Yes. You don’t have to tell me why. He never changes his expression even to his family and lies. How can I believe him in this serious situation?”

“Still because of what happened while you were in the process of quitting sports.”

“I’m not holding a grudge over old things. It’s not pleasant to think of those days, but what’s the use of looking back now? … However, there are lessons learned then. That I will get hurt if I recklessly trust my mother.”

“… ….”

“What would you like to do? I will not give you long time to ponder.”

Forced to quickly decide whether to give 30 billion won right away or swallow it and die.

Lee So-jin let out a long sigh while fiddling with her hands.

It’s only been about an hour since my son came in with my aide.

During that hour, Lee So-jin could keenly feel how far away she had become from her son. Isn’t this a relationship worse than her family, let alone others? Shame filled her with shame whenever her aide-de-camp friend, Shin A-ram, glanced at her.

But even so, I didn’t want to hand over the money this way.

I knew at least that 30 billion won in short selling was poison. Since I didn’t break any laws, I should be able to take it by force, but in return, I’ll have to live with the threat of my life. I’m not exaggerating, I could have really died.

Even so, I couldn’t help but be hesitant.

She has never had such success in her entire life.

After entering the job as a constable and repeatedly being promoted, he became a police officer. Even among police officers, the position of a madman with a particularly strong influence. And even though she herself has not contributed, she has the honor of being the parent of a member of the ruling party.

It felt like all the glory was shabby in front of the number of 30 billion. 1 Trillion won is ridiculous only in the news, but isn’t the reality different from the news?

Although she knew that taking this money would be dangerous, and that she would turn her son into a perfect enemy, she kept feeling full of regret.

‘You should at least hear the reason why they are asking for it. Only then can I understand.’

Lee So-jin looked at her son while repeating this.

She promised to hand over 30 billion, but it was to delay that point a little. I hope you give your mother that much leeway.

First of all, you have to earn time…

“Mother.”

“I, no, tell me.”

“I can roughly guess what you are thinking about. You will try to come up with a countermeasure after somehow passing this moment. With the excuse that it is too important to decide right away.”

“… ….”

“But think about it. After I leave home, can my mother really willingly give up 30 billion won? Then you went and made another excuse. I’m sorry if my guess is wrong, but I don’t think so.”

“… It’s suho I hope I can do that.”

“Instead of asking me, I want you to just ask yourself.”

At these words, somehow my heart felt chilly.

Lee So-jin drool for a while, but she really questioned herself.

After her son was forced to leave, can I really transfer the amount of 30 billion won? Wouldn’t it be delayed by making a plausible excuse? Trusting that his son would not turn his back on him.

The answer came surprisingly quickly.

‘Suho is right…. He saw me very well.’

Lee So-jin laughed involuntarily.

I could see why her son hated her mother and even despised her. She must be like that, seeing as a mother who always puts her own interests first. She is the kind of mean mother who doesn’t mind even deceiving her family on occasion.

“Yes. It’s suho … i get it.”

Right after that, Lee So-jin moved smoothly and carried out her son’s instructions. She safely transferred her large sum of money, which she had deposited, into her son’s wallet.

It wasn’t because I was willing, I did it because I didn’t even have the energy to resist.

“Good idea. This doesn’t mean that her mother’s responsibilities are over, but at least she won’t be hunted like Kwon Yesol. I will lead you that way.”

“… ….”

“I will stop. And you don’t have to tell Dad that I’ve been there. I don’t have time to solve the rounds anyway.”

Suho lowered his head and left immediately.

A son who became independent long ago. It’s not like he’d be sad if he left without eating a meal, but somehow an unbearable emptiness filled him.

Even Lee So-jin himself did not know if the cause of the emptiness was because he gave away 30 billion won in an instant, or if it was because he confirmed his son’s true intentions.

How long have you been standing there blankly like that?

“Suho Mom. What’s up? Your expression is strange.”

A middle-aged man with a small body. Lee So-jin and her husband, who had lived together for nearly 30 years, entered the front door. He seemed to be on his way to the mart.

Just by looking at his appearance, it is evident that he lived without knowing the hardships of his husband. During her long married life, she was a familiar acquaintance, to the extent that she had never used each other. These days, I’ve been busy supporting my second son, who is 10 years younger than Suho, in sports.

It’s a face I see every day, but it was hard to treat her husband calmly according to today.

“That, honey.”

“When is Suho coming? He’s starting his term tomorrow, hasn’t he told you yet? He said he would hang a placard at the rich men’s party, but before that, I’ll have to listen to Suho’s words… He can’t be rude forever.”

A husband who clearly wants to brag about his son who became a member of the National Assembly.

Despite his age, he was a very simple man. He must have no idea that he earned 30 billion by using leverage and then was taken away. It was just that every time the extreme choice of Manacoin investors was reported in the news, only the tongue was clicked.

I couldn’t help it. He is a man who has devoted his entire life to housework and educating his children.

‘Nothing to criticize. I made it like this.’

I didn’t know why it felt so pitiful to see him ask, “Is braised ribs okay for dinner?” While organizing the things he had bought. I was worried about how that naive person would react if I saw my son’s face on the news tomorrow.

How did things get to this point?

Lee So-jin stared at the empty space helplessly. Her husband gave him a worried look, but she didn’t have the courage to face it.

*

It is already late evening when she returns home after taking her 30 billion from her mother.

“I’ll see you at the National Assembly tomorrow. Senator.”

Aide Shin A-ram stiffly behaved and left immediately.

Even in the midst of it, her face showed a despondent expression. She only became an aide to the office of the first-time congressman, but the scandal she encountered was at the national level, so she must be exhausted. If she wasn’t generous enough, she might have run away, giving up on her salary and everything.

On the other hand, even at this moment, I was maintaining my composure.

‘I can’t be sure if I’ll be able to keep the same condition until tomorrow.’

Tomorrow is the opening day of the National Assembly. It was the day on which the Speaker of the National Assembly was elected and solemnly sworn in.

Socially, right after the general election, I was just called a member, but it wasn’t until after the opening day that I became a true member.

Originally, my goal was to become a member of the National Assembly that could manage more than one serving. I didn’t want to overdo it to increase my presence, and I didn’t want to cover the news. It is easy to be criticized if the first election of the proportional representative is wrongly installed.

However, it had to be seen that ordinary legislative activities were now impossible.

It was because the fact that I had secured 30 billion was revealed soon. No, I was thinking of revealing it myself. You already have a detailed plan in place. The purpose of the 30 billion won was also planned to be revealed.

If things work out as intended, I’ll be able to avoid sinking into my political life the same time it started. I’m sure I’ll be able to counterattack the scumbags who tried to put a dump on me.

There was no law that everything went the way I intended. The only thing that’s certain is that tomorrow will be a very noisy day.

Looking at the clock, it was already past midnight.

Finally, the first day of my tenure. My luck depended on how I spent the day.