what money can buy | jjk

01

Jeongguk feels like he's been scrolling forever, and at this point, it's surely animal abuse to force the poor mouse to click on yet another profile. Quick fingers do it anyway.

"Susie, 48. Likes pretty boys in skirts—okay, no," he mumbles to himself as he goes back to scrolling through the list.

It's Jimin's idea, the whole getting a sugar parent thing. Two years older than Jeongguk, Jimin stated that it helped him when he first started university and hadn't gotten his part-time job at the supermarket yet. Not too bad, getting paid generously to instigate a relationship with an older woman, he had said.

"Isn't that like... prostitution?" Jeongguk had asked skeptically, but Jimin had just waved his hand dismissively.

"Nah, maybe a little in the grey zone, but it's up to you to decide what you're comfortable with."

And for a while, Jeongguk didn't think any more about it, so sure he'd manage to get another part-time job—a real job—but after Monday's failed interview, where he spilled his glass of water all over the interviewer, here he is, scrolling a site with the purpose of connecting parents and children. Well, sugar parents and sugar babies.

Despite being on the site for what feels like hours, Jeongguk doesn't close down the window, disgusted, like he assumed he would. No, he hasn't seen anyone he's interested in contacting, but he's strangely determined to at least try when he's gone through nine whole steps to create a profile and everything.

It just sucks that everyone is so much older than him, not to mention the weird kinks they all seem to have. Nothing wrong with kinks, he just doesn't want to be subjected to the more... unconventional ones.

He didn't think he'd ever even entertain the idea of getting paid to have sex, but recently, he's been wondering if it really would be so terrible. Jeongguk is a man, a young and fit one, at that. A woman is not going to be able to force him to do anything he doesn't consent to. Besides, he likes sex, he tries to remind himself as he scrolls the profiles. It's not supposed to be about that anyway; the site clearly states that you're only selling 'dates,' but everyone knows that's simply for legal reasons. They're all there for the physical aspects.

Jimin must've been extremely lucky to find someone on here that he clicked somewhat with; a kind woman in her late thirties that, after a divorce with her high school sweetheart, wanted to see what she'd been missing out on, sex-wise. Jeongguk has seen pictures of her, and he hopelessly wishes for someone like that to magically pop up for him too.

He's getting bored, so much so that he pays less and less attention and nearly scrolls by it when it appears. Going back up to click on the name that links to yet another profile, Jeongguk's first reaction is doubt.

From the hundreds of profiles in his browser history, no one has been his own age. There isn't much else. No long bio that paints an innocent picture at first but really only serves to convey the users' sexual preferences relatively subtly. Next to the age is a name and an image, and underneath is one of the shortest descriptions so far.

'New in town, looking to help out in exchange for friendship.'

He clicks on the picture to enlarge it, then he runs it through Google to reverse-search it just like he's seen them do on the show 'Catfish.' When a result pops up, Jeongguk feels a split second's worth of disappointment. He's convinced the photo has been stolen to lure oblivious young men into talking to some old creep. No one that beautiful would need to pay for sexual company. Although the description looks harmless, he knows sex is what the user's after.

But as his eyes skim the link, the disappointment is replaced by timid excitement. Another click later, and he's redirected to an Instagram page. Using Instagram anywhere other than the app isn't ultimate, but it gets the job done, and a minute later, Jeongguk is back on the pink-designed site, writing you a message.

---

Even after concluding that the picture from the profile isn't taken from another source and used to catfish him, Jeongguk half expects some creepy old man to tap on his shoulder. He's anxiously waiting for you, standing at the predetermined spot outside a store at the mall.

It's Saturday, which means that you won't be the only ones there; people are already passing him by like countless fish in a powerful stream. It was your idea to meet at the mall, and Jeongguk can't blame you for wanting the first encounter to be in a public setting. You're a woman—he hopes, at least—and for all you know, he might be the creep.

The numbers on his phone tells him that he's been waiting for five minutes, and there's still ten remaining until you're supposed to meet, but his eyes scan the people walking past him anyway. Being tall has its perks, as Jeongguk can see over most people's heads, but it doesn't matter. You're nowhere in sight.

He has the picture burned in behind his eyelids—it's also saved to his phone twice—and he uses it as reference for what to search for. The smiling girl, so breathtakingly beautiful as she stands next to a blue bike, her hands gripping the handlebars. He wonders if you're wearing something similar to the yellow skirt and white blouse you wore in the photo. It's still warm even though this July has been very mild so far.

Jeongguk himself is wearing light wash jeans with ripped knees and a dark plaid shirt tucked into them. He's desperately hoping that he's not underdressed. Before the unnerving twenty minutes spent in front of his closet, deciding what to wear, he took a shower to ensure he's clean, trimmed, and presentable if you're expecting something more than just strolling through the mall. That's the thing, he doesn't know what you want out of today.

The last week, the seven days from when he first messaged you, you haven't spoken much. Basically only to decide a time and place. And, of course, the price. An extremely uncomfortable topic to discuss, Jeongguk was insanely relieved when you suggested a hefty sum right away. Not that he wasn't glad that it was enough for a month's rent for the room he shared—he was glad, but more so that he didn't have to propose a price or negotiate himself.

The fact that you're paying him way too much to just hang out at the mall remains. That's why the black leather wallet in his back pocket contains a few pieces of wrapped rubber alongside the fading receipts he really should dispose of.

"Jeongguk?" a voice to his right calls. He turns his head and peers down slightly. You're shorter than him and oh, so beautiful.

"Uh, yeah," he mumbles, "Y/n?"

You nod, a lovely smile on your face when you reach your hand out. Jeongguk takes it in his own to shake, and he can't get over how small and delicate and soft it is. So different from his own. A few of your fingers are decorated by rings, and one in particular grabs his attention. It's on your ring finger, but on your right hand. An engagement ring, if he's ever seen one. It screams expensive, like Jeongguk could sell his entire body on the black market and still not afford to even look at it.

To his relief, you're actually dressed in an outfit pretty similar to his own. Black skinny jeans, a dark graphic t-shirt, with a print of a band he's never heard of, underneath a black denim jacket.

"So, uh, what did you have in mind?" he asks as you release his hand. He's nervous. You might expect him to fuck you, but that's not the reason behind his nerves. In fact, he feels strangely conflicted about that... like he should be more opposed to it. Actually, he doesn't really know why he's nervous; maybe it's simply because he doesn't know what he's signed up for.

"Well, I was just thinking we could start off by getting to know each other? I have a few things I need to buy as well. If that's okay with you, of course?"

Jeongguk almost scoffs. You're paying him to be there, he's already agreed to do what you want—as long as it's within reason, of course.

He finds himself confused. You're so soft-spoken, your voice is super attractive just like the rest of you. Why would you need to pay for sex? He's confident that you'll invite him home with you, either after you find what you need to buy today or for your next meetup. 'Start off by getting to know each other...' yeah, this will lead to more.