“Those were just enough for our daily needs here at home. I don't know where to get the money to pay for Park Gung in a week. I’m afraid he will really burn down our house and hurt us.”
"Umma, I will not allow that to happen." Carter planted a kiss on his mother's forehead. There was no denying the love he had for his family. And Cheska couldn’t stop her tears. Their family was not like those families who almost had everything and still do unnecessary bad things to themselves and to others. "Umma, you and Eun Young go get some rest. You still need to go to the market early morning tomorrow. Your orders of kimchi needed to get delivered right away. I’ll take care of the rest here.”
Manang Selina reluctantly went with Eun Young. Tomorrow was another day for this family. No time to wallow about what happened earlier. They needed to continue living no matter how hard life could be.
“Your vase and throw pillows needed to be replaced. Where do you shop for household items? When I was a child, I always went with my Mom to buy things needed in our house,” Cheska said as she set aside the pieces of the broken vase. “I can go with your mother if she needs a shopping companion. I think I enjoy shopping here in Seoul.”
"Why are you still here?" Carter asked.
“Huh? I'm helping you clean up.”
He shook his head. “No. Why aren't you packing your things yet?”
"Are you kicking me out?" she asked in a high tone.
“Cheska, look around you. Heartless people were just here, aren’t you afraid?"
“They’re not here anymore. Were they always making trouble around here?”
“Just when we couldn’t pay. My stepfather got addicted to gambling. He was not satisfied with being a womanizer, he even left a pile of debt to umma and my sister and put their lives in danger. That’s the reason why I went to Korea. To help them out. But that is not enough.” He gritted his teeth. “Park Gung and his men felt like they already bought our souls with the huge amount of interest they placed on our debt. We have already paid the capital, but it’s gonna be a long way before we could pay all the interest.”
“Why don't you just live in the Philippines to escape them? Sell ​​this house so you can pay off the debt,” she suggested.
Carter's lips pressed together. “I already told my mother about that before. But she couldn’t bear to leave this house. She said this is where she had a complete family, and this is the only thing she could leave Eun Young behind.” He looked around, sadly. “I hope I can do something for them. But I only have limited sources. Even though the income is better here compared to the Philippines, it is still not enough. I'm sorry you got dragged into our mess.”
"Well, I can't just sit around and let those men hurt you.”
“And that’s why I can understand if you wanted to change accommodation. There are hotels and guesthouses around here. I’ll even take you there myself.”
“B-but…” Cheska didn't want to leave. She didn’t want to just leave Carter and his family. They were still miserable. While they did not leave her when she needed help.
He snapped his fingers. “Ah! That's why you couldn’t leave yet. Because I still needed to pay you back.”
"I'm not really leaving so…" What does he not understand? She was there to stay.
He rubbed his palms together. “I won’t be able to return the three hundred thousand won for now. I don’t have any plans on running from my responsibilities to you either. I will think of a way to return the money. Tomorrow.”
“And where will you get the money? In another loan shark? Then they’ll make a mess in your life again if got drowned in debt?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Let me worry on my own about where to get the money to pay you. For now, just worry about where you’ll be safer. I have an acquaintance here who owns a guesthouse. You can transfer there. I’ll discuss your accommodation with my friend. I will deduct it from what I owe you.”
He folded her arms over her chest. "When are those gangsters coming back?"
“Next week. We have already paid this week so they will come back next week.”
Perfect! "It means I’m safe staying here until next week."
"But what if I still can't pay you in a week?" 
“We still have an agreement that you’ll be my tour guide here in Seoul, didn’t we? Be my guide. By the way, I don’t just want a Seoul experience. I also want to experience where the locals go. I don’t want to be so touristy. In fact, I don’t like crowded places.”
"Tourist places that were not crowded? This is Seoul. Everything around here is crowded.”
She shrugged off her shoulders. “Surprise me. So, do we have a deal?” she asked and reached out her hand to him.
He was hesitant at first but took her hand eventually. "Deal."