Payment for the Ride

Da-eun, stranded after missing the only village bus that runs twice daily, finds herself walking to a secluded mountain village under the relentless midsummer heat. Drained from the trek, her damp clothes cling to her as she continues along the empty road. Out of nowhere, a car pulls up, and a man steps out, observing her quietly as they near the village. In an unconventional move, Da-eun offers her undergarments as an "entry fee." With an impassive face, the man responds, "They do teach proper etiquette in school, don’t they? You really shouldn’t show things like this to just anyone." Unbothered, Da-eun shrugs and replies, "That’s just how things are in the village. My grandma doesn’t even bother with a bra."