After finishing an external meeting and returning to the office, Ji-Heon scanned the conference room before heading toward his own office.
He had heard that an AE had called a meeting at the request of Dawon Liquor for an initial proposal. It seemed the meeting had just ended, and Ji-Heon received a brief update on the details from the AE as they stepped out.
Once he understood the situation, he grew curious about the expression of Jinseo, who had been left to handle the heavy lifting. She appeared to be still inside the conference room. As he stepped closer, he heard the voices of a man and a woman. The woman was Jinseo, and the man was Gihun, a junior staff member on the same team.
Jinseo seemed quite close to Gihun. As he slowly approached, their intimate conversation grated on his nerves.
“Assistant Manager, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh, go ahead.”
“I like you, Assistant Manager.”
Suddenly, Gihun’s out-of-the-blue confession reached his ears. Unable to bring himself to listen any further, Ji-Heon knocked on the conference room door. He struck the already-open door hard—*thud, thud*—cutting off their conversation.
“Assistant Manager Jinseo.”
Both of them turned their heads at the same time. Their expressions were so similar that Ji-Heon’s fist tightened.
“Yes, Director?”
“You have something to return to me, don’t you?”
“…….”
“My clothes.”
She stood frozen, her lips parted and her pupils trembling. After a moment, she replied, “……Ah…… Yes, just a moment.”
Watching Jinseo scramble out of the conference room, Ji-Heon let out a shallow sigh. He didn’t follow her; instead, he leaned against the doorframe and turned his gaze into the room.
Because Ji-Heon was blocking the way, Gihun was trapped inside, nervously fumbling around in the already-organized space. Gihun looked anxious, and Ji-Heon studied him. He was a young male employee whose face clearly showed he had lived a smooth, trouble-free life. He was diligent, got along well with his colleagues, and had received high marks from his team leader.
And yet, relying solely on his youth and impulsiveness, he had confessed to Jinseo…….
Ji-Heon stared at Gihun for a long time with narrowed eyes. A moment later, Jinseo ran over and held out the cardigan.
“Thank you, Director.”
“I told you that you didn’t have to wash it.”
“…….”
“Has your cold cleared up?”
“Yes. It’s completely gone.”
“That’s a relief.”
Jinseo couldn’t look Ji-Heon straight in the eyes. She felt as if he were interrogating her, questioning why she had ignored his text messages now that she was fully recovered. Keeping her head down, Jinseo slipped past Ji-Heon and called out to Gihun.
“Gihun, if you’re done organizing, come on out.”
“Yes!”
Following his savior Jinseo’s order, Gihun hurried out. The two of them passed by Ji-Heon and returned to their desks.
“Hmm.”
As Jinseo sat down, Gihun intentionally cleared his throat and leaned toward her.
“That was the clothing from last Friday, right?” Gihun asked in a low voice. Jinseo couldn’t answer. “So, that cardigan was the Director’s.”
“I was very sick and looked cold, so the Director lent it to me.”
“The Director is unexpectedly thoughtful, isn’t he?”
Gihun’s comment, sounding both surprised and teasing—and carrying some unknown emotion—made Jinseo press her lips together. At that moment, Ji-Heon appeared like a grim reaper over the Production Team 2 partitions and called for Gihun.
“Mr. Gihun?”
“Yes, Director.”
Gihun rose from his seat.
“I checked the outlet design. It seems you need to fix it yourself.”
An earthquake passed through Gihun’s eyes. “Bring your tools to my office.”
Ji-Heon left first, leaving Gihun shaken with an unreadable expression. Gihun’s legs seemed to tremble as well. Staggering, he collapsed back into his chair, then hastily gathered his tools with a look of utter defeat before rising again.
Eun-Ju, feeling pity for Gihun, asked, “Gihun, do you want me to go instead?”
“No…… I did the work, so I have to go. I’ll be back.”
After Gihun left with his shoulders slumped, Eun-Ju shook her head and muttered to herself, “I really don’t like Director Ji-Heon…….”
*Ji-Heon. You are piling up resentment one by one.*
Jinseo gave a bitter smile and sat down at her desk. Two hours later, Gihun returned. He looked haggard, as if he had been through intense physical labor.
Manager MR. Yeong-gwang Park was the first to comfort him.
“Gihun. Good work.”
“Haa.”
“How was it?”
“How do you think? The Director and I were alone in his office for two hours…….”
“…….”
“I almost turned into a turtle. I was so uncomfortable I thought I’d die…….”
Jinseo reached out and patted Gihun on the shoulder. Before Gihun sat down, he took a large cell phone charger out of his back pocket and set it down.
“My phone battery died, and when I said I’d go back to my desk, the Director gave me this. I couldn’t refuse…….”
“…….”
“……The Director really seems unexpectedly thoughtful…….”
Gihun’s grumbling continued sporadically for a while after that.
*
Because of Ji-Heon’s sudden appearance, Gihun’s abrupt confession had been buried. Jinseo had managed to avoid a difficult situation, but her heart wasn’t at ease. Was he sincere, or was it just lighthearted camaraderie?
Since then, Gihun’s attitude hadn’t changed. He remained affectionate and polite, never bringing up what he had said in the conference room again.
*‘It must just be camaraderie.’*
The conclusion she had reached the day before began to solidify. However, not long after she had convinced herself, Gihun spoke up.
“You haven’t said anything.”
It was after another meeting, when Jinseo was left alone in the conference room preparing the Dawon Liquor proposal.
Jinseo asked blankly, “……Huh?”
“What I told you yesterday. In the other conference room.”
“Oh-oh…… oh…….”
Only when they were alone did Jinseo realize what he meant. Jinseo hesitated, flustered, and gave a belated answer.
“I like you too, Gihun.”
“That’s not what I meant, Assistant Manager.”
“…….”
“I mean romantically. Opposite genders.”
Gihun corrected her precisely because he didn’t like the nuance of her response. He was so confident and comfortable, not even trembling while confessing.
*So this is how the younger generation is these days.*
Gihun’s bright energy captured Jinseo’s gaze. The situation became even more awkward. To Jinseo, Gihun was nothing more than a comfortable, obedient junior colleague.
“Are you being serious?”
“Of course. Should I say it again? I like you, Assistant Manager Jinseo…….”
“No! That’s alright.”
Jinseo waved her hands frantically. *Phew.* Only after Gihun kept his lips sealed did she let out a sigh of relief.
*So this is how the younger generation is these days…….*
Actually, there wasn’t much of an age gap. Perhaps because she was a mother, a twenty-seven-year-old man seemed incredibly young to her. It felt as though she and Gihun were living in different eras.
“I just thought you were joking.”
“Who would joke about something like that?”
*What do I do?*
If she rejected him with harsh words, would he be hurt? Gihun was such a good person that she wanted to reject him kindly. But she worried that being too kind might leave room for hope.
“Since this is a job that pursues beauty, it’s true that I take an interest in people’s appearances.”
“…….”
“Assistant Manager, you’re truly beautiful, but you don’t seem to know it yourself. That’s why you’re even more charming.”
“No! I know! I know perfectly well! I’m pretty. I’m very pretty.”
“Pfft. That’s exactly what I mean. You’re pretty.”
“No. I’m not pretty. Look here. I even have wrinkles.”
“You’re so funny, flip-flopping like that.”
Was he wearing rose-colored glasses? She found it fascinating that Gihun only saw the good in her.
Gihun’s wooing continued.
“I just enjoy observing you, Assistant Manager. The more I watch you, the more fun and cool traits I find, so I keep liking you more and more.”
“Gihun, are you a ‘fast-to-fall-in-love’ type?”
“I’m a romantic! Once before I went to the military, and once after I came back. I’ve only ever dated twice…… Wait, why am I telling you this?”
Gihun laughed at himself while rambling on. She felt ridiculous for being so honest in front of him.
“Anyway, what I’m saying is that you’re a good person, Gihun.”
Jinseo felt sorry for Gihun, who was smiling at her. Perhaps Gihun was trying to put on a bright front while trembling inside, terrified of burdening her. Though the situation was overwhelming, if he was being sincere, she felt she had no choice but to provide a sincere response as well.
“Gihun, there’s something I need to tell you, too.”
Summoning her courage, Jinseo opened her mouth.
“I’m actually a mother.”
“…….”
At Jinseo’s confession, Gihun blinked repeatedly, looking as if his eyes were failing him.
“My kid is seven years old now.”
This time, his expression turned blank.
“……Daeri-nim, I’m actually a bit hurt right now.”
“…….”
“I know you might not be interested in me, but how could you reject me like this…….”
“It’s the truth.”
At Gihun’s dejected expression, Jinseo’s gaze became even firmer.
“I’m telling you, it’s the truth.”
Jinseo took out her phone and found a picture to show him. It was a photo of Ye-Na sitting on her lap.
“She’s my daughter. Not adopted—she’s my biological daughter.”
“…….”
“I don’t have a husband, but I have a child. Her birthday is this Thursday.”
Gihun, who had been staring at the photo in dismay for a long time, muttered as if to himself, “But no one ever said anything about that…….”
“There were just… circumstances. Since I’m not married, my company records say ‘single.’ When the company asked for my resident registration abstract, I just submitted the one with my own information. That’s why nobody knows.”
“…….”
“I’m telling you this because you’re a kind person, Gihun. You’re the first person in this company I’ve told.”
Gihun looked even more shocked than he had when he was hauled away by Director Ji-Heon yesterday. Jinseo felt sorry for having to say such things, but on the other hand, she felt a sense of relief.
“I’m really grateful that you think so highly of me, but this is my situation. I’m just going to keep living my life protecting my daughter. I’m sorry.”
“…….”
“I truly cheer for your dating life, Gihun. I’m sure you’ll meet a great woman.”
It seemed her confession had done the trick.
*
The tasks she was assigned piled up until they formed a mountain. The hardest part was having to perform manual labor and mental work simultaneously. A sense of regret grew within her—a feeling that if she could focus more, she could come up with better ideas, and if she had just a little more time, she could produce better results.
She had been working overtime through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Because Ye-Na’s birthday was Thursday, Jinseo was desperate.
And then, the long-awaited Thursday morning!
“Mom! What day is it today?”
Ye-Na, who had woken up before her for once, shook Jinseo awake.
“It’s our princess’s birthday!”
Jinseo sat up, not even finding the time to clear the sleep from her eyes, and hugged Ye-Na.
“Happy birthday, Ye-Na!”
“Thank you, Mom!”
Guk-Sun, who had been preparing breakfast in the kitchen, came over to the room and held out a gift box. Ye-Na waved her hands vehemently.
“No, that’s not it, Grandma!”
“It’s not? Why not?”
“I’m going to open it tonight during the party.”
It seemed Ye-Na already had the schedule for her birthday party organized in her head.
“I wonder what kind of boisterous party our little princess is planning….”
Guk-Sun laughed, letting her shoulders drop as if she couldn’t help but yield to her. It was a morning filled with the savory scent of seaweed soup.
Ye-Na’s seventh birthday had arrived.
Ye-Na wore her pink princess dress. It was her favorite outfit, but she hadn’t worn it for weeks just to make today shine. With the pink princess dress, a crown headband, and her hair curled into little buns, Jinseo had to become a stylist.
“With her hair like that, the two of you look exactly the same.”
Guk-Sun smiled contentedly, reminded of Jinseo’s own childhood by Ye-Na’s lovely appearance.
“Mom, you have to come home early today!”
Ye-Na said, clutching Jinseo’s hand tightly. It was a request she had made several times yesterday as well.
“Of course, I will.”
“Promise!”
Jinseo linked her pinky finger with Ye-Na’s. Since she had pushed herself with overtime yesterday, today’s work should go more smoothly. Hoping that today would be perfect, Jinseo waved goodbye to Ye-Na.
*
Even the breeze on her way to work felt clear. It was a bright morning that made it seem as if the whole world was celebrating Ye-Na’s birthday. Jinseo hesitated for a moment upon seeing Ji-Heon standing like a statue in front of the office elevator, but she greeted him brightly.
“Good morning, Director.”
“Yes.”
Despite his dry, indifferent response, Jinseo smiled.
*Ji-Heon. Today is my child’s birthday. So, I hope you have a happy day, too. Because an angel was born because you existed.*
Stepping out of the elevator, Jinseo hummed a tune as she headed to her seat. Gihun was the only one in the team sitting at his desk.
“Good morning, Gihun.”
“Good morning, Daeri-nim.”
Along with his greeting, Gihun slid something across the partition. It was an object about half the size of a palm, wrapped in pink gift paper.
“What’s this?”
Gihun leaned over toward Jinseo and whispered, “I heard it’s your baby’s birthday.”
Ji-Heon watched this scene quietly from behind.