She had thought about it.
Seoul wasn’t infinitely vast; perhaps there might come a moment when their paths would cross.
Jeong-o had imagined that coincidence.
And she had steadied her heart.
Even if she were to run into him, she would not be shaken.
She would not cry, she would not laugh, and she would not get angry.
She would not ache. She would not let him know how much pain she had been in.
She would treat him with as much composure as possible.
If they were to pass by, then they would pass by…
She had resolved this so many times.
But her heart jolted as if it had shattered. No, it felt as though her entire body had broken.
Her body wouldn’t move. She didn’t even have the strength to pull away from the arm he was gripping.
Though she felt tears pricking her eyes, it was as if he had blocked her off completely, preventing even her own tears from falling as they pleased.
Their eyes locked, capturing the sight of one another.
Unlike Jeong-o, who couldn’t even breathe properly, Ji-Heon was indifferent even after recognizing her face.
His expression was devoid of gladness, surprise, disgust, or confusion. It was the look one gives when staring at something that meant nothing at all.
*…What on earth can I even say here?*
While a thousand emotions raced through her, Ji-Heon set her upright.
Jeong-o’s legs were still shaking. She wanted to collapse right then and there.
Before the atmosphere could become any more awkward, Miran introduced Jeong-o to Ji-Heon.
“Director, this is the copywriter who joined Production Team 2 today, Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee.”
“Ah, the copywriter.”
He didn’t twitch an eyebrow, reciting her title instead of her name.
*Was I merely that kind of person to you?*
She felt surprised, flustered, and empty, but her lips would not move.
“Nice to meet you.”
He casually held out his hand for a handshake.
Jeong-o slowly looked down at his hand.
It felt as if a thick line had been drawn between them.
It was as if he were saying, “I regret that we met like this, so please keep your distance.”
Jeong-o hesitated before slowly extending her hand. She couldn’t stop it from trembling.
The man she had met again after seven years. The hand she was holding after seven years.
His hand, large enough to cover hers entirely, remained the same, yet the warmth she once felt was no longer there.
*…So this is your answer?*
*Don’t cry.*
She bit her lip hard, swallowing her emotions.
Only after confirming his reaction could she recall her long-held resolve.
She would treat him with as much composure as possible.
She would not fall apart.
She lifted her head to meet his gaze.
Eyes as dark, dry, and cold as a desert night.
The deep, soulful eyes she had loved so much back then were no longer there.
*You’ve truly changed so much.*
To the point where it felt like he was a completely different person…
Jeong-o decided to accept reality.
Before long, their hands parted, and he walked calmly away, showing no trace of emotion.
Only then did a long sigh escape her lips.
Her legs gave way, and she had to lean against the wall beside her.
“Are you okay?” Team Leader Miran Seong asked, standing nearby.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine,” Jeong-o replied hurriedly and stood up straight.
*What should I do now? Can I really work at this company?*
Realistic worries followed. Her scalp felt as if it were drying out from the inside.
Dazed, she was led by Miran Seong and soon arrived at the team’s seating area.
“This is the new hire I mentioned yesterday. Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee, the copywriter.” Miran introduced Jeong-o to the team members. Two people stood up.
“This is our PD, Manager Yeong-gwang Park, and this is our graphic designer, Staff Gihun Song.” Only after the introductions did Jeong-o snap back to reality.
“Hello. I’m Jeong-o Lee, the copywriter.”
“So you’re the Assistant Manager. Welcome.”
“Wow! Hello!” A man in his mid-30s and another in his 20s greeted her in turn. Both had friendly expressions. However, a woman who didn’t stand up, merely turning her head slightly, had a displeased look on her face.
“And this is our graphic designer, Assistant Manager Go Eun-Ju.”
“Nice to meet you.” Eun-Ju gave a curt nod and looked back at her monitor. Despite the words, her expression suggested otherwise.
Jeong-o realized that company life would not be easy.
***
“I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna! I’m not gonna learn Go, waaaaaah!”
Do-Bin sat down on the ground in front of the Go academy building and wailed at the top of his lungs.
Passersby gave them sidelong glances. To the child, the Go academy seemed less like a place of learning and more like a slaughterhouse.
“Are you going to stop crying or not?” His mother, Jin-Seo’s voice, rose in tandem. Even though they were becoming a spectacle, she couldn’t help it.
Last week, the child had sat next to his father while watching a Go broadcast and asked various questions about the rules. There was quite a bit of insight in the questions of a seven-year-old.
Seeing that he seemed interested, she asked if he wanted to attend an academy, and Do-Bin had excitedly nodded. So, Jin-Seo had enthusiastically looked into academies and finished the registration.
But after attending for just one day, the child complained that it was boring. Today, he had finally burst into tears.
Jin-Seo felt like crying herself.
The tuition was a waste, and she had hoped he would at least attend for a month.
Jin-Seo suppressed her urge to cry and coaxed Do-Bin with kind words.
“My son, just go sit for 30 minutes. If you go, learn for 30 minutes, and come out, Mom will let you play games for 30 minutes.”
“…One hour.”
“Fine. Now go.” Only after attaching that sad condition did the child wipe away his tears. Jin-Seo felt as if she had been swindled.
Watching the back of her son as he opened the door to the academy with slumped shoulders—as if his whole world had ended—Jin-Seo let out a deep sigh.
She wanted to be a good mother.
Even if not an excellent one.
She had thought her child would be good at everything. She expected a bright child who would handle things neatly before being told, a child who would understand two or three things when taught one. He had been quite obedient before he learned to speak his mind.
A child does not grow up according to plan. He only wants to do what he wants, eat what he wants, and besides, why was a seven-year-old so strong?
Setting aside how precious he was, it was inevitable that she would feel exhausted from time to time—no, often.
And so, she realized a painful truth that no one had ever told her:
The one thing absolutely necessary to become a ‘good mother’ was a ‘gentle child.’
*Sniffle, sniffle. Snort, snort.*
Although Do-Bin had entered the academy under the condition that he could play games for an hour, he was still sniffling.
Since it was class time for elementary school kids, everyone was in the lecture hall. Another teacher was present, but he was busy helping an older boy. Do-Bin had been left alone.
He had to live like this for at least a month, and he had no idea how to endure it. He had to hold out for 30 minutes, anyway…
“Hey.”
Just then, a girl sat down in front of the sniffling Do-Bin. Do-Bin lifted his head to look at her.
She was a pretty girl with fair skin and eyes so large she looked like a doll.
“Don’t cry and look at this.”
She looked like a spoiled little princess, but her voice was as clear and sweet as a Christmas carol.
Such a girl, for no reason, abruptly told him to look at the Go board.
Do-Bin, like a tame lamb, looked down. The girl placed her maple-leaf-like hand on the board.
“Try this.”
Do-Bin followed her lead. Then, the girl suddenly started placing Go stones on the back of Do-Bin’s hand, one by one.
He didn’t know why she was doing this. Do-Bin, having stopped crying, asked in confusion, “What is this? Why are you doing that?”
“If you drop them, you get a flick to the forehead.” The girl filled the back of Do-Bin’s small hand with Go stones. It was a flower with five white petals on a black floral center.
As the girl giggled after making the flower, Do-Bin forgot all about his crying.
“I’m Yena Lee, what’s your name?”
“…Dobin Park.” Even while doing so, Do-Bin was nervous that he might drop a stone. Yena asked again, “You go to Oriole Preschool, right?”
“How did you know?”
“I saw your bag yesterday.”
……Had she been watching me since yesterday?
Yena’s eyes, filled with laughter, sparkled like jewels.
It felt as if the flower blooming on the back of his hand was drifting toward his heart.
Just before his tensed arm could freeze up completely, Yena lowered the stone onto Do-Bin’s hand. Only then, as if playing a game of freeze tag, was Do-Bin able to move his body again.
Yena placed the Go stones down one by one and said, “Look at this. This is a white stone, and this is a black stone.”
“I know that.”
“Do you want to be white or black?”
“Black.” Do-Bin answered every question she asked as if enchanted. If she had asked, he felt he could have told her his home address and the names of his mom, dad, and sibling.
Nodding, Yena brought the bowl of black stones in front of Do-Bin and the white stones in front of herself. Then, she placed one white stone in the center of the Go board.
“Then I’ll place mine here.”
“…….”
“Do you know how you have to do this to capture it?”
This question was difficult. But it wasn’t hard to recall his father’s answer from a few days ago. Do-Bin surrounded the white stone with four black stones, blocking its liberties.
“Oh. You know how to play Go?” As if that common move were something extraordinary, Yena praised Do-Bin. His face turned as red as a rose. The flower petals that had drifted into his heart formed a bouquet.
She was a child who smelled of flowers.
“If you know how to play, why were you crying? Don’t cry.” She said.
Seven-year-old Dobin Park. In his seven years of life, this was his first time meeting such a lady.
***
Outside the academy, Jin-Seo waited anxiously for her son.
The son she thought would run out after just 30 minutes had not appeared even after 40 minutes had passed.
*‘Is he crying the whole time?’* Eventually, Jin-Seo opened the door and stepped into the academy.
“Do-Bin.”
“Mom!” Unlike when he had entered, Jin-Seo’s heart settled as she saw her son smiling brightly, his face in full bloom. The teacher also greeted Jin-Seo with a happy expression.
“Do-Bin’s mother, Do-Bin is adapting very well.”
“Oh, really?”
It was a more moving evaluation than anything else. She replaced her words by giving a tight hug to the son who had scurried over to her side.
“Then teacher, I look forward to your help again tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mother. Don’t you worry.”
“Do-Bin, say goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” After politely greeting the teacher, Do-Bin shouted loudly toward the inside of the practice room.
“Bye, Yena!”
“Yeah, bye!” A pretty little girl waved her hand.
*‘He’s already made a friend his age.’* The mother felt purely proud of her son’s social skills.
After coming outside, Jin-Seo asked, “Son, how was the academy? Was it fun?”
“Yes! So much!” Do-Bin answered with an excited expression.
“What was the most fun?”
Her smile was fun. Her voice was happy.
Mom wouldn’t know of this happiness.
Unable to answer easily, Do-Bin asked a different question after a while.
“Mom, did you fall in love with Dad at first sight?”
“Where did you learn such words?” Jin-Seo asked with a smirk. “Do you even know what that means?”
“Yes. I do.” Because I just experienced it!
“Mom, I’m going to go to Go academy diligently!” Do-Bin shouted with emphasis.
It was the beginning of his first love.
***
Having returned from an outside appointment, Ji-Heon leaned back in his seat, furrowed his brows, and closed his eyes tightly.
One person—a woman he had brushed past just once—had not left his mind all afternoon…….
A copywriter from the newly hired Production Team 2.
What did she say her name was?
The woman who had looked at him with rabbit eyes on a pale face.
Though she was pretty, to say he was interested just because of that felt insufficient to explain his mood.
She was a woman in whose eyes various colors were visible, like the wings of a dragonfly. It looked as if those wings were fluttering precariously before falling into the water. She also looked as if she were only breathing because the soaked wings were too heavy to bear.
A woman who was struggling with all her might to endure that moment.
The impression she had left in such a short time was very multifaceted.
That was a little—no, a lot…….
It felt unpleasant.
A mere dragonfly wing shouldn’t be able to block a stream that was flowing well. For some reason, it felt prickly and frustrating.
She was a woman who made him feel strange.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.” At Ji-Heon’s response, the door opened. Miran Seong, whom he had run into that morning, came in with documents. They were the contingency fund application and the list of personnel for the upcoming competitive project.
Among the names he remembered, there was one that bothered him.
Jeong-o Lee.
“The new team member in Team Leader Seong’s team is a copywriter, right?” Ji-Heon asked casually while signing the documents.
Miran answered, “Yes. You mean Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee?”
“Did she get a health checkup before joining?”
Miran’s eyes widened, as if asking why he would ask such a thing, but she answered immediately.
“I haven’t checked separately, but she must have received one mandatorily.”
“The way she was about to collapse, and when I caught her, her body was trembling…….”
“…….”
“It seemed like there was something wrong with her health.”
At Ji-Heon’s observation, Miran had a blank look on her face.
*‘Is he concerned about the employee?’* A man who hadn’t shown a single smile in the week since his transfer. She had thought he was a heartless and scary person, but it seemed that wasn’t necessarily the case.
“Perhaps it’s because you’re so handsome, Director?” Miran relaxed her stiff muscles and made a joke. She wanted to get along with the new General Manager, not to play politics, but simply because she wanted to enjoy her work.
“Do I look like the type of person who enjoys such lip service?” However, the response that came immediately was terrifying.
Miran pressed her lips shut. His sharp gaze, as if it could rip the document paper apart, made the hairs on her body stand up.
“Bring Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee here.”
To Miran, who was regretting her unnecessary comment, a strange command was given.
Miran stared at Ji-Heon. He had mentioned that the General Manager would hold individual interviews with employees of the same headquarters, but it hadn’t happened yet. Was he starting now? With the employee who transferred today as the first target?
As a team leader, she opened her lips again, wanting to know the purpose, even if briefly.
“What is the matter regarding Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee…….”
“Bring her.” However, Ji-Heon cut off her words mercilessly.
He had only one thought: *Now.*
That he had to see her again, right this instant.