PIA 98

“Since today’s schedule ends here, General Manager, you’ll be going straight home without stopping by the office, right?”

Secretary Yoon glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror as he spoke. Jeong Hee-seo had been calm for a while now, which made the atmosphere feel unusual. When the car stopped at a red light, he had asked the driver with his eyes, but only received a gesture indicating he didn’t know.

“Then please drop me off two blocks ahead. Since my direction is different.”

Just as he thought the day would end as usual, Jeong Hee-seo suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

“Please move to the location marked on the navigation.”

As he spoke, he opened his phone and sent the destination to the dashboard screen. Soon after, a cheerful voice began giving directions. Of course, Secretary Yoon’s request to be dropped off was ignored. Secretary Yoon inadvertently looked at the screen and was startled.

‘Why here?’

Cold sweat trickled down. Not only the place itself, but why was he taking him to such an uncomfortable location?

‘Why? Why?’

He kept glancing at the rearview mirror with eyes full of questions, but Jeong Hee-seo was just lost in thought, looking out the window.

They arrived at their destination quickly in a suffocating silence. Jeong Hee-seo said he would get home on his own and left the car. Finally left alone with him, Secretary Yoon mustered up the courage to ask.

“Why did you suddenly come here?”

He had some guesses. Still, he wanted to ask. Knowing as much information as possible before something big happened would at least help him prepare mentally.

So he needed to know why his boss had sought out this officetel where Ji-an’s past was buried.

‘I thought they were busy being lovey-dovey!’

Unlike Secretary Yoon, whose nape was damp with cold sweat, Jeong Hee-seo’s face was utterly calm. With one hand in his pocket, he walked around in circles, scrutinizing the officetel building up and down for a while.

“There are exactly two units per floor.”

“…”

Reluctant to answer ‘That’s right,’ Secretary Yoon just nodded slightly.

“Does Han-joo still live here? What about Ji-an?”

“…Yes, he still lives here, and Ji-an’s name is still on the lease as far as I know.”

There was no way to avoid this with a short answer, so he had to elaborate.

“To my knowledge, he hasn’t visited here since.”

“I know.”

It was clear that he wasn’t here out of suspicion of his lover or trying to find traces. This was inferred from Jeong Hee-seo’s character that Secretary Yoon had known for a long time, as well as his current expression and voice.

Noticing Secretary Yoon’s gaze scrutinizing him busily, Jeong Hee-seo asked with a faint smile.

“Why, do I look pathetic?”

“Yes, a bit… I mean, no?”

“I know too.”

He clearly corrected his answer to no, but it was a bit late.

“I can’t go in, can I?”

“You mean Ji-an’s officetel?”

Secretary Yoon, who had been biting his tongue, was startled.

“You can’t. Even if you’re the General Manager, even if you’re from JM, I don’t think that’s allowed.”

Even if it were allowed, Secretary Yoon planned to lay down on the ground to block the entrance. How would they handle it if Ji-an found out later? He might be clueless about love, but his boss was no better.

A heavy silence fell.

It was the end of summer, and though it was late in the afternoon, the sun was still scorching. As his boss stood like a statue staring up at the building, Secretary Yoon fidgeted before hurrying off to buy iced coffee.

Seeing Jeong Hee-seo accept the coffee without much reaction, it seemed there wasn’t a big problem. Secretary Yoon cautiously broached the subject while sipping the cool coffee.

“You were okay with it, weren’t you?”

Jeong Hee-seo was well aware, from reports, that Ji-an had moved into this officetel to be near Jeong Han-joo. It was Secretary Yoon himself who had looked into the timing of his move, the purpose, and how he had lived here.

After the rut inducer incident at the foundation anniversary party, Jeong Hee-seo had thoroughly investigated and read about Seo Ji-an. Secretary Yoon thought his boss had coolly forgotten everything, seeming not to inquire about the past after deciding to take Ji-an to heart.

Jeong Hee-seo, who had been maintaining a deliberately expressionless face, suddenly frowned deeply. It clearly wasn’t because the coffee was bitter.

“I was okay. Back then.”

So he wasn’t cool about it after all. Secretary Yoon secretly turned his head and quickly wiped away a tear.

“Yoon Woo-young. What’s with that expression? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ah, you’re not usually the type to… dwell on past events. Whether work or anything else.”

“That’s right.”

Jeong Hee-seo, lightly affirming, took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

“I just came here wondering how I’d feel if I visited this place.”

It seemed like he wanted to be asked how he felt, but Secretary Yoon was too scared to ask.

As Secretary Yoon remained silent, astutely reading the situation, Jeong Hee-seo muttered with a frightening smile.

“I should buy this entire building.”

“What? Why?”

“As a wedding gift for Jeong Han-joo.”

“Ah, a gift… Wait, what?”

It was scary how his eyes weren’t smiling at all, but his mouth was smiling so brightly that all his even teeth were visible. Secretary Yoon found it difficult to guess his true intentions and kept asking the same question.

“I guess I have something to be grateful to Han-joo for. For… not accepting Ji-an until the end.”

At this point, Secretary Yoon began to get a sense of what he should say to Jeong Hee-seo. 

However, it was something he had never experienced in all the years he had known him, so he wasn’t sure if his interpretation was right.

Jeong Hee-seo stared at the officetel again, as if trying to pinpoint the exact floor Ji-an used to live on. When he heard him mutter a quiet curse, Secretary Yoon decided to voice the thought that had been brewing in his head for a while.

“Would you like to have a drink?”

Jeong Hee-seo paused and looked at Secretary Yoon.

“…”

“…”

A silence followed. Just as Secretary Yoon was starting to think he had made a mistake and wished he could take it back, Jeong Hee-seo stroked his chin and quietly agreed.

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

Jeong Hee-seo’s reaction was more shocking than expected. It was strange enough for his boss to agree to drink over something upsetting, but what surprised Secretary Yoon even more was the fact that he himself had suggested it.

‘I must be possessed by a ghost.’

Secretary Yoon felt like strangling himself.

And exactly two hours later, the taxi carrying the two of them pulled up in front of the mansion on the hill. Contrary to Secretary Yoon’s worries, the impulsive drinking session ended quite early. The reason was that Jeong Hee-seo needed to get home in time for Ji-an’s dinner.

Secretary Yoon got out of the front passenger seat first and opened the back door, prompting Jeong Hee-seo to ask, looking puzzled,

“What? Woo-young, you didn’t leave? Why’d you follow me all the way here?”

Secretary Yoon awkwardly smiled, slightly curling his lips.

“Well, I’m not sure why I did that myself.”

Even during company team dinners, he had never seen Jeong Hee-seo drunk. Moreover, the current Jeong Hee-seo looked very normal except for being slightly slow and having clouded judgment.

If he just kept his mouth shut, he wouldn’t look drunk at all…

“I felt bad about sending the drunk General Manager home alone, so I thought I’d see you off. Let’s get you out of the car first.”

He asked the taxi driver to wait a moment, then pressed the doorbell to call Ji-an. Jeong Hee-seo didn’t deny being drunk, just smiled faintly.

Ji-an, after confirming Secretary Yoon through the intercom, opened the door and came running down. To Ji-an, who asked with wide eyes what was going on, Secretary Yoon responded by making a cutting gesture across his neck instead of answering.

“Secretary Yoon?”

“Ji-an.”

Jeong Hee-seo approached Ji-an, pushing Secretary Yoon’s face away. His face was so composed, and there wasn’t even a trace of alcohol smell on him, making it impossible for Ji-an to believe that he was drunk.

“Hyung-nim?”

“Yes. I’m your hyung-nim.”

Jeong Hee-seo, who had been looking down at Ji-an with a clear expression, suddenly leaned in and hugged him. The weight of his chin pressing down made Ji-an squirm from the ticklish sensation.

“What were you doing, Ji-an? You should eat.”

There was a rustling sound. Jeong Hee-seo raised and shook a plastic bag that had been hanging on his wrist. A savory oil smell wafted strongly.

“Wow, what’s this? It smells delicious. Did you buy this for me?”

“He had a little, no, a lot of drink… and bought some fried food from that shop because it’s tasty. Yes, he bought it for you, Ji-an.”

Secretary Yoon answered Ji-an’s questioning look.

“Ji-an, try this.”

Jeong Hee-seo reached into the bag and pulled out a large fried shrimp. AsJi-an took a bite as offered, it was crispy and savory, definitely another great food discovery.

“It’s delicious, hyung-nim!”

Ji-an gave a thumbs up but then glanced at Secretary Yoon and the waiting taxi, unsure of what to do. Jeong Hee-seo kept kissing Ji-an’s puffed-out cheeks as if petting a well-behaved puppy.

“Try this too, and this.”

A piece of fried squid quickly found its way into Ji-an’s mouth.

“Chew slowly, the mushroom is delicious too.”

When his mouth was full with a thick piece of shiitake mushroom, Ji-an couldn’t bear the glances from Secretary Yoon and the taxi driver anymore. He waved them off and gently tugged on Jeong Hee-seo’s arm.

“Hyung-nim, let’s go inside and eat. Let’s wash up first.”

“Okay, let’s wash together. Take a bath.”

“Ah, no… I meant let’s wash our hands and eat.”

As Ji-an blushed, wondering if Secretary Yoon, who hadn’t left yet, had heard, Jeong Hee-seo’s face crumpled into a smile.

“Okay, eat. Let’s eat everything Ji-an wants. Your hyung will help you wash up.”