EDR Ch 12

I run into Department Head Seo in front of the Director’s office. Department Head Seo stops walking and looks down at me with an arrogant expression. His low-pitch voice sounds gloomy.

“What’s your relationship with Hyun-jae?”

“With Section Chief Lee?”

“Yeah. What’s going on between you two?”

“We are a superior and a subordinate.”

“Why were you together yesterday?”

Department Head Seo approached me, giving off a threatening aura. The high, strong nose looked like it could pierce me.

“Uh… Section Chief Lee said I didn’t need your approval for the explanation letter?”

Department Head Seo paused, a little speechless.

“Department Head Seo.”

“What.”

“Don’t do that at work…”

I crouch like a tortoise and walk past him. Department Head Seo walked away after letting out a sigh. Sickening. He gets jealous at everything. Don’t cheat on Section Chief Lee if he’s so precious.

I knock on the Director’s office door, but there’s no answer.

I just saw Department Head Seo come out, so someone must be in the office… I knock again a few times. Even though I have my ear to the door like an eavesdropper, it’s quiet. After some time had passed, I finally heard an answer.

“Come in.”

The wind blows in my face as soon as I open the door. My eyes are hurting. I get inside like an Antarctic base operator. I notice Director Lee hurryingly closing the window.

“Ah, I just had an argument with Department Head Seo…” 

“It’s very windy outside.”

“Oh, this place is on a high floor… Joo-hyuk-ssi is a Beta, right? Then it will be fine.”

Director Lee shuts and locks the window. The office has a very pleasant atmosphere. It’s also cold. I place the file on Director Lee’s table and rub my cold hands together.

“It’s an explanation letter.”

“Did you reflect?”

“Yes.”

“No matter how angry you are, you can’t hit your superior in the future.”

“I didn’t hit…”

Director Lee stares at me blankly.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Take a seat.”

I bring a chair and sit down neatly like a good subordinate.

“Come closer. Bring your head closer to me.”

I lean in closer like Director Lee asked. Director Lee smiled and straightened my bangs.

“It was messed up by the wind. Now, let’s talk about the explanation letter later.”

Director Lee clasps his hands and looks at me. His face lit up with a broad grin.

“I need to get the accommodation fee.”

“Oh, how much should I give you?”

Director Lee’s brow furrows.

“No…”

“Thank you so much yesterday. How much is the cost of accommodation…”

“Joo-hyuk-ssi, Kim Joo-hyuk, calm down. I’m not asking for money.”

Director Lee waved his hand. Then he pulls up a chair and sits down.

“I can’t even joke around in front of you. Do you remember what you told me yesterday? You were saying that you wanted to go to Hawaii in the car.”

“Oh… Yes.”

I did. A drunk me said that. I am suddenly thirsty. I loosen a little bit of my tie hidden under my collar.

“I can’t take you to Hawaii right now, but…”

I don’t even want it. I don’t want to go with my boss. I want to go when I don’t have a boss.

“I think I can buy Hawaiian food for you. Will you come with me?”

“You said it’s about the accommodation fee.”

“It counts as payment for accommodation, so let’s eat together.”

“Then I’ll buy it for you.”

“That’s all right. I’m asking you to go with me.”

Director Lee put his hand on mine.

“Give me a chance to score points.”

I push Director Lee’s hand away. Director Lee clenched his fists as if embarrassed.

“You don’t like it?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then, are you free this Saturday?”

Now my boss is asking me about weekends instead of weekdays. I’m a member of society.

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll take you home. Tell me your address.”

“No, I…”

Director Lee’s dimple caught my attention. I suddenly remembered seeing Director Lee’s naked body this morning. He was wearing black underwear. Modern furniture from interior magazines also came to mind. There’s a chance that Director Lee will come to my house. I didn’t want him to see my shabby outlet furniture. My moldings are also cherry-colored.

“I’ll go to Director Lee’s house.”

“All right, take my business card. Don’t forget to text your address.”

Director Lee stands up and opens the window again. His face is a little red.

“I think I’ll take you there often.”

***

“I guess you’ve lost your mind. Aren’t you eating lunch?”

Director Kang pulls my chair back. My body is pulled back as well.

“I have no appetite.”

“Eat something anyway. You’re the hero of leaving work on time.”

“Oh, please cut it out.”

“Let’s go to a good restaurant together. There was one broadcasted on television.”

“Then there must be a lot of people?”

“It was launched three months ago.”

“Then let’s go.”

When I stand up, Deputy Kang scolds me. He said I wasn’t going to eat. I’m now obigated to go because it’s a good restaurant. I don’t have to wait if the restaurant has been advertised for a while.

When I got down to the first floor, Department Head  Lim and Ha Won were waiting. Ha Won blushed when he looked at me. I wave my hand to greet them. However, Ha Won turns his head away. Deputy Kang jabs me in the ribs.

“What’s wrong with you two?”

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t Deputy Kim like Employee Ha?”

“Me?”

“Your face just melts away when you see Ha Won.”

“When did that ever happen?”

“Are you sure you don’t like him?”

“He reminds me of my younger sister.”

Deputy Kang dashes over to Employee Ha. He approaches him, pretends to be friendly, pats his shoulders, and says,

“Deputy Kim said Ha Won-ssi is cute like his younger sister.”

“Deputy Kang, please.”

The tips of Ha Won’s ears turn really red. Ha Won looked at me like I was being unfair.

“Deputy Kim’s younger sister?”

“Don’t worry about it. Deputy Kang is just joking.”

I tap Ha Won on the shoulder. Ha Won is sticking to me. Deputy Kang takes Department Head Lim to lead the way. Ha Won’s arm brushed against mine. It appeared to be purposefully done. Ha Won turns his gaze back to me while fiddling with his earlobe.

“I’m twenty-six, you know.”

Ha Won puffed out his cheeks. I then use my finger to poke his cheek. Ha Won opens his small lips in surprise. His face is so red.

“You’re still young.”

“Am not.”

Ha Won walks right past me.

Even though it has been three months since the broadcast, the restaurant we arrive at is still packed. There are a lot of office workers who can’t waste their lunch break.

“Shall we go somewhere else?”

Deputy Kang casts a glance at us. We immediately turn around after wandering around at the back of the line. Director Lim suggests that we go eat sundae soup. I strongly shake my head. This month’s quota for sundae soup had been filled by Director Lee.

We eventually make our way into a run-down restaurant. The owner, who was watching the drama, stares at us as we walk in. We take a seat feeling like uninvited guests. Like a ninja, the owner threw a plate of side dishes called fried fish cakes with bean jam.

Ha Won takes out some napkins and places spoons and chopsticks on the table. The remaining three of us make a fuss about pouring water. It’s a competitive world where you have to compete for everything.

No matter how complete it is, everything on the menu looks mediocre. They have everything, but none of it appeals to me. Everyone orders the bulgogi set meal except Department Head Lim, who orders soybean paste stew.

After we finished ordering, we all became quiet. I look at my phone for a moment in embarrassment. I raise my head and meet Ha Won’s eyes. Ha Won then averts his gaze from mine. Ha Won’s hair shimmers with the movement.

Department Head Lim speaks up first after the long silence.

“Oh, come to think of it, Ha Won-ssi, didn’t you say that you have a concern these days?”

Department Head Lim asks while eating fish cakes. Ha Won is taken aback and grabs a glass of water.

“Oh, that…”

“What’s this? What’s going on? Is it about love?”

Deputy Kang looks at me and smiles strangely. Deputy Kang’s cheekbones rise. I shake my head and then ask,

“What’s going on?”

“Today, I…”

Ha Won bites his lip.

“I don’t know if I can say this…”

Ha Won gives me a look. I set the chopsticks that are holding the fish cakes down. The owner comes up to us with a stainless steel tray. A heaping bowl of kimchi stew is placed in front of us.

“I think I have a stalker.”

“What?”

“Crazy!”

“We didn’t order this…”

The owner throws the bill at us and goes into the kitchen.

“What… Excuse me!”

Deputy Kang stands up haphazardly and turns to face the owner. However, there is no response.

Ha Won’s expression isn’t good. Ha Won’s pink nails scratch the cup. His eyes looking up at me shine like amber in the sunlight. A stalker.

“Have you ever reported it to the police?”

Ha Won nods his head.

“They said they won’t be able to catch them because they haven’t caused any direct damage. They think it’s an Alpha that’s looking for an Omega, so they told me to take care of my pheromones as well…”

“That is bullshit.”

Department Head Lim tosses his chopsticks to the table. One of the chopsticks lands on the ground. I hand him a new pair of chopsticks and ask,

“Department Head Lim, here. Then were they following you home?”

“I can say they followed me from the train station… Wearing a black hoodie and following after me on occasion. On the day I changed train stations, they stood in the park in front of my house…”

“Won’t you be followed again today? I think it’s better not to go home.”

Deputy Kang says. Department Head Lim took a bite of the kimchi stew.

“Department Head Lim, didn’t you order soybean paste stew?”

“Oh my, this is kimchi stew.”

Deputy Kang looks at me as he wraps his arms around Ha Won’s shoulders.

“Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk, I don’t think Ha Won can go home today.”

“I know. It’s so salty. Ha Won-ssi, don’t go home today. It’s too dangerous.”

The three people’s eyes focus on me. No way.

“Oh, don’t do this.”

Ha Won drinks water while looking at Department Head Lim and Deputy Kang in turn.

“Would it be difficult to ask your parents to come and pick you up?”

“They’re both busy, and I’m an adult…”

“This is why being an Omega is so difficult.”

Deputy Kang sighed. He stirs the kimchi stew as if dissatisfied and puts the spoon down.

“So, what are your plans for today?”

Ha Won picks up the spoon.

“Well… Whether you’re late for work or…”

Deputy Kang looked at me. Director Lim pressed his elbow into my side. Deputy Kang looked at me and tried to say something with his mouth.

“Take, him, with, you?”

“Take him with you.”

Department Head Lim says.

“Pufftt.”

Ha Won covered his mouth and coughed. Deputy Kang whispers something into Ha Won’s ear. I hear everything.

“Ha Won-ssi, didn’t you say that you were all caught up by Department Head Seo?”

Ha Won rushes to close Deputy Kang’s mouth. Deputy Kang giggles as he grabs Ha Won’s wrist. Ha Won’s cheeks are flushed.

I’m worried. He wants me to take Ha Won to my house? There’s nothing we can do about his situation, but I don’t want to do that. Ha Won and I have just met each other. And I didn’t go home yesterday, so I couldn’t clean it. Did I even do laundry?

But I’m also worried about sending Ha Won home like this. At least, I think I can be with him today. I can’t continue to help him in the future, but at least I can save him from the stalker today. Only today. It’s only today. It feels like I have a hangover.

“Ha Won-ssi, would you like to come to my house today?”

Deputy Kang smiles broadly at what I say.

“No. It’s alright.”

“Don’t refuse~ Deputy Kim is just looking after you. It will be good to have a drink together and get to know each other.”

“Yeah. It’s kind of dangerous to go home alone.”

Ha Won appears hesitant at first, then says,

“I think going to Deputy Kim’s house all of a sudden is a bit inconvenient. It’s really fine. But…”

Ha Won looks at me and says cautiously,

“If it’s okay with Deputy Kim, I think it would be good if you take me home.”

Deputy Kang blows a whistle. Behind Deputy Kang, the owner is walking with something else. It’s unusual to see something piled up like a mountain.

“Just sleep at my house. It is more difficult to go to Ha Won’s house and go back home if the direction is different.”

Ha Won looked like he wanted to say something more before nodding. Ha Won’s lips are pursed in a smile. It feels that I’ve just made a decision that I’ll come to regret later.

The owner then put a huge amount of bulgogi on our table. The table even shook slightly.