DFLT 8

Team Leader Park mouthed ‘sorry’ to him, delivering a silent apology, and then left the office as if fleeing. It was so unfair he could go mad. To think he would run away by himself to save his own skin in this situation. On top of that, things like meeting minutes were saved on the company cloud, so anyone in the secretarial office could open them. Even without him, someone else could have easily covered for it.

But what else could a mere salaried employee like Ji Yeonoh do?

“What could possibly be so urgent during paid working hours that you would leave your seat less than 10 minutes after sitting down.”

To be honest, it was a little strange. The Heonyoung that Yeonoh had known until now was far from what one would call a ‘boomer boss’. He did not monitor every single employee to see if they left their seats during work hours, nor was he curious about it. It was because of that rational side that TG’s elites hoped to work with Heonyoung. Though the truth was that Seo Heonyoung, with his extreme individualistic tendencies, did not pay an ounce of attention to others.

“…I am sorry, Executive Director.”

“Aren’t you tired of saying you are sorry by now.”

Seo Heonyoung remarked as he nonchalantly opened a file. Even for a Ji Yeonoh whose greatest goal in life was to live tomorrow just like today, apologizing obediently for something he did not even do was enough to do once, was it not? So, he kept his mouth shut and lowered his gaze.

“……”

When silence followed instead of his usual reply that he would correct his behavior, Heonyoung, who had been reading the text without a word, turned his eyes to Yeonoh. Seeing him trying so hard to keep his mouth shut, it was clear he had a lot he wanted to say.

“Go on, say it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said if you have something to say, say it. Do not curse me out in your head.”

How did he know? Was he now a mind reader on top of everything else? Thinking there was truly nowhere to run, he let out a deep sigh internally.

“Not at all. I have never done such a thing.”

Heonyoung propped his chin on his hand, looking up at Yeonoh with a smile that was hard to read. His expression was peculiar, as if he did not believe Yeonoh’s words at all.

“I guess Ji Yeonoh is more of a saint than I thought. Seeing as you have never even cursed out a boss who called you in for work on the weekend and then stood you up.”

Did those words mean he felt a little guilty too? He tilted his head, but immediately dismissed the thought. Seo Heonyoung, a man of whom he doubted blood would even come out if pricked with a needle, was he the type to do that? It was an excessive leap in logic.

“…You gave me a lot for overtime pay.”

“You were the one whining. 300 won at a convenience store? I even got a call from the credit card company. Asking if they should report it as stolen.”

How much would he scoff if he knew that 300-won candy was an indulgence resulting from a desire for compensation? In truth, what was more sorrowful than the fact that Seo Heonyoung had stood him up or disappeared somewhere with Do Sehyeon was the 2 million won he had generously paid for overtime. It was no different from buying Ji Yeonoh’s weekend for 2 million won. There could not be a clearer line between public and private matters than this.

“Do not leave your seat without permission.”

“…Yes.”

“You keep the card.”

“Pardon?”

What was this now? Was he supposed to boil a soup with this card or something?

“If you eat 300-won things from the convenience store and collapse while working, would not rumors spread that Seo Heonyoung works people to the bone?”

Um, is that not the truth? It seems he is also a bit lacking in self-reflection.

“So stick-thin. People will think you stole and wore your father’s suit.”

Was he seeing him as a doormat just because he was standing there quietly? Being pushed and shoved among alphas with good physiques, his own unusually small frame had become a complex. Feeling as if that complex had been exposed, Yeonoh, his mood souring, opened his mouth.

“I do not have a father.”

“…Ha.”

As if finding the reply, drenched in prickliness, absurd, Seo Heonyoung looked at Yeonoh for a moment and let out a dry laugh.

“Use that to pay for at least one meal a day, not going below 20,000 won.”

“You do not have to look out for me separately, I will take care of it with my own money. I will gratefully accept the thought only.”

“Ji Yeonoh, I never gave you my thoughts to begin with. Take the money. It is the simplest method.”

He had overstepped his bounds again. With what confidence did he say he would accept the thought? In the first place, Seo Heonyoung’s goal was not to make sure he ate his meals, but was likely a preventative measure in case he hindered work or tarnished his reputation.

“…Yes, thank you.”

He just sighed internally and answered. Of course, he had no intention of using the card. Perhaps satisfied with his finally obedient response, Seo Heonyoung did not press him further and continued with his work.

“You may leave.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Yeonoh trudged out of the office, Team Leader Park Gyeonghwan ran over like an arrow.

“Yeonoh!”

“…Yes?”

Seeing that shameless face, Yeonoh, who suppressed his once again boiling insides, put on his capitalism face.

“I am sorry about that. Who would have known he would suddenly look for you in that spot? He asked with a murderous face why Mr. Yeonoh was away from his desk during work hours, how could I say I had sent you on a personal errand?”

I knew it. That slippery eel of a man. He was indignant on the inside, but what could he do?

“It is alright. It went over smoothly.”

“Right? You see, the Executive Director does have a bit of a soft side in front of you, Yeonoh. Maybe because you are the youngest.”

That was him being soft? If he were soft twice, the whole world would freeze over. It was when Yeonoh was scoffing inwardly. Team Leader Park leaned in close as if to say something important and whispered.

“It really seems like the Executive Director is going to marry Mr. Do Sehyeon from JM. Let’s just bear with it a little longer. Don’t you think he will change a bit after he gets married?”

As expected, Heonyoung was really going to marry Sehyeon. And to a person like that, he had said he would accept the thought only. How ridiculous must I have looked?

“…Ye-es.”

If he did not want to make a drunken scene chugging soju from the bottle the night before the wedding, he would have to sort out these damned feelings before then. His mind filled with worries. In the midst of it all, he kept imagining how splendid Seo Heonyoung would look in a tuxedo. He sat at his desk and tried to finish writing the email he had started, but not a single letter would enter his eyes.

Was this how the captain of a ship that has lost its way in the vast ocean feels? Nothing was clear. Except for the fact that he had to put an end to this one-sided love that would only bring him pain.

After about a week, news of Heonyoung’s marriage began to be heard in earnest from here and there. He closed his ears to avoid hearing all the gossip and information, like how it was the wedding of the century. Since he had decided to sort out his feelings, he had to intentionally block it out to not be swayed. During mealtimes, he would chew his food twenty times over to let the conversations about Heonyoung flowing between the employees go in one ear and out the other. Thanks to that, his previously bloated stomach felt better. Could this also be considered an advantage?

No, he could say with certainty that there was no such thing as a positive function of a one-sided love. On the contrary, the side effects of giving half of his heart to someone who did not even want it were enormous. An uncontrollable graph of emotions, a head and heart that were out of sync, and incessant self-pity.

On the commute to and from work, driving Heonyoung, the mere fact of being in the same space was suffocating. They say out of sight, out of mind, but since it was realistically impossible for their bodies to be apart, he had to use all his strength to stop his nerves from naturally leaning toward Heonyoung.

Today, as always, Yeonoh, who came to work with Heonyoung, picked up his tumbler and headed to the break room. After filling the stainless steel cup to the brim with ice, he pulled two shots of espresso. He had to keep his head on straight if he did not want to make a mistake. He pressed the button, and the sound of the beans grinding was the only noise.

“Ji Yeonoh.”

A familiar, low-pitched voice came from behind him. As Yeonoh instinctively turned his body, Heonyoung was in front of him.

“Ah, Executive Director.”

Yeonoh offered a formal greeting, and he opened the cooler next to him and picked up a bottle of water. Just as he thought he was leaving, he unexpectedly struck up a conversation.

“The company coffee tastes like garbage.”

Yeonoh, who had been staring blankly at the surface of the ice, which was slowly being chipped away each time the hot espresso shot poured over it, trying his best not to be conscious of Heonyoung, naturally turned his head. Since when was Seo Heonyoung interested in things like small talk?

“Pardon?”

“I gave you the card. Buy coffee at a cafe and drink it or something.”

“For waking up, company coffee is the most effective. I’ll just─.”

He reflexively started to add that he would just accept the thought, but then clamped his mouth shut. He had to remember. Seo Heonyoung had never given him his thoughts. Yeonoh, who wrapped up the conversation with a short thank you, turned his head and picked up the cup now filled with coffee.

“I will be on my way first.”

As he tried to pass in front of Seo Heonyoung, he suddenly blocked Yeonoh’s path. Because of Seo Heonyoung’s broad chest obscuring his view, he felt the illusion that a high wall had been erected.

“I apologize about the father comment.”

What was this about? Yeonoh, who was searching his memory, finally recalled his conversation with Seo Heonyoung from last week. He had joked that I looked like I had stolen and worn my father’s suit because of how loose it was on my frame. Out of childish defiance, he had retorted that he did not have a father. Could it be that he thought he was acting distant for that reason? If so, he had missed the mark by a long shot.

“It is not something you need to apologize for.”

“Then tell me why you are making that face like death warmed over.”

Like death warmed over, he said. Seo Heonyoung had an amazing choice of words.