PM Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“You like it that much?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Heeseong smiled, lips parting, and gave a polite bow in response to Daesik’s almost incredulous question.

Daesik let out a snorting laugh, but Heeseong didn’t mind. As long as he could eat a sandwich, that was all that mattered. Heeseong lived for food and died without it—this was enough for him.

Besides, even if the boss laughed at him, he didn’t mock or insult him to make him feel bad. The guys who’d forced him into absurd things and threatened him would throw insults with every breath, humiliating and ridiculing him as a matter of course.

They would hit him at the drop of a hat, starve him at the slightest excuse—it had been terrifying and exhausting. Compared to them, the boss’s laughter was practically angelic. There was nothing scary about him, so Heeseong thought, what more could I want?

Maybe the boss is a kind gangster, Heeseong thought absurdly. It didn’t make sense, but that’s how it looked to him.

Still smiling, Heeseong began tidying the desk in front of the counter where he was sitting. He’d meant to do it earlier but had dozed off and missed the chance. The desk was already fairly clean, just a bit untidy.

He scrubbed the surface with a tissue and then began neatly organizing the pens in the holder one by one. Then he opened a drawer, aligned the sticky notes in a row, and took a few out to keep on hand. His pale hands moved efficiently.

Daesik sat back in his seat, chuckling to himself, and watched Heeseong tidy up. It was fun to watch. The way he’d been nodding off earlier had been entertaining, and now this was too. It felt like watching a squirrel stash away acorns.

From what Daesik had seen so far, Heeseong seemed like the type to wake up even from a nap if food was involved. Even if he was sulky or down, mention food and he’d perk right up. He was simple to a fault.

If this was all an act, then he should be an actor immediately. But if it was unconscious—just the way he really was—then he was just a fish who liked to eat. If it was the latter, it was a completely unfamiliar approach, and Daesik couldn’t figure out what his angle was.

Guess I’ll have to coax it out of him. If I feed him well enough, it might not be that hard.

While lost in thought, Daesik’s gaze drifted to Heeseong’s hands. The way he carefully arranged things caught his eye. It was nothing much, but the way Heeseong busily moved about was oddly captivating.

Once he finished tidying, Heeseong looked over the memo he’d written earlier. Daesik’s eyes narrowed slightly, and then, with a teasing tone, he asked,

“Memorized it all?”

Heeseong, who had been looking rather pleased with his work like a well-fed squirrel, blinked in surprise.

“…Huh?”

“You have to memorize it to do the job.”

The unexpected comment made his big eyes waver. But Daesik didn’t stop there.

“Go memorize it. I’m going to quiz you.”

Heeseong’s face stiffened slightly at the sudden announcement of a test. Memorize it…? And to be told so out of the blue.

He muttered a small complaint but quickly accepted it. Thinking back, even at the kimchi factory, no one had told him to memorize things, but there were still fixed routines—like how to package the kimchi or how to spread the seasoning evenly.

“Okay…”

Heeseong nodded a little timidly. He had already memorized it, but he didn’t say so—he was nervous that Daesik might immediately test him.

So the workload just keeps growing. He still had to do the job those thugs forced on him, hadn’t even found the dominant alpha named Pyo Daesik yet, and now he had to take some unrelated test.

Still, it wasn’t something he could refuse. He decided he’d review the memo again before going to bed. The boss had already cut him slack and helped him multiple times, so the least he could do was be competent at the job. Even if he lacked awareness, Heeseong knew what mattered.

Not long after, there was a knock. Like a dog reacting to a soft sound, Heeseong’s head shot up.

The door opened, and through it wafted the savory, sweet, and slightly greasy smell of sandwiches. Heeseong’s face lit up instantly.

Daesik watched him with a raised corner of his mouth. How can he look that happy?

Kyunghoon paused as he stepped through the door. The atmosphere inside was just too strange for him to adjust to.

The guys from the guest room floors or the basement avoided coming to the counter or office—because they were scared of Daesik. But what was this mood? What on earth was going on in here?

Most of all, the sight of Daesik with a smile on his face was the biggest shock. Heeseong, sitting at the counter with a big grin, looked just as out of place. This wasn’t the atmosphere of the office he knew.

Kyunghoon bit down on his tongue, wondering if he was really dreaming.

It hurt like hell. As the sharp pain spread, he pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and gave Daesik a polite nod.

“I brought the sandwiches.”

It was hard to move his sore tongue, but he endured it.

“Good. Thanks for that.”

“Yes, enjoy.”

Kyunghoon quickly placed the sandwiches—and the drinks he’d shrewdly picked up—on the office desk, intending to leave right away. But just as he was turning with the sandwiches, Heeseong suddenly spoke to him.

“Uh… Aren’t we eating together?”

“…Huh?”

Kyunghoon opened his mouth in surprise. He didn’t quite process what he’d just heard, so his reaction was delayed. Daesik, sitting at the back, raised one eyebrow.

Even at their reactions, Heeseong simply blinked. Whatever knack he’d sometimes shown for picking up on things had vanished without a trace.

Since the boss had ordered three sandwiches, Heeseong had assumed one was for Kyunghoon too. He thought the kind boss would naturally make sure his subordinates were included. It was a completely misguided assumption—but one that made sense to Heeseong.

Kyunghoon immediately picked up on the fact that Daesik didn’t like the idea of eating together. That realization alone was enough to make him forget his throbbing tongue. All he could think about now was how to turn Heeseong down without upsetting Daesik.

“Ah, I already ate, so I’m fine.”

Kyunghoon declined politely and clearly. Heeseong nodded in understanding.

“Oh, I see.”

Thankfully, he seemed to take it well. If he’d pressed the issue, Kyunghoon wouldn’t have known what to do.

“Then I’ll be off.”

He bowed to Daesik and glanced at his expression.

“…Yeah.”

Even after Kyunghoon left, Daesik sat in silence, lost in thought with an unreadable look on his face.

Strangely, when Heeseong had invited Kyunghoon to eat together, Daesik’s mood had dipped a little. He wasn’t sure why. He was the one who had bought the food, and yet Heeseong had offered to share it with some random guy. It irked him a little, even though it had no reason to.

“This is for you, boss. Aren’t you eating?”

Heeseong, now seated at the table with the sandwiches, glanced over at Daesik. The way he suddenly paid attention to him was absurd, and yet… for some reason, Daesik’s bad mood lifted.

He found it all ridiculous. But at least Heeseong was consistent, which was oddly reassuring.

“I should eat.”

Getting up from his seat, Daesik sat down beside Heeseong. Honestly, he wasn’t even that hungry. He’d just impulsively ordered one for himself, thinking it’d be better to eat together. That, too, was odd—he hadn’t needed to.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it!”

Heeseong’s cheerful voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and Daesik turned his gaze to him.

Heeseong looked like a squirrel that had just found a giant acorn. He wiped his hands with a wet wipe—who knows where he’d found it—and carefully unwrapped the sandwich. The seriousness of his expression nearly made Daesik laugh.

Once the sandwich was unwrapped, Heeseong took a big bite. At least, he thought it was big. But he’d only managed a nibble on the edge. His mouth was small, so even a full bite barely made a dent. Still, he chewed eagerly, lips working with delight.

At the same time, his eyes grew wide as saucers and his face lit up. His gaze sparkled as he looked at the sandwich.

It was unbelievably delicious. Without a doubt, the best sandwich he’d ever had.

Daesik tilted his head.

“Is it good?”

“Yes, it’s really good!”