NFS 3.11

Don’t they usually confirm with the company name? Though “pet food company” wasn’t wrong, it somehow sounded rather dismissive. That person was definitely in the power position here, Joo Seung-ha thought as Team Leader Kim stepped forward and bowed his head.

“Hello. I’m Team Leader Kim Hyungju, whom you spoke with on the phone.”

When Kim Hyungju offered his business card, the short MD shook his head and pointed upward.

“Our assistant manager is waiting in the company cafeteria. Give it there. By the way, we have an urgent meeting this afternoon, so we can’t spare much time. Please try to wrap it up quickly.”

Though firm with family but soft with strangers, Kim Hyungju quickly replied, “Yes, we’ll do that.”

What do you mean ‘We’ll do that’? Joo Seung-ha glanced over at Kim, but since this was officially Kim Hyungju’s meeting to lead, he couldn’t step in. It wasn’t common for a business partner to arbitrarily cut down pre-arranged meeting times like this, and this sort of thing didn’t sit well with him.

“Ah, but…”

The short MD glanced at Joo Seung-ha standing beside Kim Hyungju without even thanking them for understanding. When Joo Seung-ha just nodded his head slightly without introducing himself, the short MD reflexively bowed. Then he asked Kim Hyungju, who seemed easier to deal with.

“Is this your colleague?”

“Yes. He’s our company’s sales team manager.”

Ah, sales. As if understanding something, the short MD muttered and looked Joo Seung-ha over again. He sometimes got looks like that. The kind that assumed he was in sales because of his looks. Of course, being presentable helped with first impressions when meeting people. But ultimately, to sell well, building trust was important.

For Joo Seung-ha, his striking appearance could actually be a hindrance, potentially overshadowing his trustworthiness. Those who hadn’t done sales work might not understand and could misinterpret, and it wasn’t too pleasant. Of course, hiding such feelings was also basic for a salesperson, so when their eyes met, Joo Seung-ha smiled and said, “Shall we go? The assistant manager is waiting for us.”

Finally, following the short MD who led the way, Joo Seung-ha had half given up on today’s meeting. With things already like this, there was no way they’d agree to a contract. Unless the assistant manager waiting in the cafeteria happened to be someone he knew and things suddenly opened up through connections.

“Oh? Joo…Joo Seung-ha.”

The assistant manager, after receiving Joo Seung-ha’s business card, stared at the name for a while with somewhat stiff eyes before speaking it aloud. Joo Seung-ha had noticed her eyes widening in surprise from the moment they met and was wondering about it. Does she know me? But he couldn’t seem to place her face anywhere in his memory

“Do you know me?”

When Joo Seung-ha asked directly, the assistant manager quickly shook her head. But even that movement seemed to be awkward. Then she suddenly stood up and asked,

“We have coffee, green tea, and juice—what would you like?”

“I’ll pay.”

“No!”

She waved both hands frantically while showing her employee ID.

“This is the only way to pay. The company’s treating, so please don’t feel burdened and have something.”

“Assistant Manager, I can go get it…”

“No, I’ll, I’ll go.”

She stopped the short MD and disappeared with quick steps. Why does she seem flustered? As Joo Seung-ha wondered, he heard the short MD mutter, “Did she have a fight with her boyfriend?”

When Joo Seung-ha and Kim looked at him, he merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Assistant Manager Shim is part of an office couple. She studied abroad and met him there. And now they even work at the same company. Fate is fate, I guess. To keep being connected with someone so accomplished.”

Should you really talk about other people’s private lives like that? Joo Seung-ha pretended not to hear and looked away, but Kim Hyungju  showed interest and asked, “Is her boyfriend impressive?”

“Ah, we had huge success with our shopping broadcast this year, and he’s the one who planned it.”

Kim Hyungju ‘s eyes flickered at the mention of shopping broadcasts. Worried he might bring up that topic rashly, Joo Seung-ha was the first to say something.

“Doesn’t the premium sales section have good sales too?”

When Joo Seung-ha asked about his area of responsibility, the MD finally turned to business matters. Somehow, the subsequent meeting evolved into Joo Seung-ha, who was familiar with product explanations, taking the lead while the other three just listened. Kim Hyungju was too nervous to join in, and the short MD seemed hesitant to speak up when his superior was just silently listening.

The problem was Assistant Manager Shim. Throughout the meeting, she stared at Joo Seung-ha with tense eyes. So Joo Seung-ha slightly misunderstood the attention she was giving him. Could she be interested in me? But wait, didn’t they say she was part of an office couple? Still uncomfortable, he quickly finished his explanation and stood up to leave, but she stopped him.

“Oh? Are you leaving already?”

“Didn’t he say you had another meeting and wanted to finish quickly?”

Joo Seung-ha gestured with his eyes toward the short MD. Assistant Manager Shim turned sharply to look at him.

“It’s not even a confirmed meeting yet. And when we’ve set a specific time to meet with a business partner, you shouldn’t speak that way.”

The short MD flinched and mumbled an excuse.

“No, the department head clearly said there’s a meeting this afternoon…”

“Only team leaders need to attend the department head’s meeting, so what’s the issue? Did you get promoted to team leader without my knowledge?”

The short MD’s expression stiffened as he looked away. The assistant manager turned to Joo Seung-ha and apologized politely.

“I’m sorry. Our employee only joined a few months ago. Let’s continue our discussion.”

Sitting down, Joo Seung-ha couldn’t help but wonder again. Did she break up with her boyfriend? Is she interested in me? His doubts were cleared when the meeting ended and they were saying goodbye. She made an excuse to follow him to the parking lot, and when Joo Seung-ha was alone, she hesitantly spoke up.

“Did you attend XX High School?”

“Yes, I did.”

Ah, so she does know me. Thank goodness it wasn’t love at first sight, he thought, feeling himself relaxing after stressing about this matter. However, her next question didn’t allow for much relief.

“Someone I knew, ah, we weren’t close. I j-just knew their face and went to that school. But I often saw them walking together with you. So I wondered if you might know…”

“Who is it?”

Together. Often. These words increased his unease. Not seeing Joo Seung-ha’s expression, she spoke shyly.

“Her name has one character. Lee Seon.”

“…”

“Is she doing well?”

***

“What’s wrong with you?”

Park Hyo-joon asked casually as he sat opposite Seo Ahn-jae who had visited the club after a long time. Though the injuries from Seo Ahn-jae’s beating had subsided, he was still getting dental treatment, and seeing his face made anger surge through him again. Still, since he needed him for work, he forcibly suppressed it, deciding to let it go just this once. He was both proud and amazed at himself for this. Besides, since Seo Ahn-jae was carrying on as usual with contact and work as if nothing had happened, getting worked up alone seemed ridiculous.

“Why?”

“Why? Your expression looks terrible again. Haven’t I always told you? Your job here is to reassure investors with that handsome face of yours and a bright smile.”

“I’ve always said my face is handsome enough without smiling.”

Seo Ahn-jae replied half-heartedly while still looking down at his smartphone. The strange thing was that the smartphone screen was off. Park Hyo-joon furrowed his brow. What’s with him? It’s not like he’s performing a ritual with his smartphone. It’s like he’s waiting for someone to contact him…Wait a minute?

“Are you waiting for a message from your princess?”

Seo Ahn-jae finally glanced up.

“Yes.”

Though this answer was also half-hearted, it hit Park Hyo-joon like a 160 km fastball. It felt like his face, which Seo Ahn-jae had hit, was struck again. He shook his head and repeated the same question.

“What? You’re really waiting for a message?”

“Yes.”

Seo Ahn-jae answered half-heartedly again while looking down at his turned-off smartphone. 

Then he asked casually.

“I heard you ended up paying Chairman Lee?”

“Hey, like you said, I got information in exchange.”

At Seo Ahn-jae’s change of topic, Park Hyo-joon immediately forgot about the princess and leaned forward. He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

“It’s incredible information. Remember? When you first came to me about the biotech company’s bad news and how it would crash? As soon as I heard this, it clicked. It’s exactly the same as back then.”

The excitement running through Park Hyo-joon’s veins now was similar to what he felt when he hit it jackpot with put options back then. His beast’s heart was telling him: This time too would be a jackpot like before.

“According to the information, there’s no time. The expiration date is soon, it’ll definitely break before then. So we need to act fast. I’m going all in. You want to join?”

“No.”

Seo Ahn-jae blurted out as if feeling bored while waiting for his princess to reply. Park Hyo-joon frowned and explained the information he had in detail. Then tried to persuade him again.

“This is certain. Chairman Lee seems to be gathering his own funds to push in that direction too.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Really!”

“Then I definitely don’t want to get involved.”

Seo Ahn-jae spoke as if annoyed and leaned back on the sofa. Then he looked at Park Hyo-joon and added firmly.

“Don’t even think about secretly diverting any company investment funds either.”

Since he had already been thinking about diverting company funds, Park Hyo-joon unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

“Hey, is it your money?”

“It’s not your money either, hyung.”

“But…”

“I’m warning you. If you want to go bankrupt, do it alone. Don’t drag the company into it.”

Park Hyo-joon flared up at Seo Ahn-jae’s words. This bastard.

“Who says anything about going bankrupt?”

But he hesitated and carefully observed Seo Ahn-jae.

“Do you…have some information?”

“No. It’s just a matter of following my instincts.”

Park Hyo-joon let out an incredulous laugh and sank into the sofa.

“Fine, let’s bet whose instinct is right. Shit, if I win, you have to get on your hands and knees and bark like a dog in front of me. Will you do it?”

“I will. But if I win.”

Seo Ahn-jae stopped speaking and looked down at his now-lit smartphone. One of his eyebrows raised as he read what seemed to be unwelcome news. Unable to wait, Park Hyo-joon pressed him.

“If you win, what?”

“Wait.”

Seo Ahn-jae cut him off and moved his fingers over the smartphone. Though the content wasn’t visible, his disapproving expression was clearly evident.

“What? Is your princess secretly meeting someone else?”

“Yes, around here.”

Seo Ahn-jae muttered before giving instructions to his contact on the smartphone.

“Keep tracking who they’re meeting with and report back.”

The person assigned to follow Joo Seung-ha sent back a confirmation. As soon as Seo Ahn-jae confirmed it, he got up to his feet.

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going to follow…”

“If I win, you’ll kneel in front of me too..”

Seo Ahn-jae added the condition before leaving.

***

They say love and coughing can’t be hidden. After parting with Assistant Manager Shim, thoughts of her wouldn’t leave Joo Seung-ha’s mind. Somehow, everything about her—her eyes, awkward smile, and hands tightly clenched but trembling slightly from tension—seemed like signs of love. Yet she hadn’t said anything of the sort. Their conversation in the parking lot had been brief.

“Her name has one character. Lee Seon.”

“…”

“How is she doing?”

“…Probably fine.”

“Ah, you don’t keep in touch now?”

Disappointment flickered in Assistant Manager Shim’s eyes. Joo Seung-ha watched those eyes quietly and shook his head.

“I have no way to contact her.”

“Why, why? Did she go far away?”

“She passed away.”

Shock and horror slowly filled her eyes, which had been wavering with disappointment and confusion. In that moment, her emotions seemed to overflow into him. Though emotions didn’t have taste, it felt like salty seawater. That silent wave of feelings crashed over Joo Seung-ha, rising instantly to above his head. It was suffocating.

Though Assistant Manager Shim hastily said goodbye and turned away immediately, Joo Seung-ha watched her retreating figure until it disappeared. So when her phone number suddenly appeared on his smartphone that night, he wasn’t surprised.

He’d somehow expected her to contact him. Though he hadn’t anticipated that her voice would be drunk. But now, sitting across from her already intoxicated at the bar he’d arrived at after receiving her call, Joo Seung-ha found the answer to the doubts that had plagued him all afternoon.

“She was my first love.”