TSG 23

Until now, Se-hyun thought that there was no better boss than Shin Tae-oh.

Firstly, the most important thing is money. The salary was higher than elsewhere, and there were bonuses for good performance. Not to mention the additional work allowances outside of regular working hours. The salary was so good that Se-hyun couldn’t help but smile even if he had to spend 24 hours by Shin Tae-oh’s side.

Next, it was good because the boss was not a strange person. The person himself was fine.

And because Shin Tae-oh was a sub-character, the benefits were considerable. Among the items bought as gifts for Jin-ha, some ended up in Se-hyun’s possession. Also, he had the privilege of viewing the original work from the front row, so his job satisfaction was exceptionally high.

Until five minutes ago, it was like that. It was so good that Se-hyun wanted to consider it a lifelong job…

‘I want to run away.’

The desire to quit became intense.

Se-hyun couldn’t hide his flushed face and wondered how to respond to what he had said.

“Se-hyun’s heart skipped a beat because of me.”

Should he say that it was normal for a human heart to beat?

“If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.”

Se-hyun bit his lip tightly. It seemed he didn’t think about how awkward it would be for Se-hyun to hear it. Seeing him laugh happily made Se-hyun extremely irritated.

“Well, each person has different points of excitement.”

“Where on earth… did you learn such words?”

Se-hyun wondered where Shin Tae-oh learned those cringe-worthy words

“Over there.”

When Shin Tae-oh pointed somewhere, Se-hyun quickly turned his head. And as soon as he saw it, he knew.

‘Advertisement.’

This was the company’s promotional phrase that was carefully chosen to imprint the brand of the apartment

―The place where everything becomes exciting is your home.―

“Sir.”

Now that he had seen what happened, it was Se-hyun’s turn.

“Let me explain exactly what I felt.”

“Do you know your own heart well?”

“I know it well because it’s mine.”

“Really? I don’t know…”

The reason he thought Shin Tae-oh’s muttering was heavy was probably because of his sunken eyes. Thinking it was a continuation of what he had been saying, Se-hyun pretended not to hear for a moment. Se-hyun wanted to convince him of what happened earlier with his story first, and then… hear about Shin Tae-oh’s situation.

“I have three desires.”

“Desires?”

Suddenly, one of Shin Tae-oh’s eyes squinted, as if Se-hyun was saying something like nonsense. Se-hyun forced down the thought that it was oddly more sensual to close one eye than both.

“Appetite, sleep, and…”

Another desire that Shin Tae-oh expected was ruled out.

“A desire for recognition.”

“A desire for recognition…”

“That’s right. I think the desire for recognition kicked in because I received praise from my boss. That’s why my heart skipped a beat.”

Se-hyun did not avoid Shin Taeoh’s eyes to emphasize that there was absolutely no other meaning. Believe me. If Shin Taeoh didn’t believe this, Se-hyun might have to go home and write a resignation letter.

Actually, the desire for recognition was smaller than the desire for material things, but Se-hyun kept that secret with a clear conscience.

“I certainly understand the appetite.”

Shin Tae-oh muttered as he looked at the rice that had already soaked up the ramyun soup. Only then did Se-hyun realize that he was eating in the middle of his explanation. He picked up his spoon.

“My explanation is over.”

“Okay, let’s eat.”

Shin Tae-oh crossed his arms and pointed to the ramyun; Se-hyun glanced at him just before filling his bowl.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“…I have to eat.”

Seeing him uncross his arms, Se-hyun also poured some into his bowl. Two ramyun were indeed not enough from the beginning.

Se-hyun, who was about to take a bite after putting some in his bowl, raised his head when he felt eyes on him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you help me choose just one?”

“Please tell me.”

“Firm cat, Blushing cat, Ear cat, Blushing-ear cat.”

Se-hyun was drawn to the often used word ‘cat’. Had he ever revealed his true feelings?

“Which is better?”

“What is that?”

“I want to give a nickname to a cat.”

A cat, huh.

Se-hyun nodded. The name he gave to Shin Tae-oh was ‘Shin Tae-oh + Seungnyang’, so they were different.

“Then I’ll take the blushing cat.”

Somehow, the rough pronunciation attracted him.

“Secretary Ahn likes that.”

Seeing Shin Tae-oh nodding his head as if he understood, Se-hyun turned around. He quickly brushed off the things that didn’t need to be discussed.

⍣⍣⍣

Se-hyun could just go home now that all of his schedules had been completed, but something unexpected happened.

“Why on earth are you taking me here?”

“Because Secretary Ahn took me here every time.”

Shin Tae-oh said he would take him home. Despite Se-hyun’s repeated attempts to decline, he couldn’t break Shin Tae-oh’s stubbornness.

Se-hyun sat in the passenger seat as usual, but the driver was his superior rather than the chauffeur. Due to the discomfort caused by this, Se-hyun couldn’t just turn his head in that direction.

“Did I really like Jin-ha?”

This was what Shin Tae-oh said. When Se-hyun heard those words, he felt a great weight hanging in his heart.

Until now, he had enjoyed watching Shin Tae-oh since he knew he liked Yoo Jin-ha.

Although Se-hyun felt sad for Shin Tae-oh, who was constantly rejected by Yoo Jin-ha, he faithfully did errands for him.

‘Please order a cake and send it to Jin-ha.’

‘Alright.’

As expected, Yoo Jin-ha declined, and Se-hyun informed Shin Tae Oh.

‘What should I do with it?’

‘Can the cake be refunded? Secretary Ahn can just eat it.’

‘Alright.’

The bean paste dripping in the middle was also very sweet and delicious.

‘Why are you looking at that watch? Is it pretty?’

Se-hyun just looked at it.

‘Send that to Jin-ha too.’

Sehyun knew Yoo Jin-ha would refuse again, but he didn’t stop him. He had no intention of touching the original work and believed that Shin Tae-oh faithfully expressed his sincerity through serving.

‘Tell him to look at the wristwatch, because he’s probably so busy working that he doesn’t have time to check the clock these days.’

Se-hyun didn’t even say that he thought it would be cooler to just give it to him without saying anything. And then he said.

‘If he refuses to accept it… Then, I think Secretary Ahn can take it.’

At that time, Se-hyun liked it and thought it was a huge advantage.

Se-hyun had no doubt that if he just adjusted Shin Tae-oh’s rhythm appropriately, the original work would be over and he did not doubt that he was completely immersed in the world.

However…

‘Did I do something wrong to Shin Tae-oh?’

Se-hyun didn’t intervene because he knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t work for long with a secretary who didn’t agree with him. Se-hyun watched and enjoyed it even though he knew that Shin Tae-oh’s heart would be broken.

Shin Tae-oh is a sub-gong, thus there was nothing to be done about it. That’s why he turned away from him like that…

‘I regret it.’

Even if Se-hyun hadn’t asked him outright, he should have looked into Shin Tae-oh’s feelings; now that it had been three years, Se-hyun regretted it.

‘Let’s be nice from now on.’

Se-hyun, who thought that was a way to apologize to Shin Tae-oh at least a little, turned his head. Shin Tae-oh must have sensed Se-hyun looking at him, and while the car was stopped for a moment, Shin Tae-oh turned his head.

“Do you happen to have something you like?”

“Something I like?”

Shin Tae-oh just stared at Se-hyun and did not respond. Although Se-hyun did not expect him to say it willingly, he was still staring at him so intensely that Se-hyun was the first to avert his gaze.

“I want to repay you for giving me a ride.”

This seemed like a decent excuse. Honestly, it was not common for a boss to give a ride to a secretary.

“Then…”

Se-hyun exhaled quietly as Shin Tae-oh put on the accelerator and gazed forward. He almost withdrew his decision to be nice in just five minutes.

Was his question difficult?

Shin Tae-oh didn’t answer as if he was lost in thought, and Se-hyun was unable to bring up any other issues until they reached the front of his house.

When the car stopped, Se-hyun unbuckled his seatbelt and wondered what to say. It was difficult to initiate a conversation because of his previous words that made Shin Tae-oh lost in thought. Looking around outside and observing passersby, Se-hyun, who couldn’t wait any longer, had no choice but to speak.

“Thank you for giving me a ride.”

If there was still no response after saying this, he thought the only answer was to get out of the car. Fortunately, Shin Tae-oh spoke forward without further hesitation.

“I remembered something I like.”

“Oh! Please tell me.”

Fortunately, he was able to get the answer without having to wait longer. As much as he had waited, Se-hyun found himself looking at Shin Tae-oh with an unexpectedly welcoming feeling.

“I like ramyun.”

“Ram…yun?”

Was the ramyun they had earlier delicious?

“Alright.”

He answered for now and got out of the car. He thought that he could cook ramyun for him again the next time they had the opportunity.
However, upon hearing the sound of the car door opening, Se-hyun realized that Shin Tae-oh had gotten out and was looking at him. When they met eyes again across the car, Se-hyun bowed his head to bid him farewell. Shin Tae-oh spoke just as he thought they were about to part ways.

“You’re not just sending me off, are you?”

“What else is there to do?”

“I said I like ramyun… ”

Se-hyun gazed at him with a questioning expression.

“You mean you want to eat ramen at my house…”

“Great.”

No, I was just trying to ask.

“You ate it earlier, can you eat it again?”

“You just made two, if someone hears it, they’ll think you gave me a lot.”

They even ate it with rice.

“I thought really hard when you asked me what I liked.”

“… Come on in.”

It wasn’t like he said ‘I want to come in for ramen,’ but ‘I want to eat ramen’.