By Zephyria 
Buzz— Secretary Park put his hand in his pocket. He turned his body while looking at Han Seung-jae, who was sitting on the sofa flipping through a report, and the branch manager beside him, who was breaking into a cold sweat throughout the performance report.
Secretary Park stepped out of the Director’s Office with the phone to his ear. The employees in front of him stood up and asked if he needed anything. Secretary Park seemed to head toward them for a moment, but then abruptly turned away. He murmured to Butler Do over the phone.
“I’ll come down now.”
Secretary Park approached the elevator. The contact from Butler Do had been sudden. Furthermore, since he had come with Seo Yi-kyung, he judged it better for him to go down personally and check the situation rather than sending a staff member.
* * *
Butler Do lowered his phone and looked to the side. Seo Yi-kyung had his head turned, gazing up at the tall building.
“He said he is coming down.”
Seo Yi-kyung gave a barely perceptible nod. Silence filled the car. Because of it, Seo Yi-kyung could hear Secretary Park’s voice, which was full of doubt. Before long, Secretary Park, a familiar face, could be seen among the people coming and going outside the building.
Secretary Park, who had been receiving greetings from the employees, spotted the vehicle and approached quickly. Then, he paused and asked Butler Do, who had stepped out of the car.
“What happened to your face?”
Butler Do, who was greeting him, raised his hand to hide his cheek. However, it had already caught Secretary Park’s eye. Secretary Park stopped asking and opened the rear door. The gaze of the employees was congregating here. Thus, it was not a good place to carry on a long conversation.
Secretary Park turned his head and spoke to Seo Yi-kyung.
“Have you come to see Director Han? If so, please follow me.”
Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the sedan.
“It would be better for Butler Do to stay in the car.”
Secretary Park’s tone was short and concise, devoid of unnecessary words, much like the motion of assisting Seo Yi-kyung as he exited the car. Butler Do turned back and got into the car.
“His schedule will be finished soon.”
Secretary Park looked at his wristwatch to check the time. It was 5:10. The branch manager Director Han was currently meeting was the last appointment of the day. However, that was strictly limited to meeting people.
As he entered the building listening to Secretary Park’s words, Seo Yi-kyung felt as if he had finally snapped awake under the flood of people’s gazes.
‘Why on earth did I come here?’
An employee who spotted Secretary Park ran over and held the private elevator for them.
Secretary Park did not board first; he only entered once the slowly walking Seo Yi-kyung had gotten in. As the elevator doors closed, the eyes of the people were cut off all at once, but that only made Seo Yi-kyung’s mouth feel drier. Suddenly, his clothes reflected in the door caught his eye.
He had dressed in whatever he could grab while rushing to get ready for the hospital this morning. They weren’t cheap clothes, but compared to the professional suits of the people coming and going here, his casual attire made him feel self-conscious.
Secretary Park stepped out of the elevator and checked with the employees.
“Is the branch manager still inside?”
“Yes. He is still in conversation with Director Han.”
The moment the employee answering the question finished speaking, the door to the Director’s Office opened. The branch manager, with beads of cold sweat on his forehead, stepped out. Because of this, Seo Yi-kyung was startled and stepped back. This was because the branch manager had walked out of the door with such urgency, as if he were escaping.
“Please prepare some warm tea.”
After speaking to the employee, Secretary Park held the open door and stepped inside. Director Han rose from the sofa with a face full of displeasure. As he tried to head toward the desk, Secretary Park spoke to him.
“Director Han, there is someone waiting outside right now…”
He had only said that much when Han Seung-jae turned coldly and headed for the desk.
“I wasn’t told there was anyone else to meet today.”
Han Seung-jae looked at Secretary Park while leaning deep back into his chair. His discomfort was more than evident.
“And must I meet anyone just because they seek me out? Secretary Park, handle that much on your own.”
Secretary Park took a step forward to the desk and leaned his upper body. The door was still open. Seo Yi-kyung must be hearing all of Han Seung-jae’s sharp words.
“Seo Yi-kyung is currently standing at the door. So, please lower your voice a bit.”
Han Seung-jae turned his head as if he had heard those words a bit late. A low voice leaked from him as he looked at the slanted open door.
“Why are you only telling me now?”
Secretary Park straightened his upper body and turned around. Following Han Seung-jae’s gesture to bring Seo Yi-kyung inside, he approached the open door.
Secretary Park’s eyes were filled with inner worry. This was because, upon hearing Han Seung-jae’s scathing words, most people’s swelling expectations upon coming here would be crushed, the chair they hoped for help from would weaken, and eventually, unable to bear the pressure, they would leave without even being able to say what they wanted to say.
Moreover, the Seo Yi-kyung he saw earlier looked as if he were barely holding on, precarious, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Secretary Park grabbed the slightly open doorknob. The thought that Seo Yi-kyung might be gone once he opened this door came first. Because that was how the people Secretary Park had met so far had behaved.
As the door opened, disappointment appeared on Secretary Park’s face. As expected… However, the doorknob he held was pulled open further by a force from the other side. Seo Yi-kyung, who had been in front all along, raised his head. Contrary to his pale face, his pupils gazed straight at Secretary Park.
“May I go in now?”
Secretary Park looked at Seo Yi-kyung standing at the door and stepped aside. Seo Yi-kyung’s face was pale, but there was no great agitation in his expression. Despite having learned another side of Han Seung-jae at the door, he showed no sign of surprise. If anything, it was Secretary Park who was surprised.
“Yes, you may come in.”
Secretary Park struggled to hide his surprise and watched until an employee carrying a teacup entered behind Seo Yi-kyung.
“Thank you.”
As the employee set down the teacup, Seo Yi-kyung’s voice echoed calmly.
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at his own reflection in the teacup. Contrary to his outward appearance of trying to seem detached, his heart was pounding violently. His mind, which had been dizzy since Han Seung-jae’s voice sounded cold at the door, seemed to change to a state of monotonous calmness.
He had not forgotten what kind of person Han Seung-jae was. And he was not unaware of what choice the man might make.
“…”
Secretary Park shifted his gaze to Han Seung-jae seated at the desk. He slowly rose from his seat.
Secretary Park looked at his wristwatch. It was 5:25. He followed the departing employee out the door. Since Seo Yi-kyung had visited, it wasn’t a matter of business. Therefore, it wasn’t a place for him to be.
Click. As the door closed, Han Seung-jae nonchalantly sat on the sofa inside the silent Director’s Office. He turned his head and stared intently at Seo Yi-kyung. Long eyelashes fluttered, casting shadows beneath Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes.
“You don’t look well.”
He was usually on the pale side, but he was even more so today.
“You said you were going to the hospital today; did Butler Do get admitted?”
Those were the things Han Seung-jae thought of. Moreover, seeing as he had come all the way here without any contact, wasn’t that the only explanation?
“Did you catch some disease? Is that why you’re so shocked that you’ve come to find me?”
Otherwise, there was no reason for Seo Yi-kyung to come all this way. He was a person who painted in his painting studio even when he was sick. Since his range of activity was narrow, he would go to art supply stores or exhibitions, but he had never come to meet Han Seung-jae in his office until now.
Han Seung-jae pulled his back away from the sofa.
“Did you come because you need my consolation?”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head slowly. He looked at Han Seung-jae blankly and opened his lips.
“I didn’t come because of Butler Do’s situation.”
Han Seung-jae listened in silence. Perhaps he was just staring at Seo Yi-kyung’s face. Seo Yi-kyung added more words while maintaining eye contact.
“Next week, please make some time for me.”
Han Seung-jae’s schedule tended to be tight. It was common for him to leave early in the morning and return at dawn. He couldn’t be met without a prior appointment.
“Is there something that needs to wait until next week?”
Suddenly, Han Seung-jae pressed a button on the phone next to the sofa. Then the door opened and Secretary Park entered.
Seo Yi-kyung’s stiff shoulders flinched. Could it be that he already knew everything about why he had visited the hospital? Was he testing him?
Just then, Han Seung-jae’s low voice was heard.
“There’s no one else waiting for me outside now, right?”
Until a moment ago, he had a displeased face because someone not on the schedule had arrived, but in that short time, Han Seung-jae’s voice had softened considerably.
“That is correct.”
“Then, make a reservation for dinner.”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his stiff neck. Similarly, Han Seung-jae turned his head and spoke while looking into Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes.
“A hotel would be a good venue.”