TLT 42

“What is it?”

Ian smiled brightly at me. No matter how I looked at him, he was the epitome of a sly fox. He knew exactly what I was talking about.

If he hadn’t said it intentionally, he was an even more dangerous person. Someone I should never associate with.

I chose silence instead of answering Ian’s question. If he was going to pretend he didn’t know anyway, there was no reason for me to stir up trouble.

I walked quickly toward the parking lot. I hadn’t parked for long, so the parking fee wouldn’t be too high.

“This is the car. Would you mind if I borrowed the luggage for a moment? I’d like to put it in the trunk for you.”

“If I say no, Gyeoul will be in trouble again, right? Here you go.”

“Ah, yes.”

I quickly took the luggage from Ian before he could change his mind. I didn’t find this feeling of being swayed by him very pleasant. If his face wasn’t so handsome, I probably wouldn’t be so easily led around.

“Can I open the passenger seat myself?”

“No. Just stand there.”

“Okay. I will.”

Ian’s voice was full of playfulness. Ignoring him, I loaded the surprisingly heavy luggage into the trunk and quickly opened the passenger door. I was glad I was somewhat immune to handsome faces.

Otherwise, I would have given him everything I had.

“Get in, Team leader.”

“Yes.”

He answered obediently and slid into the car. I watched him fasten his seatbelt before closing the door. I thought I heard a chuckle. The door was closed, so even if he was laughing, it wouldn’t have been audible.

I was bewitched.

I sighed deeply and got into the driver’s seat. I handed Ian the slightly cooled coffee I had prepared in advance. Ian’s eyes widened, and he took it silently, smiling brightly again. He was so expressive.

It was subtly entertaining to watch. Well, his face alone was enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

“It’s a little cooler than expected because it was delayed, but I thought you liked this coffee.”

“I really like this side of Gyeoul.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“It’s difficult when you flirt like that.”

You’re the one flirting.

I replied without any soul and decided not to answer his nonsense. I figured I could just accept that Ian was someone who flirted as a matter of course.

I took out the materials I had prepared in advance from the storage compartment and handed them to Ian. It would take about an hour to get to the hotel I had booked near the airport, and I thought he might be bored if he had slept enough on the plane.

“I prepared this in case you wanted to look at it in advance.”

“You want me to start working before I even get to the office?”

“……Pardon?”

“Just kidding. I’ll take a look at it later. I’m enjoying talking to Gyeoul more right now.”

Ian closed the file without even opening it. My carefully planned move was rendered useless and gently placed on Ian’s lap.

“I heard you don’t joke around much, Team leader.”

“I didn’t know, but I guess I’m good at it. Anyway……”

“…….”

“How about Ian instead of Team leader? We agreed to call me Ian, didn’t we?”

“I think it was Ian-ssi.”

“You remember. Then call me that.”

The car sped along the highway, blurring the scenery. I was taken aback because he was the first person to be so obsessed with honorifics since that kid. But he was shy, so it was fun to tease him. Ian was too aggressive.

It wasn’t an area I could defend. Nevertheless, I thought I should struggle at least once and subtly resisted.

“Isn’t it right to call you Meyer-ssi?”

“My Hyung and sister are both Meyer, so that’s not calling me. Just like I don’t call Gyeoul Choi.”

“Choi is fine with me.”

“It feels distant, Gyeoul. I don’t like it.”

Ian was quite firm. I sighed softly and nodded. I couldn’t refuse if he wanted it. If he kept acting like this, it would be better to use a comfortable title as a sign of disrespect.

“Okay, Ian.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“Why are you so obsessed with titles?”

Still, after a few light conversations, the atmosphere became much more comfortable. I felt like I could address this now that Ian was in this relaxed mood. Ian still had a smile on his lips and glanced at me.

I pretended to focus on driving and deliberately didn’t look at him.

“I don’t want Gyeoul to find me difficult to approach. And you’re a promising talent.”

“Anyway……”

I was about to say that we were in different branches and wouldn’t see each other again, but that might sound a bit rude. It was also arrogant. I didn’t know when we might collaborate again. Human affairs are unpredictable.

I was about to say something but swallowed it. Then I couldn’t think of what to say next. Ian chuckled again as I hesitated.

“Don’t be so sure, Gyeoul. We might see each other again, you know?”

Ian was even quick-witted. He guessed what I was going to say next and leaned back, answering in a gentle tone. Then he stared at my right cheek so intensely that it felt like it would be pierced. I finally just rolled my eyes slightly, met his gaze, and nodded.

My reflection was fully captured in the blue light that resembled the sea more than the sky.

∗ ∗ ∗

My head is heavy.

Even though I was working overtime, I wasn’t making much progress. To make up for my previous mistake, I had to achieve even greater results…….

I groped for my antacid out of habit. As I pushed it into my mouth, the burning sensation in my stomach seemed to subside. Many parts of my body were still screaming, but that didn’t matter much. If I rested well for just one day on the weekend, I would be back on track. Just like before.

Head of department

[Manager Kwon. Are you busy?]

I would have been if it weren’t for texts like this.

I was still at the office dealing with the work the Head of department had dumped on me, but he naturally summoned me. His tyranny grew day by day, and no one stopped him. As if it were natural.

Am I someone who can’t adapt to society, or is the Head of department strange?

I leaned back in my chair. The chair creaked. Was the chair like me, broken? Me and my surroundings were gradually breaking down. As if this wasn’t the place for me.

It hadn’t been long since I took the medicine, but my stomach lining was burning again as if it were melting. I pressed my hand against the area where my stomach should be, hunched over, and gasped for breath. I’m tired. I’m exhausted. ……I wanted to see Gyeoul. If he held me in his generous arms, I felt like I could endure a little longer.

But he wasn’t there. Because I pushed him away with my own hands.

Vibration. Vibration.

The vibration filled the empty office. It was obvious without looking. He was calling because I wasn’t replying right away. If I didn’t answer this, he would call the company phone. And then my phone again, and then the company phone again. The Head of department was a very persistent person. He hated me so much, but he looked for me like crazy.

“Yes, Head of department.”

Why aren’t you answering the phone? You should answer your superior’s call right away. It wasn’t like that in my day. Huh? You’re so slow! You’re frustrating!

“……I’m sorry. What did you call about?”

Ah. Can you come out for a bit now?

Of course, I didn’t want to go. I could hear the noisy sounds behind the Head of department, so I knew he was currently at a drinking party. When he drank, the Head of department became a dirty, disgusting, and lecherous pervert. So I didn’t want to go even more.

But if I didn’t go, he would definitely harass me from morning.

“……Where are you?”

Why me? Why did I catch his eye and get so terribly involved? I should have reported him and quit, even if it meant I couldn’t work again. But I still needed a job to do that. It would be over if I just died.

I barely gathered my exhausted thoughts and found the bar the Head of department had told me about. It was a bar with private rooms. I knew what kind of people would be in a place like this without even looking. They were either key lobbyists or the Head of department’s personal connections.

I felt nauseous on an empty stomach, so I ran to the bathroom. I roughly kicked open the door and grabbed the toilet. Stomach acid dripped from my lips. Ugh. I kept gagging. I held onto the toilet for a long time until it subsided again.

It’s hard.

I didn’t even know what was hard, so I slumped down on the bathroom floor and leaned back. If I didn’t go quickly, the Head of department would nag again, nag again……. Is this what it means to go crazy?

I barely pulled myself together and got up. I rinsed my mouth with water and went back to my seat, gathered my things, and left the company. I had to act like I was okay. The weak were easily devoured. I didn’t know who might be targeting me again.

I got into the car and looked in the mirror. A man who had already lost the will to live was sitting there.