Ah, why does Monday even exist? As Ilkyung went to work, he was full of regret thinking the weekend had passed too quickly. Family Day Friday especially could have extended the weekend to play longer, but instead he’d been lying in bed the whole time.
“Ilkyung, you’re going?”
“Yes, I’ll be back!”
Ilkyung casually greeted his mom and got into the sports car he’d taken from his youngest noona. Ilkyung adjusted his appearance in the mirror and started the engine.
“Did I struggle too much over the weekend? My face looks haggard.”
His originally white face was pale to the point of being ashen. His parents, who’d been traveling all weekend, had reason to be shocked seeing his face Monday morning. Fortunately, only Minkyung was home, so his parents didn’t know Ilkyung had stayed out Friday night.
“Still, I ate well though…”
Ilkyung muttered while drinking warm tea.
On Saturday, Daehoon dropped Ilkyung off late in the afternoon and gave him medicine and tea. He earnestly urged him to eat warm things instead of cold things even if his body felt hot from the fever. While doing so, he handed over tea leaves that could be easily steeped and drunk. This morning, like an obedient child, Ilkyung put the steeped tea in his tumbler.
“He has an unexpectedly caring side.”
Ilkyung muttered.
“Ah, why is it so backed up? I left early.”
At the completely jammed road situation, Ilkyung sighed. Why on earth does Monday exist? He wished someone would just pay him his salary regularly without him having to work.
When he was a new employee, he thought working at the Center was natural and something to be grateful for, but sure enough, a person’s mindset is too different before and after entering the bathroom.
Bzzzz, the vibration sound rang noisily. Ilkyung checked his phone’s LCD screen and tilted his head.
“Yes, Director.”
—Are you commuting?
“Yes, I’m on my way. What’s the matter?”
—Have you passed the bridge yet?
Ilkyung hadn’t entered the bridge yet and had to go a bit more.
“Not yet.”
—There was an accident here, so take a detour. And how is Assistant Manager Woo’s body?
An accident on Monday morning? Ah, so that’s why it was insanely backed up. Usually Ilkyung leaves a bit early, but the reason it was so jammed despite that was because of the accident. Ilkyung answered while exiting elsewhere to detour.
“My body’s fine. No fever either.”
—Did you eat?
“Ah, I don’t usually eat breakfast…”
His voice unintentionally trailed off.
—Who was it that scolded someone for eating just a cup of coffee and toast?
At Daehoon’s muttering voice, Ilkyung narrowed his brow. When did he scold him!
—You didn’t take your morning medicine either, did you?
“No, I’m sorry.”
—Yes, you should be sorry. Come to my room when you get to work. I’m hanging up then.
“What? Why?”
But the phone was already disconnected.
“Ah, what. Always telling me to come and go.”
* * *
It was fortunate he detoured. According to the radio he listened to on the way, there’d been a big traffic accident on the bridge and because of it, fire had spread everywhere, causing quite a scene. Without Director Ha’s call, Ilkyung would have thoughtlessly taken the bridge on his commute as usual. Then he’d still be trapped on the bridge, right?
Ilkyung shouldered his bag, grabbed his tumbler, and got on the elevator. Despite the traffic being so bad, he still had about 5 minutes to spare. If Ilkyung was in this state, what happened to Director Ha? Was he in the director’s office? He thought he should have checked for his car.
Usually Director Ha commuted early. Even if he was a bit later than usual, he’d probably have arrived by now.
Ilkyung pressed the button for the 15th floor and sent messages to Section Chief Kang and the Team Leader.
*I made it to work safely. I’m in the building, but Director Ha Daehoon told me to come up, so I’ll be back!*
Arriving at the 15th floor, Ilkyung looked at his reflection in the mirror.
His complexion was haggard. They say even dogs don’t catch colds in May and June, but this year’s spring weather was really something. Just when you think it’s a bit warm, the weather quickly turns cloudy, and when you dress warmly thinking it’ll be like that, it makes you take off your outer clothes because it’s hot. When you think it’ll rain, a gust inevitably blows, and the next day the temperature drops sharply. Pollen flies as pollen does, and what about fine dust? In the mornings and evenings it was cold from the chilly wind, then in the daytime sunlight poured down reminiscent of summer. In such weather, with stress piling on top and getting drenched on top of that, of course he wouldn’t be normal. Ilkyung stuck out his tongue at Director Ha’s stamina for being perfectly fine in such conditions.
“Or not? Is it because he doesn’t feel stress?”
Ilkyung muttered while standing in front of the door and knocked. Knock knock. When he opened the door, the person who greeted Ilkyung was none other than Executive Secretary Min.
“Executive Secretary-nim, hello.”
He’d been at Director Ha’s house all weekend, but oddly enough, he hadn’t run into Executive Secretary Min. When Executive Secretary Min dropped off the medicine was probably when Ilkyung was rolling around all over Ha Daehoon’s bed.
“Is your body a bit better now?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“Your complexion still looks haggard though.”
Ilkyung awkwardly touched his cheek. He wanted to quickly change the subject. Executive Secretary Min seemed to know about Director Ha and Ilkyung’s relationship, but it was oddly uncomfortable because he didn’t know exactly in what way he knew.
“Um, is the Director inside?”
“The Director hasn’t come to work yet.”
“What? Was the bridge accident that big? Is it still being cleared?”
“Our Espers went there, so he’s there because of guiding issues. In a way, it’s on-site work.”
“Huh? Then why did I…”
What, if he’s at the scene and can’t even come to the Center to work, why did he tell him to come up to the 15th floor? Setting that aside, he’s on the Field Support Team, so why didn’t he tell him to come there but instead said to come to work at the Center? Ilkyung had a bewildered face, wondering what this situation was about.
“Director told me to give you this.”
Executive Secretary Min handed over a shopping bag. Anyone could see the logo of the famous sandwich shop near the company stamped right on it, so you could tell what was inside. Ilkyung received the shopping bag with both hands for now, but still didn’t understand the reason.
“But why this…?”
“Director called saying Assistant Manager Woo didn’t eat breakfast. He told me to buy sandwiches and hand them over.”
“What?”
“And he also said to make sure you eat the sandwiches and take your medicine.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you. I’ll contact Director separately.”
“Alright.”
Ilkyung was burdened to death by these situations where Executive Secretary Min had to work on matters he was involved in.
“Then I’ll go down.”
“Alright.”
Ilkyung hugged the sandwiches tightly to his chest and got on the elevator again. After opening the shopping bag and looking inside, Ilkyung could only laugh.
“No, why did he buy so many?”
There were sandwiches of various types. This would be enough to share with all the Field Support Team members. Ah, did he buy so many for that reason?
Ilkyung got off on the 7th floor and called Director Ha. But Director Ha didn’t answer the phone, probably busy managing the accident scene.
*Why are there so many sandwiches? I’ll share them with the team members. I’ll make sure to take my medicine too. Thank you, Director.*
Ilkyung sent a text and entered the team office.
“Assistant Manager Woo, you’re here?”
“Hello.”
“How did you come by detouring there? It seems like it’s still chaotic there. Good job, good job.”
Section Chief Kang came and patted his back as if he was praiseworthy. At that, Ilkyung looked at Section Chief Kang with a flustered face.
“Really? Is the situation that serious?”
“You didn’t know? Didn’t you detour knowing that?”
Ilkyung nodded.
“I just detoured because it was too blocked in front, is it still not managed?”
He couldn’t say that Director Ha called and told him to detour. Ilkyung vaguely covered it up and took out sandwiches and handed them to Section Chief Kang.
“What’s this?”
“What? Ah, I just bought them on the way.”
“You contacted saying you might be late in the morning, but you had the presence of mind to buy this?”
Section Chief Kang said playfully. Ilkyung smiled back and distributed sandwiches to other people too.
“Assistant Manager Woo came?”
“Hello, Team Leader. Team Leader, please have one of these too.”
“What sandwiches? You had the presence of mind to buy this? Ah, but Assistant Manager Woo said you didn’t take the bridge, right? That’s fortunate.”
