Our table? Seo Heejin coming to find us is really our table? When I looked back and forth between Deputy Go and Seo Heejin’s faces with a flustered expression, Deputy Go’s elbow poked my side.
A sound of “ugh” came out naturally. Even if it’s cute aegyo from the poking side, it’s quite painful from the receiving side.
When I looked at Seo Heejin with a lukewarm expression, Seo Heejin also made a strangely stiff expression as if he hadn’t come with a particularly pleasant heart. When I just stared without greeting, Deputy Go leaned close to my ear and whispered as if telling a secret.
“I ran into him earlier when I went to buy coffee and said our team is having a dinner today, and he said it’s been a long time since he drank too. So I threw out the bait that we’re coming here today and he bit right away.”
Deputy Go smiled brightly, saying ‘even Heejin-ssi can’t help it in front of delicious food.’ Hmm. It’s true that this place is famous as a long-standing restaurant and hard to get a seat, but was Seo Heejin that obsessed with food? For that, his expression wasn’t great.
Thinking he must really want to eat steak, I just nodded.
“Oh my, our Seo came? Come sit here.”
Why is Manager Park doing that again? Am I the only one who doesn’t understand when Seo Heejin became ‘our’ Seo? When I stared at Deputy Go, a whisper came again. Ah, my ears are sensitive.
“There’s a rumor that Heejin-ssi is the president’s parachute. The manager originally values the line importantly.”
I heard that rumor too. It’s not just one or two people coming in through various lines as parachutes. It was funny to go around asking about the truth, so among colleagues it was just a rumor that flowed like water and got covered up.
I don’t know if it’s the president’s nephew, but all the presidents of Baekje Group’s affiliates doing family management are surnamed Baek. Even to consider it as a maternal nephew or something, the wife’s surname is Yu. Then even if it’s really the president’s line, it would just be a friend’s son at most.
Whatever Seo Heejin was, I thought I should just keep my seat and tactfully slip away. I really avoided him well but got caught here.
I quickly shoved pieces of meat into my mouth, made appropriate clinks at toasting timing, and gradually moved my bag and outerwear behind my chair. Then at some point, I could just disappear pretending to go to the bathroom.
The moment I saw Seo Heejin’s face after a long time, my dick started gaining strength. I was going to drink today and go home to sleep soundly, but it seemed I’d have no choice but to take out my dildo friends.
While everyone was flustered from being drunk, I lowered my bag and outerwear as much as possible and stealthily got up from my seat.
I quietly told only Deputy Go that I was leaving first, but the deputy, already smitten with Seo Heejin, only made an okay sign with her hand, not caring whether I left or not. One step, two steps. When the destination of the entrance wasn’t far away—
“Yunwoo hyung.”
Fuck, our grateful Seo Heejin. When did he notice and follow me out? Seo Heejin, who came behind me, retrieved the outerwear and bag in my hands.
“It’s a team dinner, you can’t run away like this.”
Was he pissed that he came to eat delicious food but got stuck next to Manager Park and had to drink? His usually gentle voice was full of edge.
Honestly, that’s not my fault.
“Employee Jeong, where are you going?”
A terrible voice called me. When I turned around with an awkward smile, Manager Park stared at me with flickering eyes. Wow, fuck. I heard that if you get caught trying to run away, he grabs you next to him and makes you pour drinks.
When I looked at Seo Heejin filled with resentment, he gave a pretty eye smile as if not knowing my feelings. Give that kind of eye smile to Deputy Go over there.
“Manager, Jeong Yunwoo-ssi said he was trying to put his bag somewhere else because the seat was cramped.”
Seo Heejin made excuses on my behalf and placed my jacket and bag he’d snatched under his own bag. My body trembled with anger at the perfect blocking of my escape route, but it was better than sitting next to Manager Park drinking. When I came back and sat down again, Deputy Go patted my shoulder. That patting seemed to say ‘where did you think you were running away to,’ making me a bit depressed.
Having no choice, I picked up my chopsticks again and picked at the coldly cooled steak pieces while Seo Heejin, who had escaped from next to Manager Park, started getting closer one seat at a time.
Ah, at least I could pretend to maintain composure because he wasn’t in my sight. Seo Heejin, who had been getting gradually closer, finally settled in front of me.
“Hyung, did you eat a lot?”
“Yes. Yunwoo-ssi really loves this place.”
Deputy Go answered on my behalf since I couldn’t answer properly with my mouth full from chewing meat. Yeah, Deputy Go was dying to talk with you. Talk with Deputy Go. When I pointed at Seo Heejin once with my index finger and pointed at Deputy Go with my thumb while nodding, Seo Heejin glared at me with a subtle expression.
What, did I tell you to cheat? I told you to have a conversation. Anyway, showing off about having a girlfriend.
“Hey, what.”
I couldn’t even go home because of you. When I spoke full of irritation, Seo Heejin sprinkled his characteristic eye smile gently.
“This is the first time we’re drinking together, right? I heard a lot of stories through Yunwoo hyung.”
His voice also returned to its usual gentle tone.
“Oh my, Yunwoo-ssi talked about me? You didn’t just curse me out a lot, right?”
Deputy Go laughed cheerfully and slapped my forearm. I felt suddenly wronged about why she kept hitting me since earlier, but I couldn’t say anything to my direct supervisor, so I just laughed stupidly like “hee.”
But I didn’t really curse out Deputy Go in the group chat, right? For a moment I got scared and tried to recall my memories.
“I only praised you, saying you’re very beautiful and kind.”
Oh my. Good that you two match well together. I nodded enthusiastically while forcing down the steak. At times like this, it’s best to quietly agree rather than trying to say something. Deputy Go’s mouth was hanging on her ears, seeming pleased that I praised her to Seo Heejin.
“Hyung, shall I order more?”
Was he sorry for me only attacking the meat? Seo Heejin showed unnecessary meddling again. Ah, please. I wish he’d know my heart wanting to eat quickly and leave quickly.
“No. I’m full.”
I put down my chopsticks with a clack because it was annoying that Seo Heejin interfered with my every move. With good timing, the sound I’d been waiting for came from the table where Manager Park was sitting.
“Alright, if everyone’s done eating, let’s wrap up and go to the second round, second round!”
It was a welcome sound to hear. Because it meant my second chance to escape had come. I excitedly went to get my clothes and bag, but Seo Heejin only handed me the outerwear and didn’t give me my bag. When I stared at him wondering what he was doing, again, again that damn eye smile came back.
“What. Give it.”
“Hyung, don’t you have something to talk to me about?”
My heart suddenly sank. Did he notice? Did he feel that every time I looked at him, I was sneakily glancing at his dick? Right. No matter how dense a person is, they couldn’t have not felt it. Staring so blatantly. Still, I tried denying it by shaking my head.
“Really?”
“What’s there to talk about between us?”
Seo Heejin, who had been quietly staring at my hand extended telling him to give back the bag, smiled brightly. While I tried to fix my gaze that was about to fall without me knowing onto that girlish face and signaled with my eyes to give it back quickly, Seo Heejin said something else.
“Hyung, your bag is really heavy.”
“Because there’s a laptop in it.”
“Are you going to do more work when you get home?”
“Yeah. Please let’s just go home.”
“I’ll carry it for you.”
I was truly at a loss for words. I wondered if he was teasing me. I didn’t like it from before because Seo Heejin subtly seemed to treat me like a woman, but I couldn’t properly get angry because I was afraid it might be me overreacting from insecurity about being gay.
But he’ll carry my bag? Why would he carry my bag when I have all four limbs intact? I felt like my eyes were flipping over with anger.
“Fuck, are you playing with me?”
When I reached out to snatch the bag, Seo Heejin even twisted his body and pulled my bag back behind him. Because of that, my hand almost touched near Seo Heejin’s dick… honestly, separate from being angry, my heart thumped.
Crazy, not this timing. I got annoyed at my body that was oblivious and only faithful to instinct, and also got annoyed at Seo Heejin whose thoughts I didn’t know.
“If I give you the bag now, you’ll run away again.”
“When did I—, hmm, when did I run away?”
My voice flipped at the accurate point. It was no different from admitting it was completely correct. While having an unnecessary tug-of-war with Seo Heejin over the bag, Manager Park tapped my back.
“You seem to get along well with Seo?”
I couldn’t manage my expression for a moment and bit my lower lip hard, but this time too, Seo Heejin, the master of poker face, saved me.
“Yes. Since we’re one of the few headquarters colleagues, we’re getting along well.”
I also diligently turned my body and nodded toward Manager Park with a smiling face. It was distressing because we were like elementary school students saying we’re close, we didn’t fight, but what could I do? To Manager Park’s eyes, I’d look even less reliable than an elementary school student.
“Right. In company life, colleagues really become a big strength. You’re going to the second round, right?”
“…Yes.”
I nodded obediently with a feeling of desperation, and only then was my bag, dirty heavy because of the laptop, placed in my hands.
