After a conversation that went nowhere with Leo, who wouldn’t listen at all, Hyedam was already exhausted—having finally been able to leave for work only after giving up his lips and drinking the mulled wine Leo offered instead of coffee.
He threw his bag onto his desk and plopped down heavily in his chair, his gaze naturally turning toward the team leader’s office with its blinds drawn.
Do I keep working with that blockhead? Or not? If I keep meeting him like this every day and seeing his face, I feel like I’ll completely fall for his tricks. He’s so good at controlling the intensity—even after completely turning my insides upside down, the moment I hear him coax and soothe me, my heated emotions melt away.
Thinking about how he’d hugged him when asked to hug him, and how he’d been the one to press his lips first when asked for a kiss, Hyedam groaned and raised his hands to cover his face.
Whatever happens with the emotional aspect of things with Leo, if he just quit his job, wouldn’t he naturally not have to see him every day and could stop being swayed by him every single time? Having reached that thought, Hyedam lowered his hands from his face and quickly straightened his posture.
“Hyedam-ssi, it’s been a while. Did you have a good Christmas holiday? Team Leader-nim, I heard you went to a party. How was it?”
At Yujin’s words as she came in greeting him with her always lively voice, Hyedam gave a perfunctory “Hello” while moving his hands quickly.
“It’s not work hours yet, but you’re already working?”
“Ah, there was a schedule change. Work hours aside, I need to make sure to do what needs to be done. Did you have a good holiday too, Yujin-ssi?”
“The streets were so crowded on Christmas, I was being pushed around everywhere. But it was fun eating good food and going to nice places with my boyfriend. How was the party, Team Leader-nim?”
“It was a world of dreams and fantasies. They even had fireworks at exactly midnight. People dressed up splendidly holding drinks in their hands, gathering in groups of three to five to chat, and classical music playing.”
“Wow. Really? Maybe I should have applied to the secretarial team instead of the marketing team. Did a lot of amazing people come too?”
“There were celebrities, and European nobles came as well.”
“Don’t you have pictures?”
“…I don’t.”
Hyedam, who had been having light conversation with Yujin, stared intently at the company messenger and sent a message as soon as Seoyun logged on.
Team Leader-nim!!!!!
If you have time, please have tea time with me.
Hm? Our handsome Hyedam-ssi?
Yes! Beautiful Seoyun-ssi, please…
8th floor break room?
Yes! I’m coming now.
As soon as the appointment with Seoyun was set, Hyedam rushed out of the marketing office without looking back. It was the busy time when everyone was coming to work. The break room was quiet, and when Seoyun, sitting by the window, waved her hand, Hyedam walked quickly toward her.
“We only didn’t see each other for a few weeks, our handsome Hyedam-ssi. You’ve gotten even more handsome? Did something happen?”
“Team Leader-nim~”
He wasn’t normally the aegyo type, and he didn’t have a habit of drawing out his words either. But the moment he saw Seoyun, his words naturally drawled out.
“Why? Why? What happened?”
“I’m thinking about quitting.”
Before even sitting down, the word “quitting” popped out of Hyedam’s mouth.
“Huh? Why? Is the chairman’s son bothering you? Want to come back to our team? We’re so lonely without Hyedam-ssi.”
Seoyun welcomed him like a close older sister, empathizing and comforting him while asking for the reason—just her voice and actions alone wrapped Hyedam in a sense of relief, and he plopped down heavily not across from her but next to her.
“If I calculate my severance pay, how much would it be?”
“You’ve worked here for quite a while. Then your severance pay would be pretty decent, but no. That’s not the issue—what happened? If it’s something I can help with, I’ll help with anything, so tell me first why you’re even thinking about quitting.”
“Well, you see~”
Hyedam had hurriedly opened his mouth at her urging, but seeing Seoyun’s worried expression, his words got stuck. At that warmth of her gently saying “It’s okay” and firmly holding his hand, his emotions welled up and his eyes grew hot.
What is there to cry about? It’s nothing to cry over, but whether it was relief at having someone to listen to him or gratitude toward someone who empathized with him—some unidentifiable emotion wildly tore through his insides.
“Was it hard?”
When he couldn’t bring himself to speak, Hyedam bit down hard on his lower lip at her question as she patted his hand. If he opened his mouth now, he felt like he’d really cry with tears and snot running down. So instead of answering, he nodded.
“Hyedam-ssi, how much vacation do you have left? Didn’t you say your vacation increased when you renewed your contract? If it’s too hard, it’s okay to take a break for a while. We all want to quit, but we’re adults and thinking about making a living, the answer doesn’t come easily. Before submitting your resignation, wouldn’t it be better to use your vacation and rest while thinking it over carefully, and prepare for a job change?”
Looking at Seoyun’s eyes as she spoke the most rational and correct answer, Hyedam could only nod repeatedly again this time too.
“You know I’m always on Hyedam-ssi’s side, right?”
“……”
“If it’s something hard to say at the company, want to have a drink this evening? An unmarried spinster has nothing but time. Don’t think you’re taking my time, just think of me as a drinking buddy you can talk about life with. What do you think, Hyedam-ssi?”
He wanted to quickly say “Yes! I will,” but with a lump in his throat, Hyedam could only bite his innocent lips.
“This is why I wanted to keep our Hyedam-ssi right under me. If you have something upsetting, you should contact me early and talk about it. I want to listen to everything in depth now, but it’s work hours, so if it’s urgent, should we eat lunch together?”
“No, just you making time for dinner is more than enough, Team Leader-nim.”
“True feelings come out more easily when there’s a drink, and the person listening can speak honestly too. Don’t be too depressed, don’t struggle too much, work hard today too. That way the evening drink will taste even better.”
Looking at Seoyun’s slender, pretty hands firmly holding his own, the corners of Hyedam’s mouth lifted slightly. Her hands are smaller than mine, he thought, and then he firmly grasped her hand between both of his.
“Thank you.”
“Alright. Want to go up with a cup of coffee? I think we have time to buy coffee.”
Leaving the break room where only the two of them had been, Hyedam headed to a nearby cafe together with Seoyun amicably.
“Marketing Team Leader-nim, I heard the Christmas party was incredible?”
“…Did that rumor spread that far?”
“Even without trying to find out, I hear things. Plus, you’re the hottest celeb at our company right now. Gentle and cool, and when I saw you before, you had a nice voice too. You do company work but also go out a lot externally.”
“That’s right.”
“Is Hyedam-ssi your only personal secretary?”
“Ah, I only handle things related to the company, and there’s someone who’s been taking care of personal matters from the beginning, and they continue to do so. So I talk with that person more than with Team Leader-nim.”
“What? Then. So work isn’t hard, is it a problem with the marketing team?”
“…We’re right in front of the company.”
“Ah! Right, right. Look at me getting old—you’ll be like this too, Hyedam-ssi? Let’s save that conversation for later then, what do you want to drink, Hyedam-ssi?”
Having entered the cafe, Hyedam looked around unnecessarily.
“Americano.”
“You don’t drink coffee though. Are you drinking it now?”
“I tried it and it was okay. I’ll buy the coffee. I was the one who asked you out, Team Leader-nim.”
While standing side by side with Seoyun and chatting, his churning heart gradually calmed down. How nice would it be to be with such a comfortable person like this instead of that bad guy who shakes people up from the morning and kneads their heart several times over?
“Does that also sound like you’ll buy me something more delicious later?”
“If Team Leader-nim wants to eat it, anything.”
“This is why I can’t hate our handsome Hyedam-ssi.”
“While we’re buying, let’s get one for Stella too. Stella’s doing well, right?”
“She says it’s hard because her body’s heavy these days. She’s only working until the end of the year and starting maternity leave next year, so I’ll be the only one left on our team. Two people from other teams are supposed to come, but if Hyedam-ssi says you’re coming even now, I’ll welcome you anytime.”
“I really want to go.”
Hyedam, who endured the day with the strength of conversation with Seoyun and the coffee they drank together, escaped the company as if running away as soon as it was time to leave work. A hum naturally flowed from his mouth as he headed to the restaurant where he’d promised to meet Seoyun without being late.
In the past, I used to go to good restaurants after work with Seoyun and Stella, but the past few weeks have been a stormy time for me. I couldn’t even dream of that kind of leisure activity.
A long sigh flowed from Hyedam’s mouth as he recalled how much he’d been swayed by Leo during that time. Leo is Leo, and I need to live my own life. It was time to restore his life that had been turned into a complete mess just by his appearance.
Whatever kind of relationship we end up having, I should hang out with people I like as usual, watch late-night movies, and create a hobby or something.
What would be good? Should I go to Junseok and learn to exercise, or study more? Entering the restaurant while resolving to challenge anything and live as a progressive human being, Hyedam’s face was filled with more confidence and happiness than ever before.
