In the end, the sandwiches became something Woo bought.
“Ah, right. Director Ha is still at the scene, but why did you go to the director’s office?”
“What? Ah! I had something to give to Executive Secretary Min. But is the scene that chaotic?”
This is why people shouldn’t lie. Lies give birth to other lies, and when they grow like a snowball, later on you can’t even distinguish what lies you told, whether it’s a lie or the truth.
“Breaking news should be coming out now.”
Team Leader Park turned on the television hanging in the team office. The scene was engulfed in flames everywhere. An accident happened in the middle of the bridge and among them, an oil tanker seemed to have exploded. To make matters worse, on days like these when the wind blows like crazy, the flames gladly spread here and there.
“Were many people hurt?”
Director Ha came to mind first in Ilkyung’s head. With that level of explosion and flames, someone must have been hurt. What if the flames spread to Director Ha’s car too?
“Fortunately, people evacuated early so there were no major casualties. Since it was during commute time and also school time, people on buses and people near the accident cars got hurt by shrapnel and such, but it doesn’t seem to be serious injuries.”
“That’s fortunate.”
All accident support vehicles including ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, and more were lined up, and everyone was busy dividing their respective duties. Among them, familiar faces were visible.
“Oh! Noona!”
Ilkyung shouted. Come to think of it, Ilkyung’s older sister Woo Minkyung would have been on the bridge too.
“Ah, so that’s why noona wasn’t answering.”
He contacted his noona just in case, but when she didn’t answer, he thought she must have already arrived at the Center and was busy working. On one side of the screen, Center Espers were managing the accident, and Woo Minkyung along with several Espers were all unavoidably trapped there on their way to work.
“Still, it seems our Espers were on their way to work and stopped the flames from spreading further. Moving other cars around, putting out fires and such—our Espers did all that in the early stages.”
When Ilkyung muttered “I see,” Section Chief Kang standing next to him chuckled.
“No, still, she’s blood, so at least worry a little.”
“Section Chief, we get along well!”
Ilkyung raised his chin and squeaked. At that, Section Chief Kang raised his chin together and said.
“I know! Everyone at the Center knows that the Woo Ilkyung and Woo Minkyung siblings get along well.”
But Director Ha didn’t know that. Thinking that, Ilkyung smiled. Beyond the screen, Center Espers were running around managing the accident, and Guides watching over them were visible.
“When did the Guides go there?”
“It seems Director Ha contacted them.”
“Ah…!”
Ilkyung gaped. In that morning, in that chaotic scene, he contacted Guides to come, and to him he peacefully talked about breakfast? Ilkyung was dumbfounded and laughed emptily.
* * *
“With such a big accident, it’s really been a while since we’ve been this idle.”
Section Chief Kang muttered next to him.
“Do we really have nothing to do?”
The accident scene was safely managed, and the Espers and Guides said they’d finish light guiding at the scene and come to work. Originally, when such a major accident broke out, the Field Support Team would also be busy. Because Espers often get hurt while managing accidents, according to the scale, everything from arranging Guides to securing and distributing guiding rooms all had to be done by the Field Support Team.
But today, Director Ha, who was on his way to work, apparently called other Guides himself and said he’d do the guiding at the scene. Because of that, the Field Support Team’s work decreased.
“What are you worried about? Director Ha took care of it himself. We’re happy to have less work. Assistant Manager Woo must be the happiest, right? Since you don’t have to clash with Director Ha.”
“What do you mean by that? If someone saw, they’d think I fight with Director every time we meet.”
When Ilkyung pouted his lips and spoke, Section Chief Kang stared at Ilkyung intently.
“Ah, why are you staring like that?”
“‘What do you mean?’ ‘Why?’ You fought every other day so the Team Leader and I were busy hiding you—’what do you mean?'”
At that, Ilkyung laughed “hehe.” He knows it too.
“It’s really been a while since our team has been this idle.”
“Don’t say things like that. What are we going to do if we suddenly get crazy busy because of that?”
At Ilkyung’s retort, Section Chief Kang shut his mouth tight. He was worried they might suddenly get busy like a jinx.
**7. An Excellent Display of Drunkenness**
“Oh, noona!”
Ilkyung ran into Minkyung in the Center lobby while coming back from lunch. In his delight, he thoughtlessly called out “Noona!” then covered his mouth when he saw other people passing by. After all, they still used formal speech with each other in official settings.
Most people knew that Esper Woo Minkyung and Assistant Manager Woo Ilkyung from the Field Support Team were siblings. It was natural since their names were similar and their surname was unusual too. Unless someone was just completely uninterested and didn’t know.
“Did you eat?”
Minkyung approached and whispered quietly. Ilkyung nodded and held out the coffee in his hand.
“Why?”
“For you to drink. Did you eat, noona?”
“Yeah. But wasn’t that coffee you bought to drink yourself?”
“I can just drink what’s in the break room. But don’t tell me you’re just coming in now?”
“I ate on the way in.”
Even though there had been such chaos this morning, his noona looked perfectly fine. Ilkyung opened his mouth then closed it.
“Do you have something to say?”
Ilkyung shook his head. But he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly again. The two walked side by side toward the elevator, and eventually Minkyung, perhaps frustrated, asked again.
“If you have something to say, say it. Since when have you hidden things? You have to resolve anything you’re curious about. Otherwise you’ll get sick.”
Ilkyung scratched his head. Did he really do that? Now that he thought about it, Ilkyung did have to resolve anything he was curious about. With his naturally high curiosity and many questions, even as a child he apparently went around constantly saying “Why? Why is this like that?” Even so, the family members found the youngest so pretty and cute that they answered everything without getting annoyed even when he asked repeatedly.
“Today…”
“Hm? What about today?”
“Who did you get guiding from, noona?”
As soon as Ilkyung let the words out, he immediately regretted it.
“I normally get it from Guide Kim Yumin.”
“Ah, right.”
Noona didn’t have a pair, but about three out of five times she received guiding from Guide Kim Yumin. Ilkyung knew that too. Of course he did. If Woo Ilkyung didn’t know such things, who would?
There was no one at this Center who knew better than Woo Ilkyung which Esper received guiding from which Guide. Because arranging that was Ilkyung’s job.
“Why are you asking when you already know?”
“I know. But today partners were suddenly assembled so I haven’t heard the details yet myself. If there’s another accident in the afternoon, I need to exclude the Guides who worked in the morning or something.”
Ilkyung wanted to ask if noona had received guiding from Director Ha, but since he couldn’t ask outright, his words kept getting longer and longer. Excuse-like words came pouring out, but Minkyung either didn’t pay much attention to her younger brother’s words or believed him completely, as she just nodded.
“Were there a lot of Espers and Guides today?”
“Guides are always insufficient. Director Ha worked hard though. But seriously, Director Ha is really capable.”
“Why?”
Unable to contain his curiosity, Ilkyung leaned in a bit more. Just then, ding, the sound of the elevator door opening was heard.
“Huh?”
Speak of the tiger and it shall appear—beyond the open door, Director Ha Daehoon was standing right there.
“Aren’t you getting on?”
“Ah, we’re getting on.”
Ilkyung and Minkyung got on the elevator. Director Ha seemed to be on his way up from the underground parking lot.
“Director-nim, did you have a meal?”
“Yes, I’m just coming back from eating now.”
“You worked hard today.”
Since they had exchanged a few words at the accident site anyway, Minkyung took the initiative to strike up conversation. Ilkyung slowly inched sideways and stood pressed flat against the elevator wall.
“Did Assistant Manager Woo Ilkyung eat?”
“Huh?”
Ilkyung, who had been standing with his brow deeply furrowed looking only at his toes, lifted his head with a start at the sound of his name being called. Before making eye contact with Director Ha, his gaze collided with his noona’s first. Noona didn’t know about Ilkyung and Director Ha’s contract relationship.
