Chapter 45
- Girlfriend
2023.06.14.
"Let's go out together. I should say hello to the team members."
Kim Tae-joon gestured towards Han So-eun as he approached the door. So-eun followed Tae-joon out of the office.
Bobae and Eun-pyo, who were studying in the room right next to Tae-joon's office, stood up when the door opened and Tae-joon entered.
"How have you all been?"
"Hello, Director!"
"Greetings."
Jang Eun-pyo's expressionless greeting followed Bobae's ever-bright greeting.
Whether bright or not, Tae-joon was a difficult person for the employees. The office was quiet until Tae-joon spoke again.
"Now that we're officially working together on the TF Team project, shall we have a company dinner?"
Tae-joon suggested, looking around at the three of them. Bobae cautiously asked.
"Will we be drinking too?"
"If it's too much, we can just have a meal together."
"No, I like drinking! Chief Jang also likes to drink."
So-eun was taken aback by Bobae's addition. Tae-joon narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"Oh, Chief Han So-eun also likes to drink."
"I've quit these days. I don't drink."
So-eun immediately denied it. Fortunately, he didn't press further.
"Then drinking is optional, and it would be good if you could set a time next week. Please tell me what kind of food you want to eat."
Tae-joon neatly conveyed only the necessary information and then left the office immediately. So-eun breathed a sigh of relief and asked the two for their opinions.
"When should we have the company dinner next week?"
"I'm good on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I have to go to yoga on Monday and Friday."
Bobae answered first with an excited voice.
"You can set it on whatever date is good for Chief Han. I'm fine anytime."
Eun-pyo also answered after thinking for a moment. A voice that was neither too small nor too loud. It was a voice that Tae-joon, who was leaving the office and returning to his seat, could hear clearly.
Summer is already past its midpoint.
One external schedule was canceled, making it a leisurely Friday evening. Tae-joon visited the department store alone. He wanted to buy a gift for So-eun.
Should I buy her clothes, or a bag?
He had never paid attention to women's gifts, so he didn't know anything. Tae-joon, who had been agonizing over what to buy for a long time, visited a jewelry shop. When he couldn't decide what to buy, simply spending money was the best.
Should I get her a necklace, or a ring?
The employee showed him a lot of pretty necklaces, but Tae-joon's eyes were more drawn to the rings.
If I put a ring on her finger, wouldn't the guys in the company around her get sorted out a bit? Wouldn't a guy like Chief Jang Eun-pyo realize that she has a boyfriend and give up?
"Oh my! Director, hello!"
As he was lost in thought with several rings in front of him, he heard someone calling from next to him. It was Lawyer Choi Hyunji from Yulkyu Law Firm.
"Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji."
Yang Hee-wook was also next to her. Tae-joon acknowledged them with a blank expression.
"Lawyer Yang Hee-wook is here too."
"Yes. We're preparing for our wedding."
Hyun-ji boasted to Tae-joon, linking arms with Hee-wook. Hee-wook looked embarrassed.
He must be flustered since he told me about So-eun a while ago.
"Ah."
Hee-wook's expression became even more tense at his meaningless exclamation, which he found amusing. Tae-joon offered his congratulations.
"Congratulations."
"Director, did you come to look at rings too? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Yes."
Hyun-ji, who glanced at the ring Tae-joon was looking at, cheered.
"Wow! I wanted this too. Your girlfriend must be really happy!"
Hee-wook was dumbfounded by Hyun-ji's exclamation.
She's wearing a 55 million won diamond ring and making a fuss over an 8 million won Simple ring? Does she know that what I've done for her is many times more expensive?
Hyun-ji, seemingly unable to read Hee-wook's expression, went even further and asked Tae-joon.
"Director, excuse me, but can I try it on?"
"Do as you please."
Hyun-ji, who put the ring on her finger at Tae-joon's answer, made a fuss in a frivolous manner.
"Look at this! It's much prettier on the hand than it looks! I think it would look good on your girlfriend too."
"It does."
Hee-wook's anger flared up at Hyun-ji's behavior of sticking close to Tae-joon and showing him her ringed hand.
Why are you standing there? Come here. Your lover isn't that guy, it's me!
Hee-wook's anger seemed to be conveyed to Tae-joon before it reached Hyun-ji. Tae-joon, who had been answering Hyun-ji's boisterous actions perfunctorily, soon stepped back and greeted the two.
"Then I'll be going now."
His will to not get involved with the two any further was evident.
Hee-wook, who was standing still without properly greeting Tae-joon, clicked his tongue at Hyun-ji as soon as Tae-joon left, revealing his displeasure.
"What's wrong, oppa?"
"Do you treat all the men you know like that? Even the guy who screwed us over?"
"Then should I fight and curse? And coincidence is also fate, it's good to make an impression when we meet like this by chance. They might remember us and request a lawsuit again."
"Is flirting while trying on the ring that guy picked out making an impression?"
"Why are you saying such things."
Hyun-ji also raised her voice, feeling unpleasant.
"Oppa, why are you being so childishly jealous? Haven't you heard? He has a girlfriend."
Who was it that touched me first when I had a girlfriend!
Hee-wook was dumbfounded and tried to retort right away, but he shut his mouth tightly. Arguing with her was like spitting in his own face.
"Okay, let's just get the ring AS done and go."
"What? Oppa, what's with your attitude right now?"
But Hyun-ji, a fighter who argues when she needs to, was not easy to deal with.
So-eun's hands, which were packing her bags after promising a weekend date with Tae-joon, stopped from time to time.
'Because he's a busy person, he might be going on a business trip somewhere again this week.'
Let's not expect too much.
You have to be prepared for a date with a busy boyfriend.
Tae-joon had said that he would spend two nights and three days together from Friday, but the reason why she postponed it by one day and decided to meet on Saturday was because she didn't know what kind of work might suddenly come up for him. Even if the date was canceled, one night and two days would be a little less disappointing than two nights and three days.
When he's close, he seems like a sweet lover with nothing to criticize, and her romantic feelings are full, but when he's far away, no, when he's not close, she's honestly not confident. Kim Tae-joon was a person in a position that Han So-eun could not reach, and his work and the weight he carried were different from hers. It was amazing just to know such a person, but to even be close to him.
But, that person might not think of me as a lover.
So-eun had never asked. What are we? He confessed and they shared a body, but she hadn't heard a clear word.
But she didn't want to bring it up first. Everything except that word was according to So-eun's wishes. A relationship where she properly fulfills her current desires without expecting the future. She liked that they were just precious to each other now. So-eun could easily give up other desires.
Drrr.
While she was thinking about Tae-joon, his name appeared on her phone screen. If you don't expect it, something beyond your expectations always happens. So-eun answered the phone right away with a happy heart.
"Hello?"
[Are you home?]
"Yes. Are you in a meeting, Director?"
[It's all over. Can I pick you up now?]
"Now... today?"
Is he saying that we're going on a date starting today?
No. Is he saying that something else came up on the weekend, so I have to meet him urgently now?
Unable to know his intentions, So-eun couldn't say much. Her heart was pounding.
[Is that a bit much? I'm heading that way now.]
"......"
[Shall we watch a movie? Or, if you're tired, it's okay to just see each other for a bit.]
"A movie sounds good!"
Her voice rose without her knowing, and So-eun covered her mouth and carefully took it off.
"Are you okay, Director? You must be tired."
[I just need Han So-eun.]
"......"
[Pack your bags and come out slowly. I'll wait slowly.]
He'll wait? So-eun opened the window and looked outside. She saw a car parking in front of her house. Soon, someone got out of the driver's seat. She couldn't mistake that tall silhouette. It was Tae-joon.
Tae-joon told her to come out slowly, but So-eun became impatient. As soon as she hung up the phone, So-eun ran around and moved quickly. She had known early on that Kim Tae-joon was a man who valued the value of time, so she didn't want to make him wait long.
So-eun, who had finished preparing in 10 minutes, hurried down the stairs and greeted Tae-joon.
Tae-joon, who was waiting for So-eun, heard So-eun's footsteps and moved.
"I told you to come slowly."
Hah, hah. Tae-joon asked mischievously when So-eun couldn't answer because she was catching her breath.
"Did you run because you wanted to see me?"
"Yes."
So-eun answered loudly, her breathing stabilized.
Tae-joon clenched and unclenched his fist so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand stood out. It was a big problem because he wanted to take her somewhere other than the movie theater.
She had only seen a movie with Hee-wook once at the beginning of their relationship. Even while the movie was playing, Hee-wook went out and came back several times. He was in a position where he couldn't keep his phone turned off because he had a lot of work. After the movie ended, Hee-wook didn't remember any of the movie's contents. After that, So-eun never went to the movie theater with Hee-wook again.
So, it was So-eun's first movie theater date in almost a year.
"What do you want to eat?"
After choosing a movie, Tae-joon, who was standing in front of the snack corner, asked So-eun. So-eun became serious for no reason.
If I eat popcorn and our hands touch at the right timing, this man will use that as an excuse to keep holding my hand and won't let go. Then I won't be able to concentrate on the movie. Only me.
"No. I'm okay. I just need a bottle of water."
"Are you planning to just watch the movie?"
"Pardon?"
So-eun's face flushed as she was about to ask, 'Then what else would I do at the movie theater?'
Wasn't he here to see a movie at the movie theater?
So-eun's two eyes, which were really serious about the movie, trembled. She was already getting nervous even though nothing had happened yet.
