Chapter 62
- So, are you unhappy?
2023.07.01.
So-eun pretended to be fast asleep next to Tae-joon, but in reality, she couldn't sleep properly. The name she found on Tae-joon's phone, 'Choi Hyun-ji,' lingered in her mind all night.
'Surely, it's not the same person.'
There must be more than one person in the world named Choi Hyun-ji.
Even after calming herself, her heart wouldn't settle for a long time.
Tae-joon, for some reason, also tossed and turned beside her for quite a while without falling asleep. He would needlessly fix So-eun's hair, touch her forehead, put his hand on the tip of her nose, and carefully spread the crumpled blanket over her.
It seemed like he was trying to be considerate so she could sleep soundly. But So-eun only felt more disturbed. She wondered if he, too, couldn't sleep because he had other worries.
That's how she woke up on Monday morning after a restless sleep.
So-eun went to work in Tae-joon's car.
"Really think about whether living in Seoul would be a good idea."
In the car heading to Suwon, Tae-joon casually brought up the topic of moving again.
"Yang Hee-wook knows where you live, so it would be better to move."
Tae-joon, who had been rustling around all night, woke up before So-eun and came back after exercising for about an hour and a half. Then, he didn't forget to take care of So-eun's breakfast and ask about her condition. So-eun felt like she was looking at a supermom who didn't miss out on work, love, or childcare.
Since he was so perfect, So-eun thought that maybe she wouldn't even notice if he was manipulating her, holding her in the palm of his hand.
She wouldn't know who he was meeting or what he was doing.
"The Director said that person wouldn't come looking for me again."
"That's right. But still."
"......"
"I just wanted you to be closer, So-eun."
So-eun's heart was always stirred by his words, which he uttered so casually, like tossing pebbles. She felt overwhelmed and sad that this man had become someone who could control her daily mood. It felt like she would eventually end up lonely again.
\
Monday is more tiring than other days because there are more customers visiting the center. On the other hand, time seems to pass by relatively quickly because there's no time to think about unnecessary things.
As she busily moved her body, it was soon time to leave work. So-eun, who had finished her reception duties, couldn't resist Bobae's urging that she was hungry because she hadn't had a snack, and they went to a convenience store together.
"You know what happened last night? I got a text from my ex-boyfriend. At two in the morning, he said, 'Are you asleep? Sorry if I woke you up.'"
Bobae, who had a lot to say because she had to rush through lunch due to the heavy workload, chattered non-stop while picking out snacks.
"I read it but pretended I didn't and ignored it. So, I guess he felt awkward and said, 'My phone is broken, and I thought I'd contact you because you're a phone expert.' I was dumbfounded. How could he send a text if his phone was broken?"
While Bobae was recounting what happened last night, So-eun thought about her own night. Could Choi Hyun-ji, who called him, be the Choi Hyun-ji she knew? Could he have threatened Choi Hyun-ji in connection with Yang Hee-wook's case? Or what if Choi Hyun-ji approached him with a sinister plan? Or what if the two of them... had known each other from the start?
While she was lost in thought, Bobae, who had gathered the snacks, led So-eun out of the convenience store.
"Oh, I heard that Nukum sued Iaks? Over patent issues."
"Oh, really? How did you find out?"
"I couldn't sleep last night because of that ex-boyfriend, so I searched for various things. It was an English article, so I didn't read it properly, but it seems like a real dispute has arisen."
"......"
"Could our TF Team be disbanded?"
Bobae asked for So-eun's opinion in a worried voice. So-eun was about to answer that such a thing wouldn't happen, but her feet stopped abruptly.
Choi Hyun-ji was entering the company building. It was Choi Hyun-ji wearing the suit she had worn the first day they met at Omotesando Hills.
Choi Hyun-ji was entering the entrance of the K Electronic Service Center Central Branch. Not the customer entrance, but the employee entrance.
"Team Leader? What's wrong?"
Bobae asked, turning her head towards the direction where So-eun's gaze was fixed. So-eun didn't have time to answer the question and chased after her.
She ran quickly, but Hyun-ji wasn't in the lobby. There was no sound of shoes clicking away. However, she could see the number of the elevator that had just left the first floor going up. The number stopped on the 7th floor, where Tae-joon's office was located.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Team Leader, what's wrong?"
No. I must have seen it wrong. There's also the support office on the 7th floor. She must be a related person who came to the support office.
"No, it's nothing. Let's hurry up and finish up and go up."
So-eun tried to calm her heart and turned her steps.
\
6 p.m. When it was time, So-eun, Bobae, and Eun-pyo went up to the 7th floor.
Eun-pyo, who was watching So-eun's expression as they rode the elevator, asked.
"Team Leader Han, are you okay?"
"Yes?"
"You don't look well."
"No, no. I'm fine."
So-eun said she was fine, even though she wasn't, and smiled brightly. The smile, which had been forcibly attached, fell off like a sticker with a worn-out bottom.
In front of Tae-joon's office, Team Manager Song Mun-gyeong greeted them.
"Did everyone have a good weekend?"
"Hello, Team Manager."
Everyone exchanged greetings, and So-eun asked Mun-gyeong as their representative.
"Is the Director in his office?"
"Oh, but he has a guest. You don't have to say hello today."
Mun-gyeong replied with an awkward smile, as if she was embarrassed.
Her heart sank.
So-eun stared blankly at the door to Tae-joon's office. No sound came from inside the heavy iron door. When she was in that room, she was so anxious that sounds might leak out, but now that it was so quiet as if no one was there, she felt like something was wrong.
No.
No. Choi Hyun-ji.
Yang Hee-wook is okay, but you can't touch Kim Tae-joon.
She wanted to run and burst open the door right away, but So-eun held back.
Not now.
Later. After all the work is done, after sending the colleagues away.
So-eun barely managed to go and sit down in the Future Service Team office with her legs trembling.
Not long after, Team Manager Song Mun-gyeong opened the office door and waved, saying she was leaving work first.
"Work hard and leave work."
After sending Mun-gyeong away, So-eun became even more impatient.
The guest in the office might leave while I'm staying in the office. I might not be able to see the guest's face.
So-eun couldn't overcome it and got up from her seat.
"Oh, I, I'm going to the restroom."
So-eun, who made an excuse to the eyes that were watching her as she got up in a hurry, immediately left the office and strode towards Tae-joon's office.
The door was slightly ajar on the door frame. It seemed that Mun-gyeong had not closed it properly when she said goodbye to Tae-joon and left.
Through the gap, Tae-joon's annoyed voice could be heard.
"I told you before. This is my workplace, but it's also Han So-eun's workplace."
So-eun's heart sank again when she heard her name in Tae-joon's voice.
And then the woman's voice followed.
"Are you worried that Han So-eun might hear?"
So-eun knew the owner of this voice well.
A cheerful voice full of bright energy. That clear voice that she could never forget.
Choi Hyun-ji and Kim Tae-joon. What on earth are they talking about?
"I wish you wouldn't come here recklessly like this."
"Then would it have been better to go to the Director's house?"
"We can meet in the middle."
"Where should we meet in the middle? There are so many eyes watching."
Would it have been better to keep listening?
But So-eun couldn't stand it and burst open the door.
As expected, the guest was Choi Hyun-ji.
So-eun took in at once Choi Hyun-ji, who was sitting on the sofa she had sat on several times, and Tae-joon, who was standing near the door.
She could see Tae-joon's eyes widening as he reached for the doorknob to close the door.
"It's been a while, Han So-eun."
Hyun-ji, who turned around, greeted her as if nothing was wrong.
Tae-joon seemed more embarrassed than that. He must be embarrassed. If his feelings for me are even a little bit sincere.
"So-eun, this is something I should explain first..."
"No. I'll go first."
So-eun immediately cut off Tae-joon's words.
"Did you two know each other before?"
Her voice came out sharply.
I don't want to be swayed. I'll make the judgment, so you just answer.
"I hired Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji through a law firm a while ago."
Tae-joon replied.
"When was that?"
"When So-eun was dating Yang Hee-wook."
Hyun-ji, who had been listening, blurted out. So-eun turned her head and glared at Hyun-ji with narrowed eyes, then asked Tae-joon again.
"Director, do you still hire this person?"
"No, Lawyer Choi Hyun-ji came to visit without contacting me today because of other business. Out of the blue."
Tae-joon drew a line as if Hyun-ji and he were nothing. She was a little relieved by those words, though.
"Huh. You can't even say thank you."
Hyun-ji immediately scoffed.
Her voice seemed different. It was a much clearer voice until just now.
It was a much, much sweeter voice next to Yang Hee-wook.
When So-eun turned her head and glared at Hyun-ji again, Hyun-ji slowly smiled. That smile looked as evil as a witch.
"Director, can I talk to So-eun alone for a moment?"
Hyun-ji asked Tae-joon. Tae-joon immediately replied.
"No."
"No. I want to talk. Let's go out."
But this time, So-eun insisted. Since Hyun-ji said she had something to say, she didn't want to refuse.
As So-eun turned towards the door, Tae-joon blocked her.
"...Let's talk here. I'll go out."
In the end, Kim Tae-joon, the owner of the office, was kicked out of the office as Hyun-ji wanted.
"Are you going to put your ear to the door and listen outside?"
Hyun-ji teased Tae-joon's back as he left. So-eun clenched her fist again at Hyun-ji's narrowed voice, and took a seat opposite Hyun-ji.
It was difficult to guess the relationship between the two. Whether they were close or not.
Hyun-ji gestured towards the door with her chin and opened her mouth as if it was ridiculous.
"He's fidgeting. Your boyfriend."
"How did you get here? What's the matter?"
"I don't think Director Kim Tae-joon has told you yet, but can I tell you?"
When So-eun asked dryly without reacting to that smiling face, Hyun-ji retorted even more boldly. So-eun changed the question.
"Did you break up with Yang Hee-wook, Lawyer Choi?"
"That's my personal matter."
"Yang Hee-wook also came here like this. It was very unpleasant."
It meant, you should take good care of Yang Hee-wook.
"I don't know what's going on, but if it's not something honorable, I hope Lawyer Choi won't come to see the Director anymore.""What if there's nothing honorable?""
"Since you have a past record, I can't help but be suspicious no matter how you package it."
"A past record?"
"I hope you don't pretend you don't know."
"......"
"A past record of ruining a couple who were even engaged."
"What? Ruin? Me?"
When So-eun recited it clearly, Hyun-ji burst into laughter as if it was absurd. The corner of her raised lip was clear.
"Listen. So, are you unhappy now, Han So-eun?"
So-eun clenched her fist.
"I'm not trying to say that, but if Lawyer Choi approaches the Director with impure intentions..."
"Whether it's impure intentions or not, if it's a heart that can be shaken by my approach, isn't that also a problem with Director Kim Tae-joon?"
Hyun-ji raised her voice first while So-eun, who had never fought like this with anyone, stammered.
"Han So-eun should be grateful to me. I helped you. So that you can break up with Yang Hee-wook now, even though it's very late."
Somehow, it felt like she was being pushed into a corner.
But this is, something is getting weirder. This is not the direction I thought it would be...?
While So-eun was speechless and opened her mouth, Hyun-ji shot back again.
"Yang Hee-wook is thirty years old, do you think only Han So-eun is the victim?"
It wasn't just So-eun who was emotionally charged. Hyun-ji also had a resentful expression as if she was struggling to overcome her anger.
"Do you think only Han So-eun has been hurt?"
So-eun couldn't understand that question at all, and a chill ran down her spine.
