Chapter 9: Are you really quitting?

“We apologized and even made you a cake. What are you so dissatisfied with?”
“…”
“Say something, dammit!”

I had been clinging to her.
Because I thought no one else would accept me.
I endured for a year, then two, and when I finally came to my senses, years had passed.

“Say something. Why are you doing this…?”

A faint sigh escaped Chae Seolha’s lips.

“Hey…”
“I-I’m sorry, Dojin. I tried my best to make it, but it must not have tasted good. I’ll make you another one, so calm down. Put that envelope away… okay?”

I spoke.

“There’s no reason for me to be at this company.”
“What?”

As Chae Seolha let out a dumbfounded chuckle, Yu Garyeon stepped forward from behind her.

“Hey! I understand you’re upset, but please think again. You have nowhere else to go even if you quit.”
“Y-Yeah, Yu Dojin, have you gotten too comfortable because we’ve been spoiling you? Do you even realize how much we’ve done for you?”
“I know. That’s why this is for you too.”
“What do you mean, for—”

I released Chae Seolha’s grip on my collar and continued.

“The work I do at this company can be done by anyone.”
“Huh…?”
“Well, as you said, I’m useless, so that’s probably why.”

Lee Dasom jumped at my words.

“That’s not true! D-Did you say that because I said something about you getting the contract? No, I was just, I was worried you’d be stressed again, so!”

No, let’s stop with the delusional talk.

“I should have done this a long time ago.”

As if to erase my resigned voice, Chae Seolha raised her voice.

“What are you talking about! We need you! We wouldn’t have hired you otherwise! Even if you’re clueless, you should at least be aware of that! Isn’t it irresponsible to talk about quitting just because you’re a little upset?”
“That’s not true. Even though I was absent for a week, there weren’t any problems at the company.”
“…That’s, because…”

Chae Seolha’s voice trailed off. Okay, now I was certain.

Let’s explain it to them calmly.
Why I’m not needed at this company, why they should kick me out, and how much they would benefit from it.

Let’s carefully ask for their forgiveness, as it’s my fault.
Yes, everything is my fault.

My…
Fault.

“Mopping the floor and making coffee is the only thing I can do?”
“…”

Hey.
Why aren’t you saying anything?

I’m asking you.
Whether I’m needed or not.
Whether there’s anything only I can do here.

“I have the title of UX Designer. Then why should I be doing those chores? Anyone can do that.”
“Th-That’s…”
“Why do I have to report my location every hour? Why can’t I eat what I want and watch what I want? Why do I have to help with chores at your houses even on weekends?”

Chae Seolha yelled.

“How would we know what you’re up to if we don’t do that? And get your words straight, it’s not restricting you, it’s caring for you!”
“If you didn’t trust me that much, you should have fired me.”
“Do you even know what ‘image’ means? What would happen to the company’s image if someone quits, especially a founding member, when it’s just starting out? Sigh, seriously… If you have complaints, you should talk to us! Why are you suddenly throwing a tantrum after being so compliant until now?”
“Suddenly?”

Chae Seolha scratched her head and continued.

“I know! I know! I told you. But I explained it to you every time. That it’s all for your own good. And you understood and accepted it.”
“Because I thought things would get better if I endured and worked hard.”
“What?”
“If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have even—”
“…Watch your mouth.”

Chae Seolha grabbed my collar again. The difference this time was that she was squeezing with enough force to strangle me.

“Speak clearly. Which b*tch is it?”
“What?”
“Which b*tch put you up to this? Which damn b*tch is driving a wedge between us? Did they promise you more money if you moved to their planning team or whatever? Is that why you’re betraying us after all we’ve done for you? It doesn’t make sense otherwise, dammit… You ungrateful bastard!”

But I did try. Even with my shortcomings, I tried my best to explain how I felt.

Ungrateful bastard?
Suddenly, something inside me snapped.

“…Why are you doing this?”
“What?”
“Why are you so obsessed with cursing at me? You don’t say anything harsh to anyone else, why only me?”
“Th-That’s because you…”

As Chae Seolha stammered, flustered by my aggressive attitude, Yu Garyeon, who had been watching, stood up and spoke.

“Hey! Wait a minute. Calm down—”
“Stop with the ‘Hey’ already!”
“What?”
“What did I do wrong to make you distance yourself like that? If you have a problem, tell me!”
“Ugh…”

It hurt that Garyeon, who was like a younger sister, started distancing herself, calling me “Hey.”

“Dojin! You shouldn’t talk like that even if you’re angry! Be more calm—”
“I’m not your brother.”
“What?”
“There’s no reason for you to teach me anything, or for me to be corrected by you.”
“No, it’s all for you, Dojin…”
“For me? You’re not even looking at me.”
“Not looking at you? What are you talking about, Dojin? I don’t understand. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden…?”

I was tired of Dasom denying my feelings.

“Y-Yu Dojin. Listen to me. We curse because we’re close.”
“I, I just wanted oppa and unni to…”
“Dojin, I understand. I was wrong. I’ll do better. No, I’ll do everything. You don’t have to do anything, so please, I’m about to cry…”
“Dammit, look at me when I’m talking to you!”

The office, which had been filled with cheerful music and laughter just moments ago, was now a mess of shouts and cries.
Yu Garyeon, pale-faced, muttering to herself like a broken machine. Lee Dasom, holding my hand and sobbing. Oh Minseo, glaring at me with sharp eyes.
And finally, Chae Seolha, her voice cracking as she poured out her resentment.

“Why are you making a scene at the company if you’re going to do this! You could have just, just told us…”
“Told you?”
“Yes, told us! If you have complaints, we should talk and resolve them! Why are you lashing out like this!”
“Did you ever listen when I tried to talk?”

Chae Seolha flinched.

“Every time I tried, you just laughed it off. You even dismissed my resignation letter as a joke.”
“Dammit… So you’re leaving now? You’re really resigning? Don’t be ridiculous, I won’t accept it! Do you think this company is a joke?”
“Yeah, and it doesn’t matter whether you accept it or not.”

If there’s no fixed term in the employment contract, either party can terminate the contract at any time, and the resignation is considered effective one month after submission, or after the next payday.

“You know that, right? You’re the CEO, after all.”
“Ugh, th-then. Okay, the h-handover! You have to stay at the company until the handover is complete. Just go home today and cool down, and let’s think about it slowly for the remaining 30 days, okay?”
“Handover? Me?”
“Y-Yes! It’s all for your own good. You have nowhere else to go anyway. You’re just agitated right now. You can’t think straight.”

But the only things I’ve done at this company are…

“Should I document how to wring a mop? Should I write down ‘Be careful not to drop the mop, because the marble floor is easily damaged’? Then I should also write down how to use the coffee machine while I’m at it. Don’t worry, I’ll write down your favorite massage spots and dishes too.”

My voice trembled, and my teeth chattered. Something sticky was rising in my throat.

“Wh-What…?”
“What is there for me to hand over at this company?”
“N-No. No no no. Wait! The contract…”
“You finished it. Without me.”

Silence fell, and our breaths mingled. Chae Seolha, who had been pulling at her hair, suddenly twisted her lips into a smile.

“Okay. Okay! Resign. Just resign and take a break, then think again—”
“Let’s just end this.”
“What? Oh, you mean… Let’s stop fighting and make up?”
“Let’s end this tiresome relationship, please.”

My voice, colder than I expected, came out of my mouth.

“What?”
“Huh?”
“D-Dojin. You’re lying, right?”

Chae Seolha and the others stared at me in shock. Their ragged breaths pounded in my ears.

“I’m sorry for everything.”

As I turned to open the door and leave, Chae Seolha grabbed my back.

“O-Okay. I was wrong. I admit it, I admit it, so please calm down.”

I pushed Chae Seolha’s hand away. She stumbled from the sudden force and collapsed, her legs giving way.

“W-Wait!”

Chae Seolha grabbed my right ankle.

“I-If you leave like this, I’ll spread rumors about you in the industry. That I fired you because you’re an incompetent pervert who only cares about women. Then you won’t be able to set foot in this industry again. You’ll be truly alone this time. Are you okay with that? Huh? Dammit… I even apologized for something that wasn’t my fault, can’t you just listen!”

I forcefully pulled my leg away from Chae Seolha’s grasp. She fell face down on the floor, gasping for breath for a moment, before suddenly raising her voice as if she had come to her senses.

“W-What are you all doing! Lock the door, lock it quickly! He’s really leaving! Hurry, hurry…!”

Responding to her shout, Lee Dasom rushed out and tried to hug me with both arms, but—

“Don’t touch me.”
“What…?”
“Don’t touch me.”
“Why, why are you doing this? It’s me. We’re practically family, right? Right, Dojin? We are.”
“Not family. Dolls.”
“N-No… I…”

Dasom, pushed away by my hand, collapsed on the floor and began to sob pitifully.

“What are you doing, unni, hurry, catch him! Stop him! Someone, anyone…”

I left the office and hurried into the elevator. The scenery outside the window swayed like waves.
As I stumbled towards the taxi stand,

“Wait!”

Chae Seolha, pushing open the door and running after me, called out.

“Ouch!”

But her high heel caught on the pavement, and she lost her balance and fell.

“Ugh, ah…”

Chae Seolha’s cheek, scraped against the pavement, turned crimson. The sight of her misery momentarily weakened my resolve.

“W-Where to, sir?”

But this no longer concerned me.
It didn’t, it wouldn’t, and it shouldn’t.

“…34 Nobel Villa in Pia, please.”
“D-Don’t go! Please, at least let’s talk! Ouch…”

As the taxi pulled away, Chae Seolha’s voice, which had been audible through the window, quickly faded away.