episode_0011

It’s been a few days since I was forced to date Suhyun.

While we keep our relationship strictly hidden in the office, she doesn’t hesitate to show affection outside.

Our first date after that.

The sight of a young lady and an old man on a date might not look great, but Suhyun didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Oh, let’s ride that one!”

They say when you go on your first date to an amusement park, you end up parting ways due to waiting, having nothing to say, and feeling awkward. Coming to such a place with a subordinate who is like a nephew, I hoped to spend time with my children at this age, but now I find myself here. It made me feel a bit foolish.

Even more so, Suhyun kept linking arms with me, causing people around us to stare.

Tap.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“….”

She collided with someone wearing a black hoodie and a mask (probably a woman judging by her build), apologized, but the person left without a word.

“What’s wrong with that person…?”

“Well, things happen…”

“No. I can’t forgive anyone who hurts the Director.”

“I’m fine. Let’s go on a ride.”

“….Alright.”

Maybe she thinks there’s something suspicious. From the day we first met to now, I still can’t get used to the gap between Suhyun’s office demeanor and her behavior outside.

“So, about that thing~”

To an outsider, it seems like we’re a couple as she casually talks about our private lives. Technically, we are a couple, but…

Without revealing the fact that she’s dating, she told Yuhee they went to the amusement park and came back. Yuhee’s expression upon hearing that was terrifying, but there’s no choice. If I don’t comply, I’ll be fired from the company.

If Yuhee wasn’t in the picture, would I have faced Suhyun with a pure heart…? That doesn’t seem likely.

“Director?”

“Oh… What did you say?”

“My friend slipped at the swimming pool and her bra came off.”

“Oh… Haha…”

“Are you really listening to me?”

“I am…”

“It doesn’t seem like it. Please focus on me a bit more.”

She stared at me with a puzzled expression. Since things turned out this way, I decided to clear my mind and enjoy the moment.

“Oh! The line is empty. Let’s go!”

“Yes… Ugh.”

The line was so long that I didn’t even know what we were queuing for. Could it be the Gyro Drop? I was too scared to ride it even during my school days… how could I manage it now?

“Can’t you ride it?”

“Oh, no… I’m just here after a long time.”

“I see~”

Come to think of it, it’s been almost 20 years since I last visited an amusement park. It felt pitifully familiar that everything was still in its place. I hesitated to decline but decided to challenge my fear of the Gyro Drop.

“Departing~”

With the announcer’s voice, the engine started, and the seats began rotating slowly. The view of the amusement park and the Han River beyond became visible.

“Director~ Excited?”

“Haha. Excited indeed.”

Excited my foot. Terrified. I even thought about fainting mid-fall. But the train had already left, and I had to endure this moment with sheer willpower.

Shaking with fear, we reached the top, and as we docked with the claw hanging above, the rotation stopped.

Despite it being summer, the chilling breeze intensified my existing fear. Like in that old animation with the cat and mouse, if only I could detach myself freely, I’d want to take my heart out separately.

“Not scared, not scared, not scared…”

I chanted the magic spell silently. Of course, it had no effect.

“Here we go~ One, two─”

These people always drop you when they say ‘two.’ Falling, falling, falling…!

“Huh?”

We didn’t fall. Looks like they’re using a different pattern today.

“Three~ Four~”

Counting up to four? How long will they count──

“Aaaah!”

“Aaah~!”

Our screams, so different from others’, blended in with the rest.

—

I thought I was a goner.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Suhyun smirked at me.

“Boss, your expression is priceless~”

“Is it really that amusing….”

As we descended, I shot a glare of disdain at the attendant, but they didn’t seem to catch on at all. I’ve seen people rush off quickly many times, but seeing someone leave late was truly a first.

“This time, let’s ride that one~”

A ride outside resembling a roller coaster. Though it had limited seating, it was fast and could even splash you with water.

We were dressed comfortably, so getting wet wasn’t a concern. However, I couldn’t help but worry that Suhyun’s underwear might show through her white t-shirt if it got wet.

“Oh, before that, I’ll go to the restroom.”

“Sure. I’ll hold onto your stuff.”

“Thank you~”

I still don’t know how to handle this situation or how to explain it to Yoohee.

If by some chance—though it’s a one in a thousand—I end up marrying, Yoohee will have a mom who’s barely ten years older than her.

Thinking about how Yoohee would take that fact, I felt it was best to naturally part ways.

After a short wait, while Suhyun hopped around like a rabbit, she eventually made her way over to me with a tired gait.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

“Suhyun?”

Suhyun didn’t look well. It seemed as though she had been scolded by someone, wearing a genuinely unhappy expression.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes. Boss? I’m fine. Thank you.”

Suhyun swiftly grabbed the luggage I was holding. Did something happen while she was away?

But Suhyun’s face soon brightened as if nothing had happened.

“The front row is empty, Boss!”

After a brief wait, it was our turn.

“Boss, is this your first time riding?”

“It’s not my first time, but… it’s been a while since I last rode one.”

It must have been at least ten years. The last time I went to an amusement park was in high school. It’s been almost twenty years.

“Departure~”

An eight-seater boat-shaped roller coaster. While going up was similar to a regular roller coaster, the descent felt different. There was water on the ground, so you could get splashed on the way down.

“Wow…. Oh!”

“Eek~!”

The sensation of speed was felt throughout my body. While Suhyun had her arms up, I didn’t dare to do the same.

After dropping twice, it finally ended.

“Hahaha. Boss, you got soaked.”

“There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Getting soaked was inevitable. After all, that’s how the ride was designed. Though getting too wet was a bit much….

“Next, let’s ride that one!”

“Oh, that one….”

Located underground, it was a ride that moved at a fast pace while spinning around. Sometimes, you could make eye contact with people on the other side and exchange greetings.

Of course, I had no intention of doing that.

“Hello~”

Meanwhile, Suhyun energetically greeted them as if it were natural.

—

“What is that woman up to….”

My dad stood there, pretending not to notice, while the woman flirted shamelessly. Her black dress swaying gently, revealing her panties, blatantly seducing my dad.

“They wouldn’t… right?”

Dad had clearly said they weren’t dating. Yet, why was he accepting such intimacy without a care in the world? It made no sense to me.

The only conclusion was that Dad had lied to me.

“Ahhhhh~”

As the Gyro Drop plummeted, the screams of people filled the air. Dad, lost in a daze with a vacant expression, was taken care of by Kang Suhyun.

“Boss, your expression is priceless~”

“Hahaha….”

“I’ll go to the restroom~”

She left the line for another ride on her own. After researching about that woman online, as I suspected, she had quite a reputation in the past. Most negative posts had been deleted, likely due to legal action, but I managed to dig up some information.

Swindling money and causing chaos, she was truly despicable.

“Disgraceful woman.”

I was angry. The fact that she approached Dad made me furious. I don’t care if other men hit on her or not. It just angers me too much that she laid a hand on our dad. It’s clear she’s out of her mind.

I can’t stand to look at her anymore.

“I wish she would disappear quickly.”

I hope Dad would get away from that woman as soon as possible.

~~~

“Suhyun, wait a moment.”

The rotation speed seemed faster than expected, making me a bit dizzy. I grabbed a drink and approached Suhyun sitting on the bench.

“Thank you….”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Suhyun also seemed a bit dizzy; unlike when riding the amusement park rides, her complexion wasn’t great.

“No… I’m just feeling a bit dizzy.”

“Take a rest for a bit.”

“Yes….”

Due to the scorching sun outside, we moved indoors and sat on a bench. Suhyun leaned on my shoulder, looking down at the ground, seeming tired.

I also took a moment to rest and gazed at the ground.

“Is the manager….”

“Yes.”

“Do you dislike being with me like this?”

“……No.”

Honestly, I believe this kind of relationship should end at some point, but it’s not that I dislike this moment right now. If asked whether I like Suhyun or not, I’d say no, but if asked whether I enjoy hanging out with her, I could say yes.

Since I’ve enjoyed everything so far, I can’t say no.

“I enjoy spending time with Suhyun.”

“‘Spending time’ you mean….”

The anticipated Suhyun stood up. Perhaps due to the air conditioning, the part of my shoulder where Suhyun leaned felt chillingly cold.

“It won’t work after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Manager. Can you grant me a favor?”

“Of course.”

Regardless of romantic feelings, Suhyun is my subordinate. Granting a request within my capacity is only natural.

“Let’s go back.”

“What…? Why suddenly….”

“I want to continue from that incident.”

“Suhyun….”

As Suhyun said those words, her face was filled with tears.