episode_0035

Two days later.

“Take care.”

“No part-time job today?”

“No. Mon, Wed, Fri.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ll be off~”

Like a newlywed couple, in the morning. Yuhee sees me off in her apron. Every time I see her smile, it makes my heart flutter for no reason.

She prepares breakfast, packs lunch, she really takes care of me like no other.

“Wait.”

“Why–”

Our lips meet. Yuhee’s tongue brushes against mine.

“Kisses are only with me.”

Looks like the aftermath of yesterday’s incident lingers….

“Yeah….”

But starting the day with such intimacy made me feel like today would be a good day.

—

“Hmm~”

I enjoyed lunch with Yuhee, who put a lot of effort into making it. White rice, bulgogi, spinach, and even Vienna sausages with cute octopus legs. It was a bit disappointing that there wasn’t a heart drawn on the rice, but just the fact that she packed it made me happy.

“Since Jihee isn’t here today….”

Eating lunch alone in the empty office, the smell of bulgogi filled the air. Maybe that’s why the food tasted even better.

The well-marinated pork and the irresistible Vienna sausages danced in my mouth. By the way, the rule is to cut Vienna sausages one leg at a time.

“Sigh….”

After a satisfying meal, I drank some water. Since there was no chance of an indirect kiss today, I drank freely without worrying about anyone saying anything–

“Boss…?”

“Wow, you startled me. Jihee, you’re here? Had lunch?”

“Oh, I already ate.”

Jihee came in late with a half-day off. Maybe because I was giving her a hard time, she finally took a half-day off.

Since watching the movie, Jihee’s attitude had become quite calm. The usual lively side of her was gone, and she became as calm as Suhyun.

I was relieved that Jihee was the one who saw the lunchbox. If anyone else had seen it, it would have been a headache.

“Boss.”

“Yes.”

“Are you free later?”

“If it’s work-related, we can talk now.”

“No. It’s personal.”

“Personal?”

–If it’s about cheating… it’s a no-go?

It’s not about cheating, but I don’t know what she means. From now on, I have to reject her as Yuhee says.

“Sorry, Jihee. I don’t think it’s possible.”

If I just say it’s not possible for today, she’ll definitely ask to meet another day, so I made it clear that it won’t happen in the future.

Jihee seemed to understand this and became more proactive.

“If not after work, then before?”

Jihee created an atmosphere where I couldn’t refuse without giving her a chance. Her serious eyes made it impossible to brush it off as a joke.

“If it’s before….”

Well… if she does something strange, I’ll just have to stop her… it should be fine.

—

In the lounge. Many people come and go, so there are also people going to the rooftop.

I personally prefer it here because there’s no smell of cigarettes.

Jihee made coffee and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

“Do you have a girlfriend, Boss?”

“Ugh….!”

I was so surprised that I almost choked on my drink.

“Cough, cough!”

“Are you okay!?”

“Yeah, I’m fine….”

Luckily, Jihee quickly handed me cold water, saving me. I thought I was going to die.

“So… what were you saying?”

“About your girlfriend–”

“Oh, right. That’s….”

I hesitated on what to say, so my words dragged on. In my mind, Yuhee and I are ‘lovers,’ but I’m not sure how to tell others.

‘I’ve been overlooking it….’

Yuhee’s feelings remain unchanged. However, she is unsure of how to explain it if others start to pay attention. How does Yuhee want to appear to those around her?

“Does she want to be seen?”

Yuhee doesn’t boast about this relationship. At least she won’t tell anyone else. It’s just because it’s vacation, but if we start school again… I’m worried about how to explain it.

“She wouldn’t do that.”

If it were Yuhee, she would probably introduce me as her boyfriend. Whether it’s ethically wrong or not, Yuhee likes me. And I like Yuhee too.

So, I have to adapt to Yuhee.

“Yeah… I do.”

“As expected…”

“Did you know?”

“The director can’t possibly make such a pretty lunchbox.”

“….”

To be seen through so easily, women’s intuition is truly terrifying.

“Who is she?”

“Who is she….”

How do I say she’s my daughter….

“There must be a reason you met, or some good qualities, right?”

“Good qualities….”

Yuhee’s good qualities.

She’s pretty. She has a big chest. Her butt is soft and squishy──

“If I say that, it sounds like we met to have sex….”

I snap out of it and rethink.

She’s good at singing, she takes care of me well, she pretends to be indifferent but takes care of me, her sweet smile warms my heart…

“It seems like the director likes cynical people.”

“Huh? Did I say that?”

“Yes.”

“From where?”

“From being good at singing.”

“I see….”

I breathe a sigh of relief, grateful that I didn’t say vulgar words like ‘big chest’.

“Can you show me a picture of her?”

“A picture…?”

Can I just show Yuhee’s picture…? Is it okay because Jihee is a girl….

I feel like I’ve heard stories about showing a girlfriend’s picture and then losing it. There’s a song like that too… Of course, they weren’t dating in that song.

“Just a moment….”

Come to think of it, do I have a picture with Yuhee…? No, did I even have a picture of Yuhee?

I have my high school graduation album, but I don’t have any pictures because Yuhee didn’t show me, and I don’t have any pictures from when I was young except for baby pictures. I can’t show baby pictures, so no.

Should I take a lot of pictures next time we hang out?

“Sorry… I don’t think I have one.”

“You didn’t even take a picture?”

“She really hates that kind of thing….”

“All you have left are pictures, so take some… It might change the conversation if it’s for marriage….”

“Marriage…?”

As Jihee said, there are many things to consider about whether our relationship will end here or go further, whether it can go further, and so on.

Of course, Yuhee probably doesn’t want to end it like this, and I don’t want to end it like this either. I don’t want to end it as just a one-day fling or a memory.

“Sigh….”

My head is tired suddenly because of the many problems that have arisen.

“Is your head hurting, Director? I’m sorry… it’s because of me….”

“No, it’s not because of you, Jihee….”

I should be thankful instead. Thanks to her, I can think about my future with Yuhee.

“Thank you, Jihee.”

“What? Oh, you’re welcome….”

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

“No! Thank you for coming….”

“Yeah. I’ll get up first.”

“Oh, I’ll clean up.”

“Thank you.”

Marriage.

In Korea, marriage is legally prohibited up to the 8th cousin. So we made a promise to get married, but it turns out we’re 8th cousins, so we can’t.

Unless I become the president or a member of the National Assembly, this law cannot be changed. Even if I become president, I probably won’t be able to change it. In other words, we can’t get married.

“What about Yuhee….”

The more I think about it, the more bleak the future looks. I don’t have the ability to see the future like in a movie, and I can’t change the future either.

I have no special abilities, and all I can do as an ordinary person is respect Yuhee’s choice.

“Sigh….”

And no matter what choice Yuhee makes, I promised myself not to regret it. I made that promise over and over again.

“In fact… I had something to say…”

~~~

“You’re here~?”

“Yeah.”

Yuhee’s welcoming face is always refreshing. It’s always exciting. I wish this daily routine could continue forever.

“What’s wrong? You look a bit tired.”

“I had a lot of work. And maybe I’m tired because I exerted myself too much yesterday.”

“Oh~ You should reduce the frequency in the future….”

“Hahaha….”

It’s true that I had a lot of work, and I’ve been tired lately from sharing passionate love late at night. But even so, my face doesn’t darken because of it.

“Why did you have so much work?”

“My employee asked if I have a girlfriend.”

“What…?”

Yuhee looked a bit surprised. It was a bewildered expression, as if she had been poked in an unexpected place. Even that sight was cute.

“So… what did you say?”

“…I said I do.”

“Really…?”

She absentmindedly brushed her hair behind her ear. Thanks to that, my sulky face relaxed a bit.

“What about you, Yuhee?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“If someone else asks you….”

“I would definitely say yes. I would even introduce you.”

“….”

…My mind went blank for a moment. Without a second thought, she would introduce me as her boyfriend, even though the age gap would be quite noticeable. I was foolish to think that Yuhee wouldn’t be proud. This relationship is good for her. Being in a relationship with me is something to be proud of.

“Is that so.”

“Why? Don’t you think the same way?”

“No!? Not at all. I was going to show a picture, but I couldn’t find it.”

“Oh…. Come to think of it, we’ve never taken a picture together.”

“Yeah.”

“Should we take one now?”

“Right now?”

Yuhee grabbed me by the tie and pressed her face against mine. Then, as if she were used to taking selfies, she stretched out her arm and captured us.

I felt embarrassed seeing the difference between my face on the smartphone screen and Yuhee’s small face.

“Are we taking it? Smile.”

“Like this…?”

Yuhee smelled nice. I confidently posed with a V-sign under my chin and pressed the button.

“It turned out well.”

“Oh….”

I couldn’t help but admire Yuhee in the photo. My intention to persuade her disappeared.

‘….’

She loves me like this, but I was only looking at reality, trying to compromise.

But I am a realistic person. There must be reality for there to be ideals. I can’t ignore reality.

“Well… let’s cheer up today too.”

“What? I’m tired! Don’t overdo it!”

“No, looking at the photo made me feel energized.”

“What…♥”

And so, I decided to find a way to be with Yuhee for the rest of my life, no matter what.