episode_0045

“Ugh…!”

As Jihee wiped my pants, she gradually stimulated me. I tried to pull away, but Jihee desperately clung to me.

“Jihee, let go!”

“Yes, Manager. Oh, the weekend… right? Yes? Oh, it’s nothing.”

I couldn’t just raise my voice recklessly without knowing Chief Choi’s feelings. I couldn’t let him know I was there. If he found out, he might be shocked to realize that the place he went to, even skipping a drinking appointment, was the house of someone he liked.

And I had Yoohee. If I did something like this with Yoohee around, I would truly be cheating.

“Eek!”

I had no choice but to push Jihee away with force. Jihee fell to the ground, but thankfully she didn’t hit anything.

“I’ll go.”

“….”

In the end, without resolving things properly, I ran away.

~~~

“….”

“Jihee, what’s wrong? I heard a commotion.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Is it a bug or–”

“No! Ah.”

I accidentally raised my voice. I had offended not only the director but also the manager.

“I’m sorry.”

“….Is the director here?”

“He left.”

“Oh… really?”

There was no reason for the two of them to meet. It seemed like I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise with the director. I felt nothing but remorse for involving the manager unnecessarily.

“So, what happened?”

“He cleaned up and left.”

“Jihee can be quite annoying.”

“….”

“Is that really all?”

“….Yes.”

“You’re taking too long.”

“I failed because of the director…. because of the phone call….”

“That worked out well.”

“Did it…?”

I thought he was going to say something comforting, but instead, he said it worked out well. Was he teasing me?

“Are you teasing me?”

“No. I really mean it.”

“What are you talking about… please stop joking. I’m really troubled right now.”

“If you don’t want me to tease you, I won’t.”

“How am I supposed to face the two of them now… my face is all red. I can’t go to work like this.”

“Who cares about that. How many times have I been angry with you?”

“You’re the one who’s–”

“Who’s the one being unreasonable here?”

“….”

“Who quits their job because they got scolded? Are you going to say ‘I quit because I got scolded’ in a job interview?”

“You’re being too harsh.”

“What does the manager know?”

“75 A full.”

“Huh…?”

“Height 163, weight 49, drinks one bottle of soju, always brings chocolate milk in the morning, has a habit of doing unnecessary things, and fell for the director since the day of joining.”

“….”

“Is there anything wrong?”

“Are you a stalker? And I lost more weight.”

It was true, but I said it out of frustration for being seen through. And how did he know about my obsession and falling for the director since joining…?

“I told you. If you’re scolded, come to me.”

“Was that sincere?”

“Of course! I’ve been keeping an eye on you since the day you joined! But you only care about the director, so I didn’t show it. You should know me better!”

The manager’s tone was unusually high. And he said such cheesy things without hesitation.

“Manager… did you drink?”

“Yes, I had a drink. Why?”

“….Is it because of me?”

“Then who else would it be because of?”

“….”

I should have known from the moment we started talking on the phone and making plans to meet. Am I just too fond of you…?

Drinking alcohol is said to bring out a person’s true nature. Things that one wouldn’t say when sober. Right now, Director Gwajang’s state is exactly like that. That’s why I don’t particularly enjoy drinking.

But I also relied on the power of alcohol. So, I ended up calling Director Bunjang for the last time, but ultimately failed due to the influence of alcohol.

So, when Director Gwajang sobers up, he will forget everything he said to me. Listening to the complaints of a superior. This is also a part of social life.

“…Where are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Are you near the company?”

“No. Seoul National University.”

“What?”

“Jihee knows where Director Gwajang lives, right?”

“Sigh….”

He’s definitely drunk. I think I know why he didn’t want to drink with Director Gwajang.

It’s already past the last train. Since Director Gwajang doesn’t live here, he must have gone to a bar near the station.

“Wait there.”

“What?”

“Director Gwajang likes me, so I’ll go by taxi. Wait for me.”

“Jihee, I—”

It’s annoying. I have to take him home in a taxi to sober up. Whatever he says to me the next day, I’ll treat it as a joke, just like he’s been teasing me all this time.

“It’s not like I’m swayed by whether he likes me or not.”

I quickly put on my clothes and left the house.

~~~

“Director Gwajang!”

“Huh?”

When I went to the only bar near the station, as expected, Director Gwajang was lying there. I know Director Gwajang’s drinking capacity is about 2 bottles, but there were more than 4 soju bottles piled up. It was fortunate that he didn’t overdo it.

“Get up quickly! You’re causing trouble!”

“Ugh….”

He’s talking, but he’s not all there. Why did he have to get drunk because of me. I wanted to pass out too.

He’s the one who’s being reckless.

“What’s your address, Director Gwajang?”

“….”

“Hey!”

It’s heavy and difficult to move him when he’s sprawled out like that. I’m scared he might throw up in the taxi if I leave him there.

I should just leave him at a decent motel and come back…. I’ll have to charge double.

“It’s room 305.”

“Director Gwajang is in room 305… Hang in there a little longer.”

“Ugh….”

“Ugh!”

“Come on, wait a minute! Please, Director Gwajang…!”

Fortunately, it was just dry heaving.

Room 305, where we finally arrived. I threw Director Gwajang onto the bed and tried to leave.

“I’ll go now, Director Gwajang.”

“….”

He’s lying there like a corpse. I’m worried he might throw up in his sleep… That’s the most worrying thing….

‘What’s good about someone like me.’

Ultimately, this person got drunk because of me. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t bear to see my boss in such a state, so I brought him here, not because I had any feelings or anything like that.

Just a close Director. Take care of yourself, oppa. That’s all.

‘Even Director Bunjang…’

We’ve been together for three years. Since there was no progress between us during that long time, it’s only natural that Director Bunjang sees me as just a close younger sibling. I only realized recently. I came this far because I felt like that time was wasted.

“I’m sorry, Director Gwajang.”

Just like Director Bunjang abandoned me, I also abandoned Director Gwajang—

“Eek!?”

As I tried to turn back, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and forced me to sit on the bed.

“Director Gwajang, I— Ugh!?”

He laid me down and hugged me. The smell of alcohol was so strong that I wanted to cover my nose with my hand.

“….”

“This damn drunkard!”

The more I tried to get away, the tighter Director Gwajang hugged me. His grip was so strong that I couldn’t break free.

“If you keep doing this, I can’t hold back!”

No matter how much I said, there was no response. At this point, his movements seemed so deliberate that I wondered if he was doing it on purpose.

“Jihee….”

I’m so sleepy, but I want to sleep. Do this when I’m not around…

I had no choice but to stay still for a while, and as the force that was restraining me gradually weakened, it eventually disappeared altogether.

“What’s wrong?”

Maybe it’s because of the smell of alcohol, but I felt like I was drunk for no reason and didn’t want to get up. It was lucky that nothing happened, but still, I felt a bit regretful to just stay like this.

Looking at Manager Gwajang’s body now, it’s as broad as Director Bunjang’s. If Director Bunjang is naturally muscular, then this one feels like they’ve been diligently working out.

“Why am I looking at this without any reaction…?”

Now that I see this, even if I look at it now… I don’t feel any emotions… But why…

“Why does it feel comforting…?”

I didn’t know that someone liking me would make me so happy. If the fact that the other person is Manager Gwajang is a flaw, then it’s a flaw but…

“I’m really annoyed…”

Still, I wanted to stay a bit longer, so I nestled deeper into Manager Gwajang’s embrace.

~~~

“……”

The phrase ‘strange ceiling’ is familiar. My head hurts, and I don’t feel like moving. And somewhere warm yet heavy.

“…!?”

Why is Jihui here? This is our house–

“Oh, I see.”

A king-size bed that’s spacious for our house. Various bling-bling decorations and a table that shouldn’t be there. Most of all, Jihui sleeping soundly next to me proved that fact.

I don’t remember what happened yesterday. I remember drinking alone, but my memory is fuzzy after that.

“Did I do something terrible?”

Thankfully, it seems like I didn’t do anything since I’m still dressed. Although my lower half is still asserting itself…

But leaving that aside, what did I do yesterday–

─75 Full A.

─Yeah. Had a drink. So what.

─And who’s it for.

I feel like kicking the blanket right now. Drinking and teasing my subordinate, it’s clearly a nuisance behavior. And especially… to someone who likes me…

Moreover, it seems like Jihui moved me here. I don’t remember due to the blackout.

“Even your sleeping face is cute.”

The slightly open mouth while sleeping, the hand weakly touching mine, the hem of the clothes slightly lifted showing a bit of the stomach, wearing workout leggings showing the panty line. All of it is cute.

…The last two are a bit perverted though.

“Jihui.”

“……Uh, yeah…?”

“Did you bring me here?”

“Ah…… Yes.”

Jihui doesn’t even get up or respond. Trying not to show her face to me, she turns her head, which is cute.

“Thank you… Ugh.”

Leaving that aside, how many bottles did I drink yesterday? My head hurts too much. It’s a workday, I shouldn’t have drunk so much… Should I just take a sick day…

“Manager…”

“Yeah.”

“Is that really true?”

“…What.”

Jihui stretches and gets up as if she’s coming to her senses. After a simple stretch, she lies back down on the bed.

“What you told me yesterday.”

“Ah… that… it’s true but…”

It’s embarrassing to say it now that I’m sober. I probably know why I drank yesterday.

“Do you think you can do better than Director?”

“…Honestly, I don’t know.”

Director is outstanding. It’s impossible to surpass Director both professionally and personally. It’s even impossible to make Jihui flutter.

But I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“Still… at least I’m confident I won’t cheat. My ex-girlfriend had octopus legs.”

“What’s that…?”

…!

Jihui’s soft body touches mine. We didn’t do anything more than that, but that alone was enough.

“Please stop that.”

“Is that so…?”

“I only did it because Director was so insistent. I want to take a break this time.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“And… you suggested going out on the weekend, right?”

“Oh, well… yeah.”

It was something I blurted out after drinking, but she remembered that too. I was secretly pleased.

“Let’s see each other then.”

“…Yeah.”

“My feelings aren’t sorted out yet… so please help me forget, Manager.”

“…With your body?”

“Are you a pervert?”

“Most men are like that.”

As we talked, our distance from each other grew closer──

That day, I took a sick day.