Chapter 35: Molting, Fable

Lesbian.

In simple terms, it means a woman who likes women, that is, a female homosexual.

I’ve heard that there are many types within that category if you delve deeper, but as a non-expert, that’s about all I know about lesbians.

The important thing is that a lesbian is a woman who is sexually attracted to other women, whether congenitally or acquired, and feels affection and sexual desire for them.

And according to Older sister’s guess, Team Leader, Cha Hye-won, is a lesbian.

Of course, there’s a possibility that it’s just baseless speculation. Older sister has never met Cha Hye-won, doesn’t know her face, her personality, nothing.

It’s not like she’s ever revealed her sexual orientation. Inferring things arbitrarily based on circumstances might be rude. But…

“….”

…Why does it strangely make sense?

I thought back to the incomprehensible attitude That person had shown me. The change in attitude before and after I transformed into a woman. The strange behaviors of Cha Hye-won, who had seemed like just a businesslike person who said what needed to be said.

Looking back, That person never told me the reason. Even when she was breaking up with me with a brusque and somehow reluctant, dark expression, and even when she was tearfully begging me not to leave as if her usual image was all fake.

Why hadn’t I thought of that until now?

I had already guessed that there was some reason that was difficult to reveal.

If that reason was her sexual orientation, that is, the fact that she was a lesbian… it’s understandable that she couldn’t say it easily. Because regardless of gender, coming out as a homosexual is a difficult thing.

“Then why did she accept my confession in the first place?”

If she is a lesbian, what I’m curious about is why she accepted my confession in the first place.

If her sexual orientation is lesbian, she shouldn’t have accepted my confession as a man in the first place.

Shouldn’t a person who likes women reject a man’s confession? Unless she’s bisexual, with both men and women within her range.

Even without explicitly coming out as a lesbian, there were many ways to reject the confession. She could have just said she wanted to remain good colleagues. Or she could have made excuses like such a private relationship at work could cause problems later.

If she had, I would have completely given up on her, and we wouldn’t have ended up in a dry, pseudo-relationship that ended with a one-sided declaration of separation.

Nevertheless, That person accepted my confession. She allowed the unrequited love of someone who loved her but whom she didn’t love, and then dragged it out listlessly without even a glance before discarding me.

“Um… Hanbyeol, besides becoming a woman, there weren’t any other changes, right? Like you suddenly winning the lottery, or something happening on Team Leader’s side.”

“No. Nothing.”

I didn’t change. That person also… I don’t know about her personal affairs, but at least there were no noticeable changes.

“…Hanbyeol, what kind of person did you say Team Leader was?”

“Mechanical, blunt, and someone who says what needs to be said?”

The image of Cha Hye-won imprinted on me is Team Leader, my direct superior. A person who stabs people with words, regardless of whether they are above or below her.

“Do you still think so?”

“No.”

But what does it matter now? Cha Hye-won, who collapsed that day, the Cha Hye-won I didn’t know, was too different from that imprinted image.

“I think this way. A person’s true nature comes out when they are at their weakest.”

“That means…”

Clinging, whining like a child, a weak appearance without confidence or strength.

That appearance is That person’s, Cha Hye-won’s, true self?

“Yeah, in my opinion, That person is…”

“…much weaker than you think, Hanbyeol.”

“….”

Is all of that true?

Even if it’s all true, would anything change?

That person, who tried to hide the truth, her true feelings, from me until the very end.

Can I really forgive her?

“Hanbyeol, actually, Older sister… now, speaking as Older sister, I hope you don’t meet such a weak and selfish person.”

“A weak and selfish person…”

“Yeah, maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree. But that doesn’t change the fact that you were hurt and in pain because you were swayed by That person.”

With a more serious expression than usual, Older sister advised me.

I suddenly felt a pang from the scar That person had left on my heart.

…But…

“…It doesn’t look like you’re going to listen to Older sister, our Hanbyeol.”

Older sister said with a bitter smile, as if she was at her wit’s end, like when I used to cause trouble as a child.

“Then do what you want to do. Ask yourself.”

“Ask myself…”

Seo Hanbyeol, do you still…

Do you like Cha Hye-won?

….Yes.

――

“Ugh…”

I’m bored.

It’s good that there isn’t much work, but after finishing the little work there is, a terrible boredom washed over me.

If all the work is done, can’t they let me leave early? This damn company always makes me work overtime when there’s a lot of work,

“Chief, do you know where Senior went? Oh, I mean… Seo Hanbyeol Senior.”

It would have been less boring if Senior was here. Senior, who went outside with a very heartbroken expression, hasn’t returned even after a long time.

If she left early for some reason, why would she leave in such a hurry without taking her laptop or bag? Is it that urgent?

“You don’t have to say it like that, Se-young, you only call one person Senior anyway.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, you do, Han Se-young Employee.”

For a while after Senior disappeared, other people seemed to not know why Senior suddenly left her seat and were whispering among themselves, but thanks to Senior’s good reputation, it didn’t lead to gossip. Even that didn’t last long before they turned their attention elsewhere.

“Team Leader might know…”

“Why, are you going to have an interview with Team Leader?”

“No, that’s a bit…”

Meeting with That person alone to ask about Senior’s whereabouts is… crazy.

Just imagining it makes me feel like my lifespan is shortening. I’d rather encounter the Grim Reaper or a dump truck heading to another world—

“—Han Se-young.”

“Eek!?”

I should have just kept my mouth shut. No, I shouldn’t have even thought about it.

“Y-yes, yes, yes, Te-Team Leader…?”

“Can I see you for a moment?”

I should have just stayed quiet. I shouldn’t have been so talkative.

“Wh-what’s the matter…”

“….”

“Ah, never mind!”

Terrified, I followed Team Leader into the conference room.

Whenever a subordinate made a big mistake that couldn’t be reprimanded with a simple warning or scolding, Team Leader would bring that subordinate to this room of truth.

I’ve been in and out of here a few times myself, and every time I did, my mental state was completely shattered. Not only me, but even quite a few seasoned people would sit down powerlessly with a dazed look on their faces after visiting the room of truth once.

Did I make another mistake? Were there too many typos? Or was the line misaligned? What is it? What is it?

“Sit down.”

“Y-yes…?

But contrary to my worries, Team Leader said something that I thought I would never hear in this room of truth.

“S-sit… down?”

“Yes, anywhere you want.”

As I said before, this room of truth is actually a conference room. Of course, there are many chairs in the conference room.

But at times other than meeting times, that is, when reprimanding subordinates like this, the unspoken rule was that no one except Team Leader could sit on an empty chair.

“Weren’t you… weren’t you going to scold me…?”

“Do you want to be scolded?”

“No, no! Absolutely not…”

“Then sit down. I didn’t call you here to scold you.”

As always, Team Leader organized documents and typed something busily on her laptop, and allowed me to sit down.

Reading the hidden meaning that she wouldn’t tolerate me looking around anymore, I sat down without hesitation.

“Um… Team Leader? May I ask… why you called me here…?”

If it’s not for official business, that is, if the purpose isn’t a Verbal Lashing, why did this person call me here?

It’s unlikely, but maybe… a salary freeze? It’s not that, is it?

“Seo Hanbyeol.”

“….Yes?”

“You seem to be quite close to Seo Hanbyeol.”

….I’d rather have a salary freeze.

“Th-that’s because, Senior, no, Seo Hanbyeol Employee is so kind. You know?”

I remembered what Senior had said. That Team Leader and Senior used to be dating.

Of course, it wasn’t anything passionate, and I heard that they broke up after maintaining a lukewarm temperature, but still, she’s her ex-girlfriend, no, ex-boyfriend, Senior is.

If I was the same rank or lower than her, I could have put up a fight, but I’m the weakest in this company, and Team Leader is my direct superior. If I stand up to my direct superior, my neck won’t be left intact.

Love? Love is good. It’s humiliating to back down against a rival in love. But I can’t do something that will get me fired from work just to save face.

“She teaches me the work well, and that’s why I’m trying to be friendly with Employee with respect and gratitude, but I have no ulterior motives or other intentions at all…!!”

“Take good care of her.”

So for now, I have to deny it. No matter what Team Leader says, I have to say no for now. If my true feelings are revealed, it could be the end of me…

“…Pardon?”

Huh?

“I said, take good care of Hanbyeol.”

What is this now?

“…Uh… me?”

This is an unexpected situation.