(Complete) Ending #5. SWEET



It’s a summer that breaks records every year.

Headlines like “Heatwave in Hundreds of Years” and “Highest Temperatures Ever” are commonplace.

As if to prove it, the shimmering heat rising from the asphalt is enough to make one’s mind go blank.

Perhaps they’ve all died from the heat; even the usual cicada cries are nowhere to be heard.

The piercing cries of “Spio- Spio-” are now somewhat missed.

“Hot.”

Perhaps taking the weakly air-conditioned car was a mistake; I already feel sweat forming on my back.

I need to get to the office quickly and cool down.

Squeezing through the throng of people, I pass through the ticket gate.

Ignoring the escalator that’s been out of order for two days, I climb the stairs.

The human wave, the procession of salarymen, is familiar.

In the midst of that crowd that once felt suffocating, I can only think about how hot it is.

I just want to get to the office and cool down.

That’s all I can think about.

“It seems unusually crowded.”

I wonder if there was a train delay.

Despite the sweltering heat, people are constantly walking towards their respective destinations.

Even in this absurdly hot summer, everyday life continues.

That’s the life of a salaryman, or rather, our lives.

I tap my phone to quickly check the time and hurry a little.

I’m not late, but I need to get ahead to catch the elevator.

Walking quickly and getting on the elevator, a cool breeze swept down my neck and back.

I shivered briefly, fully enjoying the coolness.

“Oh, Team Leader.”

Someone recognizes me as I enter the elevator.

Kim Yuna. She’s on my team.

“Ah, Yuna-ssi. You’re here early.”

People enter one by one, and Kim Yuna and I stand close together.

Before I know it, the elevator is full.

“Yes, it’s too hot. I just woke up.”

She lowered her voice.

“Yes. They say it’s the hottest ever.”

I replied vaguely and stared straight ahead, and she also looked in the same direction without saying anything.

Soon the doors opened, and she and I pushed our way out.

“Ugh, when you get off inside, it would be nice if the people in front would get off first.”

Kim Yuna grumbled, pointing at the person who had been blocking the way at the front.

I nodded in agreement and opened the door with my employee ID card.

There’s still plenty of time before work starts.

I set the air conditioner to the lowest temperature and took off my jacket.

“But Team Leader, aren’t you hot?”

It’s a summer suit, but wearing a jacket in this weather is hot.

“I am.”

I dabbed the sweat on my forehead with a handkerchief.

“But why do you only wear suits? Ah, I’m not criticizing your fashion… Our company has a dress code, but it seems like you only wear suits.”

Looking at her eyes, it doesn’t seem like she’s trying to be sarcastic.

Well, I know that neither the ‘previous’ Kim Yuna nor the ‘current’ Kim Yuna would be like that.

“Shall I tell you a surprising fact?”

I smiled as I pressed the power button on the computer.

“I have five identical suits.”

It’s not a lie. I have a set of suits, neatly ironed, to wear from Monday to Friday.

“…Really?”

“I wear casual clothes on my days off. I only wear suits when I come to work. You could say it’s like an identity. Now it feels awkward to wear other clothes.”

“Ah, I see. But it seems convenient.”

“Right. I don’t have to worry about what to wear. However, some people look at me strangely.”

I winked.

“Ah… Sorry….”

“I’m kidding.”

I sat down and checked my schedule with a different smile than before.

Chatting with team members, I think I’ve changed a lot.

As I sat and worked, I saw team members entering the office one by one.

They all looked exhausted from the heat, fanning themselves with blank expressions.

“Sorry, the bus was delayed.”

Finally, with the latecomer Yoon Hye-young, all of our team had arrived.

“Let’s have a scrum.”

As I took my pad and headed to the office, the team members followed me.

People gathered in the conference room.

I connected the pad to the TV and looked around.

“……..”

Looking at the closed door, I can’t help but have various thoughts.

I locked the door and set it on fire.

I hit and crushed the faces of the people trying to escape with a fire extinguisher.

At first, after learning that I was repeating my life with memories, I was happy.

At least the tragedy of forgetting him wouldn’t happen.

But, coming to the same company and seeing the faces of the people I killed again, I realized that it wasn’t just a happy thing.

The Dimension Management God sent a warning not to forget the sins I had committed.

“Everyone. Thank you for your hard work on the last task. Now we will redistribute the work.”

I stammered on.

After a scrum of about ten minutes, everyone took some time to chat before starting work.

In the old days, I would have ended the meeting sharply, but it seems that a little flexibility has arisen in this life.

Maybe I feel sorry for them.

“Ah, it’s so hot.”

Talking about the weather.

“I’m going to Bali this time.”

Talking about the summer vacation that hasn’t come yet.

“But is this schedule okay?”

Additional questions about the work.

15 minutes of meeting and 30 minutes of chatting.

We spent a total of 45 minutes in the conference room, diligently wasting the morning.

This is the life of a salaryman.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Time flew like an arrow, and before I knew it, it was time to leave work.

Even though it was well past 7 o’clock, it was still bright outside.

I guess it’s summer.

“Team Leader, are you working overtime?”

“No, I’m going too.”

I gather my things and stand up.

I must never work overtime. I swore to keep this no matter what while living my life again.

“You’ve been leaving on time these days.”

As I hurried onto the elevator, someone said.

“The most important thing for a worker is leaving work, isn’t it? I’m just protecting that. Finish today’s work today, and don’t bring tomorrow’s work to today.”

It’s a very important life motto.

If there’s anyone who doesn’t know it, I hope they write it down in a notebook. Or a diary.

I said goodbye to the people and headed to the subway, heading to the downtown area.

It wasn’t that far on foot, but I didn’t want to sweat as the day was what it was.

I also didn’t want to show my sweaty self.

After one stop, I shook off the countless solicitors in the downtown area and arrived at the theater.

I opened my phone and checked the message.

[I bought the tickets.]

Why does the corner of my mouth automatically go up even at that simple sentence?

I go up the escalator.

My heart is pounding, vigorously announcing its existence.

A face that’s good to see anytime.

A voice that’s comfortable to hear anytime.

A scent that makes me happy anytime.

I’m going to meet him now.

When I arrived at the ticket booth, I was able to find a somewhat neurotic-looking man at once.

Even in the midst of any crowd, finding him is easy for me.

“Ah.”

He also found me, his eyes widening as he approached.

“Did you wait long?”

“No.”

“How was work today?”

“It was okay. I have a few days of overtime scheduled, though.”

He smiled.

So I smiled too.

“You should leave on time like me.”

“I wasn’t born that way. I should follow Mina-ssi’s example.”

Mina-ssi.

Hmm.

“But, Inho-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“When are we going to drop the honorifics?”

“Well, it’s stuck in my mouth, so I keep using polite language.”

“You spoke informally last time.”

“That’s because Mina-ssi chose Yoo Mi while holding Kangta. Anyone would have spoken informally.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

I snuggle up next to him, pretending not to know, and hold his hand.

A warm temperature is transmitted. I wonder if my heartbeat is also transmitted.

“Let’s go buy some drinks.”

“Yes. I’m going to drink zero coke. What about Mina-ssi?”

“Um… I’ll have Sprite.”

Because I live the same life, there are still things that haven’t been resolved.

Yoon Hye-young, the team’s troublemaker, still hasn’t come to her senses.

House prices are skyrocketing, but my salary can’t keep up.

Decisively, I still haven’t cut ties with my family.

…Strictly speaking, I’m in the process of cutting them off.

It’s not a happy ending yet; many conflicts and obstacles are lurking around me, baring their teeth.

That’s why I’m afraid. I wonder if I’ll collapse again like in my previous life.

But, because I have a place to lean on, I’m not so desperate.

“Popcorn is definitely caramel flavored, right?”

Holding my hand firmly, Inho-ssi smiled.

[Whatever happens, I will help you by Mina’s side.]

Sometime, the face of when he pulled me out of the black swamp flashed by.

A trustworthy and reliable figure.

Consideration and responsibility hidden beneath a neurotic face.

And yet, very sweet.

Like caramel popcorn.

Like my tongue will melt.

Such affection.

“Of course.”

I stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

Sweetness transmitted through the lips.

That’s why I’m happy.