episode_0017

***

Crack, crack. Keyboard sound.

Grumble. The sound of something being taken out of a drawer.

Crunchy. The sound of writing something with a pencil.

If someone were to see it, they might think it was an ordinary office.

It’s not that it wasn’t, because the manager, who hadn’t seen his face in a long time, said, ‘Everyone is working hard.’

Without knowing that it was someone’s external pressure that created this environment.

This pressure of not being able to do anything the way I want. I feel like I’ll be screwed if I look even the slightest bit disheveled.

‘I wondered why it felt familiar.’

I laughed to myself when I realized that this somehow familiar feeling was actually the military dormitory on the first day I moved in.

They were definitely smiling and full of life.

But now, as if his soul had been taken away by a monster, he had a stiff face and blank eyes, and his eyes were focused on the monitor like a stone facing the sea.

‘Are you working or counting the air?’

Well, in an atmosphere like this, I might have trouble concentrating.

I am examining the work in a suddenly created academic atmosphere.

There were some things I wasn’t able to check properly over the weekend.

I know that it is impossible to learn a task that has taken several years to complete in just 3-4 days.

But if you ask me if I’m going to keep going here, I’d say I haven’t made up my mind yet.

However, as a member of this company, I am studying out of necessity with the mindset that I must do the bare minimum.

Tiring.

While browsing the shared document folder, a message came up in the messenger at the bottom right.

system: Yuna Kim invited Inho Kang.

[Kim Yuna: We have invited Mr. Inho.]

[Kang In-ho: ??]

As soon as I was invited to the chat room, chat messages came up in a dizzying manner.

What is it? It’s like a group chat room that you guys made together.

[Kang In-ho: What room is this?]

[Seorim: It’s just a room where we can talk comfortably among ourselves.]

[Kang In-ho: I see.]

[Kim Yuna: Inho, do you know what’s going on with Mina?]

There was something going on.

[Kang In-ho: As I said before, I don’t know.]

[Hyeyoung Yoon: I don’t think I’ve ever been as irritated as I was today.]

[Kang In-ho: I don’t think you were annoyed.]

[Hyeyoung Yoon: You don’t know Mr. Inho. Is that annoying or what?]

And there are countless complaints about Mina.

If I were to sum up all those little complaints, it was [I don’t know why it’s suddenly doing this.]

Well, you might have some complaints.

I don’t know if it was me before, but since I don’t know everything that happened, I can’t say anything hastily.

But, I don’t know why you invited me.

I don’t think I’m asking her to chat behind her back or to find out how Mina feels.

[Kim Yuna: Can Inho talk to Mina?]

[Kang In-ho: Which one?]

[Kim Yuna: Why… I guess they just gave me too much work at once. The team atmosphere is not good. Like this.]

[Kang In-ho: Me?]

[Kim Yuna: Inho is closer to Mina. The two of us work overtime a lot.]

Is it ‘persuasion’?

Suddenly this company became shit. You really have to hold the right angle tightly.

Suddenly, no content is posted in the chat window that was active.

What, is everyone’s internet cut out?

“What are you doing?”

I heard a noise behind me and turned around to see Mina there.

“Yes? Ah…”

The people I was chatting with just now have gone somewhere and all I see is people working hard at their jobs.

Wow, the viewing angle is really wide. Please let me know too.

I felt like I was seeing something that shouldn’t be seen, so I quickly but very naturally closed the messenger window.

“If you’re not particularly busy, let’s have a meeting.”

Unlike the anxious face she showed over the weekend, today Mina looked calm.

“Interview?”

“Yes, face-to-face.”

“Okay. Should I reserve a conference room?”

“No, it’s not something I need to do too much, so I’ll just do it while eating lunch.”

“Yes.”

When I stand up, everyone’s attention is focused. It was so pitiful that I couldn’t turn my head and just rolled my eyes.

Now, when I go out with Mina, they will talk among themselves again.

It was a natural procedure, but something didn’t suit me.

“Me and Inho, we will eat lunch and come back.”

“Yes~”

Employees who answer brightly.

“And it’s okay to sell chat rooms, but don’t talk too much behind people’s backs.”

“…….”

Employees’ expressions darken.

Wow, this is bloody.

“I’ll just pass it up this time, but next time I see it, I’ll destroy everything.”

Her words without change in pitch sounded really scary.

As if to announce that lunch time was approaching, office workers came out into the street in threes and fours.

Me and Mina walked toward the food alley.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything. What about Mina?”

She said quietly, clinging to me.

“If Inho wants to eat, I’m all for it.”

The words whispered in my ear felt heavy.