episode_0038

This is a story from a few days before meeting the head of the department.

“Jihee, please take care of this.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and…”

It’s not just the head of the department who gives me work. The manager also assigns tasks to me. It’s not too difficult, just within my capabilities.

“Why do you keep looking over at the head of the department?”

“What!?”

I was surprised for a moment, but fortunately, there were only the manager and me in our department.

“Why are you so concerned about me looking this way? Jihee wouldn’t bother me… Anyway, just be careful because it bothers me.”

“Yes… I’m sorry…”

They say women are sensitive to others’ gazes, but it seems like men are sensitive too. I never thought I would be caught by the tail by the manager…

As the manager returned to his seat, the head of the department and Suhyun also returned at a good timing.

“Could it be Suhyun…?”

No, it’s not. Although the person in the photo with a similar vibe to Suhyun, it didn’t resemble her. Besides, if it were Suhyun, the head of the department would have explained it properly. Suhyun was rejected by the head of the department, that’s for sure.

To be caught up in such trivial matters, people become strange once they start to like someone, not just one or two things…

“Jihee.”

A message from the manager. When I looked at the manager, he pointed his finger up.

“Phew…”

“I smell something.”

“But if something is up, wouldn’t you have something to say?”

“The manager called you.”

“If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to.”

“But the manager called me… Ah.”

Come to think of it, the manager and the head of the department are unusually close. Besides the head and the manager, there seemed to be something between them. It’s like friends sharing secrets and becoming closer.

“They might know something.”

If they are close, the manager probably knows that the head of the department has a girlfriend, and what kind of person the head of the department’s partner is, maybe…

“I must be crazy!”

How can I compete with such a beautiful person! I’m just confirming to get rid of any lingering feelings!

“Manager.”

“Yes?”

“Did you know that the head of the department has a girlfriend?”

“The head of the department!?”

“Huh…?”

He seemed completely clueless. I thought he would have told the manager for sure… Could it be that only I knew?

“Really? Who? Team leader Shin?”

“No… Why would it be Team Leader Shin…”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

“Anyway, you didn’t know.”

“Yeah… Maybe Jihee knew and didn’t tell me…”

“No! I just happened to run into her…”

“And that person?”

“No… the lunchbox…”

Should I tell him this…? But since the head of the department didn’t specifically say not to tell, it seemed like it wouldn’t be a problem even if I told him now and found out later when they get married.

“I see… That’s why it was like that. So the head of the department is also interested in women… Finally, his eyes are open.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Well… This was a secret between us, but since Jihee has been working here for a long time, I’ll tell you.”

“Oh, okay…”

Finally, the secret of the head of the department…

“The head of the department is actually divorced.”

“Divorced…?”

“Yeah. He had an accident in high school or something. So now he’s raising his daughter alone.”

“He has a daughter…?”

“Yeah. She probably started college this year.”

I never imagined that someone who had lived so properly and skillfully had such an experience. And to have a grown daughter and a girlfriend…

…!

I felt a chill all over my body. If the head of the department is living with his daughter, and that daughter makes lunch for him every morning, and the photos they took together look so alike. Moreover, the head of the department clearly mentioned having a ‘girlfriend.’

“Could his daughter be his girlfriend…?”

I don’t even want to imagine it. I didn’t want to believe that the head of the department was that kind of person. If he had brought in a new stepmother, that would have been better.

“But the director said he’s in his thirties….”

The director must have said his partner is in his thirties. There are two possibilities, either he really met a partner in his thirties and brought them home, or…

“Lies….”

The director is not a machine, he’s a person. Since no one goes through life without telling a lie, even if the director lied, it wouldn’t be surprising.

“Manager. I have a favor to ask….”

“A favor?”

I need to confirm it myself. Who the director really is. And whether what I’m thinking is true.

“Are you free this weekend?”

I wanted to firmly believe that my beloved director wouldn’t do such a forbidden thing.

~~~

“Director! Over here!!”

“Oh~”

Jihee, with her hair neatly done, wearing a white blouse and a beige skirt that looked light, was waving from afar.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

Seeing Yoohee scared, walking slower and falling behind me, the director reassured her and comforted her properly.

“Did you come?”

“Jihee and… Manager Choi…?”

“Yes, hello.”

I was a little surprised. They didn’t show it, but I never imagined they were dating. I heard Jihee has a preference for younger men… but she said it didn’t matter, so maybe they’re close. They say you grow fond of each other in three years.

“Is the woman next to you your girlfriend?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I’m jealous. You didn’t even tell me.”

“Ahaha… sorry.”

“You look hot… aren’t you uncomfortable without a mask?”

When Jihee asked, Yoohee nodded silently. Then she subtly tugged at my clothes, as if hoping I would say something.

“My skin is sensitive… I usually wear a mask.”

“I see….”

Jihee looked somewhat disappointed.

“Let’s go! The weather is so bright~”

“That’s true.”

Following Jihee, we all entered the park. The National Science Museum in Gwacheon Station. I went there when I was young, and it’s been maintained for decades. It’s been remodeled, and many things have changed.

“Has Manager Choi been here before?”

“Yes. He’s a regular at field trips.”

“Of course.”

“I’ve been here too!”

“Oh….”

Out of the four of us, only Yoohee hadn’t been here, making me feel the passage of time. Jihee may be young, but she’s only six years younger than me.

As we entered the main building in a dome shape, we were surrounded by cool air from the air conditioner. It seems they tried to maintain the overall design despite the remodeling, as they didn’t change the exterior design.

It’s a headache to change it.

“Oh, looks like you can buy tickets here!”

“We used to buy them outside.”

“That’s right… we sweated a lot because of the latecomers.”

They added ticket machines inside during the remodeling. Holding tickets for four adults, we passed through the gate and entered.

“It’s changed a lot….”

“Wow….”

When we entered the space exhibition hall, everything that looked old had been completely changed. They marked current technology as future technology or corrected any misinformation. Some self-driving trains were operating, so they were hidden in the exhibition hall.

Instead, they added new exhibits like brainwave technology and virtual currency. In the center, a spherical LED screen was rotating, showing real-time prices of virtual currencies. I’m not sure how this is related to science.

“Wow, look at this!”

When the kid put on something like a hat, a robot inside moved slightly. The kid didn’t move a muscle.

“Is this brainwave technology…?”

The era where everything can be controlled with just the mind seems to be approaching. I’m a little worried whether people will be born with deteriorated bodies and enlarged brains, like some scholars fear, or if things will remain the same as they are now.

“Jihee, want to try it?”

“My head might not fit because it’s too big….”

“Oh, Jihee is the smallest here…. Oh, maybe Yoohee is even smaller….”

“That’s too much, Manager….”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

As Yoohee shook her head in refusal when Manager Choi made a suggestive gesture, he chuckled and said, “You’re so picky~.”

“Oh, that’s….”

Manager Choi pointed to two spherical devices that were placed side by side.

Inside, there was a skeletal structure that moved around, with the outer four rods wrapping around the spherical shape in a curved manner.

“Boss, want to try that?”

“Me…?”

“Why not? We had something similar before. Wasn’t it a gravity experience?”

“Oh… right.”

He remembered not trying it before because he had to pay for it. He didn’t want to spend money on a boring science museum. Of course, all that money was spent on purchasing useless scientific devices.

He recalled a device inside that had a ball moving according to the weight distribution at the center. Thinking back now, he didn’t know why he bought such a device. Maybe he was just fascinated by moving it on his own.

“Anyway, give it a try.”

“What’s the harm in trying?”

“Wow! This is so fun!”

A high school student-looking boy shouted from inside the sphere. He seemed to be using some kind of VR device.

“Boss, aren’t you going to try it?”

“Hmm….”

“You can try it.”

“Really…?”

For once, Yoohee encouraged him to try it. It would be embarrassing not to try when Yoohee also suggested it. And honestly, it looked really fun.

“Are you two together?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? It might be a bit dizzying….”

“Yes, we’re fine.”

“Are you really okay…?”

“Are we going to die?”

“Maybe.”

Following the staff’s instructions, they took their seats, feeling a slight swaying sensation and a floating feeling. Soon, they put on the VR devices.

“Let’s start~”

After the ride began, within 3 minutes, both he and Manager Choi rushed to the restroom to vomit.

~~~

“You really enjoyed it~”

“….”

Due to the two men leaving, Yoohee was left alone with him. Why did they wear hats and masks in the summer? And on top of that, wearing a cardigan.

‘If only they had taken off the mask, I could have confirmed….’

His small, slender eyes resembled the chic image in the photo. Of course, it was obvious because it was himself…. If he changed his hairstyle to a more masculine one, he would look exactly like a young manager….

‘I can’t ask….!’

No matter how much he thought about it, he looked too similar to say something, but if it wasn’t true, what should he do? And even if it was true, it would be rude to ask them directly, so he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

“You.”

“Yes?”

Instead, Yoohee was the one to speak first.

“You’re not dating that person, right?”

“Me…?”

As she said that, the glance she gave him was so similar to the serious look the manager gave him.