episode_0043

In the previous episode Jihee. (12), a little more detail was added to the description of Manager Choi’s sigh at the end! Thank you for reading and watching!

“Sigh….”

The sigh that escaped was not from me. It was Manager Choi, who was always either cheerful or angry no matter what happened, letting out a sigh.

Today, he seemed to be sighing more than usual, as if something had happened at home. Normally, if it was just something that made him angry, he would have expressed his anger, but he was not someone who would sigh deeply like this.

Worried, I followed Manager Choi when he went out to smoke.

“Hoo….”

Even though he would have noticed me right away under normal circumstances, he looked up at the sky while smoking a cigarette. Slow-moving clouds drifted across the blue sky, and Manager Choi’s cigarette was getting shorter in sync.

“Hey.”

“Oh, you startled me!”

“Did I really startle you?”

“Anyone would be startled if you did that….”

“Is that so.”

Manager Choi emptied the ashtray and sat down on the bench where I was sitting. Even as he sat down, he did not forget to let out a sigh.

“Why are you sighing so deeply?”

“It’s just… sigh….”

It was not something he usually did, so something really bad must have happened.

“Jihee, should I just quit like this…”

“….!”

Did he see the resignation letter in the drawer?

“No….”

Even if it was in the drawer, it was hidden deep inside where no one could see it. And Manager Choi would not be the type to rummage through my drawer. He probably just thought I was quitting because I used up all my vacation days. Unless it’s a huge corporation, they don’t compensate for unused annual leave.

“Ah. No, right.”

I had already received the resignation letter, so I lied. I was afraid that if I said I received something, I would really go into shock.

“That’s… right?”

Manager Choi did not know that I had lied about receiving the resignation letter. Perhaps this, too, could be an act of missing Jihee.

I had wasted too much time. I should start heading back soon.

“Manager Choi. Now–”

“The two of us. We’re not actually dating.”

“….”

“You already knew, didn’t you.”

At this moment, I couldn’t lie, so I nodded my head. Manager Choi turned towards me, then looked back at the sky.

“It seems like things didn’t work out with the director, judging by your vacation days.”

“You knew?”

“Yes. I asked you to do it in the first place. I wanted to meet the director’s partner once. It seems like someone who would be a shame to miss out on if the director let them go.”

“I see….”

From the way he spoke, it seemed like Manager Choi didn’t know about the part where Jihee referred to us as family.

“But I was sincere.”

“What?”

“You didn’t realize?”

“Not at all.”

We looked at each other with puzzled expressions for a few seconds. Did we both think ‘This?’ Did we not say anything at all?

“The director is really dense.”

“I hear that a lot….”

“When did you…?”

“Well, I just realized it when I looked at it that way. It’s like seeing a close sibling as the opposite sex. It happens quite often, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true, but….”

I could tell why Manager Choi’s expression had turned gloomy. There was no sadness as great as when someone you like leaves.

“Manager Choi….”

“Yes?”

“Do you wish Jihee was here?”

“….Well, yes. I hope she doesn’t leave this time.”

“I see….”

I made up my mind after looking at Manager Choi. Originally, I was prepared to accept Jihee’s decision with a sense of responsibility, but looking at Manager Choi, Jihee must definitely come out.

“First, I need to contact her….”

I opened my smartphone and sent a message to Jihee’s chat.

~~~

It’s cold.

I must have left the air conditioner on for too long, my whole body feels too cold. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older that I feel it more.

“It’s barely cold….”

Not mature at all. It feels like just stubbornly refusing to buy what the kid wants. But it’s not like I’m asking for it. What is this frustration?

“Kyaa~”

The first and last long vacation I’ve taken. I should start looking for other job interviews soon, but I just don’t feel like doing anything. If I knew it would be like this, I should have just kept it to myself. I got hurt for no reason after confessing.

Maybe the alcohol is going down smoothly because I’m hurt. It feels like alcohol is seeping into my chest and healing my heart. Already a few cans have piled up in the living room.

“Who are you! Why are you doing this to me──”

Even if I turn on the TV, it’s just the usual third-rate drama. A scene where a female employee is angry about something, and then the male boss kisses her. It feels like it’s been a long time since I kissed someone, maybe it’s been over four years….

‘I want to kiss….’

I could confess this to anyone I meet. The world is wide, and there might be one or two people who like me. Just meet these people, get married before the boss, and get revenge──

‘That’s nonsense….’

I’m too confident. And it’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed that I even imagined a scenario where the boss, who I know won’t reciprocate, might have a change of heart and make a move.

It’s so painful to be rejected by someone you like. If I knew it would be like this, I should have thought more before confessing and rejected them. I should do that from now on.

‘Next…?’

No, forget it. There can always be a next time. Someone who knows nothing about my situation could confess to me. Someone who falls for me at first sight could confess. But even if that happens, it doesn’t feel like my life will change.

Maybe I’ll just continue living alone.

“Is it okay to call?”

……?

A text from the boss. What is it. He’s calling me after all this time….

“It’s okay.”

Still. I wanted to hear the boss’s low, husky voice one last time.

—

“I’ll go down first.”

“Okay.”

After Manager Choi left, I called Jihee.

“Hello?”

“Yes. Boss….”

“Are you resting well?”

“Yes… I’m resting well.”

She doesn’t seem to be resting well at all. Jihee’s usually high-energy voice was nowhere to be found, replaced by a low-energy tone that made me anxious.

“Boss~ Why did you call~?”

“….Jihee, have you been drinking?”

“No~?”

Her voice kept rising. It sounded like she was speaking through her nose with a hint of aegyo.

The reason was probably because of me, so I didn’t blame her.

“Jihee. Are you really going to quit?”

“….”

I asked directly, knowing that she had to work and make a living. Jihee is a good person, both personally and professionally. If someone like Jihee leaves, she’ll probably find another job quickly, but I didn’t want to lose her here.

And for Manager Choi’s sake, I wanted to keep her.

“What will you do if I quit?”

“I… I don’t know.”

The contract is nothing special. If she wants to quit, she can. As a department head, I can’t do anything about it.

But I still wanted to stop her. I felt like small business owners desperately try to prevent competent employees from leaving.

“It’ll be… very disappointing.”

“….!”

“You’ve never caused any major accidents. You haven’t caused any problems, and you’ve hardly ever been late, right? And people from other departments know you too.”

I had to convince her somehow.

“What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to stay. It’s up to you, but I want you to stay.”

“….”

There was a sound of a phone hitting something, and then Jihee spoke again.

“If you grant me one request, I’ll pretend I didn’t hand in my resignation letter.”

“A request? Okay. What is it?”

“Date me.”

“Jihee…”

“If not, I’ll just stop here.”

“…”

I must have misunderstood Jihee all this time. I thought she was always cheerful, kind, and considerate.

But maybe this side of her, willing to resort to threats to get what she wants, is the real Jihee.

And so, I…

“I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t fulfill Jihee’s final request.