episode_0112

“Mom, I’m really sorry. Thud!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mom. Let it out. Okay?”

“Uh, I… I’m sorry, Team Leader.”

Regardless of how I would feel later on, I found myself with horns sprouting out, yelling at the kids (not my own, but what do you call an 11-year-old?) and pouring out my frustrations alone in the room, spending a gloomy morning.

Soon enough, it seemed like they noticed my mood as Dayoung, Davin, and Kim Taehyun quietly gathered in front of my room, trying their best to comfort me behind the locked door.

For some reason, seeing them apologize like that made my heart ache even more, unable to control the overwhelming emotions that made me burst into tears.

“Sniff, why are you guys… singling me out like this? Sniff. Scolding me… I’m the leader here. Really, I’m… bad. You guys… sniff.”

As I spoke, the sadness overwhelmed me, and tears started flowing again.

Today was truly strange. It wasn’t even my first period, but my emotions were completely out of control.

After about 5 minutes? Being in that state for a while, I found myself hesitating whether to open the door or not, and after about 10 minutes, I realized I was already standing there with the door open.

-Click!

As soon as the door opened, Dayoung hugged me tightly.

“Mom, I’m sorry. Sniff.”

Somehow, tears welled up in my eyes again, and I couldn’t help but cry at the sound of Dayoung’s choked voice.

“No, I’m more… sniff, sorry! Sniff.”

And so, we cried together for a while. Davin and Kim Taehyun were at a loss, just rolling their eyes.

After crying our hearts out and finally calming down, Dayoung asked in a hushed voice.

“But, Mom…?”

Pausing for a moment, she glanced at the men and then spoke again.

“Is it your period?”

What? How did she figure it out? I didn’t even mention it. Is there some sign that only women can recognize?

“Oh… yeah.”

“That’s why. That’s why you can’t control your emotions.”

Ah, right. I’ve heard that since becoming a woman, my emotional expressions have become much richer, but fundamentally, I was a blunt person.

So, yelling and crying like a child from the morning onwards must have seemed abnormal to anyone who saw it.

“Oh, Mom, you’re hot? Let me check if you have a fever.”

-Drip.

Again! These tears just wouldn’t stop.

“Is it really bad? Taehyun, maybe Mom should rest today.”

“Oh, yeah, looks like it.”

“Yeah, Mom. Just tell work you’re not feeling well and rest.”

“But… sniff. If I don’t go, work…”

“Ah, our workaholic Mom is still the same. A common thought among workaholics. If I’m not there, work won’t function. If a company can’t run without me, is that even a company? It’s a sole proprietorship, right?”

Dayoung was saying things that seemed like they were at a 17-year-old level, but I couldn’t agree with that. Because if I admitted that, it would feel like my 15 years at the company were being denied…

“So, Team Leader. Today, just let Manager Kwon and I handle things, and you just rest.”

“Am I… not helpful? Really?”

Tears welled up again.

“Oh no! I didn’t mean that. Even though Manager Kwon is sick, it’s more inconvenient for us if you’re here. Without you, our team won’t function, right? So, you need to rest completely to recover, so our team can work better, right?”

“Still…”

“Well, it’s Friday anyway! Let’s take a break today, tomorrow, and Sunday, and come back to work feeling refreshed, okay? So, that settles it!”

“Well… but taking a day off on the same day… isn’t that a bit too much?”

Da-young tilted her head and clicked her tongue at my words.

“Tsk tsk, what Mom needs is not just a day off.”

“T-then?”

Leaning in close to my ear, Da-young whispered softly.

“Men-stru-al leave.”

“Eek!”

It’s a nightmare. A nightmare resurfaces.

It’s the story of a former colleague of Kim Tae-hyun, a female employee who is no longer with us.

She would take menstrual leave every Friday for a few months, claiming to have her period on consecutive days of the weekend. And on a holiday during a holiday season, she claimed to have her period on a Monday… Oh, the horror!

“T-that’s too cruel! The manager and Director Kwon won’t tolerate it either!”

Because they’ve experienced it too.

“Um, Manager.”

At that moment, Kim Tae-hyun quietly interjected into the conversation.

“I understand what you’re thinking. It’s not that the system itself is bad, it’s the people who abuse it that are bad. And even though you’re in pain right now, wouldn’t it be inefficient not to use such a system?”

“Wow, Tae-hyun’s logic is on point.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yes, so don’t worry and rest well.”

“But I still have to give the kids a ride…”

“How about I give them a ride today? Since Mom drove yesterday, I can drive today, and then you can drive back home after work. That way, everyone will be comfortable.”

Hmm, maybe it’s a good idea?

Or not? Am I causing too much trouble?

Unable to make a decision, I turned to Kim Tae-hyun.

“Oh, Dabin. You’re still young and don’t understand these things yet. You shouldn’t lend out the car so easily. What if there’s an accident…”

“Then should Tae-hyun drive?”

“Yes, yes? But Manager…”

“Oh, come on, there won’t be an accident, right? You’ve had your driver’s license for a while now.”

“Well, I’ve had it for about 8 years. I got it when I turned 20.”

“Driving experience?”

“I come from a family of drivers.”

“Alright then.”

I got up from my seat…

-Creak!

“Ouch!”

Today, my menstrual cramps are particularly severe.

“Oh, Mom! Let’s lie down on the bed first.”

Supported by Da-young, I lay down on the bed.

“Ugh, Dabin. If you look in Mom’s jacket pocket from yesterday…”

-Clang!

Before I could finish my sentence, Kim Tae-hyun pulled something out of his pocket and shook it.

“Are you looking for this?”

“Oh, right! Why do you have it, Tae-hyun?”

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Why is Kim Tae-hyun in our house in the first place?

Shouldn’t I have been curious about the fundamental reason for that?

“Wait, why is Tae-hyun here in our house?”

I asked him with a stern expression, but Da-young sighed deeply and glared at me.

“Ugh…”

Dabin tapped his forehead.

“Hahaha…”

Kim Tae-hyun awkwardly let out a laugh as if he was in a difficult situation.

What on earth happened last night?!

**

As Da-young’s explanation escalated in volume, and I started to tear up again, Dabin calmly explained yesterday’s situation.

And then.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Is this what they call throwing someone under the bus these days?

I lay on the bed and nodded at Kim Tae-hyun.

“Please, Manager!”

Kim Tae-hyun tried desperately to lift me up, but it’s just not right to do so.

Calling a subordinate instead of a manager while I was drunk… Isn’t that abuse of power? And on top of that, vomiting on the person who rushed to help me?

Oh, just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

In the morning, I can understand why our kids scolded me like that. If Dayoung had done such a thing as an adult, I would have definitely scolded her until tears streamed down.

Of course, I no longer have the body to scold like that.

“No, me, making such a big mistake! Calling subordinates in the middle of the night and doing such dirty things! (Fact) This is clearly a serious mistake. Make me take responsibility!”

-Smack!

For some reason, Kim Taehyun’s face brightened at my desperate apology.

-Thud!

“Mom, watch your language. Please….”

Dayoung rubbed her forehead as if her head hurt.

“Anyway! Since the manager said so, I’ll use the manager’s car today. It would be more convenient for me.”

“Y-yeah. Thank you. Oh, right! Taehyun, I’ll wash your clothes until you leave work today. Don’t worry and come back!”

-Vroom! Bang!

Kim Taehyun’s face turned even redder, as if it would explode.

“Uh, y-yes…. I’ll ask for your favor.”

Anyway, after that, I took the medicine (for menstrual pain, cold, hangover) that Dayoung prepared for me and lay back in bed.

“Kids, hurry up and get ready! We’ll be late!”

“Sis! Hurry up and come out! I’m on duty today! We need to go quickly!”

“Just wait a bit! It takes time for women to get ready! Ugh, that’s why men…”

The morning sounds coming from outside.

The smell of food tickling my nose, the chirping of birds flying outside the window, and the noisy voices of families preparing for school and work.

It felt nostalgic. Maybe it was for the girl who had left, or maybe it was for the scenery itself.

“It’s warm.”

More than the warmth of the blanket covering me, it was the sound of the scenery I missed.

Unknowingly, I fell asleep with a sense of peace.