episode_0143

“It was a pleasure today.”

“Haha, please come again next time.”

As the late summer sun slowly set on the horizon, it was already 5:30 in the afternoon. After enduring a long 7-hour voyage, we finally set foot on land.

“Captain Park, let’s get together again sometime. Let’s have a bowl of raw fish and a drink of soju.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Oh, Captain.”

“Alright, see you later!”

“Yes, take care!”

After bidding farewell, we headed to a nearby raw fish restaurant.

“Do you have plans for today?”

“Yes, I do.”

I nodded in response to the captain’s question.

Today was Saturday.

Every Saturday evening, I had a study session or a similar gathering with author Lee Young-woo, so today was no exception. We were scheduled to meet in an hour.

“Can’t you cancel?”

“I already pushed it to tomorrow.”

When I mentioned the appointment at 7 p.m. to Manager Yook, I assured him that I had enough time to come and go, even if I left now. But the salty sea breeze had left a lingering smell on my body, and I debated whether I should take a shower. I decided to let time solve the problem.

So, around 3 p.m., I called to ask if we could meet tomorrow if he wasn’t busy, and he agreed, suggesting that I come enjoy fishing with him.

“Really? Sounds good. I should taste the one you caught since it’s been a while.”

I was about to offer the saury I caught as a contribution, but judging by the atmosphere, it seemed difficult to skip this post-fishing dinner gathering. So, I decided to play the role of a good drinking companion.

“You seem to know the owner well. With this many people, we can eat, grill, and steam the fish to our heart’s content.”

It seemed like there would be plenty of fish to eat, including the saury I caught, as well as other fish caught by the group. There was enough food to share with my family at home.

“Since we asked the owner to prepare the fish we caught, make sure to take your share when you leave.”

“Yes, Manager.”

If we were to buy the fish we caught at the market, it would probably cost more than 50,000 won, maybe even close to 100,000 won.

The captain seemed to have a knack for finding the best fishing spots.

“Let’s start eating before the food gets cold.”

As he led his subordinates, his energetic demeanor somehow felt refreshing. He had seemed like an old man who had given up on life just a while ago, but now he was strangely lively.

Maybe it was since we had lunch, but I had that feeling.

Anyway, as he said, the food and the raw fish were not meant to be left at room temperature for too long, so I quickly picked up my chopsticks.

After Manager Yook and the other superiors took their first bites, I could finally dig in.

“Mmm, delicious.”

The fish caught today, especially since it was still alive in the tank until it reached land, tasted exceptionally fresh. The resistance when biting into the firm texture and the taste of the raw fish made me understand why Koreans are so fond of raw fish.

“Haha, eat as much as you want, Assistant Manager Jung.”

“Yes, Captain Park.”

“It’s quite lively now that we’ve added a young person to the group instead of just old folks.”

“That’s true. Haha.”

As we ate and drank, the atmosphere became more lively with each round of drinks.

Young people are called 40 years old, but now they are at the age where they should be called middle-aged. As expected, people are visual animals, so seeing a young woman in her late twenties in front of me, it’s no wonder my heart softened after hearing the words of the boss earlier.

I didn’t enjoy it like the others, but that’s just human nature. Why didn’t I know that? Well, it wasn’t as awkward as it might seem, given that I had received as much favor as I had a good-looking appearance.

Moreover, well, it’s not wrong to say that, with members in their 60s (the boss), 50s (Manager Kwak, Manager Park), and late 40s (Manager Yook, Manager Kang), being the only one in their 30s (less than 3 months left), I guess I am considered a young person.

Well, being the manager in charge of alcohol was not an easy task.

That’s what people say, right? It’s not the work that’s hard, it’s the people. The essence of dealing with people is the drinking session. When alcohol enters, a person’s true personality tends to come out. However, depending on who the top person is, the atmosphere can change, and fortunately, the boss is quite clean in that regard.

With the most problematic Manager Yook having the boss present, the atmosphere of today’s drinking session flowed quite smoothly.

But now being the youngest, I would glance at my superiors and rush to refill my glass when it was empty.

It’s not so much because of my gentle personality, but more because of the rumor that I once got the CEO drunk when I was a newcomer, and superiors from all over started lining up to drink with me. I guess I got used to drinking like this after following along so much at drinking sessions.

Anyway, it’s not difficult to drink, but the problem is that.

“Oh, it’s good. Haha. Now, even Director Jung should have a drink.”

Just as I picked up five glasses of alcohol, they also picked up my glass.

Honestly, well, it wasn’t a rushed atmosphere like at a company dinner before, and the boss who took care of my health instead of my glass made it easy to drink. Of course, even that would have been a problem if my tolerance had significantly decreased.

As evidence, I was still holding up well compared to the two managers and directors whose faces had turned red.

“Even though your body has changed like that, your tolerance hasn’t gone anywhere. Haha.”

The boss, who was still sober because he drank moderately for health reasons, asked me.

“Haha, but it has decreased a bit.”

Would it be noticeable that it had decreased by drinking a bowl of seawater? Now, should we consider it more like the Caspian Sea, not the ocean? Probably…

“This guy, even in our eyes, it’s an area of impossibility.”

“But, Director Jung. How can you drink so much and not show any signs of being drunk? How do you know your tolerance has decreased?”

Manager Yook asked.

“And come to think of it, you did all the after-party by yourself that day after our company dinner, right?”

Manager Kang agreed with that.

“Ah…. We drank so hastily that day.”

I tried to send everyone off in a hurry… no, a lot.

“After sending everyone off, I finally felt drunk and…”

“Oh? Really? Did you get home safely?”

“Well, somehow.”

That “somehow” turned into calling a subordinate to pick me up, throwing up on their back, and even having to call for a nurse the next day.

“Anyway, it’s good that you got home safely. Be careful. What if something happens to you? If you collapse in front of someone who doesn’t know you, it’ll be a big problem.”

And how much trouble did that cause Da-young and Da-bin?

Furthermore, the accumulated sorrow until that day seemed to have intensified, as seen by the fact that I ended up crying in front of the kids and the new blue-collar workers, exclaiming, “Boo-hoo-hoo~!”

“Huh? Director Jung, why is your face so red? Are you drunk by any chance?”

“Oh no, it’s just a bit… um, hot. Haha. I’m not drunk, but my body feels a bit flushed after drinking.”

In reality, even though it was late summer, it was quite hot, almost like a tropical night. The air conditioner in the store also seemed a bit old.

“…F-feeling flushed…? Oh my….”

“Excuse me, Manager Yook? Could you please stop making weird comments?”

“Haha! I like our Manager Yook because he’s always the same.”

“Manager Yook, if you keep this up, will you really snap one day? Director Jung is nice, so that’s why, but if you do this elsewhere, you’ll just get sued right away. Isn’t the times a bit scary? It’s not like the old days.”

“Haha, yeah… I’ll lie down after looking at my spot.”

“That’s right, man. Is Director Jung your spot to lie down?”

“Hahaha, it’s okay. We’re working on a project together this time, so. Director Jung. What are we, strangers?”

Manager Yook suddenly acted friendly and stood by my side.

What did I say to the Vice President during the day?

“People are nice,” was it?

Yeah. People are nice. Yeah.

“Who are you?”

It’s a problem if you only like people.

Superiors laughing as my reaction drives them away.

Even the Vice President seemed to find that sight somewhat amusing, holding his stomach and bursting into laughter as if he were about to fall over.

It’s still fine with me, but coming here and seeing that I’m just a laughingstock makes me feel a bit bitter.

“Haha, it’s just a joke. I’m grateful to the managers for everything.”

“Um, Director Jung….”

Looking at him with a face full of emotion, I added one more thing.

“But, um… could you please not act so familiar at work? It’s a bit uncomfortable for me….”

“You’re so mean!!!”

Ah, it’s amusing.

It feels like I have a sense of accomplishment playing with people’s emotions.

I seem to be drunk as well, whether it’s from alcohol or this person.