episode_0161

“Meow, meow, meow…”

The news of pregnancy, painstakingly conveyed by gathering up all the courage and delivering it.

Upon receiving this unexpected news, the boss was not just surprised but also seemed to malfunction.

A bewildered expression on his face.

The boss seemed to be buffering for a while, then suddenly took a deep breath and slapped his cheek with all his might.

Smack –

A cool yet sharp sound echoed through the quiet employee lounge.

“Are you okay? Your cheek looks really red and sore.”

Looking at the boss with a worried expression, he finally regained his composure and asked me seriously.

“…Is it Jae-hyuk’s child?”

“What? Yes, he’s the only person I’ve been involved with… so it’s probably him, right?”

“Does he know you’re pregnant?”

“He said he would take responsibility. That’s why I went to see both sets of parents the day before yesterday… to deliver the news and say hello.”

“I see.”

With a sigh mixed in, the boss fell silent, creating a suffocating stillness in the employee lounge once again.

With his arms crossed, the boss seemed lost in thought, perhaps pondering my future, while I prepared myself to accept whatever he was about to say.

Before long, the boss’s tightly closed lips began to slowly part.

“When do you think you’ll take a break? It’s not like you can’t come in starting tomorrow, right?”

“…What?”

“You’ll have to find someone to work in your place. You know, we’re already stretched thin. It’s already a bit overwhelming for six people, so it’ll be even harder with just five, right?”

“That’s true, but… if we find someone to work, does that mean I won’t be able to come in anymore?”

Finding a replacement essentially meant that there would be no place for me to return to.

Would I have to lose this wonderful job after all?

I asked with concern, but the boss just looked at me with a puzzled expression, shaking his head.

“Why wouldn’t you be able to come in? Don’t you want to? Is it because you don’t like it here that much?”

“What? No, no! There’s no way… where else can I find a job like this? Of course, I want to come in more.”

“Phew, I was surprised, thinking there was some problem. By the way… why did you think you wouldn’t be able to come in anymore? Did you think I was going to fire you or something?”

“To be honest… yes, I saw on the internet that in cases of pregnancy, resignation is often recommended. And, as you know, your absence wasn’t short. So…”

As I expressed all my worries, the boss suddenly pretended to cry.

…What kind of prank is he trying to pull now?

Watching him with a heightened sense of caution, he seemed to be full of mischief, and soon a mischievous remark flowed from the boss’s mouth.

“It’s a bit sad that my cherished employee thought of me as such a bad person…”

“It was just out of concern. You’ve been so helpful during difficult times, I couldn’t possibly think that way.”

“Hey, if you take that seriously, what will become of me? Anyway, these days, they say you can’t even play a joke. Tsk, tsk…”

If I were to say that what he just said sounded really cheesy, would I actually get fired?

Appreciating the boss’s efforts to lighten the mood, I chuckled, and he smiled back as if to ask when I got so sensitive.

Thinking that I could continue to work in this paradise-like workplace, my heart felt even more at ease.

The tension eased, and I leaned back on the sofa for a moment, the CEO suddenly expressing doubt as he gazed at me.

“…I hope this isn’t too intrusive, but can I ask you something?”

“Feel free to ask. What is it?”

“That… unexpected pregnancy that wasn’t part of the plan… right?”

Except for a few rare cases, unplanned pregnancies are mostly accidents, so the CEO seemed torn between whether to congratulate or console me.

Not wanting the atmosphere to become heavy again after just lightening up, I mischievously joked with a smile.

“Well, what do you think, CEO?”

“…I thought you were a meek cat, but turns out you’re not? Alright, congratulations. If you need anything, just let me know, I’ll buy it all for you. Oh, don’t misunderstand, it’s just for employee welfare.”

“Haha… thank you, but I’ll just take your good wishes. Please put a generous amount in the congratulatory gift later.”

“A generous amount? Alright, I got it. I’ll put in enough to satisfy you. You can count on it.”

“…Suddenly feeling scared, is it just my imagination?”

“…”

“CEO?”

Seeing his meaningful smile, a chill ran down my spine, and I tried to retract my words hastily.

Unfortunately, the CEO dryly acknowledged that he understood and excused himself to the employee lounge, saying he needed to chip away at some ice.

“…I hope it’s not too burdensome of an amount.”

Please, let it be a reasonable sum within reason.

Taking a deep breath to shake off the growing unease, I followed the CEO out of the employee lounge to get back to work.

—–

“Unnie~ Your expression has improved a lot since earlier. Did the CEO raise your salary or something?”

“Haha, as if that would happen. Just not getting a pay cut is already a relief. I just feel better because my curiosity was satisfied.”

“Huh? What did you ask that made you feel that way? Teach me too, unnie!”

“Secret. It’s personal, so I can’t tell you, sorry.”

The day after the holiday, which coincided with the Tuesday known as the copy of Monday, I returned to my seat after leaving the break room to find almost no customers at the counter.

It seemed evident to others that there was a stark difference between before and after entering the employee lounge, as the curious protagonist approached with a newfound sense of curiosity.

Since I still didn’t have the courage to tell anyone else about the pregnancy, I casually brushed it off as a secret joke. Luckily, the protagonist backed off and handed me something out of curiosity.

“Teehee… always so secretive. Oh, by the way, unnie? Here’s a gift. Tomorrow’s your birthday, right?”

“Birthday? Already? But did I ever tell you my birthday?”

“Uh, in September when you asked me to get you a birthday present?”

“Did I… Oh, right, I remember now. But don’t give it to me until after midnight tomorrow, why are you giving it to me today?”

“Well… hehe, I have something else to do separately for the next two days, so I can’t come to the counter. That’s why I’m giving it to you now.”

Receiving a sudden gift, I was puzzled, and the protagonist chuckled and reminded me of a fact I had forgotten.

…Is my birthday already here? Maybe my sense of dates has dulled due to recent distractions.

My first birthday celebrated as a vampire, and the first gift I received wasn’t from Jaehyuk, which was disappointing, but the meticulous wrapping suggested a lot of effort had been put into it.

Quickly brushing away the remnants of lingering disappointment, I thanked the protagonist. “I see, I’ll accept it well. Can I open it now?”

“No, unnie, go home and check. There’s something that could make someone die of embarrassment.”

“Hmm, I’m curious about that embarrassed look.”

“…Step on the threshold at home.”

Ju-yeon, in a huff, spat out a curse that was more like a curse, and then quickly ran back to her spot as if fleeing.

What am I going to do? There’s not a single threatening threshold in my studio apartment.

Even if there were, as a robust vampire, stepping on it wouldn’t hurt much.

Thinking back, I just found it cute and burst into laughter. I headed to the changing room to store the gift Ju-yeon gave me.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve looked forward to my birthday.”

I wonder what special gift and event Jae-hyuk has prepared for me?

After putting the gift in the cabinet in the changing room, I sat down on a chair for a moment to daydream.

“Hehe, hehehehe…”

…I’m in trouble.

I messed up.

Just imagining receiving a gift…just the scene of receiving it, my face is already flushed and my heart is pounding.

What if the gift is an engagement ring?

And not only receiving it, but also receiving a sweet, endless proposal along with it?

[Happy birthday.]

[And]

[Because it’s a special day, I’ve prepared a special gift.]

[Will you… marry me?]

“What do I do, what do I do! What do I do…!”

Adding flowers to brocade

There may never be a happier and more joyful day than this.

No, wait. There’s one thing left.

A wedding where two people promise eternal love and tie the knot.

No matter how happy I am, it can’t compare to that, right.

“Hehe, hoho, ahahaha…”

Even though I try to hold it in, the sinister laughter keeps escaping through my lips.

I feel so pathetic thinking about it, I tried to calm down and leave before anyone saw or heard me.

“Unnie, can we go in now that it’s all over?”

“…”

At Yejin’s faint voice from outside, I couldn’t help but freeze in place.

Wait a minute.

Damn it?

Damn it!!!