It’s already been four days since I attended Na-yeon’s wedding.
During that time, I barely met Uju. Thinking back to my daily routine of popping over to Uju’s house whenever I had the chance for meals and drinks, it really feels bizarre.
The truth is, I knew why. I was intentionally avoiding Uju.
The only silver lining was that both of us were incredibly busy with work. Since whenever Uju got busy, I, as the manager, naturally got busy too, it became a good excuse.
“Ms. Seo-ha, I’m sorry, but has the discussion about Mr. Cosmo’s advertisement wrapped up?”
Today, as usual, I came to work and was handling tasks related to Uju when the manager spoke to me.
That’s when I realized I hadn’t finished the work I received yesterday and bit my lip. Not only that, I had a considerable amount of backlog. Usually, I could wrap it all up in a day, but not today.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Not yet….”
“No, it’s okay. But you need to inform Mr. Cosmo once the discussion is done, so please finish up as soon as possible.”
“Yes.”
Thankfully, the manager wasn’t the type to rush me too much about work, and I didn’t get much flak. Maybe it’s because I typically finish my tasks quite quickly that they let me slide this time.
But that fact alone was enough to scratch my pride.
Ryu Seo-ha, you pathetic excuse of a woman. You chose this job because you wanted to be next to Uju, yet you can’t even do your work properly because you’re worried about him?
If that’s the case, why not just quit and spend all day watching broadcasts like before? It’d be great if Uju got disappointed and completely lost interest. Then I wouldn’t have to worry like this at all.
No, stop babbling nonsense.
My mind felt hazy as voices clashed inside my head.
I wanted to throw my keyboard and storm out of the office right then and there, but I couldn’t. This was the job I chose.
“Sigh…”
I let out a small sigh so the manager wouldn’t hear and started typing again.
Normally, there would still be quite a bit of time left before getting off work, but today was different. I hadn’t even completed half of my assigned tasks, so what right did I have to think about leaving? The manager sitting behind me was unnecessarily working overdue hours because of me.
Tap. Tap.
The sound that had been going on for a while came to an abrupt stop, but not because something happened. It was just that I hit another mental block.
I really wanted to see Uju.
He’s probably broadcasting right now, right? It’s almost 7 PM.
If it were any other day, I’d be home by now, showered, and happily watching Uju’s stream. I would have smiled brightly while chatting with him via donations as if I weren’t myself.
Just thinking about that happy scene put a smile on my face, but soon my expression hardened again.
It’s quite a paradox.
I want to see Uju, but I don’t want to see him. I want to share my feelings with him, but I don’t want to.
Feeling all the karma I’ve built up over time wrapping around me like a spider’s web, I gripped my hands tighter.
Twitch, twitch.
I suppress the urge to slam my keyboard down and force myself to keep working. It’s been over 8 hours of this nonsense.
Knock, knock.
I was glaring at the innocent clock to quench my frustration when a familiar male voice followed with a small knock.
– It’s CEO Kim. May I come in?
“CEO…!? Ah, yes! Please, come in!”
Secretary Kim? What’s he doing here at this hour?
Is he worried that I haven’t left work yet? I’d prefer it if he just left me be.
“Oh, I saw the light was still on, so I thought I’d drop by. Looks like everyone’s quite busy.”
“Yes, just handling a few things… But why hasn’t the CEO left yet?”
Unlike the rigid hierarchy of our company, the MCN side exudes a lighter atmosphere, so the manager wasn’t overly strict when addressing Secretary Kim.
“I think I should see the employees off before they leave. The manager and Ms. Seo-ha should also wrap it up soon and head home. It’s getting late.”
“…”
The manager probably just said that out of politeness; in reality, he meant it for me.
When our eyes met, Secretary Kim raised his eyebrows with a wry smile, as if asking, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to head home now?’ I shot him a look that said not to meddle.
“…If the manager leaves first, I’ll finish this up before heading out.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Yes, it’s because of me that the manager is still here.”
I didn’t want to be a burden, but I also needed to send the manager off first so that I could have a one-on-one talk with Secretary Kim without evading his gaze.
So, while intentionally fixing my eyes on the computer, I spoke, and the manager, who looked quite tired, stood up without refusing my offer.
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself now.”
Once confirming this, Secretary Kim subtly slipped out of the office, perhaps feeling something was off about me.
I briefly speculated about it, but knowing Secretary Kim, that wasn’t likely. He probably got an urgent call.
“Well, Ms. Seo-ha, I’m sorry, but that’s all I’ll ask of you. You can finish the rest on Monday…”
“Yes, don’t worry. Manager, I’m sorry for dragging you into staying late because of me.”
Of all days, it had to be today—the golden Friday when employees’ footsteps are the lightest after work. The manager must’ve wanted to head home early for a beer and some rest.
“No worries. We’ll see each other on Monday then.”
“Yes, please drive safely.”
I bowed slightly and sat back in front of the monitor.
I had to finish my work before Secretary Kim got back.
Tap. Tap.
Fortunately, this time I could continue my work without any distracting thoughts, and after about 20 minutes, I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Just then…
Clunk.
The door swung open without a knock, and someone burst in, hurried footsteps echoing.
I turned my head, thinking it might be Secretary Kim, wanting to tell him this was a bad time to interrupt, and there he was,
“Nuna!”
“……!? U-Uju?”
In front of me stood not Secretary Kim, but Uju.
What on earth was Uju doing here…?
*
Secretary Kim knew. He understood where Seo-ha’s recent troubles stemmed from.
He wasn’t just mindlessly bringing her in; he was aware of her struggles.
However, he simply couldn’t do much about it since it was beyond his control. It was probably a situation that first arose when he brought her in.
Today was no different. The usual Seo-ha, who was quick and precise with her tasks, was stuck working late, and it didn’t even occur to him that something was amiss.
He guessed that her mind was too scattered to focus on work.
Hence, he came back to the office to somehow send her home and give her a chance to clear her mind, but she expressed with her eyes, ‘I don’t need it, just leave.’
The old Secretary Kim might have immediately turned back to respect her feelings, thinking he could do nothing about it as time would solve it.
However, now he knew there was only one person who could soothe her heart. So, he stepped back for a moment to leave the office and dialed someone.
– Hello, CEO Kim?
“Ah, Mr. Cosmo. I’m sorry for calling during your stream.”
The person on the other line was Uju.
– No, it’s fine. I just finished a match and was taking a break. What’s up?
Even though they had exchanged contact information, it was the first time Uju received a call from him, which made him slightly flustered but didn’t show it.
As Secretary Kim thought of his prepared lines, it seemed his mouth was itching to open with a slight smile.
“Actually, Ms. Seo-ha has looked unwell all day. She’s stubbornly insisting on finishing her work before leaving, so could you possibly come to get her?”
– Seo-ha nuna?
The diligent Seo-ha, of all people, struggling to do her work?
Suddenly, Uju recalled a conversation he had with Jaesung at the wedding, and the moment he heard that, he steeled his resolve.
He had been having a tough time meeting Seo-ha lately, so he had been waiting for the right moment, and suddenly, today seemed to be that day.
– …Understood. I’ll come pick her up right away. Can you keep her there for me?
“Of course. But will your stream be okay?”
– I’ll just have to beg the viewers. I’m taking a half-day today.
Uju’s uncharacteristically reckless words surprised Secretary Kim, yet he smiled, pleased with the answer.
He knew how much Uju cherished his broadcasts. Still, he could call off his stream so easily, showing how much he cared for Seo-ha.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
After hanging up, Secretary Kim smiled warmly, glanced towards the office where the light was still visible, and then turned around without hesitation, as if his job was done.
The one who would finally take the baton was about to arrive.
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