Episode 10: Are You Free This Evening?
After the regular meeting ended, I spent my time working on the proposal as much as possible.
Since Kang Juyeong had firmly said "today," I didn't know what kind of trouble might come my way if I disobeyed.
Besides, I wanted to avoid overtime on a precious Friday if at all possible.
"Assistant Manager Lee, could you contact the PR team and ask them to send over the materials?"
"Assistant Manager Lee, print out the draft for next month's product setup and put it on my desk."
It was as if Kang Juyeong had made up her mind-every time I tried to work on the proposal, she gave me more tasks.
"Assistant Manager Lee, the break room's a bit messy. Could you tidy it up?"
She even made me do chores that rotate between team members.
"Oh, and while you're at it, go out and buy snacks to stock the break room."
Now she was outright giving me orders, handing me the company card as if she were doing me a favor.
"Pick whatever kind you like, Assistant Manager Lee."
"...Understood."
"I'm not interrupting you when you're busy, am I?"
She acts like she doesn't know, but she clearly does.
Hide that smirk before you talk.
"No, not at all."
Hold it in.
There's nothing to gain from going against her in the workplace.
It's better to finish the work quickly and get out of here.
After spending an hour on the tasks Kang Juyeong gave me, I was about to sit back down when-
"Assistant Manager Lee."
Before I could even sit, her voice pierced my ears as if she'd been waiting.
This is going to give me a neurosis.
"Go to the records room and bring me last year's sales data. There's something I need to check."
Now she was just outright commanding.
"Why aren't you answering? Didn't you hear me?"
As her voice rose, I could feel everyone in the office glancing at me.
Sigh.
"No, I heard you."
There was so much I wanted to say, but I forced it down.
"Um..."
At that moment, a hand appeared above the divider next to me.
"If you're busy, Assistant Manager, I can go instead..."
Mina stood up, glancing around nervously.
I reached out a hand and shook my head at her.
No matter how urgent my work was, I couldn't make a busy junior do my chores.
"No, I'll go."
"Hmph. Then don't just stand there-hurry up and go. You've got plenty to do, don't you?"
Does she really need to be like this?
With her chin propped on her hand and half-lidded eyes, Kang Juyeong watched Mina and me before snorting and turning back to her monitor.
Fine, if you want to be petty, let's see who wins.
I spun around and hurried to the records room, practically stomping the floor.
The shadow of overtime was slowly creeping toward me.
One hour left until official quitting time.
I went up to the rooftop to catch my breath.
When I opened the rooftop door, the sun was setting beyond the rows of high-rise buildings.
You're already off work? Lucky you.
There were already employees on the rooftop, leaning against the railing smoking.
I found a bench in a corner away from the smoke and plopped down.
"Haaaaaah."
Sitting on the bench, the chilly evening breeze hit me and a thick, heavy sigh escaped.
"Assistant Manager Lee, Assistant Manager Lee-so damn noisy, seriously!"
Suddenly, a wave of frustration rose up, and I clutched my head, pouring out all the pent-up resentment.
She'd called my name so many times that her voice still echoed in my head.
In the end, I hadn't even touched the proposal because of all the constant tasks.
It was clear I'd be working overtime.
"Haha. Hahaha."
A hollow laugh escaped my lips as I reached a state of resignation.
The employees who were leaving after their smoke break gave me strange looks as they left the rooftop.
"Sigh. I should tell Rizeta I'll be late... Oh."
As I reached for my phone, I realized too late that I had no way to contact Rizeta in an emergency.
No landline at home, either.
"I guess I'll have to get a new phone this weekend when I buy clothes."
With more people in the house, there are more things to think about-stuff I never considered living alone.
"Sigh. I miss Rizeta..."
I want to rest my head on her lap, under her skirt, and be petted...
Leaning back against the hard bench, I gazed blankly up at the sky turning crimson.
"Sun~bae!"
Suddenly, a lively voice from the front caught my attention.
Looking up, I saw Mina smiling down at me with her hands behind her back.
"Knew you'd be here."
"How'd you know?"
"If you're not in the office, you're usually up here."
"It's not like I'm the only one who uses this spot."
"That's true. Hehe. You worked hard dealing with the team leader today."
It wasn't much, but having someone acknowledge my struggles was comforting.
"She's always like that. Thanks to her, I'm stuck doing overtime."
At least I'd get overtime pay-should I be grateful for that or not?
"That's why this cute, thoughtful junior came to comfort you. Here!"
Mina raised her voice and, triumphant, extended her hands-holding a plastic cup filled with whipped cream.
"What's this?"
"Cafe latte. When you're stressed, caffeine and sweets are the best."
"..."
"Sunbae?"
I looked from the latte to Mina's face, then covered my eyes with my arm, pretending to cry.
"I really lucked out with my junior. Boohoo."
"Oh, don't get all embarrassed and cry. Hmph. As long as you know it now, that's fine."
After some silly banter, I took the latte from Mina and sipped it.
The bitterness of caffeine and the heavy sweetness of whipped cream mixed together, brightening my mood.
Mina sat lightly next to me, swinging her long legs.
"Tastes good."
"Right? It's my favorite. I survive tough days by refueling with this."
You drink this every time you're tired?
"...Doesn't it make you gain weight?"
"Tsk. Sunbae, that's not very sensitive to say to a woman. Don't you know, if it's tasty, it's zero calories?"
Whether it was really zero-calorie or she just managed herself well, Mina had a great figure.
Not as voluptuous as Kang Juyeong, but her chest was still shapely.
Long, slender, model-like legs.
And a sociable, lively personality.
I'm sure more than a few people in the department have a crush on her.
There are also probably some who don't like her for that reason.
"Thanks for the coffee."
"Then be good to me from now on."
"Hey, where else are you going to find a senior as good to their juniors as me? I barely boss you around, and I cover for your mistakes."
"Right~. I've survived two years thanks to having a pushover mentor like you."
"Hey, what do you mean pushover? You mean 'caring' mentor."
"Hehe. It's a compliment. That just means you've treated me well. I like people who are pushovers."
Mina said this with a smile, her alluring, drooping eyes leaving me momentarily speechless.
"...It's too late to cover it up now, you know?"
"Oh, you caught me?"
She's really got a knack for teasing her senior.
Still, chatting and eating sweets with her lightened the weight on my shoulders.
"But, sunbae."
Then Mina subtly scooted closer.
Her shoulder was now less than a hand's width from mine.
"Have you been working out lately?"
Her sunset-colored eyes scanned me, just like in the morning.
"I noticed this morning, but you seem taller. And you've put on muscle."
Well, my body changed overnight-anyone would notice something was off.
If anything, I was surprised no one had mentioned it until now.
"My friends say you've changed too. Some say you've gotten more attractive."
"Really?"
"Just kidding."
"Hey..."
Yeah, people's perceptions don't change overnight.
I was never that noticeable at work anyway.
"Don't look so down. You're making me feel bad for teasing you."
"Then don't tease me in the first place."
Does she come to work just to mess with me?
"But seriously, how did you change so much in just one day?"
"Well, you know... I signed up for a gym a few months ago, and I guess it's finally paying off."
That was the best excuse my poor brain could come up with.
It sounded more believable than saying I got this way from a trait I gained through possession.
"Hmmm."
She didn't seem to buy it, her skeptical gaze poking at my side.
"Sunbae."
"...What?"
"Are you free this evening?"
"Did you not hear me? I've got overtime. Why?"
Mina looked away, twirling a few strands of hair with her finger.
"No reason... Just thought we could grab dinner together if you were free. It's been a while."
Did I hear that right?
This didn't feel like a casual dinner invitation.
That flutter in my chest and the heat in my face-
"You, that..."
Before I could finish, Mina stood up abruptly.
"Ah. I should get going. Unlike you, I need to get ready to leave."
Her tone was hurried, without the playful teasing from earlier.
As I sat there dumbfounded, Mina started walking toward the rooftop door.
"...If you finish early, let me know. I'll be waiting."
She left those words quietly and disappeared like the wind.
Left alone on the bench, I stared blankly at where she'd been.
Years lived = years without a girlfriend.
For the first time in my life, it felt like the scent of spring brushed my nose.
With my heart fluttering, I returned to my desk and started revising the overdue proposal.
Except for the overall concept, I had to redo everything-schedule, costs, you name it.
By the time I was halfway done, night had fully fallen outside the window.
So, with everyone else gone, I was alone in the silent office.
'Why is she still here?'
Peeking over the divider, I checked the team leader's seat-Kang Juyeong was still there, looking at her monitor.
She's competent, but not the type to bury herself in work.
Normally, she'd finish up and leave right on time.
Did she have a fight with her husband?
Among the long-time employees, it was well-known that things weren't great between Kang Juyeong and her husband.
Her husband, once a co-breadwinner, had tanked his business and they'd fallen on hard times.
Since then, he's been unemployed.
She's been supporting the household on her own.
It's all rumors, so who knows what's true, but if it is, I can understand her being stressed about her husband.
But is it right to take it out on me and the other staff?
At that moment, Kang Juyeong looked over from her monitor.
"Did you finish what I asked?"
"Almost done."
"Send it by email as soon as you finish."
"Understood."
So much for leaving it for tomorrow's me.
But I didn't have time to be disappointed.
Now, alone with Kang Juyeong in the office, only the sounds of keyboards and mice clicking echoed.
By around 9 p.m.,
I'd reviewed and completed the proposal and sent it to Kang Juyeong by email.
Now it was time for the homework check.
"Team Leader, please check the proposal."
"Wait a moment."
She stared at her monitor in silence.
I waited tensely for her first words.
Please, let it be over in one go!
"Assistant Manager Lee."
"Yes, ma'am."
At last, she called me over with a wave.
I got up awkwardly and went to her desk.
She leaned back in her chair, glancing between me and the monitor.
She really is incredibly pretty.
Especially those sexy thighs wrapped in pantyhose under her short suit skirt.
How good would it feel to rub against those?
"Anyway, it's much better than the first draft."
Her words snapped me out of my daydream.
"I just made the changes you suggested, Team Leader."
I added a pinch of flattery.
She seemed to take it well; her expression softened a little.
"The concept and ideas aren't bad. With a bit more polish, it could be released as an actual product."
"Really?"
After all the hassle, why is she suddenly so generous?
Not that it made me any less angry about all the unfair work.
"Would I have made you go through all that trouble for nothing?"
So it wasn't for nothing after all.
I barely swallowed the words rising to my throat.
"Anyway, good work staying late. And don't get ahead of yourself-the proposal isn't approved yet."
"Understood."
All this trouble, and for what?
"Well, you can go now."
"Aren't you leaving, Team Leader?"
"I still have work to do. Don't worry about me-just go home."
Work, huh.
I was curious, but it wasn't my business.
"Then I'll be going."
I said goodbye, quickly packed my things, and left the building.
Outside, the night air was still cool.
"Much later than I expected."
I checked my phone-10:30 p.m.
Way too late for dinner.
The last message from Mina was to contact her when I finished, around 7 p.m.
What should I do?
Two choices:
Go home quietly.
Contact Mina.
"Hmm."
After some thought, I chose the second.
Maybe we'd just eat and that would be it.
Maybe she'd say it was too late.
Or maybe she wouldn't answer at all.
If that happened, I'd just chalk it up to my own wishful thinking and go home.
The longer the phone rang, the more anxious I got.
"...Sigh. Yeah, who do I think I am?"
Just because my body's gotten better, I think I can fall in love?
Like that would happen so easily.
I was about to hang up-
[Sunbae?]
Just before my finger touched the screen, Mina picked up.
[Sunbae? Can you hear me?]
Caught off guard, I steadied my voice.
"Uh, yeah, I hear you."
[Did you get off work?]
"Just now."
[You worked hard. That took a while.]
"Well, it just turned out that way. Uh, did you eat?"
[I already had dinner.]
"I see..."
Of course.
It's late.
What was I expecting?
[It's too late for dinner. How about a drink?]
At those words, my head shot up.
"A drink?"
[Yeah. It's the weekend tomorrow, and I just feel like having a drink with someone. How about it?]
I glanced in the opposite direction.
The crosswalk light was blinking green, about to turn red.
I watched it for a moment, then turned around.
Sorry, Rizeta, but when will I get another chance like this?
I'll apologize with all my heart later.
"Where should I go?"
[I'll send you the location for a bar near my place.]
After hanging up, I waited a moment and Mina sent me a map.
The bar she mentioned wasn't far from the office.
I checked the now-red light and started walking again.
I'm not expecting anything.
Well, maybe a little.
"...Should I buy condoms?"
You have to let yourself get excited at least once in your life.
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