Chapter 3 (Part 2)

Returning to work after the business trip to Milan, In-ah greeted her colleagues warmly as she entered the office. However, the office atmosphere felt chilly from Monday morning. People who were gathered in small groups whispering glanced at In-ah and quickly dispersed. Even In-ah, who wasn’t particularly quick to notice such things, could sense the strange atmosphere.

Sitting at her desk, In-ah let out a deep sigh. Given that she had gone on a lengthy overseas business trip alone with Jinwon, it was perhaps inevitable that rumors would start to circulate.

Hye-yoon, eyes wide with curiosity, rushed over to In-ah.

“I didn’t know you had such a talent.”

Her whisper was loud enough to be heard. In-ah, unfazed, turned on her computer without changing her expression.

“When did you two get so close? When exactly… Oh! Was it perhaps during those late nights at work?”

Hye-yoon clapped her hands as she squinted, lost in her own baseless deductions.

“I should have known when you kept working late under the pretext of preparing for the trip.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“What do you mean, ‘not like that’? Come on, be honest with me. Teach me your secret, will you?”

Hye-yoon couldn’t hide her envious gaze as she looked at In-ah with sparkling eyes. In-ah responded incredulously.

“If going on a business trip together means we’re involved, do you know how many boyfriends I’d have in this company?”

“Business trip? What are you talking about?”

Now it was Hye-yoon’s turn to look puzzled.

“When did you and Director Lee Seong-jun go on a business trip together?”

“What? Who?”

“Director Lee! Director Lee Seong-jun.”

In-ah’s eyes widened in shock.

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Director Lee?”

‘Bang!!’

A loud noise echoed through the office. It came from Jinwon’s office. It sounded like someone slamming files on the desk, full of anger. Hye-yoon glanced at Jinwon’s office and lowered her voice.

“There’s a rumor that you’re involved with Director Lee Seong-jun. When did you start making moves on him? Could it be that you knew each other from before?”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“There’s a rumor that you and Director Lee had a formal meeting at Jinseong Hotel.”

In-ah was left speechless, her mouth agape. 

“Isn’t it true?”

“Of course not!”

“But someone said they saw you.”

Could the encounter with the director at the Jinseong Hotel restaurant have been blown up to this extent? 

“It’s almost time for the meeting. What are you going to do?”

There was a meeting scheduled, led by Director Lee Seong-jun, to report on project progress and share the current situation. 

As people gathered in the meeting room, they glanced alternately at In-ah and Director Lee Seong-jun. In-ah closed her eyes tightly. She couldn’t just stand up and shout that the rumors were false. It was an awkward situation.

At that moment, the meeting room door opened, and Jinwon entered late. Without even glancing at him, Seong-jun murmured in a low voice.

“Team Leader Jinwon, you must be tired after the business trip. You don’t have to attend if you don’t want to…”

“It’s fine.”

Cutting off Director Lee Seong-jun’s words, Jinwon’s clear voice subdued the atmosphere. Seong-jun cleared his throat a few times unnecessarily and proceeded with the meeting.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

As the meeting progressed, it was In-ah’s turn to explain the blueprint. The blueprint showed the traces of months of deep thought. Director Lee Seong-jun, who was listening with a pleased expression, spoke up.

“This is good. But why did the progress stop?”

“Oh, I’m planning to change the color a bit.”

“It’s already good enough as it is.”

In-ah suddenly closed her mouth. It was a matter that had been changed according to Jinwon’s instructions, who had accompanied her to the color factory. Trying to control her increasingly complicated thoughts, In-ah answered firmly.

“Instead of using the khaki color throughout, I think it would be better to use it as an accent color.”

“Hmm. Then let’s see it after the change.”

“Yes.”

As the director continued to praise In-ah’s blueprint, naturally, the suspicious glances of the people were directed at her. In-ah, without realizing it, glanced around at the people. Seeing this, Seong-jun looked around the room and spoke.

“Oh, and…”

The attention of everyone in the meeting room turned to Director Lee Seong-jun.

“I’ve heard some rumors about me…”

Just as the curious people were focusing intently on Director Lee Seong-jun’s words, Jinwon’s voice interrupted.

“It’s not something you should concern yourself with, Director.”

“No, I mean, unnecessarily…”

Once again, Jinwon spoke in a flat, unemotional voice.

“Paying attention to every trivial and vulgar rumor doesn’t seem very dignified.”

“What? Vulgar…”

Seong-jun, who was about to raise his voice in indignation, paused. Realizing the eyes of the employees were on him, he suppressed his anger. It was a moment that required dignity as a director.

“Oh, is that so? Well, then.”

Thus, the meeting, which felt like a precarious tightrope walk, concluded. Among the people leaving the meeting room like an ebbing tide, Jinwon called out to In-ah.

“Can I see you for a moment?”

Left alone in the meeting room with Jinwon, In-ah felt bewildered. Even in the moment she was stunned by the ridiculous rumor involving Director Lee Seong-jun, she thought of Jinwon.

Why was I concerned about Jinwon’s reaction? 

She should probably request a team change or do something about it.

“Do you have something to say?”

Despite asking her to stay, Jinwon remained silent, his lips tightly shut. Finally, In-ah spoke first.

Jinwon, who had been looking out the window, finally turned his gaze towards her and spoke indifferently.

“I need to retract the wish ticket.”

“The wish ticket?”

In-ah reflexively asked, then immediately realized. This man had kept her words in mind all this time.

“You gave a wish ticket for opening the door lock.”

In-ah immediately regretted bringing up the wish ticket.

The wish ticket was one of the playful things they used to do frequently during their time as a couple. The problem was that continuously talking about wish tickets kept evoking old memories. Memories of being the happiest person in the world. But in the next moment, those worries shattered.

“But when I think about it, didn’t I do something much bigger than that?”

In-ah couldn’t believe her ears. 

What was this man talking about now?

“So, it seems only fair that I use the wish ticket.”

When he had acted coolly, telling her to forget about that day, now he was trying to make a point of it. In-ah was so taken aback that a dry laugh escaped her. Her hand instinctively went to her waist, a pose signaling she was ready to argue. But then!

“Why do you think I hurt my finger?”

Jinwon raised his casted finger, expressing his grievance.

“So, it only makes sense that I’m the one using the wish ticket. Don’t you agree?”

Had this man suddenly decided to become a child? What kind of nonsense was this?

With a face close to resignation, In-ah asked, unable to help herself.

“What is it, your wish?”

“……”

Where did the person go who was insisting on the ownership of the wish ticket based on logic?

“……Don’t get close.”

Surprised by his unexpected words, In-ah looked at Jinwon.

“Don’t get close to Director Lee Seong-jun.”

In-ah met Jinwon’s gaze silently. Jinwon also waited without moving for her response.

“No, I don’t want to.”

Jinwon’s eyes widened at In-ah’s response. Though he hadn’t expected her to immediately agree, he hadn’t anticipated such a reply.

Before Jinwon’s shock could even fade, In-ah continued.

“And about the wish ticket, I misspoke.”

In-ah quickly spoke while avoiding Jinwon’s eyes.

“Isn’t it funny for a team leader and an employee to talk about wish tickets?”

It wasn’t something she said expecting a response from Jinwon. Turning her body towards the meeting room door, In-ah added.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Bowing her head slightly, In-ah left the meeting room. 

Left alone in the meeting room, Jinwon repeated In-ah’s words to himself.

“Funny… Is it funny…?”

Jinwon’s face darkened, as if he were sinking into a deep abyss.