Chapter 3 (Part 5)

On the second day of construction, In-ah kept looking for Jinwon both at the construction site, which was nearly completed, and in the office. But that day, Jinwon was nowhere to be found.

After the construction was finished, In-ah went to the company’s prop storage. She needed to select props that matched the newly installed furniture for the upcoming showcase.

The VMD (Visual Merchandiser) in charge of the prop room repeatedly reminded In-ah with narrowed eyes.

‘You have to record everything one by one. If anything is missing later, you’ll be held responsible. Got it?’

In-ah bit her lip and nodded. 

That new employee doesn’t know how to contain their enthusiasm in front of a senior. I was like that too at their age. It’s nice to see such passion.

Left alone in the prop room, In-ah began searching for props, recalling the furniture that had been installed. The large size of the prop room meant that the selection process took longer and longer. Then, In-ah’s phone rang.

• Where are you now?

It was a call from Jinwon.

“I’m in the prop room.”

The call ended. In-ah looked at the phone with a dissatisfied expression.

This man has developed a strange habit.

In-ah immersed herself in searching for props again. With her body hunched over, she found a prop she liked on the lowest shelf. Thrilled, In-ah stood up abruptly, hitting her head hard on the upper shelf.

“Ouch!”

She hunched her shoulders and rubbed her aching head. Then she noticed Jinwon standing next to her.

“When did you get here?”

“Just a moment ago.”

“Then why didn’t you say something?”

In-ah glared alternately at the shelf she had just hit and Jinwon, as if blaming them both.

Ignoring her gaze, Jinwon asked pointedly.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Only then did In-ah turn her head to look at the glass windows. It was night. Raindrops were sliding down the glass.

“Why are you still here instead of going home, Team Leader?”

“Because of a team member who hasn’t gone home.”

In-ah looked at Jinwon quietly. Jinwon, with his arms crossed, looked down at her with the unmistakable expression of a superior.

In-ah’s brows furrowed, and a voice filled with suppressed anger burst forth.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Jinwon’s expression faded at In-ah’s sudden informal speech.

“Are you feeling guilty all of a sudden? Trying to ease your conscience?”

Anger welled up on In-ah’s face. Jinwon met her gaze directly.

“Why on earth are you doing this to me?!”

Jinwon lowered his head.

Having said everything she wanted to say, In-ah panted as if out of breath.

A heavy silence hung between them.

But In-ah, without adding another word, glared at Jinwon, who remained silent.

“You’re right.”

Finally, Jinwon spoke.

“About what?”

“Everything you said is right.”

Jinwon, looking as if he might cry at any moment, continued.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry and I’m sorry again.”

One corner of In-ah’s mouth lifted.

“That’s funny, you. In relationships, people meet and break up. One can abandon the other. What’s so special about that? Especially when you’ve been living quietly until now?”

Every word from In-ah felt like a dagger to Jinwon.

“If you’re finished, please leave.”

In-ah said this but turned away first. However, she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before she tripped over a prop on the floor.

Despite her intentions, tears she had been holding back welled up. Just then, Jinwon’s voice reached her.

“I never abandoned you, In-ah.”

In-ah quickly wiped away the tears that were about to fall with her hand. Then, in a sharp voice, she questioned him.

“Are you trying to play word games with me right now?”

“……”

In-ah closed her eyes tightly.

“Seven years ago, you saw the maternity notebook and thought I was pregnant, didn’t you?”

“No.”

This time, the answer came immediately. In-ah slowly turned her head to stare at Jinwon. Then Jinwon slowly began to speak.

“I saw that the name on the maternity notebook was someone else’s.”

“Then why…”

A flood of questions swirled in In-ah’s mind, but she suddenly stopped speaking. She took a small breath, as if to calm herself.

“Then why did you ask to break up? You didn’t even misunderstand that I was pregnant?”

“That was…”

Jinwon couldn’t continue. Seeing this, In-ah let out a small laugh. 

In-ah forced strength into her legs and barely managed to stand up, muttering as if to herself.

“Nothing changes. It still means you abandoned me.”

Blood seeped red from the wound on In-ah’s knee where she had fallen. But In-ah paid no attention to the injury and began to gather the scattered props from the floor. Without even glancing at Jinwon, she left the prop room. The icy chill left by In-ah lingered around Jinwon. Left alone, Jinwon looked down at the umbrella in his hand.

***

That night, In-ah found it difficult to fall asleep. After tossing and turning for a long time, she gave up on sleeping and got out of bed. As she trudged toward the kitchen and aimlessly opened the refrigerator, the doorbell rang. Startled, In-ah instinctively checked the clock. It was nearly midnight. With a cautious expression, In-ah swallowed hard and quietly walked to the front door monitor, careful not to make any noise.

On the monitor was Hae-jeong, wearing a familiar face and an intentionally wide smile. In-ah grabbed a beer from the fridge and handed it to Hae-jeong before taking a seat across from her.

“Did you have another fight with your husband?”

“For the growth of our marriage, it’s a necessary…”

Haejeong said, opening a beer can bravely.

“It’s a necessary process.”

“It’s a necessary process.”

Hae-jeong widened her eyes in surprise and looked at In-ah.

“What are you talking about?”

“You seriously don’t remember saying the exact same thing last time you came over?”

“Oh, did I?”

Hae-jeong scratched her head, looking embarrassed.

“What about Minjun?”

“He’s sleeping. My son sleeps well even without me.”

“That’s something to be proud of.”

Hae-jeong took a sip of beer and nodded repeatedly, as if in full agreement. Then, suddenly, she wrapped her arm around In-ah’s neck.

“I’ll put you to sleep tonight. Come here! Why can’t you sleep today?”

In-ah frowned as Hae-jeong put her in a headlock and tapped her arm.

Finally escaping the headlock, In-ah took a sip of beer and let out a big sigh before recounting her conversation with Jinwon from earlier.

As expected, Hae-jeong’s reaction was fierce. Her face was a mix of anger and disbelief as she gulped down her beer.

“Do you believe what he said?”

“There’s nothing to believe or not believe. His words don’t make sense.”

Hae-jeong squinted, studying In-ah’s expression.

“That’s what I’m saying. But why are you getting swayed by such nonsense?”

“Me? I’m not.”

“Yeah, right~ fool the ghosts.”

Hae-jeong clicked her tongue and shook her head. In-ah, unfazed, retorted.

“How do you fool ghosts? Can you do it? Why ask me to do something even you can’t do?”

“Ugh! Just…”

Hae-jeong raised her hand as if to hit In-ah, who smiled at her.

“Let’s just sleep. I have an important day tomorrow, so I need to rest.”

“Right, work is important. Not that guy. Let’s sleep.”

In-ah lay down next to Hae-jeong and tried to sleep. But after a while, she turned her back to Hae-jeong and opened her eyes slightly. It seemed like she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep tonight.

***

Finally, the morning of the showcase day arrived. In-ah’s face was tense as she prepared the brochures for the new project furniture.

“Oh my, is the Team Leader bringing these personally?”

Hye-yoon’s coquettish voice caught In-ah’s attention. She saw Jinwon carrying water and drinks with both hands. Hye-yoon, without any intention of helping, kept expressing admiration.

In-ah unconsciously started to rush over but hesitated.

‘Right. It’s his team member’s project, so it’s natural for a Team Leader to take care of these things.’

She turned her attention back to preparing the brochures. As she cut the plastic ties binding the brochures, she let out a sharp cry.

When she wrapped her hand around it, blood was beading from her finger.

“What happened, did you cut yourself? Be more careful~”

In-ah had no time to pay attention to Hye-yoon’s annoying comment. At that moment, a box of bandages was placed in front of her.

Looking up, she saw Jinwon walking away after having left the bandages for her.

“What’s this, did he know Seo In-ah would cut herself or what~ The Team Leader is really quick!” 

Given the situation, In-ah set aside her thoughts and took out a bandage to wrap her injured finger.

Despite her years of experience as a designer, In-ah never got used to the anxiety of having her furniture, like her own children, evaluated. She meticulously checked the installed furniture and the props she had carefully selected.

Soon after, as the showcase time approached, company executives, sales staff, and external figures like furniture-related professors began to gather. In-ah repeatedly massaged her stiff neck, tense with nerves.

“You really make me want to massage your shoulders.”

Startled, In-ah turned around to see Director Lee Seong-jun smiling leisurely.

“But if I actually did, I’d be in big trouble, right?”

“Thank you.”

At In-ah’s sudden gratitude, Seong-jun asked back.

“For what?”

“For not offering unsolicited kindness. I wouldn’t want to send my superior to jail, either.”

Seong-jun burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha. Seo In-ah, you never lose a word, do you?”

“Should I try to beat you, Director? I’ve never done that.”

Still unable to wipe the smile from his face, Seong-jun waved his hand.

“If Seo In-ah says so, let’s say that’s the case.”

With a smile, Seong-jun left the spot. A few steps away, someone blocked his path.

“Director, may I have a moment?”

“Now? The showcase is about to start.”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

Seeing Jinwon’s stern expression, Seong-jun nodded with interest.

Jinwon led Seong-jun to a meeting room not far from the showcase hall. As Seong-jun entered, Jinwon closed the door.

“So, what’s so urgent that it can’t wait?”

Seong-jun sat down in a chair with his arms crossed.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

Seong-jun widened his eyes, feigning ignorance.

“Why do you keep…”

“Jinwon, Jinwon, Jinwon!”

Interrupted by Seong-jun calling his name repeatedly, Jinwon stopped speaking.

“When are you going to grow up?”

Seong-jun adjusted his shirt cuffs and tie as he spoke nonchalantly.

“This isn’t a university, you know. This is a company. Get it together, Lee Jinwon.”

“……”

Jinwon swallowed his words.

“Can’t a Director talk to an employee? Why are you so sensitive? Huh?”

Seong-jun stood up, patted Jinwon on the shoulder, and walked past him.

“I’m only being sensitive because there’s a reason to be.”

Seong-jun paused at the door, halted by Jinwon’s unusually resolute tone.

“Don’t mind me and do whatever you want with Seo In-ah. Then you’ll truly understand what sensitivity means.”

Luckily, Seong-jun didn’t see the fire in Jinwon’s eyes. If he had, he might have been quite scared.

Jinwon passed by Seong-jun, opened the meeting room door, and left. Left behind, Seong-jun let out a dry laugh.

“This is turning out to be more interesting than I thought.”

As the showcase began, In-ah sensed something unusual.

“If you’re going to attach the doors, do it. If not, take them off. Tsk tsk.”

“It seems like a mishmash hybrid, doesn’t it? Trying to awkwardly incorporate a young vibe.”

“Indeed. The trend these days is practicality, but it seems the designers haven’t studied trends at all?”

Amidst the barrage of criticism, In-ah couldn’t hide her dismay. A low evaluation at the showcase could instantly cancel the project.

Negative feedback was expected at showcases, but this time it was excessively harsh.

“Could you please explain which parts are out of trend?”

All eyes turned to where Jinwon stood. With a calm expression, Jinwon directly addressed the person who had just made the mocking comment.

Caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, the man cleared his throat repeatedly.

The silent gaze of the audience urged him to respond.

“Well… practicality! That’s clearly for a study, and this is for a bedroom wardrobe. So, they should be clearly divided…”

“That’s exactly the same as the project content that failed two seasons ago.”

“What?”

“This is a project aimed at newlyweds. Two years ago, we divided wardrobes between the bedroom and study, which was a huge failure.”

The people listening exchanged surprised glances. It seemed few remembered it.

Jinwon continued speaking, indifferent to the reactions.

“Since it’s for newlyweds and a bridal gift, ignoring the in-laws’ perspective was the reason for the failure.”

The man, now publicly embarrassed by Jinwon, flushed red with anger. Then, as if determined, he spoke again.

“Is the person who designed this furniture married?”

Jinwon turned his head, showing he didn’t consider it worth answering.

“No, think about it. How can an unmarried person design furniture for newlyweds and accurately grasp customer needs?”

At that moment, Director Lee Seong-jun, who had been silently examining the furniture, loudly closed the file he was holding.

The sound was so loud that everyone’s attention instantly focused on him.

“Let’s proceed as is. It’s practical and good.”

Seong-jun loudly instructed the staff, then met the eyes of the man who had been nitpicking about marital status.

“It aligns well with trends. The design is clean and sharp.”

The man, who had been making unreasonable criticisms, clamped his mouth shut at Seong-jun’s words. As if he had never spoken at all.

Not only him but everyone present fell silent, as if they had made a pact. It was as if Seong-jun’s influence was visible. Everyone realized that he held power beyond that of a Director in this company.

Having said his piece, Seong-jun glanced at In-ah. 

Jinwon was staring intently at Seong-jun.