Chapter 13

“How is it fine? The color’s changed.”

Eunjae tried to wipe with wet tissues, but the stain wouldn’t come out.

“Will it come out at the cleaners? If not, I’ll buy you a new pair.”

“These are really expensive, you know?”

“Really?”

Surprised, Eunjae looked up. Seeing her wide eyes, Minhyuk couldn’t help but laugh. Only then did Eunjae realize it was a joke and glared at him. The break room door was wide open and didn’t close.

She thought Hakyung had gone to get a mop, so she didn’t care and kept focusing on Minhyuk’s pants. The one facing Eunjae’s back was Minhyuk, sitting quietly.

“You’re here, Team Leader.”

Team Leader? At those words, Eunjae turned around in surprise. Wooseok was looking at her with an unreadable expression. Why did he look so serious?

“Assistant Manager Shin Eunjae.”

Wooseok called her in a flat voice.

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

Bang. The break room door slammed shut in an instant.

He must’ve gotten scolded somewhere and was taking it out on her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t call her out so seriously. Especially since he never showed emotion in front of colleagues. Eunjae thought Wooseok was acting strange.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

Inside the storage room at the end, Wooseok turned and asked. As soon as Eunjae closed the door and faced him, she had to think of an excuse. But why did she need one? She didn’t have to answer. She felt strangely wronged.

“I had it in my pocket and didn’t hear.”

Eunjae deliberately used formal speech. She was strict about this at work, but usually spoke casually when alone with him. Not now. She didn’t like his attitude at all.

He’d come to her in the morning, shaken her up with talk of dating, and now, at lunchtime, he was the one looking angry. Who was the most confused here?

“Is anyone from Team B going on a Jeju Island business trip this week?”

Wooseok suddenly started talking about work, and Eunjae felt awkward for a moment. Was that really the reason he called? Since she managed the team’s work schedule, it was something Wooseok could check by calling her. Eunjae quickly ran through her team members’ tasks in her mind.

“Manager Park and Senior Staff Choi are tied up with the Incheon apartment project and the Heukseok-dong remodeling.”

“Then you should go, Assistant Manager Shin.”

“Me?”

When Wooseok singled her out, Eunjae was momentarily stunned. She couldn’t understand why a Team B member had to join Team A’s Jeju Island business trip, so it was hard to accept.

“I’m busy too. And if you just tell me like this, suddenly…”

At that moment, the phone in Eunjae’s hand vibrated. When she looked down, ‘President’ was displayed on the screen. She quickly looked up at Wooseok, who briefly smiled and then hid it. The reason for Kiwon’s call was obvious. Eunjae let out a small sigh and pressed the call button.

“Yes, President.”

– Assistant Manager Shin, this week’s Jeju Island business trip…

“I just heard from Team Leader Jung. Do I have to go for a specific reason?”

Eunjae looked straight at Wooseok as she asked Kiwon on the call.

– That Team Leader Jung standing in front of you says he won’t go unless you too, Assistant Manager Shin.

“What?”

– If he doesn’t go, he’ll have to go on a blind date with a teacher at a hotel this weekend.

What was that supposed to mean? Eunjae just listened quietly. Wooseok kept his eyes fixed on her, his expression unreadable, as if he knew or didn’t know what Kiwon was saying.

– Just go. Poor guy. I’m busy, so I’m hanging up.

The call ended there. But Eunjae couldn’t put her phone down. She kept meeting Wooseok’s gaze. Then Wooseok suddenly stepped closer. Startled, Eunjae backed away, but before she could take more than a few steps, her back hit the wall. Trapped between the supply cabinet, the wall, and Jung Wooseok, her heart pounded as if her body was signaling an emergency.

“Why are you doing this?”

Still, Eunjae looked up at Wooseok with unwavering eyes.

“Are you going to Jeju Island?”

Seriously… Eunjae irritably ran her fingers through her hair.

“Jung Wooseok.”

“This is the office, you know?”

He smirked slightly.

“Are you not going to stop?”

“You’re one to talk.”

Wooseok spoke with serious eyes.

“What did I do?”

“We’re dating now.”

What… so what was he trying to say? Eunjae couldn’t immediately understand what Wooseok meant. He often did this—said things she couldn’t grasp, then teased her for being clueless. Who was really clueless here? Eunjae almost snapped but held herself back.

“Who said I’m dating you?”

Jung Wooseok had declared it unilaterally. He didn’t even give her time to think. He did whatever he wanted. Even now, in this space, he was keeping her from moving. Eunjae was always helpless against him. That’s why she felt wronged and miserable. And now, even dating.

She didn’t know what he was thinking. It seemed like a joke, but also gave her hope that it wasn’t. And yet, he said he’d go on a blind date over the weekend. How much did she have to accept and understand? Was he just using her? If so, he should admit it clearly. But he didn’t—he always pushed her into a corner with his ambiguous attitude.

“What if we’re not dating?”

Instead, Wooseok threw the question back at her.

“Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean we’re dating.”

“I am dating you.”

He looked down at Eunjae with unwavering tone.

“Fine. Go ahead and date me all by yourself.”

Not wanting to argue anymore, Eunjae tried to push him away and leave the room. But one arm was caught by Wooseok. He turned her around, pulled her close, and looked at her quietly. Without a word. Whenever something displeased him, he’d strangle her with silence. He was really scary.

“Let go, will you?”

Eunjae tried to lower her voice.

“Do you need time to think?”

Was he finally intent on having a proper conversation?

“Of course I do. It might be easy for you, but not for me.”

Eunjae firmly conveyed her feelings.

“It’s not easy for me either…”

Wooseok replied with a strangely wronged voice. Then he composed himself and let go of Eunjae’s arm. At some point, he always became cold. Cutting through the awkward air, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, checked the screen, and quietly opened the storage room door.

“Let’s talk again later.”

He waited for Eunjae to leave first. Such considerate behavior—it was exactly why she was trapped by twenty years of friendship, unable to do anything. She couldn’t break free, nor could she confess for real. Just sleeping together once wouldn’t change anything. Physical attraction turning into emotional attachment was something that happened in romance novels, not in reality. With a calm face, Eunjae left the room before Wooseok.

* * *

“Jeju Island business trip?”

“Yeah.”

Eunjae spread her suitcase open in her room and started packing various things. Since her job involved frequent trips, packing wasn’t a big deal. The only problem was that the person she had to go with was making things very uncomfortable.

Since that day in the storage room, Wooseok really hadn’t said anything else, as if he wanted to give her time to think. They just worked and went home—day after day. Since they were on different teams, they didn’t clash much. They talked a few times about the Jeju Island trip, but only about work.

At least she thought they’d see each other at mealtimes, but Wooseok did outside work until the day before the trip. Whenever Eunjae went for water and checked his office, it was always empty. He wasn’t the type to tell her his plans, but he usually sent silly jokes via text while traveling. Even that disappeared for several days, making Eunjae very uneasy. She kept looking at her phone, waiting for contact that never came. It was another moment where she realized, deep down, that her feelings for Jung Wooseok were not like anything else.

“Who are you going with?”

Jiyeon, sitting on Eunjae’s bed, asked out of boredom.

Getting up at the same time as the family every day and having nothing to do alone must have been tough. She read books and went for walks, but that only lasted a couple of days. After years as a teacher, her body’s routine didn’t fit a jobless life.

But Jiyeon tried to enjoy the boredom as something she had to endure. Eunjae didn’t quite get it. If she’d gone through something as big as her sister, she would have kept herself so busy there’d be no room for stray thoughts. But you never know until you’re in that situation. Eunjae wondered who was really worrying about whom.

“Jung Wooseok.”

Just saying those three syllables made Eunjae’s mouth taste bitter. A two-night, three-day trip with him in this awkward situation—just saying his name made her feel suffocated.

“Just the two of you?”

Jiyeon asked again.

“Yeah.”

Eunjae finished packing clothes and started putting in simple cosmetics and toiletries.

“Should I just follow you to Jeju Island?”

Jiyeon muttered, and Eunjae whipped her head around.