Chapter 16

“Suddenly?”

–Why, are we not allowed to go?

They were on the way to Hyeopjae. Since Wooseok wasn’t answering his phone while driving, Kiwon called Eunjae instead. She thought it would be a report call about the Jeju site.

But no—he said he was in Jeju right now. And he had even dragged intern Minhyuk along. Eunjae glanced sideways at Wooseok, who was still staring straight ahead at the road. His face showed not a shred of interest in the call.

“No, it’s not that… President, you were busy, so you sent us down here.”

–Originally, I was going to come back. But Team Leader Jung insisted on going, so I sent him. With you, Assistant Manager Shin. Anyway, I dropped by the office after finishing up the site work, and Minhyuk was there. I just asked if he wanted to come, and he said he would. So I brought him.

“Ah… Minhyuk…”

Eunjae hadn’t even considered Minhyuk as a candidate for the Jeju Island business trip. She only thought of people who could actually handle the work. Of course, Minhyuk was excluded. Maybe she should have asked if he wanted to come. Even as an intern, he must have wanted to see a site like this. Eunjae felt a little regret.

“So, where are you now?”

—Us? On the way from the airport to the Hyeopjae site.

“Oh, we’re heading there too. Then, see you there.”

After Eunjae finished the call and put her phone down, Wooseok glanced over at her during a red light. Despite seeming uninterested, his eyes were full of dissatisfied curiosity.

“President came to Jeju Island.”

“And?”

“Huh?”

“He brought the intern too?”

Wooseok asked pointedly.

“Yeah. I didn’t think about that. He asked a lot of questions while I was getting ready for the trip, but I didn’t realize he wanted to come. The schedule would have allowed it anyway.”

“Who said it was okay to bring him?”

Wooseok’s sharp question made Eunjae look at him in surprise. He tended to be especially cold toward Minhyuk. Maybe it was because male interns like Minhyuk didn’t last long and quit quickly, but sometimes it seemed a bit much. Eunjae remembered the pantry incident from a while back.

“So, what’s the reason he can’t come, Team Leader?”

At her retort, Wooseok had nothing to say and just turned his gaze away, starting the car again. With those two around, maybe this icy atmosphere would ease a bit, so Eunjae was quietly glad. She couldn’t show it to Wooseok, so she didn’t try to continue the conversation and just looked out the window.

The rain that had been falling all day eased for a moment, and the sun even peeked out, but soon it was pouring again. Rain at the seaside settled her mood even more. Just like the ever-changing Jeju weather, it was hard for her to steady her heart.

“Assistant Manager Shin!”

Minhyuk spotted Eunjae getting out of the car and ran over, delighted. The only one who noticed the unpleasant look on Wooseok’s face in the driver’s seat was Kiwon, who stood a little further away. How did they hold out for twenty years with such obvious tension? He had to admit, they were both tough.

“I’ve already checked out the site. I think it’s fine.”

Kiwon said, and as Wooseok got out of the car, he couldn’t help but make a comment.

“What are we, dogs running drills?”

He meant that if he’d called ahead not to come, they wouldn’t have braved the rain to get here. Kiwon just smiled and slung his arm around Wooseok’s shoulder in a friendly way. Wooseok was a head taller and didn’t lower his shoulder at all, showing no sign of acknowledging the discomfort.

“Assistant Manager Shin.”

Kiwon called out to Eunjae, who was standing apart from Wooseok.

“Yes?”

“Why is Team Leader Jung so grumpy?”

Eunjae looked at Kiwon as if to say, ‘Why are you asking me?’

“I don’t know. Maybe because I ate all the braised cutlassfish.”

Her response made Wooseok let out an incredulous laugh. Of course he knew she was avoiding his gaze. Shin Eunjae was always like that. She’d get him all worked up, throw everything at him, and then act like she was ready to dive in, only to ask why he was coming at her. That was her way of keeping distance, but Wooseok wasn’t going to match her pace anymore.

“Assistant Manager Shin still has unfinished work with me. Do you mind if we head back?”

Wooseok spoke seriously to Kiwon.

“What schedule?”

President Han asked, and Wooseok’s gaze turned icy.

“There’s something I want to check again at the Aewol site.”

“Really? Should we all go?”

“……”

At Kiwon’s suggestion, Wooseok’s eyes seemed to burn. Kiwon, barely holding back laughter, waved it off, saying, ‘Fine, you two go.’ If he pushed any further, it felt like Wooseok would explode, so Kiwon raised his hands and stepped away. If there was anything scarier than a time bomb… Kiwon decided to tactfully remove himself.

“Then, see you at the hotel after you finish up.”

“Oh, um…”

Just then, Minhyuk, standing next to Eunjae, spoke up as if he had something to say.

“Intern, what is it?”

“I want to see the Aewol site too. Can I join you?”

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere froze. Wooseok looked straight at Minhyuk, asking what he was talking about. He didn’t hide his discomfort. Eunjae picked up on it and solved the situation.

“Sure. Minhyuk, you should come too. You came all the way to Jeju Island, you should see the site.”

Seeing Eunjae’s response, Kiwon began to understand why Jung Wooseok was a time bomb. He also suspected Minhyuk’s intentions. Even if it was just an eager intern, who would give up their weekend to come to Jeju Island for a business trip that wasn’t even their job? And to volunteer, at that.

There had to be a reason behind it. He only guessed, but now he felt like he understood a bit more.

“Alright. Intern, go ahead. I’ll head to the hotel first.”

Kiwon preferred confrontation over avoidance. And when would he see Jung Wooseok’s face change colors again? He decided to enjoy the moment, got in his car alone, and left the site.

The three left behind stood frozen in place. Eunjae was the first to move, voluntarily opening the backseat door. When Wooseok saw this, he didn’t even manage a bitter smile.

Of course. This was Shin Eunjae.

“Minhyuk, sit in the front. You’re tall, so the back seat will be uncomfortable.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Minhyuk bowed politely toward Eunjae. He really was as tall and well-built as Wooseok. If Wooseok was the sturdy type, Minhyuk was more agile. He was the model type women liked these days. Not exactly rugged, but not so thin that he seemed weak.

“Or should I drive?”

Minhyuk glanced at Wooseok, trying to read the mood.

“Are you good at driving in the rain?”

“Excuse me?”

“Just get in.”

Wooseok tossed the words and got into the driver’s seat. With the heavy rain, it made sense for the most experienced driver to take the wheel. Minhyuk had a license, but he didn’t have as much experience as the team leader who drove to sites every day, so Eunjae sided with Wooseok.

“Team Leader Jung is working hard, so let’s just hitch a ride.”

Eunjae sat in the back seat, buckled up, and spoke to Minhyuk, who was getting into the passenger seat.

“I’ll drive on the way back, then.”

Seeing Minhyuk insist on doing his part made Eunjae laugh. She’d been the same as an intern. Sitting quietly felt more uncomfortable. If she could drive, she felt like she’d earned her keep. It was strange how much time had passed since those days.

“I’ll work you plenty once we’re at the site. So just relax.”

Minhyuk turned and bowed his head silently at Eunjae’s thoughtful comment. Watching the two of them laugh together, Wooseok started the car with a resigned expression.

Whenever he tried to make something happen, it never worked. It had always been that way. For twenty years. Who could he blame? It was his own foolishness. Eunjae, oblivious to Wooseok’s thoughts, turned her head to look out the rain-drenched window. Wooseok, who tried to catch her expression in the rearview mirror, stopped himself, thinking he looked like an idiot.