SIDE STORY (PART 2)

Lost in sweet memories, Yeonseo was jolted out of her reverie by the sound of footsteps approaching.

“Team leader, have this and cheer up.”

In an affectionate voice, Oh Mi-hyun, a team member from the same department, placed a sandwich box in front of Yeonseo. Kim Dahye, deputy manager, was beside her.

“Thank you. Did both of you enjoy your lunch?”

“Yes. It would have been nice if you had joined us. We had spicy pork today.”

Oh Mi-hyun raised her thumb. The company cafeteria had a reputation for bad food, and it was only packed on days when pork and pork cutlets were served.

“There’ll be another time.”

“Sigh. By the way, the center director is really too much. He’s always like that to the you only, team leader.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course.”

“But Team Leader, how did you end up working here?”

When Kim Dahye, the deputy manager, couldn’t hold back and asked, Oh Mi-hyun quietly called her “Deputy” and hinted to be more discreet. It meant not to ask impolite questions.

After glancing at Yeonseo, Kim Dahye stuttered.

“No, no. I’m just curious…….”

In fact, Yeonseo was secretly taken aback. She could understand someone being curious, but she hadn’t expected someone to ask directly. Rather than ignoring it, she thought it might be better to take this opportunity to explain to some extent.

Maybe it would help dispel the misconception about her being a parachute hire. What does parachute hire mean in Korea?

In Korean 낙하산 means parachute but it’s also the term for when someone gets an opportunity (a job, a promotion, etc.) because of their personal connections, usually it’s nepotism.

“I used to work as a nurse in a local hospital.”

For the first time, Yeonseo began to share her story in this place.

The reason she had come this far was her desire to help others. She believed that her colleagues also shared similar feelings.

“Ah, so you joined Sewon for that reason?”

Kim Dahye asked, and Yeonseo nodded in agreement.

“Yes, something like that.”

“A nurse, that’s so cool. You’re a good match for the team leader position.”

Oh Mi-hyun clapped her hands and her eyes lit up, and Kim Dahye said, still looking curious.

“To be honest, I’ve been curious for a while. The team leader doesn’t talk about herself much, so sometimes imagination runs wild. Why the term ‘parachute’…”

“Ms. Deputy.”

When Oh Mi-hyun called her discreetly, Kim Dahye seemed embarrassed and coughed.

“Sorry. Team leader is such a hot star in our welfare center.”

“Am I a hot star?”

“Oh, didn’t you know? It’s not a joke. There’s always a story attached to a beautiful woman!”

Yeonseo smiled as Kim Dahye stuck her face in her hands like she was going to spit.

“While working at the hospital, I took care of a member of the Sewon Group family. It’s safe to say that they practically provided me with this position.”

Yeonseo skillfully circled around the truth based on the facts.

“So, that’s how it happened. Well, in this day and age, having a versatile ability is essential.”

The word “versatile” hung in Yeonseo’s mind like a pebble, but Deputy Kim Dahye nodded confidently.

Oh Mi-hyun, who was observing Yeonseo’s expression, apologized on behalf of her.

“I’m sorry, Team Leader. I couldn’t resist the curiosity of Deputy Manager….”

There seemed to be no malice towards Kim Dahye, who still had bright and sparkling eyes. It was a valid point, and it wasn’t something to be angry about.

“If there’s anything I don’t understand, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll do my best to learn. Please help me a lot.”

Yeonseo concluded with the intention to finish around this point.

Most of the employees majored in social welfare. Although Yeonseo had relevant certifications, she was practically a novice compared to the other staff.

When Yeonseo smiled gently, Deputy Manager Kim Dahye gestured for her to eat the sandwich quickly.

“Now, please enjoy.”

Still, Yeonseo was grateful that they didn’t hold it against her. It was better to ask in front of her like this because it would definitely be painful to be criticized and ostracized behind her back.

Since it was her first time, she carefully selected her team members. She thought it would be easier to communicate, so she organized the team around the same age, which wasn’t a bad choice.

Thinking about Taeheon, who helped a lot in creating the team, she couldn’t easily become depressed about such things. After taking a few bites of the sandwich, Yeonseo stood up and began the next task.

***

The time flew by and it was almost time to leave the office. As soon as the clock struck 6:00 p.m., Yeonseo informed her team members of the end of the day, grabbed her bag, and stood up.

“Team Leader, are you going on a date today?”

Kim Dahye asked, and Yeonseo tilted her head in confusion.

“I saw you applying your lipstick and looking at yourself in the mirror. And that ring, is it from your boyfriend? Couple rings, right?”

After a bit of a personal conversation during the day, it seemed Kim Dahye had no intention of hiding her curiosity. She squinted her eyes and waited for Yeonseo’s response.

“Ah…”

Yeonseo hadn’t had a chance to tell them that she was married. She was too busy dealing with overwhelming tasks and the center director’s calls. Today was almost the first time she had shared personal information.

“I didn’t have a chance to mention it. I’m married. This is my wedding ring.”

“Oh, really?”

Not only Deputy Manager Kim Dahye but also other team members were surprised. The attention of those finishing their work suddenly focused on Yeonseo.

Was it that surprising?

In astonishment along with her team, Yeonseo continued the conversation.

“I also have a child. He’s already six years old.”

“Really, really? Wow, I never imagined that.”

All the team members were amazed. Everyone began to buzz with excitement, and they bombarded Yeonseo with several questions. 

When did she get married? How old is her husband? Is the child a daughter or a son? 

Yeonseo answered sincerely, but the conversation concluded as her phone vibrated.

“What should I do? I think I have to leave now. Well then, I’ll go first. See you tomorrow.”

The message was from Taeheon, stating that he had already arrived at the parking lot. Despite the simple content, Yeonseo’s heart raced. She realized that leaving her car behind would be a bit of a hassle, but she figured out what the heck.

Yeonseo, the first to leave the office, hurriedly walked towards the parking lot. She feared that the center director might suddenly call her, but fortunately, nothing unpleasant happened until she reached the parking lot.

A tall sedan and a man with a strong presence caught her eye. His upright and broad shoulders were so welcoming. Although there were countless emotions towards him, the one that stood out the most right now was excitement.

Yeonseo quickly approached and tightly embraced Taeheon. As the scent of her husband permeated deeply into her lungs, she finally felt like she could breathe.

“Did you run to get here?”

“No, no. Don’t turn around.”

She lowered her head in case someone recognized Taeheon. She was seeing him off and welcoming him as if they were having a secret affair.

If someone were to recognize Taeheon, they would also find out that she was part of the Sewon Group.

Yeonseo had a luxurious start in Taeheon’s shadow.

So maybe it’s just stubbornness, but she wants to operate under her own power for now-at least until the charity party in a month.

If the charity party, which involved Yeonseo’s efforts, ended successfully, there would be fewer people looking at her through colored glasses. It was time to demonstrate leadership abilities as the team leader to smoothly lead the team forward. But before that, if Taeheon’s presence became known, all efforts might be in vain.

Instead of answering, Taeheon held Yeonseo’s hand that was wrapped around his waist tightly. The warmth conveyed through their intertwined fingers gradually eased the fatigue.

After glancing back once and confirming that the foundation staff was not around, Yeonseo stood in front of Taeheon. From the moment they first met until now, he had been consistently charming.

If she hadn’t heard his passionate confession that he loved her more today than yesterday, she might have thought he was a mechanical man with a preservative.

Taeheon’s appearance had not changed from before the birth of their child until now. Rather, the charm of an adult man had been added, making him even more… appealing than yesterday.

“I missed you so much.”

She couldn’t hide her feelings.

“I feel like I’m going crazy. I want to take you there and bring you back every time, but I can’t, and it’s killing me.”

“Come on, get in the car.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Taeheon lowered his head slightly, stealing a quick peck on the lips. Startled, Yeonseo shook her shoulders.

“Someone might see us.”

“It seems like your permission is becoming scarce.”

“No, really.”

Taeheon tilted his head again. However, as if someone was watching, Yeonseo quickly covered her mouth with the back of her hand and scrambled for the passenger seat.

She still hadn’t gotten used to public displays of affection. Apart from holding hands, they were often awkward like new lovers in the early stages of dating. She still felt nervous and excited…

Yeonseo nervously fastened her seatbelt as she got into the car. She thought that she needed to leave quickly to alleviate the anxiety that it felt like someone was chasing after them. Yeonseo glanced at the stairs leading from the main center building through the parking lot through the rearview mirror.

No one was in sight yet, but since it was the end of the workday, people would soon start pouring out. The sight of Taeheon getting into the car and gripping the steering wheel seemed to move in slow motion.

“Let’s go now.”

“Do you really need to be so wary?”

“I told you, it’s not time yet……”

“Not yet? It’s not the right time yet?”

“Yeah.”

Even though she had said it, Yeonseo’s lips felt dry, knowing that her words lacked conviction. She felt sorry for burdening Taeheon with unnecessary worries.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Eunho is having dinner. I talked to him a little while ago.”

As the car started moving, Yeonseo brought up the topic of Eunho that she had been putting off. The most significant change since having a child had been their common interest in Eunho.

Since they were both busy, they exchanged information about him in their spare time together.

Each time, their affection for each other seemed to grow stronger. It felt like they were walking the same path.