Fanfic Writing Contest for High School
Office Romance (R1)
우산이
2021.08.18Views 69
There's one major problem in my eventful work life, and that's... a manager in my department named Lee Ji-hoon.
Our first meeting was in the company hallway where the interviewers were waiting. I saw the manager walking towards me from afar. Before I could even feel the force of his presence, my first thought was, "Wow..." Even though he was just walking, his presence and neat attire gave off a sense of class. Instead of going anywhere else, I sat down in the waiting chair and, thinking he was another interviewee, I spoke to him first.
-My name is Jin Ye-won.
-....Ah, yes
-What is your name?
-..Lee Ji-hoon
That was the end of that conversation. Lee Ji-hoon was staring at me so intently that I felt awkward talking to him. I didn't like the way he just blurted out his name. I thought, "What if he's a parachute?" and tried to avoid getting irritated.
When I first stepped into my assigned department on my first day of work after receiving the final acceptance letter, I was a little, no, quite surprised by the face I saw.
-Ji-hoon..? Ji-hoon, you passed too? Congratulations!
-Pass?
-Out of all the interviewees, I only spoke with Ji-Hoon, but we're in the same department. I guess it's fate!
I was looking at Lee Ji-hoon as a parachute candidate or a formal candidate.
But thanks to the (current) agent who happened to be at work, Lee Ji-hoon's location became accurate.
-The manager came to work early? Oh, this person...?
-intern,
-Ah! Nice to meet you. My name is Manager Lee Jeong-jin.
-Yes, my name is Jin Ye-won, who just joined the company. Please take good care of me!
-Yewon's seat is over there. The others haven't arrived at work yet, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.
-yes..!
At that time, I felt like x
Why the manager? He wouldn't bully me, would he? I look so classy, so he's going to curse me out. Hey, hey, isn't he going to say that to me? What should I do with my company life? I racked my brain for a while because of these thoughts, but no solution came to me.
After that, nothing major happened. He didn't really bully me, he called me Yewon, and my work life... there was nothing uncomfortable.
If I feel someone's gaze on me and look around, nine times out of ten, Lee Ji-hoon is there. If I see Lee Ji-hoon without thinking, our eyes always meet, and when I'm working late and feel someone's presence, I see Lee Ji-hoon. Lee Ji-hoon seems to know that and quickly looks away when our eyes meet. I wonder if such a handsome man is interested in me, but when I look in the mirror, the thought comes to me naturally, so I don't put much meaning into the fact that our eyes meet. But these days, I'm a little used to it, so when we make eye contact, I smile slightly.
If I had to pick one more difficult thing... company dinners. Fortunately, my superiors are all kind and nice, so I usually go to company dinners. I drink and eat with company money, so I thought it wasn't bad. But the problem I mentioned is that Lee Ji-hoon, the manager of our department, has become my black knight. Black knight? That's fine, because he's considerate of me, but that's the extent of it... No, did he even pour his own drink? It doesn't seem like he drinks much, so why?? You're asking me to drink when I want to drink? I could hold back after one or two, but he calls himself the black knight at every company dinner...
I heard we're going to a company dinner today. I guess the manager will be going too..
-Sir, is your time okay?
-I'm sorry. I don't think I can attend today.
...Huh? You can't attend? Oh my, today is the day. I finished work earlier than the closing time, thinking about drinking expensive alcohol on a day when I should be getting drunk.
The manager's face seemed to glow as he suggested we drink expensive alcohol without the manager present. How could our thoughts be so similar? We went into a bar near the company that was said to be worth the money and ordered some snacks and liquor.
For a mediocre assorted sushi at 50,000 won, the portions were on the small side. I picked up a piece of egg sushi, and the soft, sweet egg melted in my mouth. It really was worth the money, wasn't it? I came here to drink, but I quickly turned my attention to the liquor.
We clinked our glasses filled with alcohol and toasted. Afterward, we chatted and had a few more drinks, feeling the alcohol kicking in. I stepped out of the restaurant, saying I needed some fresh air, and walked around the area. Since I hadn't put on a coat, the chilly wind made me shiver. A little way off, I thought I heard a cat meowing. Since I loved cats, I followed the sound.
-What are you doing here?
-Huh? Manager? What are you doing here?
-I came back after work, but I couldn't find Yewon, so I came out to look for her. What would I do if I went out alone on a cold day without a coat? And I was drunk.
The manager took off the outer garment he was wearing and put it on me.
-It's not cold.
-My hands are so cold, how can I not be cold?
-Why are you holding my hand?
-It's cold. If Yewon doesn't come to work because she's sick, it'll be a nuisance.
Wait here for a moment. You can't go anywhere, okay?
-all right
The manager kept glancing back at me as if he didn't like me and then disappeared.
-Who are you to tell me to stay still?
If I say, "Wait!", do you think I'm a guy who waits? Am I really a guy who waits like that?
Why aren't you coming?
On our second blind date, I felt like I was being hit by the wind and my eyes welled up with tears.
-Yewon, I'm here. Wake up.
I woke up sobbing.
-What, are you crying?
-Who is it? Not at all
-No, what is it? The corners of your eyes are red too.
-It's because it's cold. By the way, where have you been?
-Oh, I'm going to the store to pack Yewon's luggage.
-Where..
-I brought the car. I'll take you there.
I got into the manager's car without saying a word.
-Where is your house?
-Can't you go somewhere other than home..?
-..I want to go, is it available?
-The manager's house?
-...Where are you going?
-Lee Ji-hoon's house..?
For a while after that, only the manager's laughter filled the car.
-Ms. Yeoju, I'm asking just in case. You're not pretending to be drunk, are you? It's hard to tell because you speak clearly even when you're drunk.
-If that's true, what should we do?
-You have to treat it as if you're working for me and love me a lot.
Love...? Love...?
-What you just said...
-What you just said is a confession. That you like me.
-Hehe..!
I was so surprised that I hiccuped.
-I'm confessing to you on purpose when you're drunk. If we were both sober, we'd be too scared to say something like that. You don't have to answer right away. You can reject me. No, rejecting me would hurt a little, a lot... But I respect Yewon's feelings.
I chewed on his words carefully, still sober, the alcohol long gone.
-But, why are you confessing to me...?
-? Was the female lead going to do it?
-No, that's a bit ambiguous. Manager, no, Ji-hoon...
-You can call me Jihoon
-Why is Jihoon confessing to me?
-Is this... a question like, 'What do you like about me?'
-yes...!
-Um... I just confessed because I liked Yewon.
-So, can you be a little more specific about what's good and why?
-..The eye smile you make when we make eye contact, the morning greeting you give me every time you go to work, the cute expression you make when you're flustered, the sullen expression you make when you're upset, the occasional blank stare, when you eat delicious food, when you smile happily... There's more to it, but should I continue?
-...Are you sick or have you been drinking?
-I'm fine
Is that guy teasing me? He likes me? He's confessing??
-It seems like Yewon doesn't like me very much.
-No, on the contrary, I like it too much and I can't accept it... If you're joking, then stop. If you act like this now, I'll pretend it never happened.
-Are you kidding?
Jihoon, you're a really good guy and a good person, but we're not compatible. Jihoon, you should find a prettier, richer woman and live happily ever after.
-I think I'll be happy if I live with Yewon.