Take Care of Me, Deputy
“Manager, are you seriously doing this again?”
“C’mon… you’re the best worker here…”
“Am I the only one in this entire department?”
“You keep dumping things on me and now I’m behind on everything.”
“...Ahem. Fine, I get it.”
“Jeong seems capable—give that to her.”
“Deputy Kim! I can—”
“You just need to finish all of this, right?”
“…Huh? Oh… yeah.”
What… what was that?
Does Deputy Kim… like me?
Because he’s so good at his job,
our higher-ups always give him the most work.
Even as I was talking with the section chief,
I saw a huge pile of files stacked on his desk.
I know it’s not my place to worry,
but I couldn’t help it. He looked so overworked.
So I offered to do it instead—
but he glanced at me once, then silently took the files himself.
…He really did seem swamped, though.
“Deputy Kim! Want me to handle this one?”
“This is an important file. What makes you think I’d trust you with it?”
“I just thought… you already have so much on your plate…”
“Cleaning up your messes is already exhausting. Don’t bother.”
“Still…!”
“If you don’t want to get fired,
go practice your computer skills instead.”
Kim Taehyung.
Gorgeous face, brilliant mind…
But that personality? Pure trash.
Worse yet?
He always finishes those massive file stacks in one day.
I tried to get close by helping out,
but if I took it on, I’d never finish before midnight.
“Everyone, finish what you're doing and head to the BBQ place across the street.
We’re doing a team dinner!”
“Deputy Kim! We’re having dinner tonight!”
“Yeah, I heard. I’m not deaf.”
“Wow... I always dreamed of company dinners like this before I got a job!”
“Can you quiet down? Are you even done with your work?”
“Uh… haha… not yet…”
“Of course. Finish it and hurry up.”
“But it’s a dinner party…”
“It’s only 4:30. Just get there before 5.”
“Finish it. We’ll go together.”
...Ugh. Should’ve just ditched early.
“Wow, Manager’s buying dinner?”
“Of course! I almost didn’t, but Deputy Kim—of all people—suggested it
when the rookie joined!”
“Deputy Kim usually doesn’t even show up to these.
Something going on between you two?”
“Wh-what?! No way, hahaha… Someone like me and Deputy Kim? No way…”
“Exactly. There’s no way, right?”
Sure, whatever. You win.
I’m not as pretty as you.
I’m not good at my job like you.
I’m just a loser. Happy now?
At first, I thought he was just a handsome jerk.
Now? He’s a full-on arrogant prince with no self-awareness.
He has a talent for making people feel small.
If he’s just going to act like this,
why bother being kind in the first place?
Why make me misunderstand and feel like some idiot?
From now on, I won’t fall for that face.
“Ahem… Seriously, Deputy Kim’s colder than ice.”
“Smile a little, will you?
How’s anyone supposed to get close to you if you never soften up?”
“Yeoju, that’s just how he is. Try not to take it personally.”
“Of course! That’s part of his charm~ hehe.”
Charm?
Don’t lie to yourself, Jeong Yeoju.
You’re just sucking up to survive.
Like the manager said—if you want friends,
you gotta be warm, smile more.
I’ll bet money Deputy Kim doesn’t even have friends.
He better not.
Sure, he’s practically flawless,
but that personality of his is a fatal flaw.
Still… somehow…
that face makes up for all of it. Ugh.
“Man… this place got awkward real fast.”
“No more talking! I’m buying, so drink up and let’s die together!!”
“It’s been forever since I had a drink…”
“Cheers to blacking out tonight!!”
It had been a while since I drank.
I spent all my time studying just to get this job.
Barely saw my friends, barely went out.
And while I love alcohol,
even four glasses usually knock me out.
Still—working life? Already feels rough.
Tonight, I just wanted to drink and die a little.
Clink—
“…Deputy Kim?”
“Hey. You gonna drink?”
“Of course! It’s a dinner party!”
“Just don’t overdo it. You’ll regret it tomorrow.”
Says the guy with the face of a Greek god.
How am I supposed to stay sane when he says stuff like that?