I married my job

[Episode 1] I Married Work

"Wow, is that a real person?"

“You’ve been working since you got here. Aren’t you bored?”

"I guess you could say I'm almost crazy."

All the sharp, thorny points, unfiltered, were flying towards one person.

To me, who is often called a 'workaholic'

"What kind of dumb person are you?"

As I was so focused on my work while working, I rarely spoke out loud, like soybeans in a drought.

I guess it's surprising that I'm like that

It wouldn't be easy to stare at the screen without changing your expression in a chaotic atmosphere due to people chattering.

"You look fine, but since you only work, people don't talk to you anymore."

Tak -

I put down my cup with a loud thud, and the rather dull noise silenced everyone who had been chattering about me.

Yeah, this is how I feel about working

It's time to applaud the cunning of those who whisper inaudibly.

팀장님

"Okay, everyone, pay attention! It's almost time to leave work. Are you going to come to the company dinner today?"

"Another company dinner, what the heck?"

"I heard that team leader is leaving the company to have a company dinner?"

팀장님

"Oh right, Ji-eun! You'll definitely come to this dinner party, right?"

한지은

"…"

Bow -

Instead of answering, I bowed 90 degrees to signify 'no'.

팀장님

"Tsk tsk, anyway, what's the point of being good at your job? You lack social skills, and it's not like you're showing off, really."

He didn't even lower his voice like everyone else, just belittled me in a way that everyone around him could hear. I hurled insults at the ignorant team leader in a low, barely audible voice.

한지은

“I’m leaving work…”

As the clock struck the closing time, I politely said hello in a voice so quiet that it couldn't be heard unless you strained your ears, and left the office.

The deserted city center, where the sun was slowly setting, was gradually becoming brighter, one by one, with colorful signs flashing.

Tiring ringing -

I picked up the phone and answered the call, the ringing tone very clear.

옹성우

"Are you done, Princess?"

한지은

"Pfft... What is a princess, a princess?"

옹성우

"If you call a princess princess, what else can you call her?"

He was my boyfriend, my only conversation partner.

옹성우

"Why does your voice sound so gloomy? Did that team leader bully you again today?"

한지은

"No, today went smoothly."

옹성우

"Today??? So you're saying you were bullied yesterday?"

한지은

"Just kidding, just kidding!"

Just hearing his voice felt refreshing, as if a decade-old congestion had lifted. Thanks to this one person, who gave me, a blunt person struggling through a difficult day, a reason to live, I was able to smile again today.

한지은

"But what are you doing, oppa? I don't see your face much these days."

옹성우

"Well, I'm working today too. Work's been piling up lately, so it'll be hard to meet up. Sorry."

한지은

"I'm fine! I'm not a reckless child~"

Although he said that, he couldn't hide his bitterness at the thought of not being able to see her again for a while, but he continued talking, reminding himself that his thoughts were wrong.

한지은

"How many minutes have we been talking, I'm hanging up now!"

옹성우

"Be careful on your way in, Princess~"

Thump -

Even after the call ended, his image came to mind and a faint smile appeared on my lips.

한지은

Now, I have to hurry up and go.

Ji-eun, who had been walking slowly while talking to the voice actor, picked up her pace again and headed home.

Today, too, I started the day at work with a noisy morning atmosphere.

"Did you hear that? I heard a new employee is coming in today."

Is this week's topic about new employees? I've never been particularly interested in anything outside of company business, so I quickly dismissed it from my mind.

At that moment, the door opened with a loud noise, and a line of unfamiliar men and women with nervous-looking faces followed the unwelcome team leader.

팀장님

"Hey, I'm a new employee. Everyone, say hello."

배수지

"Hello, this is Bae Suzy."

김재환

"This is Kim Jae-hwan, please take good care of me!"

Perhaps because it was the first day, my eyes were drawn to the young-looking man behind me, who looked more attractive than the woman with the most makeup on her face.

팀장님

"Suji's seat is over there by the window, Jaehwan's seat is... the seat next to Ji-eun is empty."

I turned my gaze away from the monitor as I heard a low-pitched voice mention my name, and my eyes met with Jaehwan's, not the team leader's.

Judging by his rather good impression, he didn't seem like a good fit for our team.

팀장님

"Then, let's all handle the agenda items that came in this time well and have a welcome party for new employees or a company dinner today."

Ah... Another company dinner! I was planning on sneaking out again this time, but it really seems like the team leader is obsessed with company dinners. What kind of person keeps talking about company dinners?

김재환

"Excuse me, could you help me with this?"

I nodded slightly to Jaehwan through the partition at the voice calling out to me, who was focusing all of his attention on the monitor.

한지은

"Oh, please submit the one in front to the security team, and the one in the back…"

김재환

"Aha, thank you!"

As I watched Jaehwan smile brightly after saying thank you, I felt a warm feeling in my heart for some reason and was left in a daze for a moment.

Besides, it was the first time in my life that I heard the words "thank you" at work, so it was a new feeling. It's something I hear every day...

"Ji-eun, please take care of this for me."

A firm command, not a request

"Are you enjoying your work that much?"

A tone that seems to be mocking and scorning me

"It seems like Ji-eun has been with the company for quite some time, but do you still lack the skills of a deputy manager?"

And the sharp gossip directed at me

It felt like I was being bullied at work, so I had no choice but to close my heart.

김재환

"Excuse me, are you okay? Your expression looks dark."

한지은

“Ah… I’m fine.”

김재환

"Eat this and cheer up!"

What Jaehwan handed over was none other than warm coffee.

김재환

"I originally bought it to eat, but since it was the first day, I wasn't particularly sleepy and my condition was fine."

한지은

“Ah… thank you.”

Even after my conversation with Jaehwan ended, I was so taken aback by his kindness that I stared blankly at my cold coffee for a long time.