TUW | CHAPTER 23

Chapter 23

“Let’s Go to Work Together”

Maybe I played with it too much.

Lee-yeon straightened up, as if deciding to focus on the movie again, and fixed her gaze on the screen.

She pretended to be watching as though nothing had happened, but in the end, Lee-yeon couldn’t concentrate.

She had no idea how the movie even ended.

It was the first time she’d ever been unable to focus on an SF film.

“Wasn’t it fun?”

When the movie ended, the two walked out side by side.

It upsets her that she hadn’t been able to focus at all during her first time watching a movie with Do-hyun.

On the way home, to keep her disappointment from showing, Lee-yeon tried to talk about how entertaining a movie she could barely remember had been.

“It wasn’t bad.”

So was she saying it was fun, or not?

“Then, have a good rest.”

As soon as Lee-yeon arrived home, she quickly said goodbye to Do-hyun without even looking back.

“I’ll walk you up.”

Lee-yeon’s head whipped around.

“You mean, all the way to my room?”

“Let’s go to work together tomorrow.”

“Well… going together would definitely be convenient and nice for me.”

Though probably her heart would feel far more uneasy than her body.

Lee-yeon washed up neatly and stretched her languid body out on the bed.

She kept recalling the moment she’d been wiping her hands over and over.

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like she’d fiddled with them for far too long.

Wouldn’t Do-hyun think it strange?

Lying in the quiet room, thoughts kept circling, memories replaying.

Why did you do that, Yoo Lee-yeon?

And yet, she hadn’t wanted to let go.

If she had followed her heart, she would have simply laced her fingers with his and held on.

“Ha, I’m going crazy.”

Lee-yeon yanked the blanket up to cover her head.

This was bad.

It felt like her feelings for Do-hyun were swelling more and more.

The more they met and tangled together, the more reasons piled up for her to like him.

Her chest shrank tight whenever she saw him, only to loosen again when she was alone.

She had never liked someone this way before, so the feeling was new almost fun, learning another kind of emotion.

But at the same time, she worried.

If she came to like him this much, what would she do later?

What would she do when the inevitable day came when she and Do-hyun had to part forever?

This one-sided love already had an ending written: separation.

She felt like she ought to stop, but didn’t know how.

Her own foolishness at daring to hope, even just a little, at his subtle kindnesses and newfound warmth she almost laughed at herself.

It felt like he had opened his heart to her, even just a little.

Maybe, just maybe, his feelings toward her had changed?

She laughed bitterly at the sight of herself entertaining such thoughts.

“I hate being this gloomy.”

And yet gloom kept creeping in.

Even sadness.

If she wanted to stay by Do-hyun’s side as long as possible, she had to keep her feelings hidden.

Tossing and turning with a head full of tangled thoughts, Lee-yeon finally drifted off to sleep.

“Sorry, I’m a little late, right?”

Dragging her weary body, Lee-yeon came downstairs.

As always, Do-hyun was already waiting, sitting on the first floor with his metal watch in hand.

“Something happened yesterday?”

Anyone could tell something was off.

Her bloodshot eyes and dark circles announced she hadn’t slept a wink.

“Did you see a ghost or something?”

Do-hyun asked with complete seriousness.

“I saw something scarier than a ghost.”

How could she possibly admit she’d been haunted by terrifying thoughts instead?

“What was it?”

“We’re late.

We should hurry.”

Lee-yeon shoved at his back.

Watching her push him along, Do-hyun smirked and got ready to head out.

The car’s smooth ride made the weight of exhaustion come crashing down.

Her eyelids grew heavy, opening and closing slowly.

Grrrrowl.

Lee-yeon’s eyes shot open wide.

That was… her stomach.

There was no way Do-hyun hadn’t heard it in the quiet car.

Heat surged up her face.

Why did her clueless stomach have to set off an alarm now of all times?

Grrrowl.

Her rebellious belly kept demanding food.

Lee-yeon jabbed at it furiously, as if to tell it to keep quiet.

Please, not in front of this man.

Do-hyun said nothing, eyes on the road.

He was pretending not to hear.

Since when had he gotten so considerate?

But when she looked closely, the corners of his mouth were twitching.

Was he… holding back laughter?

No way.

Couldn’t be.

Shame engulfed Lee-yeon.

Poke, poke.

She ended up jabbing her stomach all the way to work.

Do-hyun had been in unusually good spirits all morning.

At the malatang place, at the movie theatre, and even in the car on the way to work today, watching Lee-Yeon had been entertaining.

Spending time with her was unexpectedly fun.

She had quirks he hadn’t anticipated.

Almost without thinking, he glanced toward her desk again.

Empty.

‘Where’d she go?’

Whenever she wasn’t in sight, curiosity pricked at him.

She couldn’t have gone far it was all within the company anyway.

So why was he so restless?

Bathroom, probably.

When he finally spotted her returning, drying her hands, a smile tugged at his lips.

The memory of her blushing pink at her own growling stomach resurfaced, and his lips twitched again.

What was he supposed to do with that little glutton?

Secretary Yoo, step inside a moment.

“Yes, Vice President, you called?”

“Go buy a sandwich and some coffee.”

He handed her a card as she entered.

Lee-yeon looked at him oddly.

“You can buy something you want to eat too.”

He turned his gaze back to his laptop as if the matter was settled.

“Vice President, you don’t usually eat breakfast.”

“Today, I’m hungry.”

She looked startled by the unusual request.

Honestly, he was a little startled himself.

That rumbling stomach alarm, the way she poked at it he just wanted to put something into that little mouth.

She probably knew it too that she was the reason he’d suddenly asked for sandwiches.

Bowing her head slightly, her eyes darted around nervously.

Then she nodded quickly and trotted out.

Thump.

Once she was gone, Do-hyun leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily at the ceiling.

Whenever he saw her, his chest tightened as though something weighed it down.

He couldn’t understand why.

Even just thinking of Lee-yeon left him heavy, restless.

He pulled out his phone and dialled Jae-ha.

He needed advice, badly.

What’s up so early?

Jae-ha answered at once.

“Don’t you work?”

You think I’m some lazy grasshopper strumming my guitar at the shop?

Why else would I be here early in the morning?

Do-hyun chuckled at his indignant tone.

“I needed the great Kim Jae-ha’s wisdom first thing.”

Short story or long?

You seated?

“I’m seated.”

Then start.

“There’s this woman… she makes me feel stifled.”

Why stifled?

“I don’t know.”

—… Are you kidding me?

You’re stifling me.

Talk properly.

Do-hyun faltered, unsure where to begin.

He’d called out of sheer restlessness, but now the words tangled.

So he just started spilling his thoughts in no particular order.

“She’s not conventionally pretty, but at some point, her eyes looked really beautiful.

Especially when she smiles she’s so lovely I can’t look away.

Makes me want to smile too.”

Jae-ha stayed silent, listening.

“She’s unique.

She’s been hurt, but she’s thoughtful, different from other women.”

So what!

Skip the flowery intro and get to the point.

“How am I supposed to be more direct than this?”

Phew.

“She keeps popping into my head.

When she’s near, I want to touch her.

When she talks to another guy, I want to chase him off.

She keeps hovering around me.”

There’s your answer.

You feel stifled because you haven’t admitted how you feel.

“…”

Admit it.

You like her.

Wouldn’t that make things easier?

It was such a simple, clear answer.

And deep down, he already knew.

These were the warning signs of interest.

But admitting it was hard.

Too hard.

“I’m back.”

Lee-yeon suddenly entered the office.

“Oh, gotta go.”

Following Jae-ha’s advice, Do-hyun decided he’d at least try to face the truth of his feelings.

“I got you an egg-cheese sandwich and an iced Americano.”

“Sit and eat.”

How far his feelings would go, he didn’t know.

“Here?”

And he had no idea how she felt about him.

“Sit.”

But in this moment, he decided to dive in.

If she had no feelings for him, then he’d toss a pebble into that calm heart and make it ripple.

He wanted her to waver because of him.

Since he’d eaten a sandwich in the morning, lunch didn’t appeal.

Dozing at her desk, Lee-yeon nearly missed the whole lunch break.

A phone call jolted her awake.

“Yes, this is Yoo Lee-yeon.”

There’s a delivery here at the first-floor lobby.

Too many boxes, too heavy you’ll need the cart.

“I’ll be right down!”

Grabbing the office cart from the pantry, Lee-yeon headed for the freight elevator.

Supplies for the VP’s office often came in bulk: tea, coffee, and other necessities.

On those days, she’d go down herself to bring them up, since lobby staff weren’t allowed upstairs.

“Could you load them here, please?”

“Sure, sure.

Miss, these are heavy you shouldn’t lift them.”

The delivery man kindly loaded the boxes.

“I’ll help too.”

Ji-hoo appeared out of nowhere, lending a hand.

Lee-yeon felt uneasy at his constant meddling.

When the boxes were stacked, she thanked the courier.

As she was about to wheel the cart away, Ji-hoo stepped in again.

“I’ll take it from here.

It’s heavy let me push it to the VP’s office for you.”

“Thanks, but this is my job.

You don’t need to.”

“I told you I wa

nt us to be closer.

Just let me take it up this once.”

“Ji-hoo, if you keep this up, I’m going to feel burdened.

If our personalities match, we’ll naturally get closer.

I’ll go up first.”

This time, she decided she needed to be firm.

It wasn’t right to get entangled with him outside of work.

After a polite bow, she left decisively.

Watching her walk away, Ji-hoo’s brows drew together in a frown.