CH 24

I worked until late on Friday and was so exhausted that I didn’t leave the house at all over the weekend. On Saturday evening, aside from Won-jo bringing over snacks and soju for us to eat and drink together, I spent the entire time rolling around on the sofa in the living room.



I lay on my side like a shrimp in the middle of the living room in a massage chair, and I messaged or called the person who gave it to me as a gift.



When I found out Choi Sung-hoon was driving, I hung up the phone first, but when I saw ’38 minutes end’ floating on the screen, I quickly captured it.



[(Picture)]



[Hahaha, we talked on the phone for almost 40 minutes, hahaha]



I sent it to Won-jo immediately [I didn’t ask. Please stop sending me ㅠㅠㅠㅠ] 



I got a reply like this. Of course, I will continue to send it.



Monday, following the golden holiday.



I arrived in front of the company at 8:50 p.m. after dinner at a Portuguese restaurant in Apgujeong with Choi Sung-hoon. I hurriedly said goodbye to Choi Sung-hoon because I was running late. I dashed to the logistics room on the first basement floor, but the atmosphere was hectic.



“Hello, what’s going on?”



“Ah, Seo-yu ssi!”



The staff, who were seriously conversing with one another, came to me running.



“What happened? Seo-yu’s rotation has been canceled.”



“What?”



“Didn’t you hear that? Section chief Kang of the office team.”



“What’s wrong with him?”



“You didn’t know. There was an accident. Following that, he resigned from the company.”



I blinked my eyes.



Accident?



Resigned?



“We just got a call, too. And Seo-yu ssi, I think you will continue to work the morning shift in the future. The boss said that he would contact you.”



My phone rang as soon as the assistant finished speaking. It was the boss. The staff made a fuss that I should get it.



I left the logistics room and answered the phone.



“Yes, sir.”



– Seo-yu ssi, I heard the section chief assigned you to the night shift last Friday. Don’t do it again in the future. I had no idea you worked in the rotation.



“What do you mean that the section chief had an accident?”



– I’m not sure. He was absent from work without permission today, but he called me in the afternoon to say he was leaving the company. I was extremely irritated. In any case, Seo-yu ssi has been promoted to section chief Seo. I’ll be at the office tomorrow, so let’s plan a company dinner.



“Sir, but…”



– In any case, I’ll see you tomorrow. Let’s talk about the former section chief Kang.



The boss hung up the phone before I could respond. I stood there with my phone raised for a few moments before returning to the logistics room and bidding farewell.



I’m not sure what happened, but I felt strange.



As I went up the stairs, I felt dizzy and stopped.



I had a lot of thoughts. I grabbed the railing, took a deep breath, and managed to go up.



The walls were distorted and the stairs wobbled.



I was surprised to see Choi Sung-hoon standing in the lobby as I struggled to open the door.



Why are you here? What about the car?



“Seo-yu ssi.”



A big man strode over with his long legs.



“Why did you come back?”



“You didn’t go?”



“It is you.”



“Work… It’s been canceled. They told me not to go to work.”



I was a little confused. He gently grabbed my arm as I stood still in my position.



“Then I’ll have to take you back.”



Choi Sung-hoon walked me out as if he were an escort. The car was apparently parked in front of the building and it hadn’t been turned off yet.



I got into a car that I saw for the first time today and wondered how many other cars he had. As usual, he fastened his seat belt and asked.



“What happened? You don’t look good.”



“I just got a call from the boss and asked me to see him tomorrow. The section chief has left the company. There was an accident…”



He was fine until last Friday.



“Accident…”



“It won’t be a big accident. Don’t worry.”



The car started smoothly. I’m not sure where we’re going. My heartbeat was becoming faster and faster.



“It’s late, so go to Seo-yu’s ssi house…  Are you okay?”



Choi Sung-hoon asked as I seemed to be losing my mind. I bit my lower lip.



“Wait. I need to make a phone call. I’m worried.”



“Worried?”



“He was a newlywed. What if something big happened to him? How serious of an accident is causing resignation until retirement? What kind of an accident would that be?”



I took out my cell phone and hurriedly looked through my contacts when a long, thick finger appeared and pulled out my cell phone. Choi Sung-hoon stopped the car on the side of the road and raised one eyebrow.



“Didn’t you hate the section chief?”



Our gazes locked. He had a slight frown in the middle of his brow. His lips were closed in a single line, his chin was hardened, and his gaze emitted cold air. He looked at me as if he didn’t understand what I was doing right now.



“I hate him, but this time is different. It’s strange that someone who was fine even on Friday abruptly resigned. I’m not sure what kind of accident it would have been. Accidents always happen suddenly. He was a newlywed, and he had a lovely wife who had recently married after a long separation. What happens if she is left alone, if my wife is left alone…”



My voice was trembling. I took a deep breath. I clenched my fists in fear of exposing my current unstable mental state.



Choi Sung-hoon looked at me softly and opened his mouth.



“… Wait for a bit-.”



“Yes?”



“Wait a minute. I need to make a quick phone call. If no one is inside, the car will be towed, so please take a seat for a moment.”



“Give me the pho-.”



Choi Sung-hoon stood up and left before I could finish my sentence, most likely because it was urgent.



He made a phone call outside, attracting people’s attention. His gaze was directed at me. He won’t be able to see me very well because the car is tinted.



“…”



I waited about 30 seconds and got out of the car because I couldn’t stand it.



“…Yes, pass it on like that.”



He was commanding someone in a cold voice, and his gaze was drawn to me. I approached Choi Sung-hoon directly and pointed to the cell phone in his hand.



‘Please give it to me.’



“…I didn’t know it would be sensitive and demanding.”



However, Choi Sung-hoon pretended not to know and continued the call.



“I didn’t know it would be like this… No, it’s very cute.”



“…”



“…It’s always interesting to see a different reaction than expected… It’s definitely the first time.”



I couldn’t say anything. I don’t know what the conversation was about, but his eyes were intense as if he would chew me up while expressing it as fun.



The heavy sinking air and the stillness make me feel suffocated. Even though it wasn’t an alpha pheromone, I was terrified. The eyes of the people watching us on the road were scattered.



“…It’s going to cry… I’ll call you later.”



The tension continued for a while, and then Choi Sung-hoon hung up the phone with a smile.



I could barely breathe.



I thought I was going to get eaten. What is it that makes me so sensitive and self-conscious?



“Seo-yu ssi, why are you out here? It’s cold.”



“…my cell phone.”



“I’m sorry. In a hurry, I brought yours too.”



Choi Sung-hoon handed the cell phone gently.



I walked into the alley where I could see and left behind the persistent gaze.



I called the section chief who I had never contacted before while working at the company.



The section chief did not answer the phone.



My heart was beating hard.



The second time I called the section chief’s wife. I’m glad I didn’t delete the number.



– Hello.



A sharp voice answered the call.



“Hello, my name is Seo-yu from the Sojin company. I called after hearing about the accident involving section chief Kang.”



– Don’t even talk about that bastard!



“Yes?”



– Please do not contact me because I am divorcing him. Did you notify the company that there had been an accident? Ha, what accident? When I discovered the truth, he fled with his girlfriend. That trashy bastard.



“…”



– Anyway, I’m sick of it, and I don’t want that jerk, so don’t look for him again. Do you get it?



The section chief’s wife shouted sharply and hung up the phone.



Whew…



I sighed and sat down. I lost strength in my body and fell to the ground.



It wasn’t an accident.



He was a total jerk. He got married last year after a long relationship and was still on his honeymoon, but he quit the company because he ran away with his girlfriend. Was he insane? It was a waste of time to be concerned for even a moment.



“Seo-yu ssi.”



A soft call was heard from behind. I was frantically worried about that trash in front of Choi Sung-hoon, but somehow I became humble and looked back.



Choi Sung-hoon, who stood like a pillar, bowed his knees so our gazes could meet.



“What’s wrong with your expression? Is it a big accident?”



“No… It was nothing to worry about.”



“Then that’s a relief.”



Choi Sung-hoon reached out and touched my bangs before wrapping his hands around my cheeks. I rubbed my cheeks against his palms despite his cold hands. Choi Sung-hoon then raised the corner of his mouth as if satisfied.



“It’s cold today. Let’s go in.”



He gently pulled me up. Choi Sung-hoon’s attractive appearance drew a lot of attention. However, Choi Sung-hoon was unconcerned.



He fluttered his muffler and took me back to the car. Because the heater was turned on, the inside of the car was warm. I gradually tightened my seat belt.



“I’m sorry that I unintentionally heard your conversation.”



“It’s fine. There is no reason to hide it.”



“Is the sensitive and demanding thing resolved?”



Choi Sung-hoon only smiled and did not respond to my question. He didn’t even think to grab the steering wheel; instead, he caressed my cheek.



“Do you have any pets?”



“…Yes, it is similar to that. It will come in soon.”



I wondered if it was real.



Choi Sung-hoon and a little animal! That would be cute.



“Have you raised a lot of animals?”



“This is the first time.”



“Wow, that must be exciting. I’ve never raised one, but I think I know how excited you are. When I was young, my friend couldn’t sleep and waited.”



Choi Sung-hoon, who would actually become the owner, was calm, but I felt excited.



In my house, my parents and my brother were very much against it, so we couldn’t raise a dog.



It was back when I was younger. I used to think my friend’s dog was so cute that I wanted to try raising it. Then I was scolded for whining about having to raise one, and I was told that when I become independent at the age of 20, I would be able to do so. My mother brought dinner to my room and fed me while I cried alone under a blanket. I also remember that it was soybean paste soup with spinach side dishes. My father gave me pocket money and my brother bought me a toy the next day.



It feels like a long time ago.



It disappears so quickly at once that it hurts to remember what happened when I was younger.



The section chief was trash, but I’m glad it wasn’t a major accident. Even if I never see him again… I’m glad he was okay



I closed my eyes and smiled.



“Awesome. Even pets are out of the question for me. I’ve heard that you should be in a calm environment. You must be mentally and physically prepared. You’re going to have to spend the rest of your lives together.”



“I expect that it will be different from the life I have had until now.”



“I look forward to it.”



“Yes. I am very much looking forward to it as well.”



Choi Sung-hoon wiped my eyes with his finger. There was warmth in his cold eyes, and his eyes were softly curved.



“For the first time in my life…”



I didn’t pay attention to Choi Sung-hoon until the very end. His face seemed to come close, he lifted my face slightly and kissed me.  My lips twitched up in response to the light, feathery kiss. Choi Sung-hoon let go of his grip on my chin as if he was satisfied with just one kiss.



“…Yes…”



I wrapped my arms around Choi Sung-hoon’s neck, who was about to move away. Choi Sung-hoon grabbed my waist and responded violently after a brief pause after I kissed his cheek first. Our saliva blended together. His breathing was rough, and his hands were warm.



It was me who ended the long kiss first.



When I pushed his shoulder gently, it fell off reluctantly, but there was a heat that did not subside in Choi Sung-hoon’s eyes.



I pat the back of Choi Sung-hoon’s large hand wrapped around my waist.



“I can’t because today is Monday.”



“…”



“I’m very sorry…”



Choi Sung-hoon flinched as he looked down with devouring eyes. He turned his head. The scar on his cheek twitched a little.



“Yes, I know. I will leave.”



When the hand that was wrapped around my waist moved away, I was sad. It was very disappointing to see a 196cm tall, inverted triangle-shaped man sitting upright and holding the steering wheel…



As we arrived in front of my house, we kissed briefly again before getting out of the car.



To be honest, I’ve never been a sexy person, so I don’t know if they kiss each other this often. If Choi Sung-hoon has a lover, I will feel so empty. No… I think it’s going to be very painful.



“Go in. I will come tomorrow morning.”



“It must be difficult from Nonhyeon to here… You are not overdoing it…right?”



He muddled his words in an attempt to respond that it wasn’t too much. Choi Sung-hoon smiled leisurely and said, “It’s okay,” but his eyes showed that he knew exactly what my intentions were.



He sometimes looks at me as if I were an animal. To be more specific, he looked at me as if I were a dog or a cat. Every time, I felt embarrassed.



“I think Choi Sung-hoon ssi will be good at raising any animal.”



“Is that so.”



“But what are you raising? If it’s sensitive and demanding, it’s not a puppy… maybe a cat?”



“…Fox.”



He thought for a moment and then answered.



“Very lovely…It’s a fox.”



It was a voice that couldn’t hide its joy.