CH 11

When I walk onto the third floor, everyone’s attention shifts to me. Perhaps because I arrived later than usual, but there are still a few empty seats. Dozens of eyes are fixed on me. Section Chief Lee is one of them. I bow my head as I greet him. Section Chief Lee awkwardly raised his hand in response. I drag my stiff legs and sit down at my desk.

Deputy Kang put his arm around my shoulder.

“You’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday? Were you scolded for fifteen hours straight?”

“Something like that.”

“Look at the messenger.”

I hit my head on the desk after pressing the computer’s boot button. My entire being is plagued by feelings of shame. The screen flashed. Wouldn’t it be better if the world ended like this? Unfortunately, there’s no such thing. There are nine hours until I leave work.

When I opened the messenger, everyone was having a party without me. Some praised Kim Joo-hyuk for his greatness, while others suggested that my resignation party be held at a pork belly restaurant. All sorts of emoticons flooded, and among them, Deputy Kang was the most excited.

I screamed in the middle of the celebration.

[Are other people’s suffering so enjoyable?! Are you happy?! Are you happy?!]

[Thanks to you, we all left work on time yesterday. Deputy Kim is the ‘leave on time’ fairy of our team.]

[Sacrifice!]

[You’re so cool! Deputy Kim~]

[Section Chief Lee has not said a word today hahahaha]

[Department Head Seo didn’t come to the 3rd floor today]

[Deputy Kang sent the wrong fax~~^^ Please come to my seat~]

I sigh. I go to the company intranet and look up the form. A blank letter of explanation pops up. It’s terrifying. It’s the first explanation letter I’ve written since joining the company.

I turned around when I heard a rustling sound and saw Deputy Kang walking around with a paper in his hand. I grab Deputy Kang’s wrist.

“I have to write an explanation letter.”

“Then write it. I won’t stop you.”

“Help me. It’s my first time writing an explanation letter.”

“I’ve never written one either.”

Deputy Kang pursed his lips and held back his laughter. I fix my gaze on the monitor. The form’s blank space appeared as wide as the Pacific Ocean.

An explanation letter.

Deputy Director Kim Joo-hyuk grabbed Section Chief Lee Hyun-jae by the collar…

My head was spinning.

An explanation letter.

Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk grabbed Section Chief Lee Hyun-jae by the collar and kicked Department Head Seo Hee-tae’s shin.

Deputy Kang grabbed my shoulder. He smiled while trying to hold his laughter, and the vibration was transmitted to my body. I look back and whisper,

“What should I do?”

“No, keep going, hahaha. Write it.”

People began gathering at my seat one by one as I returned my gaze to the monitor. I minimize the window and look behind me. People who were holding back their laughter were huddled together.

“What are you all doing here?”

“You already know. Why are you asking?”

“Did you also kick him in the shins?”

“I didn’t see that.”

“Deputy Kang, please fill out this form and send it to the General Affairs department.”

While I’m chasing people away like flies, Section Chief Lee suddenly stands up. All of our attention is drawn to a single corner. The Section Chief called out to me.

“Deputy Kim, can you please follow me for a moment?”

“Yes.”

It’s difficult to push the chair because of the people surrounding me. Everyone whispered encouraging words to me. I don’t need it. This is a world in which you are alone. They’re all smiling because they left work on time yesterday.

I follow Section Chief Lee to the restroom. Section Chief Lee smiled shyly and handed me a cup of coffee.

“You worked hard yesterday.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. I am sorry.”

I fiddle with the warm paper cup. Section Chief Lee pushed up his glasses. He looked good in the thin silver frame. Section Chief Lee has a thin frame and is a handsome man.

There is also an urban legend surrounding Section Chief Lee, probably because he is handsome. It is said that several Alpha employees have fought over Section Chief Lee… It happened before I joined the company, so I can’t confirm the facts. However, it was understandable. Section Chief Lee is pretty. He is a person who is more suited to the word pretty than handsome.

“I sincerely apologize for yesterday. I should keep my public and private matters separate… So… Hee-tae isn’t a bad person either. He is just a little crooked. It would be great if you could understand all of that.”

Section Chief Lee smiled sadly.

“If you love too much, it can turn into a disease.”

Section Chief Lee took a sip of his coffee. His slightly purple lips make him look so pitiful.

“I’m sorry for causing such a commotion yesterday. You have suffered because of me.”

I’m still fiddling with my coffee cup. And I firmly open my mouth.

“Section Chief Lee.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s hard, get a divorce. I’ve heard that if you go to the Omega Center these days, the welfare is good, and they provide counseling.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you, but that’s violence. Domestic violence. You’ve got to get out.”

“Huh? Uh…”

“If you think he is hitting you like he did before, report it to the police. Why else would you pay a policing tax? That’s what it’s there for. And he cheated, didn’t he? Department Head Seo?”

“Huh… That is to say…”

“He has even cheated on you. Right. I’m really sorry for saying this. But it’s really frustrating to see from the side… No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say things like this…”

Section Chief Lee made a strange expression and gulped down the coffee.

“Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk you say you’re a Beta?”

“Yes.”

“That… me and Hee-tae… Department Head Seo and I are imprinted to each other. Imprinted. We’d be dead if we didn’t have each other.”

“Physically?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Is there any way to remove an imprint?”

“If you go to the hospital, you can get surgery… However, it is risky for both of us… Because nobody knows if we will be able to imprint again or if the imprint will be erased.”

“Section Chief Lee.”

“Yes…?”

“Then there’s nothing you can do about it. Divorce. If you can’t break the imprint, the only option left is a divorce. Think about it. Section Chief Lee is constantly crying and you’re unable to concentrate on your work.”

“Uh…”

“You have to think about your future. The future.”

I drink the coffee all at once and crumple the paper cup. Section Chief Lee’s gaze drifted to the crumpled paper cup. Section Chief Lee pushed up his glasses again.

“Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk… The coffee was very hot.”

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“No…”

“I’ll write an explanation letter and submit it as soon as possible. I think I will have to go to the 9th floor first thing this morning.”

“Yes… Take mine with you when you leave. I have a meeting…”

“Yes.”

I threw the paper cup into the trash can. It’s a goal. I left after bowing my head.

I sit back down at my desk and clasp my hands. Today is Thursday. Just one more day and the weekend will come. I can do it.

An explanation letter.

Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk caused a stir yesterday by grabbing Section Chief Lee Hyun-jae by the collar. He unintentionally hit Department Head Seo Hee-tae in the shin. However, please take into account that this was an unavoidable accident that occurred because Department Seo Hee-tae pushed him first.

The complaints that I usually had were expressed in an inappropriate way. I will reflect on myself.

Is it okay now? I tilt my head. Something’s lacking. Let’s increase the font size.

“I have come up with a plan for improvement. I won’t hit him in the future.”

The sudden voice startles me, and I turn around. It’s Department Head Lim.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to work. Please quickly review this and enter the code into the computer.”

I quickly cover the monitor with my hand. Department Head Lim laughed even louder.

“Hahahaha! Rumors have also spread to the Department of General Affairs. The customer management team’s representative hit the Section Chief and the Department Head.”

“I didn’t hit him.”

“I heard you hit him.”

“At least it wasn’t intentional.”

“You did hit him, hahaha!”

Department Head Lim pat my back and left. I go back to finishing the explanation letter.

In the future, I will find ways to relieve personal stress and resolve complaints…

I save it and then click the print button. I look at my watch and see that it has only been 40 minutes. Time does not wither away.

As I make my way to the printer, I notice a familiar face. He covers his mouth as soon as he sees me as if he knows.

“Good… kahem.”

“Good morning.”

Ha Won is a master at managing facial expressions.

As I got closer, Ha Won’s face became contorted and eventually, he started laughing.

“Hahaha… I’m sorry, sorry… This paper… This explanation letter Kim… It’s Deputy Kim’s, right?”

I snatch the paper in Ha Won’s hand. It’s my explanation letter.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m here to collect documents because the machine on the first floor had a multifunction.”

Ha Won approached me with a smile. His round cheeks were flushed.

“Did you really hit him?”

“I didn’t hit him. Everyone keeps asking that.”

“Everyone in the General Affairs department heard the rumor.”

“Well, I didn’t hit him.”

“Really?”

“It wasn’t intentional…”

Ha Won burst out laughing. He covered his mouth as if startled by his own laughter. And he leaned in close to my chest, looking up at me.

“Why are you so cute?”

“Ha Won-ssi, you say that as well.”

I cover my face in embarrassment. The paper flutters and hits me in the cheek. Ha Won grabbed my sleeve and asked,

“Who else said that Deputy Kim is cute?”

Ha Won put on a sullen expression. It’s very cute. Because Ha Won is an Omega, it seems like he is just cute. Ah really, why do you look so cute? I can’t even get angry.

Kim Joo-young (Roland Gorilla, 21 years old) was also like this when she was kind. Kim Joo-young was also cute until she was 8 years old. However, that child reached puberty when she was 9 years old. From then on, this King Kong punk jumped on my stomach as if it were a trampoline. Like a gorilla fresh out of hell…

“When I see Ha Won, you remind me of my younger sister.”

“Do you only see me as your younger brother?”

Ha Won laughed mischievously. He held up his claws and stood in front of me. The cool scent of cologne brushed the tip of my nose. I had to take a step back. Dangerous. I almost touched him.

Ha Won’s eyes twinkled.

“Really?”

“Deputy Kim is a Beta.”

While mixing instant coffee, Chief Seo passed by with a calm voice.

“Right?”

Looking back, the chief was already far away. Ha Won’s cheery expression had disappeared as I turned back to him. Slowly, a red hue rose from his neck.

Ha Won’s face and the tips of his ears had turned red in an instant.

“A Beta?”

“Uh… Yes…”

“Alpha… You said you’re an Alpha.”

“I never said that…”

“Never.”

I nod. Ha Won bit his lips and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Ha Won-ssi, your face is really red.”

“Wait a minute, wait a minute.”

Ha Won bowed his head and looked through the printer.

“I’ll take this and go down.”

“Ha Won-ssi!”

Ha Won turned his shoulder to run away. Ha Won’s eyes were also red. Ha Won covered his face with paper.

“I’m so stupid.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s my fault.”

I take a moment and think really hard. Perhaps… 

“Pheromone?”

Ha Won pushed his fist into my stomach. His fists are clenched. I remember the existence of the intestines, which I had forgotten about for a while. I take hold of my stomach and Ha Won’s shoulder. There is the sound of a crumpled explanation letter. Ha Won blushed as he spoke.

“It’s a joke. Don’t worry about it.”

“You don’t hate me, do you?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Look at me.”

Ha Won set down the paper and revealed his face. His eyelashes are extremely long. The creases between Ha Won’s brows tightened.

“Are you a Beta, Deputy Kim?”

“I am a Beta. So I had no idea. What were you talking about when you mentioned pheromones?”

“Something like pheromone telepathy, you don’t have it.”

Ha Won reached out and pressed my stomach again.

“Are you truly a Beta?”

“Yes.”

“You aren’t an Alpha?”

“Absolutely not.”

“All right, then.”

Ha Won pushed me really hard. And then he walked away.

I lowered my gaze to the explanation letter in my hand. Everything is crumpled.

I printed a new explanation letter and stamped it with Section Chief Lee’s approval stamp. Section Chief Lee smiled brightly and handed over his explanation letter. On the advice of my conscience, I did not read Section Chief’s letter. Instead, I took a quick peek. It’s quite lengthy. I’m curious how many of them will be reflective.

“Don’t get approval from Department Head Seo, just go up.”

Section Chief Lee pat me on the back. He smiled as he narrowed his eyes. A new employee coughed next to me. The new employee then spoke up.

“Section Chief Lee, you can’t smile like that.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t smile prettily in front of Alphas. Because it can give them the wrong idea.”

Section Chief Lee blushed at the new employee’s words. My face also turned bright red.

Is he crazy?

Perhaps he thinks I’m looking at Omegas casually because he assumes I’m an Alpha. No, is he crazy? Has society corrupted that kid? Who is his infiltrator?

I open my eyes wide and look at Section Chief Lee. However, he averted my eyes. The problem with Section Chief Lee is that he is soft-hearted.

I approach the new employee and whisper,

“That’s sexual harassment at work.”

I step out in front of the new employee and wave Section Chief Lee’s explanation letter. The new employee drew his chin back.

I slowly get out of my seat while waving the explanation letter.

I mouth the words as I stare intently at the new employee,

‘An explanation letter.’

You made it clear that this is your first time in society. You still think this is Hongdae Hunting Bar.