Refresh Leave
"Good morning...."
Su-yeon gave her greeting as she stepped into the business development team's office.
"Su-yeon, you're here? Why are your clothes so damp?"
The team leader, who had arrived early, asked with a worried look.
"The subway was so hot, and there were tons of people... I sweated a lot...."
"I see. Nowhere hurting?"
"No......"
"Good, take care of yourself. Lots of colds going around these days."
"Yes... Thank you for worrying."
"Anyway, Su-yeon, do you have a minute?"
"What's it about.... Could you tell me?...."
"Come to the meeting room. Got something to tell you."
They entered the meeting room. Once the door closed and Su-yeon sat in a chair, the team leader spoke up.
"It's been about six years since you joined, right?"
"Yes.... Six years."
"My memory's spot on. HR called because..."
Hearing that, Su-yeon's face stiffened with quiet worry that it might be bad news.
"Oh, nothing bad. The company just added a new benefit. Called Refresh Leave."
"Pardon? Refresh Leave?"
"Yeah. Not fully rolled out yet—just a trial for assistant managers with six years in. If it goes well, full implementation next year."
Su-yeon's heart began to race at the unexpected news.
"How many days?"
"Not a short break—true to the name, it's one to three months, a real long stretch. Team leader's discretion on the length."
"Really?"
"Would I lie to you? Just let them know by Friday afternoon if you're taking it and when. Talk it over with your husband and tell me by Friday morning. Oh, and you've worked hard since joining the team and delivered great results, so if you take it, I'll put you down for three months."
"Yes, got it. Thank you, Team Leader."
"No need. It's thanks to your efforts. That's all the info—back to work."
"Yes, sir."
They stood and left the meeting room.
Refresh Leave! This is exciting~
Su-yeon's face brightened, her steps lightening. The thought of three months to go anywhere freely set her heart fluttering.
Beach? Forest? Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore... Or a Europe backpacking trip? Ugh.... So many places I want to see....
Even while working, her mind kept drifting to destinations.
"Bzzz~"
Her phone vibrated. A mobile messenger notification.
Jin-hee....
Her closest colleague and fellow new hire, Jin-hee. They'd bonded during training and visited each other's homes. Married around the same time, they'd even gone camping and traveling as couples during their honeymoons.
Su-yeon looked forward to lunch. Refresh Leave and lunch with Jin-hee... She'd ask what Jin-hee planned to do with hers.
12:05 p.m.
"Su-yeon-ah!"
Jin-hee called out happily from the first floor.
"Jin-hee-ya!"
They hugged, delighted to see each other.
"Let's hurry to mala tang. I'm starving."
"Yeah ♥"
They left the office building and headed to their usual mala tang spot.
"Su-yeon ♥ You look even prettier since last time."
"You too, Jin-hee ♥ So pretty."
They showered each other with compliments. Nothing had really changed, but "you look prettier" was their way of saying hello and checking in.
"Ding-a-ling."
"Welcome~"
The server greeted them as they entered the mala tang shop. Without a word, they grabbed bowls and tongs, quickly adding greens, beef, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage, tofu noodles, and glass noodles. Familiar spot, familiar order—no fumbling.
"Mala tang, level 2, please."
Jin-hee handed over her bowl.
"Yes, 30,000 won."
"Dutch pay okay?"
"Yes."
"Then 15,000 on this."
"Beep."
Jin-hee paid, then Su-yeon swiped her card.
"Beep."
"All set. We'll bring it when ready."
Su-yeon and Jin-hee sat down.
"Su-yeon-ah, your skin looks amazing lately."
"Jin-hee-ya, you're so pretty."
Even at the shop, compliments flowed. They were the icebreaker for their chats.
Once the praise subsided, Su-yeon cautiously asked.
"Jin-hee-ya, did you get the Refresh Leave too?"
"Yeah, our team leader told me today. I got three months."
"Same here—mine's three months too~ Decided what to do?"
"Yep. Going somewhere I've wanted to for ages."
"Where?"
"Oh, Koutammakou in Togo. You know how I've always loved world history. Turns out it's full of the Mali Empire's legacy, untouched."
"Koutammakou? Togo's dangerous, right? Solo travel?"
"Checked it out. Foreign Ministry says 'exercise caution,' but the host is a sturdy young guy. One review said he punched out a lion~ Just watch for pickpockets. Koutammakou's a tourist spot—no big issues."
"Still Africa... Scary for me...."
"Su-yeon-ah, who am I? Choi Jin-hee, who camped overnight at an Indian airport and came back fine. Just did a solo bivouac at Sobaeksan too~"
Jin-hee boasted confidently.
"True, who am I to stop you? Talked to your husband?"
"Yeah, called before you came down. He said go for it~ Same as yours. 'Who can stop you?' But he sounded secretly thrilled~ No nagging for three months."
"Makes sense. So you. Haven't decided yet... Paris? Tokyo? Taipei? But also craving open ocean... Or vast plains in Mongolia..."
"Then come to Koutammakou with me~ Haven't locked it in, and solo would be boring. You'd make it fun."
"You think...?"
"Pfft~ I did judo and jiu-jitsu. Worst case, I toss any creeps. Come on, Su-yeon-ah."
"Okay, I'll look into it more. Talk to my husband too..."
"Mala tang's up."
The server brought their food right on cue.
"Ahh~ Looks delicious. Su-yeon-ah, I'll show you the site at the cafe later—think it over while eating."
"Yeah. Starving too."
The steaming mala tang made their mouths water. They dug in.
"Kya~ This is why I live. Stress melting away."
"Me too. Missed this taste~"
They marveled at the flavor, chatting more between bites.
12:42 p.m.
They left the shop and headed to a nearby coffee place. They ordered iced Americanos to go and sat briefly.
"Su-yeon-ah, this is the place."
Jin-hee pulled up a site on her smartphone and showed Su-yeon.
"Foreign travel agency runs it—$20 a day, or work if you don't wanna pay. Reviews say no hard labor, just pulling weeds in fields~"
Su-yeon scrolled through. Vast plains, simple folks, safari animals... Her heart wavered. Endless open grasslands? She got excited inside.
"Hmm... Gotta ask my husband first."
"Sure, sure. Priority. Min-jun'll say yes like mine~ Men, huh."
"Yeah, gonna call him."
"Go for it~"
Su-yeon dialed Min-jun.
"Riiing~ Riiing."
"Yeah, Su-yeon-ah."
"Hey oppa, got a sec?"
"Yeah, just back from lunch in the office. What's up, honey? Building suspense~"
"So, company giving Refresh Leave to six-year assistant managers—one to three months."
"Ooh, nice."
"Yeah, mine's probably three months~"
"Ooh~ Perfect rest. Go anywhere."
"That's why—okay if I travel those three months?"
"All three? Miss your face, but what can I do? I've slacked, so go blow off steam~"
"Really? Thanks, oppa."
"Yeah~ You know I love you? Already missing you."
"Hehe~ Sweet talker."
"Honey, where to?"
"Koutammakou in Togo."
"Africa Togo? Dangerous? Why Togo suddenly?"
"Not too bad for Africa. Going with Jin-hee. She's wanted it forever."
"Ah~ With Jin-hee? No worries then, haha. Have fun, you two. When?"
Min-jun laughed big, relieved it was with Jin-hee. They'd camped at the beach once as couples, and Jin-hee had demoed judo—flipping her 185cm, over-100kg husband like nothing. Min-jun was impressed; with her, Su-yeon'd be safe.
"Earliest is three weeks out. Gotta get Yellow Fever Vaccine and Malaria Vaccine anyway—then two weeks later."
"Got it. Su-yeon-ah, gotta go. Always thankful. Love you~"
"Yeah oppa, love you~"
"Click."
Call ended.
"See? Told ya~ He'd say yes. Men! Thrilled for three nag-free months."
"Yeah, didn't expect it so quick. Guess I'll apply."
Su-yeon got the site link from Jin-hee and signed up right away.
12:55 p.m. Coffees ready, they headed back to the office, steps lighter, faces beaming.
