This is the Shitty Company! ~Hope Arc~ (11)
The job was utterly boring.
Why isn't it fun? I couldn't help but doubt my own feelings. Had I really been the type to chase dreams like that? Enough to be dissatisfied even after landing a dream gig that paid thirty million won in just four months?
The new work environment was far better than Railroad Software. No need to commute. Sky-high pay. A counterpart who always tried to follow rational procedures. It was the picture-perfect job.
Yet, for some reason, my chest felt stuffy.
Hmm...
They say soldiers with PTSD can't feel happy once they leave the battlefield. Something about the dopamine centers in their brains getting fried. Was I the same? Had my body become incapable of satisfaction with a "normal company" anymore? Or maybe I just couldn't let go of my lingering grudge for revenge.
That could be it.
Lately, I'd been thinking about Railroad Software a lot more. I was curious about what would happen to that company a month from now.
Again?
What the hell? My eyes went wide. The server flew away? Like, up into the sky flapping its wings? It wasn't like the files had wings attached—where the hell did it fly off to?
Kim A-ram had dabbled in Python once—an interpreted programming language. Of course, a language she'd only studied for two months was utterly useless.
A boiling laugh I couldn't hold back surged up. Maybe it was inevitable that Gag Concert went under. With reality this hilarious, how could comedians make a living?
Laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. Han Yu-ra flipping a desk in rage? Honestly, I'd pay a million won just to see that.
No way, how do you screw up that badly?
Right now, Han Yu-ra was in real trouble. Low odds, but if the investment firm higher-ups decided, "Our ten billion investment was a waste! This is a failure!" they might sue her.
And even the server files I built are all gone?
Of course, the investors weren't total gangsters. If they saw Han Yu-ra's passion and the work I'd developed, they'd probably show some leniency even if open beta got delayed.
But... if there were no server files at all?
Then Han Yu-ra was truly fucked. From the investors' perspective, they'd poured hundreds of millions over a year and had nothing to show? Plenty of reason to sue. All the investment spent so far could be treated as debt, with collectors coming after her.
That was when it happened.
Bzzz.
"..."
They say even tigers come when mentioned—Han Yu-ra's name was on my phone screen.
Shameless bitch.
Half disdain, half a strange gladness. Despite the bad blood, there was something familiar about it, so I picked up.
I forced a bright tone. "Hello?"
"..."
She had the decency not to say "Yeobo-seyo" at least. But even that was enough provocation—I could feel her grinding her teeth through the receiver.
What are human emotions, anyway? The serious call from ten days ago now felt downright amusing.
"Seong-u-ssi..."
"...Yeah, what?"
I made no effort to hide my annoyance, and Han Yu-ra deflated with a pathetic whimper.
"Eut..."
A moan mixed with guilt and shame. A thrilling glee welled up in my throat.
I loved sensing the tension in her voice. For some reason, my heart was pounding.
The server flying away is worth worrying about.
"Seong-u-ssi... I have something important... to tell you, hic... could you come out for a bit?"
I sighed. "Why should I?"
"...Please."
Her desperate voice tugged at me. It reminded me of the old Han Yu-ra—clinging desperately to her dreams, unwilling to let go.
Were her eyes shining with the same stars now?
I said coolly, "Please?"
"...Hic, euheuk... please."
"Why should I meet you, CEO Han? Stop crying and explain."
I could hear her sniffling through the phone. The sound of spring rain pattering came through, like she was out getting soaked like a little puppy.
It felt a bit pitiful. And at the same time, enjoyable. A messy tangle of guilt and pleasure.
I said, "Well... I can spare a little time."
"Th-thank... thank you, Seong-u-ssi..."
"Where are you?"
"At... your place. In front of your house."
Oh, she was serious. Han Yu-ra seemed to already be right outside my door.
Impressive.
"Got it. Can't just tell you to leave now that you're here... come in."
What kind of offer could Han Yu-ra possibly make?
My heart raced. Dark, illicit fantasies rampaged through my chest.
Thump thump.
What would she say to me?
Let's hear her out first.
Click.
I opened the door to my studio apartment and saw her.
"Eut..."
Red ponytail hair. A tight suit hugging her explosive figure. Sharp, weary eyes.
It was Han Yu-ra, CEO of Railroad Software.
She hadn't even used an umbrella—her hair, suit shoulders, and chest were soaked.
Her wounded eyes glimmered with faint hope. Pitiful enough to make even me feel sorry for her.
"Seong-u-ssi... thank you."
"...Come in first."
Couldn't just leave her outside, so I let her into the apartment.
I played the gracious host. "Want some coffee?"
"...Euk."
At my brazen words, Han Yu-ra gritted her teeth. Her obsessive eyes couldn't even meet mine, fixed on the table instead.
Fear. Shame. Desperation. Resentment. Thick emotions poured out.
...Must be cornered because of the server.
What would she say? For now, I wanted to hear her apologize.
"CEO Han. You've got no shame. How could you even think of coming here? Was it that urgent?"
"I'm sorry, Seong-u-ssi... I... hic... have no one else to turn to."
Her immediate reaction was almost cute.
We sat facing each other across the table. I mixed her a heaping cup of instant coffee and served the exhausted-looking Han Yu-ra.
She bowed her head deeply. Kinda cute.
"So, why'd you come?"
"Won't you come back to work at our company?"
I openly ignored her, and her eyebrows twitched. I could see her pride cracking in real time.
How agonizing it must be. For someone with such strong self-esteem.
"CEO Han, I thought I made everything clear last time."
"I'm begging you, please... Seong-u-ssi."
Tears welled up in Han Yu-ra's eyes again. She wasn't usually this emotional. And she hated actively "using" her feelings like this.
The situation must be dire.
I asked her, "...What's going on? You still have the files, right? Couldn't hire a developer?"
"..."
Hic. Han Yu-ra swallowed hard. Her face was like a puppy that had shredded the toilet paper and felt sorry for its owner.
Her bewitching looks stirred a bit of sympathy. And in reaction, a sadistic urge rose too.
"Th-the server... flew away..."
The buck always stops with the boss. I feigned anger and pressed her.
"What? What did you say?"
"I'm sorry, so sorry."
"Why did the server fly away?"
Han Yu-ra's shoulders trembled as she bowed her head.
"Sob... sorry, I'm sorry. I... don't know."
"..."
I let the mood settle a bit.
"Hey, Han Yu-ra."
I lowered my voice, lacing it with anger, and her trembling stopped. Her pity-inducing eyes looked up at me. Slight tears mixed with fear.
"Does that make any sense?"
"..."
"Answer me."
"S-sorry, I'm sorry... sob..."
Pearl-like tears dripped from Han Yu-ra's eyes. What are women's tears? Seeing her cry in my studio felt strangely beautiful—my heart pounded harder than it had in nearly a year.
"That's the work I built. I'm done with the company, so whatever, but how the hell do you manage your staff to let that happen?"
Originally, if Kim A-ram screwed up, Han Yu-ra got chewed out—because she was the CEO.
"I did wrong..."
Tears plopped from Han Yu-ra's eyes onto her ample chest, soaking into her shirt.
It was a rainy day. I gazed into her eyes while listening to the rain.
"Seong-u-ya, I... I was wrong..."
"..."
"I'm sorry, so just this once... help me."
"Han Yu-ra."
"..."
"What'll you do for me if I help?"
It'd be a lie to say I felt nothing for her. Even back in college, she was beautiful. Rejecting every guy who confessed, single-mindedly devoted to game development. By junior year, she was more popular with girls than guys.
Sis, you're so cool. Sis, you're so capable. That type.
Of course, my reason for liking her was different.
...Above all, there were stars in her eyes.
Stars in her eyes. Her childlike excitement when talking about her games. Her confident gestures during presentations. Anyone listening knew she truly loved her indie games.
I liked that about her. How could a person shine so brightly? I was captivated by Han Yu-ra just like that.
The price was a year of suffering.
And now.
She bit her lip and said, "…Anything."
"Anything?"
"…Hic… Anything, I'll do."
Han Yu-ra looked at me. Her eyes held genuine remorse toward me. Poignant and hot. But laced with a bit of resentment too.
Humanly, I understood. My heart burned hotter, uncontrollably.
This is a crime. Blackmail.
The risk of prison. And that only made it better.
"Anything, Han Yu-ra?"
"…Yeah."
"What does 'anything' mean?"
Han Yu-ra's face flushed red like she'd been drinking. Pink spreading slowly. Her eyelashes trembled.
"Seong-u-ya..."
"..."
"You can really... help me?"
It wasn't complete submission.
Not good enough.
She was always like that. Prioritizing her dreams above all. Treating people who fretted over relationships as incompetent slackers.
She judged the world through the lens of capital, not love or submission.
I don't want prostitution.
Offering her body in exchange for my services? No way.
What I wanted was sincerity from the depths of her soul.
"Han Yu-ra. What are you trying to do right now?"
"Eut..."
I approached her.
"Hey."
"..."
"You negotiating with me?"
"Hic... No."
I was about 20cm taller than her. Was it the size difference? Her slightly swollen eyes cast downward.
"Hey."
"..."
"You want my help?"
Han Yu-ra nodded.
"Then listen up. You're not in a position to negotiate with me."
"...Euk."
"Got it...?"
"Use formal speech."
Han Yu-ra was a year older than me—she'd repeated a couple years.
Her face twisted in agony.
"Do it. Formal speech."
"Hic... Yes."
"Stand up."
I stood and pushed her back. Han Yu-ra pressed against the studio wall, fidgeting with her hands.
Rain pattered outside the window. Maybe because it was close by, I could hear her breathing.
Her cheeks flushed pink—it was hard to hold back.
Haa...
Vulgar, but I was getting excited.
"Han Yu-ra..."
I touched her cheek. Stroked it gently.
The cheek, feeling a man's hand for the first time, trembled in fear.
When did I get this twisted?
In the army? During my business? Or that year at her shitty company?
But now was way better. Better than the past.
"You said anything, right?"
"…Yeah."
"Take off your clothes."