Chapter 7: Choi Seon-yeong
Chapter 7: Choi Seon-yeong
Side Story 1: Choi Seon-yeong
I could see a massive back in the distance.
I recognized him instantly, even from behind.
That man was the leader of Sales Team 1 at my company.
I'd caught a glimpse of his results during last year's health checkup: 189 centimeters tall and about 92 kilograms, if I remembered correctly.
He also had a rugged, masculine appearance, which made him a little intimidating at first glance.
Because he was so imposing, people often stole glances at him whenever we went out together.
When I first joined the company, honestly, he scared me.
I remembered thinking, "With those looks, you're in sales?"
After knowing him for a few years, I realized he was a good person.
At first, I had figured he was a bit insensitive, the cool and detached type.
But the longer I knew him, the more I realized that while he wasn't exactly tender, he was very considerate of those around him.
"Team Leader Kim! Ugh, the smell. Quit smoking already. Why does it seem like you're smoking every time I come looking for you?"
After the director left, I went over to the team leader, who was still there alone.
It was raining, and I figured if I didn't stick around, he'd end up doing all the cleanup by himself in the rain.
He hated asking the younger employees for help.
He said that if he gave too many orders or lectures, people would call him an old fogey.
The employees were intimidated by him, but I didn't think anyone actually saw him as an old fogey.
Anyway, he was the type to handle everything himself.
Come to think of it, he hadn't said that where I could hear it on purpose, had he?
The team leader was thirty-four that year, and I was a little younger than him.
My exact age is a secret.
Sometimes it was funny watching the team leader talk with the other male employees.
I thought he tried to be friendly.
But whenever he draped an arm around a subordinate's shoulder while talking, you could see the guy freeze up.
Whether he realized it or not, he seemed satisfied as long as the other person answered him with even a slightly awkward laugh.
Personally, I thought he was really great as a coworker.
He had a sense of responsibility, and in any case, he made an effort to be considerate toward the people around him.
He didn't ask a lot of personal questions, either.
On the flip side, he also didn't share much about himself.
I'd talked with him a lot over the years, at company dinners and things like that.
Even so, I'd never heard a single thing about his family or his school days.
Everybody knew he was friends with the director and used to be an athlete, but beyond that, I didn't think any of us knew anything.
#
"What the fuck? Seon-yeong, stay here for a second."
That was the first time I ever heard the team leader swear.
I saw him sprint away, his face set hard.
I could have sworn the ground shook.
He reached the tent way off in the distance before I knew it.
Whoa.
I saw the team leader kick an employee and send him flying.
So a person could actually go flying through the air like that.
It looked like a traffic accident.
I needed to hurry over too.
I didn't know what was happening, but it was definitely no ordinary situation.
"Don't come any closer! Back up! Run to the cars in the parking lot!"
It really was no ordinary situation.
The world had changed in an instant.
Still, I thought I was pretty lucky.
With the team leader beside me, I felt as though things might work out somehow even amid all this chaos.
Knowing there was someone I could rely on helped me calm down at least a little.
If I'd been alone, I would have been in a much worse panic.
Or the zombies might have gotten me already.
"Seon-yeong, it's dangerous, so let's get down first. Keep an eye on the parking lot entrance for anyone who's turned into a zombie or anything else unusual."
Sadly, the director had turned into a zombie.
I knew the two of them had been friends for a really long time, and I wasn't sure if he'd be okay.
If I was this sad, what must the team leader be feeling?
I could see his shoulders trembling as he sat hunched over.
I decided I should pretend I hadn't noticed and give him a little space.
Even someone who looked that strong was bound to be having a really rough day.
I pulled myself together.
The way the team leader was there for me—I wanted to be someone who could be at least a little comfort and support to him, too.
"Seon-yeong, hide quietly behind me. There's something strange about the way that person is walking."
The team leader whispered.
The team leader wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.
His hand was so big it seemed to cover half my shoulder.
It was a random thought, but one nice thing about being alone with him like this was how small he made me look.
Even my face looked smaller and my body slimmer.
Once again, the team leader went and dealt with an employee who had turned into a zombie.
It was even harder because it was someone we all knew.
I should have been helping, but my feet felt glued to the ground.
I was scared, but I thought it was harder because it was someone I'd known.
And the team leader, who had seemed so worn down—something shifted in his eyes, as if he'd made up his mind.
Looking into those eyes, I thought the living had to keep going.
I couldn't remain helpless and let him do everything for me.
So I grabbed the team leader as he walked ahead.
Following his lead, I picked up a baseball bat, too.
#
"Seon-yeong, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
A zombie had just lunged at me.
I trusted the team leader and desperately used the bat to keep the zombie from biting me.
The team leader looked at me with worry.
Hmm... Until now, I'd only thought of him as a good coworker.
But now, for some reason, even drenched in sweat and looking all grimy, he seemed cool.
I was still scared of the zombies, but I was doing a bit better.
Having someone reliable around was really good for my mental health.
I'd been about to say I was fine.
But the way he kept fussing over me made him look a little cute.
My god. Finding a guy that big cute.
Maybe as the world got weird, my vision was getting weird too.
"Ah, Seon-yeong. Were you waiting long?"
Of course he came out of the shower just as I was shouting "Status Window."
It seemed like he hadn't quite caught the director's last words.
So, embarrassed as I was, I forced myself to speak up and told him to check his Status Window.
I knew the team leader was staring at my ear.
There was no need to stare. I was already embarrassed enough.
But he was blushing a little, too, so I figured he was embarrassed about being in his underwear.
Anyway, his arms were incredibly thick too.
I figured every body part on the team leader was big and thick.
"Wish we had an umbrella or something. I guess I'm asking for too much."
After a short rest, we decided to check the rooftop as well.
When I tossed off the blanket, he couldn't take his eyes off me.
He seemed to be trying hard not to look, but he couldn't quite control where his eyes went.
Even that was cute.
Ah... There I went, thinking "cute" again.
And the way he kept asking whose cat I meant when I mentioned Schrödinger's cat was cute too.
Maybe it was because he was showing an unexpectedly clumsy side.
I tried not to let my feelings show and played it off by pretending to glare at him.
Then he started looking for the cat he'd apparently named himself.
That's not what it meant, Team Leader.
#
"Seon-yeong, it's really cramped, right? It must feel stuffy—are you okay?"
My eyelids were so heavy.
It had been a truly insane day.
And if I was this wiped out, how exhausted must the team leader have been?
We had to rest as comfortably as possible.
Seeing him sit there hesitating and looking uncomfortable made me feel bad.
It seemed like we'd be moving around a lot again tomorrow, and that worried me.
In a situation like this, I couldn't get all shy just because I was a woman, or be the only one taking it easy.
I had to take the initiative.
I really didn't have any ulterior motives.
Honestly, I'd never spent a whole day stuck to a coworker like I had today.
I hadn't told anyone, but a male employee kept hitting on me, so I'd always maintained a firm distance from everyone at work.
But in just one day, I felt like I'd really opened up to the team leader.
It was true—I was growing fond of him.
The type I usually liked was the pretty, idol-like type, yet I felt the team leader working his way into my heart strangely fast.
It felt like a bear ambling in.
Pressing right up against the team leader's body felt so wonderfully cozy.
I was old enough to understand exactly what was happening, and I could tell the team leader was very healthy.
It was pressing insistently against my stomach, which was awkward.
And I couldn't exactly move it out of the way.
Still, now probably wasn't the time.
I was sure everyone had experienced it.
The situation where your eyelids won't cooperate.
I'd reached my physical limit.
Truthfully, I did have a few ulterior motives.
But there was just nothing I could do.
Sorry, Team Leader.
Maybe next time... Good night.
#
I was so embarrassed I couldn't open my eyes.
We'd been in an emergency since yesterday, so I'd resolved not to be picky or shy about every little thing.
But no matter how much I'd psyched myself up, I was in such a miserable state.
It was hard to just calmly accept someone else looking at my disheveled hair and grimy, sleep-crusted face.
Still, I had to get up.
I'd actually been awake for a little while.
I'd cracked my eyes open slightly, and the team leader was looking down at his lower half with a satisfied expression.
Startled, I squeezed my eyes shut again right away.
"Sleep well, Seon-yeong?"
Apparently, 'Seon-yeong' was the name of my breasts.
He was talking right at my chest.
I could have covered myself, but I worried that would embarrass him, so I stayed still and pretended to be unfazed.
To be honest, I was a little confident, too.
I'd seen plenty of him too, so I called it even and started getting ready for the day.
I was hungry, worried about my family, and sore all over.
Truthfully, I was still scared, so part of me wanted to just stay hidden like this.
I knew we had to go out.
I looked at the team leader's broad back and tried to gather my courage.
Without him, what would have become of me all alone?
Team Leader, let's hang in there today.
I didn't want to die yet.
I was trying to be helpful, but I knew I owed him my life.
Thank you.
When I got the chance, I absolutely had to say it.