The Weight of the Choice
So the candidates were narrowed down to these two?
The sun had set and the moon had risen.
Business meetings with clients lasted from morning until night. Continuous discussions only finally yielded meaningful answers after midnight.
“This is it, it’s so hard to choose because they’re completely opposite.”
After the meeting ended, the supplier candidates were narrowed down to two.
The only point of concern was that their personalities were extremely different.
Let’s explain the company names simply as A and B.
Company A was a new company like us, with a short history. Although its name value was low, it offered a high price for the supply. We were surprised when we heard the amount, so if we thought about profit, it had to be this side.
However, it is dangerous to be immersed only in the profit in transactions. Given that it’s a large transaction, stability was also important. Looking at the company’s fund reserves and transaction history with other companies, it was a financially stable state that could be positively reviewed, but to go beyond that, Company A lacked the name value as it said at the beginning.
On the other hand, Company B was a mid-sized company with a proper track record in memory. In terms of credit, it couldn’t be compared to Company A. Instead, the disadvantage was the price. The supply pricing was about 20% lower than Company A.
‘I would have chosen Company A without hesitation if I could.’
This far has been a real time of hardship. It was a product that was barely shown to the world after receiving investment and managing a small company with difficulty. So I have a mind to have the value assessed as high as possible.
However.
‘If I want to go safely, it should be side B. The other side just called too high, and the price on this side isn’t bad either. Even if I trade with this...’
The transaction with Company B was also sufficiently attractive. Above all, the biggest point was that it was safe. This transaction had to be successful no matter what. If it fell in the middle, I would never be able to rise again.
“...”
So I looked back and forth at the profiles of the two companies several times. And I glanced sideways at the meeting room. The employees were still not going home even after the meeting ended and were waiting for my decision.
Seeing them, a part of my heart secretly sank. The hardships of the employees who had worked hard in the meantime were vaguely gathered in my heart.
‘Which side...’
At the same time, thoughts of my wife came to mind. I wanted to bring happiness to Ju-hee who was suffering.
Then the conclusion was one.
‘I have to decide on the A company side.’
There might be a slight risk, but the reward was too great. The risk was just that the name value was lacking, so in other parts, it had already been positively reviewed for a long time.
‘...’
Having made up my mind, the incident with the old man in the morning came to mind. The saying that great luck becomes misfortune. Could it be referring to the current matter? Could I have made a hasty decision by being swayed by too good conditions?
‘Hey, that’s not the case.’
However, I immediately denied it. In the morning, before the meeting, I was tense and fell for the old man’s words, but looking back, it was nonsense.
Above all, there was a chance to receive 20% more. It was too foolish to let the work go wrong based on a word from an unknown grandfather.
“Alright, then let’s proceed with this side!”
When the words ended, cheers erupted from the employees. They probably had wanted my decision on this side as well.
Thus, the project that the company’s fate was at stake began.
...
..
.
Fortunately, the worries were unfounded.
“It’s been a while since I’ve gone on a date with oppa~?”
Weekend. We who came out near the house were walking in the park while looking at the sunset.
“Sorry, I’ve been too busy with work lately.”
As it is, the company was running at full speed, with no time to spare.
After much deliberation, the memory supply was decided to be Company A. We put the volume into the factory as requested by the company and produced, and the first volume of 2000 pieces was successfully traded.
Since the spoon was properly scooped, the next was smooth. Additional volume orders came in, and with production facility expansion and raw material orders, the company didn’t know it would go dark.
“Take it easy... you’ll collapse.”
A cool evening breeze was blowing. Ju-hee in a blue one-piece dress came and gently hugged my arm.
“You know health is the most important, right oppa? Work is important but resting is also important.”
Continuing the words, Ju-hee lightly pulled my arm. The pulling force wasn’t strong, but the touch of my loving wife was the strongest. Slowly, my feet moved as she led.
“Well, let’s sit after walking a bit?”
The arrived place was a bench nearby. We sat back to back on the brown backrest.
“Well, lie down! I’ll be your knee pillow that oppa likes!”
“Eh... eh!”
It didn’t end there. Ju-hee patted her own thigh and pulled my upper body down, and naturally my head rested on her soft thigh.
Hmm.
The soft rustling of the dress Ju-hee wore and the soft, smooth skin inside combined to make her thigh the world’s best pillow.
Huu.
When I buried my head, the sweet scent unique to my wife wafted from the tip of my nose. Then, my nose involuntarily drooped and my body relaxed. My body was full of fatigue. Actually, if I were to confess now, I didn’t want to go on today’s date.
I was too tired. I just wanted to rest well at home, but I had to come out because of my wife’s persuasion.
Upon coming out, what I realized was that I hadn’t spent time with Ju-hee because I was busy lately. So I had been forcing myself to walk in the park matching my wife.
Too tired. If I just close my eyes, I’ll sleep...
Lying like this, the fatigue I had been suppressing with difficulty came rushing in. I had intended to close my eyes lightly, but my eyelids wouldn’t close.
And.
“!”
I opened my eyes.
It felt like I had been asleep. The submerged consciousness was suddenly revived.
Without looking around.
“Are you awake? You must have been really tired.”
Hearing the voice from above, I turned my head. Then, what I saw was Ju-hee’s face looking down at me with a smile.
“Ah!”
Startled, I sat up. I looked around. The red sunset had long since disappeared, and the dark night sky had taken its place.
Faint white streetlights were lit along the park path, and there were few people passing by.
“Wow, sorry. I got too tired and just fell asleep-”
“It’s okay, oppa.”
Time was time, but having lain down for a long time, Ju-hee must have had her knees sore too. But Ju-hee’s expression was without a frown, rather smiling brightly.
Even though we had spent rare one-on-one time, she was smiling brightly despite having spent it in sleep.
“Did you sleep well? Actually, I brought you here to give you this today.”
Ju-hee reached out and gently stroked my cheek.
“Do you remember when we were dating? When we came here, I always gave you knee pillow, right? It says that with this, even the strength that was missing comes out.”
Then, my loving wife moved her body and hugged me into her arms.
“I thought oppa had become too skinny lately, so I wanted to give you some energy. Are you very busy with work? You don’t tell me about company work, so I wanted to help in this way.”
The most lovable woman in the world hugged me tightly after thinking that.
“I know oppa’s heart too. I didn’t want to worry you. The reason I fell for oppa was also because of this trustworthy appearance.”
My appearance was ordinary. My abilities were a bit, but it wouldn’t be enough to match a perfect woman like Ju-hee in every way.
So, in the past, I had asked her why she fell for me. To that, my wife answered ‘trust and belief’.
She said she thought she could entrust all of herself to this person.
I had only resisted unjust things, but my wife seemed to like that appearance.
The employees who left the company, and those who became employees, often told similar stories. It was a common repertoire that they were moved by my appearance as a representative fighting for them and followed.
“Still, sometimes it’s good to take care of yourself and tell the stories accumulated inside. We are a couple, right? As much as I trust oppa, oppa should trust me too. What if I hear bad news and worry? We can worry together. It’s better to be two than one.”
After the words ended, Ju-hee released the hand she was holding and turned her face towards me.
Under the night sky, in the dim streetlight— even so, the smiling face of my wife shining brightly was visible.
“...Yeah, Ju-hee. Thank you.”
The heavy weight of life that had been pressing down felt lighter with my wife’s words.
Is this what it means to be a couple? Overcoming hardships together and moving forward. Maybe I had been wearing shackles I made myself until now.
“And, I love you.”
This time, I pulled my wife into my arms.
I swore to give her the trust and reliance she gave me, and we became more firmly connected.