A Gift You Can't Refuse
There's a listening device in my ear that the CEO gave me!!! ………………
"No, Seori sunbae, isn't this a bit much? Organizing someone else's fridge without permission is kinda…"
But Choi Seori didn't look sorry at all. If anything, her expression grew even more serious as she stared at me.
"Minseo, you always leave half your lunch uneaten. And on days I'm not around, it's instant ramen, frozen food, and beer every time. I'm worried about your health."
"Ugh…"
What an annoying thing to say. Honestly, pretty damn annoying. But it was true that Han Minseo's body wasn't in great shape. He wasn't skin-and-bones skinny or fat, but his stamina was rock bottom, and his complexion was poor. He's hanging in there now because he's young, but keep up these eating habits and it's a straight shot to skinny-fat syndrome and adult-onset diseases.
She's not wrong. Not wrong at all…
As I mulled over her words in silence, Choi Seori added cautiously, "If I overstepped, I'm sorry. But I'm really worried."
Sigh…
A sigh escaped me. I didn't want to admit it, but she was right.
"Yeah, you're right, Seori sunbae. I have been neglecting my health… but."
I held up one finger.
"Let me buy and eat what I want once in a while. Beer or ice cream or whatever. Not every day… maybe once a week. That should be okay, right?"
Choi Seori tilted her head slightly.
"Hmm… okay. I'll check periodically and think about it. If your health allows, it should be fine sometimes."
'If your health allows, sometimes.' After concessions on top of concessions, I'd barely wrangled a conditional okay.
Do I really need permission to spend my own money? Tch.
It felt like I was putting a collar on myself. I grumbled inwardly but didn't say it out loud. After all, Seori sunbae was using her own money and time to look after me. The normal response here was to graciously say thanks.
"Got it."
In the end, that's what I said as I grabbed a zero cola and closed the fridge door. Choi Seori opened her book again, and I sat beside her, sipping my cola. The less-sugary fizz slid down my throat, not too sweet.
………………
The park was quiet on this weekend afternoon. Sitting on the bench, the warm sunlight tickled my face. Choi Seori, sitting next to me, rested her head on my shoulder. Her hair smelled like shampoo. Dressed in a beige knit and jeans instead of a suit, she looked like any ordinary woman. Well, precisely speaking, only her outfit was ordinary—her face was anything but. She was stunningly beautiful.
To think a day like this would come.
I glanced down, and Choi Seori had her eyes closed, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. As if savoring the moment completely. She looked truly happy. For my part, this peaceful time felt unfamiliar but nice.
Setting aside life before becoming Han Minseo, even right after, I couldn't have imagined a scene like this.
"That movie earlier, the ending."
Choi Seori said softly, opening her eyes just a sliver. Her words brought back the film we'd just watched. A wife monitors her husband's every move, isolates him completely from others, and he lives on happily oblivious. The director probably meant it as black comedy. But honestly, chills ran down my spine the whole time. Scarier than most horror flicks.
"It was creepy as hell."
"I thought they looked happy. Both of them."
"Ha, haha…"
She's joking, right? Obviously a joke. But her expression was more serious than usual. She seemed to genuinely envy that couple in the movie.
"Think about it. Staring only at each other, living only for each other, needing nothing else. Isn't that perfect?"
My throat went dry.
"That seems… a bit extreme."
"Extreme? Isn't that what love is?"
Choi Seori leaned her head back on my shoulder. Her hand found mine and laced our fingers together.
"Uh, um. Humans are social animals, right? Couples should have other friends too… that's a healthy relationship, no?"
"Friends?"
Her voice turned cold.
"I don't need anyone but you… do you need anyone besides me?"
A chill ran down my spine. There was something scary in Choi Seori's eyes right now. Her pupils had shrunk to pinpricks. Like that time a month ago when she was naked, clinging to my pant leg.
"Ha, haha. We're not married."
"I'm kidding."
Choi Seori smiled only with her mouth.
"Still, Minseo. I want you by my side forever. Always, anytime."
Her hand tightened. Pressure built between our interlaced fingers.
"Today was so much fun. Movie, this walk."
"Me too."
Mostly sincere. Birds chirped, flowers bloomed. On a day like this, hanging out with a close sunbae… yeah, it felt good.
"Wanna go out again next week?"
"Sure, sounds good."
The wind blew. Children's laughter drifted from afar. A peaceful weekend afternoon.
………………
The sky was turning orange as the sun dipped west. Time to head back. I pulled my smartphone from my pocket to check the time. A Korean model I'd been using for over three years… outdated even when bought used. The screen was cracked too. I pressed the power button. It flickered on, then off. Kept pressing, got a 1% battery warning, flickered again, then died completely.
"Damn… crapped out again. Time for a new one."
I muttered under my breath. From Han Minseo's memories, he'd bought it secondhand. Battery life was shot; needed charging two or three times a day.
Choi Seori eyed the dead phone in my hand. Her eyes gleamed oddly, like she'd been waiting for this.
"Minseo."
"Yeah?"
She opened her handbag beside her and pulled something out. A brand-new smartphone box, unopened. This year's latest flagship model, top specs.
She placed it in my hand.
"Here."
"Seori sunbae, this is…"
My head spun. I knew this phone cost over two million won. With student loans, rent, living expenses—way too pricey for cash-strapped Han Minseo.
"No, sunbae. This is too much. I've already mooched off you plenty. I'm good."
I waved it off, handing the box back. Choi Seori raised a hand to stop me. Suddenly, her face turned all business—like the public CEO face, not the intimate one from the office when we're alone.
"Not a gift. It's a company phone issued for work."
"Huh?"
"Your new role reports directly to the CEO. Extremely sensitive to external leaks. Using your personal phone is a huge risk for the company."
She pushed the box back at me.
"So this is a work order. Was gonna bring it up soon anyway. Perfect timing."
Speechless. Framing a phone gift as a work directive and security risk.
Did she anticipate I'd feel burdened and prepare this excuse? Hmm…
Probably. Given her meticulous personality.
Still, I had to concede. My phone was ancient and insecure. It was a fact. Bought used three years ago, OS outdated, security patches lagging. Me, direct under the CEO, using this? Could be an issue.
Choi Seori pressed the box firmer into my hand.
"Don't stress about it being company-issued. Security's tight, but you can use it for personal stuff too."
"Company phone for personal use?"
"Other companies might not allow it, but I'm the CEO of Core Systems. You using the company phone freely? I won't punish or abuse it."
Her smile deepened.
"So personal use is fine. I permit it."
A company phone okay for personal use.
Nice, but… feels like it'll be watching me.
A twinge of unease. She won't abuse it, but can you fully trust people?
No, she's been so good to me… doubting her feels wrong.
Yeah. Higher-ups bend rules like this all the time. Not embezzlement or breach of trust. Should be fine.
I finally accepted the box. Heavy for just a phone inside.
"How do I transfer the data?"
"I'll do it at the office tomorrow. Give me your old one."
Choi Seori smiled, hand outstretched.
"I can do it slowly at home—"
"Needs a dedicated app for security transfer. Don't worry. I won't look at personal stuff."
Her hand stayed out. Impossible to refuse.
Reluctantly, I handed over my dead phone. She pocketed it in her bag.
"Better dispose of the old one. Security reasons. So… after data transfer tomorrow, I'll handle it."
Core Systems