A Puppy's Apology and a Familiar Hero
“Y-You crazy bastard! I messed up, okay! ……………”
After wrapping up that “meeting” on the rooftop, I returned to the office. But my mental state was already in tatters.
“Ugh……”
I dumped the horrifically sweet mixed coffee Lee Jin-ah had given me down the sink and slumped into my chair.
Lee Jin-ah knew about Yeom Hana.
She claimed she saw it in my phone notifications, but honestly, that explanation didn't quite add up. Still, it was hard to press her on it without proof. For now, I'd have to let it slide.
Anyway, one girl's pulling AI pregnancy pranks, another's mistaking it for real and coming after me, and my daughter… let's not even go there. At this point, all I could say was that my fate was a rough one. Every woman I ran into had an energy level way beyond what I could handle.
Just then, the phone I'd left face-down on my desk buzzed.
Vrrr.
I flinched, shoulders hunching in surprise. Lee Jin-ah worked in the same office, so it wasn't her texting. Han Sol, maybe? Praying it was nothing serious, I hurriedly checked the screen with a knot in my stomach.
It was an unexpected name. Our chats had gone dead silent after the pregnancy test fiasco. What a bizarre timing—right after getting grilled by Lee Jin-ah about her.
I opened the chat to find a wall of text. This was the girl who usually fired off short questions or memes—what was this about?
“Huh.”
A disbelieving laugh escaped me. Truth be told, I wasn't entirely over the pregnancy test prank. My heart had damn near stopped when I first saw it. But was I furious to my core? Nah, not really. A couple good forehead flicks, and I'd forget it clean.
Still, seeing her message softened me up quite a bit.
Alright. Guess she went through some real turmoil too.
Thinking about it, Yeom Hana was still young. Younger than Han Sol, even. At that age, anyone could act immature and pull a stunt like that just to get attention.
And here she was, reflecting on it before I even had a chance to scold her properly as the elder. Pretty commendable, actually.
I pondered for a moment, then replied.
Address incoming.
The second I sent it, the 1 vanished, and a reply shot back at lightspeed.
……………
A franchise cafe just far enough from the office to avoid running into Special Security Management Bureau colleagues. It was that awkward early afternoon lull after the lunch rush—only three or four customers inside.
To be extra safe, I waited for Yeom Hana in a deep corner seat away from the windows.
Ding-a-ling.
The bell chimed as the door opened. The flame-orange hair and that powerhouse presence—boobs or whatever, boobs or whatever—were the same as ever, but her vibe was different from last time.
The girl who always strutted with shoulders back and an air of invincibility was shrunk down today. Like a massive dog hyper-aware of its owner's mood.
Golden retriever… nah, too sweet. Labrador retriever, maybe?
Lost in silly thoughts, I watched Yeom Hana hesitantly pull out the chair across from me and sit.
“L-Long time no see, ajussi.”
“Yeah.”
I said it a bit stiffly on purpose. Her cowed look was kinda amusing.
Yeom Hana stared holes into her hands on the table. Lips twitching, but no words coming out.
Aigoo.
Were girls just the superior species to ajussis? One pitiful look, and my resolve crumbled.
I'd planned to tease and scold her a bit, but I caved and spoke first.
“You had something to say.”
“……Yeah.”
She looked up. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. Sleepless? Or had she been crying?
“Ajussi, that pregnancy test pic I faked and sent last time… I'm really sorry.”
“Yeah.”
“I thought it was just a joke when I sent it, but looking back, it was a total dick move. You don't mess around with pregnancy.”
“……”
“I'm really sorry. I won't do it again.”
Yeom Hana bowed her head deep. Flame-orange strands fell over her face, hiding it.
Oho… this girl.
She was genuinely remorseful. I dropped the stern face and softened my tone.
“Alright, got it. No more pranks like that from now on.”
Her head snapped up.
“……R-Really? You're not mad anymore?”
“Yeah. All good.”
Relief washed over her face. Corners of her mouth twitched up, tension easing from her eyes.
“Hehe… thanks, ajussi.”
Yeom Hana gave a small smile—not her usual loud, sunny grin, but something shy and cautious.
……………
We'd made up, at least. But the mood was… odd. She showed no sign of leaving, just fiddling with her coffee cup and sneaking glances at me.
Wants to stick around more, huh.
Made sense. She'd mustered the courage for a proper apology, and if I just accepted and bounced, it'd feel anticlimactic. Like, did he really forgive me? Was he over it?
If I send her off like this…
It might send the wrong signal. Like the ajussi's still pissed. No need to torment her that much.
“Hey.”
My words lit up her eyes.
“I get off at six today.”
“Huh? Yeah?”
“Let's meet after. Grab dinner or something.”
Her face brightened instantly.
“F-For real?”
“For real.”
“He, hehe……”
The gloom was gone; now she was beaming ear to ear, eyes sparkling like a pup hearing “walkies.”
“Got it! Six? I'll be waiting!”
“Yeah. I'm heading out first.”
I stood, dropping three 10,000-won bills on the table.
“Coffee money. Order more if there's leftover.”
“……Huh? Oh, yeah! Thanks!”
Yeom Hana waved. I ruffled her hair like a messy pat and left the cafe.
Right before the door closed, I glanced back. She was still seated, watching me, grin stretched to her ears.
Haha, such a straightforward kid.
Sorry to Lee Jin-ah, but I couldn't bring myself to push Yeom Hana away. Anyway, we'd meet again after work.
……………
Speaking of which, I had a very special schedule this afternoon. Shooting a promo video with a popular hero-streamer who had over a million subscribers.
Tch.
Not thrilled about it, honestly. I'd rather they spent that money on us staff. Hero booking fees, equipment rentals, editing, marketing—stick it right in our paychecks. If not, at least upgrade the cafeteria.
Of course, the higher-ups saw it differently. Promo gets more budget, more budget means more for the organization. Grow the pie called “budget,” and benefits trickle down. Trickle-down debates aside.
Anyway, the team leader stressed this promo shoot was crucial work.
Fine, but…
Why me?
Made no sense. The bureau was crawling with young, energetic newbies way fitter than this old guy. Yet mid-level management picked me.
Agent Han Kang's perfect. That… trustworthy vibe! Yeah, mature charm!
Mature charm my ass—just park an ajussi there. Not about looks, surely.
“Tch.”
Orders were orders.
……………
The set was tucked in a corner of a riverside park. Staff bustled around, tweaking gear.
“You're here, Agent! Wait over there!”
Following the promo staffer's lead, I stood in the corner for ten-odd minutes. Murmurs rose as a black van slid in.
“Ooh, she's here! Blue Falcon!”
“First time seeing her in person.”
Amid the cheers, the door opened, and today's star stepped out.
Blue Falcon.
Oh ho. So that's the famous Blue Falcon.
Million-sub hero. “Pure-hearted hero” concept with a massive fandom.
But… she looked familiar. The tight blue suit hugging her figure, blue twintails. Like I'd seen her a ton.
Just my imagination.
Where would I have seen a masked hero with blue twintails?
As I stared, our eyes met, and Blue Falcon's steps halted dead.
“……!?”
Her shoulders jerked visibly. I could feel the bewilderment shaking behind the visor.
What the?
No clue why. Blue Falcon flinched over, hesitant.
“Um, excuse me……”
“Yes?”
“N-No, nothing.”
She started, then whipped her head away.
What's her deal?
“Do you know me?”
My question made her jump like she'd been shocked.
“N-No!? I don't know you!? First time meeting, right!?”
Her voice pitched up an octave. Waving her hands frantically.
Way too over-the-top. Suspicious as hell.
“I see……”
Heroes really are a different breed.
Streamer fame? Or just her personality? Something set her apart from normals.
As I turned away, I felt her peeking at me. I sighed.
Sol-ah. Dad's scraping by shooting vids with weird women like this.
Thoughts drifted to my daughter. What would Han Sol say knowing her dad did this for a paycheck? “You work hard, Dad”? Or “Embarrassing”?
Come to think of it, she'd mentioned streaming too.
Hope she doesn't end up like that.