Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Are You Free Tonight?
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After the regular meeting wrapped up, I buckled down to hammer out the planning proposal however time allowed.
Team Leader Kang had pinned it specifically to "today," and who knew what fresh hell would rain down if I pushed back.
Beyond that, I desperately wanted to dodge overtime on this precious Friday.
"Assistant Manager Lee, reach out to the PR team and have them send over those materials, would you?"
"Assistant Manager Lee, print the draft for next month's product setup and drop it on my desk."
Team Leader Kang was on a mission, it seemed—every time I even glanced at the proposal, she'd toss another task my way.
"Assistant Manager Lee, the break room's a disaster. Mind tidying it up?"
She even started handing me the department's rotating chores.
"Oh, and while you're cleaning, pop out and grab snacks to restock it."
Now she was barking orders outright, shoving the company card into my hands.
That card, dangled like some grand favor, looked utterly infuriating today.
"Pick whatever kinds you like."
"...Got it."
"You're not swamped and I'm not interrupting, right?"
As if she didn't know full well.
Hide that twitching smirk before you talk.
"No, ma'am."
Hold it together.
Defying her inside these office walls would just screw me over.
Better to hustle through and head home.
After grinding through her assignments for a solid hour, I was about to drop back into my chair.
"Assistant Manager Lee."
Her voice drilled into my ear before my butt even grazed the seat, like she'd been lying in wait.
I'm gonna snap.
"Grab last year's sales metrics from the file room. Need to check something."
Orders now, no pretense.
"No response? Didn't hear me?"
As her tone sharpened, I felt every eye in the office flicking sideways toward me.
Sigh.
"No, ma'am."
Words burned on my tongue, but I shoved them down.
"Um."
Then a hand popped up over the partition beside me.
"Team Leader, if Assistant Manager Lee's busy, I could—"
Mi-na glanced around nervously as she half-stood from her seat.
I waved her off, shaking my head.
No way I'd dump my mess on a junior swamped with her own work.
"No, I'll handle it."
"...Hmph. Then quit dawdling and hustle back. You've got enough on your plate."
That's how you treat someone you know?
She propped her chin on her desk, eyeing me and Mi-na with half-lidded suspicion, then snorted and turned to her monitor.
Fine. Wanna play petty? Let's see who breaks first.
I whipped around and marched to the file room like the floor might cave in.
Overtime's shadow was slinking my way.
One hour till quitting time.
I headed to the rooftop for a breather.
Stepping out, the sun dipped behind towering buildings.
You're clocking out already? Lucky.
A few employees were already up there, leaning on the railing and puffing smokes.
I slumped onto a bench tucked in a smoke-free corner.
"Haaaaah."
Basking in the evening chill, a thick, pent-up sigh erupted.
"Assistant Manager Lee this, Assistant Manager Lee that—so damn relentless!"
Frustration boiled over; I clutched my head and vented the buildup.
Her voice still echoed in my skull.
Endless tasks meant zero progress on the proposal.
Overtime locked in.
"Haha. Hahaha."
A hollow laugh slipped out in my enlightened haze.
The smokers shot me weird looks as they headed out.
"Sigh. Gotta tell Lizetta I'm late... Ah."
Fumbling for my phone, it hit me—I had no emergency line for her.
No landline at home either.
"Gonna sign up for a phone while clothes shopping this weekend."
Family growing meant all these little things piling up, ones I'd never considered solo.
"Sigh. Miss Lizetta..."
Craving a lap pillow in her skirt folds, gentle strokes.
Leaning against the hard bench, I stared blankly at the vermilion sky.
"Sun~bae!"
A lively voice yanked my gaze forward.
Looking down, there was Mi-na, hands behind her back, beaming down at me.
"Knew I'd find you here."
"How'd you guess?"
"You're always here if not at your desk."
"Not like it's my private spot."
"True. Hehe. Rough day wrangling the Team Leader, huh?"
Such a small consolation, but nothing beat someone acknowledging the grind.
"That's her daily special. Overtime guaranteed today, thanks to her."
At least there's overtime pay—consolation or curse?
"So~ your cute, capable junior came to cheer you up personally. Ta-da!"
She cranked up her voice triumphantly and thrust her arms forward from behind her.
In her hands: a plastic cup brimming with whipped cream-topped drink.
"What's this?"
"Cafe latte. Caffeine and sweets crush stress."
"..."
"Sunbae?"
I alternated between the latte and her face, then covered my eyes, fake-sobbing.
"Struck gold with this junior. *sob*."
"Aw, no need to cry over it. Ahem. Glad you get it now."
After some silly banter, I took the latte and slurped through the straw.
Bitter caffeine mingled with rich whipped sweetness, delighting my mouth.
Meanwhile, she perched lightly beside me, swinging her long legs one after the other.
"Tasty."
"Right? My go-to. Fuels me through the rough patches."
Every time?
"...Won't pack on pounds?"
"Tch. So tactless with girls. Tasty means zero calories, duh?"
Zero calories or not, she kept herself in check anyway—Mi-na had a killer figure.
Not as voluptuous as Team Leader Kang, but her chest filled out nicely where it counted.
Sleek, elongated model legs.
Plus a bubbly, approachable vibe.
No doubt plenty in the department harbored crushes.
Though some clearly resented her for it.
"Thanks for the coffee."
"Grateful? Treat me extra nice from now on."
"Hey. Name a senior nicer to juniors than me. Barely nitpick work, cover your messes."
"True~. Lucked out with a softie like you—survived two years."
"Hey you, softie? 'Caring' senior."
"Hehe. Praise, praise. Means you take good care of me. I like softie types."
She flashed me a smile.
Those alluring, drooping eyes momentarily stole my words.
"...Too late to spin it now."
"Busted?"
She's a pro at riling up her senior.
Still, sweet drink and junior chit-chat lightened the weight on my shoulders.
"But sunbae."
She scooted closer.
Our shoulders nearly brushing.
"Hitting the gym lately?"
Her sunset-hued eyes scanned me head to toe, just like this morning.
"Felt it earlier—you seem taller. More muscle too."
One day, total overhaul—anyone would notice.
Almost hurt that no one had mentioned it till now.
"Even my are saying you've changed. Cooler now."
"For real?"
"Kidding."
"Hey..."
Yeah. People's views don't flip overnight.
I wasn't exactly a standout here anyway.
"Why so glum? Sorry for teasing."
"Then don't tease."
Does she come to work just to mess with me?
"But seriously, how'd you change this much in a day?"
"Just, y'know... gym membership few months back. Paying off now."
Best cover my feeble brain could muster.
Sounded way more plausible than "possession perks."
"Hmm."
Skeptical side-eye jabbed me.
"Sunbae."
"...Yeah?"
"Free tonight?"
"What'd you hear? Overtime city. Why?"
She averted her gaze, twirling a lock of hair.
"No, just... if you're free, wanna grab dinner? Been a while."
Misheard?
This vibe wasn't casual buddy eats.
Heart fluttering, cheeks heating...
"You, uh..."
Before I could speak, she bolted upright.
"Ah. Better head down. Unlike my poor sunbae, gotta prep to leave."
No trace of her usual playfulness in that hurried tone.
As I sat stunned, she strode toward the door.
"...If you wrap early, hit me up. I'll wait."
She murmured it softly, then vanished like the wind.
Left alone on the bench, I stared blankly at where she'd been.
Lifespan = girlfriend-less years.
For the first time, a whiff of spring brushed my nose.
Clutching that thrill, I returned to my desk and dove into the backlog revisions.
Concept aside, schedules, budgets—everything needed a full teardown.
Halfway through, night had fully fallen; darkness blanketed the windows.
Office emptying into silence, leaving me solo as planned.
'Why's that guy still here?'
Peeking over the partition, Team Leader Kang was still glued to her monitor.
She's sharp, but no workaholic.
Normally she'd blaze through and bounce first.
Fight with the hubby or something?
Their marriage was infamous among vets.
Dual earners till his business tanked, plunging their finances.
Him unemployed ever since.
She's the sole lifeline now.
Rumor mill—who knows truth from fiction.
If real, her stress made sense.
But dumping it on me and the team? Nah.
Her gaze flicked my way from the screen.
"Assignments done?"
"N-nearly."
"Email when finished."
"Yes, ma'am."
No half-assing for tomorrow-me.
But no room for letdown now.
Our duo office echoed only with keyboard clacks and mouse clicks.
Around 9 p.m.,
I fired off the triple-checked proposal to her inbox.
Grading time.
"Team Leader, proposal for review."
"Hold on."
She scanned the monitor in silence, eyes darting.
I tensed, awaiting her verdict.
Please pass on the first go!
"Assistant Manager Lee."
"Yes, ma'am."
Endless wait over, she beckoned me over.
I shuffled up like a pup caught mid-pee.
She lounged back in her chair, eyeing the screen then me.
Goddamn, she's gorgeous.
Especially those pantyhose-wrapped thighs peeking from her short skirt suit—pure bliss.
How good would it feel sliding in there?
"Way better than the draft, at least."
Her casual toss snapped me back.
"Just tweaked per your notes."
Seasoned with flattery.
Her expression softened a touch.
"Concept and ideas aren't bad. Little more polish, and it'd ship as product."
"R-really?"
After all that torment, sudden mercy?
Righteous fury lingered, though.
"Think I'd waste time on pointless revisions?"
Didn't think so.
Swallowed the retort rising to my throat.
"Anyway, good hustle late. Not approved yet—don't count chickens."
"Ah, understood."
Who dragged me here this late?
"Now scram."
"You not heading out?"
"Me... still got work. Don't worry about it—go home."
Work.
Curiosity piqued, but her business.
"Then goodnight."
Bowed to her, snatched my stuff, and bolted the building.
Cool night air, still crisp, welcomed me.
"Way later than planned."
Phone check: 10:30 p.m.
Absurdly late for dinner.
Mi-na's last text at 7: "Contact when done."
What now?
Choices:
1. Head straight home.
2. Text Mi-na.
"Hmm."
Picked 2 after agonizing.
Might just be dinner.
She could bail—too late.
Or ghost.
Then chalk it to overexcitement, go home.
Ringing dragged; anxiety swelled.
"...Sigh. Yeah. As if."
Better bod sparks crush? No way.
Resigned, about to hang.
[Sunbae?]
Finger hovering, it connected—her voice.
[Sunbae? You there?]
Caught off-guard, cleared throat.
"Y-yeah. Loud and clear."
[Off work?]
"Just now."
[Tough one. Took forever.]
"Yeah, snowballed. Uh, you eat dinner?"
[Already did.]
"Figured."
Of course.
What was I hoping?
[Too late for food. Drinks instead?]
Expectations surged; head snapped up.
"Drinks?"
[Yeah. Weekend tomorrow anyway. Kinda craving drinks with someone. You in?]
I glanced back the way home.
Pedestrian light blinked its end.
Watched it, then turned away.
Sorry Lizetta—when's another shot like this?
Full apology later.
"Where to?"
[Bar near my place I hit often. Sending location on Kakao.]
Hung up; map pinged soon after.
Not far from the office.
Checked the now-red light, resumed walking.
No expectations.
But...
"...Grab condoms?"
Gotta live a little thrill now and then.