Chapter 40: Then, shall we do it once before they arrive♥?
Chapter 40: Then, shall we do it once before they arrive♥?
Cleaning up afterward didn't take too long. Since we didn't do it multiple times like at a hotel, there wasn't much mess to deal with. Just wiping up the wet spot on the floor was enough.
I carefully rolled up the used condom in toilet paper to ensure it wouldn't be discovered and threw it in the trash. Then I crumpled up more toilet paper and piled it on top.
'There's no way anyone would find it now. Unless they have x-ray vision or something.'
"I've cleaned up most of it. You can go first."
"What about you, Senior?"
"I'll leave a bit later. If someone sees us leaving together, they might think it's strange."
She seemed to understand, giving a small nod.
"Then I'll go first."
"Okay."
Seo-yun opened the door and left naturally. As the door closed, silence quickly fell. I took out the phone from my pocket.
[12:49 PM]
'Still, with 10 minutes left, there's enough time to check.'
I waited until it was 12:51 before leaving the archive room. People were walking through the hallway. Windows appeared above their heads, showing only names—the locks were still there.
'Seems like nothing's changed.'
Just in case, to check if I could see the windows of people whose faces I didn't know at all, I headed to the terrace. Placing my hands on the railing, I looked down.
As usual, I couldn't even see their names.
'Is it only specific people, like Seo-yun?'
Right then—
"Hey. Park Dae-hoon."
"?"
At the familiar voice, I turned my head. Woo-hyun was standing there.
"What are you doing? Standing by the railing like that."
[Kim Woo-hyun]
[Foot Fetish, Footjob]
My face stiffened involuntarily.
"Why do you look so upset? Did you get bad news or something?"
"No, I just found out something I really didn't want to know."
It felt like I'd opened Pandora's box. And without even meaning to.
"What did you find out?"
"Just... something like that."
It was better not to tell him.
'Well, a foot fetish isn't that weird.'
It was a milder fetish than exhibitionism. A footjob was within understandable limits—it often showed up in porn. Scenes where a woman stimulates a man's dick with her bare feet, socks, stockings, etc.
'If there's a problem...'
It was that I wasn't curious at all.
'Can't I just not see this? I'm not curious about any guys.'
Ignorance is bliss. If I knew someone had a hardcore or niche sexual preference, I'd probably unconsciously keep my distance.
[SYSTEM | The function to view sexual preferences is now deactivated for males only.]
[SYSTEM | This function can be reactivated at any time.]
'Like hell I would. I'd rather die than turn it back on.'
Even if dirt got in my eyes, I wouldn't look. Just to confirm, I stared at Woo-hyun's face.
[Kim Woo-hyun]
'It's really gone now.'
Only his name was visible—no sexual preferences.
"What, is there something on my face?"
"No, just checking the time. It's already 1 PM."
"Already? Ugh... Lunch break goes by way too fast."
"Tell me about it. I'm heading back first."
"Alright, take care."
"You too."
I gave a half-hearted wave with my right hand and returned to the office.
'Can I not see anyone else's?'
As I walked back to my seat, I quickly scanned the people sitting at their desks by just rolling my eyes. Just like this morning, only their names and locks were visible.
'Nothing's changed.'
It was the same for both other teams and our own team members.
'The team leader said she'd come in the afternoon—guess she hasn't returned yet.'
Honestly, it was better this way. She had a habit of calling me over and dumping work on me out of nowhere.
'Though Seo-yun has been writing things down more carefully lately.'
I glanced at Seo-yun. She was alternating between mouse and keyboard, inputting data into an Excel sheet.
'Anyway, I still can't figure out the conditions for seeing sexual preferences.'
If I limited it to Ha-rin and Woo-hyun, it'd be easy to guess—I was somewhat close to both. But including Seo-yun made my head hurt.
'We weren't close, is the thing. We've gotten a bit closer now, but... This is giving me a headache.'
I was staring blankly at the ceiling to clear my head when it happened.
"Everyone's working hard."
The team leader's voice came from behind.
"You're back, Team Leader?"
"How did the meeting go?"
"Yeah. It went well."
[Kim Dayeon]
[Humiliation Play, SM Play, Masochist]
'...?'
The walls of text made me doubt my eyes. They clashed so starkly with Team Leader Kim Dayeon's usual sharp, haughty, and cold image that the shock hit even harder.
But the words below caught my attention even more.
[Kickback]
'Is this "kickback" the same kickback I know...?'
When part of the payment for contracted goods or services is returned to the contractor. Our company strictly prohibits it under internal regulations. Yet there it was, written plain as day.
'I should look into this.'
I made a mental note to go through the documents whenever I had time. All company-related files were stored in the archives.
***
'Nothing's turning up.'
I'd invested my Wednesday evenings, Thursday lunch and evening breaks, and even Friday's lunch hour today to comb through them, but I couldn't find anything suspicious.
'If there had been anything odd, the audit team would've caught it first. I was being too naive.'
This was Kim Dayeon we were talking about. A woman who'd become team leader at just 32 purely on merit. She wouldn't leave amateurish traces in the paperwork.
'But there's no other way to find out besides documents.'
I could file an anonymous tip to the audit team. But what if it turned out to be nothing?
'I'd get fired for sure.'
"Anonymous" wasn't really anonymous.
'I need solid evidence to take her down, but without any, I'm stuck.'
Tsk. I clicked my tongue in frustration.
'I can't just tail her recklessly either. For now, I'll keep watching.'
As I was sliding the file back into the shelf, my pocket vibrated. I pulled out my phone.
[Ju Ha-rin]
[Old Man]
[Working late today?]
'Guess her exams are over.'
[(Cute rabbit tilting its head emoji)]
'Not the usual puppy emoji she always uses.'
<No, I should be leaving on time today.>
Her message carried that unique post-exam euphoria and excitement.
[You didn't forget our promise, right?]
[Already decided.]
<What do you want?>
[I'll tell you when you get here.]
[Message me when you're home. I'll come right up.]
'Weird, she's asking me to text first.'
Nine times out of ten, she'd already be waiting on the rooftop before I arrived.
<Got it.>
[Hang in there till quitting time!]
[(Cute rabbit raising a fist in encouragement emoji)]
'So cute.'
I chuckled and pocketed my phone. Lunch break was almost over.
'Gotta focus on work. If I want to leave on time.'
I sat down and started typing, eyes glued to the proposal without even checking the time at the bottom of the monitor.
'Just one more period... Done. What time is it?'
[Friday | PM. 05:46]
My wrists ached from sitting in the same position typing. I stretched my stiff muscles and quickly skimmed the finished proposal.
'No glaring issues. Just need to fix typos...'
I corrected the typos.
'Let's submit it like this.'
At least it looked fine to my eyes. I uploaded it to the shared drive and approached the team leader.
"Team Leader."
"Yeah?"
"I've uploaded the proposal. Could you review it?"
"Just a sec..."
As Kim Dayeon clicked her mouse, I glanced around her desk, scanning for any documents related to kickbacks.
'Nothing here... It would be strange if there was.'
With Seo-yun who could directly report to the CEO, there was no way those documents would be left lying around on the desk.
"Mr. Dae-hoon."
"Yes."
"Your batting average has definitely improved lately. This one's good too, isn't it?"
"It's all thanks to you, section chief, deputy chief, and manager."
"Look at you with the sweet talk. This much is enough for this week. Get ready to leave."
"Thank you."
I gave a slight bow and returned to my seat.
[Do Seo-yun]
[Are you leaving right away?]
<Of course.>
[Have a good weekend.]
<You enjoy your dinner too. Have a nice weekend.>
<See you Monday.>
After exchanging goodbyes with Seo-yun, I waited until 6 o'clock.
"I'll head out first. Have a good weekend."
"Good work today. Go ahead, Mr. Dae-hoon."
"Mr. Dae-hoon, have a nice weekend too."
"Be careful on your way home, senior."
***
'I wonder when he'll arrive... Oppa...'
I waited eagerly, my neck craned. I'd been looking forward to today when the exams would end. I was just about to put down my silent phone when—
"Daughter?"
"Hmm?"
"Didn't you say you were going on a trip with Seo-eun?"
"Yeah. Two nights, three days."
"You didn't pack many clothes this time. You used to separate morning, lunch, and dinner outfits until your suitcase looked ready to burst."
"Well... when I packed like that, it got really heavy. And it felt wasteful wearing clothes just once. This time I only packed what I needed."
"What's gotten into you? Did you finally grow up?"
"I grew up ages ago, mom."
Just then—the screen lit up with a vibration. I quickly grabbed my phone before the saved contact could be seen.
"Is that Seo-eun?"
"Yeah, hold on. I need to take this."
"Take your time."
"Hello?"
Just in case my mom might hear Oppa's voice, I lowered the call volume.
[Hello? I've arrived.]
"You're here? Seo-eun? I'll come out now."
He must have understood I knew he'd arrived. He hung up immediately.
"He's here?"
"Yeah."
I got up from where I'd been sitting on the bed and grabbed my suitcase. It was light since it only had underwear and a few clothes. I went down to the first floor.
"If you run short on money while you're out, call me. I'll send you some."
"Okay. I'm off now."
"Have a safe trip."
"Hehe."
Waving at my mom, I walked out. As soon as I turned the street corner, I stopped.
'Ugh, my conscience is prickling.'
The reason my conscience was prickling was simple—because the trip with Seo-eun was a lie. But it was a necessary lie.
If I wanted to stay away from home for three days, a trip was the only good excuse I could think of.
'Mom must be back inside by now.'
I retraced my steps, carrying my suitcase to keep the wheels from making noise. When I reached the apartment building, I quickly slipped inside.
I went straight from the first floor to the rooftop in one go. Glancing back at the stairs I'd just climbed for no reason, I rang the doorbell. About five seconds passed before the door opened.
"You're here?"
As the door opened, there was Oppa. Just his scent alone made me feel at ease.
"Yeah."
"What's with the suitcase?"
"It's got underwear and some clothes."
'I'm already looking forward to it. Wonder what expression Oppa will make when he sees me wearing the clothes I have here.'
I had a secret weapon inside. Among all the reviews from buyers, 99% had given it five stars.
'They all said their boyfriends loved it and were really satisfied.'
"You're staying here?"
"Yeah."
"What did you tell your mom?"
"That I'm going on a short trip. Two nights, three days."
"...I'm speechless."
"It's not a lie if you say I'm traveling to Oppa's place, right?"
As long as we didn't get caught, it was fine.
"Let's order dinner first. What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm... should we get chicken today?"
"You've got something else in mind too, don't you? Besides chicken?"
"Of course."
I didn't think we'd need the other food I had in mind yet. After a week without doing it, there should be plenty stored up.
"Drumsticks?"
"Yeah."
'We can eat that tomorrow or the day after.'
"I ordered."
"Then should we do it once before it arrives? ♥"
"They said it'll be here in 20 minutes. Let's eat first. Eat."
'Tch... I'll hold back.'
We had plenty of time anyway. If I couldn't do it now, I could just move more later to make up for it.