The Amulet
Siheon wondered why the thought of refusing something kept coming to mind. His throat itched for no reason. He cleared his throat a few times.
“...Anyway. From now on, don’t buy me things like this. Use it for your meal. Or buy clothes.”
Watching Siheon neatly fold the tie and put it back in the box, Dayeon suddenly remembered something and clapped once.
“Right. Teacher! Can I borrow your wallet for a moment?”
“Why the wallet.”
Even as he asked, he took out the wallet from his inner pocket and handed it to her without hesitation. She took it and slipped a small piece of paper into the card slot.
“What is this?”
“An amulet.”
“An amulet?”
“Every time you calculate from now on, it’ll make you think of me.”
Wondering what she put in, Siheon took the wallet and looked inside.
It was Jeong Dayeon’s proof photo. In the small photo, Jeong Dayeon was smiling brightly.
“Why to me?” Siheon looked at Jeong Dayeon as if asking.
“I thought about it, but I think I made my strategy a bit wrong.”
What was she saying? Watching her, Siheon crossed his arms firmly.
“Yes. Since I confessed first by saying let’s get married right away, you must have been quite surprised. I’ve been thinking about you for two years, but you probably weren’t.”
Jeong Dayeon continued calmly and looked up at Siheon.
“And I thought it was wrong to propose marriage just because you’re the daughter of a benefactor.”
“So, how did you change your strategy?”
“From now on, let’s go slowly.”
Jeong Dayeon said with a slight smile.
“Like the word ‘sinabro’. Little by little, imperceptibly, it’ll seep into you without you knowing.”
“......”
“Watch and see, Teacher. Soon, you’ll want to marry me.”
The relaxed smile that had been on Siheon’s face had long disappeared. What was this little one believing to be so bold?
“Eventually, you’ll fall completely for me.”
In the eyes looking straight at her, his heart fluttered again. His throat dried as if on fire. Why did this feeling keep coming? Even Siheon himself didn’t know the reason.
* * *
After sending Jeong Dayeon home, Siheon returned to the office with the shopping bag.
Walking towards the desk in the study as usual, he suddenly stopped in front of the mirror hanging on the wall.
Staring at the mirror for a moment, he untied the tie around his neck. Then, he took out the tie Jeong Dayeon gave him from the shopping bag and wrapped it around his neck.
The sound of the silk rubbing against his hand as he moved it.
After making a neat knot with a few movements, he stroked the tie and let out a “pick” laugh. It felt rougher than the one he usually wore, but the design and color were just to his taste.
As he looked around the tie, he saw a small ‘CSH’ initial embroidered inside the silk and a small four-leaf clover.
The size was uneven and the finish wasn’t smooth, so it seemed like Jeong Dayeon had personally embroidered it after buying the tie.
Thinking of Jeong Dayeon who had picked the tie carefully and embroidered it with care, a secret smile crept onto the corner of his lips.
“Peanut. When will this grow up and give something to Teacher.”
The feeling of being moved came first. Even though she might not have enough money to buy it herself.
Staring at the tie in the mirror with satisfaction, a bit of hesitation began to appear in Siheon’s eyes.
“Really going to do this to the end?”
He thought he had properly rejected it, but hearing her say she put his photo in the wallet, it seemed she had no intention of giving up.
“I can’t hurt the child more.”
What should he do? As Siheon was pondering while looking at the tie in the mirror, a knock sounded and Myeong the director entered from outside.
He looked at the tie on the sofa and Siheon alternately, and asked as if surprised.
“The tie has changed, huh.”
“Ah. Well... just.”
Siheon muttered and pushed the tie on the sofa with his hand.
“It suits you well, Managing Director.”
Myeong gave the tie a casual glance again. At first glance, the finish or material was different from the one Siheon usually wore, but he wasn’t rude enough to point it out.
“The person who gave it seems to have good sense.”
He turned around in front of the building and received it then. Thinking for a moment, Myeong’s eyes moved to the shopping bag on the floor.
What was this? It looked like it should have a snake in it.
Feeling Myeong’s gaze, Siheon frowned and pushed the shopping bag aside.
“Have you never seen a paper bag before?”
“Eh? Ah, no.”
Quickly regaining his composure, he continued with the schedule report.
“In the afternoon, there’s a meeting with the photography team, and in the evening, a dinner with the planning team leaders.”
“Really.”
“Everyone is curious about whether the Managing Director will attend.”
Myeong asked cautiously. It was unusual for him to attend the drinking party, but he often requested to ask once.
“Today, I have something personal and it might not work out.”
Siheon took out the wallet from his jacket pocket.
“Use this to pay.”
Siheon’s hand that was about to take the card stopped in the air. With the card, the proof photo that came out was empty, and Jeong Dayeon’s face was visible.
“Hah. If this continues, I’ll really fall for Jeong Dayeon’s strategy.”
“Why? Is there something wrong, Managing Director.”
“Nothing at all.”
A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he shook his head. In the photo on Siheon’s fingertips, Jeong Dayeon was smiling beautifully as always.
“By the way, Jeong Dayeon’s part-time job has increased lately.”
Suddenly remembering Jeong Dayeon’s words, Siheon asked.
“Is that so. Last time I checked, it was that she was looking for tutoring.”
“......”
Instead of answering, Siheon quietly looked at Myeong. His expression was calm, but Myeong wasn’t someone who didn’t notice the meaning of the rebuke in it.
“Sorry... I’m sorry.”
Myeong bowed his head deeply.
“I will not make the same mistake in the future.”
“Go out for now.”
After bowing his head once more, Myeong left the study room and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Even though it was a short moment, sweat had formed on his forehead.
“What did I miss?”
To check the situation, Myeong hurried across the hallway.
* * *
Jeong Dayeon went to the bakery early in the morning, and for once, she was in a good mood.
The mild weather at the end of winter was part of it, but the better part was that a reply had come to her message to Teacher.
The messages she sent to Siheon without missing a day never came back. Like a cry in the quiet, the messages she had sent.
Finally, a reply came to her message saying the weather is good and have a clear day.
“[Okay.]”
Only two words, a short reply, but for Jeong Dayeon, it felt like she could fly to the sky with just that.
“Jeong Dayeon, come here and do this for me.”
“Yes! I’ll be right there.”
Hum ming a tune, wiping the table with a cloth, Jeong Dayeon ran to the call of the president looking for her.
On the counter, a cream cake and a container of strawberries were waiting to be decorated.
“Put on the decorations nicely on top.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Answering, Jeong Dayeon put on the latex gloves. She had done it before.
While lining up the strawberries one by one on the row of cakes, suddenly the baker came out from inside and touched Jeong Dayeon’s hand with a “tuk”.
“Ah!”
With Jeong Dayeon’s scream, the strawberry on the cream cake slipped to one side.
The taste didn’t matter, but the decoration was ruined, so it couldn’t be sold to customers.
“What should I do about this.”
Seeing Jeong Dayeon making a sad face, the baker quickly backed off.
“So, what if you work at the corner like that?”
“Eh? But the president said to do it here...”
“I don’t know, so you take responsibility.”
After finishing the sentence, the baker disappeared inside.
“What should I do?”
Looking at the damaged cake, Jeong Dayeon made a sad face, and at that moment, the president who had gone inside to get bread came out.
“Jeong Dayeon? What’s wrong?”
“Well...”
Seeing Jeong Dayeon’s expression, the president who came closer discovered the damaged cake and put down the bread tray casually.
“No, what should I do. I made a whole cake unusable.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I hired you because you were diligent. Oh my.”
There was definitely something unfair, but anyway, it was something that happened because of her touch. Jeong Dayeon bowed her head deeply and said in a small voice.
“This... I’ll take responsibility.”
“Then, I’ll only take the cost of the ingredients, so remember that.”
The president clicked his tongue and was about to take away the cake.
“That, I’ll buy it for you.”
A familiar low voice came from behind.
Startled, Jeong Dayeon turned her head.
When did he come in? Siheon was standing at the counter.