An Ideal Marriage
"Honey."
It wasn't as if I had been in such a deep relationship with the Department Head from the very beginning.
I was nothing more than a regular employee who had only just completed three years at this company. It wasn't a particularly great workplace, but the average annual earnings were solid enough that I had managed to land the job. And then I met a wonderful wife and even got married. That was me—a married man.
Standing in the entryway in my suit, lacing up my shoes, I felt my wife approach from behind. She greeted me with a gentle smile.
"Narin, I'm always sorry. You have to go to work too, yet I make you prepare breakfast as well…"
"No, it's fine. I offered to do it myself, after all."
My wife, Kim Narin, worked as a nurse at a small hospital. The pay was low, but she had insisted on continuing to work even after marriage, wanting to contribute even a little to our household. So we were dual-income.
"Still, I could at least handle breakfast on my own."
"Honey, if you go around without a proper breakfast, I won't be able to face my mother."
Apparently Narin had been raised in a rather patriarchal household. Even while working herself, she had been taught that a wife should still provide a certain degree of support at home. Even so, since we were both earning, I wanted to share the housework at least a little—and I had been the one pestering her about it.
Really… the more I look at her, the more I feel she's too good for me.
Narin was truly an amazing, wonderful woman. Where else could you find someone like her?
We were still in the earliest days of our newlywed life—not even a full month since the wedding. Not even a month, and no honeymoon? Why? The reason was simple. Before the wedding I had brought it up with Narin, and she had said this:
"Don't do things just because everyone else does. Let's put that money toward our household, even a little."
Honestly, it was a wise thought. Still, honeymoons were part of the fantasy most women held, so I had assumed it was something we simply had to do. Narin said it was fine if we didn't.
On top of that, we hadn't even held a wedding ceremony. We simply filed the marriage registration and started living together. Why no ceremony? Same answer as before.
Looking at her, I often felt how different she was from the average Korean woman. That was one of the reasons I had decided to marry her.
This should have been the period when our passion burned hottest. Yet company work kept me so busy that finding time together was difficult.
"Will you be home late again today?"
"Sorry. Looks like it."
"That's a shame, but it can't be helped."
I gently pulled her into my arms.
"Can you wait even without me?"
"Hehe, what am I, a child? Of course I can."
"I'm always sorry, Narin."
"Honey…"
Then I kissed her. Even a light peck carried our feelings straight to each other, warming our chests.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Yes, have a good day. Don't overdo it."
"Of course."
Was this what happiness felt like?
We lived in a monthly rental with no house of our own. Even so, Narin had said that in times like these there was no need to take on unnecessary debt—better for the two of us to save slowly while renting. Perhaps because we had already aligned our values before marriage, our married life was nothing short of blissful. Except for the crushing company workload, that is.
I took public transit to work. We had rented a place near the company, so not owning a car was no real inconvenience. Still, I had considered buying one, thinking a married couple without a car might find things awkward. Narin had shaken her head at that too.
"People like us who are starting with nothing have to save every little bit. Luckily both our workplaces are easy enough to reach by public transit. We don't need one. Don't push yourself, Jinwoo."
Can you imagine? What woman in the world was like this? No house needed. No car needed. No luxuries of any kind, she said. It was no exaggeration to call her the perfect, ideal marriage partner.
"Jinwoo. Jinwoo!"
I had been spacing out thinking about Narin when the voice finally snapped me back. Turning toward the sound, I found Department Head Park letting out a sigh as she looked at me.
"Jinwoo, don't you answer when someone calls you?"
"D-Department Head!! I'm sorry! What is it?"
"There's something a bit off about this report. Could you look it over with me?"
"Ah, yes! Of course!"
Normally it took many long years to reach the rank of Department Head. But our company allowed rapid promotions based purely on performance, so occasionally young people rose to the position. One of them was the woman standing in front of me—Department Head Park Chaewon.
Beautifully cascading golden waves of hair. That gold reached past her waist, and beneath her bangs, sparkling blue eyes emphasized her exotic air. Her mother was American and her father Korean; she had inherited more of her mother's blood, resulting in that foreign beauty.
"Ah! You're right! I'll revise this point and upload the materials right away."
"Good. As expected of you, Jinwoo. You catch on so quickly—it's easy talking to you."
"Haha, thank you."
Exotic beauty paired with a charisma that made people want to follow her. Confident wherever she went, she was popular even within the company.
Once Department Head Park returned to her seat, my company peer sitting beside me—Kim Cheolsan—struck up a conversation.
"Man~ Department Head Park is always gorgeous no matter when you look at her, right?"
"Well, Department Head Park is always like that."
"Isn't she really diligent too? Other department heads just sit at their desks and bark orders at the staff. That part of her I really respect."
"True. Even though it must be a hassle, she still moves first herself. Not easy."
"Hey, but did you hear that rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"That Department Head Park is seeing a lot of guys behind the scenes."
"What?"
I frowned at the strange claim, and Cheolsan told me to listen.
"I heard it from a friend in another department. Apparently Department Head Park often goes into bars alone with men."
"Did he see it himself?"
"That guy's a total boozehound, right? So he hits the bars a lot, and every time he does he spots Department Head Park bringing some guy along!"
"……"
The usual kind of ugly rumor. For a woman with such a good reputation inside the company, nasty talk like this was only natural. After all, her looks stood out more than most, and she had rocketed to Department Head at such a young age—plenty of male peers her age seemed to resent her for it.
"Ehh? What's with that face? You don't believe it?"
"Would you, if you were me?"
"Come on~~ Think about it. That face, that body—if you were a woman like that, could you really not use those looks?"
"…."
Honestly, I couldn't swear otherwise. Just as a handsome man might think of leveraging his appearance, a woman would probably be no different.
"See? You think so too, right?"
"Still, it's better not to spread uncertain rumors, Cheolsan."
"Ah~ of course! This is our little 'se-cret,' okay?"
"Secret my ass…"
"Whoa~ how little do you trust me?"
"Has your mouth ever been anything but loose? The second something juicy comes up you run around spreading it everywhere."
That was why I personally didn't care for Cheolsan.
"Cheolsan, I'll say it again. Don't spread that bullshit anywhere else. If it reaches my ears, I'll start by tearing that big mouth of yours off."
"Aigoo, why so vicious? Hey, don't tell me you like Department Head Park?"
"What?!! What kind of crap is that! Did you forget I'm married?"
"Aha! Right! You did get married, didn't you?! No ceremony, so it never really registered."
"I'm a taken man. How could I hold feelings for another woman?"
Cheolsan clicked his tongue, then spoke in a tone that was half joking, half serious.
"But if it turns you on, it turns you on, right?"
"Aargh!! You idiot! How the hell does 'turns you on' connect to 'holding feelings' in any way?!"
"Ack! Aack! Dude! Why are you hitting me! If you're sexually attracted then you're holding feelings, duh!"
"I forgot you're a total skirt-chaser. Just shut up and work already. The Department Head is going to say something."
After that I threw myself into finishing the day's work. Overtime was required again, so I couldn't leave until ten at night.
Everyone else had already clocked out on time, leaving the office quiet. I finished the last of my tasks at a leisurely pace, then stood and stretched my stiff body.
"Good work, Jinwoo."
Suddenly a Bacchus bottle appeared from the side.
"Ah, Department Head Park, you stayed this late too?"
"I was waiting until every last employee left. As expected, you really do work the hardest around here."
"Thank you."
Sensing my hesitation about accepting the Bacchus, she smiled softly.
"It's decaf. Don't worry and drink up."
"Ah, thank you!"
I took the Bacchus and downed it in one go. Watching me, Department Head Park chuckled.
"Chugging it like that looks manly and cool. I guess you need that kind of toughness to be a married man?"
"Come on, Department Head, aren't you laying it on a bit thick?"
"Hehe, I'm actually serious. I watch you carefully, you know. When something needs doing, you act on it right away. I like that about you."
"Hahaha, now I'm getting embarrassed."
"Unfortunately, I mean it. I know how much you've contributed to this company over the past three years. The other executives know it too, I'm sure."
"Hearing you say that… I'm truly grateful."
"Come on, let's go. I'll give you a ride while I'm at it."
"What?! No, no! There's still time—I'll take the bus!"
There were still thirty minutes left. Plenty of time for the bus.
"It's fine, Jinwoo. I'm not so cold-hearted that I'd ignore a hardworking young man who won't even drive his own car during his newlywed life just to save money."
Her will seemed firm. Refusing would be rude, wouldn't it?
"Then… I'll take you up on that."
Pleased by the positive answer, the Department Head curved her lips into a smile and strode off with model-like confidence. I followed her to the parking garage and prepared to get into her car.
She took the driver's seat first. Standing by the passenger door, I carefully asked,
"Are you sure it's all right if I sit beside you?"
"Why?"
"If I sit next to you and some pointless rumor starts, wouldn't that be rude to you, Department Head?"
"You want the back seat? Are you at Director level or something?"
The unspoken rule was that the higher-ranking person sat in the back. Called out like that, I had no comeback and had no choice but to take the passenger seat.
Once I carefully settled in, the Department Head smiled as if looking at something cute, then stepped on the accelerator and pulled out onto the road.
Night scenery rushed past the window. It was the same view I always saw from the bus, yet somehow looking at it from inside the Department Head's car felt completely different.
"Jinwoo."
"Yes, Department Head."
"Do you have time after this?"
"Pardon? Right now?"
When I hesitated a moment, she continued as if she hadn't noticed.
"If it's all right, I was thinking we could grab a drink."
"You're driving, Department Head. Will that be okay?"
"That's what designated drivers are for. Well? Interested?"
"Ah, well…"
I fell silent for a moment, thinking. Honestly, her invitation to drinks wasn't unwelcome. She was someone I personally respected, and at regular company dinners there were always too many people for a real conversation. If an opportunity like this presented itself, I had no doubt it would help my future at the company.
Yes—that was simply how social life worked, wasn't it? Leaving a good impression on one's superior was an essential virtue of working life. I believed that without question.
"I have time."
At my words the Department Head's lips curved upward. Still facing forward, she spoke casually.
"Good. Then we'll head to a place I know."
And so we drove off toward somewhere else entirely.
"Apparently Department Head Park often goes into bars alone with men!"
Cheolsan's words floated unbidden through my mind just then. I forced them away and simply followed her.