A Business Trip to Busan
"So, you're coming back on Friday?"
"Yes. I think I'll be back by the evening."
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"I have to be at Seoul Station by 8:00."
"I see…."
The night before my business trip, I was bombarded with worries from both of them. Well, it was my first long-distance business trip, so I suppose it was natural for them to be concerned.
"Who are you going with?"
"My supervisor."
"That assistant manager you always talk about?"
"No, a section chief who just returned from leave."
"A man?"
"No, a woman."
"…A woman?"
"Yeah. She just finished her maternity leave."
"Oh…."
"Wait, she just finished maternity leave? That’s impressive."
"Yeah. She said this is her second child."
"How old is she?"
"I didn't get to ask… but she said her oldest is four."
"She’s still young, then~"
"……."
Despite their indifferent tone, both of them were glaring at me from different corners of the room. I hadn't done anything wrong, so why were they looking at me like that? Sure, we’d be sharing a room, but… that didn't mean anything would happen… right? If I kept myself in check, nothing would happen.
"Did you book a place to stay? It must be expensive there."
"Yes. I did, but… there’s some kind of event going on."
"I heard there’s a new product expo for an electronics company. I know about it because Mom is in charge of supplying the staff uniforms for that event."
"Ah… so that’s why there were no rooms…."
"How did you end up booking a room, then?"
"I looked everywhere, but couldn't find anything… so for now, we’re sharing a room."
""What?""
Even Mom, who had been less bothered than Chaeyu, was shocked. It seemed they both found the idea of me sharing a room with a woman quite disagreeable. Even though they’d done the same thing themselves.
"Oppa, you shouldn't do that! How can a man and a woman just…."
"Did you get company approval? They usually don't allow that…."
"…I got it approved, and nothing weird is going to happen, so please don't worry… She’s a mother, for heaven's sake. What could possibly happen?"
"Even if she is a mother…."
Of course, things *could* happen. It wasn't like affairs were unheard of, and I’d experienced them myself. No, wait—I knew I was meeting someone who was single. Or so I thought.
"You never know! People are so easily swayed by the atmosphere!"
"That's right. You never know what might happen."
"So, both of you… please, just calm down…."
If it were anyone else, I would have said, "Why are you sticking your nose in my business?" but since it was them, I couldn't exactly deny the validity of their concerns.
"Why are you both acting like this? It's just a business trip," Dad said, watching TV while eating snacks on the sofa. He didn't seem to think it was a big deal at all.
"That's because…."
"Well…."
Unable to answer Dad's question, both of them turned red and shot me a look. Honestly, it was too late to cancel now. You have no idea how scary the section chief is.
"Be careful on your trip. You hear me?"
"Yes. I’ll be back soon."
The next morning, I didn't feel the need to bring a suitcase, so I packed a travel bag and wore a suit. Inside the bag were just some clothes for sleeping and my laptop. As I was about to leave, Chaeyu called out to me.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"…Never mind. I trust you, Oppa."
"……I told you, nothing is going to happen."
"Probably," she whispered. I headed to Seoul Station.
"Junsu-ssi. You're here~?"
"Hello… oh?"
As expected, the section chief was already waiting for me. She wasn't wearing her usual blouse, but a sharp suit, much like Mom's. And she had a baby strapped to her in a carrier.
"You arrived right on time~ Did you eat?"
"Yes. I had a quick bite… did you eat?"
"Yes~ I had something light, too~"
"……The baby is cute."
"Yes~ My husband said he had to take the other kid down today, so I had no choice but to bring this one along~ I'm so sorry~"
"Oh, no… it’s perfectly fine."
"Ugh…."
The baby was sleeping soundly despite the chaotic crowd. She looked just like the section chief, which was adorable.
"Oh, let me load your luggage for you."
"Really~? Thank you~"
I loaded the section chief's luggage, and the train departed. Having woken up so early, my eyes kept closing on their own.
"Childcare must be exhausting."
"Yes~ It’s so noisy! But seeing the babies gives me strength I didn't know I had~"
"I see…."
"Do you have a girlfriend, Junsu-ssi?"
"No… not at the moment."
"I see~ Don't you have any thoughts of dating~?"
"I’m not sure…."
It felt like I was already living that way with the people I lived with… but I couldn't be sure of anything yet. I didn't even know how long this relationship would last. I didn't even know what I wanted for myself.
"You must be tired from the early morning~? Why don't you get some sleep~?"
"Oh… yes. Please let me know if you need anything."
"I will~"
I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes. If I had known this would happen, I would have booked a first-class seat for a more comfortable ride. I didn't expect her to bring the baby—
"Ugh, uee…!"
"Oh, it's okay~ Mommy's here to feed you~"
"…!"
The baby, who had been sleeping so soundly, suddenly started crying. The section chief loosened her seatbelt and immediately unbuttoned her shirt. The baby moved its head toward the glimpse of her chest. It was my first time seeing someone breastfeed—
"Hmm~ It’s a bit embarrassing to be watched like that~"
"I, I’m so sorry!"
I must have been staring without realizing it. What kind of crazy person was I? She wasn't my mother, she was someone else's mother.
"Koo…."
The baby fell asleep immediately after nursing. It was a natural thing between a mother and child, but there was a strange, erotic aura flowing from the section chief.
"That's why I can't get any sleep~"
"Does the baby wake up suddenly at night, too?"
"Yes~ She cried suddenly yesterday, and I had such a hard time soothing her~"
"You're going through a lot…."
"But it's the joy of watching them grow day by day that keeps me going~"
"I see…."
Childcare. I wondered if I would ever raise a child one day. No, would I even be able to? I didn't know. I didn't know if I just wanted sex, or if I truly wanted to build a family.
"Yawn…."
"Oh, go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you up when we arrive."
"Thank you~ You should get some sleep too, Junsu-ssi~"
"Yes…."
The section chief immediately put on an eye mask and went into sleep mode. The baby followed suit, sleeping soundly against her mother.
"……."
Her shirt, unbuttoned from earlier, remained open. Beyond the baby's head, I could see her snow-white skin. …It would be incredibly rude to say I didn't know she wasn't wearing a bra because of her small size.
'Come to think of it, I didn't ask for her name.'
Thinking I would ask as soon as we arrived, I closed my eyes. It was a level of comfort I never expected from a business trip.
[Our train will soon be arriving at the final stop, Busan Station. Please prepare to disembark. Thank you for choosing our fast and comfortable……]
"Yawn…."
I woke up to the announcement that we were arriving in Busan. The section chief seemed exhausted and still appeared to be sleeping. I should wait a little longer before waking her—
"Hmm…?"
"……."
I didn't know when she had woken up, but I made eye contact with the baby. She looked at me with wide, bright eyes before turning her head in the other direction. The baby, who I thought would cry, was surprisingly quiet.
"Coochee-coo~"
I smiled at the baby when she looked back at me. She didn't seem interested, just staring at me with an indifferent expression.
"Uee."
When I placed my finger on her tiny hand, she grabbed it immediately. The sensation was fascinating, something I’d never felt before. So this is what a baby's skin feels like.
"Umm… Seoi, are you awake?"
"Ugh."
"…!"
As the section chief opened her eyes and tried to pull her finger away, the baby wouldn't let go.
"This oppa's finger is nice, isn't it~? Shall we let go now~?"
I felt terrible for touching someone else's baby without permission, but luckily, the section chief just laughed. At her words, the baby finally let go of my finger.
"Is her name Seoi? She's really cute."
"Yes, that's right~ Ahn Seoi. She's the cutest when she's sleeping~"
"Ahaha…."
After getting off the train, I offered to carry the section chief's luggage. I had a backpack, and she had a suitcase, so it wasn't too difficult.
"Thank you~ for carrying my bags."
"Seoi is more important. We’re in a low-birthrate era, after all."
"Hoho~"
Before heading to the meeting, we took a taxi to our accommodation. It was just a standard business hotel with nothing special.
"I heard from my mom that the expo starts today."
"Ah~ so that's why there were no rooms~"
"Yes. But are you really okay with this? I can sleep at a sauna if I have to."
"No~ we need to be together to discuss the meeting~"
"Yes… I understand."
It was already 11:30 by the time we unpacked. Usually, this would be the time to go up to the restaurant.
"Shall we go get some lunch before heading to work~?"
"Sure."
It was nice to be back in Busan after so long. Memories of what happened with Mom came flooding back. …Come to think of it, everything that happened ended up being quite erotic.
"Have you been to Busan before, Junsu-ssi~?"
"Yes. I’ve been here many times."
"To meet a girlfriend~?"
"Ah, yes… how did you know?"
In reality, she wasn't a girlfriend, but a sex partner. And that person was my mother.
"Well~ if someone living in Seoul comes down here often, that’s usually the only reason~"
"You know your stuff…."
"I’ve been in a long-distance relationship before, too~"
"Waaaaah…!"
"Just wait a second~ Mommy will hold you soon~"
Just when I thought I was finally free from Seoi, she started crying the moment she was put down. Raising a child really is hard work.
"Would you like me to hold her for a moment~?"
"Would you~? As long as she doesn't cry~"
"I am a bit worried she might cry…."
I’d never held a baby before, so I held her exactly the way the section chief showed me. I was surprised at how incredibly light she was.
"Oh my~ she’s quiet~ she must like you, Junsu-ssi~"
"That’s a relief."
She was so cute that a smile came to my face automatically. Now I understood why everyone complained about how hard it was to raise kids, yet never seemed to hate it. She really was like a little angel.
"Uee, uee~"
"Do you want to go to Mommy?"
"Uee!"
Just when I thought she’d stay quiet, Seoi reached out toward the section chief. The section chief sighed and picked Seoi back up.
"But Section Chief, how are you going to manage work?"
"Oh~ they said there’s a daycare center in the building~ so I’m planning to leave her there~"
"I see."
I knew the company we were meeting wasn't a massive conglomerate, but a well-regarded mid-sized firm, but I hadn't expected them to have a daycare. I should try to work at a place with good benefits like this later. If I could, that is.
"Well then~ I’ll be counting on you for the next two days~"
"Yes! I’ll do my best!"
"Oh, and one more thing~"
The section chief handed Seoi back to me. Thankfully, Seoi stayed quiet.
"I’ll be counting on you to help with Seoi, too~"
"Ah… yes…."
…This wasn't going to be easy.