Resignation and Promise
Han Gyu-seong, the CEO, accepted my proposal without hesitation.
"Aah...! Thank you! Thank you so much, sir!"
Even after shelling out a billion won as payment, he bowed to me with tears streaming down his face. Right beside him, the puppy—now completely full of life—raised its front paws and acted all cute.
"Then we'll start from the first of next month."
"Yes! We'll prepare everything so you can work comfortably!"
And just like that, I walked away with a billion won, Jeong Ha-rin's manager position, and Han Gyu-seong's contact info. All in all, a hell of a deal.
Now that I'm switching jobs, it's time to quit this shithole company.
The boss and Park Jae-jun would probably jump for joy if they heard. They'd been too intimidated by me lately to bully the other employees like they used to.
Seon-ha...
That's when Kim Seon-ha suddenly popped into my head.
"......"
A twinge of regret hit me. Especially those huge tits of hers, and the way she'd blush faintly and bow her head when I groped them. Yeah, that memory wasn't fading anytime soon.
Anyway, the next day.
"Boss."
"Y-yeah? What is it, Lee? N-nothing happened, right...?"
When I approached him out of the blue, the boss went into full defense mode, eyeing me warily. With all the crap he'd pulled before, he was probably terrified I'd beat the shit out of him at any moment.
I just smirked and set a paper envelope down on his desk.
Thud.
My resignation letter.
"......Huh?"
"Sorry for the short notice, boss, but something came up. I'll stick around till the end of the month and then resign."
"What...?"
I could feel all the eyes in the office turning our way. Normally, you'd submit something like a resignation discreetly when no one else was around out of courtesy. But I didn't give a damn about their opinions, so I handed it in right at the start of the workday.
The boss didn't seem to mind either. Hell, he grinned ear to ear and snatched it up.
"Oh! Something came up, huh? Of course, of course! A talented guy like you must be busy! Got it! If you want, you don't even have to come in tomorrow! We'll pay you up to the end of the month for the days you worked!"
"Haha, thanks."
He must've been that scared of having me around the office.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!"
The boss jumped out of his seat, beaming like an idiot and drawing all eyes—which were already on us anyway.
"Out of the blue, but our Lee here is leaving the company at the end of the month... no, today, because of something important. So today's a farewell party slash company dinner! Hanwoo beef, everyone must attend! Got it?"
Hell, he was even footing the bill for hanwoo. A faint smile crept onto the other employees' faces. Looked like they weren't thrilled about the dinner but couldn't say no to premium beef.
That's when I chimed in from the side.
"Boss."
"Yeah?"
"Skip the regular stuff. Let's do hanwoo."
"Wh-what?"
"I'll find the most expensive place and book it."
"N-no, Lee...! I can swing regular beef, but hanwoo is..."
His face darkened instantly, while the employees shot me expectant looks. I smirked at the boss as he hemmed and hawed.
"I'll cover it."
"What...?"
"So, hanwoo it is."
"You're... paying, Lee?"
His gloomy expression flipped to pure sunshine in a heartbeat. He turned to the staff with a huge grin.
"You all heard that? Lee's treating tonight! Hanwoo dinner!"
"Ooooh...!"
"Lee, you're the man!"
"Hanwoo...? No way..."
The office erupted in chatter. Hanwoo dinner—a first in our company's history.
I've made bank, so why not?
At this point, hanwoo was like buying candy for the neighborhood kids. Plus severance pay, and twenty billion won sitting pretty in my account.
"Ji-hoon..."
When I got back to my desk, Kim Seon-ha sidled up quietly.
"You're... quitting the company...?"
"Yeah. Pretty sudden, huh? Something came up."
"......"
"Kim?"
"That's a shame..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, just surprised me."
She flashed a bright smile and headed back to her seat.
A shame, huh...
We'd gotten pretty close, sure. Not quite friends, but we could chat and laugh now.
Time passed, and that evening, we all clocked out on time and headed to the restaurant together. A famous hanwoo spot nearby—pricey enough to make your hands shake for a company dinner. We grabbed a private room and dug in comfortably.
"Alright~! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Lee, thanks for all your hard work!"
"Man, we're gonna miss you..."
The booze and beef had everyone loosening up, tossing compliments my way. Park Jae-jun, though, just stuffed his face silently, sneaking glances at me now and then. Or rather...
"Ji-hoon..."
"Yeah, Kim."
"You're quitting now, so drop the 'Kim' formalities... Call me Seon-ha like always!"
"You drunk already, Kim?"
"Huh? On this little? Hehe, do I look that weak?"
"Yeah... you look super weak."
Park Jae-jun watched the swaying, tipsy Kim Seon-ha next to me and clicked his tongue.
"Tch..."
A drunk Kim Seon-ha spelled trouble, but seeing Park Jae-jun like that felt pretty damn satisfying.
"Hahaha! Anyway, Lee, you're quitting, so spill the beans already?"
"Huh?"
The boss, buzzed on booze and hanwoo, laughed as he leaned in.
"You two... something going on?"
"What're you talking about?"
"Come on~, I have great instincts~! Everyone thinks so, right?"
"Oh yeah, now that you mention it~, there was some spark when they went on that business trip together~."
The boss's words had everyone in high spirits, chiming in. Our company dinners weren't usually this lively—they were treating it like a special occasion. Probably because their usual punching bag (me) was finally gone.
"......"
"I'm fine since I'm leaving, but lay off Kim. You're making her uncomfortable. Enough already."
"Psh, if she was uncomfortable, she'd deny it~. But she's not saying a word, right?"
All eyes turned to Kim Seon-ha. I checked on her too, and...
"Hoo..."
She let out a deep sigh and thud—leaned right into my shoulder.
"Hahaha! See? That's her saying yes!"
"No, she's just drunk!"
Seizing the moment, the boss and everyone piled on me and Kim Seon-ha.
...Great day and all, but I couldn't exactly flip the table.
"Kim, Kim."
"Ugh... Kim, no... that's not it..."
"Sigh, Seon-ha. Get up."
"......"
"Boss, I'll take Kim out for some air to sober up."
I excused myself, slung her arm over my shoulder, and helped her up. As we headed out, laughter and chatter erupted behind us—probably some joke about me dragging her off.
"Seon-ha, you okay? Here, drink some water."
"Ah... yeah... thanks..."
"Why'd you drink so much today? You never touch booze at dinners."
She always stuck to soda at company events. Now I knew why—probably scared of getting drunk and slipping up since she was such a lightweight.
But this version of her...
"Ji-hoon... sit here... next to me."
Tap tap.
"Uh, sure."
She was totally relaxed now.
...Was it the hanwoo? Her brother waking up? Or...
"Ji-hoon..."
"Yeah?"
She'd pulled me down beside her and called my name in her drunken slur. When I turned, her flushed face met mine.
"Can I... ask you something...?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Some fresh air and chat should sober her up. I nodded.
She wobbled a bit, then rested her head on my shoulder.
"That time..."
"Which time?"
"When you asked... if I'd believe you..."
"Oh, yeah."
"That time..."
Her hand dropped thump next to mine.
"Why'd you help me...?"
"Huh?"
"Ji-hoon... I was cold to you... You must've hated me..."
"......"
I shut my mouth for a second.
Yeah, no way she wouldn't know.
The day I smashed Park Jae-jun's head with a keyboard. I'd gone off on her too.
The mod reset his hostility, but she'd remember that day. Hell, maybe even before.
"Even I'd hate me... so why help...?"
I stared at the ground for a beat, then smiled faintly.
"Just... you reminded me of someone."
"Reminded you...?"
"Yeah. The struggling Seon-ha. Felt a bit like me."
"......"
She pulled back and stared intently.
"How... did I remind you...?"
"Well... I've got debt too."
"Debt...?"
"Yeah, loan shark stuff. Dad borrowed two hundred million from them and bailed, so it all fell on me."
"......"
I gave her the short version and glanced over. Her eyes were wide, silent—she'd sobered up from the shock.
"I had no idea..."
"No reason you would. I didn't know your deal either."
"......"
She stared down at her fidgeting hands in silence. Then, a bit later.
"Before..."
Her tone was back to normal-ish, the booze fading.
"You asked me..."
"Huh? Asked what?"
"......Why I hated you."
"Oh..."
"It wasn't anything big... I was dying over my brother, but you showed up looking like the world's most miserable guy..."
"......"
"Why's he acting like he's got it the worst...? That's what I thought, so... I was rude."
"Ah, gotcha."
It didn't bug me anymore anyway. And not because I stank or whatever—that was a relief.
But she looked guilty, hesitating as she met my eyes.
"Sorry... I didn't know your situation..."
"It's fine. Like I said, I didn't know yours. We're even."
"......"
We shared a soft smile. Felt like we'd connected—closer than before.
Makes quitting feel kinda regrettable now.
Never thought I'd miss leaving this dump. Credit to Kim Seon-ha for that.
"Ready to head back?"
"Huh...?"
I stood and looked down at her.
"Seon-ha, you can't drink more. I'll tell the boss and take you home."
"Ah, but..."
She hesitated for some reason. I raised a brow, and she spoke carefully.
"Kinda sad..."
"About what?"
"You're quitting today. Wanna stay till the end... even if it's just the dinner."
"Haha, really? Or do you just want more hanwoo?"
"N-no...! Hanwoo doesn't matter...!"
She pouted, flustered. Drunk, she was showing a whole new side—fun to tease.
"Then let's go together."
"Huh...?"
"I'll walk you home. That work? Hanwoo... I'll treat you next time if you're bummed."
"......"
She blinked, then smiled shyly as it sank in.
"Okay."
I went back in, explained to the boss. He and the crew offered token regrets. I paid double what they'd eaten—enough to cover extras, with the boss picking up any slack.
Then I took Kim Seon-ha home. When I offered a cab, she said it was close and wanted to walk. So we strolled together for a bit.
"Honestly, I'm sad. You?"
"Yeah... a little."
"Hehe, liar. Bet you're thrilled."
"......You get way brighter when you're buzzed, Seon-ha."
"Y-yeah...?"
"All quiet and stoic at work."
"......Not coworkers anymore. You're not either."
"For real?"
We bantered with genuine smiles for the first time. Spilling our darkest secrets had lightened the load.
"Hey, Ji-hoon."
"Yeah?"
"Last chance... no regrets?"
"About what?"
"My boobs."
"......"
Her out-of-nowhere line shut me up. She glanced up with a sly smile, cheeks still pink from the booze.
"You stare all the time. Act cool, but I know you sneak peeks. Talk to me, and your eyes go south first."
"......"
Guilty. Thinking back, yeah.
...Speaking of, desire bubbled up outta nowhere. Should I just grab 'em now? Last chance?
As I waffled between reason and instinct...
"We're here."
"Oh."
We'd reached her villa. Timing sucked.
"Hehe, what? Forget something?"
"Nah, nothing. Get home safe."
"......"
I shook my head regretfully at her teasing. But she just stood there blankly.
I tilted my head too.
"About that uneaten hanwoo..."
"Yeah?"
"You gotta treat me next time. Promise."
"Haha, deal."
"So..."
She grinned, turned to open the door, then looked back over her shoulder.
"Let's keep in touch. ...Okay?"
"......"
She climbed the stairs and vanished.
Keep in touch...
What I thought was the end felt like a new start.
Sucks I didn't get to grope those tits, but staying in touch means another shot.
I turned with a bittersweet smile. Dropping her off made quitting feel real.
Time to move, maybe buy a car...?
I headed home, mentally listing prep for Jeong Ha-rin's manager gig.
Then, when I arrived...
"Hey~, Lee Ji-hoon."
"......"
"Hahaha, where you coming from? Work? Overtime again?"
A few guys were loitering in front of my building. They spotted me and approached with grins. Rough faces, tattoos on thick arms.
Loan sharks.
"Not running deliveries lately? Quit the side gigs too. Planning to stiff us like your old man?"
"This punk looks taller somehow. Lifted insoles?"
"Hey, Lee Ji-hoon. Your dad's loan. You know what happens if you don't pay, right?"
They'd seen me slacking off—no deliveries, no part-time—and worried I'd rabbit like Dad.
Yeah, about time they showed.
I was already pissed from missing out on Kim Seon-ha's rack.
"Hey."
"What, 'hey'? You lost it?"
"Fuck, you got a gun or what? Wanna get wrecked?"
They shoved their ugly mugs in my face, trying to intimidate. Old me would've trembled and bowed.
"...Ha."
Now? I laughed.
They looked thrown.
"Perfect timing. Got a mod I wanna test."
"......What?"
Company's done. Time to end this sticky mess for good.