Transfer to Group Headquarters (1)

The next day, Chirok went into work and met with the Japanese language instructor. He told her he had been transferred to headquarters, adding that he would miss her classes—they had been genuinely enjoyable.

The instructor made a great fuss of it.

"Oh my! Is that so? But then what's Oh Ha-young going to do, losing her partner like that?"

Oh Ha-young smiled sweetly.

"We've decided to meet up now and then at a midpoint. Sindorim Station."

"Oh my! Then you'll be like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Even more of a thrill that way."

With that, the instructor held out her hand to Kim Chirok.

"Kim Chirok, you were the finest student I've ever taught. You really do have a remarkable memory."

"Thank you."

"If you have time later, try reading through Japanese elementary school textbooks. Bookstores carry translated editions from first through sixth grade."

"I will."

"Start with short Japanese fairy tales and work your way up from there, and try reading contemporary Japanese novels as well. You're a bright one—you'll pick it up in no time."

"Thank you."

When the morning session ended and Chirok returned to the office, Director Park told him to go to the president's office and pay his respects.

On his way there, Kim Chirok ran into Moon Ji-hye from the IT department in the hallway. They never really talked when they crossed paths, but they usually exchanged at least a light nod of acknowledgment.

This time, Moon Ji-hye whipped her head away.

"Hmph!"

It almost sounded like a scoff.

Did word get out that I went to Yeonan Pier with Oh Ha-young yesterday?

He went into the president's office. The president's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠secretary didn't seem to know about Chirok's transfer.

"What brings you here?"

"I've been transferred to headquarters. I came to pay my respects to the president."

"Oh my? Really? There'll be plenty of people who'll be sad to see you go to Group Headquarters, Kim Chirok."

She let out a distinctly knowing little laugh.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The president was looking down at a text on his phone. Kim Chirok bowed and stepped inside, and the president merely peered at him over his glasses.

"I've been transferred to headquarters, so I came to pay my respects."

"Ah. Right, of course. I heard about it from Director Park. How long have you been here?"

"Two years."

"Word of your good work must have reached headquarters. That's why a personnel order came down even though it isn't even transfer season. In any case, keep working hard once you're there."

"I will, sir."

"See to it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that people say everyone from H Chemical is rock-solid at their jobs."

"Yes, sir."

"Well. You've done well."

Only then did the president rise from his seat and shake Kim Chirok's hand. As they shook, he gave Chirok a pat on the shoulder and told him to do well.

With thousands of employees coming and going, the president seemed to treat it as just another routine matter. And since this wasn't an executive being moved but a rank-and-file staff member, his manner was purely perfunctory.

Kim Chirok returned to the office and called his studio apartment landlord.

The Yeonsu-dong studio Kim Chirok had been renting was five million won down and four hundred fifty thousand won a month. The landlord had no intention of taking a loss.

Kim Chirok called a real estate agent and said he would be listing the room. He told them he was moving out tomorrow, so the unit would be vacant.

At lunch, he was coming out of the company cafeteria after finishing his meal when Kang Ji-eun from the Labor Relations team came after him. She was a mild-mannered-looking young woman.

Kang Ji-eun spoke in a pointed, sarcastic tone.

"I think I need to take another look at you, Kim Chirok."

"Take another look?"

"Now that I see it, you seem to be getting quite close with Oh Ha-young from General Affairs."

"Close with her? What is that supposed to mean? We just take the morning Japanese class together."

"That's not what it looked like. It seemed like you two were going on dates and everything."

"I'm sorry? Dates?"

"The photos look awfully affectionate. Oh Ha-young uploaded some very cozy pictures of the two of you on her Instagram."

"What? What did you just say?"

Kim Chirok went back to the office and pulled up Oh Ha-young's Instagram.

The photos from yesterday's raw fish restaurant were all up.

"You've got to be kidding me—this woman!"

He wanted to march over and chew her out on the spot. But if Oh Ha-young refused to take the photos down, that would be the end of it—and then they'd have no choice but to fight. And in a fight, Oh Ha-young would probably come out on top. She had that kind of temper written all over her. Besides, wasn't she supposed to have a history of school violence?

I've got a bad feeling I've gotten tangled up with the wrong person.

Kim Chirok was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a foul mood. The last kindness he had shown her had come back to bite him like this.

Ah, forget it. I'm leaving anyway. She can post whatever she wants.

Kim Chirok handed over his work to the colleague next to him. Then, as he was clearing out his locker, Manager Lee—the same Manager Lee who had gone on the business trip to Japan with him—came over.

"Hey, Kim Chirok! We were going to hold the Planning Office farewell dinner at Yeonan Pier tonight, but everyone's saying we should keep it close by."

"Somewhere nearby works for me too."

"Yeah? Then let's do a barbecue place near Hogupo Station. I'll make the reservation."

It was time to leave work. Among the Planning Office staff, those who were away on business trips or had other commitments headed out first, and about seven people gathered at a barbecue restaurant near Hogupo Station on the Suin-Bundang Line.

Director Park came as well. He said he had another gathering later that evening and could only stay for an hour. Even so, Kim Chirok was grateful he had shown up at all.

Meat went onto the grill, and glasses made the rounds. Tonight, as always, it was somaek—soju mixed with beer. Director Park raised his glass.

"Now then—let's drink to Kim Chirok's continued success. Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Jokes and half-teasing remarks came at Kim Chirok from every direction.

"Kim Chirok! Once you're at headquarters, look after us, will you?"

"Come back to Chemical with an Assistant Manager title."

"Then Kim Chirok would be a whole rank above us? Don't go shooting ahead all by yourself, Chirok—pull us up with you."

Clearly, a move to Group Headquarters counted as a promotion, as far as they were concerned.

Kim Chirok refilled Director Park's empty glass.

"I'm sorry to be leaving without having served you properly."

"Don't be. You worked hard here. And headquarters is the right place for you."

Manager Lee spoke up in a sulky voice.

"Director, why is headquarters pulling Kim Chirok out without sending anyone to replace him?"

"Well. I thought that was strange too, so I asked the team leader over at Strategy Headquarters."

"What? President Jeong-hee? So you're saying President Jeong-hee knows Kim Chirok's name? They met once in Osaka, but she still remembers it?"

"Having President Jeong-hee remember your name is a good thing. If you play it right, you could go far."

"Damn it. President Jeong-hee probably doesn't even know my name, and I'm a Manager. I'm jealous. Kim Chirok's already on her radar—his luck's turned."

"It's not all sunshine just because you're going there. There'll probably be a lot of work."

"He'll learn a lot, then."

"He will. We only handle chemical-related work, but over there you can get your hands on everything. Here, Kim Chirok—have a drink."

"Ah—yes, sir."

"I'll be seeing Kim Chirok's face about once a month anyway. There's a monthly meeting of planning executives from each affiliate at Group Headquarters."

"Well, I'll see you then, then."

"Even aside from that, come visit Incheon now and then. From the looks of it, quite a few of the women here seemed to like you."

Manager Lee snickered.

"Kim Chirok's already been claimed by Oh Ha-young from General Affairs."

At that, the female Planning Office staff member sitting across from them covered her mouth and laughed as well. Kim Chirok's face went red in an instant. The only one not laughing was Director Park, who looked as though he were hearing this for the first time.

"Is that so? Already been claimed, has he? I thought Moon Ji-hye from IT had a thing for Kim Chirok, but I guess that's not the case."

Director Park's eyes widened, and he looked Kim Chirok over slowly, as if the whole thing had caught him genuinely off guard.

The drink went sour in Kim Chirok's mouth.

Oh Ha-young must have posted those photos all over the place. The rumor's already made the rounds. God, this is disgusting.

"There's nothing between Oh Ha-young and me. It's a baseless rumor."

He said it, but he couldn't help how foul his mood was.

Food came out, and glasses went back and forth. After about thirty minutes, Director Park stood up first.

"I've got a prior engagement, so I'll take off. Drink up. And this..."

Director Park pulled out a white envelope and held it out.

"What's this?"

"Farewell money. The Planning Office staff all chipped in a little. It isn't much, but put it toward the studio moving costs."

The Planning Office staff broke into applause, and so, in a bit of a daze, he accepted the money. The moment he took it, Manager Lee quipped:

"With that farewell money, we can hit a second round tonight."

Another burst of applause went up. And so they went on to a karaoke place for round two. Everyone went except Director Park, who had already left—six of them in all.

The Planning Office staff knew how to have a good time. The only one who didn't was Kim Chirok. He was someone who had studied himself half to death just to survive, and this kind of culture was completely foreign to him.

Manager Lee was in his element. He even danced, slapping a tambourine against his own hip.

When Kim Chirok just sat on the sofa watching everyone else, Manager Lee grabbed him and pulled him up.

"What's with this guy just sitting there? Come on, sing a song."

"I'm fine, really."

"This won't do. Must be because Oh Ha-young isn't here. Should I give her a call?"

At that, Kim Chirok startled and frantically waved him off.