Pure Love
In the car on the way back to the company, Hyeon Ha-yeon had the guide track she'd received playing on repeat, memorizing the lyrics because she liked it that much. After listening several times, the words stuck in my head even without looking at them. The lyrics felt completely different from Han Jeong-suk's usual style—no wistful or tender vibes like before, but packed with brutal lines. It expressed the feelings of a woman watching her man pay attention to another girl. Not overtly direct, but chilling if you thought about it deeply. Classic Han Jeong-suk songwriting.
The composition started mellow in the verses before exploding into intense sounds in the chorus, evoking those 2000s-style ballads that were all the rage. Tired of the cookie-cutter ballads flooding the market lately, audiences were digging up old classics. With Hyeon Ha-yeon's positive factors synergizing, I could expect solid results.
Sitting in the passenger seat, humming along and reading the lyrics, I hadn't expected her to love the song this much. Maybe because it was her own track? But she kept gasping in admiration, so something must have really hooked her.
First love, huh?
I must have stared too obviously because our eyes met, and she caught my gaze.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...Nothing."
I averted my eyes and turned away just as the signal changed. Accelerating, I recalled our earlier conversation.
"...So, what's your first love like?"
"...Huh?"
"The composer asked earlier, so I wondered if it was related..."
"Hmm... He's super cool."
"...Yeah?"
"Yeah! Really kind... and seems popular too."
Cool, kind, and popular? No way a guy like that exists... He's probably a player hiding behind a kind facade.
"...Impressive."
"Right? He's amazing!"
Seeing her beam and gush made it clear how smitten she was. Liking a guy like that would only lead to suffering... Like a little sister, I hoped Ha-yeon wouldn't get hurt. With her kindness and charm, she'd surely win out.
...As long as she doesn't awaken as the Hero.
[No regrets~ I hope...]
The song from the speakers came to an end. I paused before the next track and waited for the president's reaction.
"..."
Han Jeong-suk had insisted I listen with Choi Dae-pyo, handing over the USB. I'd printed the lyrics too, and he stared at them long after the song finished.
"Hmm..."
He had me play it again, then glanced between me and Hyeon Ha-yeon while eyeing the lyrics.
Only after it ended did he speak.
"What's the title?"
"...She didn't name it—said to decide ourselves."
"Hmm..."
Stroking his chin as if pondering a fitting title, he alternated looks between Hyeon Ha-yeon and me.
Why does this guy keep staring at me?
"Hmm... How about 'Pure Love'?"
"...The title?"
Typical 50-something uncle—no sense for names. This isn't the '90s; what's pure love supposed to mean...?
"Wow! President! That sounds amazing!"
...Huh?
"...Right? Pretty good, huh?"
"It fits the song perfectly!"
"See? Ha-yeon's got the instincts! A real artist!"
The president chuckled, clearly pleased, showering Hyeon Ha-yeon with praise. She jumped in suddenly, startling me. She loved Pure Love so much she was scribbling it onto the lyric sheet corner.
Suddenly playing office politics... It's her own song, sure, but still...
"...Maybe we should hear from the other staff too?"
"Huh? ...You don't like it?"
"...Wouldn't it be better to poll the majority?"
"Pure Love is great though..."
I ignored Hyeon Ha-yeon's tiny protest and pushed my case. We settled on a quick recording of her version for the music staff to vote on. The president handed her the USB and told her to head down to the recording team and practice.
Once the door closed, he spoke cautiously.
"...So, did Han Jeong-suk get the stuff I sent?"
"...Yes, she seemed thrilled."
He sighed deeply, then collected himself.
"How's it going with Lee Ji-yeon lately?"
"...Ji-yeon?"
Shaking his head at my response, he said,
"Tsk tsk... You keep this up, you're gonna be in real trouble..."
"You know how long I'm gonna put up with her hanging around those two? She's turning thirty soon! Stamp your claim or something! Because of her, I... Ugh, never mind."
"...I'll handle it carefully."
I brushed off his nagging—half advice, half venting. When I'd brought in Hyeon Ha-yeon and Baek Ga-eun, Ji-yeon had gone unusually quiet. Guess she'd gone straight to trolling the president. He looked stressed, with plenty of pent-up gripes.
"Just go see her, take her on a date or whatever, got it?!"
"...Noted."
After venting, he caught his breath and asked slyly,
"...By the way, do you have a passport?"
"...Passport? No..."
"...Right. Anyway, good work—head out."
"...Yes."
Business done, I escaped his office on his dismissal.
*
I needed to write a report on Hyeon Ha-yeon's activities. Peeking in, she was already chatting with the recording team. I passed out coffees for encouragement and returned to my desk.
Might be a late night...
But nope.
"You're late."
Lee Ji-yeon was sitting at my desk.
"...Why are you here?"
She approached, brushing off my collar while looking up at me.
"Office is empty, and you keep doing this?"
"..."
A female staffer was right across, head down working. Despite her sharp words, she smiled with crinkled eyes, in high spirits.
The goddess had warned me to watch Ji-yeon lately, so I'd visited whenever free—but got drained every time. Still, it helped manage her stress, so she'd been quietly handling her schedule.
But not today.
"...I'm swamped."
"...When are you not?"
"...Got reports to write..."
"Always backtalk?"
"..."
She got serious, cutting me off—actually pissed. But she softened quick, grinning.
Had I seen Ji-yeon this happy lately?
"I need to go shopping."
"...Have a safe trip."
"...It's work. Come with."
Ji-yeon respected my duties. That's how I handled Shining Boys and scouted Baek Ga-eun and Hyeon Ha-yeon.
...Just with her vast collection as hostage. Seeing her push this hard, refusing might lead to who-knows-what. Better play along and squeeze in work.
"...Where to?"
"Hmm... Department store?"
More tasks piled up.
*
"Which is prettier, this or this?"
Even with staff around, Ji-yeon shoved bikinis at me—embarrassing.
"...This one."
One was tiny fabric with thin strings; the other normal. Obviously the normal one.
"Sis, I'll take this."
"Maybe try it on first..."
"Okay, I'll try it."
Ignoring my opinion again, she picked anyway. Into the fitting room she went, leaving just me and the clerk in the lingerie-packed store. Not my first time, but awkward.
My plan to half-ass the shopping had crumbled; I couldn't stop her serious store sweep. She'd usually hit exclusive spots, but today she ravaged the regular section.
A message dinged from Ji-yeon changing. Worried, I opened it—several skin-baring photos. I flinched, covered the screen: thin strings crisscrossing her skin, barely holding the fabric.
I replied vaguely "pretty" and deleted them. Soon she emerged, bought the barely-there bikini she loved.
"Hmm... Let's head there."
"..."
My hands were already full. Summer wasn't even here, yet she grabbed summer gear—mostly skimpy, low-coverage stuff.
"You're tired, so one last suitcase and done."
Coaxing my grim face, she dragged me. She tested a displayed one, handed me the handle.
"Feels good. Try pulling it."
"...Why me?"
"Won't?"
Couldn't fight her glare. Exhausted from endless shopping, I complied silently. Setting down bags, I pulled—it was decent. Expensive is expensive for a reason.
"...Not bad."
"I'll take this."
One word, and she bought the suitcase.
...Frugal punishment by her standards, but lavish by mine.
"I'll pull it since you're loaded up."
"...Thanks."
Ji-yeon pulling the suitcase to the parking lot irked me to no end. No schedule, so I helped lug to her place.
*
"Oh, Cho-in, employee ID renewal today—hear about it?"
"...Already time?"
After dumping Ji-yeon and dodging her cling, I fled to the company. Sat down—now to the in-house studio for ID renewal.
"Photographer's still here—go snap it."
"...Yes."
Just sat, now pointless errand—work piling up delayed.
Later, a passport sat on my desk.