Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Storm
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"I don't believe it."
That was Song Arin's reaction to my words.
"I'm telling you, some containment object is going to show up at your house and massacre everyone."
"Are you saying my parents are about to die right now?"
"No, damn it. That's not what I mean!"
Song Arin stomped her foot like she'd run out of words, and Yoo Daon nodded with a troubled smile after hearing it.
"But I think I get what Arin means. Like, we're bound to get dragged into some incident again."
"Hmm..."
"I got hauled off to the university hospital when I was home alone once..."
Yoo Daon muttered while scratching her cheek.
I had a pretty good idea what she meant. What if Yoo Daon actually got snatched when she went home?
"What about you, Chaeyeon?"
"I'm fine. If you're worried, I'll stick around."
A typical Jang Chaeyeon response.
"Anyway, that's how it is. Everyone, just rest at home."
"..."
"..."
"..."
My words left all three of them deep in thought.
"But honestly, there's nothing to do once we get home."
"Same here."
"Me too."
"Don't any of you have hobbies?"
How could they all look so lost like this?
"I work out, play games, uh... have friends..."
"I hate working out, don't know how to play games, and have no friends."
"Wow, Chaeyeon! I don't know games or have friends either! Though I do work out!"
"...Not making me feel better."
Yoo Daon lit up and raised her hand at Jang Chaeyeon's words, while Jang Chaeyeon sighed with a complicated expression.
"...Whatever."
"Isn't Song Arin a bit different?"
Song Arin groaned and twirled her hair in response to my question.
"Hey, it's not like I'm that isolated. It's just... I'm busy. Too busy to even think about that stuff."
"I get what you mean."
"Damn it, what do you get! It's all HR Team's fault, got it?"
Anyone would think she'd worked there her whole life.
Anyway, what to do with these three who had zero hobbies.
Why was I even worrying about this?
They're all proper adults. They'll figure it out.
"Alright, got it. I'll head home then. Rest easy, everyone."
I was waving goodbye and about to say we'd meet up after vacation when my smartphone rang.
[Kim Areum]
"...Oh."
Why was she calling out of the blue?
I gestured for the three to wait a sec and picked up.
[What the hell are you doing with your life?]
"Work stuff."
Her snide tone hit me right as I answered.
[You said you're coming home this time.]
"Yeah. ...Wait, hold on. When did I say that?"
I hadn't even called my parents to say I was coming home.
[Just got a call. Some company president—your boss and your coworkers? Said you did something huge, so he sent bonus money and meat to the house as thanks.]
"Should've sent it to me, why the parents' place?"
Seriously, who sends bonuses and meat to someone's childhood home these days?
[I wouldn't know. Came with a handwritten letter too.]
Handwritten letter?
[So get your ass home. Bring your work friends too. It's a total party here. Mom wants you to.]
"Hey, I can just come alone. Why drag everyone else?"
[You trash? Gonna hog the bonus your coworkers helped earn?]
"No, that's not—"
[If you know, get over here now. With them.]
Click. The call ended, and I turned to my colleagues, slowly opening my mouth.
"Want to come to my place?"
*
My sister stared at the three in wonder before looking at me.
Eyes chronically tired like mine, black hair tied up high.
My sister, with her usual fatigued vibe, tilted her head at me and spoke.
"Wow, how do all your coworkers end up being women?"
"I'm wondering that too."
"No office romance. It's a straight path to getting fired."
"Too busy for that."
"You guys working your asses off or what?"
More than anyone, we were.
"So. Anyone catch your eye?"
My sister leaned in slyly and asked.
"Catch my eye?"
"Yeah. They all have such distinct vibes."
She narrowed her eyes, scanning the three.
"First, the black-haired one."
"Daon."
"Yeah, her... how to put it. Precarious charm?"
My sister continued about Yoo Daon.
"She smiles the most, but feels like she has a ton of baggage. Peel back one layer and she'd seem fragile? But she'd be super devoted in marriage."
"Oh."
She had a better eye for people than I thought.
"Then, the white-haired one?"
"Let me see..."
My sister eyed Jang Chaeyeon, then whispered even lower.
"Wow, her body's insane."
"..."
"No, seriously. What do you eat to have everything pop out and everything else curve in like that. Wow..."
She muttered about how huge they were, pointing at Jang Chaeyeon.
No need to ask what was huge.
"Hey, I asked what she's like, not about her body."
"Come on, you see that body and not say anything? Are you human?"
"..."
"Ahem, anyway. She's... stoic."
Stating the obvious, my sister kept going.
"But her face softens around moms or you. Seems super tough usually, but once she gives, she gives it all."
"Hmm."
"And she'd be harsh on her own mistakes."
She held up a finger and continued.
"Forgiving of others' screw-ups, but can't stand her own. So in marriage, she'd probably do everything herself."
"How do you know all this?"
"Gut feeling."
My sister replied coolly and pointed at Song Arin.
"Her... how to say. Super shy."
"She is...?"
Didn't seem that way.
"Nah. She's got a ton of shame."
My sister stated it firmly.
"She'd never say she's worried, even if considerate. Makes up excuses to show care."
"Oho."
"But oddly weak to praise. Low self-esteem maybe..."
"Hmm..."
What she said kinda rang true.
"Anyway, that's it."
"Got it. Good insight."
"No matter who, pros and cons. Can't pick one."
"Don't need you to."
She clicked her tongue, disappointed.
"Anyway, my take."
"Yeah."
"But I've got a question."
"What."
"Why do they all call Mom 'ma'am' or whatever?"
"Yeah, that's bugging me too."
Why call our mom like she's theirs?
"Your personal favorite?"
"I..."
"Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon waved and ran up, cutting our talk short.
"Yeah?"
"Everything's ready, they said."
"Ah, got it."
The branch chief sent enough meat to feed an army.
At least 20 servings, plus bonus envelopes hand-labeled for each of us.
Who even does this?
While dazedly prepping plates, purple hair tickled my nose as someone stood beside me.
"I'll help."
"Arm still busted. Rest."
"Management Bureau patched it. It'll heal quick."
Song Arin grabbed the plate indifferently.
"Not yet."
I snatched it back, and she stared before speaking.
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"Isn't making a broken-armed person carry plates trashy?"
"Besides that."
Song Arin stared straight at me.
"Ditching efficiency to die first at the gallery, the outpost incident too."
Easier question than expected.
I opened my mouth to answer.
"Of course—"
"It's not just 'of course.'"
Song Arin clenched one fist.
"I—"
"Twisting others' goodwill is wrong."
Jang Chaeyeon cut her off, standing on my other side, casually sorting plates.
"What?"
"Don't put your assumptions on someone who thinks it's just what you do."
She muttered while stacking plates.
"Assuming and forcing your view on others just makes them uncomfortable."
"How do you know?"
Song Arin stared at Jang Chaeyeon.
"What do you even know about him—"
"Then say it."
Jang Chaeyeon looked up sharply mid-sort, and Song Arin shut up like she'd swallowed honey.
"Say it."
Only clinking plates echoed.
"..."
"Can't, huh."
Song Arin bit her lower lip at Jang Chaeyeon's words.
"...Annoying."
"Better than being clueless."
Jang Chaeyeon replied lowly, eyes down.
"...Fine."
Song Arin set down the plate and headed the other way.
"...Sorry."
Jang Chaeyeon whispered to me, eyes lowered.
"Nah, whatever."
No urge to butt into their fight.
"I'll get back to work."
Jang Chaeyeon went the opposite way from Song Arin.
"..."
Ah, exhausting.
"You're thinking it's tiring, huh?"
A cheerful voice came from beside me.
"Daon."
"Overheard by accident."
Yoo Daon smiled awkwardly and stood next to me.
"Always awkward when those two fight."
"Yeah, history there."
"Right?"
Yoo Daon smiled softly, then tapped her chest with her fist.
"Tell me if you're troubled!"
"This counts as trouble, yeah."
"Hard for me to help with this."
Yoo Daon smiled at the two.
"I'll make sure nothing troubles you, Jaeheon."
Same smile as always.
"Oh, ma'am! That's heavy, let me!"
She spotted something and dashed off again.
"Bro."
"Yeah."
"What've you been doing with your life?"
"Just living."
"Sigh. Eat some food."
"What."
Evening was approaching.