Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 313. The Reason
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After the man left, the Team Leader turned around to look at the three of them.
"Want me to drive you home?"
"Oh, no. I'll walk."
Yoo Daon opened the car door, and Jang Chaeyeon got out after her.
"You..."
"I'm getting out too."
Song Arin stepped out of the car as well.
"Alright, then. I'm off."
The Team Leader drove away, and the three of them watched the departing car before turning to face each other.
"Arin, are you okay?"
Yoo Daon was the first to speak.
"Did something happen?"
"..."
Song Arin didn't answer her question. She just looked away, closing her eyes and then opening them again.
"I'm going."
"Arin."
"Leave me be."
Jang Chaeyeon grabbed Yoo Daon as she called after her.
"Let her go."
"..."
Yoo Daon watched Song Arin, who began walking away slowly.
Watching Song Arin head off into the distance, Yoo Daon murmured.
"Is Arin going to be okay?"
"She cried."
"Huh?"
"If she cried, she'll be a little better."
Jang Chaeyeon murmured and nodded.
"..."
The two looked at each other, then went their separate ways.
*
Morning came.
"..."
I looked at the manual, confirmed the page still wouldn't open, then picked up my smartphone.
The manual should sort itself out with time, and I'd already said what I needed to say to her, so now it was time to handle the next thing.
Should I call her?
I stared at the contact labeled [Coworker - Song Arin] in my phone book, then dialed.
While the ringing tone repeated a few times, I kept second-guessing my decision.
Is it really okay for me to call? Would it be better to just let her rest?
As I agonized over it, the call connected, and Song Arin's voice came through.
[...What is it?]
What do I even say if she asks what it is?
I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Just... I wanted to talk to you, Arin."
<...>
Silence.
What else should I say?
If I just sit here quietly, she'll probably refuse to meet.
"Let's talk for a bit. I'll come to your place. Or tell me a spot you want to see, and I'll head there."
[...Your consolation with those words is enough.]
"I just want to talk to you, Arin. Please."
<...>
A small sigh came through the phone, followed by Song Arin's voice.
[Fine. Let's do that. The place is...]
Song Arin told me the location.
It was her way of being considerate, perhaps—it wasn't too far from my house.
"Thank you."
[See you in an hour.]
An hour? Do I really need that much prep time?
The question popped into my head, but I didn't voice it.
"Got it. See you then."
[Yeah.]
The call ended, and I headed off to get ready.
All the while, wondering what I should say.
*
The place Song Arin had chosen was a cafe.
A neighborhood cafe with hardly anyone around.
The owner was diligently typing away on his computer alone, and when I ordered two coffees, he set them down and went right back to his screen, looking too busy with his own work to care.
Soon, Song Arin pushed open the door and walked in.
"...What? Why are you here so early?"
"You're the one who called me, so of course I came early."
At my words, Song Arin made a complicated expression for a moment before turning her gaze to the cafe owner.
"He doesn't care about anyone else's conversations. His own stuff is all that fills his head. That's why I picked this place."
"For some secret talk?"
"It's not exactly secret, but I don't love the idea of someone listening in on you and me. Plus, it's not noisy here."
As Song Arin said, the cafe wasn't too loud. There weren't any other customers besides me and her, after all.
"I'm fine."
Then Song Arin looked at me and spoke.
"I know what you're worried about, and what you're thinking. I know exactly what kind of face I showed you."
She murmured while staring at the black coffee in front of her.
"I showed you something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry about that."
"You don't need to apologize."
"No, I do."
She looked up at me.
"Not only was I no help at all, I even showed you an ugly side of me right in front of you."
"It was just an honest side."
"That's the kind of honest side you don't need to see."
She picked up her coffee cup and looked at me.
"I'm sorry."
She dipped her head slightly, her hair falling forward.
Song Arin tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at me.
"I won't let anything like this happen again."
"...I'm the one who should be sorry."
No matter the circumstances, telling someone they're not helpful is bound to hurt.
Even if it was a life-or-death situation back then, apologizing now is the right thing.
"I've gotten a lot of help from you, Arin."
"Hey, don't say stuff you don't mean."
"It's true."
"..."
She stared straight at me.
"What."
"Hm?"
"What part was helpful."
Such a sudden question?
I looked at her in bewilderment, and she raised one eyebrow.
"Don't just say it was helpful out of nowhere—tell me what exactly was helpful."
This is awkward.
But I kept my face neutral and carefully chose my words, speaking slowly.
"Well, for starters."
"Yeah."
"You're one of the people I can banter with, at least."
"Is that really a compliment?"
"It's more important than you'd think."
"Fine, let's say so. Next?"
"You're one of the two people I can strategize with."
"Who's the other?"
"Aileen."
"She's been at it forever, so okay. And?"
"Because of you, our team members fight less among ourselves."
"Th-that..."
I watched Song Arin suddenly stammer.
"Why?"
No way she fought with Yoo Daon or Jang Chaeyeon while I wasn't around, right?
For real?
"Oh, no. You're right. Yeah. That's it."
Song Arin nodded.
I eyed her suspiciously, but she crossed her arms and looked back at me like nothing happened.
"Next?"
"And you're helpful when we go into various places."
"Doesn't matter if I have to use my ability on people."
"I didn't say that."
Song Arin smirked at my words, let out a deep sigh, and looked at me.
"I'm jealous of the black-haired and white-haired ones."
"You mean Daon and Chaeyeon?"
"Those two are always helpful even when they're right by your side."
"Arin, judging people based on whether they're helpful or not from the start is—"
"If not that?"
Song Arin looked at me.
The coffee that had been steaming earlier had gone cold.
"Then what do you judge me by?"
"..."
This is tricky.
She watched me, and I took a moment to choose my words before speaking.
"Let me ask you instead. What do you judge me by, Arin?"
"Don't answer a question with a question."
"..."
I looked at Song Arin for a bit, and a translucent window popped up.
[Name: Song Arin]
[Age: 21]
Looking at this would tell me what she's thinking and what answer she's hoping for. And what answers to avoid.
I've always used it to steer clear of touching people's sore spots.
If I use it this time too...
"..."
Is this really the right thing?
Sure, I could avoid saying what she doesn't want to hear.
But...
I looked at Song Arin again.
She was staring right at me.
Her eyelids trembled faintly, her lips pressed into a thin line as if wrestling with something.
Is it right for me to just glance at the translucent window to dodge the wrong answer and ignore her struggle?
"..."
I lowered my gaze, then looked back at her face.
Honestly. Let me just say what I think.
"It's comfortable being around you. Fun, and there's that teasing vibe."
"That's not 'useful.'"
"Right. I don't judge people by their usefulness."
If you ask most office workers what stresses them out the most about human relationships, the top answer is the same: 'people who don't mesh with you.'
Spending half your day with someone who doesn't click is torture. If your personalities clash, fights break out, and if it's a workplace with hierarchy and that person is your boss, life gets miserable.
In that sense, ability matters less than you'd think.
"I like you because you're comfortable, Arin."
Song Arin looked at me.
"That's all?"
"Arin, that's not 'all.'"
In a job where lives are on the line, trust in each other is more important than anything.
Extreme example, but if my teammate was some aesthetic-obsessed type, could I trust them?
No way. You never know what might happen.
"I trust that even with all those worries, you make the kindest choice and feel guilt about it."
In the plays, it was always Song Arin who looked bitter whenever someone died.
"In that sense, I like working with you. It's easy."
"...That wasn't what I meant when I asked."
Song Arin listened, then suddenly covered one eye with her hand and sighed.
Then what did you mean?
"...But whatever."
She looked at me and gave a small smile.
"Yeah. That answer fits you, and more importantly, I like it."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah."
Then Song Arin abruptly stood up.
"We've got some time left?"
"For what?"
"Time to hang out with you."
"Huh?"
She grabbed her coffee and downed it in one go, then looked at me.
"What're you doing? Not drinking?"
"Wait, hold on."
"Hurry up. No time."
"...Jeez."
I chugged my own lukewarm coffee and stood up after her.
"Where are we going?"
"Let's walk and grab some food."
She straightened her clothes and stood beside me.
"You've got time, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"No girlfriend?"
"Like I'd have one?"
Teasing me now?
I stared at her, and she smirked.
"Yeah, let's go."
"But Arin."
"Yeah?"
"Why won't you answer my question?"
"Oh, what I judge you by?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Song Arin looked at me for a moment, then smirked.
"I thought about everything except usefulness, and I still want to be around you."
"Huh?"
What does that even mean?
"Whatever. Let's go."
She smacked my back, and I had no choice but to follow her.
At least Song Arin seemed a bit better now, so that was a relief.
*
A few days later, in the HR Team office.
"Arin, your face looks brighter these days?"
"Just your imagination."
Song Arin smiled and replied to Yoo Daon, when the door burst open and Park Yaeun came in.
"The branch manager's punny box is here!"
"Again?"
What does she think we are?
While I grumbled, Park Yaeun made a 'ta-da' sound as she opened the box.
"This time it's a real..."
"A real...?"
"...Ta-da!"
Park Yaeun pulled out a foam hammer.
Some ominous feeling washed over me.