Chapter 406
Chapter 406
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 406. Let's Run Away
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The Management Bureau's working hours are always the same.
In simple terms, it's sticking rigidly to the schedule from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
That's why the Team Leader and I had grabbed a small conference room with no one else around to talk.
"Listen up, Jaeheon."
The Team Leader looked at me, sighed, and set down the file he'd been using to smack my head on the seat next to him.
It looked like he was placing it there so he could whack me again at the first opportunity, which was a bit worrying, but what could I do?
"Hey, that's not for you to worry about."
"Yes?"
I looked at him like what are you talking about, and he stared back at me.
"Have you ever even dated anyone to begin with?"
"...No."
"Why not?"
"Well..."
Why hadn't I?
The answer was clearer than I thought.
Seeing other people's information and inner thoughts wasn't all good.
Becoming someone's ideal person meant knowing their flaws just as well.
So even if I liked someone, their negative sides always nagged at me.
That person is kind. But they lack backbone in some areas.
That person is rational, but they get selfish when it involves them.
Something like that.
"I figured as much."
Even though I hadn't said a word, the Team Leader sighed deeply and looked at me.
"Jaeheon. There are no perfect people in the world."
"Right."
I knew that, but...
"To start with, you've got plenty of issues yourself. You can be rude sometimes, and you're way too nonchalant about your own pain and everyone else's."
"Isn't being nonchalant only about others' pain better than nothing?"
"It's not something to brag about, you punk."
*Whack!*
"Ow!"
The Team Leader smacked my head with the file again, and as I clutched it in pain, he spoke up once more.
"Anyway, there are no perfect people in the world. Not you, not anyone else. And you need to remember that."
"..."
"Look at them from a different angle. Or rather, what was it..."
He muttered "hmm" and sank into thought before speaking.
"Look at them more rationally."
"Rationally?"
"The rationality I'm talking about here isn't emotional versus logical. It's male-female rational."
Got it? he said, opening his mouth again.
"My wife nags a lot and asks if I'm going bald every time I come home late from overtime, but she's still a good person. If she wasn't, I wouldn't have married her."
"..."
He had a point.
"People live by covering each other's flaws."
"I know that, but..."
"Not work stuff, you idiot!"
*Whack!*
"Ow!"
He was really getting into it, huh?
I gave the Team Leader an aggrieved look, but he met my eyes and sighed deeply.
"I'll allow it, so starting today, during work hours, take each one out one by one."
"...Take them out?"
"You're quick to catch on with work—even one lesson turns into two—but with dating, you don't even get half of it."
The Team Leader sighed deeply and looked out the window.
Warm sunlight poured down, and people bustled about below it.
"It's already gone too far to turn back, so take responsibility and get to know them properly, one by one."
"I've already—"
*Whack!*
"Ow!"
"Properly means how they are with you, not just work or personality. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"Or if not that... Hmm."
The Team Leader thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Oh. There is one thing."
"What is it?"
"It was the method I used to win over my wife."
"Yes."
"I asked her how far she could run away with me."
He muttered like it was some hidden camera prank and continued.
"My wife told me she'd go to the end of the world with me... and so..."
"Straight to marriage?"
"I thought, does this woman have no sense of money?"
"What? Then why did you marry her?"
"Because she loved me, even without any financial sense."
It made sense and didn't at the same time.
I nodded slowly, and the Team Leader nodded back.
"Good. At least you get it verbally. So, who first?"
"..."
Who to take?
After a moment's thought, I shrugged.
"How about whoever approaches me first?"
"Then it's decided."
The person who usually spoke to me first when I got back was set.
Our eyes met, and we both smiled faintly.
At times like this, he felt like a big brother who got me.
Even with the big age gap.
*Whack!*
"Go already, punk!"
"Ah, yes."
*
When I opened the office door, no one else was there.
Well, except for one person sitting there.
Song Arin, with her head shoved toward the monitor, staring ahead.
She whipped her head up at the sound of the door, relaxed her expression, and raised one eyebrow.
"What're you doing back?"
"It's good timing, Arin."
"What?"
Song Arin tilted her head at me, and I met her eyes and spoke.
"If you have nothing to do, how about we, uh."
"Date."
"...go grab a drink or something?"
Ignoring the Team Leader's whisper from behind me, I spoke, and Song Arin looked at me like I was crazy before turning to the Team Leader.
"..."
The Team Leader nodded slowly.
"...Sigh."
Song Arin let out a deep sigh and stood up.
"What? Can't be helped. The Team Leader approved it, so whatever, I'll hang out with you. No choice."
"See? She likes it."
"That's liking it?"
How did the Team Leader even get married?
Thinking that, I approached Song Arin, who looked at the Team Leader.
"What time should we be back, Team Leader?"
"Ah, I'm pulling you two off work duties today."
"...For real?"
Song Arin blinked at the Team Leader, who grinned back at her.
"Yeah. Team Leader privilege."
"..."
Their eyes lingered in the air for a moment,
"...Well, uh, whatever! Can't be helped!"
She twitched one corner of her mouth and headed for the door.
"..."
Was this really right? I glanced at the Team Leader, who gave me a thumbs up.
Ah, whatever. He gave me time to hang out, so might as well.
With that thought, I stepped out,
and ran into Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon just entering the office.
Song Arin flashed a confident smile, while the two stared at me.
What? Why?
"Sorry, girls?"
Song Arin grinned confidently at them.
"'We' are heading out first?"
"...?"
"...'We'?"
Their reactions were icy, but Song Arin laughed out loud like even that was fun and walked ahead.
"Hey, so where are we going? Huh?"
"..."
Yeah, where to.
*
In the end, the place I took Song Arin was an aquarium.
I hadn't planned on going to an aquarium, but as we left, someone from the Containment Team handed me tickets out of nowhere.
When I asked why, he just said it was a gift and left.
The Team Leader? But it didn't seem like it.
No idea.
Thinking that, I walked through the aquarium with Song Arin.
Maybe because it was a weekday during work hours, it wasn't crowded.
"..."
"..."
We walked quietly.
"..."
"..."
Still silent between us.
"...Sigh."
Finally, as we walked, Song Arin looked at me.
The dim aquarium lights made her hair shimmer darkly.
"What did the Team Leader say to you?"
"...Pardon?"
"Hey. If you're dragging me out like this, take responsibility and set the mood."
She clicked her tongue and sighed, looking at me.
"Look closely."
"..."
No one around, just me and her.
And in the dark aquarium, only fish floating by.
"What do you think?"
"...Survival rules for making it in an aquarium?"
*Kick!*
Song Arin kicked my shin, and sharp pain shot through.
"...!"
I hopped silently, clutching my shin, and she glared at me before speaking.
"That's not it. What are you even trying to do? Test? Or... no..."
She seemed about to say something, lips moving, then sighed.
"...Anyway."
She looked up at me,
"If you called me out, there's a reason. How am I supposed to know unless you say why?"
"..."
Why did I call Song Arin out?
To date?
To get to know her?
"..."
How much did I really know about Song Arin?
I knew her past, her abilities, her weaknesses.
But did I know the person Song Arin?
"...I just don't know what you like, Arin."
"...What?"
She stared at me.
After all this time together, you don't know that one thing? her eyes said.
"..."
Come to think of it, yeah.
Feeling unexpectedly sorry, I averted my eyes, then a voice came from beside me.
"For food, she likes stuff on the salty side, and for drinks, beer if she's in the mood, but usually not."
She spoke plainly.
"For movies... she likes romance genres, prefers aquariums over amusement parks."
"..."
"And she likes guys who show up like heroes to save the day, caring in their own quiet way."
She muttered and looked at me.
"...Is that what you wanted to know?"
"..."
What should I say?
"..."
The Team Leader's words came to mind.
"Arin."
I looked at her slowly, and she gazed back with a tense expression.
"W-Why..."
"If, uh, I..."
"...Yeah."
"..."
I exhaled.
"...Go on."
"If I... said to throw everything away and abandon the Management Bureau."
Her face stiffened slightly at my words,
"Would you come with me?"
Her expression fully hardened at the question.
A brief silence fell.
How much time passed?
"..."
Song Arin looked up and took my hand.
Then slowly spoke.
"Where should I start with the info?"
"...?"
"Back alley of the central branch first—"
Wait a minute. The pace is too fast.