The Girl Waiting Outside and the One Sleeping at My Desk
I finally caved to her persistent questioning and gave her my home address.
"Hehe, can I drop by when I'm bored?"
"...Even if I tell you not to come, you will anyway."
"Eek! Nooo, that's not trueee. If you'd told me not to come, I wouldn't haveee."
"Then don't come."
"No way! No take-backs!"
Are you in elementary school or something? She's old enough, but acts like a total kid.
"Hurry, hurry, give me my sleeping pills!"
"Sigh... Fine. Turn around."
Target: Pure Summer (■■■)
Dependency: 100
Sleep Induction
78% Compatibility
"Hnnng..."
"Don't make weird noises."
"Your hand's cold, that's why."
The sleep effect she needed was getting weaker in intensity, and she required less of it each time. I hoped the day would come soon when she no longer needed my sleeping pills.
"See you tomorrow, Investigator! Oh, wait, you're not an investigator anymore... What should I call you?"
She put her finger to her lips, pretending to think.
"Sang-woo? Or just... Oppa Sang-woo?"
"...Just keep calling me Investigator like before. I'll probably go back to being one once this project ends anyway."
Pout— Why that face?
"Got it. See you tomorrow, Investigator!"
Her petite frame shot up into the air.
Ah. Since she already knows my address, I should've just asked her to carry me home... How long is this walk gonna take?
The next morning.
I woke to the blaring of my smartphone alarm. I stared at the ceiling for a long while before dragging my heavy body upright.
It's only my second day commuting to Luminus Entertainment, but why does it feel so dreadful?
Thinking about Baek Ga-yeon, who despises me at the office, and Pure Summer waiting for me on the walk home made me feel twice as exhausted.
I splashed water on my face, grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the fridge, and downed it. I hung the Luminus employee ID Michael gave me yesterday around my neck. The photo on the badge looked unfamiliar.
I buttoned my shirt, grabbed my bag, and stepped out the front door.
As the elevator descended to the first floor, I mentally ran through my to-do list for the day. Checking Baek Ga-yeon's schedule and the pile of documents from the association. Just thinking about it made me sigh.
Ding—. The doors opened on the first floor.
With a heavy heart, I pushed open the glass entrance door and stepped outside.
"......"
My foot froze before I could even take a step.
Why is she here?
Sitting on the bench right by the entrance was a figure with black hair. Pure Summer.
She sat with her knees together, staring blankly at the ground, then whipped her head around at the sound of me coming out.
"...Huh? Pure Summer? What are you doing here?"
My voice came out flustered.
She stood up, brushing off her dress.
"Didn't we agree to meet only on the way home from work? Why are you...?"
"...It's not a lie after allll."
She muttered in a tiny voice. Then her face suddenly lit up with joy as she hurried over to me.
"I just wanted to see your face, Investigator! You said I could come when I'm bored, right?"
"No, I never said you could come. What will the neighbors think...?"
"I saw your face, so I'm good now! I'm heading out!"
She cut me off with a beaming smile. Then, without a hint of lingering, she waved and dashed toward the apartment complex gate.
"Have a great day, Investigator! See you tonight!"
I stood there dumbfounded, watching her receding back.
What the hell is going on?
Just before she exited the gate, she paused for a split second, glancing at my building number. I caught it.
What was that about?
I shook my head to dispel the uneasy feeling and headed to the bus stop.
The bus to near Luminus arrived after a short wait. Being an early stop, there were plenty of empty seats despite rush hour.
...Why do women always take the window seats?
One lady met my eyes and scooted inside. Good, Korea's manners are still alive.
"Thank you."
"Oh, no problem."
The bus lurched forward, vibrations rumbling through.
I was gazing blankly at the gray urban scenery flowing by outside when—
The bus had entered downtown, and passengers piled on with each stop.
Hiss—! The front doors opened with a burst of compressed air.
A familiar silhouette appeared.
"Aigoo, what a pain first thing in the morning."
A grumbling voice. It was my senior.
She bulldozed through the crowd and snagged a handrail diagonally in front of me—lucky grab.
"Huh? Sang-woo?"
She spotted me amid the swaying bus and her eyes widened, face lighting up with delight.
"Hey, Senior. What's got you on the bus?"
"Car broke down, dropped it off for repairs. But seriously, what's with your face? Didn't sleep?"
I couldn't exactly say I stayed up late rewatching Ha-rin's clips.
"Just... tossed and turned a bit. It's only day two, but I dread going in so much."
"I'm dragged into this because of you... Don't think I'm sticking around without that resignation letter just 'cause I like you."
Senior leaned into the handrail with a sigh amid the rocking bus.
"Heh, driving everywhere was stressful anyway. Chatting with you makes it less boring, though."
"Thanks, that means a lot."
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at the Luminus building and headed to the office.
"Huh?"
"What's up?"
Click. Flicking on the lights revealed a scene I never expected.
Min Seol-ah. The one known as Forget-Me-Not was curled up like a fetus right in the middle of my desk, fast asleep.
Her pale sky-blue hair splayed messily over my stack of documents, the sight like a watercolor painting. She looked utterly out of place amid the worn partitions and old monitors.
"...Hey, Sang-woo. Isn't that Seol-ah?"
Why is she here?
Second unexpected encounter in one day, in a surprise location.
Her shirt had slipped off one shoulder, exposing a bra strap, but she slept on oblivious.
"Min Seol-ah?"
I gently pulled her shirt back up and tapped the desk corner.
The curled figure stirred very, very slowly.
"Mmm..."
She lifted her head, her sleepy, hazy eyes turning toward us.
"Min Seol-ah?"
At my call, she blinked her big eyes, then let out an enormous yawn.
"Haaaawn... I'm not Min Seol-ah... Yeah. Forget-Me-Not. Water forget-me-not... Mangcho."
She whispered her name like it was some grand secret. Then, with a blank expression, she pointed at me.
"Cherry-unnie's manager?"
"Ah, yes, that's me."
"Tough jobbbb. Unnie hates men. Says they're all the same."
"Gotta try anyway. So, why were you here, Seol... I mean, Forget-Me-Not?"
Instead of answering, Seol-ah tossed out a random question.
"Buttt, how can people all be the sameee? If Mangcho looks this... vulnerable, some wouldn't even touch her, others wake her kindlyyy."
Her hazy sky-blue eyes slowly scanned my face.
She poked at the shirt fabric neatly draped over her shoulder.
"And some quietly look after her without a word."
"......"
"Ehehe... Manager seems like a good person. Carefully tended Mangcho's leaves so she wouldn't wither."
Her voice was serene.
"Wondered what kind of person Manager is, if unnie could get along with him. Unnie will definitely like you. Yeah. Mangcho knows these things."
"Doubt it. Probably not that easy..."
I trailed off, recalling Baek Ga-yeon's glare from yesterday. The blatant disgust, like I was roadside trash or a bug. Seol-ah's words sounded as realistic as "The world ends tomorrow."
"Mangcho doesn't lie."
As if reading my mind, she slowly shook her head. Her sky-blue hair swayed like gentle waves.
"Mangcho needs waaater."
She abruptly stood.
"Uh, wha...?"
Senior froze mid-sip, cup in hand, bewildered.
Seol-ah zeroed in on Senior's iced Americano like she was mesmerized.
Slurp—
"...Blech, so biiiitter—."
Her brows furrowed. Face like she'd swallowed poison, she whipped her head away and unceremoniously spat the liquid into the mug on my desk.
"......"
"...This isn't sweet black wateraa. Mangcho's mouth feels all burned black."
She mumbled blankly at the liquid in my mug.
Senior stared in stunned silence, clutching her half-empty cup.
I alternated glances between my mug and Seol-ah, mentally calculating the best date to submit my resignation.
Reading my dazed expression, she slowly lifted her head.
"...Sorryyy. I'll wash it and bring it back laaater."
"No, Seol... Forget-Me-Not. I can clean it..."
"Mangcho takes responsibility for her mistakes. I'll scrub it spotless, make it smell like pretty flowers, and return it."
Ignoring my protests, she clutched the mug to her chest and glided out toward the hallway door.
Silence returned to the office.
This isn't mysterious—it's straight-up fourth-dimensional...
"Hm. I think I get why Forget-Me-Not's manager didn't say anything back then."
"The other two are normal, right...?"
"Hope so..."
Yeah, better not to expect too much for the sake of my sanity.