Chapter 12: When the Team Leader is Obsessed, There’s a Lot of Overtime-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: When the Team Leader is Obsessed, There’s a Lot of Overtime-4
Using Lee Mina’s incessant chattering as background noise, I polished off the rice soup and assorted sundae in no time.
Even though my behavior was a blatant snub to anyone watching, Lee Mina stubbornly kept talking. I simply kept my face buried in the bowl, my spoon moving rhythmically.
Perhaps because I had eaten so much, my stomach felt bloated, followed by a slightly unpleasant sense of fullness.
After settling the bill, I headed toward a cafe. Naturally, Lee Mina came along.
To be precise, she was the one who suggested the cafe. She had clung to me, insisting it would be a shame to part ways so soon after such a "coincidental" meeting.
I needed to let my bloated stomach settle anyway, so I agreed. I also calculated that if I refused, she would undoubtedly find another excuse to pester me.
"You've had a lot of work lately, haven't you? I'm a bit sorry about that."
An iced americano—a safe yet fitting choice of drink for her.
I took a sip of my own iced americano and shook my head.
"That’s just how office life is."
"It’s only because I had no one else I could trust to get things done. You know how it is. Everyone else’s work is subpar."
"You really don't hold back, do you?"
"I’m only saying this because it’s you, In-ho. Before our team was formed, it was just the two of us, wasn't it?"
That must be the backstory here.
"It was."
"It was hard handling all the work alone, but things got much easier after you joined as my junior."
Lee Mina, who had been sipping her americano, suddenly took a large gulp. It was as if her throat had gone dry.
"After we went through all that struggle, these people finally joined under the guise of a 'team.'"
"It’s a good thing. We have more people now."
"Your soft personality is the problem, In-ho. You’ve seen how they work."
Whether she was getting worked up or not, her words began to take on a sharp edge again.
Damn it, the atmosphere was actually okay for a second. Why are her emotions fluctuating like boiling soup? Her face is like a master of the poker face, though.
"They dump work on you at the slightest excuse and then try to brush it off with a simple 'thanks.'"
"Haha..."
I didn't know the full details, so I tried to laugh it off, but she was persistent.
"You’re at fault too, In-ho. How can you just say 'okay' to everything? That’s being too easy. There are so many foxy bit—ahem. There are so many foxy people out there."
Whoa... she almost called them bitches.
"For someone saying that... you're the same, Mina."
When I narrowed my eyes, implying, 'Then why did you make me work so much?' she actually got angry.
"Are you putting me on the same level as those people right now? Even coming from you, In-ho, I can't let that slide."
What’s the difference?
"You look like you want to ask, 'What's the difference?' There’s a huge difference. I gave you legitimate tasks as part of your job, while those people were just dumping their own responsibilities on you. It’s fundamentally different."
It felt like six of one and half a dozen of the other to me, but I decided to keep quiet.
Since the topic of work had come up, I figured it was a good time to bring it up.
"Since we're talking about work, there's something I need to tell you. Lately, the work has been too diffi—"
"I know. That’s why I think I should reduce your workload for a while. We can't have just the two of us doing everything forever."
I was going to say I didn't understand the work at all, but I was cut off before I could finish.
"...Anyway, I didn't know you had this side to your personality, Mina. Usually, you're quite... well, the taciturn type."
When I cautiously changed the subject, she fell into thought for a moment, her face returning to its usual expressionless mask.
"I wonder. Maybe it's because I feel a bit more comfortable around you, In-ho."
The way she looked me straight in the eye was a bit overwhelming.
*
After talking for a few more hours, I finally returned home.
Lee Mina looked like she wanted to talk more, but I managed to ward her off by acting like I wasn't feeling well.
She had a lingering, disappointed look on her face... I just hope she doesn't do anything reckless.
"Maybe I should head to the office tomorrow."
It was Saturday, but since I had forgotten everything related to the job when I possessed this body, I needed to relearn it. I couldn't afford to stand around like an idiot when I went to work on Monday. I should at least go and get a general idea of things.
"Well, if I still can't do it, I'll just use my leave and look for another job."
Earning a living was the priority, after all.
"Sigh, whatever happens, happens."
While I was killing time on my bed in comfortable clothes, I sensed a presence outside my door.
I thought it might be the neighbor, but the specific feeling of someone being there didn't go away.
"What is it at this hour?"
It was already 11 PM. Not exactly a time for someone to be loitering in front of a house.
Scratching my neck, I stood before the front door.
I checked through the peephole, but I couldn't see anything, perhaps because it was so dark.
What the? I can't see a thing.
I kept my eye pressed to the lens, but there was only pitch-black darkness.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
"Um... who are you?"
The moment I heard a man's voice, I realized what the darkness blocking my view was.
"Oh, I'm the girlfriend of the person who lives here. I couldn't get a hold of him... so I was wondering if he was home."
Standing outside the peephole was Lee Mina.
The neighbor nodded as if that made sense and went into his home. Lee Mina remained standing there, motionless, for a long time.
Wait, so we were looking right at each other?
Goosebumps broke out all over my body, and the strength left my legs.
I slid down and sat in front of the door. After a few minutes passed, I heard a faint mumble from outside.
"I'm sure he's inside. Why isn't there any sign of life?"