Chapter 23: Rainy Season
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Rainy Season
The holiday was short, and I returned to my daily routine.
Perhaps the time I spent learning the ropes over the weekend wasn't in vain, as I was now able to handle the tasks Mina occasionally tossed my way without much trouble.
At first, she handed me work as if testing the waters. After I successfully completed several assignments, the workload grew bit by bit until I was finally "pulling my weight" (as Mina put it).
Consequently, my overtime increased as well.
Mina’s declaration that she would distribute the work fairly was upheld. Thanks to that, the days of me working late alone decreased.
Though, the eyes of the other employees working late with us seemed to be losing their luster.
They looked dissatisfied with the increased workload, but honestly, I had a lot I wanted to say about that.
It was only an hour past the usual clock-out time; I didn't see why they had to act like the world was ending.
Besides, they only had to work late because they spent their actual work hours slacking off.
When I shared this thought with Mina, she burst into unprecedented fits of laughter and playfully slapped my shoulder.
"Hahaha! In-ho, I didn't expect you to say something like that."
In the office where everyone else had left, leaving only the two of us, she covered her mouth and giggled as she helped me with my work.
*
A month passed like that.
The early summer air had boiled over into a full-blown heatwave, and the humidity reached a point where life felt impossible without the air conditioner.
People’s clothing grew thinner, and I found it difficult to know where to look, struggling to manage my gaze.
Whenever it seemed like I was even glancing at someone else, Mina would scurry over, glare at me, and then leave, making me even more cautious.
It already felt like she and I were halfway to dating.
Though we hadn't made an official confession, we held hands and engaged in light physical affection without hesitation.
It seemed the psychological distance between us had closed significantly since that movie theater date.
Clocking in, working, and then clocking out.
On weekends, the movie theater or the park.
We spent our days in a routine that was both similar and different, and Mina, who had developed a taste for Instagram, took photos everywhere we went.
When I asked why she took so many pictures, she said something about wanting to capture the moments she spent with me because she was happy.
Hearing that made my face flush, forcing me to turn my gaze away.
I thought I was adapting to this dimension without any major issues.
*
But they say misfortune always arrives unexpectedly, don't they?
On an ordinary Thursday, Mina and I were summoned by the Director.
"I wonder what it's about?"
I felt a bit nervous about being called by the Director, someone I hadn't spoken to properly since arriving here.
Usually, a summons like this didn't bode well.
"I'm not sure. If he'd only called me, I might have an idea. But why call you, In-ho? Oh, maybe he's going to ask you to be a Part Head or something?"
"We'll find out when we get there."
When Mina knocked on the door, a voice from inside told us to enter.
I had passed him in the halls before, but I had never faced the Director head-on like this.
He looked to be in his early fifties and was impeccably dressed.
"I heard you were looking for In-ho and me," Mina said after closing the door.
The Director, who had been looking at us with a crooked expression, spoke bluntly.
"How are you distributing the work lately?"
"Pardon?"
Mina responded to the sudden question.
"I've been watching as I come and go, and I've heard talk that the work is being dumped on specific people."
At his words, Mina spoke as if she understood.
"Ah, the workload was excessively concentrated on In-ho, so to distribute it fairly..."
"What are you talking about?"
The Director snapped back as if he’d heard something absurd, and I felt the situation beginning to tangle.
"Looking at the reports coming in lately, In-ho’s workload has decreased by more than half compared to before. You're passing his work off to other people, aren't you?"
"No, Director. That's because In-ho originally had far too much—"
"Enough. I know you two have worked together for a long time and are close, but don't let personal feelings reduce his workload."
He waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn't want to hear any more.
Mina looked indignant and tried to say something, but I nudged her side to stop her.
"Yes. Understood."
"Tsk. I wonder why a capable worker is acting like this."
The Director clicked his tongue and gestured for us to leave. We gave a short bow and exited the room.
"Try to build some team spirit. Stop playing around with just the two of you."
The Director's voice followed us out.
*
Mina, having received what was essentially a reprimand, couldn't suppress her anger for a long while.
She marched out of the office with a stiff face, and I followed her.
"Whew... Whew..."
She kept taking deep breaths as if trying to cool her boiling rage, but it didn't seem to help much.
"Are you feeling any better?"
We walked aimlessly down the street, holding Americanos we’d picked up from a cafe.
"A little. But I still feel terrible."
I could clearly feel how angry she was from her stiff, clipped tone.
"Should we just quit? Both you and me?"
When I spoke jokingly, she stopped looking straight ahead and looked up at me.
Her eyes were slightly hollow.
"Don't say things like that. This is a space you and I built. Why should we be the ones to quit? If anyone's quitting, it should be the people who joined late."
She continued, huffing with indignation.
"This is a place that holds our time and our sweat. I'm absolutely not leaving."
"Ah, okay. I was just joking."
Startled by her intensity, I took a step back, and she shot me a sharp glare.
After the Director summoned us, Mina informed everyone that there had been an "issue" with the work distribution and reverted it to how it was "before."
The team members, whose workloads had decreased, skipped out of the office happily, while Mina and I were once again buried under overtime.
"I'm sorry."
Seeing me struggle with the increased work, she murmured apologetically.
Who's worrying about whom? I thought. Seeing Mina with dark circles reaching down to her cheekbones, I answered her concern with a smile.
A week passed in a frantic blur.
*
Friday. Perhaps it was the official start of the rainy season, as the sky felt heavy and damp.
I had arrived at work early, and after using the restroom, I returned to the office to find the atmosphere was anything but normal.
Mina stood before Yun Hye-young, her face etched with irritation.
Yun Hye-young was explaining something to her with a terrified expression.
"So, you're saying you forgot to relay the schedule?"
"It's not that I didn't do it, I just forgot..."
"That's the same thing. What did they say on their end? Is there no way?"
"They said they don't have the manpower... There's no one available today, so it's impossible to do it alone."
Mina ruffled her hair violently.
"Sigh, how could you mess up something so basic?"
"T-That's..."
"Well, it can't be helped. Pack your bags immediately and head down to Busan. Don't come back until you've overseen everything from packaging to loading."
"Um, Mina... My father is ill, so I can't go that far away."
"Then who goes? This happened because of your mistake, Hye-young, so who else is supposed to go to Busan?"
"T-That's..."
The atmosphere in the office turned icy cold, making it difficult to even breathe loudly.
Into that rigid atmosphere, the Director intervened.
"In-ho can go."
The Director emerged from the pantry in the center of the office.
He looked down at Mina.
Despite the pressure from the height difference, Mina did not back down.
"This is clearly a result of Hye-young's mistake. Why should In-ho be the one to go down there?"
"Can't you do even that much for a teammate? Besides, her father is sick. You're quite heartless, aren't you, Mina?"
"Before we talk about being heartless, isn't this a professional matter? You're the one who told us to keep a clear distinction between public and private matters, Director."
"Are you talking back to me?"
The argument showed no signs of calming down, so I stepped in to resolve the situation.
"I'll just go."
When I intervened, Mina’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
"Then it's settled. Good luck, everyone."
The Director fled the scene as if escaping.
"In-ho. Let's talk for a moment."
I was dragged into the meeting room.
As soon as the door closed, she asked, "Why did you step forward?"
"The conversation was only going to end if one side backed down anyway."
"They could have been the ones to back down."
"You know the chances of that were slim, right?"
"......"
"If we keep clashing like this, your position and mine will become very unstable."
You know that, don't you? I made that kind of face.
"We have to do this if we want to get along. If we keep being stubborn, both you and I will be ostracized from this group."
"This kind of thing might happen a few more times in the future."
"We'll worry about that when the time comes. When I get back from Busan, try suggesting to the Director that I get some kind of compensation. I think he'd listen to at least that much."
"Alright. I'll protest strongly about this."
"It would be nice to have a car at times like this. It's sad being a pedestrian. I'll book a train and head down, so please coordinate things with the other side."
"Okay. Truly, I only have you, In-ho."
At my cheerful words, Mina let out a hollow laugh.
*
Four hours had passed since In-ho volunteered and left.
The office had regained its usual appearance.
"It's about time he called."
Watching the torrential rain through the window, Mina waited for his call.
He had definitely contacted her when he boarded the train, and by now, he should have arrived in Busan.
The rain fell relentlessly, and her heart felt as though it were sinking, submerged in the rainwater.
"I'm anxious."
Crunch, crunch.
Biting her nails, she fidgeted with her legs.
"Oh my god!"
A loud shout erupted from across the office.
Sensing that something serious had happened, she headed toward the source of the noise.
Even though it was a short distance, a sticky sense of dread clung to her ankles.
The faces of the other employees turned pale as they saw her approaching.
"What... is it?"
"Mina... look at this..."
One of the employees pointed at the screen.
[Train Derailment. Casualties Being Tallied]
As she read the headline, her consciousness flickered out for a moment.