The Breath That Wouldn't Come
"Hah... hah..."
"Dong-su, what's wrong with you?"
"Haaah... hooo..."
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I... I can't breathe...."
"What?"
Lunchtime. The rooftop.
A suffocating heaviness had been pressing down on me since morning, and right after lunch, it finally broke loose.
Youngsoo hauled me up onto his back and rushed me straight to the university hospital.
"Hmm. Nothing unusual shows up on the MRI."
"I'm sorry?"
"Your breathing distribution is normal, your cerebral blood flow and dyspnea index are all within normal range. I don't see anything to prescribe for."
"What is that supposed to mean... I'm in this much pain... I feel like I'm dying."
"Both internal medicine and surgery can find no cause. Why don't you get a good night's rest and see how you feel?"
"......."
I went to other hospitals. Same story every time.
The tests alone cost me over ten million won.
But the answer that came back never changed.
"You're perfectly normal. Nothing's wrong. There's nothing for us to do."
Damn it all...
So you're saying I'm faking it, then?
Hah— hah—
Showing up to work only in the mornings and taking a half day every afternoon had become my routine.
My face was growing paler by the day, and the air refused to reach past my throat.
Every time I jolted awake in the middle of the night, pounding the floor and gasping for breath,
it hurt enough that I honestly wanted to die.
-I can't breathe.
I scoured the internet.
'Hyperventilation syndrome.' 'Panic disorder.'
The words on my screen seemed to mock me.
A mental illness? Me?
I wanted to deny it, but in the end, clutching at straws, I dragged myself to a psychiatrist.
Pulling my baseball cap down low, I quietly pushed open the door.
"This is a textbook case of hyperventilation. You can see the test results, right? Your autonomic nervous system readings have spiked sharply."
"Yes...."
"At this level, you'll need to combine it with medication. I'll prescribe a month's worth. Come back a week before you run out."
As if by magic, the medicine worked.
And just like that, I became a panic disorder patient.
Lunchtime. The rooftop.
"Hoooo. Hey, Youngsoo."
"Yeah."
"I think I'm pretty much cured."
"What? The panic disorder?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously? Since when does that thing clear up overnight? Didn't you tell me people usually suffer with it for months, sometimes years?"
"I did, but I got tested again recently and everything came back within normal range. They said I don't need to come in as long as I'm fine off the meds for a while."
"Oh~ Kim Dong-su. Congratulations. You think it's because things have been going so smoothly for you lately?"
Youngsoo had a point.
Ever since these abilities showed up, my working life had completely changed.
Work no longer weighed on me, and even that prickly Team Leader Jeong had stopped being a problem.
Not to mention the financial breathing room.
"Yeah. I'm glad it worked out."
"Thanks, man. If you hadn't carried me to the hospital back then, who knows what would've happened."
"You're thanking me?"
"Damn right I am."
"Then lend me ten million won for crypto."
"You lunatic."
"Kahaha. Anyway, you've been looking good lately. Don't grind away like a rock like you used to—talk with the guys, show a little emotion now and then."
"I was already planning to. Been learning a lot these days."
At one o'clock, I returned to my desk and started preparing for the afternoon's work.
Nothing pressing, really.
"Uh, Manager Kim?"
"Hm?"
It was Assistant Manager Park.
She held out the coffee in her hand.
"It's hot. Careful."
"Oh... this is for me?"
"Yes. A thank-you for helping me out this morning. Hehe."
"......."
Steam curling off the cup.
I'm an iced-coffee-only guy, though.
"Assistant Manager Park, I appreciate it, but don't do this again. You didn't join this company to brew coffee for people, right?"
"I know, but this one's a token of thanks."
Was this acceptable, though?
Coffee she'd gone out of her way to make.
Afraid of making things awkward, I took it.
"Thanks anyway. I'll enjoy it."
"Oh, and also this."
"What's this?"
On the approval tray Assistant Manager Park held out, a document read: 'Autumn Event Proposal.'
"The autumn event proposal. The team leader asked me to have you review it, Manager."
I took the tray.
On the cover, the title was written out in careful, deliberate letters: 'Autumn Event Plan (Draft).'
Flipping past it, I found a densely packed schedule, a budget breakdown, and a list of candidate venues.
"Did you put this together yourself, Assistant Manager Park?"
"Yes! I'm in charge of it this time. It's my first event, so I'm a little nervous."
"Which is why it landed on my desk?"
"Yes... The team leader said you might want to take a look at least once."
I nodded slowly and skimmed through the file.
The budget allocation wasn't bad.
Every line item was meticulous.
The only issues were that the rental costs ran high for the scale of the event, and the schedule was a bit tight.
"Hmm. Assistant Manager Park, for the venue, I'd shortlist two or three more candidates. If the cost goes over a certain threshold, the director's approval could get held up."
Assistant Manager Park nodded, scribbling something in her notepad.
A serious face.
Her eyes were far more focused than they'd been that morning.
"Also, for the schedule, try adding one outdoor program around three in the afternoon. Something the whole team can join in—say, a cooperative game or a flea market, that sort of thing."
"Oh, that's a great idea. If we're doing it anyway, we should make it fun."
A smile spread across her face.
Somehow, that smile lingered with me long after.
"Then I'll revise it and bring it back for the afternoon meeting."
"Sounds good. Good work."
Once Assistant Manager Park left, my eyes fell on the paper cup sitting on my desk.
The steam had already faded. I took a sip while it was still warm.
A hint of bitterness came through, but beneath it lingered a strangely pleasant aftertaste.
I opened the file again.
'Autumn Event Plan (Draft).'
Odd—the old me would have found this kind of chore a nuisance.
These days, for some reason, these small tasks felt closer to my heart.
Six o'clock in the evening.
Another week, wrapped up.
Quitting time.
Having completed a 40-hour work week, you may unlock 1 ability.
Using the ability will reset your accrued work hours.
These abilities come way too easily, don't you think?
I did technically work the full 40 hours, but....
I suppose I owe thanks to the me who let the time slide by.
Before clocking out, I should check the ability.
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Ability: Visit of a Benefactor
Effect: An auspicious person will come to find you.
Grade: ★★☆☆☆
Caution: This is a one-time ability.
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