The Design Team Dinner
Chapter 2. Early July 2017. The winter chill had faded, replaced by a warm breeze. Cherry blossoms filled the parks, bloomed, and fell. The sharp sunlight and humid, sweltering air that heralded summer began to press in from every direction. Winter clothes were laundered, dried, neatly folded, and tucked deep into the closet while summer outfits came out instead. Just as the awkwardness of short sleeves started to feel normal, the real heat arrived in force. Without air conditioning, life became unbearable, and the warehouse turned into a sweltering oven.
June had been packed and relentless. I spent the days in a blur of corporate hardship. I adapted to the management department's workload, fended off interference from other teams, ran errands, carried out the president's demands, delivered sample designs the Vietnamese buyer wanted to the fashion design team, secured new contracts, and steadily made my presence felt in the company. Because I was so busy, I barely had time to check on my crypto holdings. Only when I finally caught my breath did I start glancing at Bitcoin prices again, gathering information online and pondering future trading plans in my spare moments.
I had now completed my first year and entered my second as a full-time employee, yet I still felt like a newbie every time sudden new tasks landed on my desk. On one of those rare days when I finally had some breathing room, a message arrived from Jeonghun hyung for the first time in a while.
[Jinsu. You busy these days?]
He was one of the few people I actually knew at the company. We often grabbed meals or drinks when our schedules aligned, and he had become the closest colleague I had. He introduced me to others, offered advice about company life, and even mediated between departments. In many ways, he was my savior at work. On top of that, he was easygoing, never picky about food, and genuinely fun to be around. If I bought him a meal, he would eat without complaint and keep the conversation lively. He even tolerated my interest in Japanese anime and idols, watching them with me and calling them entertaining. Because of that, Sumin noona sometimes complained that we were into weird stuff together.
Receiving his long-awaited message after my busy period, I replied right away.
[Just wrapped everything up. Got some time now.]
[Then how about dinner tomorrow?]
[Dinner? The president won't be there, right?]
[Nah, it's not a client dinner. Just a casual get-together with some close people from the company.]
[?? You've been doing those?]
[Yeah. The design team noonas.]
The fashion design team. Jeonghun hyung's words brought to mind the expressionless beauty I had met a few times for work-related meetings with the Vietnamese buyer—Team Leader Lee Eunhye. For a moment, I wondered what she might be like outside the office. But first, there was something I needed to clarify.
The fashion design team consisted of three women, and none of them were older than Jeonghun hyung.
[They're all younger than you, so why call them noonas?]
[Just because? I've always called them that.]
[Lame.]
[Anyway, you coming or not? You know you're not getting out of this. They said if you chip in twenty thousand won, they'll let you join for the beef.]
[? Why are they suddenly inviting me? I barely interact with that team.]
[Who knows? The noonas suggested bringing you into the dinner circle. If you don't want to go, just say so. I'll handle it.]
I stared at the messages and hesitated. Why would they suddenly invite me? If it were just guys, I could treat it as normal networking and relax, but with women involved, I would have to watch every word and action. One wrong joke could shatter the image of the diligent, reliable employee I had built. I wasn't completely clueless around women, but even with men I didn't know well, conversation didn't flow easily. With women in the mix… it had taken weeks just to get comfortable with Jeonghun hyung. The thought of sitting through dinner with Team Leader Eunhye, whom I had only exchanged polite nods with, and two other women I had never even met properly made me worry I would ruin the atmosphere.
No matter how I looked at it, there was nothing to gain. Skipping it might at least limit the damage to some badmouthing behind my back. Attending or not attending both seemed pointless. Other people might think twenty thousand won for beef was a good deal, but I wasn't particularly greedy about food, and money wasn't an issue. I was the ultimate homebody with plenty to do at home. Still, refusing an invitation outright would be rude, especially since it had come through Jeonghun hyung. I decided to attend this once and turn down future ones.
[I'll go.]
[Okay~ I'll send you the location. Drive us there, yeah?]
[?? Are you just using me as a chauffeur?]
[Haha. Thanks in advance~]
[Heh… Hope your tire blows out.]
After finishing the remaining work and cleaning the warehouse, quitting time arrived. I had no idea how the others were getting there, but I picked up Jeonghun hyung and headed to XY Hanu. Following the map app, we navigated the usual hellish evening traffic and eventually reached a quiet commercial area dotted with scattered shops. A high-end beef restaurant in a place like this… How had the women even found it? Was the rent cheap enough that they opened here? If people were willing to come this far, the meat must be worth it.
After circling the alleys for parking, I finally squeezed the car along the curb. Jeonghun hyung and I walked into the restaurant together, and he filled me in on who was coming.
The fashion design team’s three women, plus Jiyeong noona, Sumin noona, Jeonghun hyung, and me. Seven people total. An odd number always felt a little awkward.
The interior had a subtle Japanese vibe. A central hallway ran between gray walls, and beneath traditional sliding doors, neatly arranged shoes belonging to other customers sat in rows. Each room was private, giving the place a more upscale atmosphere than the other beef restaurants I had visited. While taking in the unfamiliar décor, I thought, With rooms like this, they can't seat many customers at once.
“Welcome! Do you have a reservation?”
“There should already be people here. The room under Lee Eunhye.”
“Lee Eunhye-ssi. One moment, please…”
Before the counter staff could check, a woman appeared at the end of the hallway and called out to us.
“Manager Hwang~ Jinsu-ssi~ Over here~!”
It was the familiar face I had only ever exchanged passing nods with at the office—Team Leader Lee Eunhye of the fashion design team. She was in her late twenties, around 158 cm tall, with long straight hair that reached her shoulder blades. Her youthful face made the four-year age gap between us hard to believe. Below her black skirt, pale, clean legs showed, and beneath her white printed T-shirt, a generous volume was subtly noticeable. She was widely considered one of the most beautiful women in the company—someone who would turn heads even on the street. Currently thirty years old.
“You found it well, Manager. Jinsu-ssi, hello! First time seeing you outside the office, huh?”
Team Leader Eunhye approached with a bright smile. The expression she never showed at work made her already pretty face even more striking. The unfamiliar warmth of it caught me off guard, and I instinctively looked away, responding stiffly.
“Hello, Team Leader. Thank you for inviting me today.”
“You got here early, Team Leader. How did you beat us? Did you take a taxi?”
“Jinsu-ssi, if you enjoy the food tonight, consider joining our little group. And you too, Manager Hwang—think about it! Of course we took a taxi. We're drinking tonight. Why would we drive?”
“I came in Jinsu's car~”
“You're impossible. If you get drunk, I'm leaving you here.”
“Our Jinsu will take care of me~”
The easy banter between them made them seem like old friends. Team Leader Eunhye kept smiling and laughing in a way I had never seen before. She seemed far more cheerful than the cold, meticulous beauty I knew from work. Because she and Jeonghun hyung had known each other for years at the company, their conversation flowed naturally. We followed her to the reserved room.
“Hah, we'll talk later. Ugh, seriously. This is the room.”
We removed our shoes and stepped inside. Four women were already seated, waiting for us.
“You're late.”
“Jinsu, you came?”
“Manager, welcome! You too, Jinsu-ssi!”
“Hello!”
The room wasn't particularly large. A low table sat in the center, designed so people could sit with their legs beneath it like chairs. Two built-in grills were set into the table. The four women who had arrived first greeted us warmly as we took our seats.
Secretary Team's An Sumin, the pretty noona from next door. Management Team's Kim Jiyeong, whom I had grown fairly close to. Kim Minjeong, assistant manager from the fashion design team, whom I was seeing properly for the first time. And Kang Yumi, also from the fashion design team.
Meeting the four female employees outside the office gave off a brighter vibe than their usual work personas. Their personalities and atmospheres I had never noticed before suddenly felt tangible. Their perfume and fabric-softener scents tickled my nose, reminding me that I was surrounded by women.
Aside from Sumin noona, whom I was now quite close with, and Jiyeong noona, who had become a reliable senior, the other two were almost strangers. After brief greetings, we settled into our seats.
“Jinsu, sit here! Jeonghun oppa, next to him!”
“Why is the seating like this?”
“We originally reserved for six. Whoever suggested inviting Jinsu has to take responsibility! So should we seat our new guest right next to us?”
“Aish, how heartless. Fine, I'll sit beside him.”
It turned out to be a six-person room. Contrary to what Jeonghun hyung had said, he had apparently been the one to suggest inviting me, and the women had agreed. While I smiled awkwardly, feeling like an uninvited guest, the seating was finalized. Team Leader Eunhye sat first, followed by the rest of us.
From the far end near the door: Kim Minjeong, Kim Jiyeong, Kang Yumi. Beside the table sat Hwang Jeonghun. On the inner side: Lee Eunhye, me, and An Sumin.
Kim Minjeong — Kim Jiyeong — Kang Yumi
□□□□□□□□□□□
Hwang Jeonghun — Lee Eunhye — Kim Jinsu — An Sumin
“Alright, don't be shy. Scoot in close. It's a little tight.”
“Hehe. Jinsu~ You've got flowers on both sides.”
I settled into the narrow space Team Leader Eunhye and Sumin noona had made for me. The table was clearly meant for two per side, but three people made it cramped. Jeonghun hyung's side looked more spacious. Once we were seated, conversation began in earnest and the dinner atmosphere took hold.
“Oh my, you all got here so fast!”
“Why were you so late, Manager? We were starving waiting for you!”
“Ah~ We came in Jinsu's car, and he didn't know the way around here. Haha.”
“Beef, beef~ Ah! I'm already excited! My stomach's growling!”
“It's been so long since we had beef! The photos on this place's blog looked amazing. I'm looking forward to it~”
Once seated, the lack of space became obvious. Any slight movement caused shoulders to brush. The room was pretty, but not exactly comfortable for eating. While listening to Jeonghun hyung and the others chat, I tried to gauge the relationships. This clearly wasn't their first gathering—the atmosphere was relaxed and familiar.
At some point, Sumin noona, seated to my right, spoke to me first.
“Was traffic bad?”
“Not really…? Like Jeonghun hyung said, I just got a little lost since I don't know this area well. Parking was tricky too. You got here early, noona.”
“We took a taxi and the driver was flooring it. We arrived a bit early, and the owner let us in, so we were already sitting when you got here! How's the vibe? Cozy, right? I really like the room atmosphere. Anyway, thanks for coming! Eat a lot tonight!”
“I will! It's been a while since I had beef myself. Might as well make the most of it.”
Sumin noona chatted easily with me, helping me settle in. While talking with her, I observed the group and wondered how this dinner would turn out.
Five women who seem pretty close. Sigh… Why do women talk so much? I'm already tired and just want to go home and rest. Ha… Just endure it. This is work.
They say three times saying “endure” can save a person. Despite my inner thoughts, I kept a pleasant expression while chatting with Sumin noona and listening to the others. Then Team Leader Eunhye lightly tapped my left shoulder.
“Jinsu-ssi! First time seeing you outside the office. How is it? Comfortable?”
“Huh? Ah… Haha… Still a bit awkward.”
“Don't be too nervous. Our gatherings aren't formal at all. It's just people who get along eating good food together. Relax, okay? You're twenty-six this year, right? Can we drop the formal speech here?”
I reacted a beat late to her gentle smile. At work she always wore a blank expression during meetings, so seeing her smile so brightly kept catching me off guard. Still, even in private, dropping formal speech could affect work later. I didn't particularly like the idea, but if it felt wrong, I could draw the line tomorrow. For now, I decided to take a step back.
“Yes. Please do, Team Leader.”
“Okay! Great. Jinsu has a nice personality~. I could tell from watching you work! Twenty-six… That makes us four years apart? You're practically a baby!”
“But in between that, a thousand bowls of rice must have been eaten, right?”
“Hey! I'll eat less than you, so it's fine. By the way, you and Jiyeong already dropped formal speech? You two seem pretty comfortable.”
“Yes, well… Our work overlaps a lot, and we help each other out, so we've gotten close.”
“I see. No wonder. Even though Manager Hwang brought up inviting you, Jiyeong was really in favor of it too. She said you work hard, have a good personality, and… you're well-off?”
I flinched inwardly at Team Leader Eunhye's words and shot a sideways glare at Jeonghun hyung. Whether he noticed or not, he was busy laughing and chatting with Kang Yumi and Sumin noona. I had never mentioned crypto at the company, but apparently buying meals often had created that impression. Since I hadn't confirmed anything myself, I couldn't really complain about his speculation.
Once the conversation started flowing, Team Leader Eunhye revealed herself to be quite talkative. How had she managed to stay so quiet at work? I looked back at her and answered.
“Yes, I've been doing some investing.”
“Ooh~ Investing~. Anyway, our dinner group's membership fee is twenty thousand won. I felt bad bringing it up when salaries are tight, but if you have some leeway, it shouldn't be a problem. It's not a burden, right?”
“Hmm… Twenty thousand won isn't too bad.”
“We each put in twenty thousand won a month and go out for something nice every four or five months—high-quality beef, sushi, special restaurants. The company doesn't provide a dinner budget, and eating alone isn't fun, you know? If you're not close with coworkers it's one thing, but if you are, it's nice to set up a gathering like this once in a while. So we collect the fee voluntarily and go eat good food! What do you think? Sounds good, right?”
“The intention is… pretty nice.”
Was this how a typical superior thought? It reminded me of the stereotypical pushy department head from the internet, except this time it was a female team leader. I had assumed women hated company dinners and preferred going straight home, but neither Kang Yumi nor Kim Minjeong seemed reluctant. They and Jeonghun hyung were chatting and laughing openly while waiting for the food. It really did look like a group of like-minded people. Team Leader Eunhye was quite the talker too.
“We've been running this dinner group for three years already! Of course some people left the company in between, but Yumi and Jiyeong joined, and now there are six of us left! If Jinsu joins, we'll be seven!”
“Heh… Three years? That's a longer history than I expected. You're a veteran, Team Leader.”
“Heh. At this rate, you'll be a veteran soon too. You look like clean water now, but you've already caused more incidents than all of us combined. Even the field staff say you seem like you've been here five years.”
“Ugh! Even so, I'm still the cleanest one here compared to everyone else. That's a fact.”
“Huhu, you sure talk well. So? Want to join our group?”
She was asking way too soon. We hadn't even tasted the side dishes yet, and she was already pressing for a decision. Just as I was internally panicking at the cult-recruitment pace, a knock sounded at the door. Staff entered carrying the basic side dishes, charcoal, and grill, set everything up, and left. Clean, pretty plates held neatly arranged banchan. The grill sat atop glowing charcoal. The real Korean barbecue atmosphere had begun.
Everyone except Jeonghun hyung and me started taking photos from every angle, exclaiming about how cute the restaurant was, how pretty the dishes were, how well the side dishes had come out. Then they took group photos and spent a long time in photoshoot mode. Even though it was short, it already felt exhausting. Forcing a smile for the camera made my facial muscles ache. If the beginning was like this, I had a bad feeling the rest of the dinner wouldn't be easy either.
I wanted to say, I want to rest, so I'm heading out first, and go home, but I reminded myself this was only once and endured. I planned to quit once the Naeil Chaeum Gongje program ended in two years anyway, so at most three more dinners. I could just say I was busy. The dinner fee? I'd treat it like getting hit by a truck and forget about it. This would be my first and last time. Ah… this was boring.
While I was spacing out, Team Leader Eunhye caught me off guard again.
“How's work treating you, Jinsu? Manageable?”
Not at all. I wanted to quit this pointless SME as soon as possible, but I couldn't. Being forced into unwanted social activities was nothing but suffering. Still, birds hear daytime talk and mice hear nighttime talk—I couldn't complain or vent here. I gave a vague answer.
“Huh? Ah… Yes. Well, you know how company work is.”
“Why are you so tense! Don't you have any questions? You've only talked to me from our team, so you probably haven't spoken much with these two.”
“No, Team Leader! Jinsu does so many different things that I've had work conversations with him a few times too.”
Kim Minjeong answered. As the middle-ranking member of the fashion design team, she sometimes handled business with me when Team Leader Eunhye was away. We had exchanged a few work-related words, though nothing particularly friendly.
“What about Yumi? Have you talked with Jinsu before?”
“Me? Well… I've mostly just overheard Team Leader, Manager Hwang, and Assistant Manager Minjeong talking about him. I've never spoken with Jinsu-ssi directly.”
I had never spoken with Kang Yumi either. I didn't even know what she did within the team, and since I rarely visited the office building, we had only passed each other in the cafeteria. Among everyone here, she felt the most awkward.
“Jinsu and Yumi are the same age? How old are you this year, Jinsu?”
“It's 2017, so… twenty-six.”
“Still fresh and young. Yumi is twenty-four now, right?”
“Yes. Two years apart from Jinsu-ssi.”
“Minjeong and Jiyeong are twenty-seven, and Manager Hwang is thirty-one. Then how old am I?”
Thirty. From what Jeonghun hyung had told me, I already knew Team Leader Eunhye's age. I hadn't memorized every detail, but the basics were clear. What was the correct answer here? Probably something that would flatter her.
“Team Leader, aren't you twenty-nine? Or twenty-eight?”
“Kya~ Jinsu sure knows how to talk sweetly~”
“Aigoo, look at him. Pretending not to know when he does.”
“Hah! Want to get hit, Manager? Our Jinsu said I'm still in my late twenties!”
“Team Leader does look young for her age.”
“Jinsu-ya. Team Leader is thirty this year.”
“Jinsu-ya. If you keep that up, Eunhye noona will actually believe it.”
“Aish, seriously annoying! Stop calling me noona when you're older than me!”
Everyone laughed at my answer, lightening the mood. Team Leader Eunhye looked pleased and calmly confirmed she was indeed turning thirty. Jeonghun hyung got scolded by Kim Minjeong and hit by Kang Yumi for trying to reveal the truth, while Sumin noona and Jiyeong noona burst out laughing. Just then, the ordered beef finally arrived.
The menu was a Hanwoo assortment set—galbisal, salchisal, anchangsal, and angeomi—beautifully plated and divided into two servings for seven people. The staff explained which cut was which, recommended the best eating order, then bowed and left. I reached for the tongs, but Kim Jiyeong noona and Kim Minjeong grabbed them first and started placing meat on the grill in the recommended sequence. The sound of sizzling filled the room along with the savory aroma of high-quality Hanwoo.
Jiyeong noona took charge of the left grill while Sumin noona handled the right. Someone audibly swallowed, and everyone started taking photos of the meat.
“Oh! As expected of Jiyeong! You're the best at grilling meat~ I'm only eating meat grilled by Jiyeong~”
“?? Manager, aren't you grilling?”
“Hey! If I grill, it'll be raw or burnt. You want that?”
“Then what about Jiyeong noona…?”
“I used to work part-time at a barbecue place~”
Jiyeong noona answered confidently and skillfully flipped the Hanwoo. Meanwhile, on the right side…
“Sumin noona, do you know how to grill beef?”
“Me? I'm just grilling normally?”
At her reply, I took the tongs from the right grill. The plate of meat was a bit far, but not out of reach. A strange silence fell as everyone focused on the meat. There was pressure to get the meat on the grill as quickly as possible. Kang Yumi was photographing the grilling process, Team Leader Eunhye watched while eating side dishes, and Jeonghun hyung opened soju bottles and started filling everyone's glasses. Before long, perfectly grilled Hanwoo was placed on plates. Everyone reached for their chopsticks at once.
Now that it was grilled once… how were we supposed to finish all of it? Having to grill in small batches already felt tedious, but I kept a smile and raised my glass for the toast. Team Leader Eunhye lifted hers.
“To welcome Jinsu's first attendance!”
“Cheers~!”
“Cheers~~”
Seven soju glasses clinked and disappeared into waiting mouths. Kang Yumi photographed the perfectly grilled meat with chopsticks, while Team Leader Eunhye popped a piece straight into her mouth and evaluated it.
“How is it? Did I grill it well?”
“Ooh~ Jinsu grills meat well too!”
“Whoa! It really melts in your mouth! It's melting!”
“Haa… First beef in forever! This is insane! The best!”
Relieved by everyone's reactions, I put a piece of Hanwoo in my mouth as well. It was tender, had a pleasant chew, then truly melted away down my throat. The restaurant clearly used quality meat. There was a reason people came all the way out here despite the location—the reviews were excellent.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but the atmosphere felt softer. Meat quickly disappeared into hungry mouths, and bottle after bottle of soju emptied. In the increasingly relaxed mood, we shared all kinds of stories.
“Jinsu, do you have a girlfriend?”
“Ugh! If you suddenly poke at a sore spot, the meat's going to burn.”
“Hoho! I was thinking someone this decent shouldn't still be single. If our Yumi didn't have a boyfriend, I would've set you two up.”
“Ah! Team Leader!”
“Team Leader's in married-woman mode. Age really can't be hidden.”
“Still, it feels like such a waste for Jinsu?”
“Why! Our Yumi is a catch too!!”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Whenever the conversation turned awkward, all I could do was laugh. Kang Yumi had a boyfriend, Kim Minjeong and Jiyeong noona were preparing for marriage, Sumin noona was dating Jeonghun hyung, and Team Leader Eunhye was already a married woman. I was the only single person in the room. Kim Minjeong asked Team Leader Eunhye for confirmation, and the women's talk began in earnest. I quietly grilled meat and listened.
“Team Leader… it's been five years now, right?”
“No? Four years dating and two years married!”
“Wow, six years! A real family!”
“Team Leader is still in the lovey-dovey newlywed phase. Hot nights, hot nights.”
“Hey. You don't say that in front of family.”
“Team Leader, you don't want kids yet?”
“We're… satisfied with just raising a cat. Neither my husband nor I are particularly interested~”
“Wow. Your husband must really like you, Team Leader. It's surprising you don't want kids.”
“I guess neither of us is the type who loves children. Both our families keep pushing, but we don't want to. And the cost of raising a kid is no joke. Maybe our feelings will change later, but right now we're both not interested.”
“Still, sometimes you must think about it. Does your husband really not want them either?”
“You don't say that in front of family~”
“Hehehe.”
“Ha… I shouldn't have worked that café part-time. Jinsu-ya. Even if you date, don't get married. Living alone is the best, seriously. Jinsu, listen to me, okay? This is advice that will become flesh and blood!”
After saying that, Team Leader Eunhye raised her glass again and continued eating and drinking. During the brief lull, I tried to keep the conversation going at appropriate moments so the women could keep chatting.
“You met your husband while working at a café, Team Leader?”
“Team Leader met her husband while doing café part-time!”
“Look at Team Leader's beauty. Total café goddess, idol-level…”
“Hey! What goddess idol! Stop exaggerating!”
“Anyway, Team Leader met her husband while working café part-time. Right, Team Leader?”
“Yeah. That's right. Sigh… I only planned to do it for a little while, but my senior taught me this and that and we got close. Then we started meeting and dating. I really didn't expect to get married.”
“Aww~ Even while saying that, you look happy!”
“Hey! We're family! Family!”
Most of the conversation revolved around work, but personal stories came up naturally and added to the fun. They talked about people they disliked at the company, who worked well or poorly, what was wrong with the company, how other companies operated, and the atmosphere of other teams. I got a sense of how they viewed the company, compared it with my own observations, and filled in gaps in my knowledge. I set aside personal criticisms since I hadn't experienced them yet. Most complaints about the company seemed accurate. Personal matters were noted. Even with just this, tonight felt productive. The atmosphere was better than expected. If they invited me again, I might actually consider it.
We kept chatting noisily, emptying bottle after bottle in no time. With seven people, even one glass each quickly produced empty bottles, so we ordered more meat and more alcohol. I only put down the tongs once everyone seemed sufficiently full, letting each person grill only what they wanted to eat as a snack. My shoulders ached from continuous grilling. We had eaten so much meat that my stomach felt bloated. And these women… they had seemed to eat less than me during company lunches, but outside they drank beef like water. We had already finished ten bottles of soju and were opening the eleventh. I wondered where all that alcohol was going.
I had a low tolerance, so I drank carefully, pacing myself and trying not to make mistakes while observing the situation. In other words, out of all that soju, I had drunk less than one bottle. Jeonghun hyung was known to hold his liquor well, and surprisingly, Kim Minjeong was impressive too. Those two seemed to be the driving force of the drinking session. Kang Yumi drank at a similar controlled pace to mine. Jiyeong noona, Sumin noona, and Team Leader Eunhye drank steadily, though not quite at the level of the top two. This was bad. These people were complete heavy drinkers. Did they have two livers? They seemed to know their limits and were pacing themselves. The only known problem drinkers I was aware of were Jeonghun hyung and Sumin noona. I could already picture a tiring future.
Just then, the meat ran out. The topic of whether to go for a second round came up. Having no say in the matter, I leaned back, resting my arms behind me to relax while the discussion continued.
While drinking and chatting animatedly, Sumin noona and Team Leader Eunhye kept shifting, causing our shoulders to touch frequently. When talking to people across the table it was fine, but conversations with those beside or diagonally often caused us to lean, leading to natural and frequent skinship that made me uncomfortable. Without realizing it, I had gradually been pushed toward Team Leader Eunhye's side and was now constantly pressed against her, occasionally brushing against Sumin noona as well. Sumin noona had plenty of space on her other side, so why was she pushing into mine? Feeling awkward in this tightly packed three-person arrangement, I adjusted my posture to rest while the next destination was decided. I pulled my arms behind me for support and shifted to find a comfortable position.
But where exactly had my arm gone? My right hand naturally found the floor, but my left hand encountered something soft, plush, and yielding. Instinctively, my hand explored the soft obstacle, and without thinking, I cupped it fully in my palm. I stroked and squeezed it a few times, trying to figure out what it was. I still couldn't tell. No—perhaps at that moment, I was refusing to accept what it really was. Since it wasn't winter, there were no extra clothes lying around, so I briefly entertained the escapist thought, Was the cushion always like this? As if that would change reality.
So with slightly stiff movements, I glanced down to see what I was holding. What was this? Had something been there? Lowering my eyes just a little, I saw my left hand boldly gripping and kneading…
Team Leader Eunhye's butt.