Episode 2
“Happy Monday!”
“Oh, Manager Song. You’re here early.”
“Yeah, somehow I just came early.”
Actually, I didn’t rest properly all weekend, and I couldn’t sleep well last night either.
It was because of Yoo Si-a.
I tried to end things with her nicely, through a calm talk.
But then, she suddenly said she enjoyed it, and that threw me off.
‘Of course, she probably did enjoy it.’
Back in college, I had a bit of a reputation.
So it’s not surprising that we were both satisfied that night.
But still…
‘No matter how much I think about it, I don’t want a serious relationship with her.’
I thought about it all weekend, over and over, but my answer stayed the same.
I want to meet a kind, hardworking woman, live quietly, and build a stable life.
I’m not asking for much.
Just a decent apartment in the suburbs, not even in Seoul.
A normal Korean-made sedan like everyone else.
That’s my dream: simple, middle-class happiness.
So if I’m being honest—
‘Yoo Si-a is not the right person.’
If I married someone like her, we’d never even afford a rented apartment, let alone buy a home.
We’d probably be stuck paying monthly rent forever.
“Good morning!”
Just then, Yoo Si-a came into the office with her usual cheerful voice.
As soon as I saw her, I frowned.
‘There it is again.’
She was holding a Starbucks tumbler.
One Americano in the morning, a latte after lunch…
‘How much does she spend on coffee every day?’
She could just eat at the company cafeteria.
But no—she always goes out to fancy restaurants for Instagram photos.
“Good morning, Manager Song!”
She had no idea what I was thinking, and smiled brightly at me.
“Oh, hey, Si-a… You look energetic again today.”
“Yes!”
She smiled and went to her desk.
At 9 a.m., we started the weekly team meeting, just like always.
By 10:30 a.m., everyone was busy with their own work.
But I kept glancing at Yoo Si-a.
She, strangely, was very focused on her work.
‘Is she not thinking about what happened?’
I was stressed all weekend.
Even today, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
And it’s not surprising.
We didn’t just sleep—we spent the night together.
Her face, voice, breath, and that expression…
I remembered it all too clearly.
So yeah, it was hard to concentrate.
“Hmm?”
Yoo Si-a must’ve noticed me looking. She turned to me.
“Manager Song, is there something you need from me?”
“Uh… no.”
“You look tired. Want me to get you some coffee?”
Before I could answer—
“Hey now, you shouldn’t make her do that!”
Team Leader Oh interrupted.
“Manager Song, you can’t ask stuff like that anymore. That’s harassment these days. Si-a, don’t do that.”
“No, no. I offered first. Manager Song didn’t ask for anything.”
“Really?”
Team Leader Oh gave me a look, then turned back to his screen.
Si-a just smiled and shrugged.
‘Focus. I need to focus.’
If I kept zoning out like this, I’d waste the whole morning.
I slapped my cheeks to wake up and started typing.
Then lunchtime came.
“Let’s eat, everyone! We work hard to eat, after all.”
Our department head clapped and stood up.
As usual, everyone headed to the cafeteria.
But—
“I’ll eat separately,” Yoo Si-a said, skipping the group lunch again.
“They’re serving chicken soup today.”
“Yeah, that’s HR Media’s best menu. You should try it.”
But she said no.
“I’m on a diet. I’m going to have a salad.”
Probably one of those overpriced salads again.
“Enjoy your lunch, everyone!”
“Well, can’t force you.”
“See you later, then.”
At 1 p.m., just before lunch break ended, Yoo Si-a came back holding a new cup of coffee.
‘How much is all that costing her?’
Eating just a salad, but buying expensive coffee.
She’s probably burning through her whole paycheck.
‘Stop thinking about her. Don’t look at her.’
I told myself to focus and stared at the monitor—
But then—
I felt someone watching from the hallway.
I turned slightly.
‘Whoa—!’
I quickly looked away and started typing.
‘Isn’t that Executive Director Yoo Young-hwan?’
He’s the grandson of the HR Group Chairman—basically the next in line to take over.
‘Why is he here?’
Our department isn’t even directly related to his.
Still, he passed by, looking closely at our office.
15 minutes later—
‘Now Executive Vice President Yoo Jung-min?’
Another big shot showed up and peeked in.
But it didn’t stop there.
Director Yoo Kyung-hwan.
Department Head Yoo Tae-min.
Team Lead Yoo Min-hwan.
And Director Yoo Jong-dae.
All of them—people we never see because they use the executive elevators—walked by today.
‘Why are so many higher-ups here today?’
It felt… strange.
‘Did something happen?’
Last Saturday Night
At a mansion in Naegok-dong.
“I met someone I want to marry. I want to be with him.”
Yoo Si-a dropped a bomb.
After a long, tense silence—
Chaos exploded.
“Who is it?”
“What kind of guy is he?!”
“Si-a, are you serious?”
“What’s his name?”
“What does he do?”
“Is he a prosecutor? Judge? Businessman? He’s not a thug, right?”
“Let us meet him just once—”
Her uncles, cousins, older brothers, even her dad and grandfather all went wild.
“… Si-a, can you at least tell us who it is?”
Even her grandfather asked with sharp eyes.
“Whoa, calm down, everyone.”
Si-a was completely calm, as if she expected this.
They were all still angry, but she said:
“I’m not telling you who it is.”
Everyone freaked out again.
“Why not?”
“Si-a…”
“We need to know!”
“First boyfriends are important!”
“You might get hurt…”
“Our dear niece. Let us judge the guy!”
“Nope.”
She shook her head.
“Just look at you all.”
The mood was scary.
If the guy had been there, they probably would’ve ripped him apart.
“You seriously think I’ll introduce him when you all look like you want to kill someone?”
The older men looked away, awkwardly.
Still, they didn’t give up.
They exchanged looks—
They’d find out anyway, even without her telling them.
But Si-a wasn’t dumb.
She’d been protected by them all her life and knew how they worked.
“Just saying this now—don’t follow me or try to investigate.”
She warned them.
“If I see anything suspicious…”
She clenched her fists.
“I’ll get pregnant before marriage.”
“!!!”
“W-What?!”
“I’m not joking. I’m serious. Try me.”
“…”
Everyone froze.
The only granddaughter of HR Group, pregnant out of wedlock?
That cannot happen.
With just that one sentence, they gave up on their investigation plans.
If they got caught snooping, they might literally get beaten to death by Grandpa.
“… Si-a.”
Her grandfather, Chairman Yoo Jin-gap, spoke softly.
“Can you just tell us what he does? Just a little bit.”
“…Hmm.”
Maybe understanding their worries, she nodded.
“He’s a good guy. He works at our company.”
“…!”
“Our HR Group?”
“Yes. That’s all I’ll say. Don’t ask more.”
Now that they knew he worked nearby, everyone panicked even more.
“I’ll tell you if things work out. We’re not officially dating yet.”
Only then did her uncles and brothers seem a little relieved.
They weren’t dating yet.
But the fear of her getting pregnant still haunted them.
Even so—
‘Now I’m really dying to know!’
Their curiosity didn’t go away.
Back in the present.
“Manager Song.”
Tap.
My coworker Choi lightly tapped my shoulder and mimed smoking.
I slowly got up and followed him to the rooftop.
“Whew…”
He sighed and lit a fake cigarette.
“Hey, doesn’t it feel like the execs keep stopping by today?”
“Right? I swear I saw like eight of them.”
“You think they have some meeting here or something?
Or maybe we spent too much on the company card at the last team dinner?”
“Come on, we signed a huge contract. Director even said spend freely.”
“Yeah, true… ugh, I can’t even concentrate today.”
He pulled out his phone and opened a game.
“I usually do my dungeon runs now, but I didn’t dare take my phone out.”
“Haha, go ahead and play now.”
“Yeah, I will.”
He lit another cigarette and stayed behind.
“Go ahead. I’ll be down in a bit.”
“Alright. Take your time.”
As I walked back alone, I still felt nervous from all the execs passing by.
‘I need a coffee.’
I couldn’t afford Starbucks like some people.
I could barely pay my monthly savings plan.
So instant coffee from the break room would do.
I headed there.
“Oh…!”
Someone was already there.
It was Yoo Si-a. She stood up and bowed politely.
‘…Great.’
Of all people, it had to be her.
“You’re alone?”
“Yes.”
The air was so awkward.
I wanted to turn around and leave, but that’d look even weirder.
‘Just make the coffee and get out of here.’
I grabbed a cup and started pouring hot water.
Suddenly—
“Manager.”
She appeared right next to me.
“… Yeah?”
I stepped back a little.
“What is it?”
“Do you have plans tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“After work.”
“No plans. Why?”
“Let’s have dinner together.”
“… Just the two of us?”
She nodded.
“There are too many people around here. Let’s meet somewhere else.
7:30, Exit 3 at Sinsa Station.”
She smiled and left.
‘Unbelievable.’
I was planning to avoid her until things naturally faded away.
But she clearly made up her mind to talk things out.
‘…Should I run?’
But that’s not a real solution.
Unless I quit, I’d still see her every day.
‘Ahh, this is driving me crazy.’
I sat at my desk, even more stressed.
Usually, time moves so slow at work.
But today, of all days, time flew like someone was fast-forwarding the clock.
6:00 p.m.
“Alright, let’s all go home!”
“Thanks, everyone!”
“Great job today!”
Everyone packed their bags and left.
As I stood up—
Tap.
Yoo Si-a lightly touched my arm, so no one else would notice.
With just her lips, she mouthed: “See you later.”
Then she left cheerfully.
‘Damn it.’
Too late to run now.
