ACTSV chapter 44

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Receiving the vibrating pager, they stood for a moment before taking a seat at a table with a view of the counter.

Secretary Yang, eyes fixed on Jingyeom who was diligently working, spoke up.

“Does amnesia really change a person that much?”

“I wouldn’t know. This is my first time encountering it too.”

“Well, yeah… I’ve only seen it in dramas and movies. Never in real life.”

Though he’d seen people pretending to have amnesia, this was the first time he encountered someone genuinely affected by it.

Secretary Yang observed Jingyeom with intense curiosity.

Contrary to the frowning face he remembered, Jingyeom now smiled, looking gentler and younger.

“Isn’t it a waste for a face like that to go unnoticed? Someone earlier said he should become a celebrity. Has he ever thought about it?”

Even from Jinwoo’s perspective, Jingyeom’s looks were exceptional.

However, with his current condition, life in the entertainment industry would be impossible.

There was no way he could handle the grueling schedule.

“I don’t think my brother is interested.”

For any job, personal desire is the most crucial factor.

Both brothers had received numerous love calls, but neither considered entering the entertainment industry.

Jinwoo wondered if becoming a celebrity might have helped pay off their debts faster.

However, it would mean not being able to stay by Jingyeom’s side all the time, so it was never an option.

If only they could debut together, but knowing that Jingyeom’s body couldn’t handle it, Jinwoo never even entertained the idea.

If Jingyeom had genuinely wanted to become a celebrity, Jinwoo might have reluctantly volunteered to be his manager.

“Haven’t agencies been chasing you relentlessly? To be honest, Secretary Baek, you’re the same. With your looks, being a secretary is a waste. Why not debut as an actor? You’d earn way more than a secretary’s salary.”

“I like things as they are now.”

“What’s to like about a salaried job? Oh, Director, forget what I just said. That wasn’t entirely sincere.”

Secretary Yang, feeling the sharp gaze on him, smiled playfully.

He had made eye contact with Wonbeom, who was sitting diagonally across, facing Jinwoo.

“I was just asking….”

“I told you to watch your mouth unless you want it ripped off.”

“Oops.”

Secretary Yang exaggeratedly covered his mouth with both hands, making a startled noise.

Only then did Wonbeom turn his head away.

Secretary Yang leaned close to Jinwoo and whispered in his ear.

“I meant what I said earlier.”

When Jinwoo looked back, Secretary Yang scrunched his nose before sitting upright again.

Secretary Yang was certainly peculiar. He had no filter.

Despite Wonbeom’s piercing gaze, he usually said whatever he wanted while still staying within bounds.

This intrigued Jinwoo.

Secretary Yang had been with Wonbeom even when he was abroad and knew Soohyuk as well.

Jinwoo had heard they all attended the same school.

He vaguely remembered how they became friends, but the details were lost amidst the conversations at a drinking party.

Jinwoo set aside unimportant matters and turned his gaze away.

Watching Jingyeom work made his fingertips itch for some reason.

‘He smiles a lot.’

Jingyeom, who had lost his memory, expressed his emotions more freely.

He would laugh, cry, feel down, and quickly regain his spirits. He frowned less and often seemed cheerful.

Even now, he was smiling at the customers.

‘…Isn’t he smiling too much?’

It bothered Jinwoo that the face he had longed to see was now shown to just anyone.

But he couldn’t tell him to stop smiling either.

Jinwoo clenched his fist, rubbing his thumb against his index finger.

He wasn’t nervous, yet he did it unconsciously.

‘Did their hands just touch?’

He noticed Jingyeom’s hand briefly touch a customer’s while handing over the card and pager.

Despite the distance, he caught that moment.

Sitting a bit away from the counter, Jinwoo kept a hawk’s eye on Jingyeom to ensure no unwanted interactions occurred.

Unaware, Jingyeom would occasionally look around and, upon seeing Jinwoo, flash a bright smile, seemingly trying harder because he knew Jinwoo was there.

Focused on his work again…

“Hi. You came again today.”

“…Aren’t you busy?”

Soohyuk, who had visited yesterday, showed up again. His presence caught everyone’s attention, just like before.

Jingyeom pondered whether to be pleased or not by this.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m done being busy.”

Soohyuk looked around for a place to sit and let out a hollow laugh.

‘Why are they here?’

The same thought ran through the minds of all three.

Secretary Yang quickly swallowed his coffee without savoring its taste.

“Director Sun… right?”

“…Yes. Indeed.”

“Is our company’s coffee shop known for having great coffee?”

If one loved coffee, they might visit on purpose, but the shop was quite a distance from the company.

Coming here after lunch was puzzling even to Secretary Yang.

Then he considered that Director Sun was eccentric enough to do just that.

What surprised him more was his superior, Director Tak.

When Director Tak suggested coming here, Secretary Yang didn’t question it.

Wanting to avoid returning to the office to work, he stayed silent.

Only after seeing their destination did he realize where they were heading.

In reality, per Director Tak’s instructions, every move Jingyeom made was reported to Lee Cheongoh.

What he did, whom he met, and whether anything unusual happened were all monitored.

Secretary Yang was aware of this. Knowing Jinwoo would react explosively, he kept it from him.

Amidst a busy period, a dinner suggestion sounded welcoming, but it turned out to be a disguised ‘Jingyeom viewing.’

Director Tak, who disliked crowded places, suggesting a café visit was unusual.

When Director Sun showed up, it all seemed stranger.

While Secretary Yang found the situation perplexing, Jinwoo’s gaze turned cold.

‘They’re serious about this.’

Soohyuk appeared more polished today with styled hair and a neat suit.

“Were you supposed to meet Director Sun here?”

“No.”

Wonbeom firmly answered Jinwoo’s question. Any business would be handled at the office, not here.

Soohyuk’s appearance surprised even Wonbeom.

Having heard about his visit yesterday, Soohyuk’s return indicated greater curiosity than expected.

“Your brother seems quite popular.”

“And you’re contributing to that, aren’t you?”

Wonbeom didn’t react to Jinwoo’s pointed remark.

Secretary Yang, aware of Jinwoo’s prickliness, barely flinched.

Knowing Jinwoo could be harsher to others than to him, he wasn’t bothered much.

Curiosity about Director Sun’s presence still lingered.

‘All here to see one person…’

What about the transformed Jingyeom captivated these three men so much that they couldn’t look away?

Jinwoo had always lived for Baek Jingyeom, but not Directors Tak and Seon.

Secretary Yang’s instincts, honed from observing long-term, were on high alert.

Director Sun’s presence and Jingyeom’s changed demeanor piqued his intense curiosity.

Despite his bafflement, Soohyuk didn’t forget to order.

“I’ll have a hot Americano.”

“How about some drip coffee today? Everyone else had it.”

“It takes too long.”

“You’re not going anywhere soon, right?”

As if asking if he was wrong, Jingyeom looked up at Soohyuk with moist eyes, making the corners of Soohyuk’s mouth rise involuntarily.

“Then I’ll have what the part-timer recommends.”

“Yes!”

Jingyeom picked the same one he had recommended to Wonbeom.

“Here, take my card.”

“Why aren’t you treating me today?”

“I bought it for you yesterday. I’m just a part-timer, you know. There are customers behind you, so please move aside.”

It was a cold remark, signaling him to leave since the order was complete.

Soohyuk smiled again at this.

He used to carefully choose his words, but now he openly tells me to move.

Just a few words made him feel that the distance between him and Jingyeom had narrowed, making him happy.

‘Cute.’

Well, it wasn’t a bad development.

Soohyuk put his card back and moved. The only available seat was at a table with three people.

Fortunately, it was a four-person table with one chair left, next to the burly Wonbeom.

Soohyuk approached them nonchalantly, pretending to be one of their party.

“Hey, it’s nice to see familiar faces from the office outside.”

He had already exchanged polite nods with Jinwoo and Secretary Yang from a distance.

But when the high-ranking Soohyuk approached, they stood up.

“Sit, sit. No need for formalities here. It’s overwhelming.”

Soohyuk naturally sat next to Wonbeom.

As the four gathered at one table, all eyes in the cafe turned towards them.

The stares were blatant enough to feel prickly.

“What brings you all here? Is today a special day?”

“We had a company dinner.”

“Having a company dinner at a cafe is fresh. We should have our team dinner here too.”

The nuance was clear that it wasn’t meant in a pure sense.

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