* * *
—Not much. Just a few things when family came up in conversation.
Wookyung frowned at what he heard over the phone.
As always, the moment he arrived home late at night, his brother, Gil Woohyun, called.
When he asked how he and the director had gotten close, that was the response he received.
“Really? Nothing else?”
—Why? Did Saheon say something?
Not exactly.
But his behavior, expressions, and even the way he spoke—it was as if he knew Wookyung very well, which left him unsettled.
‘Was he just pretending to be familiar with me?’
Would Director Choi really do that?
No, that didn’t seem likely.
Why would someone in his position bother acting friendly toward an ordinary employee?
“Ah!”
—Huh? Wookyung? What is it?
“Nothing….”
Maybe it wasn’t just an act.
Director Choi had been in the U.S. until recently.
Then he parachuted into his current position, meaning he had no allies in the company.
‘So maybe he noticed I was Woohyun’s younger brother and decided to build a connection to use later.’
There were parts that didn’t quite fit, but for now, Wookyung decided to accept the reasoning.
“Wait, were you two really in the same school? How?”
—Saheon is actually really smart. He finished undergrad in two years and went straight into grad school.
“So that’s true….”
Recalling Director Choi’s impressive résumé, which had been shared in the team’s group chat, it made sense.
Well, whatever.
Wookyung pressed his tired eyes.
Ever since joining the TF team, he hadn’t had a moment to breathe.
As a result, fatigue had piled up, making his eyes feel heavy and sluggish by the time night fell.
“Hyung… I should sleep now. I have work tomorrow. Let’s talk later.”
—Tomorrow? But isn’t tomorrow Saturday?
Hearing that, he quickly pulled his phone away to check the date.
“Oh… you’re right.”
—You must be really exhausted if you don’t even know what day it is.
Woohyun chuckled, but Wookyung couldn’t bring himself to laugh.
He was barely surviving under an avalanche of work.
“That’s just how things are. I’m not the only one. Everyone’s swamped.”
Of course, Wookyung wasn’t the only one struggling.
The entire team was constantly staying late to get things done.
But no one really complained, thanks to Director Choi’s unwavering support for his overworked team.
If someone needed something—anything—he provided it.
Meals, snacks, drinks, even heated eye masks and massage chairs at someone’s request.
Wookyung had been floored when those arrived.
Not that any of it erased his accumulating exhaustion.
—You sound drained. Okay, I won’t keep you. I was going to ask you to spend time with Saheon this weekend, but looking at your state, that’s not happening.
Why does he say terrifying things so casually?
“Absolutely not. No way.”
As a superior, Director Choi was competent, sure.
But that didn’t mean Wookyung wanted to see him on the weekend.
Seriously, why was everyone—his omega father, his brother—so eager to take care of the man?
It almost felt like they were more concerned about him than Wookyung himself.
He pouted but didn’t complain out loud. Something else was on his mind.
‘I already told him “see you tomorrow” assuming I’d be working….’
The office would probably be empty.
No matter how much overtime people put in, they wouldn’t come in on a Saturday.
And Director Choi hadn’t mentioned anything either.
—Why are you so cold? Life would be easier if you softened up a bit, you know.
“I’m already comfortable enough, thanks.”
—No, you’re not. Be honest—do you even have any friends at work?
“I do.”
—Who?
For a moment, Kim Hyunsoo came to mind.
But he hesitated to say it out loud.
They were more colleagues than actual friends.
Then an image of his absurdly handsome boss flashed through his mind, and his expression immediately soured.
—See? You can’t even name one. Just get closer to Saheon. He needs people to hang out with too.
Again with Director Choi.
This was getting repetitive.
“What is he, a lost puppy? Why is everyone so desperate to take care of him?”
Grumbling, Wookyung flopped onto his bed.
His eyelids were too heavy.
Since he already said goodbye, he figured his brother would eventually hang up when he noticed the silence.
—Don’t be so heartless. Saheon… he’s lonely… and you… should…
A voice murmured in his ear.
Half-submerged in sleep, Wookyung couldn’t fully grasp the words.
His consciousness gradually faded until everything went completely dark.
He felt light, both in body and mind, after sleeping in for the first time in a while.
Checking the time, he saw it was almost noon.
He grabbed a quick bite to eat before sprawling back onto the sofa.
“Ah… It’d be nice if I could rest like this for a whole week.”
He had no particular desire to do anything—just eat and sleep.
Even though he’d already slept plenty, lying down again made drowsiness creep back in.
“Oh, right.”
His eyelids lazily blinked as he recalled falling asleep while talking to Woohyun on the phone last night.
Usually, if that happened, Woohyun would send a message after hanging up.
And if Wookyung didn’t respond, Woohyun would bring it up the next time they talked.
Something about losing interest in him, about needing more attention.
“Huh?”
He absentmindedly tapped on his phone screen and noticed an unexpected name in his missed calls list—Director Choi.
Not exactly a welcome sight.
“Should I call back…?”
Talking to his boss on a weekend was the last thing he wanted.
But it wasn’t like he could just ignore a call from him.
“There’s no way my brother told him to call and keep me company, right?”
He vaguely remembered discussing something like that with Woohyun before falling asleep last night.
But no matter how nosy his brother was, even he wouldn’t do something that cruel to his already exhausted younger sibling.
At least, that’s what Wookyung wanted to believe.
“Agh, seriously.
Why is this such a hassle?”
Only Director Choi could make someone agonize over a single missed call like this.
Wookyung glared at the number as if it were his mortal enemy.
But he was an office worker, and ignoring a call from his superior wasn’t an option.
“Sigh…”
Exhaling deeply, he reluctantly pressed the call button.
The dial tone rang. Once, twice, three times.
The monotonous melody didn’t suit the director’s refined and polished image.
Not that it mattered.
The important thing was—
“He’s not picking up?”
Wookyung smirked.
Even better.
He had only called back out of courtesy anyway.
As long as it showed he’d made an attempt, that was enough.
He planned to wait for the voicemail prompt before hanging up, just in case. But then—
― Wookyung? Are you feeling alright?
Damn it. It should’ve gone to voicemail!
Why did Director Choi have to answer?
“…Huh?”
The sudden question caught him off guard.
Why was his boss, who had called first, acting like he was worried?
― I called because I was concerned you might be sick, but you didn’t answer, so I was worried.
“Oh… no, I’m fine.”
Why, though?
They weren’t even close.
It was odd for the director to say something like that.
Not that he could say that out loud.
― That’s a relief. Are you resting at home now?
“Yeah.”
He didn’t bother mentioning that he was lying on the sofa in the least professional posture possible.
It wasn’t like the director could see him.
― Good. See you on Monday, then.
“Yes, have a good day.”
He kept his tone polite out of habit.
Since Director Choi was his boss, he waited for him to end the call first.
But the line stayed silent.
This was awkward.
Hurry up and hang up, damn it!
“Director?”
He tried applying a little pressure.
― Yes?
“…Have a great weekend.”
― You too, Wookyung.
What the—?!
Since when did he start calling him like that?!
Wookyung pulled the phone away from his ear in shock.
From the other end, he faintly heard a small chuckle before the call finally disconnected.
“Agh! Seriously!”
Feeling like he’d just lost some unspoken battle, he huffed in frustration.
Then, belatedly, he tilted his head in thought.
“Wait… don’t tell me…”
Did Director Choi go to work today and think I was absent?
…Yeah, that had to be it.
* * *
