* * *
Wookyung couldn’t answer right away.
His lips parted and closed again several times.
“You don’t have to tell me right now,” Saheon said gently.
“Just let me know when you’re ready.”
He was trying not to pressure him, but still, Wookyung couldn’t find the words.
Strange—he clearly felt the same way.
So why couldn’t he just say yes?
No, he knew why.
He was scared.
That whole “not interested in dating” thing was really just a flimsy excuse to avoid getting hurt.
He gently touched his still-warm lips with his thumb, his expression clouding over.
“I’ll be in the U.S. for a week starting this afternoon. If anything urgent comes up, email me. If you text, I’ll handle it whenever I have time.”
The director’s sudden announcement during the morning meeting left the staff wide-eyed.
But no one looked as baffled as Wookyung.
A business trip?
To the U.S.?
For a whole week?
Why am I only hearing about this now?
Shouldn’t he have told me earlier?
Is it because… I didn’t say yes right away when he asked me out?
Almost like he’d read Wookyung’s mind, Saheon turned to meet his eyes.
“Assistant Manager Gil, I have something to discuss with you separately, so please stay behind for a moment.”
“Yes, Director.”
For someone as curious as Wookyung, this was an offer he had no reason to refuse.
“A business trip?”
As soon as the meeting ended and the others left, Wookyung questioned Saheon, sounding a little confrontational.
“I’m sorry, Wookyung. I should’ve told you earlier. It was decided pretty suddenly.”
“Well, work can be like that. But for a whole week…? Why’d they schedule it so abruptly?”
But strangely, Saheon avoided his gaze and hesitated to answer.
What’s that about?
Why is he acting like this?
Now Wookyung was even more curious.
“Well, the thing is… Actually…”
Why was he so hesitant?
That wasn’t like him.
In moments like this, it was better to stay quiet and wait rather than pressure him.
“Can I tell you after I get back?”
In the end, Saheon didn’t give him an answer.
It must’ve been a sensitive issue.
And if that was the case, Wookyung couldn’t push any further.
“Travel safely, then. If there’s anything you need to prepare, just let me know. I’ll help you pack.”
With a trip that sudden, maybe there was something he could do to help.
But again, Saheon just looked at him silently, eyes fixed, filled with something unspoken.
Wookyung easily picked up on the hesitation behind those eyes.
What is it? Why is he hovering on the edge of saying something?
If he spoke in his usual calm or teasing tone, it would’ve been better.
But this… This made Wookyung even more uneasy.
“But Saheon…”
“Yes?”
“Are you… feeling okay?”
It was only then Wookyung noticed that Saheon didn’t look quite like himself.
His cheeks were slightly flushed—was he running a fever?
He reached out, about to touch Saheon’s forehead.
“Ah…”
But before he could make contact, Saheon caught his arm mid-air.
Wookyung was startled, but Saheon looked even more unsettled—his eyes trembling.
“Your hand’s burning up. You’ve got a fever, don’t you?”
It wasn’t his imagination.
The forearm Saheon had grabbed was clearly warm.
The flushed cheeks weren’t just from embarrassment.
“This won’t do. You’re not leaving right away, are you? Let’s go to the pharmacy. You need to take some fever reducers—”
“No, Wookyung. Really, I’m okay. It’s not that bad. I’ll take some medicine at the airport, so don’t worry.”
“What are you saying? You’ve got a fever! You need to treat it early or it could get worse!”
Wookyung was so flustered he didn’t even realize he was almost dropping formal speech.
All he could think about was getting medicine into Saheon as soon as possible.
But for some reason, Saheon didn’t budge.
“Wookyung.”
There was no way Wookyung could push past someone who just called his name like that.
And besides, his wrist was still caught in Saheon’s grip.
Wookyung shot him a glare, clearly unhappy, then sighed and gave a small nod.
“Fine. But the moment you get to the airport, take medicine and rest as much as you can during the flight.”
Knowing Saheon, he was at least flying business class.
Maybe even first. If he got some proper rest on the plane, he’d probably be okay.
“Let me know as soon as you arrive.”
“Got it. I’m sorry, Wookyung. For making you worry.”
“If you’re sorry, take better care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Today, Saheon’s eyes looked unusually soft.
Even his lips had a delicate sheen, and his whole demeanor seemed relaxed, languid.
‘Must be the fever.’
Still, he looked… oddly tempting.
Like he was doing it on purpose.
But what kind of thought is that to have about someone who’s sick?
Wookyung let out another sigh.
As he stepped out of the meeting room, Associates employees Choi, Oh, and Sun all glanced in his direction at the same time.
When he looked puzzled, they quickly turned their heads away like nothing had happened.
‘What was that?’
Wookyung tilted his head, confused, but just returned to his desk.
Associates Choi kept sneaking glances his way like he had something to say, but Wookyung didn’t notice—his attention was elsewhere.
“Assistant Manager Gil.”
Wookyung turned his head.
He’d just finished a sandwich at a café and was about to head back when Manager Shin approached, coffee in hand.
No sign of Director Min tagging along, which was rare.
“Had lunch?”
“Yeah.”
“What about Director Min?”
“He probably ate on his own.”
A blunt reply. It felt like a warning not to bring Director Min up again.
So Wookyung kept his mouth shut.
“Wanna get some air on the rooftop garden?”
Wookyung hesitated.
The last time he was up there, it hadn’t gone so well…
“If you don’t want to, it’s okay.”
Maybe sensing his reluctance, Manager Shin quickly backtracked.
But there was something lonely in his face that Wookyung couldn’t ignore.
“Should we go to the park nearby instead?”
That would offer more privacy anyway. After a short pause, Shin nodded in agreement.
They exited through the back of the building and strolled toward a small park about 30 meters away.
Even as they walked, Wookyung couldn’t help checking his phone for any messages from Saheon.
He’d received a photo earlier—with Saheon holding medicine at the airport—but nothing since then.
Well, it was a long way to the U.S., after all.
‘Still, he could’ve messaged me before takeoff.’
Then he remembered telling Saheon to rest the moment he boarded.
He pouted a little, feeling guilty for being annoyed at someone who was probably asleep by now.
“Assistant Manager Gil, is there someone you’re texting lately?”
“…Huh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Wookyung quickly looked at Manager Shin, wondering if he’d somehow figured something out.
“You’re not usually glued to your phone, but you’ve been checking it non-stop.”
Was that true?
Wookyung mentally reviewed his behavior and realized—yeah, he had been checking it way more than usual.
He hadn’t even noticed.
“Ah… work’s been crazy lately. I’ve been keeping an eye on things in case something urgent comes up.”
“Yeah, I heard. Director Choi was supposed to take the day off but ended up coming in because of all that.”
“Yes.”
That comment made Wookyung’s face darken.
So it was true the trip had been decided last-minute.
Saheon must’ve planned to leave earlier but couldn’t because of work.
He was so caught up in that thought that he missed the subtle but important difference in Manager Shin’s words: it wasn’t a trip—he said Director Choi was supposed to rest.
“So, what about you, Manager? Did you have another fight with Director Min?”
Wookyung hadn’t been keeping tabs on them since suggesting they talk things out, so he didn’t know what had happened between them.
Assistant Manager Kim hadn’t said much either, so he assumed nothing major had changed.
Though, to be fair, he had intentionally kept his focus elsewhere.
‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen CEO Choi lately either. And Chief Secretary Ahn hasn’t mentioned anything.’
Honestly, even while staying involved with Saheon, part of him had wondered if he’d end up getting entangled with CEO Choi again.
Even if Saheon handled things on his own, CEO Choi didn’t seem like someone who’d just let it go.
“I’ve decided to resign.”
That sudden statement made Wookyung whip his head around.
“Resign?”
Who? Manager Shin?
Why? What happened?
So many questions rose to his lips but didn’t quite make it out.
Meanwhile, Shin remained calm.
No way… It couldn’t be—right?
A certain possibility flashed through his mind, but he quickly pushed it away.
Yet somehow, Section Manager Shin’s face looked oddly refreshed, like a weight had been lifted.
“And I’ve decided not to see Min again. That’s how I’m wrapping things up.”
“You mean… you’re breaking up with Director Min?”
“Yeah.”
A breakup announcement from the main couple?
The words were so unexpected that Wookyung was left frozen, mouth slightly agape.
* * *
What a refreshing chapter
This feels like the calm before the storm