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Chapter 15
Ah—Somang, unable to even make a sound, froze in place like stagnant water.
<Assistant Manager, you still like the team leader, right?>
Munchan’s echoing question made Somang slap both her cheeks with her hands.
The sharp sting spreading across her face confirmed it wasn’t a nightmare.
“Is it… obvious?”
No way, it shouldn’t be. Somang asked with her eyes wide and trembling in disbelief.
Seeing her expression so pitiful, Munchan almost said, “Yes, completely obvious,” but stopped himself.
Instead, he bent down and picked up the fallen can.
A purple bruise had formed on Somang’s instep from the can hitting her.
“Shall we go out first?”
Munchan led the dazed Somang to a blue chair and helped her sit.
Soon after, he returned with a bandage and ointment, sat opposite her, and poured some beer.
“Drink, Assistant Manager.”
“……”
Somang sipped the beer.
“Aren’t unrequited loves boring? I found it boring. You get your hopes up over tiny things and get disappointed on your own.”
Each time Munchan spoke, Somang nodded vigorously, thinking, Your heart must be the same as mine.
“How do you know so well, Munchan?”
“Didn’t you read the questionnaire? It’s written there. Three years of unrequited love.”
It had long since been passed to Deputy Manager Gam. Anyway…
“Three years?”
“Yes.”
Very tedious, indeed. Munchan downed another beer in one gulp, a bitter smile on his face.
Somang, on the other hand, felt suddenly reassured—like she’d found a comrade.
And then, realizing even someone tall and noble-looking like him had experienced unrequited love was comforting.
What she was most curious about:
“But how did you stop?”
“When I went to the military, it naturally ended. Seeing her date another guy made me feel sick. I thought I’d die if I kept watching, so I avoided her and ignored her messages.”
Somang’s eyes sparkled as she praised his determination, and Munchan nodded.
“What about you?”
“I’m not sure.”
Somang scratched her head, smiling awkwardly.
“Seeing his face still makes my heart ache, but I’m not sure if it’s lingering feelings from school or resentment…”
Her voice trailed off.
Somehow, Munchan, who had neatly ended his unrequited love, now seemed like a life mentor.
“So, what do you want to do now? Move on?”
“Not exactly.”
Still, she thought it’d be a shame to turn down the chance to be with Han-gyeol, who came proposing marriage.
“Just… revenge or turn the tables?”
Too childish? Somang chuckled awkwardly and drank more beer.
But thinking Munchan would understand perfectly, she spoke freely.
“So my closest friend said, ‘Date and tease him right in front of him. Live well even without him!’”
Completely absurd, right? Somang tapped the empty beer can with her finger.
Munchan, who had been quietly listening, showed the first hint of surprise.
After ending his first love, life felt empty. He didn’t want to do anything, didn’t know what to do, and just spent the money at home.
Apparently, his father was dissatisfied enough to block his card, so he was forced to join a company, which he also found boring.
He was just enduring each day thinking he’d resign soon, when, by unexpected luck, he met a boss who was fun to just watch.
“So you don’t date?”
“Do you date alone?”
Somang sighed and slumped her shoulders.
“Assistant Manager, then will you do it with me? A fake relationship.”
It sounded fun.
Munchan brushed his hair back and picked up the bandage and ointment on the blue round table.
Han-gyeol appeared in the distance, radiating an overwhelming aura of anger.
See, it’s already fun.
Munchan grabbed Somang’s foot and placed it on his thigh.
“Ah! Why my foot?”
The more Somang tried to pull away, the firmer Munchan held it.
“Assistant Manager, this is just the beginning.”
His eyes gleamed with excitement, like a child with a new game console, adrenaline surging.
“Huh?”
“I’m helping with the fake relationship.”
Munchan applied sticky ointment and a bandage to her small, pale instep.
Meanwhile, Han-gyeol stood behind Somang, glaring at the two intensely.
Feeling the presence, Somang turned slightly, and when their eyes met, she sprang up.
“Ob-… Team Leader!”
“Baek Somang.”
The cold, low voice made Somang instinctively hide behind Munchan.
“Th-… I just went out to buy beer because I couldn’t sleep, and I wanted to ask if it’s okay to go to work…”
As her words dragged on, Somang didn’t realize she was gripping Munchan’s black hoodie tightly.
When Munchan subtly turned his head, she stammered her explanation, still clutching the hoodie.
“Munchan, he’s my team leader, but he’s also friends with my brother.”
Her unconscious gesture was enough to provoke Han-gyeol.
His gaze fixed on Somang’s hands gripping the hoodie, jaw tightening.
Soon, his eyes shifted to the poorly wrapped bandage.
“Baek Somang, why is your foot injured?”
Han-gyeol bent down to inspect her foot, and Munchan stepped back slightly, appearing protective.
“A beer can fell on my foot. Munchan treated it.”
“Why is Munchan doing it?”
“Ah, should you be doing it, Team Leader?”
The air between them tensed.
Wanting to end the awkwardness quickly, Somang mediated.
“He’s very worried because he’s best friends with my brother. They’re so close, living upstairs and downstairs, seeing each other daily.”
Han-gyeol turned away, letting out a hollow laugh at her lie.
“It’s late, shall we all head home?”
Caught between the two men, Somang clapped to lighten the mood.
“We have work tomorrow, and please keep my friendship with the team leader a secret at work.”
“Yes, we will.”
Munchan handed Somang the bandage and ointment.
Somang didn’t know how to react to his unexpected action.
“See you at the apartment entrance tomorrow.”
Huh? What? Somang twitched her eyelashes.
Munchan casually tapped his phone:
[Let’s go to work together to discuss the fake relationship.]
What? A sudden relationship?
Before she could reply, I need to think about this, Munchan waved his hand.
“Good night.”
Was this some kind of order she couldn’t refuse?
Somang waved back.
“Okay, good night.”
Watching the two interact, Han-gyeol let out a helpless sigh.
The next day
After getting ready, Somang pressed her ear to her door to check the living room.
“Why is it so quiet? Still in his room?”
Han-gyeol always prepared earlier and read something in the living room, so there should’ve been the sound of pages turning, but nothing.
Is the door too thick? She pressed her ear closer.
Knock knock.
The sudden sound made her eardrums ache, and her body was pushed, facing Han-gyeol.
“Y-you can’t just open the door like that!”
“Was that not here?”
Han-gyeol pointed to the ‘House Mate Rules’ on her door.
Sure, knocking was mandatory, but nothing forbade entering the room.
Han-gyeol, who subtly cited the rules only when needed, was infuriating.
“Knocking and not entering go together. Didn’t you know?”
“Do I need to know?”
Han-gyeol was already in the room.
“Wait, I’ll step out.”
Somang extended her hand to stop him and backed up.
“Ahh!”
Stepping on lipstick on the floor, she flailed and grabbed Han-gyeol’s sleeve.
When she realized, she was entangled with him on the bed.
Had he not braced himself with his hand, their lips would have nearly touched.
But…
Han-gyeol leaned in.
Why, why, why this in the morning?!
Somang closed her eyes tightly and turned her head sharply, feeling hot breath graze her ear.
“Get in my car. I’ll pay you back for the coffee we drank yesterday.”
