DSWM 14👻

Episode 14.

She thought time was dragging, but suddenly it was Friday.

Kang Hee-jae, whom she thought was only busy by reputation, hadn’t been able to go home with her except for a few mornings when they commuted together.

He was so swamped with overtime that it was nearly impossible to even see his face at the office outside of meeting hours.

“Does he do all the company work by himself?”

Yujin pouted. He didn’t even show his face properly.

At least she could take comfort in the fact that they worked in the same building, and that she could catch glimpses of his handsome face during meetings.

And today was company dinner day, which she was secretly looking forward to.

“Ugh, today feels like time isn’t moving at all.”

It was late afternoon, that slightly drowsy time when quitting time was close.

Across from her, Kyunghwan yawned and stretched.

“Seriously. Maybe it’s just because it’s Friday, but I’m dead tired.”

Dohee agreed. She’d mentioned over lunch that it had been a really long time since their last dinner gathering.

“Just one more hour left. Feels like time stopped.”

The clock had barely passed 5.

Once one person complained, the others chimed in with their own boredom.

“Skipped lunch for the dinner, and now I’m starving already.”
“Yeah, Song-ha barely ate anything at lunch.”
“If I don’t watch my portions, the weight piles on in no time. No time to work out, so I’ve got to eat less at least.”
“If you’re already saying that at your age, I guess I’ll have to starve completely.”

Dohee sighed, while Yujin stifled a yawn with her hand.

After tonight’s dinner, she had a not-quite-date with Hee-jae on Sunday.

Before joining the company, she’d rarely had the chance to eat alone with him, so her heart had been fluttering all week at the thought. Just seeing Hee-jae made her heart pound.

If she had stubbornly refused the interview request, she would’ve regretted it.

Maybe it was because the location was his home that her imagination was running wild with shameless, suggestive thoughts. Last night she even dreamt about going to his place.

“Oh, Team Leader?”

Kyunghwan’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. At the word “Team Leader,” Yujin turned her head reflexively and locked eyes with Hee-jae as he passed by.

“You all look exhausted.”

Hee-jae, just back from a meeting, offered a faint smile to the team.

“I just want to leave right now. I don’t want to work.”

That one comment from Kyunghwan sent everyone into laughter.

“Aren’t you being a bit too honest saying you don’t want to work?”
“Should we just stop here?”
“Of course not. Hang in there a bit more. Less than an hour left. Fighting.”
“Ah, seriously.”

True to his by-the-book personality, Hee-jae never allowed slacking off during work hours.

But the way he smiled so charmingly while telling them no…

It was like morning sunlight shining alone in the evening glow.

Yujin was secretly smiling at him when suddenly her own name pierced her ears.

“Im Yujin?”
“…Yes?”

Startled, she blinked wide eyes.

“Come in for a moment. I need to talk to you about the interview.”
“Ah, yes!”

Leaving only those words, Hee-jae stepped into his office first.

She hadn’t expected him to call her in. Flustered, Yujin quickly gathered the interview materials in front of her and smoothed her clothes.

Jiyoung caught her eye and gave her a little nod and smile like they had a secret deal.

It was burdensome. Too burdensome.

“So the interview’s this week?”
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Sunday.”
“Lucky you, Yujin.”

Song-ha blurted out her honest feelings, earning a chuckle from Dohee, who nudged her in the ribs.

“See? Just confess. Who knows what could happen? Today might be the day.”
“No way. If I get rejected, it’ll be so humiliating I won’t be able to keep working here. I don’t want to go through job hunting hell again.”

Listening to the chatter, Yujin carried the materials toward the team leader’s office.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

Knock, knock.

“Yes.”

His pleasant baritone answered, and Yujin pushed the door open.

Hee-jae was standing by his desk, looking at a tablet.

Yujin carefully stepped inside and stood in front of him.

It had been a while since they were alone together, not since the night he dropped her home.

“I heard the gist from Team Leader Sa.”

Earlier, Eun-seo had told him roughly what Yujin needed to do.

‘Why is Im Yujin doing that?’
‘I don’t know. Guess your team handed it over.’

Eun-seo had been baffled to hear the new hire was handling it without even reporting to the team leader.

‘Aren’t I closer to her? Should I do it?’

Hee-jae had just laughed.

‘Are you sure you’re closer?’
‘What’s with that reaction? How close are you two, anyway?’
‘Forget it. I’ll handle the interview. Don’t worry.’

He’d flatly refused Eun-seo’s offer and left.

“What exactly did you hear?”

Yujin’s voice came out sharper, tinged with jealousy.

Hee-jae suppressed a smile and lifted his gaze.

She was standing in front of him, looking up with a little pout.

“Just about what kind of interview it is, things like that.”
“Ah… I was going to tell you myself, but I guess Team Leader Sa mentioned it first.”

Her prickly tone made him set down the tablet and sit casually on the edge of the desk, folding his arms.

“So, what time should we meet?”

He smiled lightly as he asked.

But Yujin still looked dissatisfied.

“Morning works, evening works. Whatever’s convenient for you.”

She hesitated before answering.

“I was going to suggest morning, but… I don’t really want to give up my weekend sleep to see my boss first thing.”
“I don’t mind. Anytime is fine.”

Truthfully, thanks to Bo-kyung, she was secretly excited at having carved out time with him over the weekend.

Morning or night didn’t matter—what mattered was being with him.

“Anyway, let’s see. You brought something to show me, right?”

He reached out his hand. Yujin placed the interview list respectfully onto his palm.

“…!”

But instead of taking the papers, his large hand clasped hers and tugged her forward.

In an instant, she was pulled close to him.

With his free hand, he plucked the papers from her grip and skimmed through them.

“…”

All the while, he didn’t let go of her hand.

Her heart pounded violently.

It was the first time they were holding hands.

They had already kissed, and yet such a small touch was enough to make her dizzy.

Then his thumb began to gently stroke her palm.

Flustered by the intimacy, she tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.

“Anytime works for me…”

Unlike her, tense and nervous, Hee-jae remained calm as he read the materials.

“Though nighttime does sound best.”

Then he pulled her a little closer and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“But you know, it’s been way too long since we kissed. Don’t you think?”
“N-no…!”

With a smirk tugging at his lips, he tilted his head and captured her mouth in a deep kiss.