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Chapter 2
“Why…? Deputy Manager, is there something that needs to be corrected?”
At Eun-jeong’s words, Somang finally tore her eyes away and rolled the mouse wheel.
“No, nothing. I’ll check it and get back to the PR team right away.”
Though she said that, not a single word registered in her mind.
The name that had nagged at her all day during work continued to torment Somang even after leaving the office. She wondered anxiously if it could possibly be Yuhan-gyeol—the one she knew.
Her mind was in turmoil.
On the way home, Somang laid out the beer and snacks she had bought and let out a long sigh.
“Yesterday too… Was Yuhan-gyeol’s name really that common?”
The beer sliding down her throat was icy enough to chill her bones, yet the pounding of her heart sent warmth surging through her body.
Excitement and resentment tangled together, stirring her emotions into chaos, until finally they settled into quiet.
“This doesn’t make sense.”
Just like that.
No contact, and then suddenly appearing?
And at the company I work at?
“Tch. Then he’s really a bad guy.”
Somang tapped the empty cans piling up in front of her, snickering. No matter how she thought about it, there was no way this could be the Yuhan-gyeol she knew.
No, it mustn’t be him.
Having emptied the last can, Somang trudged to her room and collapsed onto the bed.
“Yuhan-gyeol, you jerk…”
Her heavy eyelids sank from the alcohol, and in an instant, she was pulled into sleep.
Perhaps from thinking about Yuhan-gyeol all day, he even appeared in her dreams.
Somang stretched her arms wide, wanting to hug him tightly even in her dream. The dream was so vivid that she could almost feel the warmth of his skin at her fingertips.
As she moved her hands, she traced the smooth flow of muscles like a mountain stream. It was so lifelike that she couldn’t believe she had imagined it in her dream.
Her resentment only deepened.
“You said you’d marry me…!”
Somang, having stopped touching the well-defined abs, pinched and twisted the firm flesh with her thumb and forefinger.
Even in a dream, she wanted to vent all the disappointment she had felt.
“Just try meeting me. Even if you beg, do you think I’ll marry you?”
She pinched, hit, hugged tightly out of apology, and rubbed her face against him several times.
“Ugh.”
At the low groan above her head, Somang’s eyebrows twitched.
“Did you hate me that much?”
Hmph. He even speaks in dreams, huh?
“I hated you so, so much. But…”
Still… just being here, she wanted him to come quickly.
Compared to the reality of his sudden disappearance, this sweet dream made Somang squeeze her eyelids shut even tighter.
If this is a dream…
She didn’t want to wake up ever again.
On the Day of the Launch Ceremony
Every breath carried faint traces of the alcohol she had consumed the day before.
“Deputy Manager, are you feeling unwell?”
At Eun-jeong’s concerned question, Dah-hee, passing by, glanced at Somang and sneered.
“Clearly a hangover.”
Dah-hee, a college friend and colleague, had a habit of getting on Somang’s nerves. Normally, Somang would have snapped back, but today she didn’t have the energy.
Surprised by Somang’s lack of reaction, Dah-hee threw her printed papers aside and approached.
“What’s going on, Baek Somang? Are you really sick?”
Even as Dah-hee flailed and checked Somang’s forehead, Somang just stood there, stunned.
“You seem feverish. Shouldn’t you leave early?”
“There’s the event today.”
Early leave, my foot.
And this isn’t a hangover or a cold—it’s Yuhan-gyeol disease.
A chronic, severe case of unrequited love.
“Enough. Let’s just go, Deputy Manager Jeong Dah-hee.”
Hurrying her steps, Somang asked Eun-jeong how long until the event started.
“Looking at the operations team checking the microphones, it should start soon.”
“Has Manager Gam come down?”
Following Eun-jeong’s gesture toward the corner of the hall, Somang saw Manager Gam trembling, head bowed, almost swallowed by his cue card.
So all that swagger about leaving it to her alone was just for show, huh?
“Eun-jeong, call me as soon as it starts! I’ll go to the pharmacy and get some calming pills.”
After giving Manager Gam the calming pill, Somang finally relaxed and watched the launch ceremony begin.
“From now on, we will start the Clover Electronics 202X Q4 goals and key business launch ceremony. First…”
Though Manager Gam stuttered a few times, the worst was avoided.
Near the end of the launch ceremony:
“Next, we have a speech from Team Leader Yuhan-gyeol, who will lead the new TF team for ‘Zero Defect Rate.’”
Thump thump.
Somang’s heart pounded harder with the sharp sound of footsteps crossing the stage.
Then came the deep voice that filled the hall:
“Hello, Clover Electronics executives and employees. I’m Yuhan-gyeol, in charge of the TF team.”
Jet-black hair, black eyes like his hair, flawless skin, a slight upward curve at the lips.
The only first love Somang had ever known, who disappeared to the U.S. five years ago without a trace.
Seeing him here in Korea, when he should have been in the U.S., Somang’s pupils trembled like a candle in the wind.
It can’t be.
From head to toe, everything matched the Yuhan-gyeol she knew.
Broad shoulders, just the right amount of muscle, long model-like legs.
But her joy was brief.
A far greater resentment swept over her, and her hands clenched instinctively.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. As I mentioned before, the goal I wish to achieve at Clover Electronics is…”
For a moment, his jet-black eyes fixed on her.
Their gaze locked. The sharp line of his eyes softened into a rounded curve, as if asking, Have you been well?
The sweetness of that greeting made Somang drop the coffee cup she was holding.
“D-Deputy Manager!”
Even the hot coffee spilling onto her thigh, and Eun-jeong’s panicked calling, couldn’t move her eyes from him.
“Deputy Manager, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Only after Eun-jeong, pale-faced, brought a handful of tissues did Somang’s gaze finally shift.
Her carefully chosen beige suit pants were ruined with coffee stains.
So embarrassing.
Thinking she looked as pathetic as she did on a recent blind date, she wanted to crawl into a hole immediately.
“Eun-jeong, I’m going to the bathroom.”
Once in the bathroom, Somang gripped the sink and turned the cold water on.
“Could it be… that dream from last night?”
A creeping sense of dread made the fine hairs on her arms stand on end, sweat forming on her neck.
It was hard enough to believe Yuhan-gyeol, who should be in the U.S., was in Korea—but at my house?
“This makes no sense.”
Trying to shake off the unease, Somang forced a loud laugh and rubbed her hands under the cold water. Then she called Si-won immediately.
Doo… Dooo—
The longer the ringtone continued, the more anxious her throat grew.
-Why.
Even Si-won’s sulky voice on the other end felt welcome.
“Oppa, you came home yesterday, right?”
-Yeah. Is that why you’re calling?
Ignoring his grumble about her busy timing, Somang got straight to the point.
“It’s not that… H-Han-gyeol oppa…”
Taking a deep breath, Somang bit her lip lightly.
“Did he… come to Korea?”
-Yeah. Huh…? Han-gyeol? I thought you said not to talk about him.
Si-won stammered, flustered.
“Did he come to Korea?!”
-Yeah, he came to Korea.
Her heart felt like it had been shot.
“You should have told me something this important!”
-Baek Somang.
Urgent shouts of “Si-won, hurry!” came from the background.
-Take it easy. Just come home early today. We need to talk.
“I don’t care!”
Somang snapped the phone shut and crouched under the sink. Her heart, which had been sinking, now seemed ready to explode.
“Is this… just more psychological torture?”
Burying her face in her hands, Somang muttered, voice trembling.
The promise she had made with Han-gyeol before he left painfully echoed in her ears.
