บท 19: Chapter Ten - La La Land (Part 2)
I am sore.
Is it possible to be more sore than losing one's virginity? Dae was merciless. He barely gave me any recovery time before he was inside me again. The man isn't in short supply of stamina. And I think we exhausted all his condoms.
"Are you alright?" Assistant Yura breaks into my woolgathering, worry etched on her face.
"Oh, I'm fine." I laugh plainly. How can I tell her I'm recovering from my sex-a-thon last night? "I just didn't have enough sleep."
"Well, I just wrapped up my report with Manager Lee. He wants to see you in his room."
"Okay," I get up and knock on his door before letting myself in. "You wanted to see me?"
It's been two days, and I still can't get used to his polished, good looks. Also, I'm amazed he's already cluttered up his new desk. Even with a table that is twice as big, it'll never be enough for him.
"Yes." He responds, standing to take his coat. "There's been a major change of plans this week. I just received the green light for us to head down to Gwangju for the new branch project. We'll be flying in early tomorrow morning. It's a two-night trip, so make sure to pack accordingly and get Yura to fill you in on the details."
"W-wait a minute." I hold up my hand, then point to myself. "You're taking me with you?"
He gives me a questioning look that asks if I'm an idiot in disguise.
"I mean, shouldn't you take Yura along since she's familiar with the project? What if I mess up?"
Finally, I get a small smile, although it's at my own expense. "You won't." He checks the time, looking half-distracted. "You're the one replacing Yura, so it'll be pointless for her to go. I want you updated on everything that's happening so your job gets easier when she leaves. Oh, and get her to send you the details because you're joining me for a business lunch."
I can't even protest because he's already walking out the door. "Hurry up, Assistant Yang."
The jerk. He doesn't even give me time to prepare. Scurrying back to my desk, I grab my bag and tell Yura. "I'll text you what I need."
Midway to our lunch appointment, I study Manager Lee from the corner of my eyes. I didn't expect him to drive us, and the way he's so at ease behind the wheel, makes him look kind of cool.
This doesn't count as cheating, does it? I have eyes. I can appreciate a good-looking man, right? Besides, Dae and I aren't even dating.
"Spit it out. Any longer and you'll stare a hole right through me." He pipes up, startling me. And here I thought I'm being discreet. Clearing my throat, I ask hesitantly. "Since we're no longer at the office, can I speak casually?"
"Go ahead. I never liked formal speeches anyway."
I decide to ask the one question that's been bugging me. "What happened to you during the last few years?"
He adopts a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"
"You look completely different from the last time I saw you. Given it has been six years."
"Do I?" He sounds like he's hearing this for the first time. Almost contemplative.
"Yes! In fact, I nearly couldn't recognize you at the interview."
"Well, I had corrective eye surgery two years ago." He explains the glasses part. "But I recognized you, and you're more beautiful now."
I gape, not sure how to respond to that. I mean, he is my superior. And I get the feeling he doesn't hand out compliments often, especially not to the fairer sex.
"It's an honest compliment." He says when I fall silent. "Although we barely spoke in the past, I'd like to believe that my visits were frequent enough for us to be comfortable around each other. Of course, maybe I'm asking too much of you? We are still strangers, after all."
Dad's words from this morning replays in my head. Manager Lee is a victim of life's injustice, but he made it this far, undefeated. "What counts as being comfortable to you?"
"You can stop addressing me as Manager Lee for starters." He decides. "It makes me feel considerably old even though we're only three years apart."
"Then, can I call you Chang-Min like my Dad does?"
"If you like," He consents. "Though only when we're alone. It wouldn't look good if others think that I'm being biased. I owe your father too much to let you get hurt by malicious gossip."
He's thoughtful. "My father told me the same thing." I cock my head to the side, wondering if it's rude to ask personal questions at this stage. "I can see that you're devoted to the company. You've never thought about changing jobs or working for someone else? I know my father appreciates you like no other, and he praises you constantly."
A trace of embarrassment heats up his face. "I'm grateful for the chance he gave me when I was an undergraduate. I've been with Yang Logistics for years and all the efforts I've made, are finally going to take flight."
"Take flight?" My voice trails.
"When I first joined the company, it was an upgrade above a start-up. There was profitable advantage for expansion, and I didn't want to waste my capabilities on corporate companies who only leech off their employees." He releases a gruff sound, reflecting his thoughts on them. "Yang Logistics holds sentimental value for me, and I genuinely want it to grow. In the future, it'll provide opportunities for people who need an honest job and not be defined by their backgrounds. The new headquarters is substantial proof of the time and effort I've invested. It took me six years to have the confidence to accept the title of manager when the Director offered me the promotion."
I see. So, his agenda is to create a starting point for individuals like his old self. If it doesn't harm the company, I think it's an upright ambition. Besides, he's sincere.
A smile stretches my lips, my cheery laugh startling him. "I'm sorry. This is the first time I've heard you talk so much about yourself. It's a lot to take in."
His ears turn red. "I see. Pardon me for rambling."
"No! Please don't stop." I sit up straighter in my seat. "The more I know about you, the easier it is for me to support your work. I'm quite relieved that you don't dislike me."
"Why would you think that?" Pure confusion seeps into his voice.
"Well, you're not exactly forthcoming with your feelings and words. When you respond to me with a single yes or no, or how you don't let me know when our conversation is over…it made me assume that you didn't like me."
"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to make you feel uncomfortable." He apologizes immediately, holding my gaze for a split second. "I'm a man of few words. I don't speak unless necessary, and when I do…it's always straight to the point. I know my conversational skills need working on. Yura has been chewing me out for years."
"That's just one of the things you need to work on. I hope you didn't forget about the mess that follows you around?" Am I overstepping my boundaries by nagging at my superior? If he were someone else, I might have been reprimanded for being loose-tongued.
He clears his throat awkwardly. "That's a bad habit I'm trying to break."
Apparently, not hard enough. "I'll be happy to help you work harder on breaking it." I promise, and he flashes a warm smile. The rest of the drive continues in companionable silence. It seems my new work life is off to a promising start.
Later that evening, I'm busy packing for the overnight trip when my phone rings. I crack a smile at the caller I.D. I put it on loudspeaker. "You're calling to tell me you'll miss me?"
"What time is your flight?" Dae fires immediately.
"Tsk, that's the first thing you want to know?" I chide gently, knowing I shouldn't have texted him about it. But I felt obligated to because I'm taking two nights off our contract. "It's at seven thirty tomorrow morning. I'll be heading to the airport at five."
"And you're going alone with him?" His question is muted but he might as well be shouting his disapproval into my ear.
"Why? Are you jealous?" I carelessly tease, packing my beauty kit. "I doubt you are, especially not over a woman."
"That's right." He answers sorely, a mix between anger and annoyance. "No woman is worth fretting over."
I frown. He's being touchy. Was it something I said? "What's wrong? You know I'm doing this for work. I have to go with him…he's my boss -"
"I'll call you when you get back." Click. The line goes dead.
"What the…?" I scoff at his boorishness. Dae's temper can be worse than a woman's. At moments like this, I'm glad we're not actually dating. Having to deal with his mood swings on a daily basis can be exhausting. We're adults, so why can't we communicate properly? Whatever. I don't want to think about it. If he wants to act like a child, then he can call back with an apology on hand.
"There's no way he's actually jealous of Chang-Min, is he?" The thought occurs to me, explaining his behavior. I bark with laughter. "Absolutely not. I don't think he knows love when it hits him. I'm just overthinking it."
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