“If you don’t like hiking, why would I want you to come?”

Dohan’s mind was filled with the image of a man named Go Joon-hyung from the PR team, whom he didn’t even know.

Love called him oppa while she was drunk, and thinking about that scene, he unconsciously gripped the cup in his hand.

How cute.

How lovely.

Thinking that another man might have seen the face he wanted to see, his insides twisted.

“It’s not like that. Do you want me not to go?”

“Do you want to go?”

Dohan’s mind was completely occupied by the man from the PR team, Go Joon-hyung.

Love probably didn’t know how he felt at the moment, just grinning with her clear and innocent eyes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Note: The symbols represent star icons in the original text.
“How old is that person?”

“What? Which person?”

“Oh, Manager Oh’s new colleague. In the PR team.”

“Ah, Manager Go? He’s one year older than me.”

“Are you close?”

“Not really. We’ve had a few meals together with Manager Oh, and that’s it.”

“They said you drank together.”

“Well, just casually, while having a meal.”

“Despite being casual, the title seemed quite formal.”

“What?”

“You called him ‘oppa.’ To that guy.”

Love’s eyes flickered momentarily with surprise.

It wasn’t something to be ashamed of since it happened before she met Dohan again, but it still made her feel uneasy.

What if she casually called anyone ‘oppa’ when she was drunk?

“That was because the managers teased me. They’re all older than me, so they treat me like a younger sister.”

“Who said you’re a younger sister to everyone?”

Dohan muttered lowly with a slightly furrowed brow.

He didn’t like it when she, who was usually kind to everyone, behaved like this.

“I’ve never called Manager Go ‘oppa’ except for that day. So, please don’t make a mistake in front of Manager Go on Saturday, just in case.”

“What kind of mistake?”

“Don’t let slip that we’re dating just because you’re jealous. He’s quick-witted, you know.”

“He’ll probably congratulate me for treating him like a younger brother.”

Dohan, feeling a bit annoyed, replied sarcastically.

Even though he was annoyed, Love looked at him with narrowed eyes when she raised her head. Seeing her grip her fist and firmly close her mouth, it seemed like she was saying, “If you’re going to act like this, don’t come to the mountain.”

“Understood, Captain.”

His expression was displeased, but he implied that he would strictly treat her as a coworker. However, Love suddenly burst into laughter.

Dohan frowned at her, watching her with raised eyebrows.

How could she laugh when someone felt so bitter?

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I feel good knowing that I’m the captain.”

“What?”

Dohan’s distorted face also pleased Love, who laughed a little more before clearing her throat.

“Do you know that when you declared yourself as our team’s youngest, I was hoping you’d experience what it’s like to be under me? I really planned to boss you around properly.”

“This Love can’t be that tough.”

“Regardless of whether I’m tough or not, mistakes need to be made. It was frustrating because I had nothing to criticize about how well someone who hadn’t been working for a few days was doing. It annoyed me even more because I couldn’t find any fault.”

“He must be incapable if he couldn’t do well. He’s an annoying guy even without that.”

“Wasn’t he just annoying? A bad guy, an audacious guy, a guy I couldn’t stand to look at.”

Knowing that he could endure any insult from the world and still fall short, Dohan remained silent.

“Shall I apply for a department transfer? Should I quit first and then look for another company? Despite enduring day by day, there was a moment when I started looking forward to coming to work. I missed you, oppa.”

Dohan, who had been lowering his gaze, raised his head.

He didn’t expect a sudden confession.

Not knowing that such words would come out, his heart throbbed violently.
“But how did you decide to join our team? Knowing well that I might hate you?”

Watching her with a puzzled expression, Dohan slowly began to speak.

“You envied Park Sooho and Kim Ayoung before, right? The friends we met on my birthday.”

As Love recalled the past, he continued to talk.

“You said how enjoyable it would be to work in the same company as your boyfriend. You were so envious of them. When you mentioned that, I thought we should work together once you graduate.”

Love was momentarily moved.

The fact that he was envisioning a future together with her with just a passing remark touched her deeply.

That’s how much he liked her.

It meant he was sincere.

“I know you’ll not only be happy but also get angry when you see me again. However, my desire to be by your side was greater than the apology, so I came in without thinking…”

Love thought it was fortunate that he was a selfish person.

Thanks to him, she learned the joy of working in the same office as her boyfriend.

“If you hadn’t joined our company, how would we be living now?”

Would she have forgotten him?

Or would she still miss him?

Even if she met someone else, he hadn’t been erased from her memory. Perhaps she would have lived with a half-heart forever.

Even though Love received back half of the heart that Dohan took away, she couldn’t understand herself for not being able to say “I love you” to him.

Hate disappeared, forgiveness happened.

Even if they broke up again, she felt like she wouldn’t be hurt like back then.

What was the problem, really?

“I would have found you in a different way.”

In his eyes that ultimately spoke of the fate of meeting, Love’s heart fluttered.

If she hadn’t met him again, she would have lost several emotions.

Maybe she would have lived feeling only half of all emotions.

“And you…”

And what kind of life am I living?

Love waited earnestly for his answer.

“You’d be drinking with another man, calling him oppa and dongsaeng.”

She, who had been immersed in vague memories, shook her head at his statement.

Ah, this guy has a complicated back story.

Thanks to him, she snapped out of it and returned to reality.

Well, I can’t lose either.

“Who would abandon me?”

Although she took it as a joke, Dohan’s face stiffened.

My wounds have already healed, but it seems this man hasn’t.

Looking at Dohan, who couldn’t even meet her eyes, Love regretted saying something unnecessary.

“Sorry.”

Even after receiving an apology, the atmosphere sank even more.

What should I do?

“I’ll be careful this weekend, so don’t worry. I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

Dohan realized that his words had gone too far due to unnecessary jealousy.

Even if she seemed to have forgiven him, it was something that couldn’t happen.

When memories of that time suddenly came to mind, I momentarily forgot that she was by my side.
What he had done to this love.

As he repented, Love just smirked.

Not knowing how to resolve this situation with words, I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

Whether at the age of twenty or now, love was equally difficult.