“Yes. Really. Why did you wear glasses instead of lenses until now?”

“Wearing glasses is cheaper.”

“Ah, it’s an economic decision. I can’t miss that. But even so, when you wear lenses, you’re so pretty. It’s a waste of your beauty.”

After a while, Bobae turned her head. She seemed to be trying to hear the opinion of the nearby ordinary-looking man with glasses.

“Right, Manager Jang! Manager Jang is pretty, right!”

The person she addressed revealed himself immediately. It was Jang Eunpyo, the team leader whom Taejoon had searched for on the employee list this morning.

Eunpyo responded to Bobae’s question.

“Yes.”

A quiet response, not at all enthusiastic.

“She’s pretty. Really.”

“Yes. She’s pretty. Really.”

The silence between those words felt uncomfortably significant.
Taejoon continued the conversation with the team leader, naturally shifting his steps as he observed the face of Jang Eunpyo. For some reason, an indescribable anger welled up in his chest as he noticed the gaze beyond the glasses that continued to be conscious of Han Soeun’s movements. It turned out that this guy was the one who stubbornly resisted when Taejoon tried to take Soeun to a private room on the 7th floor due to a shortage of Mobile Service Team personnel.

This guy didn’t volunteer for the TF team with a pure heart. Taejoon was sure of it.

It was irritating that a beautiful woman to me was equally beautiful to others.

After finishing regular tasks, as always, Soeun went up to the 7th floor. As usual, Director Song Mungyeong greeted Soeun.

“Manager Han, you’re here?”

“Yes. Hello, Director.”

“How’s your health? Do you know how surprised I was on Friday?”

“I’m really sorry. Thank you for taking care of me. I won’t cause any more worries in the future.”

“Yeah. But I think Director Kim would have been more worried than me.”

Mungyeong kindly said to Soeun’s greeting.

Yes. Director, you must have been very worried. I appreciate your hard work.

Thinking of last Friday and Saturday, her face flushed. Soeun felt like her face was getting hotter and secretly took a deep breath.

An hour ago, she found out that Taejoon had unexpectedly visited the Mobile Service Team. Even though he didn’t come to see her, Soeun hurriedly went to the restroom to take off her glasses and put on contact lenses.

Wearing lenses, she went to the Repair Workshop, touched devices, and talked with colleagues, but Taejoon left.

After Taejoon disappeared, Soeun found herself amusing. Why did she hastily change to lenses just to show something to that man?

Bitterly realizing reality, she became tense again when she reached the 7th floor.

“Shall we go in together since Director is inside?”

In the meantime, Director Song Mungyeong stood up and led Soeun.

When he said Director Kim was in, Soeun felt excited again for some reason.

This is a big deal, Hansoeun. What are you going to do?

Feeling like she wanted to cry, Soeun followed behind Mungyeong. When Mungyeong knocked on Taejoon’s office door…

Knock, knock.

“Yes. Come in.”

Taejoon’s voice came from behind the sturdy door. Mungyeong opened the door and led Soeun inside.

“Director Kim, Manager Hansoeun is here. I’ll leave now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

After Mungyeong left Soeun alone and left, Taejoon stopped working and stared intently at Soeun.

Soeun’s legs trembled slightly as she took steps toward him.

“Director Kim, hello.”

“How’s your health?”

Without responding to the greeting, Taejoon first inquired about Soeun’s health.

Soeun politely replied, “I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern.”

“I’m relieved.”

Really, are you relieved because I’m okay?

Although it seemed ridiculous to assign meaning to each of his short words, recognizing it didn’t stop her from thinking.
“Really, do you think it’s fortunate that I’m okay?”

Although it was amusing to attribute meaning to his short words, recognizing it didn’t stop her from thinking.

Nevertheless, since she couldn’t take away his precious time for too long, Soeun reported today’s work without forgetting her justification.

“Director, I asked Manager Song Mungyeong to deliver the recommendation letter this morning.”

“I saw it. I’ll review it.”

“Yes. Then, when will we start once we begin?”

“I’ll contact you separately.”

“Yes… Can I go home now?”

Feeling like there was nothing more to say, and about to turn around, Taejoon suddenly stood up.

“There’s something I should apologize for today.”

“Yes?”

“This.”

Taejoon approached, extending his hand. In Taejoon’s hand was a familiar pair of glasses.

“Manager Han Soeun’s glasses, right?”

The glasses Heeuk had given as a gift. The glasses she had lost some time ago after drinking. The glasses’ frame was broken in Taejoon’s hand.

Why did Director bring this? You said you didn’t see it back then.

With surprised eyes, she alternately looked at the glasses and Taejoon. Taejoon awkwardly explained.

“Actually, I unintentionally stepped on it without seeing it under the bench that day.”

“…”

“I couldn’t say it because you said it was precious. I’m sorry.”

Although she found it ironic that he didn’t return the glasses on time, she didn’t resent him for that. Losing the glasses back then allowed her to shake off a piece of lingering attachment sooner.

“…No. Nothing is precious now. It’s okay.”

Soeun shook her head horizontally. She didn’t need to get the glasses back now. It was uncomfortable to talk about Taejoon and her ex-boyfriend.

Although she was about to say she could throw away the glasses, Taejoon nonchalantly spoke.

“Since it’s not precious, I should compensate since it was my mistake, right?”

“…”

“Let’s go to get your glasses fitted. Come with me.”

Taejoon took the first step.

Soeun’s face stiffened. She didn’t know what to do.

Half of her wanted to refuse, and the other half wanted to follow.

Following the director’s orders would be appropriate, but getting the glasses fitted seemed like a highly personal matter. If she felt uncomfortable, it might be better to compensate with money.

Taejoon, who moved first, opened the office door and urged her.

“Aren’t you coming out?”

While looking at Taejoon, Soeun’s eyes stung. It felt somewhat sad to meet his cold and indifferent expression again. Each time she blinked, the feeling of her vision becoming increasingly blurred was like her eyes were getting teary. It was a contradictory feeling.

Scary and tense, yet fluttering. A conflicting feeling of liking, even though she shouldn’t.

What should I do from now on? She would continue to worry, but at this moment, she just wanted to go wherever the attraction led her.

The starting point of this contradiction was not herself. She thought it all started with this man.
Calling her a woman without any pride, he grumbled a lot, but the next day, he bought her a meal as if nothing had happened. He piled on so much work that she had to come to the office until the weekend, and when she collapsed from exhaustion, he carried her around all night. He seemed like a cold and indifferent man, but he turned out to be warm and affectionate, the opposite of what she expected.

So, she disliked him. However, she also liked him.

The feeling was elusive, and she was scared. She couldn’t understand this man. It felt like she couldn’t even understand herself. What are you thinking? What do you intend to do with me? Where will my feelings go?

With a fearful heart about where her feelings might lead, Soeun took a step forward.