A child who looks like me

After finishing an external task and returning to the company, Ji-heon first checked the meeting room before heading to his office.

He had heard that Daewon Liquor had requested the first proposal, and the AE had called a meeting.

It seemed the meeting had just concluded. Ji-heon received a summary of the meeting from the AE who was coming out of the room.

After grasping the meeting details, he became curious about Jeong-oh’s expression, as it seemed she had taken on a lot of the work. She appeared to still be in the meeting room.

As he took a few steps closer, he could hear a man and a woman’s voices. The woman was Jeong-oh, and the man seemed to be Song Gi-hun, a member of the same team.

Jeong-oh and Gi-hun seemed to be quite close.

As he approached the meeting room, their affectionate conversation began to irritate him.

“Assistant, I have something to say.”

“Uh, go ahead.”

“I like you.”

Gi-hun’s sudden confession reached Ji-heon’s ears, and he could no longer listen to their conversation. He knocked loudly on the meeting room door to interrupt them.

He knocked forcefully on the already open door, blocking the two from continuing their conversation.

“Assistant Lee Jeong-oh.”

The two turned their heads in unison. Their expressions were similar, causing Ji-heon to clench his fists tightly.

“Yes, Director.”

“Don’t you have something to give me?”

“……”

“My clothes.”

With her lips parted in surprise, Jeong-oh’s eyes trembled momentarily before she responded.

“……Ah… yes, just a moment.”

As he watched Jeong-oh dash out of the meeting room, Ji-heon let out a faint sigh.

He leaned against the door and gazed into the meeting room.

Because Ji-heon was blocking the way, Gi-hun found himself stuck inside the meeting room, aimlessly fidgeting after everything had already been tidied up.

Gi-hun glanced nervously around, and Ji-heon scrutinized him.

He was a young male employee whose face clearly showed he had lived without many ups and downs.

He was relatively diligent, got along well with other employees, and received good evaluations from the team leader.

And trusting only his youth and impetuousness, he had confessed to Lee Jeong-oh……

Ji-heon narrowed his eyes, staring at Gi-hun for a long time.

After a while, Jeong-oh rushed back and held out the cardigan in front of Ji-heon.

“Thank you, Director.”

“I said you didn’t have to wash it.”

“……”

“How’s your cold?”

“Yes, I’m all better.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Jeong-oh couldn’t look Ji-heon in the eye.

Now that she was completely recovered from her cold, he felt like pressing her on why she was ignoring his messages.

With her head down, she slipped past Ji-heon and called out to Gi-hun.

“Gi-hun, if you’re done tidying up, come out.”

“Yes!”

Gi-hun hurried out of the meeting room at Jeong-oh’s beckoning.

The two of them passed by Ji-heon and returned to their seats.

“Hmm.”

As Jeong-oh was about to sit down, Gi-hun deliberately cleared his throat and leaned toward her.

“That cardigan is yours, right? From last Friday.”

Gi-hun asked in a lowered voice. Jeong-oh couldn’t respond.

“So that cardigan belongs to the director.”

“I was really sick and looked cold, so the director lent it to me.”

“The director surprisingly has a caring side, huh?”

With a tone that seemed both surprised and teasing, Gi-hun’s comment made Jeong-oh bite her lip to hide her feelings.

At that moment, Ji-heon appeared like a reaper beyond the partition of Team 2 and called out to Gi-hun.

“Song Gi-hun?”

“Yes, Director.”

Gi-hun stood up from his seat.

“I checked the outlet design; it looks like it needs some hands-on work.”

A tremor passed through Gi-hun’s eyes.

“Bring your tools to the office.”

Ji-heon shook Gi-hun with an unreadable expression before leaving first.

Another tremor passed beneath Gi-hun’s feet. Stumbling, he slumped back into his chair with a face that looked like he had lost a country, hurriedly gathering his tools to leave.

Ko Eun-joo, who felt sorry for Gi-hun, asked him.

“Gi-hun, should I go instead?”

“No…… I worked on it, so I should go. I’ll be back soon.”

After Gi-hun left, shoulders slumped, Eun-joo shook her head and muttered to herself.

“I really don’t like Director Jeong……”

Ji Ji-heon was steadily accumulating resentment.

Jeong-oh forced a bitter smile and immediately sat down.

Two hours later, Gi-hun returned. He looked exhausted after working hard for two hours.

Deputy Park Young-gwang was the first to comfort him.

“Gi-hun, you did well.”

“Huah.”

“How was it?”

“What do you think? I was alone with the director in the office…”

“……”

“I almost became a turtle. I thought I was going to die of awkwardness…”

Jeong-oh reached out and patted Gi-hun’s shoulder.

Before sitting down, Gi-hun took a large phone charger out of his back pocket and set it down.

“My phone battery died, so I said I would step out for a bit, and the director gave this to me. I couldn’t refuse…”

“……”

“……I think the director is surprisingly really caring…”

Gi-hun’s rambling continued intermittently after that.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Ji-heon’s appearance buried Gi-hun’s sudden confession. Jeong-oh managed to avoid an awkward situation by chance, but her mind was not at ease.

Was it sincere, or just light camaraderie?

Gi-hun’s attitude had not changed since then. He was warm and respectful. He never brought up what he said in the meeting room again.

‘It must just be camaraderie.’

What had been a cautious assumption in her heart solidified into a judgment after a day had passed.

However, not long after she made that conclusion, Gi-hun spoke to her.

“You haven’t said anything.”

It was after another meeting had ended, and Jeong-oh was alone in the meeting room, preparing the Daewon Liquor proposal.

Jeong-oh asked blankly, “……What?”

“There was something I mentioned yesterday. In that other meeting room.”

“Uh… um…”

Once they were alone, and Gi-hun initiated the conversation again, Jeong-oh realized that they hadn’t had a moment alone until now.

Flustered, she hesitated and finally responded.

“I like you too, Gi-hun.”

“That’s not what I meant, Assistant.”

“……”

“I mean, in a rational way. Different sexes.”

Not liking Jeong-oh’s nuance, Gi-hun clarified his words.

He confessed without trembling, confidently and comfortably.

Kids these days are like this.

Gi-hun’s bright energy captured Jeong-oh’s attention.

The situation became a little more awkward.

To Jeong-oh, Gi-hun was just a comfortable and obedient junior colleague; nothing more.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Should I say it again? I like you, Assistant…”

“No! It’s okay.”

Jeong-oh hurriedly waved her hands.

Phew. Gi-hun pressed his lips together, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Kids these days are like this…

In truth, the age difference isn’t that big. Maybe because I’m a mother, but twenty-seven-year-old guys seem very young.

I feel like I’m living in a different era from Song Gi-hun.

“I thought you were just joking.”

“Who jokes around like that?”

What should I do?

If I refuse harshly, will he get hurt?

Gi-hun was such a nice person; she wanted to reject him kindly.

However, she worried that a kind rejection might leave room for misunderstanding.

“Because it’s a profession that pursues beauty, I do find myself interested in people’s appearances.”

“……”

“Assistant, you’re really pretty, but I don’t think you realize it. That makes you even more charming.”

“No! I know! I know very well! I’m pretty. I’m very pretty.”

“Ha. Exactly. You’re pretty.”

“No, I’m not. Look here. I have wrinkles, you know?”

“You’re being so contradictory, it’s funny.”

Is this a crush? It was fascinating how Gi-hun only saw her in a good light.

Gi-hun’s courtship continued.

“It’s just enjoyable to observe you, Assistant. The more I see, the more interesting and cool things I notice, and I like you more.”

“Are you perhaps the type who falls in love easily?”

“I’m a romantic! Before I went to the army once, and once after coming back. I’ve only dated twice… No, why am I talking about this?”

Gi-hun babbled on and then laughed to himself, realizing how silly he sounded being so honest in front of her.

“Anyway, it means I like you. You, Assistant.”

Jeong-oh felt sorry for the smiling Gi-hun.

Right now, Gi-hun might be trying hard to create a cheerful atmosphere while being very nervous, not wanting to burden her.

Although the situation was uncomfortable, if he was serious, she had no choice but to give a serious answer in return.

“Gi-hun, I have something to say too.”

With her resolve firm, Jeong-oh opened her mouth.

“I’m actually a mother.”

“……”

At Jeong-oh’s confession, Gi-hun’s eyes widened in surprise, like someone who just got hit with a splash of cold water.

Jeong-oh’s confession continued.

“My child is seven years old now.”

Gi-hun’s face went blank.

“……Assistant, I’m a bit hurt right now.”

“……”

“It’s one thing to not like me, but to reject me like this…”

“I’m serious.”

Gi-hun’s sullen expression made Jeong-oh’s gaze even stricter.

“I’m telling the truth.”

Jeong-oh took out her phone and found a picture to show him. It was a photo of Yena sitting on Jeong-oh’s lap.

“This is my daughter. I didn’t adopt her; she’s my real daughter.”

“……”

“I don’t have a husband, but I do have a child. This Thursday is her birthday.”

With a dazed expression, Gi-hun stared at the photo for a long time and muttered to himself.

“But no one said anything about this…”

“It’s just that I have my reasons. I’m not married, so it’s recorded as ‘single’ in the company’s records, and when the company requests my resident registration document, I just submitted one with my information. So, no one knows.”

“……”

“I’m telling you because you’re so nice. You’re the first person I’ve told this in this company.”

Gi-hun looked more shocked than when he was held back by Director Jeong Ji-heon yesterday.

Although Jeong-oh felt sorry for saying this to Gi-hun, she also felt relieved in a way.

“I really appreciate that you see me in a good light, but this is my situation. I’ll live my life focusing on protecting my daughter. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I truly support your dating life. You’ll find a great woman.”

It seemed that her confession had a good effect.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Tasks piled up one by one, forming a mountain.

The hardest part was having to do both physical and mental work at the same time.

If only she could concentrate more, she could come up with better ideas, and if she had more time, she could gather more data and produce better results. Those moments of regret also accumulated.

Late nights continued from Monday and Tuesday into Wednesday. Jeong-oh was desperate since Thursday was Yena’s birthday.

And the long-awaited Thursday morning arrived!

“Mom! What day is it today?”

Yena, unusually awake early, shook Jeong-oh awake.

“It’s our princess’s birthday!”

Jeong-oh got up without even having time to wipe her eyes and hugged Yena.

“Happy birthday, Yena!”

“Thank you, Mom!”

Guk-soon, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, came into the room holding a gift box.

Yena waved her hands vigorously.

“No, that’s not it, Grandma!”

“Isn’t this it? Why not?”

“I’ll open it during the party later.”

It seemed like Yena already had the birthday party program sorted out in her head.

“What kind of grand party is our princess planning…?”

Guk-soon shrugged her shoulders in defeat and laughed.

The fragrant smell of seaweed soup filled the morning air.

Yena’s seventh birthday had come.

Yena wore a pink princess dress.

It was her favorite outfit, but she hadn’t worn it for weeks to make today special.

With the pink princess dress and a crown headband, Yena asked Jeong-oh to style her hair in curls, making Jeong-oh feel like a hairdresser.

“Now that your hair is done, you two look alike.”

Guk-soon, reminded of Jeong-oh’s childhood by Yena’s pretty appearance, smiled contentedly.

“Mom, you have to come home early today!”

Yena, holding Jeong-oh’s hand tightly, made her request. She had repeated this several times yesterday.

“Of course, I will.”

“It’s a promise!”

Jeong-oh pinky-swore with Yena.

Since she had overworked herself with late nights yesterday, today should go more smoothly. Jeong-oh waved goodbye to Yena, hoping for a perfect day.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Even the wind on the way to work felt refreshing.

It was a clear morning, as if everything in the world was celebrating Yena’s birthday.

Jeong-oh hesitated for a moment upon seeing Ji-heon standing like a statue in front of the company elevator but greeted him brightly.

“Hello, Director.”

“Yes.”

Despite his dry response, Jeong-oh smiled brightly.

Jeong Ji-heon.

Today is my child’s birthday.

So I hope you find happiness today, too.

Because you were here when my angel was born.

After getting off the elevator, Jeong-oh hummed a tune as she headed to her desk.

Inside the team, Gi-hun was sitting alone.

“Good morning, Gi-hun.”

“Hello, Assistant.”

With his greeting, Gi-hun leaned over the partition and slid something toward her. It was a small object wrapped in pink paper, about the size of a palm.

“What’s this?”

Gi-hun whispered to her, lowering his head deeply.

“I heard it’s your baby’s birthday.”

Ji-heon watched the scene quietly from behind.