CRND Ch 3

“SongYi.”

“…”

“Are you sulking?”

“…”

“SongYi Song Yiho.”

“Hey.”

Yiho, feigning a fierce expression, whipped around.

“Stop clinging to me.”

He was genuinely annoyed, but the bigger reason was something else.

‘Does it have to get hard even at work…’

At home, he could blame it on morning wood, and luckily, the witness was the oblivious Cha Minkyu. But if that happened at work, it would be social suicide.

The stinging had subsided, but the sensation around his backside was still strange. Why touch someone else’s butt? He really didn’t know how scary the object of his affection could be.

Yiho, on edge from the commute with his still-racing heart, growled. Minkyu seemed to want to tease him further, but seeing Yiho’s genuine annoyance, he held back.

They rode the elevator from the parking lot in silence. The unusually frosty atmosphere between the two team leaders was witnessed by the employees, inevitably leading to misunderstandings.

“Oh dear, still at it, I see.”

“It’s about time you two warmed up to each other…”

When superiors are at odds, their subordinates suffer. As they rolled their eyes in exasperation, they spotted a kindred spirit from the neighboring team, and a rapid camaraderie formed.

Cha Minkyu’s marketing team members and Song Yiho’s development team members boasted an unprecedented level of closeness, despite working on conflicting tasks. In stark contrast to their silent team leaders, the two teams chatted amongst themselves on the way to their desks, only separating when they reached their respective areas.

“Okay, then we’ll do the code review Friday morning, and um…”

As always, finishing one task at work meant another quickly took its place. Moreover, perhaps because it was March, there was a constant influx of menial tasks unrelated to his actual work. Tedious tasks, but the kind that became even more bothersome if left undone… And Yiho was the one who had to delegate them.

Paid tool expense reports, simple Excel sheet work, test case organization.

His gaze, flitting around to avoid awkwardness, settled on one person.

“These three tasks… Taekyeong-nim, would you mind taking care of them?”

“…Yes.”

There were two people in their twenties on Yiho’s development team. One was Kim Miso, a senior developer with five years of experience, and the other was Kwon Taekyeong, a junior developer with two years of experience. Taekyeong, sitting at the far end of the team’s area, looked as dejected as he had when Minkyu had anonymously criticized him the other day. But he quietly accepted the assigned tasks without complaint.

A company worker’s day rolled along like a rusty gear. The monitors in front of them were gray, the partitions gray, the chairs gray, and the team members’ attire gray—astonishingly, they had simply brightened the shade from the black they wore all winter to mark the arrival of spring.

The only splash of color was the sky-blue sweatshirt worn by the young Taekyeong. But today, his face was clouded with such gloom… that it seemed he might soon be absorbed into the grayness.

His dejected appearance particularly bothered Yiho.

About ten minutes after lunch break, Yiho sent a message through the company messenger.

Song Yiho (Team Leader)

Taekyeong-nim

Are you busy?

If you’re free, would you like to grab a coffee?

A forehead popped up from behind the partition at the far end, then disappeared, followed by a reply.

Kwon Taekyeong (Junior Developer)

Gasp

Yes! Team Leader, sounds good!

Yiho took Taekyeong out, got takeaway drinks from a cafe, and entered a meeting room. Sitting next to Taekyeong in the quiet room, Yiho turned his chair to face him.

Even he, who had started with “Hello, World!” and was now more comfortable with programming languages than Korean, had to carefully choose his words now. Yiho softened his voice as much as possible.

“Taekyeong-nim, things have been tough lately, haven’t they?”

“Huh? Ah… no. I’m fine.”

“Who isn’t struggling with work life? I called you because part of my job is to listen to the team’s concerns. Feel free to tell me whatever’s on your mind.”

“…”

Taekyeong’s eyes, behind his glasses, darted around, seemingly surprised by the question. After a moment of silence, he replied.

“Everyone on the team is so supportive, so it’s definitely not to the point of being difficult… It’s just… I’m a bit frustrated that I’m only working with SQL and not doing any actual development…”

That was a serious issue. Yiho had also been surprised by the lack of coding when he first joined the company. In reality, most development teams outsourced a significant portion of the work and primarily acted as project managers, overseeing and supplementing the outsourced work. Yiho’s team did more development work than most, but the core tasks were generally handled by those at the manager level or higher.

And in Yiho’s team, there was another, unique problem specific to Kwon Taekyeong…

“It’s unfortunate that the new hires have all been senior to you. …It wasn’t intentional.”

Kwon Taekyeong had been the junior-most member of the development team for years. Perhaps because the team leader was specially recruited, Yiho’s team had seen more experienced hires than new graduates. At twenty-eight, Kwon Taekyeong remained the youngest and least experienced member of the team, year after year. It was inevitable that he would be saddled with various menial tasks.

It was an understandable source of stress. Yiho awkwardly patted Taekyeong’s arm.

“I’ll… do my best to bring in a junior developer under you from the new hires this time.”

“Really? That would be great, but don’t overexert yourself.”

“No, it’s something I should have addressed sooner. And after we finish the urgent project the marketing team, or rather, Cha Minkyu, dumped on us, let’s discuss your tasks. Have you used AWS much?”

“I worked on a project using it at the academy I attended while preparing for my job application. Not extensively, but…”

They talked a bit more, and Yiho pointed out areas Taekyeong could study further in his free time.

“…Th, thank you.”

Taekyeong, bowing his head, looked slightly bewildered. Perhaps emboldened by Yiho’s gentle approach, Taekyeong’s voice became more relaxed.

“I thought you’d be the type to just tell me to do as I’m told… I didn’t expect you to be so comforting…”

“Me? Was I being authoritarian?”

“Oh, no, not at all. It’s just, you give off this engineering vibe, like you wouldn’t understand anything that doesn’t lead to the most efficient outcome…”

“Ah…”

What did that even mean? Taekyeong, also seeming unsure of what he had just said, scratched his cheek. An awkward silence followed.

Engineering curriculums definitely needed a “Communication Skills for Smooth Social Interactions” course. And people like Song Yiho should be forced to attend until the day they quit their jobs.

If Cha Minkyu were having this conversation, it would probably be a hundred times more pleasant. He might have even prevented this issue from arising in the first place… As Yiho indulged in his admiration for Minkyu, separate from his romantic feelings, he suddenly stopped, his thoughts turning sour as he recalled the morning’s incident.

Anyway, it seemed like the precious junior developer’s frustration had been alleviated. Yiho squeezed out a final remark, as a team leader.

“Um, is there anything else you’d like to say, now that you’ve had a chance to think?”

“Uh… yes. Yiho-nim, this might be presumptuous, but there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

What, what is it? What could it be that required such a preface? Yiho nodded gravely.

“Go ahead… tell me…”

If it’s about transferring departments or quitting, please don’t…

“I think you drink too much coffee. You know, it’s good to be healthy.”

Oh?

That was… cute. He wasn’t sure how to react.

“Uh, huh… Wouldn’t the team celebrate if their boss got sick? Taekyeong-nim, you have a sweet side.”

“You need to stay healthy. I want to work under you for a long, long time. I don’t want you to get sick, and I don’t want you to leave for another company without me.”

…What? How does he even say things like that? Why had he suddenly become so eloquent? The eyes behind his glasses, previously unfocused, now seemed clear. It appeared Taekyeong didn’t need any “Communication Skills for Smooth Social Interactions” classes. The one who needed them was Song Yiho, who could only awkwardly nod and say, “Is that so…?”

Yiho, slightly bewildered, left the meeting room with Taekyeong, who was now beaming. Taekyeong, his mood significantly improved, stayed unusually close to Yiho as they walked back, practically glued to his back.

It didn’t feel disrespectful, but rather like a physical manifestation of the affection Taekyeong had expressed in the meeting room.

Kids these days… no, maybe it wasn’t just kids these days. Cha Minkyu was always clinging to him too. But being physically close to your direct team leader was a different matter, wasn’t it? In contrast to Taekyeong’s light steps, Yiho, unused to physical contact, walked stiffly. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was unsettling.

‘Should I really look into speech classes? I’m always verbally defeated by Cha Minkyu, and today I even got flustered by a kid who was probably in middle school when I was mixing drinks in the department lounge…’

Returning to his desk, lost in thought, Yiho found an unusual splash of color amidst the gray cubicles, like a blade of grass sprouting through concrete.

“…?”

It was a lime-green cafe drink, the kind Yiho would never order for himself.

“Someone seems to have left this. Is this anyone’s?”

Yiho held up the plastic cup, its surface covered in condensation. The team members looked at him and shook their heads.

He examined the cup and found the name on the sticker.

charming ggyu Choco Green Tea Latte

Charming…?

He turned to see Charming Ggyu, or rather, Cha Minkyu, sipping an iced Americano.

The dark Americano Minkyu was drinking was Yiho’s preference, while the Choco Green Tea Latte he’d left was Minkyu’s. He must have bought both, but why leave this one and take his (Yiho’s?) coffee?

“…Is this really no one’s?”

Yiho asked again, deliberately looking at Minkyu, but there was still no reaction. He finally took a sip through the straw. The sweetness assaulted his tongue. He couldn’t handle more than three sips. He wanted to ask what this was, but Minkyu wouldn’t even look at him.

And there was a message waiting for him.

Cha Minkyu

SongYi SongYi

1:17 PM

(Anxious emoticon)

Cha Minkyu card-raiding coffee time, how about it?

1:18 PM

(Urgent) Team Leader Song Yiho, please review this matter promptly.

1:25 PM

Where did you go?

1:41 PM

Why aren’t you coming?

1:41 PM

He had missed Minkyu’s messages while talking to Taekyeong. It seemed like an apology for teasing him so much that morning. Although he had switched drinks in the end, for some reason.

Sigh… he should have gone for the talk around three or four. He and Minkyu usually had meals or drinks together, rarely just coffee. He lamented the missed opportunity to sit across from Cha Minkyu, looking particularly sharp in his suit today, in a cafe, and took another sip of the swamp-colored drink, punishing his tongue with the sweetness.

Seeing Yiho continue to drink, Minkyu turned towards him. Yiho, wincing at the cloying sweetness, continued to sip through the straw without breaking eye contact.

After 15 years of friendship, they didn’t need an awkward “I’m sorry about earlier,” “It’s okay, let’s make up” conversation. This was enough to end the morning’s teasing and the brief sulking. After work, they’d casually share chicken and beer as usual.

But for some reason, contrary to his expectations, Minkyu still seemed annoyed.

“Oh, by the way, Yiho-nim. Chaeyeon-nim from the planning team stopped by.”

“Why?”

“She was handing out wedding rice cakes. Since you weren’t at your desk, she said she’d come back later. I already got mine.”

Deputy Manager Yoon held up a small assortment of rice cakes. A square white rice cake with a heart drawn on it, three honey rice cakes, and two steamed rice cakes.

Numbers scrolled across Yiho’s vision like a panel from a sci-fi movie. The inherent rice cake appraiser within him, the son of a rice cake shop owner, couldn’t help but evaluate them.

The white rice cake wasn’t fluffy, it was soggy. The coloring from the honey rice cakes had bled onto the others. It was clearly a mass-produced product from a company with no conscience. If Mr. Kim, the owner of Mokdong Rice Cake Shop, saw this, he’d have a fit. Just then, a slightly louder voice spoke from nearby.

“Thank you for the treat. But would you mind if I shared these with the team? My childhood friend’s family owns a rice cake shop, and I’m used to their mother’s cooking. I can’t really eat rice cakes from other places.”

“Aha, sure. Go ahead. You must be really close if you’re childhood friends. That’s nice.”

“Yes, we’re incredibly close. Lately, he seems to be clinging to other people and pushing me away, which hurts, but I guess the one who needs it more wins.”

Yiho’s head turned automatically. Even as he stared at Minkyu with a “What are you doing?” look, Minkyu avoided his gaze, only glancing sideways before pretending not to notice.

“What’s with him…”

“Oh, Yiho-nim! You’re back. Here’s your rice cake.”

Manager Kim walked straight from Minkyu’s desk to Yiho’s. Yiho accepted the rice cakes with both hands.

“Thank you…”

He quickly placed them on his desk, lest the price estimation reappear. Manager Kim lingered for a moment before speaking.

“About the coding class in the company lecture list… you’re the instructor, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can I sign up through you?”

“No… I think there will be a separate announcement with registration details later.”

Yiho was the instructor, not the organizer. If they asked him to handle that too, he might just lie down in the hallway.

“Aha, I’ve always wanted to try a coding class. I’ll definitely sign up. Enjoy the rice cakes.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After Manager Kim left, Yiho put the rice cakes in his desk drawer. He turned towards a lingering gaze to find Minkyu raising an eyebrow at him. Why? What? He mouthed the words, but Minkyu just turned away, aggressively sipping his Americano.

He was definitely sulking, wasn’t he? But why?

Just as he was blinking in confusion, a message popped up.

Choi Ari (Deputy Manager)

Team Leader Song Yiho, hello. This is Choi Ari from HR. I’d like to speak with you…

“Oh…”

Usually, Yiho would tremble at a summons from another team, inwardly cringing and asking, “What error has exploded now…?” But today, he shot up from his seat. A “Can we talk?” message from HR in the blossoming month of March? His heart couldn’t pound any faster.

“Their grades were the best among those who listed the DL division as their first choice after training. And your team has had an open position for a junior developer…”

“!”

Confetti rained down and fireworks exploded in Yiho’s mind.

Taekyeong-nim, I said I’d do my best to get you a junior developer, but I didn’t think HR would actually listen. But now, I don’t even have to beg, they’re just handing one over.

Deputy Manager Choi from HR handed Yiho a document. It contained information about his new team member. A 27-year-old male. Oh, even younger than Taekyeong.

“You’re alumni, do you know him?”

“Ah, yes. But we’re not acquainted. The age gap is too big…”

Korea University, Department of Computer Science, Bachelor’s and Master’s. Yiho’s eyes scanned the information. It wasn’t a particularly close-knit department, so he didn’t feel any particular connection despite being an alumnus. Deputy Manager Choi mentioning their shared alma mater was simply giving him a chance to do a background check.

There was no reason to refuse the offered opportunity.

“Then… just a moment.”

“Sure.”

Yiho stepped into the hallway and looked up the number of a senior from his lab days. He was still at the university, preparing for a professorship. The call connected quickly.

— Hello? Song Yiho, what’s up?

His voice was as stale as the lab’s air. He seemed to be doing well.

“Hyung, I have a question. Do you know Song Junseo? Class of XX.”

— Song Junseo…? I’ve heard the name. Hold on, let me ask around.

A flurry of voices followed. Two or three were familiar, the rest unfamiliar.

If he had chosen to stay in the lab instead of joining the company, Yiho would probably be among them. With dark circles under his eyes, poring over research papers and leading research projects. He didn’t regret his current life, dressed neatly and working at a company, but the desire for pure research, not just result-oriented projects, sometimes surfaced like a lingering regret.

— Ah, him? Yeah, I’ve met him. He’s quite skilled. He’s been bragging about his various contributions since his freshman year.

“Oh…”

— You’re asking out of the blue, so I assume he joined Taejang? I hear he lacks social skills, but as long as he’s good at his job, that’s all that matters.

That was true to some extent in the lab, but in a company, being good at your job wasn’t enough. However, the development department required the least social skills in a company. Song Yiho himself was probably seen as a socially inept engineer by some.

“Anyway, I understand. Thanks for letting me know.”

— Sure. Hey, things will get better as you work. He’s your junior, so look after him. You’re coming to visit the professor on Teacher’s Day, right?

“Yes, I have to. See you then.”

Yiho hung up, his mind grappling with the sudden dilemma. If the response from the lab had been more positive, it would have been easier to reach a decision.

“Team Leader Song, what have you decided?”

But he’d just boasted to Taekyeong a few hours ago…

“Yes. Please assign him to our team.”

“Alright.”

Back at his desk, Yiho was met with the expectant gazes of his seven team members. Taekyeong, seemingly aware of what had transpired, looked at Yiho with clasped hands and a hopeful expression. Yiho nodded before even sitting down.

“…Yes. We’re getting a new team member. He’s currently at the training center and will join us for training next Wednesday or Thursday.”

Yiho saw it then. Kwon Taekyeong pumping his fists like a soccer player who’d just scored the winning goal.

“Wow, how about we have a team dinner next Friday? A welcome party. If we feed him delicious food right away, he won’t run away.”

“No, Yiho-nim. He might run away if he knows our team has a strong 회식 (drinking party) culture. Let’s keep it simple, just one round.”

Even the usually quiet Deputy Manager Lee chimed in, adjusting his glasses.

The relatively gloomy development team was more cheerful than the marketing team next door for the first time in a long while.

Assigning the new hire to his team was definitely the right decision. Yiho nodded, saying, “Alright, let’s have a team dinner next week,” and returned to work.

💼

After work, Yiho’s hand froze as he unlocked his door. The door was slightly ajar, allowing faint sounds from inside to escape. Song Yiho’s usually dull senses suddenly sharpened. Years of accumulated data flashed a warning sign. A crisis was imminent.

Time was of the essence. Yiho quickly pulled out his phone and typed a message.

Come home slowl

6:37 PM

Even with the typo, Minkyu would understand. Without waiting to confirm the message was sent, Yiho pushed the door open. As expected, a pair of unfamiliar women’s shoes sat in the entryway. Hearing him, the owner of the shoes appeared.

“Yiho! When was the last time you mopped the floor! I told you to wipe the baseboards by hand! How often do you even vacuum?”

Ah… as expected.

“Why do you mix your whites and darks even though I bought you two laundry baskets? You’re over thirty and you can’t even do that, huh? Huh?”

“Why are you cleaning my apartment? Just… leave it. I’m managing fine.”

“Managing fine? You’re not even married, and your apartment reeks of bachelorhood.”

Hey, I shower and do laundry regularly because of work… it’s much better than my lab days. Knowing that saying that would only invite ten more complaints, Yiho chose to remain silent, putting his hands together and stepping inside.

“The only clean place in this house is the inside of your refrigerator.”

“Dust doesn’t accumulate there…”

“Which means you haven’t cooked anything!”

“…”

What was the point of graduating with a PhD and getting promoted if he was still a child in his mother’s eyes?

Mr. Kim, formerly of Mokdong Rice Cake Shop, had closed the shop that had bent his back for years after his business partner, Mr. Song, passed away, and had acquired a new title: Deaconess Kim at the local church. Her hobby remained cooking, which she now showcased at church, and her specialty was surprise inspections of her son’s apartment.

Yiho put down his bag and looked around. His apartment was noticeably shinier than when he’d left that morning. If she gave him some warning, he would clean up the night before, but his mother’s appearances were always sudden. Yiho prided himself on keeping a clean apartment, especially compared to the squalor of the computer science department lounge and lab at Korea University…

But it seemed his mother had already finished cleaning his pathetic son’s apartment. Moments like these made him feel like a terrible son.

“Mom, what about dinner?”

“I ate a late lunch.”

“Still, you must be hungry after cleaning and running around. Let’s eat out.”

“Oh, you just got home, why go out again? It’s fine. Don’t bother.”

“Then let’s order in. What do you want to eat?”

“Order some chicken, something you like.”

“Not what I like, what you like.”

“Then order jjajangmyeon. Jjajangmyeon.”

“Okay.”

Since both his father and Yiho, who took after him, weren’t assertive, Mrs. Kim was adept at making decisions for the men in her family before they could hesitate for too long.

Yiho sat his mother on the sofa, handed her the remote, and told her to rest. But when he came out after a quick shower and change of clothes, his mother was wiping the top of the TV with a wet wipe. Fortunately, the food arrived before she could discover the state of the rest of his apartment.

“Why did you order so much for just the two of us?”

“Ah.”

Out of habit, Yiho had ordered their usual set. Jjajangmyeon, jjampong, fried rice, and sweet and sour pork, enough for him and the big-eater Cha Minkyu.

“…This place is good.”

“Oh, Yiho, I know you’ll eat anything, just like your father.”

Cha Minkyu said it was good… so it must be a verified culinary gem. Minkyu was a big eater, but he would immediately put down his chopsticks and find another restaurant if the food wasn’t to his liking. This was one of the places they frequented.

“Huh? This is really good!”

His mother’s eyes widened as she mixed the jjajangmyeon and took a bite. As Yiho, who had chosen jjampong, slowly stirred the noodles in the broth, his mother called out to him.

“Yiho.”

“Yes.”

“You graduated from a good school, got a good job at a good company, and you’re doing well. You even inherited the best features from your father and me.”

“…”

He knew what was coming. This was the reason he’d sent the preemptive message to Minkyu.

“It’s been a few years since your father passed, and I’m lonely. I want to see a new member of the family.”

“…I understand.”

“When are you free? There are so many people at church who want to be introduced to you.”

Yiho buried his face in his jjampong bowl and slurped the noodles. He heard her sigh, “There he goes again, pretending not to hear.”

But there was nothing he could do.

Ever since he acknowledged his feelings for Cha Minkyu, Yiho had stopped categorizing himself as “marriage material” in Korea. It was a firmly established fact now.

He had lost interest in dating women, so his identity had gradually shifted towards being gay. Although the only man he was attracted to was Cha Minkyu… Regardless, he had gone through an abnormal unrequited love process that made marriage unlikely.

‘Putting a decimal into an integer variable causes an error, Mom…’

Yiho silently nibbled on the edge of a fried dumpling.

“Oh, just look at the picture. She plays the violin at church, and she’s very respectful to her elders.”

“No, I’m really not interested…”

“Just take a look. Just one look.”

He was wondering how to dissuade his mother from opening her phone case and flipping through her photo album when he heard the door code beeping.

“Who’s here at this hour? What, do you have someone hidden here?”

“Uh…”

Only three people knew the passcode to his apartment. The owner, Song Yiho, his mother, and the person living right across the hall…

“Mother, your daughter-in-law is here!”

Minkyu burst through the door. He was still in his suit, seemingly straight from work. He approached the two of them, grinning like a door-to-door salesman.

“Yiho said you were here, so I came to say hello. Are you eating?”

“Yes, come in. Our messy son’s wife.”

His mother took Minkyu’s “daughter-in-law” comment as a joke between close friends. Which was undoubtedly Minkyu’s intention.

“Ah, Yiho’s habit of leaving his clothes everywhere and not cleaning out expired food from his fridge has finally been exposed. Please scold him, Mother. I couldn’t stand it any longer and cleaned up for him this morning when I borrowed some eggs. This kid never listens to me.”

“I thought the refrigerator looked suspiciously clean. You have a friend living right across the hall, and you embarrass the neighborhood!”

“Ouch.”

Yiho’s back was mercilessly pummeled. He was too flustered by Minkyu’s joke to defend himself.

“Thank you for always helping him, Minkyu. We just started eating, but would you like to join us? Yiho ordered too much, the fried rice is still untouched.”

“Mom, he just got off work, he must be tired…”

“Sure, I’d love to. Thank you. Ah, you ordered from there? This place is a hidden gem, Mother.”

“I know, it’s really delicious.”

“If it has your approval, Mother, then I can trust this place from now on.”

Amidst the scene that made it unclear who was whose mother, Yiho quietly ate his noodles. Then, his eyes met Minkyu’s. A mischievous smile, his nose slightly wrinkled, reached him.

What, why is he smiling like that? It’s making my heart race and giving me indigestion.

“Minkyu, don’t you have any thoughts about marriage?”

And then, his mother turned her attention from Yiho to Minkyu.

“Mother, can you get married alone?”

…Ah, that’s a good answer. Yiho mentally noted it down for future use. Though he couldn’t guarantee he’d pull it off with Minkyu’s nonchalance.

“I understand our son’s situation, but why doesn’t a handsome, eloquent young man like Minkyu have a girlfriend? Would you like to be introduced to someone? There’s a young lady at church who plays the violin…”

“Mom, stop. Stop it.”

Yiho intervened before his mother could shove her phone at Minkyu. Minkyu, casually eating fried rice in his suit, silently studied Yiho’s expression.

“Why are you stopping her from setting Minkyu up, not you?”

“…Minkyu’s grandparents are Buddhist.”

“Oh, really? That could be a problem… This family is devoutly Christian…”

Fortunately, his mother conceded. Minkyu’s lips curled into a faint smile as he watched Yiho.

“Yiho.”

Yiho, his name spoken normally, blinked and turned his head. Ah, right, he couldn’t be called “SongYi” or “SongYi SongYi” in front of his parents.

“Uh… why?”

Minkyu’s dimples deepened.

“Isn’t it fun that we live right across from each other?”

Of course, every day was thrilling enough to make his heart ache. He wasn’t sure if “fun” was the right word, though.

“Yeah…”

“That’s why we’ve completely given up on the idea of marriage, Mother. We have fun together, we have drinks after work, we do everything together just by going back and forth between our apartments.”

“Oh… well, that’s good too. You’re still young… But do you both still work so much overtime?”

“Exactly, Mother. Please call the company and complain. The real reason we can’t even dream of dating is because of work.”

“Give me the number, I’ll give them a piece of my mind!”

“Ah, as expected, you’re the best, Mother.”

Thanks to Minkyu, the dinner conversation became livelier. His mother, who had been worried about her son living alone, was reassured by the presence of his responsible neighbor.

After dinner, his mother, unable to resist their insistence, sat on the sofa. She watched Yiho and Minkyu clean up, then picked up her bag.

“I’ll be going now. Make sure you lock the door.”

Yiho, carrying a stack of plastic containers, hurried into the living room.

“What do you mean you’re leaving? Of course, I’ll drive you home. Wait a minute.”

“It’s fine. It’s not that late. I can take the subway.”

“Mother, if we let you go like that, neither Yiho nor I will be able to relax until you get home. I’d like a night drive anyway, so let me give you a ride. Okay?”

Minkyu smoothly resolved what would have been a lengthy back-and-forth with his mother, even retrieving Yiho’s car keys from his jacket and handing them over.

Yiho’s mother had sold the building that housed Mokdong Rice Cake Shop and moved into a smaller apartment nearby. When Yiho suggested she move closer to him in Gangnam or somewhere with fresh air, she refused, saying all her lifelong friends were there.

A large cafe now stood where Mokdong Rice Cake Shop used to be. It had expanded to the second floor, where their family had lived, changing everything but the building’s frame. Whenever they passed by the gleaming white building, his mother’s gaze would drift towards the window.

“We should have remodeled our place nicely and learned to make brunch or something, instead of sweating in front of the steamer in our old age.”

“…”

Yiho lacked the eloquence to comfort her wistful remark.

“Mother, if you did that, the neighborhood would be in an uproar. So many people loved Yiho’s rice cakes. I lived my whole life not knowing how delicious rice cakes could be until I tried Yiho’s. But then, after tasting your and Father’s rice cakes, my palate became so refined that I can’t eat just any rice cake. Yiho, you saw, right? I gave away the wedding rice cakes today instead of eating them.”

“Yeah…”

The voice from the passenger seat drew his mother’s attention back into the car, a smile blooming on her face.

“Minkyu is so good with words. No one could dislike him.”

“I’m only like this with people I like. Like you, Mother, and Yiho.”

Yiho’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. It was a fleeting thrill in such a trivial situation. The car slowly entered the apartment complex.

While his mother gathered her things, Minkyu unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the passenger seat, and opened the rear door for her. His mother’s eyes widened at the unexpected courtesy.

“Oh my… this is… My, Minkyu, you really need to get married.”

Minkyu went a step further and escorted her to the entrance, waiting with her for the elevator. Yiho, unable to leave the driver’s seat, simply waved to his mother, still slightly dazed by the smooth sequence of events. Soon, a tall figure cast a long shadow as it approached the car.

“I made sure to see the elevator stop on the 3rd floor. Let’s go home.”

“Uh…”

Yiho pulled out of the parking lot with Minkyu. He knew Cha Minkyu was a master of words. But this was the first time he’d seen him extend such courtesy and manners to someone other than himself, to someone considered an “adult.”

Yiho knew Minkyu had had several girlfriends. And he also knew the reason he hadn’t been in a relationship for a few years.

Was this how Cha Minkyu’s relationships were? Overwhelmingly thoughtful and considerate, leaving no room to think…

The car stopped at a red light. Minkyu, scrolling through his phone, spoke.

“SongYi SongYi, want to have a late-night snack when we get back? I’m hungry again.”

One serving of fried rice wouldn’t be enough for Cha Minkyu. Another layer was added to the emotion that had been subtly growing.

“SongYi, what do you want to eat?”

“…Let’s order something after we get there. I’ll buy, since you had to deal with my mother.”

“Don’t mention it. You had it worse.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, your mother seems really eager for you to get married. You’re not interested, are you?”

That’s right. Not in Korea.

Maybe in the Netherlands, the US, New Zealand…

“Cha Minkyu.”

“Yeah?”

Minkyu didn’t look up from his phone, but he rested his arm on the driver’s seat back, as if to indicate he was listening. It wasn’t an uncomfortable position, perhaps because his shoulders were high.

There was something he wanted to ask.

Yiho cleared his throat, preparing for the question. Fortunately, he was usually so inarticulate that Minkyu wouldn’t notice his awkwardness.

“What about… you.”

“What about me?”

“Do you have any thoughts about marriage?”

“Well…”

“What do you mean ‘well’?”

“I mean ‘well’ because I haven’t thought about it.”

The phone screen, displaying the food delivery app, went black. The light illuminating Minkyu’s face disappeared.

In the concealing darkness, a hand reached out and brushed against the short hair by Yiho’s ear. The path of his hand felt warm, like a heated wire.

“You’re very interested in my love life these days, SongYi. Even though you won’t date me.”

“…”

His insides turned cold at the words that followed.

There was a huge contradiction in that lousy joke.

It wasn’t that Yiho wouldn’t date Cha Minkyu, it was that he couldn’t, even if he wanted to more than anything.

The bigger problem was that those words would never be a joke to Yiho, not until the day he died. How could it be a joke when it made him feel so devastated?

Unrequited love was an unprintable variable. It was wise to avoid dwelling on such emotions, to prevent unnecessary memory consumption. Yiho had always done that.

But this time…

He couldn’t just let it go, even though he knew it was a joke. Damn him.

The car, which should have been going straight, veered into the leftmost lane. Minkyu straightened up and looked around.

“SongYi, you’re going the wrong way.”

“I know.”

As the light turned green, Yiho made a U-turn. The car, headed towards Gangnam, now turned back towards Mokdong.

“Let’s go to the gym.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s spar.”

“…I’m wearing a shirt?”

“I’ll give you a handicap for the weight difference.”

The car quickly stopped in front of the boxing gym they used to frequent. The already old building had aged further in the past 15 years.

They climbed the stairs of the building, which didn’t even have an elevator, and reached the second floor. A stale smell of water, emanating from the restroom, permeated the dimly lit hallway. Yiho rummaged through the top locker, finding the key. Minkyu stood beside him in silence.

The colorful jump ropes and children’s attendance records were gone. The gym now only offered classes for hobbyists, as the owner was getting too old to handle more intensive training. Longtime customers like Yiho and Minkyu were occasionally granted free use of the space, as now.

Yiho turned on the lights, put on a pair of shared gloves, and stepped into the ring. Minkyu, watching him, picked up another pair of gloves and followed.

Thud.

Their gloved fists touched. They briefly sized each other up, then Yiho stepped forward, leading the attack. His fist connected with Minkyu’s glove, covering his face. A crisp pang! echoed through the room.

“Ha!”

Next was the body. A glove approached his stomach. Since becoming office workers in their thirties, they rarely sparred with the same intensity as they had as students. So Minkyu was holding back, but Yiho was attacking as if he’d abandoned all defense.

“Hey, hey. Song Yiho.”

“…”

“Go easy… ow.”

As a result, one of Minkyu’s blind defensive jabs inadvertently grazed Yiho’s head. Yiho didn’t exploit the opening, but his expression darkened. At that point, Minkyu’s competitive spirit flared.

Wham!

“Ugh.”

Yiho twisted his body to block, but the impact resonated through his arm. Minkyu, now close, wrinkled his nose. Yiho, biting his lip, immediately retaliated. A similar thud echoed. Yiho shielded his eyes from the sweat dripping down his forehead, his breathing ragged.

The hardest thing for Yiho, hiding his unrequited love, was the “line.” The line he absolutely had to maintain to remain friends. Yiho always had to stop at that line, while Minkyu would often cross it, disrupting Yiho’s territory before casually returning.

Cha Minkyu could do that. They were still friends. But Song Yiho, forever gazing at that line, could never cross it.

‘Honey, we’re in trouble. I think everyone at the company knows about us.’

‘You’re very interested in my love life these days, SongYi. Even though you won’t date me.’

Even unrequited love, when repeatedly struck with false hope, could reach a breaking point.

The sparring continued without anyone to call time. He attacked, fueled by the frustration of his unrequited love, but his punches weakened whenever they threatened to truly connect. The unexpressed emotions, accumulating within him, only intensified.

“Huff… ha… gasp…”

The match only ended when Yiho, after relentless attacks, finally collapsed onto the floor. Minkyu sat beside him, unbuttoning a few more buttons on his already disheveled shirt.

For a moment, only their panting filled the space. Sweat streamed down their foreheads and necks, dripping onto the ring floor. The cool March air had long since turned stifling.

“Song Yiho.”

“…What.”

“Did you get all your anger out on me?”

Yiho’s gaze, fixed on the ceiling, shifted to the man beside him. A large hand rested near his damp, tousled hair.

“Will you let it go now that you’ve beaten me up?”

“I didn’t… And what did you do wrong?”

“I’ve been acting up lately, both at work and at home. You’ve been acting distant, so I keep poking you. I’m afraid you’ll run away again like you did after your trip to Europe.”

“…”

Ah, right. The Europe trip.

If there was a turning point in his slowly growing, dreamlike unrequited love, it was then.

During winter break after his freshman year of college, Yiho and Minkyu had gone on a month-long trip to Europe. His parents, filled with a mixture of admiration and envy at their son planning such a grand trip, had gladly funded it, telling him to broaden his horizons.

But Yiho’s world had broadened a little too much.

In Europe, Song Yiho saw that men could love men. Men could hold hands and kiss. They could also have that look of being in love. Knowing the word “homosexual” and witnessing it in reality were completely different. It was a revelation that could overturn his entire life.

And Yiho vaguely sensed that his own feelings were directed towards his friend.

Although, for Minkyu, who had shared the same journey, it seemed to have been just a curious sight.

“…It’s just that I’ve been busy with work.”

Minkyu scoffed, as if he could easily prove that was a lie with less than ten words, but he didn’t press the issue.

“Right. With our apartments across the hall and our desks right next to each other, where would you even run away to?”

“…”

Yiho stared blankly at the old ceiling tiles before sitting up.

“But… why don’t you block me, even though you know I’m being unreasonable?”

“SongYi SongYi isn’t just a friend.”

The confident words continued without waiting for a response.

“You’re family.”

“…”

“After all these years, how could I? You know. I’m not particularly close to my own family, so you’re much more like family to me.”

Minkyu’s hand brushed against Yiho’s knee.

“Even if you’re being unreasonable, I have to grovel and appease you at least three times.”

“…”

“I haven’t felt like you’ve been unreasonable yet.”

This was why Song Yiho kept suppressing the inefficient variable of his unrequited love. Because of Cha Minkyu, who considered him family, he could neither move forward nor run away.

Fortunately, over the years, Yiho had successfully implemented an exception handler for “Cha Minkyu.”

“What? Where are you going? Running away?”

“I’m getting the mop. I need to clean up before we leave.”

“That’s running away.”

“I’m hungry too, so order something for when we get back. It should arrive by the time we’re done cleaning up.”

“Oh, SongYi SongYi. Smart.”

Thirty-three.

Among his peers, some were fresh-faced new hires, some were CEOs of their own startups, some were assistant managers, managers, team leaders…

In terms of relationships and marriage, some were single, some were fathers, some were divorced.

One particular guy in front of him had enjoyed a colorful dating life until his late twenties, then abruptly stopped for unknown reasons.

And someone beside him was foolishly clinging to a stagnant unrequited love.

Ignoring the warning to clear unnecessary memory, Yiho returned with the old mop. The sweat stains on the ring floor were gone, but the heat lingered as they cleaned up together.

💼

Yiho was wearing a suit for the first time in a while. Deputy Manager Yoon, the second-in-command of the development team, was also dressed similarly. The reason for their attire was a morning meeting with executives from another company.

The other team members were also dressed more formally than usual, though not in full suits. Three of them were wearing checked shirts, but that was only a problem from the perspective of other teams; within the development team, no one noticed. In fact, Yiho felt a shy sense of pride at his team’s unusually dapper appearance.

However, the reason the team members were dressed up and sitting with unusually straight backs was completely different from Yiho’s. It seemed to be because of a certain someone…

“Hello. My name is Song Junseo.”

The long-awaited new development team member had finally arrived.

Even Yiho, who had made an effort for the meeting, was only wearing a semi-formal suit, so the new hire, in a full suit and tie, stood out. He was a truly fresh new hire, not someone with prior experience. The senior developers, impressed by his youthful appearance, seemed to be beaming.

“Oh, welcome. Would you like some coffee? I’ll show you the pantry later.”

“If you have any questions, just ask anyone, and we’ll be happy to answer…!”

“You have the same last name as the team leader. I can already sense the aura of a coding genius.”

“Can I ask where you went to university?”

Junseo hesitated, then replied in a slightly louder voice,

“The school you look up to when asked about the future of the nation.”

“…”

Yiho closed his eyes. The embarrassment he’d felt around those who boasted about their university during his school days resurfaced. An awkward silence fell over the development team, but one person couldn’t contain himself. A muffled “Keuh!” erupted from the next desk. It was the Korea University Media and Communications graduate. Then, Minkyu’s voice reached the development team.

“So the new employee is Team Leader Song’s junior, then.”

“Oh, Team Leader, you went to our school?”

It was more like I went there first, and then you… Yiho awkwardly nodded.

“Team Leader Song has a PhD in computer science, right?”

“Huh? A PhD?”

Junseo gaped at Yiho.

“Team Leader, how old are… I mean, how… how did you…?”

“Wow, Team Leader has a PhD from Korea University, and the new hire is also from Korea University… Why was I chosen for this team? I suddenly feel left out, not even having gone to a university in Seoul.”

Taekyeong said dramatically, looking at Yiho. Knowing their team leader wouldn’t get angry, the others joined in the teasing, saying, “Wow, Doctor~”.

“Come on, everyone, stop it… and Team Leader Cha, mind your own business and focus on your own team.”

At this moment, the precious new hire was more important to Yiho than the object of his affection. Especially seeing Kwon Taekyeong, the former junior-most member, beaming at his successor as if he’d fallen in love at first sight.

“Taekyeong-nim, please help Junseo-nim with the initial setup and look after him during today’s meeting.”

“Yes!”

“Junseo-nim, learn a lot from Taekyeong-nim.”

“Ah… from him?”

“Yes. He’s your immediate senior, so you’ll be taking over a lot of the tasks he’s been handling.”

“…Yes.”

His response was lukewarm. Why did his friend’s words, “His skills are top-notch,” echo in his ears? He really didn’t understand… And why was the emphasis on “top-notch“?

Even as Taekyeong explained the login process and other things, Junseo’s gaze kept drifting towards Yiho. Yiho deliberately ignored him.

A little before 11, the development team members started getting up from their desks. Deputy Manager Yoon stretched and muttered to himself,

“Ugh, how rude to visit someone else’s company at 11.”

Hearing this, Junseo asked Taekyeong, who was walking beside him,

“Is there a problem with having a meeting at 11?”

“Ah, it’s right before lunch. It’s not a popular time slot among the senior developers.”

Junseo soon realized why people complained about things like “meeting times” as they arrived at the meeting room.

“Greetings. Ah, Team Leader Song Yiho, it’s been a while. You seem to get more handsome every time I see you.”

“Ah… thank you. How have you been, Senior Managing Director?”

“Very well. Development team members, please have a seat. We can’t have our hardworking guests standing.”

The visitor appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. The Senior Managing Director from OS Tech was there to pitch their solutions for the development team’s project.

Yiho always felt uncomfortable in these situations. He’d rather be scolded by his manager than be treated with such deference by someone old enough to be his father… When he’d told Minkyu about this, Minkyu had replied that they sent older executives precisely because they knew he got flustered. He had no counterargument.

The Senior Managing Director personally poured water for each team member, starting with the most senior. His previous attempt to decline this courtesy, saying it wasn’t necessary, had been rebuffed with the explanation that it was their company policy.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Junseo-nim.”

They greeted the new hire, Junseo, respectfully, handing him a business card and pouring him a glass of water. And the long-awaited new hire…

“Yes.”

…simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Even Deputy Manager Yoon, who had complained about the 11 o’clock meeting, and Taekyeong, smitten with his junior, were wide-eyed. Only the seasoned Senior Managing Director chuckled.

As everyone’s eyes darted around nervously, the meeting began.

It was customary to place the other company’s business card on the table during a meeting. To avoid mixing up names, and as a sign of acknowledging the other party. Junseo, after being prompted by Taekyeong, placed the received business card next to him on the right.

‘At least he’s behaving appropriately in front of his seniors…’

…Just as he thought that, Junseo placed his water bottle on top of the business card. Yiho’s eyes widened. The Senior Managing Director’s name, printed on the card, shimmered and distorted under the water bottle.

Yiho frantically signaled to Senior Developer Kim Miso, sitting diagonally across from him. Luckily, she quickly caught on, looked behind her as if checking something, then understood the situation. Miso kicked Taekyeong, who was sitting next to Junseo, under the table. Taekyeong followed her gaze, saw the water bottle, and quickly removed it with a startled look.

The meeting, draining Yiho’s energy more than usual, finally ended. As they were getting ready to leave, the Senior Managing Director shook Yiho’s hand, covering it with his other hand.

“Team Leader, I hope you’ll consider our proposal favorably. Thank you for your time.”

“Yes, I was impressed… Thank you for coming today.”

Even the inarticulate Song Yiho managed to produce socially acceptable words. The meeting concluded, and the development team returned to their desks. Some of them seemed particularly deflated, sensing that something had gone wrong…

“It’s past lunchtime now, right?”

Junseo’s voice piped up again. Deputy Manager Yoon sighed and gripped the partition.

“Junseo-nim, I think I misspoke earlier in front of you. There’s no problem with having a meeting at 11. Okay? It doesn’t matter what time it is, as long as it’s the agreed-upon time.”

“But didn’t they come from a company less prestigious than Taejang Electronics?”

“That’s irrelevant. In the meeting room, they may seem like the ones asking for a favor because they’re pitching their solution, but once they step out of this building, he’s a Senior Managing Director, and we’re just employees. So… ha… please be mindful of your attitude from now on.”

“…Ah… Yes, okay.”

In the awkward silence, Miso forced a cheerful voice.

“You must have been nervous since it was your first time! Taekyeong-nim and I will take Junseo-nim to the cafeteria and explain things to him. Oh, can I book the welcome dinner for tomorrow for everyone?”

It was their way of saying, “Leave it to us, we’ll talk to him.” After all, they would be the ones most affected if the new hire decided to quit.

Yiho now understood why his friend had said, “His skills are top-notch,” and why the emphasis was on “top-notch.”

Oh, no. No.

He himself hadn’t exactly been praised for his social skills, so what could he expect from a fresh graduate? A developer who adapted well to a corporate environment right away was a unicorn.

But he was just bad with words, not lacking in common sense… or was he? Perhaps others saw it differently.

It was only his first day, after all. If he taught him well, Junseo would one day recall today’s events and cringe in embarrassment. Yiho steeled his resolve and headed to the cafeteria.

💼

Yiho had a minor nightmare. The new hire, Song Junseo, suggested playing a drinking game at the welcome dinner and chose the “Son Byung-ho Game” (a Korean drinking game). His first prompt was:

“Anyone who didn’t go to Korea University, fold.”

Overwhelmed by secondhand embarrassment, he grabbed the bottle in front of him and chugged it, waking himself up. It was a horrifying nightmare that made him want to avoid going to work at all costs.

Minkyu, startled, looked at Yiho’s pale face as he opened his door.

“Why does our SongYi look so wilted?”

“…”

“Did someone bother you all night? No, I was keeping watch from next door.”

Yiho recounted his dream with a deep sigh, and Cha Minkyu laughed so hard he nearly rolled on the floor, leaving fingerprints all over the elevator’s mirror on their way down from the 18th floor to the basement parking lot. Then, he stopped Yiho, who was about to walk towards his car.

“SongYi, take my car today. You’ll cause an accident in that state.”

“But…”

“No one will know we came together if we park in the far corner.”

Cha Minkyu, already holding onto Yiho’s shoulders and pulling him towards his car like a train, made it sound less like a suggestion and more like a command. He pushed Yiho into the passenger seat, walked around the car, and got into the driver’s seat.

“…Fine. Thanks.”

Today, Minkyu was impeccably dressed in a suit. He was so diligent, even his hair was perfectly styled. In contrast, Yiho was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, more casually dressed than usual because of the team dinner later. His hair was… well, as long as it wasn’t dripping wet, it was fine.

“SongYi SongYi, what?”

“Huh?”

“You keep looking at me through the mirror. I’m getting nervous and might crash.”

Despite saying that, Minkyu smoothly backed out of the parking space and navigated the narrow parking lot lanes. Yiho placed his laptop bag, which he’d been clutching, at his feet.

“No, it’s just… seeing you, I’m wondering if I should have dressed up a bit. It’s the new hire’s welcome dinner, after all.”

“Why are you trying to impress the new hire? The new hire should adapt to your team.”

“You say that because… your team isn’t desperate for new hires.”

“Even if we were, we wouldn’t carry them around on our backs forever. That just delays the time it takes for them to become independent.”

“…”

“Your junior developer seems a bit immature anyway.”

“Don’t badmouth my precious team member. You seem to particularly dislike Taekyeong-nim.”

“I don’t like the way he treats you.”

“…Why? Isn’t he good to me? He’s very respectful.”

“Being nice to your boss and being nice to your kindergarten teacher are different things.”

…Cha Minkyu had a surprisingly discerning side. Or rather, that was probably closer to his true attitude towards work. It was just that he acted like a goofball at home.

Thinking about yesterday’s incident, a stricter team leader might be better than a friendly one. It might also help Taekyeong, his mentor, and the new hire to bond.

‘But how do you act like a strict team leader…’

Lost in thought, Yiho buried his face in his hands.

“I just want to work. I hate managing people.”

“SongYi, you do have that research nerd streak in you.”

He had no retort. He wanted to be just SongYi, a lone mushroom living under a remote pine tree in the forest, as Minkyu’s nickname suggested.

“Hey, SongYi SongYi, I was just kidding. You’re doing fine, why worry? Your team has a good atmosphere.”

“The team is good, but I hate being the team leader…”

“…”

Minkyu, stifling a laugh, patted Yiho’s head. After exactly 30 seconds, Yiho looked up again.

“Gotta do it, what choice do I have…”

He muttered the words like a salaryman’s motto.