DMSD | Chapter 25

If only Section Chief Yang had treated him comfortably like that, it wouldn’t have been so awkward for everyone watching. Just as the atmosphere began to dip, Manager Lee suddenly remembered and asked Jinhwan, “Mr. Jinhwan, we’re planning a welcome party next Friday.”

“I’m busy then.”

“…Oh, is that so? How about Thursday?”

“Busy.” Manager Lee’s ears reddened a bit.

“Then Wednesday.”

“Busy then too.”

“Oh, this is troublesome.”

Manager Lee, not giving up despite the awkwardness, asked about Tuesday. Just as Jinhwan was about to say “busy,” Myeongeun quickly elbowed him in the ribs.

“Manager, Mr. Jinhwan said he’s busy next week.” Myeongeun said with a smile to Manager Lee.

“He’s free this Friday, right, Mr. Jinhwan?”

He tilted his head slightly to only show his face to Jinhwan and squinted his eyes. Jinhwan frowned and looked at Myeongeun.

“Who said I was free,”

“Mr. Jinhwan.”

Myeongeun leaned close to Jinhwan and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“Just say you’ll go, Friday. I’ll make it quick.”

Jinhwan clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“I’m free on Friday.”

Hearing this, Manager Lee perked up and asked, “So, Mr. Jinhwan, you’re okay for this Friday?”

Myeongeun answered “Yes” for him and then personally went over to Section Chief Yang, Assistant Manager Kim, and Supervisor Yu who was a bit further away to check if they were okay with Friday. Everyone was fine with it, although Supervisor Yu looked at Myeongeun coldly but eventually agreed, albeit reluctantly. Myeongeun thanked him with a voice as if groveling, “Thank you, Supervisor,” and returned to Jinhwan’s side.

Jinhwan’s eyes were blazing with anger.

“It’s better to do it this week since I’ll be busy with warehouse organization until the end of the year from next week.”

Myeongeun whispered soothingly to Jinhwan.

“It’s just the day after tomorrow, Friday. Even if it’s a dinner, everyone will be tired so it won’t take long. I’ll try to wrap it up quickly.”

Jinhwan, though still looking displeased, didn’t complain further.

I swear, Myeongeun had never forced anyone to join a dinner since college because he didn’t like them either. But this time, there was no other way. There was an unspoken request from Kwon Jinhyeon, ‘That guy doesn’t have friends. I hope he makes some social friends this time.’

Even though Myeongeun wanted to argue that he himself didn’t have many friends but was living just fine, he didn’t. Just having a couple of friends to confide in had never been a problem for him. Until today, before seeing the resume, he thought that being temperamental might be why he didn’t even have those few friends.

But when he learned of Jinhwan’s high school dropout fact, Myeongeun finally understood the weight of Kwon Jinhyeon’s words about him having no friends.

It was when Myeongeun was looking at Jinhwan’s narrowed eyebrows that Manager Lee came up wearing a suit jacket.

“Hey there. You guys go ahead and have lunch.”

Then he nodded at Jinhwan, “I’ll join you tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

Before Manager Lee could finish, the elevator opened. It was nearly full with Kwon Jinhyeok, Kwon Jinhyeon, the HR Manager, and the HR Section Chief already inside.

“Manager.”

Kwon Jinhyeon moved aside to make space and said, “Come on in,” and the Manager quickly stepped into the elevator.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Kwon Jinhyeon greeted all the office staff with a smile. And just before the elevator doors closed, Myeongeun caught Kwon Jinhyeok’s eye leaning against the elevator wall, who winked at him.

In that brief and simple gesture, Myeongeun felt like he received a message from Kwon Jinhyeok to take good care of his brother. He didn’t feel any deeper emotions than that.

However, someone else felt differently.

“…Throwing flirts from there.”

Muttered a low voice suddenly. Myeongeun looked at Jinhwan. Leaning against the wall until then, Jinhwan straightened up and said,

“Isn’t that sexual harassment. Should report it.”

Myeongeun widened his eyes.

“You’re joking?”

“It may sound old-fashioned but it’s clearly harassment, why not report it.”

It seemed that Jinhwan might need some company training on sexual harassment.

While Myeongeun added this to his mental checklist, Kim Junyoung returned from the restroom. When Manager Lee mentioned the date for the dinner, Kim Junyoung whined, “Wasn’t it next week?” complaining about the sudden change in plans. Kim Assistant Manager retorted bluntly, “If you can’t make it, just don’t come.”

“Oh, you should come to the dinner.”

Kim Junyoung clung to Manager Lee, starting to recommend dinner menus.

Supervisor Yu silently moved towards Elevator 3, and everyone followed him.

The elevator, relatively spacious since the upstairs people had left, was suddenly crowded when Public Relations staff from the 8th floor packed in, having heard rumors about Jinhwan. They were stiff and silent, a stark contrast to the usually noisy elevator.

Shortly, Kim Junyoung and the Public Relations Supervisor began whispering, and one of the PR Assistants subtly asked Manager Lee a work-related question, stirring up some mild chaos in the elevator, making it just breathable.

At that moment, Myeongeun, squeezed into a corner of the elevator, was lost in thought. It was unexpected to see the HR Section Chief and Manager, known to be in the Kwon Executive Director line, together with the Kwon brothers. If even Director Jo was called, it looked like they were heading to a meal.

Could it be a meal with undertones of solicitation regarding Jinhwan?

Myeongeun thought this as his cheek was pressed against the cold elevator wall.

“…Look.”

Startled by Jinhwan’s voice overhead, Myeongeun looked up. Jinhwan, having just glanced down, gestured with his eyes towards the elevator ceiling.

“Seems curious about the spiritual spot.”

Myeongeun quickly bowed his head again. There wasn’t much space to move closer, but he wriggled and squeezed next to Jinhwan.

“My bad.”

He whispered an apology.

“I won’t say that again, please just drop it…!”

Jinhwan’s low laughter spread gently over the top of Myeongeun’s head then faded away.

They arrived at a restaurant just two minutes from the company building, and everyone went inside. Myeongeun waited by the door for Jinhwan, who was on the phone outside. He tried not to eavesdrop, but he could hear mentions of a shamanistic temple.

Myeongeun watched Jinhwan’s back.

After observing him for nearly half a day, Jinhwan seemed more dedicated to his job than Myeongeun had thought, and he also looked busy. The two brothers weren’t kidding when they referred to it as his “main occupation,” which seemed quite serious.

Kwon Jinhyeon had said if Jinhwan decided to take on the company work, he would personally reduce his workload on the main job side. Hence, hearing Jinhwan during a break room call saying, “For now, just KakaoTalk and call consultations,” it seemed he had reduced direct exorcism activities.

Credit card’s power, Myeongeun thought with a chuckle, lifting his head as he sensed someone approaching.

“Done with your call?”

Jinhwan just nodded and passed Myeongeun to enter the restaurant. Any complaint about being ignored as if he wasn’t waiting would likely be met with a retort of who asked you to wait. Myeongeun followed him inside.

At a table where two were joined, one side sat Manager Lee, Kim Junyoung, and Supervisor Yu, and on the other, Section Chief Yang, Assistant Manager Kim, and both Myeongeun and Jinhwan.

Just like a typical lunch scene, Manager Lee and Kim Junyoung discussed stocks, while Assistant Manager Kim and Section Chief Yang talked about the wedding preparations Kim Assistant Manager was undergoing. Supervisor Yu, who had been trading stocks for quite some time, chimed in when Manager Lee had stock-related questions and gave suitable responses to Assistant Manager Kim’s queries about wedding venues and preparation. Supervisor Yu had called off a wedding scheduled for last fall just two months before the date. He wasn’t one to gossip about personal matters, but that story was well-known, and Supervisor Yu didn’t hide or shy away from it. “It’s in the past, what about it,” was his typical response.

Usually, Myeongeun would listen more to Section Chief Yang and Assistant Manager Kim’s side, but today, he was busy taking care of Jinhwan. He took care of his chopsticks, poured water for him, all the while sneaking glances at Jinhwan, who didn’t lift a finger to help himself.

Kids these days.

Myeongeun startled himself with his own remark as he was setting down a water bottle.