PTC Chapter 16. A Farewell Kiss

The design team bustled with energy from early morning. Seated at their respective workstations, the furniture designers immersed themselves in their roles, embracing the new day. Da-in approached Han Seungmin’s desk. He had promised to create a 3D model of her design.

Seungmin was working on a virtual prototype of Da-in’s furniture piece, the monitor displaying the design from various angles.

“The curve in this section needs to be a bit smoother.” 

Da-in suggested. Seungmin nodded in agreement. Just then, a slightly excited voice echoed through the room.

“The planning team just contacted us. They’ve decided on the name for the new furniture brand.” 

Team leader Kim Hyunwoo’s announcement captured everyone’s attention.

“What is it?” someone asked.

“Everheim.”

“Oh, that’s a nice name.”

“They said they chose ‘Everheim’ because it represents a modern and sustainable lifestyle. The concept is modern minimalism.” Hyunwoo explained.

Senior designer Gong Seoyeon whistled. 

“Sounds good. We’ll need to emphasize simple yet sophisticated designs. Eliminating unnecessary ornamentation and balancing functionality with aesthetics. I think it’ll come out with a clean and luxurious feel, right?”

“Bingo. Exactly.” 

Hyunwoo confirmed. Da-in, her heart burning with passion, clenched her fists, listening intently to the other team members’ input.

“Wouldn’t eco-friendly materials be a good idea? Using recyclable materials would minimize the environmental impact. We could get all our products eco-friendly certified. And aim for energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction during the manufacturing process.” One team member suggested.

Da-in then voiced her own idea.

 “How about modular designs? Offering modular furniture that can be combined in various ways. Allowing customers to arrange the pieces according to their space and preferences.”

Seoyeon applauded Da-in’s courageous suggestion.

 “Good idea! I think modular design is going to be a big trend.”

Then, Assistant Manager Jeong cautiously added.

 “If possible, it would be good to consider the physical conditions of all age groups in our designs. Designs that anyone can comfortably use.”

Seungmin chimed in.

“Let’s incorporate smart features into the furniture as well, if we can. Wireless charging, smart lighting, and other interconnected functionalities. That would make them more convenient and efficient, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s good!”

“What’s the brand slogan going to be?” Someone asked, curious about the planning team’s concept.

“Developing original designs, producing high-quality products, and targeting the global market. They mentioned things like that. They’re looking for unique and innovative designs, something that distinguishes Everheim,” Kim Hyunwoo explained.

“Looks like we’ll be pulling our hair out again.” 

Seoyeon commented. Although she had only been there for a week, she and the other team members had been racking their brains day and night.

The launch of a new brand! Da-in, finally able to participate in something she had always wanted to do, felt her passion for the project burn brightly. The meeting continued past closing time, and in the middle of it, Da-in’s phone rang. It was Seojun.

“Hello?” Da-in answered the phone.

―Still not off work? Seojun asked.

“I’m in a meeting,” Da-in whispered, conscious of the people around her.

―Does our company’s entire workload fall on the design team? Seojun quipped.

“You know we’re busy because of the new brand.”

“Alright, everyone, let’s call it a day,” the team leader announced from nearby. The meeting had concluded, and it was quite late. Seojun apparently overheard this.

―They’re saying they’re leaving now.

“So what?”

―Come downstairs. I’ll give you a ride. It’s past 8, so we’re husband and wife now.

Da-in gritted her teeth. He was right. As per the contract, she was his wife after 8 p.m. 

Just because I’m his wife doesn’t mean I have to obey everything he says. Even in an equal marriage, I can refuse. 

She thought this, but she had to leave work anyway, and there was no need to refuse a ride. She went outside and got into the car, and Seojun immediately drove off.

“I told the driver to go home early.”

Did he even send the driver home early just to give me a ride? Why go through all that trouble? Da-in wondered momentarily but didn’t say anything.

“I guess you won’t be coming to your house much anymore. Starting next week…” Seojun began, but trailed off.

“Right. Once we register our marriage tomorrow, you’ll have to live at my place. What are you going to do this weekend? Think about it. If we register our marriage on the weekend, we’ll technically be newlyweds, but are you going to go straight back to your parents’ house?”

Da-in was taken aback by this. “Don’t you remember the contract? You agreed to let me go home for one day on the weekend. And there’s also a special allowance for weekends.” 

“Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about the allowance,” Seojun replied. He fell silent and focused on driving, seemingly put off by Da-in’s constant talk of contracts and allowances.

As the car approached Da-in’s apartment, she saw her mother carrying Sol on her back, walking towards the convenience store in front of the building.

“That’s my mom.”

“Is that little one over there Sol?” Seojun parked the car. They could see the back of a middle-aged woman carrying a child.

“Yes, my niece. Isn’t she cute? Thanks for the ride.”

“Wait, you’re just going to leave?”

“What else? Should I say goodbye? Give you a farewell kiss or something?” Da-in said curtly. Suddenly, her lips were sealed by a kiss—a soft yet possessive kiss from Seojun. After the lingering kiss ended, Da-in glared at him.

“What are you doing?”

“You said it yourself. Right. I should give you a farewell kiss. Since we’re about to become husband and wife.”

“When did I… Forget it. Just go,” Da-in said, realizing it was pointless to argue. She slammed the door shut and hurried towards her mother who was carrying Sol.

“Mom!”

Eunjeong’s face lit up at the sight of her daughter. “Oh, you’re off work.”

“Are you going to the convenience store?”

“Yes. Sol wants caramel. She didn’t have any today.”

“Auntie!” Sol called out to Da-in from her grandmother’s back. Da-in immediately took the child in her arms.

“Auntie!” Sol’s face broke into a wide smile. Da-in carried her into the convenience store.

Watching this from his car, Seojun smiled. 

“She really loves kids… She’s like a child herself.” To Seojun, despite being the same age, Da-in always seemed childlike. Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t hate her, even after she hurt him so deeply. He could see from afar how innocently she adored children and doted on her niece.

If we had a baby too…

Seojun shook his head, dismissing the futile thought. Da-in had abandoned him in the past, and she was only entering this 100-day marriage for money.

A marriage with an expiration date.

The idea of having a child with her was absurd. Yet, a lingering feeling of longing made him watch Da-in’s retreating figure as she carried Sol into the store.

***

From the morning onwards, meetings continued every two hours. They were discussing design sketches and how they aligned with the concept of the new brand, Everheim. Due to the hectic schedule, they had a quick lunch in the company cafeteria. Now, three female employees, each holding a cup of coffee, sat in the break room.

The hot topic of the day was Gong Seoyeon’s blouse. The lip prints on the silk blouse were deemed quite provocative, prompting comments from everyone.

“Do you know how revealing your blouse is, Ms. Gong?”

“At my age, I can wear this kind of thing. Besides, it doesn’t even stand out to me. My face isn’t vibrant, so I have to wear more stimulating clothes,” Seoyeon retorted.

“What are you talking about? People would believe it if you said you just got married.”

Seoyeon shook her head at the comment from beside her. 

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m terrified of getting old. Although, my friend told me she got a proposal the other day. Da-in, do you have any fantasies about proposals?”

Da-in paused, thinking for a moment before deflecting, “I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it much lately.”

Yoojin chimed in, “I absolutely love the classics. You know, the restaurant proposal, where he pulls out the ring, gets down on one knee, and there’s a violin serenade. Like in the movies. Isn’t that so romantic?”

Seoyeon shook her head. “I prefer surprise proposals during trips. Like on a mountaintop or at the beach. Away from everyday life, in a special place, at an unexpected moment… I think it would be incredibly moving to be proposed to when you least expect it.”

“So, did you get married after such a proposal, Ms. Gong?” Yoojin asked.

Seoyeon frowned. “What are you talking about? I don’t even remember how I got proposed to.”

Da-in smiled faintly as she considered the question. Seoyeon noticed and asked, “What about you, Da-in?”

“I like the idea of a simple proposal during a quiet moment, just the two of us. Maybe while cooking at home, he suddenly pulls out a ring. Something small and sincere.” 

It was something she had once dreamed of.