TMP Chapter 11: First Physical Contact

“Team Leader, how about having these two on the cover photo?”

“The cover?”

Dongseok blinked in surprise, but deep down, he welcomed the photographer’s suggestion. In fact, from the moment he had proposed the interview, he had secretly wanted Haewon on the cover. However, he had neither the courage nor a valid excuse to suggest it, so he had hesitated.

The company’s internal magazine, which reported various updates, rarely attracted much attention from employees. Despite the long hours he and his team put into it every month, it simply failed to capture interest.

But if Haewon’s face were on the cover, it would undoubtedly create a buzz. Ever since she joined the company, she had turned heads. Unfortunately, she had been adamantly opposed to the idea, so they had settled for just a written interview as a compromise.

Then, unexpectedly, Kangwoo agreed to participate. Even during his executive promotion interview, he had only provided a simple ID-style photo, yet now, for some reason, he had readily agreed to a full cover shoot.

Dongseok’s disappointment quickly turned into excitement.

The magazine team had been waiting for this moment. A two-shot of Kangwoo and Haewon? This was a golden opportunity. There was no way this combination could fail.

“Team Leader, how about something like this?”

“Huh? Oh, um…”

Still reeling, Dongseok struggled to compose himself. Meanwhile, the photographer, completely oblivious to his flustered state, pulled out a tablet and began showing samples from previous shoots. Her enthusiasm was unmistakable.

“This was a recent shoot I did with professional models. What do you think?”

Fired up, the photographer bypassed Dongseok entirely and directed her pitch straight to the people involved—Kangwoo and Haewon.

Haewon’s expression froze in horror as she saw the image on the screen—a man and woman standing close, lips nearly touching. Meanwhile, Kangwoo studied the photo with unnecessary seriousness.

“Um, Photographer, this is a corporate magazine, so poses like this are a bit… Oh, no, not that one either.”

Dongseok’s initial excitement faded fast as he scrambled to react to the images.

“I’m not saying we have to do it exactly like this. Just something with a similar concept.”

“What do you mean by ‘similar’?”

“How about the two of you standing face to face and shaking hands?”

“Oh, that’s a great idea.”

Dongseok brightened at the suggestion, though he shot a quick glance at Kangwoo to gauge his reaction.

“Oh, but Executive Director Do might find it inappropriate…”

“It’s about showing that, despite being in a superior-subordinate relationship, we still work as equals. Would that make you uncomfortable?”

Instead of the hesitant Dongseok, the photographer turned directly to Kangwoo and asked bluntly. He knew that Kangwoo was the final decision-maker here.

“In my opinion…”

Before Kangwoo could finish answering, Haewon cut in. A sense of crisis surged within her—if she let things continue, everything would go exactly as the photographer intended.

“I agreed to do a written interview only.”

She didn’t even realize she had interrupted her superior. Her mind was solely focused on stopping this.

It wasn’t just because she disliked taking photos—this was the agreement from the start.

But now, not only the magazine team but even the photographer had joined forces to pressure her. It was obvious what they were trying to do, and Haewon was the only one in an awkward position. No matter how much she disliked it, outright refusing would be difficult. After all, this was still a workplace, and the magazine team were colleagues she would have to see again.

“I wasn’t expecting a photo shoot, so I’m not dressed appropriately, and I don’t even have any makeup on. I’m completely unprepared.”

“Your outfit is perfectly fine, and your makeup doesn’t need much adjusting either. If you’re concerned about that, don’t worry—we have professionals for that.”

Haewon’s desperate excuse was instantly dismissed. But she wasn’t ready to give up just yet. As a last resort, she brought up Kangwoo.

“The Executive Director will be uncomfortable. I’m not good at photo shoots…”

“I’m fine with it.”

Haewon shot a glare at Kangwoo, but he remained unfazed.

“I kept my schedule free today, so I have plenty of time.”

“Okay! Then there’s no issue now, right?”

With Kangwoo’s support, the photographer beamed with satisfaction.

Haewon’s opinion was completely ignored. The cover shoot with Kangwoo and Haewon, which hadn’t even been planned, was suddenly set in motion. The preparations moved quickly.

By the time Haewon came to her senses, she was already having her makeup done. She stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror. What kind of disaster had just struck her out of nowhere?

“How about this for your outfit?”

One of the team members brought over an outfit and held it up in front of Haewon.

“Isn’t the Executive Director wearing a light gray suit?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then won’t it look too much like a couple’s outfit?”

“Oh, you’re right!”

The two team members giggled while discussing the gray suits. Meanwhile, Haewon, practically in a trance, left everything to them. She no longer had the energy to protest. She had resigned herself to her fate.

“Let’s go with a sky-blue shirt. It’ll balance well with the gray.”

After some deliberation, the team members settled on an outfit.

“Assistant Manager, please change into this.”

Now that she had come this far, resisting would only make things more uncomfortable for everyone. Haewon obediently did as she was told.

“You look great.”

As she stepped out, already changed, Kangwoo was waiting for her. The photographer, along with Dongseok and the rest of the team, was busy preparing for the shoot.

Haewon glanced at the set. She hadn’t thought much about it before, but now that the photoshoot was actually happening, she started to feel nervous.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

There was no point in hiding it—Kangwoo wouldn’t believe her anyway. And besides, there was no reason to hide it.

“Be confident. You’re the prettiest hedgehog I’ve ever seen.”

Even now, he had to bring up that hedgehog nonsense. Haewon narrowed her eyes into sharp triangles and glared at him.

“Ow, so sharp.”

Kangwoo exaggerated his reaction as if he had been pricked and jumped back dramatically.

Ugh, she really couldn’t stand this man.

“Both of you, please move to the center.”

The photographer, camera in hand, gestured for Haewon and Kangwoo to move to the middle of the set. Without hesitation, Haewon strode ahead. Kangwoo followed at a leisurely pace.

“Stand a little closer together.”

As the two stood side by side, the photographer officially began the shoot. Following the photographer’s instructions, Haewon and Kangwoo closed the distance between them.

“Now, stand facing each other and hold hands. Slowly reach out.”

It was just a handshake, nothing more than a greeting… Yet, this was the first time she had ever held Kangwoo’s hand.

The moment she became aware of that fact, her mind went completely blank, and her vision blurred. Strangely enough, though, Kangwoo—standing right in front of her—and his outstretched hand became incredibly clear.

His hand slowly reached toward her. Haewon extended hers to match his movement. Their fingertips were just about to touch.

Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. Thump, thump—the sound of it was so loud she feared Kangwoo might hear it.

“Now, hold hands!”

The photographer’s booming voice echoed across the room. Haewon silently wished her heartbeat would be drowned out by the noise.

Finally, Kangwoo’s hand clasped hers.

Had his hands always been this big?

His palm, large enough to completely envelop hers, felt slightly dry yet warm. It was the tail end of summer, a time when heat still lingered, so describing something as warm felt odd—but that was her first impression.

Her pleasant feelings didn’t last long. She felt moisture gathering on her palm.

What if he finds it uncomfortable? The thought made her unconsciously furrow her brows.

“Don’t stiffen up your expression!”

The photographer immediately pointed it out. Haewon quickly tried to relax her face, but once it had tensed up, it wasn’t so easy to fix. If anything, she only looked more awkward.

“If you need a break, we can pause.”

Kangwoo suggested gently.

“No, I’m fine.”

Haewon shook her head, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.

“Let’s do it again. Just take each other’s hands naturally.”

Following the photographer’s direction, Haewon reached out again. This time, Kangwoo grasped her hand with a firmer grip than before. It wasn’t forceful, but it was strong enough that she wouldn’t be able to pull away first.

When Haewon looked at him with slight confusion, Kangwoo leaned in just enough to whisper so only she could hear.

“If you don’t want to hold my hand, I figured I’d make sure you can’t let go.”

“That’s not it.”

Haewon immediately corrected the misunderstanding.

“It seems like it is. At least there’s no blood, though.”

Kangwoo glanced down at their joined hands with a relieved expression. His sudden comment made no sense to her.

“Blood? Why would there be—”

“I was bracing myself in case I got pricked.”

For a moment, Haewon thought she wouldn’t mind actually being a hedgehog—so she could stab him for real.

Kangwoo let go of her hand with a smile still playing on his lips. It felt as if a protective barrier that had been surrounding her suddenly disappeared.

It had been just a fleeting moment, but Haewon felt an odd sense of emptiness.

Startled by her own reaction, she stared blankly at her hand.

“I’ll take one last shot,” the photographer said, as if sensing her reluctance.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Haewon quickly pushed aside unnecessary feelings and exchanged one final handshake with Kangwoo.

It was strange. Holding Kangwoo’s hand made her incredibly nervous—but at the same time, it felt really good.

Why?