Chapter 5.2

[I came by early in the morning to change my clothes and left. Sorry for the late reply]

Min-kyung replied and apologized to a message from Se-ah 5 hours after receiving it. She had typed her response halfway so long ago but hadn’t had time to send it.

Checking the time she saw it was already past lunch, but Tae Yi-seop hadn’t come out of his office. She stood up, he had asked her to bring him lunch so…. Min-kyng glanced at the brown shopping bag under her desk. Lee Seop’s folded trench poked out the top edge of it. 

Two hours ago, the hotel cleaning services had finished the dry cleaning and delivered it to the office. She placed it tucked beside her desk under the top, so that every once in awhile her legs brushed the edge of it. Every time Min-kyung got started and pushed herself slightly away from the bag. Even then her leg would itch a bit where the bag had touched for no reason. Like there was static electricity between the bag and her leg, constantly reminding her about the night and annoying her.

Min0kyung went and stood infront of the closed door and tried to knock without hesitation, but her hand couldn’t move and her palms were sweaty. Perhaps because of the embarrassment of the night and it lingering over her like a cloud. Min-kyung wiped her palm on her skirt and took a deep breath. ‘You can do this.’

She knocked, waited a moment, then knocked once more with more strength.

“Yes?” In response to Lee Seop’s answer, muffled through the door. Min-kyung grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. The cold, smooth metal felt like a relief to her hot, sticky hands.

Opening the door slowly, Min-kyung entered the office, Lee Seop was sitting at his desk focused on her entering. ‘Why was his eyebrows raised slightly? As if he was asking a question.’

“Director, shall I prepare your lunch and bring it?”

“No.”

Lee Seop stood from his seat, and Min-kyung reactively clenched her fists not thinking when she heard the scrape of his chair being pushed out. He approached her in long strides, putting on his suit jacket that was hanging by him. He walked right to the front of her and while buttoning up his jacket, asked, “Is there anything else you want to say?”

When she saw his face, the absurd and embarrassing encounter from last night spilled into her mind vividly. It was something worthy of shame, but what was worse was that she didn’t remember every moment, every scene. Her memory was incomplete, like a finished watercolor painting that had water spilled on it.

In a business-like tone, Min-kyung asked, “What should I do with the trench coat, Sir?”

“Oh… that.” Lee Seop frowned as if he just smelled something unpleasant.

‘Oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.’ she repeated in her head as Min-kyung bowed at the waist and responded. “The dry cleaning delivery was a little late, so i couldn’t give it to you before work.”

“It’s just dry cleaning, did you even mope about it then?”

“I’m sorry?”

“As in yesterday’s situation.”

“No, of course not. If you don’t mind, I can put it in your car before you leave today.”

He extended his hand to her face and motioned with it, “No, give it to me now.” 

The moment her eyes fell onto his long, bending fingers moving, a scene suddenly appeared in her mind. Min-kyung took a deep breath to try to lessen the pounding of her heart in her chest.

“So?”

“Your trench is here, I’ll go get it now.” In a flash Min-kyung bolted to her desk the hurriedly fumbled to grab the bag under her desk. Her mind was buzzing with an overly vivid picture.

~~

Lee Seop bent down onto his knees below her and fastened the buttons. Black, soft hair… pale, long polished fingers. Buttons being sheathed one by one… If her hands weren’t held inside the trench, Min-kyung would’ve reached out and ran her fingers through his silky, voluminous hair. Lee Seop looked up to her as if asking “Why?” She had wiggled her arms to try to get her hand out.

His face gazed at her from below with uplifted eyes. His thin lips were filled with irritation and nerves. Lee Seop studied her face first appreciatively, then disapprovingly and lowered his gaze. But Min-kyung didn’t miss seeing him bite his red lip at an angle as he pushed the last button through its hole and then let go. Even if she got one of her fingers out of the trench, she drunkenly would’ve touched Lee Seop’s bitten, wet lip.

Min-kyung was entirely preoccupied.

The trench coat was thick around her body, and even though she knew it wasn’t happening, she felt as if Lee Seop’s long, pretty fingers were grazing along the side of her leg. Her core was getting hot and itchy. ‘It’s the alcohol, just the alcohol.’ Min-kyung shook her head and convinced herself it was just drunkenness. As she stumbled due to her imbalance Lee Seop stood to steadied her, grabbing her shoulders.

“I… have no hands.” shaking her arms.

He had so recklessly put on the coat and buttoned it, that he left her arms attached to her torso. Lee Seop laughed silently and understandingly, he responded, “Move your arms.”

Min-kyung shook her head, disagreeing, when he touched the collar and tilted her chin up. He grabbed her shaking arm and held them still… she thought he then said, “Can I have your hand?”

His whisper so close to her had all the fine hairs from her ears down her neck to her shoulders and chest stand on end. Min-kyung shook her head again then unconsciously raised her hand in the trench, placing it on his chest. “Haaa…” Lee Seop laughed, smiling from ear to ear.

“This is big enough to fit two of you in it. Move your arm to the sleeve and take your hand out.”

~~

Why were these memories pouring out of her all of a sudden, right now? The scene was created as if the missing puzzle pieces that had gone missing making an empty space, was filled in with what she felt she correctly guessed. She had been so drunk, and now she was drowning in awkwardness.

Walking up to Lee Seop with the shopping bag, Min-kyung did her best to hold a poker face looking down, but she couldn’t see where his hand was exactly. She wished he just took the bag, but instead Lee Seop just stared at the contents, “Now that I think about it…”

“Yes?”

“I feel uncomfortable.”

“Of course.” She knew that was a natural reaction to the events, and that Lee Seop was very particular and neat, bordering on stubbornness.

However it what his follow up question that she snapped her head up, “So… who unbuttoned it?”

“Yes?”

He pouted and sarcastically replied. “Yes, of course, yes, yes?! Is that all you can ever say, respond with?”

Min-kyung shook her head lightly and opened her mouth, “You’re asking, who unbuttoned your trench coat?” She couldn’t quite figure out the reason and asked, “Why?”

“Ah, whatever, it’s enough. Just throw away the coat.”

She had almost responded with a ‘yes’ again, but remembered that he pointed that out, and Min-kyung swallowed down the words that bubbled up in her mouth.

In a flurry, the door flew open and closed with a thud, and with that Lee Seop had left. Her head felt as if it was spinning. Min-kyung looked at the trench in the bag she was holding, then at the closed door.