Chapter 6.3

Min-kyung hesitated for a long time in front of the nearly empty shelves at the convenience store. She didn’t know what happened today, but not a single triangle gimbap or gimbap-type snack was left in the store. Ultimately, her stomach was empty, so she picked up food from the hot bar. Food at the hot bar had a strong, salty seasoning, so she forced herself to chew and swallow it. After eating a few bites, the food caused her to lose all her appetite, so Min-kyung just sat in front of the store window and stared blankly.

‘Life of office workers is sure tiring…’ After a sigh, Min-kyung wondered if ice cream would make her feel better, but thinking about eating it alone in a convenience store made her think it would feel worse. Before leaving, she checked the drinks; there were two bottles of lime perrier, and since Lee Seop had been talking about the flavor for the past few days, she’d grabbed them.

As she left with the bag of the two bottles on her wrist, Min-kyung had a stomach pain and felt too hungry to go back up. She sauntered, her body slumping like someone who had lost all their energy.

She deliberately meandered around to coordinate her return with the delivery of Lee Seop’s risotto dinner. When ready, she grabbed the quite large package at the lobby desk and sauntered back to the office.

“Your meal is ready.”

Even though the salad and risotto were custom requested for him, Lee Seop looked uninterested at the package sat down on his desk. Instead, he pointed to his screen and said, “I need you to explain this to me.”

Min-kyung walked beside him and bent her chest towards the monitor’s screen. Lee Seop glanced at her face inched closer, and asked, “What did you eat that made you look even hungrier?” As their eyes met, he knew even without an answer. “Triangle gimbap? Cup ramen?”

The convenience store betrayed her today. She couldn’t even eat what was left over. Min-kyung didn’t answer with this truth, she pursed her lips together and turned her head to read the detailed numbers on the chart on the screen. Lee Seop covered the screen with his hand, and tapped the screen. “Bring over a chair. I also brought in the materials you were organizing. I think we need to review this and compare.”

“Over here?” Min-kyung turned her head towards him and took a step back. She felt like the tip of their noses would hit as his face got closer.

Lee Seop quietly looked down to see her moving away. He opened his lips to release a breath he had been holding, and then they opened into a smile. “Yes… chair.”

“Yes.” Min-kyung shook her head lightly, coming to her senses, and walked outside. As she returned, Min-kyung pushed her wheeled chair and sat a bit away from the desk. Lee Seop tapped the desk, ushering her closer and she did as she was told, sitting down straight backed with her knees pressed together. 

Lee Seop flipped through the reports Min-kyung had prepared, “Cost accounting report for 3 years… Cost per line…” He popped open a highlighter, started marking the report, and then scribbled numbers in the margins. “Why doesn’t this fit… together?”

Min-kyung flinched because he suddenly shifted his gaze with the statement from the print to her eyes. He leaned on his elbows, tilting his head towards her and looking harder at her. “Deputy Director Kang?” he asked.

“Oh… I will check the raw data again. Perhaps the basis for the classification in the trade sector…”

Interrupting her, Lee Seop then asked, “Hungry?”

“Sorry?”

“You seem dazed.” Lee Seop picked up a spoon and offered it to her. “Eat.”

“I had dinner. This is for you.”

Lee Seop split the risotto in half with the spoon. “We each will have half, okay? Never mind, you said you had dinner, but eat a third then.” he dragged the risotto towards her.

“Are you sure…?”

“Don’t be embarrassed and eat it.” 

Min-kyung pulled back her chair to stand up but stopped awkwardly. Lee Seop placed the portion with the prepared spoon in her direction and then started opening a disposable spoon packaging.

“Let me use the disposable spoon then…” Min-Kyung reached out her hand, but Lee Seop started eating without looking at her. She picked up the prepared spoon because she felt more awkward just sitting around. She grabbed the plate that was by him with the portion split on it and began eating it little by little.

“This, too,” Lee Seop said with a full mouth as he put some of the salad onto her plate as well. 

The mozzarella tomato salad was sweet, refreshing, and crunchy. 

The two of them didn’t say a word for some time, just moving their spoons and forks occasionally. Perhaps since it was so quiet just sitting together side by side eating dinner, Min-kyung’s senses gradually heightened. She started feeling so sensitive that she began to notice every detail about Lee Seop. 

The smell of his cologne, the heat coming from his body, the force of his exhaled breath, the sound of him chewing food…, and even the sound of him gulping his water were captured perfectly in her ears. But she never looked to capture his eyes. She was too close for that. Min-kyung stubbornly kept her head in one direction.

“Should I have ordered Yuringi?” 

[Translator Note: Fried chicken^]

Only with that did Min-kyung look at him.

“Or, would you have liked me to order some ice cream?”

“Sorry?”

“You’re pouting like an upset child.”

“Me? No, I’m not.” she withdrew her gaze and looked at his long fingertips holding his spoon.

“Hmmm, strange. This should be tastier than Yuringi. You know how picky I am…” 

Lee Seop joked, which immediately eased the tension, and laughter broke out between them. ‘Yes, he was very picky.’ Min-kyung scooped up the risotto with her spoon. “It is very delicious, thank you for the dinner.”