Chapter 7.7

“Are you, perhaps… attracted to Tae Yi-seop?” Se-ah’s eyebrows raised.

Min-kyung almost dropped her can, stunned. She tried to laugh it off, but her mouth was frozen shut. She looked closely at Se-ah’s big, clear eyes. They were like those text gifs they shared. Then suddenly, thoughts of Lee Seop’s face poured through her mind.

Lee Seop’s long fingers, his thick hair, how he looked when he glanced up at her, him biting his wet lips, his ears turning red in the sunshine. The feeling of his fingertips brushing against her while she bit into the candy bar, his crooked smile and look in his eyes, the whispers in her ears, the occasional husky, deep sound of his voice. His sharp face, piercing eyes close to his nose…

She tried to ignore the rush of thought, yet a fervor filled her eyes when looking at him. The heat would rise up, and she felt as though her vision was distorted. It felt like his giant hand had pressed into Min-kyung’s whole world and reshaped it. 

Well, if that was what she was attracted to… Then, the feeling would be less burdensome and simpler when one acknowledges what they’ve been ignoring.

Min-kyung nodded.

She quickly took another sip of beer, then started to feel irritable at the question. “You said that. You said that Tae Yi-seop looked like a model when you saw his photo. All the photos taken for the media or ones from afar don’t even show how good he actually looks. If you look closely, there’s a halo. Really. He has a halo around him.”

Min-kyung raised her arms then made a round shape around her head. “Do you know how many people at work are attracted to Tae Yi-seop? If everyone who thought he was hot quit the company, how many female employees would be left?”

Se-ah giggled and shook her hands, “It’s not an interrogation, it’s a question.”

Min-kyung thought back at what Se-ah had said: ‘Interrogation? His body? Am I attracted?... this is crazy.’

“So even with that, Tae Yi-seop is an aggravating loser in your mind. And you are in his mind, right? I think it’s obvious… You two are always together, and you said he isn’t dating anyone. If something happens, would you be able to handle it?”

“Se-ah, this is the Executive Director.”

“Um, yes, the other person is Tae Yi-seop.” Se-ah shook the trenchcoat. “He has that face and that body. If you just keep on lusting over him, you’ll start to neglect TK even if he was some other employee and not the crown prince of the company.” Se-ah confidently declared

“Wow. You’re telling me what will happen? Don’t be delusional.” Min-kyung said, shocked.

Se-ah then sat, picked up the last remaining chicken leg, and pushed it into Min-kyung’s agape mouth. “Don’t worry, just dive right in.”

The chicken legs were perfectly crispy, moist, savory, and salty. Min-kyung tore into her leg with enthusiasm while Se-ah gulped down every last drop of her beer, looking at her.

“By the way, when was the last time you kissed someone, Min-kyung? Do you even remember how?”

“Hey!” 

Min-kyung lowered the chicken leg she was eating. Se-ah took the opening and poked Min-kyung’s cheek. Min-kyung tried to block her with her arm, but Se-ah then moved and stabbed at her side. Blocking that, too, Se-ah then poked her stomach.

“Stop! Stop!” Min-kyung giggled at being tickled and twisted around to avoid it.

“When have you ever had a relationship where you tickle and play with each other and have some physical fun?” Even as the words came out, Se-ah felt a bit embarrassed. Covering her mouth, she leaned back and laughed for a while.

Min-kyung felt relieved since Se-ah failed to notice. With her wild imagination, Min-kyung’s face burned up and became as red as a tomato.