PBWY - 11

The rich aroma of coffee filled the air. Yeonhee handed over a stack of messy, marked-up documents and then stood quietly in front of Junghoon. Without lifting his gaze from the files, Junghoon asked, his face impassive:

"What’s the tracking number Charles sent?"

"I haven’t received it yet. He said he’ll pass it on this afternoon."

Junghoon tapped the middle section of the document with a detached expression.

"Looking at this code, I don’t think the design team will understand it."

"Understood. Once I get the number, I’ll split the codes and send them out this afternoon."

As soon as Yeonhee finished her response, Junghoon lightly tossed the documents back onto his desk. With a polite yet dismissive smile, he casually gestured toward the door—his way of telling her she could leave now.

"Good work. Send it through Assistant Manager Kwon this afternoon. Make sure to keep to the schedule, and double-check with the Hong Kong team if needed."

He gave concise yet thorough instructions, as always.

"Yes, Team Leader."

Yeonhee bowed slightly and exited his office. Stepping out of the sunlit team leader’s office, she entered the main workspace illuminated by cold, white fluorescent lights.

The clamor of someone’s loud phone call, the clicking of mice, and the distant noise of the sales department filled the air. Navigating through the sea of sounds, Yeonhee returned to her desk. She knew that even if she focused entirely on her current workload, there still wouldn’t be enough time to finish the report Junghoon had requested for the afternoon.

It had already been two seasons since their relationship had come to a definitive end.

Junghoon had changed completely. After suddenly disappearing for several days on a long-term business trip, he returned to work as though nothing had ever happened.

He had reverted entirely to the version of himself from before they had become anything—cool, distant, and thoroughly professional. He was back to being the Min Junghoon who was colder and more impenetrable than anyone else. The man who had no flaws in his work, exuding an almost frightening level of precision.

Their relationship was now even more formal than when they had first met as subordinate and team leader. There wasn’t a single unnecessary word exchanged between them. The warmth or lingering feelings in the way he said her name were long gone. And in some ways, Yeonhee thought, that was how it should be.

Occasionally, like today, she’d feel a strange twinge after their curt exchanges. But even then, she believed she was doing well—managing herself just fine.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I’ll have steak. You?"

"I can’t handle heavy food these days. I’ll just go with a salad."

Joonjae answered, his face looking utterly deflated. As Yeonhee busied herself placing their order with the waiter, Joonjae sighed deeply and slumped forward onto the table.

He had come to run errands near Yeonhee’s office, and as it happened to be lunchtime, he had called her out to grab a meal together.

After finishing the order, Yeonhee gave him a small laugh and tapped the back of his hand lightly.

"What’s with you again?"

From the way he was drooping, it seemed like he had just gone through another breakup. Joonjae fell in love quickly, and his relationships ended just as fast—at least three or four times a year. Yeonhee had grown so accustomed to his melancholy demeanor by now that it hardly surprised her.

But today, Joonjae’s mood wasn’t due to a breakup.

He sighed again and started smacking the back of his neck with his hand.

"Do you want to marry me?"

The sudden proposal came out of nowhere. But instead of being shocked, Yeonhee chuckled and tilted her head curiously.

"What are you talking about? You’re gay."

"You said you’re not getting married."

"Right. So, you—a gay man—and me—a woman who doesn’t plan to marry—should get married? Is that what you’re suggesting? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Joonjae suddenly stood up from his seat and moved over to sit next to her.

“Yeonhee, if you’re not planning on getting married, let’s just live together for three years and then get divorced. I’ll give you a hefty alimony. My family’s been constantly nagging me to get married, and it’s driving me crazy...”

Yeonhee couldn’t hold back her laughter. It was the first marriage proposal she’d ever received—and it was from her gay friend, no less. A sham marriage proposal, at that. Rather than feeling offended, she mostly just felt sorry for him. She understood his situation better than anyone.

Joonjae’s sexual orientation was something his family was vaguely aware of. But his father refused to accept it. He dismissed it as a fleeting phase of youthful recklessness. He believed Joonjae would "come to his senses" with age, and that marriage would "cure" him.

To his father, Joonjae’s orientation was nothing more than an illness—like a cold to endure and recover from.

Joonjae said that was the part he hated most. He’d rather they performed exorcisms, scattered rice to ward off spirits, or even locked him up in a mental hospital. At least then, they would be acknowledging it. But the complete disregard, the utter dismissal of it, left him at a loss for what to do.

Recently, his family had started arranging blind dates for him, telling him that it was time to get married. They even threatened to strip him of his art gallery if he didn’t comply.

“They’re holding the purse strings and tightening the noose around my neck, Yeonhee. I feel like I’m going to suffocate and die like this!”

Joonjae had confided in her once, his face on the verge of tears. Each time he shared his woes, Yeonhee would let out deep sighs with him and join him for a drink.

Yeonhee gently patted his shoulder in comfort.

“But, Joonjae, I’m not getting married. And even if I did, I wouldn’t want a loveless marriage.”

“I love you, Yeonhee.”

“...Hmm...”

“...As a friend, of course.”

Joonjae muttered glumly. Yeonhee smiled quietly and gave him the same answer back.

“I love you too. As a friend.”

Joonjae let out another heavy sigh, then began sipping his kiwi soda and muttering gloomily to himself.

“I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. Sure, I could just bite the bullet and get married. But that would be such a horrible thing to do to my future wife. How could I ever make it up to her? It’s just not right.”

“And what about my life? Doesn’t that matter?”

Realizing how hypocritical he sounded, Joonjae scratched his cheek awkwardly. Yeonhee nudged his arm with her elbow, signaling him to return to his seat across from her as the food arrived. Joonjae obediently moved back to his chair and picked up his fork.

Despite claiming he had no appetite and ordering only a salad, he ended up eating about half of Yeonhee’s steak.

After they finished eating, the two of them patted their full stomachs and stood up to leave.

“I’ll pay for this.”

Before Joonjae could protest, Yeonhee handed over her card to the server. She had received so much from him over the years that covering the cost of a meal felt like nothing in comparison. It would have been embarrassing to even make a big deal out of it.

“Geez, I’ve been whining to you so much lately, and now you’re even treating me to lunch. How am I supposed to keep seeing you like this?”

“What do you mean? We’ll keep meeting just fine.”

After retrieving her card from the server, Yeonhee exited the restaurant. Joonjae, following behind her, suddenly tapped her hand.

“Let me see your hand.”

“Huh? Why? Here.”

Without a second thought, Yeonhee held out her hand. Joonjae clasped it as if shaking hands.

“Hmm. No trembling.”

Even though he had been the one to initiate it, Joonjae mumbled to himself about how it didn’t make him nervous. Yeonhee felt the same. It was surprising how she felt absolutely nothing from the contact. His hand was soft and warm, and its touch was pleasant—but that was it.

‘…His hand was large and firm, and when I held it, my heart would race...’

Before she realized it, Yeonhee found herself thinking of someone else’s hand. Flustered, she quickly shook her head. It was ridiculous to be reminded of him in a moment like this.

As Yeonhee tried to pull her hand away, Joonjae gripped it again and squeezed it a couple of times.

“It’d be nice if I felt something.”

“And what if you did? We’re just friends.”

“Should we try kissing, Yeonhee? You never know—what if love suddenly sparks out of nowhere?”

“What? Are you crazy? No way! Absolutely not!”

The mere thought made Yeonhee shudder, her shoulders flinching involuntarily. No matter how close and dear Joonjae was to her, she wasn’t comfortable with physical affection in the absence of romantic feelings.

Joonjae pouted and started grumbling.

“What’s with that reaction? Hey, I don’t want to either! I really don’t!”

“Let go of my hand. People might see. We’re near the office.”

“No! First, you tell me to let go of your hand! Then, you say you won’t marry me! Why do you have to hate everything so much?”

The two of them argued back and forth stubbornly, but both had smiles on their faces, laughing the entire time. Their playful bickering was interrupted by the sound of someone else’s voice.

“Oh? Yeonhee?”

Yeonhee, still holding hands with Joonjae, turned her head to look. It was Manager Jung, someone she had worked with in the TF team in the past. Apparently, she had just finished eating nearby as well.

Smiling brightly, Yeonhee bowed her head in greeting.

“Hello, Manager. It’s been a while. Did you just finish your meal?”

“Yes, yes. Did you enjoy yours too? But the person with you… is he your boyfriend?”

It was only then that Yeonhee realized she was still holding hands with Joonjae.

“No, no, he’s not.”

She hastily denied it, quickly letting go of his hand. Feeling suddenly rejected, Joonjae greeted Manager Jung with a polite “Hello” and then said in a voice full of mock hurt:

“Sweetheart, are you embarrassed by me?”

“Huh?”

“You’re trying to pretend you’re single at work? That’s so mean.”

Yeonhee shot him a look that clearly said, What the hell are you talking about? Joonjae leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“You’ve been saying it’s annoying dealing with all those blind dates and that new junior colleague who keeps hitting on you. Let’s just put an end to it all now.”

Ah. Yeonhee understood immediately.

Lately, for some inexplicable reason, three different people had been trying to set her up on blind dates. On top of that, a new junior employee had been brazenly flirting with her.

She’d already turned them all down, wanting to avoid any personal entanglements at work, but their persistence was becoming exhausting.

Maybe this was a good opportunity to put an end to all of it. With that thought, Yeonhee grabbed Joonjae’s hand again.

Manager Jung, watching the scene, smiled knowingly.

“Your boyfriend is so handsome. You two look great together! Don’t worry, Yeonhee. I won’t say anything at work.”

Manager Jung made a zipping gesture over her lips and gave her a playful wink. Yeonhee, however, simply shook her head lightly, smiling.

“It’s okay. You can tell them.”

Joonjae, too, raised their clasped hands and grinned brightly.

“Yes, yes. Please spread the word so no one else dares make a move on our Yeonhee. I’m counting on you.”

And that afternoon, Manager Jung spread the news far and wide. She told everyone she knew that Jeong Yeonhee from the planning team had a boyfriend who was so handsome that even she nearly fell for his dazzling smile.

Late. I’m so late. What do I do?

Yeonhee darted across the empty lobby, swiping her card at the entrance before sprinting toward the elevator with all her might. Just as the doors were about to close, they reopened slightly, and she squeezed in, shouting an apology.

“I’m so sorry!”

But as soon as she stepped inside, she immediately regretted it.

…I should’ve just waited for the next elevator.

She spotted a man standing there with a tumbler in hand.

“Running late, are you?”

His voice, tinged with amusement, was soft and warm. It was Min Junghoon.

Yeonhee, still catching her breath from running, replied, “Yes,” her voice tinged with embarrassment. Her heart thumped painfully, though she couldn’t blame it entirely on the running.

Being alone in such a small, enclosed space felt entirely different from walking into the team leader’s office with documents in hand.

Watching Yeonhee place her hand over her chest and take deep breaths, Junghoon asked, “I heard you’ve got a boyfriend now?”

There wasn’t even a hint of regret in his voice. As always, he spoke with a relaxed and unhurried tone, casually throwing out the question.

After the scene with Joonjae, word had quickly spread among the employees who knew Yeonhee. The buzz was that Yeonhee from the planning team had a very handsome boyfriend. Naturally, this rumor had also reached Junghoon, her team leader.

Still smiling, Junghoon followed up, “Is it him? Lim Joonjae, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. And to think you insisted it was nothing like that…”

His lighthearted remark carried a trace of playfulness but no reproach or accusation—just genuine curiosity.

Yeonhee stared fixedly at the elevator display above, watching the numbers tick by. For some reason, the elevator felt unusually slow today.

Junghoon, glancing at her expressionless profile, suddenly tossed out another question.

“Are you going to marry him?”

Not knowing what to say, Yeonhee fumbled for a vague answer.

“Not yet. Even if we do, it’ll be in the distant future… I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with work.”

“…I see.”

After that, silence fell between them. The quiet inside the elevator felt especially awkward today. As they drifted through the suffocating atmosphere, the elevator finally came to a stop. Junghoon gestured politely toward the opening doors.

“After you. Have a great day.”

“You too, Team Leader. Have a wonderful day.”

Yeonhee bowed her head slightly toward his handsome smile and hurried out of the elevator. She didn’t have the time—or perhaps the courage—to look back at his expression as he remained inside.

“……”

Junghoon stayed perfectly still in the now-empty elevator. He didn’t move until someone pressed the button from below, sending the elevator back into motion.

It wasn’t until two hours later that he crossed the office and stepped into his team leader’s office.

Yeonhee sat blankly, staring at the blinking cursor on her computer screen. She blinked her eyes once for every four blinks of the cursor. As she remained lost in thought, Assistant Manager Kwon stood up and called out.

“Yeonhee, let’s grab lunch?”

“Oh, yes. Yes.”

It was only then that she snapped back to reality. She must’ve spaced out, as it was already lunchtime. Draping the cardigan from her chair over her shoulders, she linked arms with her colleague Yoojeong and headed toward the elevator.

She’d been feeling foggy lately, and there were two main reasons for it. One was the 50 million won loan she had applied for a week ago, and the other was an upcoming overseas assignment in a month.

About a month ago, Yeonhee had received a scouting offer from the Hong Kong branch. It came from Claire, someone she had communicated with frequently in her work.

After much deliberation, Yeonhee eventually nodded her agreement to Claire’s proposal. Though her first experience living abroad in the U.S. years ago hadn’t been pleasant, the prospect of a significant salary increase was too good to pass up.

“Alright. Let’s go and live for myself this time.”

She resolved to leave behind the mother who had hurt her and to let go of the love that had pained her. This was her chance to start fresh and free.

So, she promptly sent Claire an enthusiastic yes. From there, things moved quickly.

The Hong Kong branch formally requested her transfer from headquarters, offering her a salary adjustment and a promotion.

Of course, this was all possible because of the approval of Team Leader Min Junghoon.

Around the time the overseas assignment was discussed, Junghoon had called Yeonhee into his office. He had asked in a rather indifferent tone, as though he had no interest in her overseas assignment.

"This was all agreed upon in advance, right? To be honest, I don't feel great about receiving this as a follow-up notice. But since it's for a good cause, I won’t make an issue out of it."

"Yes. Thank you, Team Leader."

“Hmph…” Junghoon muttered in dissatisfaction, tapping his chin while scribbling something on a piece of paper before speaking again.

"Is your boyfriend going with you? Ah, was that too personal a question?"

“It’s fine. I’m going alone.”

"I see. It’ll probably be tough being apart."

"Yeah."

It was a conversation devoid of any personal feelings, so absurd that it almost made Yeonhee laugh. After all, they had worked closely together for over a year. Even if they had only been dating for a week, it would have been warmer than this.

Yeonhee found it almost surreal that the man in front of her, with his indifferent expression, had once knelt down in front of her. It was hard to believe.

Standing there with her arms behind her back, Junghoon eventually lifted his gaze from the paper and, as though dismissing her, gestured toward the door with a smile in his eyes.

“You can go now. Just make sure you wrap up everything properly before you leave for your trip.”

"Yes, Team Leader. Thank you."

After responding briskly, Yeonhee turned to leave.

Just as she grabbed the door handle, Junghoon called her name from behind.

"Yeonhee."

Turning around, Junghoon stared at her in silence for a moment, then gave a slight smile before speaking.

"Congratulations on your promotion."

And just like that, her transfer to the Hong Kong branch was quickly finalized.

In a way, she was fortunate that the person in charge was Junghoon. He was the most composed and clean-cut person she knew.

If he had been petty and malicious, he might have held a grudge and tried to sabotage her career. In that case, she might not even have been able to stay in the planning team, let alone go to Hong Kong.

But Junghoon was someone who firmly separated his personal and professional life. Once Yeonhee had stepped out of his personal sphere, it seemed like he had neatly erased any lingering attachment.

Once her transfer to Hong Kong was confirmed, Yeonhee informed her mother out of a sense of obligation. She also planned to give her the 50 million won loan.

It wasn’t because she wanted her mother’s love. She wanted to sever the painful ties once and for all.

Yeonhee could still remember the cruel words her mother had thrown at her.

“If you added up all the tuition, allowance, and food money I spent on you, you could have used it to pay off Yeonjun’s loan and still have money left over!”

That line had tormented her relentlessly. She wanted to break free from that sense of indebtedness, cleanly cutting ties and moving on. If the price for freeing herself from her mother was 50 million, then, even though it was difficult, she could manage it.

In a way, she was grateful. It allowed her to sever the one-sided love she had given her mother in such a way.

Lost in these thoughts, Yeonhee had arrived at the underground company cafeteria.

She grabbed a tray, piled some side dishes onto it, and sat down. There wasn’t much time left to share meals like this with the team members. Feeling a pang of regret, she pressed the rice down firmly when someone sat diagonally across from her.

“Is it uncomfortable for you that I’m here?”

It was Junghoon, smiling as he spoke.

“Oh, no, not at all! I should have laid down a cushion for you, sorry!”

Yoojeong, joking playfully, said as Junghoon laughed softly.

Lately, Junghoon had been eating at the company cafeteria more frequently.

Even when they had a secret relationship, she had never run into him at the cafeteria. He used to complain about the rice and the clattering sound of it being chewed, always preferring to dine at outside restaurants.

But for some reason, he had started showing up at the cafeteria, sitting among the planning team members for meals.

“What’s going on?”

Yeonhee glanced at him furtively, but when he looked up, she quickly turned her gaze away.

It felt like someone’s eyes were on her head. She raised her eyes again, but there was no one looking at her. Her team members were chatting and laughing, enjoying their lunch.

Yeonhee tilted her head, then resumed eating.

The day of her departure was quickly approaching.

Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, she was aboard the plane heading to Hong Kong.

Looking out at the sky, with its soft clouds scattered across, Yeonhee waved her hand. All she could see was the sky, but she sent a farewell to Korea, which was hidden beneath the sky.

‘Goodbye.’

The love-hate relationship with her mother, the jealousy toward her brother, and the feelings she once had for someone.

It was all goodbye.

She wanted it to be goodbye.