15 – 15. Antihero (1)
Serin woke up with a dazed feeling.
Fortunately, there was no hangover.
Was it good liquor?
Or did Woojin take good care of the side dishes when he was alone with Oppa?
Anyway, whether it was uncomfortable or not.
But really, just letting it pass.
I thought there might be some clever maneuvering.
No matter how good the manners are, isn’t he a man?
Because the first impression was so good, I was willing to overlook it to some extent.
As long as he doesn’t cross a big line, that is.
Thinking like that, I sat down, but he comes back saying, “Let’s just have this and go home.”
Is he managing his image? I thought, but he really just sent me home right away.
“He’s got no endurance. Seriously.”
The atmosphere was totally relaxed while we were together.
What kind of feeling is this?
Is it like telling a neighborhood friend who’s had a lot of drinks to eat this and sober up?
Thanks to that, I was able to be there without any pressure and then left.
Actually, when I left the club, I was worried that it might be awkward if we were alone, but surprisingly, it couldn’t be more comfortable.
While eating snacks, we talked about this and that, really ordinary conversations?
I thought he was a neighborhood friend living next door for real.
Oh.
Turns out, there’s no neighborhood friend living next door to me.
“But you seemed to have some concerns.”
I thought about asking, but I didn’t want to spoil the mood for no reason, so I didn’t ask.
Finally, when the appetizers were finished, she got up from her seat.
And immediately took a taxi.
Was it like feeling the work progress smoothly according to the predetermined procedure?
“What a funny person. Seriously.”
Sarina chuckled and reached out to grab her phone.
Did it go well? She must have sent a text, thinking about it.
Her inbox was completely stacked.
But there was no text from Wujin oppa.
There were several missed calls, but none from Wujin oppa.
“..What’s going on?”
They definitely exchanged contact information, right?
She dialed the number to confirm and saved it.
There’s no way we exchanged the wrong contact information.
What’s going on?
She felt uneasy.
Could it be that he didn’t like me?
Did he not actively approach me because he didn’t like me?
What did I do wrong?
All sorts of random thoughts suddenly started flooding her mind.
“What’s going on? What is it, what is it, what is it???”
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The muddled mind suddenly cleared.
I sprang up from the bed and checked my phone again, but there was still no message.
Fortunately, Wujin’s face was on the Kakaotalk profile.
It wasn’t that I got the wrong number.
“But why didn’t you say you got in well?”
I asked, looking at his profile picture, but there was no response.
Meanwhile, messages kept piling up.
Most of the piled-up messages were from the group chat with Jieun and Hyoju.
Serin opened the chat.
[Jieun]: Dongsoo oppa’s jawline was amazing. He licked until the floor melted.
[Hyoju]: LOL, I melted, but my strength hasn’t come back to my legs yet.
[Jieun]: Men are indeed bodies. Siboorul.
Hey, what are you guys talking about so early in the morning?
[Hyoju]: But why isn’t Serin getting up? She’s not answering her phone.
[Jieun]: I tried too, no answer.
[Hyoju]: Still sleeping? Did you finally get some rest yesterday?
…What did you take off?
Serin shook her phone.
[Serin]: What are you talking about?
[Hyoju]: Up now? How much did you do yesterday?
[Serin]: Why do you keep saying that? Nothing happened yesterday!!
[Hyoju]: What? What did you do when we told you to step aside?
[Serin]: What did I do for you? You guys left because you liked those guys!!
[Jieun]: Yeah. They were charming.
[Hyoju]: Ant charm. Yum yum.
[Jieun]: Crunch crunch crunch.
Even though they knew the kids’ personalities, dealing with them in their current unstable mental state was not easy.
[Hyoju]: But how can nothing happen? I can’t understand.
[Jieun]: Seriously. After doing ‘that.’
[Serin]: ‘That’? What did I do?
A few seconds of silence.
Enough time for Serin to be bewildered.
[Hyoju]: Wow. Bold denial. Pretending not to know.
[Jieun]: That’s a pro mindset.
[Hyoju]: Should we learn that attitude?
[Jieun]: Can’t be learned. It’s innate.
[Serin]: Ugh!! What is it?
[Hyoju]: Oops. Really don’t know, huh?
[Jieun]: It’s dizzying.
As Serin, whose emotional ties were thinning, pondered whom to call to ask, a text from Hyoju came up.
[Hyoju]: Do you not remember what you did yesterday?
[Serin]: Remember? Why do you ask?
[Jieun]: Why indeed. Truly a pro move.
[Serin]: Cut the crap!! Just spill it!
[Hyoju]: What you did. You were completely attached to him like a magnet and dancing. Why?
[Serin]: Isn’t that how it’s usually done? I learned from watching you guys, didn’t I?
[Jieun]: We’ve never done anything like that.
[Hyoju]: Then who has? We’ve never gone that far.
Cold sweat runs down Serin’s back.
Isn’t that how it’s done normally?
Or is it just for show?
Come to think of it, I’ve always seen it at the club, but I’ve never heard a precise definition or explanation about dancing like that.
Is it just a casual thing? To that extent?
Yesterday, Serin
completely stuck to him and slid up and down.
Not only was it obvious on Woojin’s clothes, but you could even feel the movement of his flesh.
But it’s not supposed to be done like that, right??
[Hyoju]: Maybe it’s an issue of perspective?
[Jieun]: Hm. It could seem that way at a glance. But going that far between the first time we met – isn’t that a problem?
At this point, I felt like I was losing my mind for real.
My face flushed, and sweat formed on my palms.
Did she not contact me?
Is she out of her mind?
[Hyoju]: But isn’t it strange? If you think about it the other way around, wouldn’t she give in if you pester her like that? But she just let you go?
[Jieun]: Maybe she wants to play hard to get?
[Hyoju]: It didn’t seem like that. Serin, just to be sure, check on her, okay?
[Jieun]: Why isn’t she saying anything? Did she get shocked?
The shock hit me a while ago.
Since the message didn’t come.
But why didn’t the message come? Probably for that reason?
Because I seemed too desperate?
Was it because I appeared to have a lot on my mind?
When Serin was staggering in the center of chaotic confusion,
Hyoju sent a message.
[Hyoju]: Serin, don’t worry too much. Some guys play hard to get even for a one-night stand. If he didn’t respond after you hinted that much, he probably regrets it now.
Is that so?
# # #
The night was long.
My eyes sting.
The bones trembled, but the mind remained resolute.
Damn.
“I’m losing it.”
[Since there are no remaining slots, we’re heading towards the ending!!]
The persistent flashing message.
The blinking speed seemed subtly faster than when I first saw that message.
Is it a time bomb?
“How am I supposed to deal with that?”
In fact, the answer was in the message.
Since the protagonist had deviated from the story zone, my events with the main heroine would disappear, meaning I wouldn’t count the remaining slot as a slot.
In other words,
I just needed to not send that guy Baek Sung-hoon to Mexico.
“But I don’t want to.”
It’s too risky.
Keeping the protagonist around.
In fact, there was also this question.
What if, at the deadlock between me and my main heroine (who knows who that is) and Baek Sung-hoon, I end up being NTR’d according to the story?
Am I stuck in this adult game?
On the other hand,
What if, in that situation, I pull off something clever to prevent Baek Sung-hoon from NTR’ing?
Then, wouldn’t the game be over in reverse?
I don’t know.
Should’ve tried playing this game.
Did I only glance at the manual because I did it?
I don’t remember most of it.
I don’t remember the names of other heroines, and I only remember the word “conglomerate” for this extra character Seo Woojin because it was in the setting section. I don’t remember any details.
Is memorizing for crazy people?
“Sigh. You haven’t even played properly yet, and you’re talking about getting an ending.”
If I can’t resolve the current situation, I’ll have to return to reality, and then the life of a conglomerate will become bye-bye Jiyajiensayo country.
“Let’s think. Let’s think.”
Will I compromise and submit, or will I give up?
I couldn’t choose between these two and spent the night.
It wouldn’t have been unjust if the answer had come out.
Even throwing away the rookie and coming home with trembling hands, there was still no solution.
In the future, if I keep being swayed by the game system like this, meeting someone like a rookie densely, this way.
“..Swayed?”
Me?
Did I become possessed to be swayed?
No.
That’s not it.
If I existed just to quietly carry out my duties, I wouldn’t have even thought about sending Baek Sung-hoon to another country from the beginning.
…Huh?
“Ah… Ha?”
Right. That’s it.
Am I following the system just because it says so? No way.
I didn’t do that from the start, and I have no intention of doing so in the future.
The wavering mind, troubled by thoughts, solidified into a firm decision.
“Now that the plan is set, shall we put it into action?”
It’s time to go to the company.
# # #
“Hello, Director Seo.”
I received a bright smile from Secretary Kim Chae-yoon as I arrived at work.
I asked her, “Do we have the company’s organizational chart? It would be great to have a document outlining the employees’ tasks.”
“Shall I upload it right away?”
“Yes.”
With a concise response, I entered the office.
Soon, she placed the organizational chart and task breakdown in front of me, along with a cup of coffee with a subtle aroma.
Kim Chae-yoon politely bid farewell and left.
Without even drinking the coffee, I scrutinized the contents carefully.
“Okay. This employee.”
I picked up the phone.
“Secretary Kim. Tell Manager Jo Daewan from the Overseas Strategy Management Team 4 to come up here right away.”
Alright.
It’s this guy.
With him, some adjustments might be possible.
20 minutes later.
The door opened with a knock.
The man who came in was Manager Jo Daewan.
“Hello, Director Seo. You called for me…”
Manager Jo looked bewildered.
I get it.
We have no connection whatsoever.
But what I’m about to say will make him even more bewildered.
“..Yes? What are you talking about? That’s impossible no matter what!”
As expected.
As soon as I said what I had to, that kind of reaction burst out.
But wait, really? This guy?
Did I say something so absurd that it triggered a meltdown button?
Even Executive Director Park Youngwoo didn’t react like that to what I said…
..Quiet.
When I rummaged through the partially inherited memories.
Ah-ha.
Now I understand why this guy is coming out so strong.
You’ve been holding onto a thick line, so that’s why you’re coming out like this?
Tsk tsk.
This is going too well, isn’t it?
A path has opened for me to head in the direction I want, hasn’t it?
In that case, I should quickly touch that line.
Also,
I need to relieve this dog-like feeling.
“Hey, Lieutenant Jo.”
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“Yes?”
I took out a pen.
And with a threatening look, I said,
“Do you happen to know what the handle of a millstone is called?”