Chapter 53.1

“Yes. They are here because of me. Probably.”

At Yoo-hwa’s calm answer, the women standing behind Yi-seul gasped and began whispering in a louder voice. Among what they were saying, the word ‘private loan’ was the most clearly heard.

“Because of you? Why? Did you get a private loan? Or what, are they here to seize your paycheck? What is it, that there are so many people watching? And scaring people!”

Yi-seul asked in a loud voice, frowning.

Although Yi-seul was emotional and irritable, she was not a bad person in terms of personality. She had a strong sense of responsibility and knew how to take care of her surroundings in her own way. However, the time to believe those things and naively talk about them had passed.

“It’s a personal matter.”

“Are you saying you won’t tell me?”

“…”

When Yoo-hwa avoided her gaze without answering, Yi-seul let out a long sigh and crossed her arms.

“I didn’t know this was all there was to our relationship. I’m disappointed, but what can I do? If you won’t tell me, I can’t force you to.”

She wanted to ask back what kind of relationship they had, when at most, all they did was meet face to face because she had been working here for a few months, but she didn’t because it was troublesome.

Whether they had gone up to the office at some point, she couldn’t see the female employees who were standing behind Yi-seul. Dong-min, who had been left alone, alternately looked at Yoo-hwa and Yi-seul with a puzzled expression.

“Go up, too, Dong-min.”

Despite Yi-seul’s words, Dong-min couldn’t move his feet and glanced briefly at Yoo-hwa.

“Excuse me, Miss Yoo-hwa.”

Dong-min called her with a face that seemed like he was about to cry.

“Please go up.”

Yoo-hwa sat down and said, ignoring Dong-min’s gaze. When Dong-min left, after being pushed away by Yoo-hwa’s cold attitude of refusing to speak, the interior of the office was quiet.

Yoo-hwa, who sat down again, began to work.

“Aah.”

After a heavy silence, Yi-seul let out a long sigh and lifted the wrapper.

Rustle, rustle.

Only the sound of wrapping filled the interior.

***

When she was contacted by the CEO to come up, it was just before lunchtime. The CEO, whom she had never met since the interview, glared at Yoo-hwa with a glowing face.

“The people outside, I heard they’re here because of you?”

“…”

“I’ll be clear. I want you to quit. You should know why, right?”

Yoo-hwa lowered her gaze in front of the CEO, who was trying to talk while suppressing his enraged feelings because the people outside were bothering him.

“… I understand.”

Yoo-hwa bowed her head, spitting out the only words she was allowed to say. The CEO continued by saying that he would make a deposit next month that matched the payment for the days she worked, and that she should leave right away.

She left the CEO’s office after a one-sided conversation, and the whispering disappeared altogether. Yoo-hwa left the office, feeling the gaze of the employees following her. As soon as the door closed, a whisper escaped through the doorway.

“Oh my God. What’s going on, for those gangsters to come here like that?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but Miss Yoo-hwa looks different.”

“Exactly. No one in the world can look that gentle…”

“Shh. She can hear everything.”

She went down the stairs, pretending she didn’t hear the conversations behind her.

“Miss Yoo-hwa!”

Yoo-hwa stopped at the familiar voice calling her. Dong-min, who came out of the office, blocked Yoo-hwa’s way. Contrary to how vigorously he stopped her, he hesitated for a long time. And at the same time, he kept glancing at the office to see if someone came out.

“If you don’t have anything to say, I’ll go.”

As soon as Yoo-hwa took a step, Dong-min opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry that this happened because of me.”

Yoo-hwa raised her head and looked at Dong-min. Dong-min looked around the floor, with an expression of not knowing what to do.

“What I’m saying is, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want you to stop working at this company…”

“I understand, so please step aside.”

“…”

Dong-min kept his nervous look at Yoo-hwa’s dry words.

“Miss Yoo-hwa.”

Dong-min called in a regretful voice. Yoo-hwa stared at Dong-min, who seemed to have no intention of obediently moving out of the way, with exhausted eyes.

“Mr. Dong-min, you’ve never been hated by anyone else, have you?”

Yoo-hwa asked calmly.

“…”

“That’s why you’re so scared of being hated by me right now.”

Dong-min’s forehead frowned and loosened, as if she had hit the nail on the head.

Dong-min was the type of person she had never seen before. He was gentle and warmhearted. He looked more afraid that the woman he was interested in would misunderstand and hate him.

“No. It’s not that. I’ve never been so interested in anyone before, so I don’t know how to treat you… I wish I had a chance…”

Dong-min’s face turned red.

“What if I give you a chance? Would anything be different then?”

“Yes!”

His face brightened up quickly. The face that had found hope felt strange.

“Then can you go to the office and say that you like me in front of the others?”

“…”

As if he had heard something unexpected, Dong-min’s mouth opened slightly. Seeing an expression that was not at all different from what she had expected, Yoo-hwa smiled frivolously.