NLFSD Chapter 43

Chapter 43

What a coincidence. To think we’d all meet here.

“Oh, Director, how have you been?”

“…Huh?”

Seo Taecheon, who had been heading toward the space behind the bar with Omega No. 3, turned around. This was something Lee Jiwoon hadn’t known. And for a very brief instant, Seo Taecheon’s face showed a hint of displeasure. Then, in the next moment, he returned to his usual well-mannered demeanor and escorted the woman.

It happened so quickly that no one else noticed, and even the people sitting in the auditorium and Assistant Manager Min didn’t react.

But Lee Jiwoon could feel it.

Taecheon‑C, you didn’t like seeing me and Deputy Manager Gi on a date… You were jealous.

His heart began pounding wildly like a hammer. While Jiwoon was overflowing with excitement and emotion, his phone suddenly buzzed in his hand. A quick glance at the screen showed the sender as ㅌㅊC (Taecheon‑C).

Huh…? Did he just send that? From right up there in the front row…?

Jiwoon looked at Seo Taecheon’s back in the first row, then cautiously opened the message. Instantly, he had to clamp a hand over his mouth. It was the same version of the Sook‑ryeo‑Doong‑i emoticon¹ that he had used before.

[I love you too, honey.]

On the screen, Sook‑ryeo‑Doong‑i was winking with one eye and dancing.

He wanted to leap up and shout, Oh my god, Seo Taecheon, you’re so cute! but he had to restrain himself, releasing only ragged breaths instead.

“Jiwoon, are you okay? Is it because you’re embarrassed?”

“N‑no… I’m fine.”

Assistant Manager Min looked at him with concern.

After the screening ended, the employees left their seats, chatting in small groups like moviegoers leaving a fun film.

“So in the end, Alpha No. 1 and Omega No. 1 didn’t end up as a couple.”

“Yeah, too bad. I thought Alpha No. 1 liked Omega No. 1… But even in that behind-the-scenes interview, it was never clearly stated who they liked back then.”

“Omega No. 3 went on dates with both No. 1s, but nothing came of it in the end.”

Jiwoon rose a beat later than the crowd and blended into it. He felt awkward about people recognizing him.

“I wonder who the Director will marry later.”

“I know, right? From what I saw earlier, he’s considerate and has good dating manners. Forget marriage — even dating him for just one day would be enough for me.”

The female employee grumbled as she trudged toward the elevator. Jiwoon’s ears flushed pink.

“Jiwoon.”

“Yes, Assistant Manager?”

“Hmm… Weren’t you originally going to choose Alpha No. 1?”

“Me? No way! I didn’t have anyone to pick, so I just didn’t choose at all. Hahaha.” Jiwoon scratched the back of his head, trying to laugh it off.

“Really? But you two looked good together.”

“Who?”

“You and the Director.”

“What? No way.”

Even as he said that, a smile formed on Jiwoon’s lips.

That’s right. We do look pretty good together.

But unlike Jiwoon’s lighthearted and sweet mood, the atmosphere in the company was tense. The team leader looked like she was constantly chewing on something sour as she was dragged to the audit committee, and as a result, work piled up unresolved.

The incident had been enough to turn their previously calm office upside down, so people were constantly gathering in small groups to speculate about what would happen next. Some even asked whether the recent banner incident² was connected to the team leader, but Jiwoon kept his mouth shut.

As the audit became more serious, the whole company grew busier. Which, of course, meant one thing — Seo Taecheon was extremely busy.

Just when they had agreed to start dating and had begun to set a sweet mood, and even after the Love Village³ footage hinted that he had liked him from the start, they still hadn’t been able to have the kind of conversations or date-like outings that couples normally would. Jiwoon found it disappointing.

Even though they were living together, Seo Taecheon would come home in the early hours after he had already fallen asleep, and leave for work again before he woke up. By the time he opened his eyes in the morning, the spot next to him was already cold.

He couldn’t just hold back a busy person for the sake of romance, and he knew he had to accept it — but still, he missed him, he wanted to hang out together. How frustrating it was to be in the same house, the same company, and yet spend the days just missing each other.

Seated at his desk, Jiwoon let out a deep sigh.

“Jiwoon, are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh?”

“You don’t look so good.”

Assistant Manager Min seemed to interpret Jiwoon’s preoccupied expression as something worrisome. Just Monday, he was bouncing around the office like an excited puppy — what had made him so droopy today?

“No, it’s nothing. I’m just… a little out of energy.”

“Let’s go grab a coffee sometime. It’s been a while.”

“Shall we?”

The department head and team leader had been gone since morning, so sneaking out for a short break seemed fine.

“Okay. Let’s go for a bit, Assistant Manager.”

The two headed toward the rooftop cafeteria, ordered a cup of coffee each, and sat across from each other.

“Jiwoon, do you have something on your mind?” Assistant Manager Min began. Jiwoon hesitated, then slowly opened up. Min was someone he’d confided in before, so he figured it wouldn’t hurt to get some advice.

“Uh… do you remember my friend’s friend’s friend?”

“Oh, that one! The one I gave advice to last time? The one who was stuck in that ambiguous relationship and having a hard time with it?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“What happened?”

Min leaned forward, eyes sparkling, adopting a listening posture.

“Well… those two didn’t end up becoming a couple back when they were on that deserted island…”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“But now… they decided to start dating.”

“What!”

Min nearly choked in surprise, patting her chest quickly. To her, this sounded exactly like Lee Jiwoon was saying he and Director Taecheon had started going out. She couldn’t be 100% sure, but according to the shared intel between her and Secretary Kim Minji, the person Jiwoon was talking about could only be Seo Taecheon.

Even when she’d watched the Love Village videos the other day, it had been obvious that Jiwoon and Taecheon liked each other. Jiwoon had chosen Taecheon as his first impression pick, and Taecheon had used a special date coupon on him. They’d even shared some tender dates — so of course this outcome made sense.

“Assistant Manager, here, use a tissue.” Jiwoon, startled, handed her a tissue. Min wiped the coffee from her lips and nodded.

“Sorry, I accidentally choked. Keep going.”

“Yes. But now my friend’s friend’s friend… has a dilemma.”

“What kind of dilemma?”

“Well… you know the things couples usually do, right? Going out to nice places to eat, watching movies together…? They haven’t done any of that. So now he’s wondering, Are we even really dating?”

Hearing this, Min stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Of course. With the company this busy, there’s no way the Director can set aside time for a date.

“He understands his boyfriend is very busy… But since they’ve only just started dating, he feels like they’ve been distant, and doesn’t know how to get through this stage.”

“Jiwoon, pass my advice along to him.”

Min drained the rest of her coffee in one gulp and set the cup down.

“Opportunities don’t just happen — you have to create them yourself.”

“You have to create them?”

“Yeah. I’ve been through something similar, so I know.”

Her eyes grew distant as if recalling an earlier time.

“How do you create a chance to get closer?”

“Just pounce. Boldly.”

Cough!

This time, it was Jiwoon who nearly choked.

“T‑that’s too hard for him.”

“Oh… is that so? Then tell him to at least pick a day and ‘pounce’ then. Remember this — the most important thing in a relationship is being proactive. If you just sit still, you won’t gain a thing.”

“…I see.”

It actually made sense. Jiwoon reflected, wondering if he had maybe been too passive himself.

That afternoon, while working, he began drawing up plans to improve his relationship with Taecheon.

Yeah. I’ll try to be as considerate as I can while also actively showing affection, and when he’s done with work, I’ll toss out an invitation to hang out. I’ll approach things as proactively as I can.

While bent over his report with this new determination, his messenger pinged.

ㅌㅊC

Looks like I’ll finish on time today.

Oh my god! He’s getting off work on time? How long has it been!?

Overjoyed, Jiwoon replied instantly.

Me too!

ㅌㅊC

Is there anything you want to eat?

The reply came in immediately.

Wait… ‘anything I want to eat’? Is this… a date?!

I’m fine with anything ♥

At the end of the sentence, Jiwoon carefully added a small black heart. His face grew hot as he waited for his reply, hoping the little heart might make him smile.

ㅌㅊC

Then how about a French course followed by cocktails?

Of course! That sounds amazing.

Jiwoon’s face lit up, fresh and bright again.

Notes:

Sook‑ryeo‑Doong‑i — A fictional, cutesy dancing character often used in messenger emoticons; the name suggests a playful, slightly mischievous personality.

“Banner incident” — Refers to an earlier in‑story event involving a public banner that caused a stir in the company.

Love Village — A fictional dating reality show within the narrative, similar to shows like Heart Signal or Single’s Inferno.