NLFSD Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The sudden mention of “leave” left Manager Kim blinking in confusion. For a young, unmarried employee, leave usually meant only sick leave. But Jiwoon looked radiantly healthy, glowing even. He certainly didn’t seem ill.

“Do you mean special marriage leave? Planning a honeymoon?”

“No, not that… I’m actually requesting prenatal leave.”

“…Pre… prenatal leave?”

Impossible. That meant pregnancy. Kim slapped a hand over his mouth.

“Yes. I brought the documentation. Confirmation of pregnancy and the doctor’s note.”

“…I see. Alright.”

Jiwoon handed him the envelope; Kim nodded nervously, taking it quickly.

“I’ll process this through the admin manager to HR, so don’t worry. If anything troubles you, let me know. I’ll start the e‑approval.”

“Thank you, Manager.”

“You know the rule — it’s usually two weeks from request to actual leave. We’ll need you to come in until then if you can.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Bowing, Jiwoon returned to his desk, setting to work compiling status files and uploading them neatly to the group server for his yet‑unknown successor. The morning rushed by.

At lunch and into the afternoon, his mind drifted again toward his application. Curious, he checked the workflow. His leave request—already approved with the Director’s stamp.

That passed quickly. Good.

Accessing the HR system, he checked his leave start date.

“What?”

Something odd — the usual two‑week waiting period had vanished. The approval set his leave as starting tomorrow.

Popping open Messenger, he typed:

Taecheon, isn’t prenatal leave supposed to start two weeks later? Why is it processed as immediate?

Seo Taecheon: Because I requested emergency approval. You are on immediate leave.

What? Isn’t that abuse of power?

Seo Taecheon: Apparently, if direct family submits an urgent request, HR considers. So I wrote one myself.

Jiwoon snorted, hand over his mouth. He could only imagine the HR staff sweating cold bullets receiving “an urgent family leave request” penned by the Director himself.

Thank you. Mango thanks you too.

Seo Taecheon: Now stay home and don’t set a foot outside. Rest, understood?

Okay. Just… after we finish our last Dereflection course creditsⁱ.

There remained 6 points of coursework in their Divorce Reflection annulment program still incomplete.

Busy, busy. Complete the course, nurture Mango, sneak little trips with Taecheon, plan a wedding… At least my to‑do list is full of happiness.

Noting it all down in his planner with a novelty pen shaped like Sookryeo‑Doongyi, Jiwoon chuckled and flicked the doll’s forehead.

At day’s end, coworkers all stopped by his desk to bid farewell. He had announced his sudden leave openly.

“We’ll miss you, Assistant Lee.”

“…Sorry it’s so abrupt.”

“No, we should apologize. We had no idea.”

“Truly, we never imagined!”

Deputy Park and Manager Kim looked stricken, guilty for having piled him with work.

“It’s fine. I never said anything.”

“Oh wow, today’s Friday. So Monday we already won’t see you?”

“Yes. It seems that way.”

After parting words, Manager Kim himself approached to shake hands.

“Good work. Rest well and return to us.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Jiwoon bowed to each teammate in turn.

“Deputy Min, take care. Let’s meet often anyway.”

“Of course. Keep in touch. Every day.” She patted his shoulder warmly.

“I’ll stay late tonight to finalize my files. You all go ahead.”

“Alright then. Take care.”

When everyone had gone, silence enveloped the office. Jiwoon lingered, gazing at his neat, empty desk.

So many things happened right here. Since entry, I never left this seat. Except those two days I “resigned”…

This desk saw me meet Taecheon, marry him, even file for divorce, only to fall in love deeper. The copier and water cooler witnessed too. People say in office romances, the copier always finds out first…

Lost in thought, his reverie broke when the door clicked. From the Director’s office, Taecheon appeared.

“All packed up?”

“Yes. Everything’s done.”

Taecheon surveyed the cleared desk, expression heavy with thought.

“You worked hard. Now, just rest easy.”

He brushed Jiwoon’s hair back tenderly. Jiwoon squinted, struck again by just how attractive he looked — slicked‑back hair perfectly set, tie fastened sharp, three‑piece suit fitting like a glove. The severe face only stoked the thrill of a forbidden office liaison.

“Director…” Jiwoon murmured suddenly.

“…Yes?”

Surprised by the formal title, Taecheon looked at him in curiosity.

“There’s… something I’ve always fantasized about.”

“Oh?”

“We dated in secret, never openly. I want to play out that cliché. You know — the strict Director and trembling junior…”

Jiwoon said it in full seriousness. Taecheon laughed.

“So that’s your wish?”

“I mean it. It’s my romance fantasy.”

“Good grief.”

Still chuckling, he drew Jiwoon into his arms, trying to stifle his grin.

“Don’t joke. Be serious then?”

“Right. Let’s set the scene.”

He cleared his throat, lowered his voice.

“Assistant Lee. Your report has errors. Explanation?”

His piercing gaze sent chills down Jiwoon’s spine. Deliciously frightening.

Ah… fun.

Jiwoon suppressed laughter, playing along.

“I’m sorry, Director…”

“Sorry isn’t enough.”

“…Then perhaps I can make it up with this?”

Eyes shut, trembling deliberately, he dove in for a kiss. Taecheon nearly lost his composure at the soft lips, but forced himself back into character.

“Insufficient.”

“Then, Director…?”

Jiwoon looked up with liquid eyes.

“You’ll be punished. In my office. Now.”

He grabbed Jiwoon’s wrist, dragging him toward the office.

“Aah! Please forgive me!”

“Apologize with your body inside.”

“You’re terrible… body, you say…”

Jiwoon laughed even as he was towed in.

Copier, water cooler — see this? Office romance IS the best!

Next morning, Jiwoon woke with a start, eyes snapping open. Today was different.

I don’t have to go to work. I’m on leave!

He nearly whistled with glee, ready to bound around the house.

But leave didn’t mean lazing. Their divorce‑reflection annulment protocol, coursework, and reconciliation steps remained.

“We have to call the legal counsel… check in with Reflection Center… still finish those last six course credits.”

“Busy indeed. Let’s hope the procedure finishes early, before the year ends.”

“I feel the same.”

Year‑end was chaos for Taecheon, yet he arranged to leave early just for this. At 4 p.m. they clasped hands and stepped into the Reflection Center side by side.

“It feels strange. First time here, we hadn’t even realized our hearts yet.”

“But now, we’ve come full circle.”

“Isn’t this the same place we did the drawing class? You sketched me so perfectly back then.”

Jiwoon remembered. During a “couple seminar,” Taecheon had drawn him with stunning skill. The instructor declared, love shines through pencil lines — using such tender eyes, this couple will reconcile for sure.

And now, that prophecy was coming true.