“Ha-yoon, can you make 30 copies of this, front and back?”
“Yes.”
“The meeting is at three, so get it done quickly and set up the meeting room while you’re at it.”
“Yes, Deputy Manager.”
Seo Ha-yoon swiftly took the file. Yoon, who was in his mid-thirties, placed a red ginseng stick on top of it and smiled.
“Just seeing you puts me in a good mood, Ha-yoon. If only my husband were even one-tenth like you, how great would that be?”
As far as Seo Ha-yoon knew, Deputy Manager Yoon had only been married for half a year. Yet, she often made playful comments like this whenever she saw Seo Ha-yoon. It was the kind of joke that could be taken lightly. Of course, if Yoon were a man instead of a woman, it might have felt a little uncomfortable.
“Alright, go on now.”
Yoon gestured for him to hurry.
“I’ll enjoy this, thank you.”
Seo Ha-yoon politely lifted the red ginseng stick and bowed before turning away. He checked the time. Copying and setting up the meeting room—luckily, he had a fair amount of time left.
He headed to the copy room with the file. It was empty. Familiar with the machine by now, he adjusted the settings and started the copies.
As the copier hummed to life, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror above the machine. Dressed in a black suit with neatly styled hair, the look had become second nature to him. Around his neck hung an employee ID card with the name “Seo Ha-yoon, General Affairs Team” printed on it. The sight of himself in a suit, ID proudly displayed, filled him with satisfaction. Seo Ha-yoon allowed a slight smile to form, practicing a warm and approachable expression.
It had already been over six months since he had joined Choi Sang-hyuk’s company. After a three-month internship, he had been officially hired. The initially confusing office life had become second nature, and though he wasn’t close enough to exchange personal messages, he had several colleagues he could share casual conversations with. What had once been a distant dream—walking through the streets during lunch with an iced Americano in hand, ID badge swinging around his neck—was now an effortless reality.
More importantly, he no longer referred to himself as Kim Min-seok, even in his own thoughts.
His memories as Seo Ha-yoon hadn’t completely returned. The hospital he currently attended had started hypnotherapy, aiming to gradually integrate the two personalities as the most ideal form of treatment.
Maybe it was the therapy, maybe it was the memories he was slowly reclaiming, or perhaps it was simply the time he had spent living as Seo Ha-yoon—but he no longer felt any discomfort, rejection, or awkwardness about being Seo Ha-yoon. He had fully embraced this identity as his own.
Bzzz—
A vibration in his pocket interrupted his thoughts. Glancing toward the entrance of the copy room to ensure it was still empty, he pulled out his phone.
[I’m on break after practice. I was so busy I didn’t even realize lunchtime had passed. Did you eat well, Ha-yoon?]
It was a message from Ha Jun-seo. Just reading it, Seo Ha-yoon could almost hear his warm, familiar voice in his ears. Smiling to himself, he quickly typed a reply.
[I ate well and even got a coffee. No matter how busy you are, make sure you eat properly. You’ll end up getting sick if you don’t.]
A moment later, another reply came.
[Got it. I was just about to grab something. I’ll make braised short ribs for dinner, so look forward to it.]
[Okay.]
After sending the final message, Seo Ha-yoon hurriedly tucked his phone back into his pocket. It wouldn’t do for anyone to see him on his phone during work hours. He gathered the freshly printed documents, still warm from the copier, and neatly stacked them. Just as he was about to step out of the copy room—
“Ah…! Sorry—”
The moment he swung the door open, he bumped right into what felt like a solid wall. Out of habit, he immediately apologized, but as the familiar scent brushed past his nose, he looked up.
Standing there, expressionless as ever, was Choi Sang-hyuk.
Kim Sil-jang, who was usually glued to his side like a shadow, was nowhere to be seen.
“D-Director… What brings you here…?”
They had agreed to act like strangers at work, so they rarely ran into each other. Even when they did, their interaction was limited to a polite nod before moving on. However, every once in a while, Choi Sang-hyuk would corner him like this.
Seo Ha-yoon hated these moments—but at the same time, he found them strangely thrilling.
Choi Sang-hyuk glanced around the hallway, ensuring they were alone, then stepped inside, pushing Seo Ha-yoon backward into the copy room.
Seo Ha-yoon’s back hit the copier as he watched Choi Sang-hyuk lock the door. He bit his lower lip.
“I… I have to prepare for the meeting.”
“Who told you to do that?”
“Deputy Manager Yoon….”
“And who am I?”
“You’re the Director….”
“Then whose words come first?”
“Well… Yours, Director….”
Seo Ha-yoon answered with a disgruntled expression. At that, Choi Sang-hyuk tapped his lips lightly with a finger and gave a simple command.
“Then open your mouth.”
“No—mph…!”
Choi Sang-hyuk grabbed the back of his head and crashed their lips together, claiming him in a forceful, consuming kiss. His large hand slid down, gripping Seo Ha-yoon’s ass firmly, kneading it with deliberate intent.
“Mmh… Hnn… Uhh…”
At first, Seo Ha-yoon tried to resist, but soon, he was completely swept up in the kiss. The small copy room was filled with the wet sounds of their tangled tongues and their heavy breathing.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Seo Ha-yoon, who had his arms wrapped around Choi Sang-hyuk’s neck, froze at the sound and quickly pulled away. Choi Sang-hyuk shot him a displeased look.
“Someone might catch us! Just go already!”
Seo Ha-yoon hissed in a whisper, moving to stand in front of the mirror on the wall. He rubbed at his lips, which were swollen and slick with saliva, then hurriedly straightened his disheveled clothes. When he turned back around, Choi Sang-hyuk was still standing there, arms crossed, his expression full of dissatisfaction.
Seo Ha-yoon knew. Choi Sang-hyuk was always busy at work. If he was sneaking away, making time to find him like this, it meant he had really, desperately wanted to see him. That was both touching and incredibly inconvenient.
“Look at you. You can’t go out there like this.”
Seo Ha-yoon quickly stepped forward, dabbing at Choi Sang-hyuk’s wet lips and fixing his shirt. The touch seemed to soften the displeasure in Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyes just a little.
“Don’t leave right after work today. Stay and come to my office at seven.”
Choi Sang-hyuk said as he suddenly grabbed Seo Ha-yoon by the waist. Seo Ha-yoon stiffened, immediately recalling his plans with Ha Jun-seo. His hesitation didn’t go unnoticed. Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyes narrowed.
“What? You have plans with that bastard?”
“…We were going to have dinner together. He said he’d make braised short ribs…”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyes darkened, his gaze practically cursing him out.
“What’s more important, short ribs or your job?”
“It’s not a work issue—it’s just you telling me to stay late.”
“I am the company.”
Choi Sang-hyuk declared arrogantly. Then, after a short pause, he added,
“You think I don’t know? You stayed over at that bastard’s place the last two nights. You should learn to pace yourself with your concubine.”
“…Concubine? That’s rude to Jun-seo.”
Seo Ha-yoon scolded carefully. Choi Sang-hyuk snorted.
“What else should I call a concubine but a concubine?”
His tone left no room for argument.
“Anyway, be at my office by seven.”
Without waiting for an answer, Choi Sang-hyuk grabbed a firm handful of Seo Ha-yoon’s ass before abruptly turning away. Before Seo Ha-yoon could even react, he had already swung the copy room door open and stepped out. Seo Ha-yoon wanted to stop him, wanted to say he wouldn’t go—but with people outside, he couldn’t exactly chase after him.
“So damn selfish…”
Muttering under his breath, Seo Ha-yoon glanced at the clock—and immediately panicked. The meeting was about to start.
“I’m going to lose my mind!”
He grabbed the freshly copied documents and sprinted down the hallway, his employee badge fluttering wildly around his neck.
He rushed into the meeting room, set out bottled water and refreshments, and adjusted the equipment. After carefully placing the copied documents at each seat, he checked his wristwatch and finally let out a sigh of relief.
He had originally had plenty of time, but thanks to Choi Sang-hyuk, he had barely made it. The last ten minutes had been absolute chaos.
This was all Choi Sang-hyuk’s fault.
The meeting dragged on for quite a while. By the time it ended, it was already past working hours. Today was none other than Friday night — the golden evening when everyone rushed out with excitement, eager to enjoy the weekend. Except for a few who still had tasks left, most of the employees left promptly, their faces brimming with enthusiasm. Seo Ha-yoon, pretending to still have work to do, bid farewell to his colleagues as they left one by one.
Sitting at his desk, he checked the time and let out a deep sigh before pulling out his phone. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally typed a message to Ha Jun-seo.
[I have some work left at the office, so I don’t think I can make it for dinner. You probably finished cooking already… I’m really sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you next time.]
After sending the message, Seo Ha-yoon exhaled heavily, rubbing his forehead. Not long after, a reply came from Ha Jun-seo.
[If it’s work, there’s nothing you can do. Finish up well and be careful on your way home.]
[Yeah… I’m really sorry.]
Sending that final apology, Seo Ha-yoon set his phone down and buried his face in his arms with a sigh. Ha Jun-seo said it was fine, but he knew. He knew exactly why Seo Ha-yoon suddenly had to stay late. The possibility that Choi Sang-hyuk had pulled him in yet again wasn’t lost on him. And yet, he pretended not to know. That made Seo Ha-yoon feel both guilty and grateful at the same time.
With a bit of time left, he started organizing files on his computer and tidying up his desk. Since there was a cleaning staff, he didn’t need to do much. As the clock approached 7 PM, his phone suddenly buzzed.
[Come quickly.]
It was Choi Sang-hyuk.
The frustration that had been simmering inside him flared up again. First, because he had to break his promise with Ha Jun-seo. Second, because Choi Sang-hyuk had been reckless enough to come all the way to the copy room earlier, risking exposure.
But as he stood up to head toward the executive office, his irritation melted away without a trace. Instead, an entirely different feeling seeped in—one of anticipation, dark and thrilling.
