Autobahn Romance Vol.3 9-1

But once I got home and lay on the bed, I couldn’t help but dwell on it.

‘Why did he talk to me like that? Can’t he try to understand my position? Usually he understands me perfectly without me having to say anything.’

I debated whether to contact him or not, then tossed my phone aside.

Then I crawled back to retrieve it, typed a message, deleted it, wondering whether to send it or not.

And then again.

‘Why should I apologize first? He’s the one who did something wrong.’

Strangely, my pride kept getting in the way.

Still, thinking from Gong Pyeonghwa’s perspective, what he said wasn’t entirely unreasonable. If our positions were reversed, I might have done the same.

Saebyeok held his phone and pressed the keypad firmly, pouring his sincere feelings into it.

I’m sorry. I must have been really tired. There’s no way talking with you could be tiring. You know that. Like you said, I was probably oversensitive from exhaustion. So your words didn’t sound good to me, and I got angry when I shouldn’t have. I didn’t want to, I’m really sorry. But I was hurt too. I felt sad thinking you didn’t trust me, and I didn’t feel good being interrogated. Still, after thinking it over, if I were in your position, I probably would have said the same things.

He sent the message hoping to resolve things amicably, since this wasn’t something worth breaking up over.

Looking back, I decided to apologize first since I was probably more agitated than usual.

It was partly due to that sarcastic smile Gong Pyeonghwa showed others, especially people he didn’t like.

Since he usually only showed me expressions that seemed to say he was madly in love, occasionally when Pyeonghwa didn’t smile because he was tired, my heart would sink and I’d feel hurt for no reason.

That’s how big the gap was between when Pyeonghwa smiled and when he didn’t.

It seemed I’d need to postpone dates with Pyeonghwa until I finished what needed to be done. We might end up fighting again otherwise. Fortunately, Pyeonghwa had mentioned he couldn’t meet for a while anyway, so that was a small blessing.

“I’m tired. So tired.”

Saebyeok closed his eyes as he lay in bed.

Just receiving some pheromones from that kiss was making him drowsy.

***

Over this we should break up

Hey. Shin Saebyeok, what are you doing? You want to break up over this? The context got cut off, right? Right? No? You have more to say, right?

I’m waiting. I’m not even sleeping, I’m just waiting.

“…”

It’s been 30 minutes… I’m still staring at my phone…

Hurry up and finish what you were saying…

Don’t tell me you’re sleeping…?

You drop this bomb on me and then go to sleep…?

***

I overslept.

I don’t usually sleep in, but maybe fatigue had built up? I barely managed to wash up before heading to work.

“What’s the rush, skipping breakfast? Hmph.”

Chairman Gong casually dropped a package on Saebyeok’s lap as if he’d picked it up on the way. It was a hamburger set with toys that young people supposedly liked these days.

“What are you doing? Performing a ritual? When an elder gives you something, you should say thank you and eat it. You’re too skinny, my goodness.”

Oh. So he was giving it to me. Saebyeok quickly thanked him and hugged the hamburger set to his chest. He could feel the plastic toy and the burger inside.

“I’ll eat it at the office since it might smell in the car. Thank you. I’m really touched…”

Was this what they called tsundere? Though he grumbled, the way he kept glancing at Saebyeok’s reaction made it obvious that he was conscious of him.

“Father, what about me? Why didn’t you buy one for me? Why! Are you discriminating? I want a figurine too!”

“When are you ever going to grow up? Besides, you already ate! Unlike someone else, he was working all night and is too tired to have had breakfast! Is that the same? Huh? Is it?”

Chairman Gong and Gong Jeong childishly argued from the morning.

Meanwhile, Saebyeok was distracted by the smell of french fries and beef patty coming from the package. He was really hungry.

The childish argument continued relentlessly even until they arrived at the company.

Saebyeok gobbled down the hamburger and went into the office.

It was a bit funny to place the figurine from some animation he only vaguely recognized next to his monitor as he checked his emails.

I hear young people like these things these days, does he see me as one of those young people? The fact that he had clearly thought about what I might like was amusing. I thought, my father-in-law has his cute side too.

“Well, let’s get to work… Intern Shin, what’s that?”

Team Manager Dok asked, staring intently at the toy figurine.

“It’s… it’s a toy, I think?”

“No, I mean where did you get it from?”

Saebyeok was about to sheepishly say they gave it with the hamburger but couldn’t even open his mouth because of the excited Team Manager.

“The season ended long ago, how did you get one? I wanted this too. Ah!”

“I don’t really know… I just received it this morning.”

“From whom? From whom? Can’t you tell me? Where did they get it? This is a limited edition, you need luck with the random draws to get it.”

Is this toy that amazing? Isn’t it just something they give out as a freebie?

“Who gave it to you? Is it someone connected to the company?”

“My father-in-law…”

Saebyeok replied in a subdued voice, crushed by the aura of an obsessive otaku.

“Saying it like that, who would know? Who’s your father-in-law? You don’t know my father, Intern Shin. How would I know someone else’s father-in-law?”

Everyone except you knows.

The office workers shook their heads at the Team Manager’s lack of tact.

“Excuse me, Manager… Please check these documents.”

The section chief stepped in to halt the manager’s rampage. Saebyeok wondered, ‘What’s so special about this crude piece of plastic?’

Anyway, after checking the accumulated emails, organizing documents, and preparing for meetings, he spent a hectic morning.

When he finally caught his breath and was about to have a quick lunch in the cafeteria, everyone around him was making a fuss about a team dinner.

He’d been so busy all day that he hadn’t even checked his phone once. No time. No time at all.

Throughout lunch, Team Manager Dok kept chirping about buying the figurine from him.

Although Saebyeok wouldn’t have minded giving it away, it was a gift from his father-in-law. It didn’t feel right to give it to the team manager who was neither Pyeonghwa, nor Iseul, not even his hyung.

Phew. So exhausting.

It was only after 5pm that he finally got a breather. Saebyeok checked his phone in the bathroom for the first time in 18 hours.

♥MyHusband♥

What’s this

Apologize

Apologize!!!!!!! Hurry up and apologize, apologize apologize apologize ㅠㅠㅠ

What’s going on? Why is he freaking out?

Why are there so many messages piled up? And I already apologized.

There was no end to the messages even as he kept scrolling down. With no time to spare and feeling conscious of others, he gave up on reading them all and just checked the very last message.

♥MyHusband♥

How could you say let’s break up apologize apologize apologize apologize apologize that’s too much apologize ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Really? Are you serious? How could you say something like thatㅠㅠ

Why aren’t you reading? Did you block me? Did you block me? ㅠ

Sorry; I’ve been so busy today I’m only checking my phone now;

After sending a reply, he scrolled up to find the cause of Gong Pyeonghwa’s meltdown.

And he found the reason for Pyeonghwa’s outburst.

Over this we should break up

Oh no, the message got cut off.

Though 18 hours had passed, Saebyeok worked his thumbs frantically to correct the misunderstanding now.

No, my message got cut off; I must have fallen asleep while sending it yesterday because I was too tired; The end got cut off;;

Over this we should break up – we’re not that kind of couple. We’re already apart enough as it is, so I was going to say I felt bad that we parted after arguing yesterday, and that I was sorry;;

I don’t know why it got cut off like that;;;

I’m sorry; I’m sorry; You must have been so shocked; I really didn’t mean it;

He was sweating nervously.

♥MyHusband♥

Really???????????????

He’s checking immediately.

♥MyHusband♥

Really really really? I really couldn’t sleep all night because of you and just now I dozed off and had a nightmare I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown I feel like I’m dying I almost died I almost diedㅠㅠ

ㅠㅠI was really sorry yesterday too why did I do that ㅠㅠ is it my rut time ㅠㅠ

I’m sorry I’m sorry ㅠㅠ!! You were so busy today too ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I was so inconsiderate why am I even alive Gong Pyeonghwaㅡㅡ

We should meet today and clear everything up. We already made plans, and work should be finished.

With a much lighter heart, Saebyeok prepared to leave work.

“You all can go home now.”

With permission to leave right on time, Saebyeok was about to buy a bouquet to soothe Pyeonghwa’s heart…

“Saebyeok. I think we need to go over our presentation once more, so we were planning to meet today. You’re coming with us, right?”

“Ah…”

We really should go over it once. Not for my sake, but for the team.

Since they might be uneasy about the sudden addition of me to the team, reducing their anxiety would be the proper teamwork etiquette.

Sorry as he was to Pyeonghwa, today just wasn’t the day.

Sorry ㅠ something suddenly came up ㅠㅠ let’s meet tomorrow ㅠㅠㅠㅠ…