That morning, the air was still damp when I arrived at the office. The ten-floor building loomed like a monument—its paint peeling, its windows coated in dust. Like the face of the company itself: old, fragile, but polished just enough to look dignified.
I pressed my ID card to the attendance machine.
Beep!
The green light flickered on. My own reflection stared back at me from the glass surface—tired and hollow, though the workday had only just begun.
A new day… but it feels exactly the same.
I made my way to my department on the fourth floor. The motivational posters on the hallway walls glared down at me: Hard Work Is the Key to Success. Those words always felt like mockery.
The moment I pushed open the office door, the sound of keyboards filled the air.
Click-clack… click-clack…
Rows of cubicles lined the room, each occupied by employees wearing the same serious expression. The air was heavy with the mix of instant coffee and cheap perfume.
Every day, I sat in the farthest corner. My old computer groaned awake, taking almost two minutes before it was ready to use.
One more day… just hang in there.
The routine began—checking emails, copying data, writing reports. My fingers tapped the keyboard without spirit.
Click-clack… click-clack…
Sometimes laughter drifted from other cubicles, sometimes snippets of gossip. I rarely joined. They rarely asked.
"Hey, did you hear?" Ji-hye's voice came from the next cubicle.
"What?" her friend, Sun-hee, replied.
I kept my eyes on the screen, but my ears sharpened.
"They say someone put a camera in the women's restroom on the fifth floor."
Whispers.
"A camera? Seriously?!"
"Yeah. They found it this morning."
My hands froze on the keyboard.
A camera? In the women's restroom? Who would dare…
My chest tightened, though I had nothing to do with it.
The whispers spread wider.
"They say it was someone from our division."
"Really? If they catch him, he's done for."
I felt their glances darting toward me.
No way… don't tell me they're suspecting me?
I bowed my head, pretending to type.
Click-clack… click…
But my fingers were stiff, the letters on the screen jumbled.
At nine o'clock, Division Manager Choi Do-gun stormed in, his face hard.
"Everyone, gather!" his voice thundered.
We all stood. I kept my head down.
"You've all heard about the camera. Management is investigating. I won't have this department's name tarnished. If anyone knows something, speak up now."
My eyes stayed on the floor.
Why does it feel like his gaze is aimed straight at me?
After the short briefing, everyone sat back down. The air turned tense. Invisible daggers of suspicion pierced me from every direction.
I tried to focus on my report. Numbers danced across the screen, but my mind was chaos.
Is it because I often get sent to the fifth floor for documents? Are they using that as an excuse to accuse me?
Bzzzt… bzzzt…
My phone vibrated on the desk. A message flashed on the screen.
"Assistant Manager Han, please see Team Leader Seo Na-young in her office immediately."
I froze.
Team Leader…? Why is she calling me?
I glanced up. Seo Na-young stood at the far end of the office, chatting with two female staff members. Her tall frame, the way her fitted work dress hugged her curves, the white blouse straining against her chest, the black skirt outlining her hips.
She gave her staff a faint smile, then briefly glanced in my direction. That single look slowed my blood.
She's the one who called me? Is this… about the camera rumor?
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Thump… thump… thump…
My hand trembled as I picked up the phone again, double-checking the message. My name was clearly written.
I shut my laptop slowly, then stood on shaky legs. Eyes followed me, whispers pricked at my skin.
"He got called by Na-young?"
"Why? Could it be…"
I clenched my fists.
What am I supposed to say? What if they really accuse me? I didn't… I didn't do anything…
I stepped out of the cubicle.
Tap… tap… tap…
My footsteps echoed in the tense silence.
Na-young's office was at the end of the hallway. The door loomed ahead, tightly shut, as though guarding a secret.
What's waiting for me in there?
I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself.
Hhh…
My hand gripped the doorknob.
Click…
I pushed it open. The scent of a woman's perfume greeted me, sweet yet sharp.
Seo Na-young sat behind her desk. Her black hair cascaded neatly, her lips painted a striking red. She lifted her gaze—her faint smile hiding eyes that stripped me bare.
"Assistant Manager Han," her voice calm, "sit down. We need to talk."
The door shut tight behind me. The perfume mixed with the sterile smell of paper. The office felt less like a workplace, more like an interrogation room.
Na-young sat back, fingers drumming softly against the desk.
Tok… tok… tok…
"Assistant Manager Han." Her tone was flat, each syllable like a gavel strike. "Do you know why I called you?"
I swallowed hard, lowering myself carefully into the chair.
Damn it… so this really is about the camera rumor.
I shook my head slightly.
"I'm not sure, Team Leader."
Her eyes narrowed. Her red lips curved into a thin smile, devoid of warmth.
"The hidden camera in the women's restroom on the fifth floor. Many say… you were the last one seen there."
The veins at my temple tightened.
What? So I'm their prime suspect?!
I straightened up quickly.
"I was on the fifth floor, yes… but only to collect some reports. Nothing else."
Na-young leaned back in her chair, crossing her long legs. Her blouse stretched taut, her skirt tracing the line of her hips. It was hard to keep my eyes on hers.
"You can say whatever you want, Joon-ki," she said coldly. "But rumors don't appear out of thin air. The fact that you were there is already… suspicious."
My fists clenched under the desk.
Why is she speaking like I'm already guilty? Is she just looking for a scapegoat?
Tok! Tok!
The door opened. Two security staff walked in, their expressions grim. One carried a tablet.
"Team Leader, we've checked the CCTV," the one in the suit reported.
My heart jumped.
"And?" Na-young asked calmly.
"Assistant Manager Han was indeed on the fifth floor. But…" he paused. "The footage shows him only retrieving a file from the archive cabinet. No sign of entering the women's restroom."
A heavy breath of relief escaped me.
Hhh…
Thank God… finally some proof clearing me.
But Na-young's face remained ice. Her fingers tapped faster on the desk.
Tok-tok-tok-tok…
"So, technically… you're not proven guilty," she said slowly. "But that doesn't mean you're free from my suspicion. The fact that you were there… is still too convenient."
I nearly leapt from my seat.
"Team Leader! The CCTV clearly—"
"Enough." Her voice cut sharp as a blade. Her eyes gleamed. "You may return to your desk. But remember… one mistake, and I'll be the first to come for you."
I staggered out of the room.
Tap… tap… tap…
The whispers erupted instantly.
"He really got called in by Na-young?"
"Then it must be true he's the suspect."
"Even if he slipped away this time… he could still be the culprit."
Every stare pierced me like thorns.
Why does it feel like even with proof, they'll never see me as innocent?
Back at my cubicle, the computer screen felt foreign.
Click… click…
My fingers typed automatically, but my mind was chaos.
The days that followed were hell.
Every time I walked past, conversations stopped. Female staff clutched their bags tighter, the men smirked.
How long will this go on? I didn't even do anything.
I arrived on time, finished reports, helped others. But it was useless. Gossip was stronger than truth.
Should I just… resign? But if I quit, wouldn't that only prove them right?
That night, after overtime, I walked home to my apartment. The cold air bit into my skin. Dim streetlights stretched my shadow long against the ground.
I loosened my tie, exhaling hard.
Hhh…
If this keeps up… I'll break.
At the end of the alley near my building, I heard commotion.
Heh-heh-heh…
I quickened my pace.
A large man was blocking a young woman, his drunken breath foul as he tried to grab her arm.
"Come on, noona… drink with me. Don't act so pure."
The woman struggled, her face pale. I recognized her—my neighbor, Eun-ji.
"Let go! I said no!"
My hand instinctively raised my phone.
Click! (camera on)
I started recording.
"Stop right now. I'm recording everything. If you keep this up, I'll call the police."
The man turned, eyes bloodshot, veins bulging in his neck.
"WHAT?!"
He stormed toward me. Eun-ji let out a small cry.
I held my phone steady, though my hands shook.
If he attacks me, I'm done… but I can't back down.
Tap! Tap!
He stopped right in front of me, his furious face inches from mine.
"You dare record me?!"
I pretended to press the screen.
Beep…
"One more step, and I'm calling the cops right now."
He cursed, spat on the ground, then backed away.
"Damn it… coward!"
And stormed off.
Tap… tap… tap…
Eun-ji exhaled shakily.
"Oh my God… thank you, ahjussi. If you hadn't shown up…" Her voice trembled.
"Ahjussi? I'm not that old!" I blurted, startled.
She giggled nervously, cheeks flushing.
"Hehe… reflex. Still, you saved me tonight."
I sighed in resignation.
Ahjussi, huh… I'm not even that old.
Eun-ji looked at me softly.
"As thanks… will you have a drink with me?"
I nodded lightly.
"Sure."
Meanwhile, far away in the empty company building, an old storage room creaked open.
Kriiiik… (door groaning)
The light revealed floating dust as two figures stepped inside. Team Leader Seo Na-young… and a shadowed man whose face remained hidden.
Without a word, they moved deeper.
Srekk… srekk… (steps on dusty floor)
The door closed again.
Click!
Darkness swallowed them whole.