The streets of Seoul were alive with the morning rush — taxis honking, buses groaning to a stop, and people weaving through the crowd like a river of urgency. Han Ji-won dashed through it all, her high heels clacking against the pavement, one hand clutching her bag, the other juggling her phone. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tied her bun, strands of hair escaping with every frantic step.
Her phone slipped from her hand, bouncing off the sidewalk. She glanced down for the briefest second, panic flickering in her chest, but time wasn't hers to steal. A quick curse escaped her lips as she picked up the pace. The office wouldn't wait — and her boss never did.
Bursting through the doors of the media company, she skidded slightly, bowing deeply. "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" she said, cheeks flushed, as all eyes turned to her.
⸻
The Office Storm
"How many times do I need to tell you to come earlier before everyone else?!" her leader's voice thundered, slicing through the office like lightning.
Ji-won flinched, keeping her eyes on the floor, listening silently. She knew she wouldn't be spared — never was.
"This is your last chance. Don't mess up again!"
The words hung heavy in the air. Every employee's gaze followed her, some with pity, some with barely-hidden amusement. Slowly, she eased herself into her chair, the weight of the morning pressing on her shoulders. Her fingers moved automatically over the keyboard, gathering details, compiling information — the work of a dozen people, but expected from her alone.
Lunch came and went without her noticing, a sandwich untouched on the corner of her desk. The office buzzed around her as colleagues chatted and ate, but Ji-won's world had narrowed down to deadlines, notes, and the relentless stream of work her leader piled onto her.
⸻
Hours later, when the sun was beginning to dip behind the tall buildings of Seoul, her phone vibrated sharply.
"Ji-won-ah, why are you so late? Dinner's getting cold," her grandmother's voice chimed warmly through the speaker.
"Grandma… just wait, okay? I'll be there in thirty minutes," Ji-won said, glancing at her watch. "My scooter's in the garage, so I'll need a taxi… or maybe I can catch the bus."
Her phone was cut off mid-sentence as her leader barked another order from across the office. Ji-won cursed under her breath, stuffing the phone into her bag.
Finally, the office quieted. Ji-won grabbed her coat and called a taxi. The ride home was a blur of neon lights and evening traffic. When she arrived, the apartment was silent except for the soft hum of the city outside.
There, on the couch, her grandmother slept lightly, a faint frown on her face, waiting for her. Ji-won exhaled, exhaustion washing over her. She sank beside her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her grandmother's forehead.
It was just another day — yet somehow, it felt heavier than usual.
Ji-won slowly draped a soft blanket over her shoulders, the warmth a small comfort against the chill of exhaustion. She moved to the dining table, her eyes falling on the neatly set dishes — now cold and uninviting. The familiar aroma of home-cooked food usually brought a sense of peace, but tonight, even that failed to awaken her appetite.
She picked up her chopsticks, moving them almost mechanically, tasting each bite with a distant sort of detachment. Tiny, silent tears slid down her cheeks, unnoticed as she ate slowly, each mouthful heavy with fatigue and unspoken worry. Her grandmother's care, the warmth of the meal, the life she had built for herself despite everything — it all felt too much to hold in one moment.
Ji-won swallowed, trying to focus on the food, trying to gather strength for tomorrow. But the exhaustion in her body and the ache in her heart were stubborn, and she couldn't stop the quiet tears that traced a path down her face.
For a moment, the world outside the apartment — the endless deadlines, the rush of the city, the pressure from her boss — faded, leaving only this quiet, bittersweet moment of solitude at the dinner table.
Day after day, Han Ji-won carried the same weight on her shoulders. Her life had become a cycle of deadlines, late nights, and exhaustion. Every evening, her grandmother waited for her, eyes flicking toward the clock every few minutes, heart heavy with worry. When Ji-won arrived late — again — she would find her grandmother asleep on the couch, a quiet testament to her concern.
One night, Ji-won returned home utterly drained. Her body ached, eyes shadowed with fatigue, and her hands swollen. As usual, she spotted her grandmother asleep on the couch. Slowly, she grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around herself, feeling its warmth as a fleeting comfort.
Tonight, she didn't even glance at the dinner table. She went straight to her bedroom, washed up carefully, and applied ointment to her swollen hands and minor scratches. Lying down, she couldn't stop the memories of her office torment replaying in her mind.
⸻
The Incident
She recalled the day with perfect clarity. She had been typing a report when an absent-minded colleague accidentally spilled a drink on her hand — the liquid spreading quickly across the keyboard and her documents. The employee had bowed repeatedly, murmuring apologies, but it was too late. Her hand was already swollen, and her computer damaged.
When Ji-won brought the matter to her boss, she expected fairness — but none came. Her leader's voice cut through her frustration like a whip. "How could you let this happen? Take the computer and get it repaired immediately!"
Ji-won carried the heavy laptop down the stairs, each step a battle against pain and exhaustion. But fate seemed determined to mock her — she slipped, sprawling painfully across the concrete. Her leg turned red from the impact, her hand throbbing fiercely. Her boss's voice barked from above, sharp and cruel: "Are you dumb? Can't you do anything right?"
Ji-won looked pathetic, her pride battered as much as her body. She said nothing, standing in silence, swallowing her tears. Without a word, she left the office that day, carrying not only the computer but also the weight of humiliation.
⸻
The Park
Eventually, she found herself in the quiet of a small park near her apartment.
Thinking all this that night she cried a lot.