At the office
"Very good, Hae-in," the department director said, his voice steady and approving. "We're truly impressed with your work. Your contribution to this project has earned immense appreciation and trust from the client."
Hae-in offered a small, composed smile. "Thank you, sir."
The director nodded, clearly pleased. His gaze briefly shifted to her manager before returning to her."You are one of our strongest resources. The client is extremely happy with your dedication and delivery. In fact, they're offering three additional projects to our company, and they've specifically requested that you work on them and oversee their execution."
Hae-in looked at him, surprised, the weight of his words settling in.
She took a breath.
"Thank you for considering me, sir," she said politely. "But assisting even two projects is already a huge responsibility." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "I won't be able to manage such an increased workload. My work-life balance is already affected. I've been stretching my days to twelve, sometimes fourteen hours."
Her voice remained calm, firm, and respectful. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't take on this responsibility."
The room fell quiet, her boundary standing clearly where she had placed it.
The director and the manager both looked at her, a brief silence stretching between them before they exchanged a glance.
The manager leaned forward, his tone measured but edged with insistence.
"Hae-in, people would do anything to be entrusted with such responsibility. This is a huge opportunity to learn and grow. You should be happy that the director is considering you." He paused, then added pointedly, "And you're not doing this for free. You'll be given a promotion along with a twenty-five percent hike. That's one of the highest increments in the entire department."
Hae-in lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression calm but resolute. "I've been working here for the last five years, sir," she said quietly. "Not a single day have I logged out on time or earlier. On average, I work twelve hours a day, sometimes more, even though our official working hours are nine, including lunch. Sometimes on weekends too."
Her voice remained steady as she continued. "And I need a break, sir. I can't push myself any further. My health has already been affected because of this." She paused, her fingers curling slightly in her lap.
"And now I'm married. I have responsibilities outside this office as well."
She lowered her voice, not out of weakness but clarity. "I can't keep pushing myself the way I used to. I'm sorry."
The manager shot a sharp look at her, clearly displeased, and was about to respond when the director raised his hand, stopping him.
"All right, Hae-in," the director said calmly. "I understand that you've worked extremely hard for this organisation, and we're grateful for your dedication. I truly appreciate your efforts."
He leaned back slightly before continuing. "But these projects are very important to us. If we complete them successfully, the company will gain significant benefits. For that, we need employees who are dedicated and reliable. That's why I'm asking you."
"But sir—" Hae-in began.
"Let me finish," he said firmly.
She fell silent.
"If you need a break, take two weeks off," he continued. "Refresh yourself. Spend time with your husband and your family. When you return, we'll proceed with the project." He paused deliberately."I'll speak to HR and increase your hike to thirty percent. But we need you on this project."
Hae-in looked at him, the weight of expectation pressing down on her, her expression unreadable as the room waited for her response.
"I'm granting you two weeks of leave. Take proper rest and come back recharged," the director said, not giving her a chance to respond.
Hae-in simply looked at both of them. She didn't argue. She didn't protest. But the refusal was there, clear in her eyes, quiet and firm. Neither of them acknowledged it.
She gathered her laptop and walked out of the cabin without another word.
The door had barely closed when the manager turned to the director, disbelief written all over his face.
"Sir, are you serious about the thirty percent hike? She's just making things difficult for us to squeeze out more work. Why would you—"
The director cut him off calmly.
"Employees like her are rare," he said, his voice even, almost detached. "People like her are the reason organisations run successfully." He paused, then added, "These projects are crucial. If we pull them off, the returns will be massive. Compared to that, a thirty percent hike is nothing. Peanuts."
The manager fell silent.
"I want her on these projects," the director continued, eyes firm. "At any cost." He leaned forward slightly. "Assign trainees to each project and put her in charge. Let her handle them."
The manager watched him, trying to read the man in front of him, slowly realising this was never about appreciation alone.
*************
That Evening
That evening, for the first time in a long while, Hae-in logged off from the office on time.
The clock hadn't yet begun its familiar race toward midnight. The floor lights were still bright, voices still floated around her, and yet… she was done. She paused, fingers hovering over her phone, then sent Ji-hoon a short message telling him she was heading home and that he didn't need to come pick her up.
His reply came almost instantly.
Okay. Then come to the restaurant for dinner. I'm making Italian today.
She sighed, eyes lingering on the message. Her thumb hovered above the keyboard, hesitation pooling in her chest. She wanted to refuse. But she didn't. Not because she lacked the words, but because she didn't want to hurt him intentionally. Not like that.
After a long pause, she typed back.
Okay.
She packed her things and walked out of the office.
At the Restaurant
Dinner rush had claimed the place. It was peak hour for dinner. Every table occupied, voices overlapping, cutlery clinking, servers weaving between chairs. The air was warm with conversation and the smell of food.
The moment Hae-in stepped inside, his head turned. As if he felt her.
His face lit up instantly."Hae-in… come."
She hesitated, eyes moving from him to the crowded space around them. "Ji-hoon-ssi, it looks really busy. Please focus on your work. I'll go home by myself."
"No. Wait." His voice stopped her before she could turn.
She looked at him again.
A smile tugged at his lips, stubborn and warm. "I decided I'm feeding you Italian food today. I prepared everything. I'm not letting you go without eating."
She glanced once more at the crowded restaurant, then back at him. Concern softened her voice. "Don't worry about me, Ji-hoon ssi."
"Enwoo will handle the counter. I'll go to the kitchen." Ji-hoon said quickly, already moving.
She watched him as he turned back to the customer, fingers typing over the keyboard, posture alert and efficient. Even then, he found time to look at her.
"Why are you still standing?" he said without lifting his head fully. "Come, sit here."
He immediately stood up, offering her his seat.
Hae-in hesitated. Just for a second. Then, after his quiet insistence, she took the chair and sat down. Ji-hoon continued processing payments, now standing, movements hurried, almost anxious, as if every extra second might feel like neglecting her.
He glanced at her once. Just once. Then looked around.
"Enwoo," he called out, still typing, "handle the counter too. I'm going to the kitchen."
"I'm busy, hyung," Enwoo replied while serving a customer. "I still need to take orders."
Ji-hoon's jaw tightened slightly. "Where's Yeong-seo?"
"Still doing dishes, hyung. The helper ajumma is on leave today, you forgot?"
Ji-hoon sighed, rubbing his temple briefly.
Of all days… today... so many customers. So much noise. And the one evening she logged out on time, he couldn't even sit with her.
His lips curved into a small pout of disappointment as he continued typing, shoulders tense.
Hae-in noticed.
"It's okay, Ji-hoon ssi," she said softly, standing up. "Don't worry about me. I'll go home. You carry on."
Her voice was calm, but something about it made his fingers pause for half a heartbeat.
He looked at her, and something in his chest gave way.
A small, wounded pout curved his lips, disappointment written so openly on his face that it almost hurt to see. Hae-in sighed. She really didn't want to hurt him.
"…Alright. I'll stay," she said again, voice gentle.
His face lit up instantly, happiness bubbling over so fast it was almost comical. He grinned, nearly giggling to himself. One of the customers glanced at him with a confused, slightly judgmental look.
Hae-in quickly looked away, hiding her smile behind a neutral expression.
Ji-hoon caught himself at once, straightening up and returning to his professional mode, fingers moving swiftly as he processed their payment. But no matter how fast he worked, customers kept pouring in, one after another, like an endless tide.
Hae-in sat there quietly, waiting.
Watching him.
He was constantly torn between the counter and the kitchen, clearly wanting to cook for her, yet never once letting impatience touch his tone. He spoke politely, bowed lightly, and thanked everyone. And with children, he softened even more, smiling brightly as he slipped toffees into their tiny hands.
He's so warm… so gentle with kids, she thought, her gaze lingering without her realizing.
The crowd showed no signs of thinning, and Ji-seok alone couldn't keep up with the cooking. Hae-in noticed the strain on Ji-hoon's face, the way his shoulders stayed tense even when he smiled.
She stood up.
"If you don't mind," she said calmly, "can I handle the counter? You can take care of the other things."
Ji-hoon looked at her, startled. Then, at the crowd. Then back at her.
"That… sounds good," he said slowly. "But do you know how to handle it?"
She nodded. "After observing you for more than half an hour, I studied your work patterns. Your system. How you process payments, print bills… and give toffees to kids," she added quietly.
For a second, he just stared at her.
And then his lips curved into the softest, most stunned smile. "Whoa… you're really smart."
A faint smile touched her lips. "Can I?" she asked again, just to be sure.
"Of course," he said immediately, stepping aside to give her space.
He walked her through everything once more, quick and precise, like muscle memory being passed on. She processed a payment right in front of him, smooth and confident. His grin spread wide, pride shining openly on his face.
"Yes. Exactly like that," he said, nodding. "Just take care for a little while, until the crowd fades. I'll prepare something special for you immediately."
She nodded, that small smile returning.
And just like that, he dashed into the kitchen, apron already in place, while Hae-in took over the counter, fingers moving steadily, calm amid the chaos.