Chapter 49: Chapter 49.
Chapter 49.
Eejun asked Woojin, “Are you skipping the sports contest?”
“I was about to go to the gym.”
“Oh, then let’s go together.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Come on, let’s go together. You have a terrible sense of direction anyway, so it’s not like you will be able to find the gym on your own.”
Woojin had no choice. They began to walk together.
Eejun asked, “Jihoon Kang was looking for you. Where have you been?”
“I was in the room.”
“Haha. That guy is so ridiculous. Always looking for you in the weirdest places when you are right here. Anyway, has Jihoon Kang been working out lately? What the hell! He is so buff now.”
“…”
“What’s with the look? Why?”
“It’s just strange.”
Woojin stopped and looked at Eejun. He felt a little cold, so he buttoned his cardigan. Eejun had his hair combed back neatly. Woojin always thought that Eejun had a nice forehead. His face always looked a little pouty, so warm colors suited him very well. Jihoon, on the other hand, looked better with strong contrasting colors. These two men were both very good looking, but also very different.
“What’s so strange?”
“Whenever you are with me, you always bring up Jihoon Kang.”
“…”
“But then, you guys never hang out with each other.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Have you lost your mind?”
Eejun looked shocked and Woojin continued to stare blankly. Was Eejun the way he was because of the way his family was? Eejun could be so shameless. If he did something wrong, he felt no shame in apologizing for it openly. But he also shamelessly and brazenly did whatever he wanted, whether it was wrong or not. Eejun could be confident to a point of being arrogant, but he pulled it so well that he was still liked by everyone.
Strangely, Eejun’s neck was turning red right now. He stammered, “W-what are you looking at?”
“Why are you here right now? Why aren’t you at the gym either?”
“… Oh, I was just roaming around.”
“Were you looking for Jihoon Kang?”
Eejun’s eyes widened in shock and Woojin watched with interest. Eejun was now openly gaping, and Woojin finally realized why Eejun liked to tease him. Tormenting someone could be very fun.
***
They were doing the three-legged race relay. If Shin knew he was going to be partnered with a girl, he would’ve avoided it.
Yeonwoo, who happened to be his partner, looked up and asked, “Oppa, why are you so nervous?”
“Huh?”
Shin was staring at Woojin, who was sitting nearby and watching the game. Shin was planning to return to the room immediately after the race. He expected to find Woojin asleep on the sofa, yet when he saw him in the gymnasium, Shin was surprised.
When their eyes met, Shin was in the middle of talking to Yeonwoo with a smile while Woojin was having a conversation with Minjae who was sitting next to him.
Yeonwoo said to him, “Oppa, you need to relax your shoulders. You are going to fall at this rate.”
“Oh.”
Things kept getting worse. Shin realized that their opponent was the team made up of Jihoon Kang and Eejun Bae. Apparently, they were short on female volunteers. Jihoon was binding his ankle to Eejun’s while Eejun complained loudly. Eejun seemed like a pleasant man, but to Jihoon, he was very sharp and rude.
Shin murmured to Yeonwoo, “I think we can win this.”
“But the other team has two guys.”
“They are going to trip. I just know it.”
“Really?”
Shin began to feel thirsty. He turned to where Woojin was sitting again. Was he imagining things, or was Woojin smiling at him?
“Teams, get ready!”
The race was about to start. Before Shin looked away, he could see Woojin mouthing him the words.
“Good luck.”
Bang!
The race began.
***
Jihoon fell during the race, as Shin predicted. Eejun grumbled loudly at Jihoon, “How could you fall in the middle of the race? Do your legs even work?”
“Shut up. Just go to your room!”
Woojin was watching them argue, but when Shin came to the room with beers and snacks, Woojin helped him set up the table. Shin tried to carry everything on his own, but when Woojin grabbed some of it anyway, Shin frowned.
Minjae was already at the table.
Eejun whined to Woojin, “Hey, Woojin! Assistant Manager Kang is making me leave.”
“…”
“I don’t know anyone in my group room. I want to stay here!”
Jihoon interrupted Eejun, “You aren’t friends with anyone anyway.”
Eejun glared at Jihoon. It was odd to watch Jihoon this way. He was usually friendly with everyone, but Eejun seemed to be an exception.
Woojin often heard Jihoon mumbling that Eejun was sneaky and unpleasant like a fox.
Minjae suddenly asked a question, “By the way, the three of you must have known each other for a long time.”
“…”
“Especially Mr. Bae. You are in a different department, yet you talk to Assistant Manager Jihoon and Woojin so familiarly.”
“True.”
Jihoon gave Minjae an ugly grin. Woojin hadn’t seen such an unpleasant expression on Jihoon’s face in a long time. Not since high school.
Eejun turned to Minjae and explained, “Our families know each other, Mr. Minjae. That’s why.” Eejun put on a nice-guy expression. He did this whenever he wanted to be liked. Minjae turned to Eejun, “Pardon?”
“We grew up together in the same neighborhood.”
“Oh.”
Jihoon interrupted Eejun again and announced, “We aren’t friends.” He stood up to walk to the table so he could help as well.
Jihoon and Eejun ended up tripping. They were the last to finish, and Shin and Yeonwoo ended up winning. Shin looked pleased with winning, but for some reason, Yeonwoo seemed unhappy.
After watching Jihoon and Eejun argue for a while, Woojin picked up the fruit basket and followed Shin to the kitchen. The basket was the prize Shin and Yeonwoo won. Woojin and Shin leaned against the kitchen cabinet. Shin felt his heart pounding fast again.
Woojin mumbled, “You should’ve invited Miss Yeonwoo as well.”
“…”
Woojin leaned his head against Shin’s shoulder. Shin bit his lips quietly.
Woojin went to the gymnasium to watch Shin run. But when he entered the place, what he saw was Shin binding his ankle to Yeonwoo’a.
It had been so long since Woojin saw Shin in a training uniform. When Shin tied the knot and stood up, the female workers sitting nearby cheered loudly.
“It’s crazy, right?”
“… Pardon?”
Minjae came to sit next to Woojin. He took a big drink from his water bottle. Minjae was panting; it seemed that he just finished his own race. He was sweating as well.
“This was all planned by the HR team. They knew the female workers didn’t like to participate in these sports, so they are using Shin to attract them. I’m sure of it.”
“… Haha.”
“Huh? I didn’t know you could laugh, Assistant Manager Woojin!”
“Oh…”
Minjae had a chubby face, making him look youthful and adorable. Woojin had seen him hanging around Shin a lot. Woojin also saw Shin getting many messages and calls from Minjae as well. They were mostly about inviting Shin to drink. Shin seemed annoyed by these invitations.
Minjae continued, “Those girls should know though…”
“…”
“That Shin Kim has a girlfriend!”