NAME 17

The moment he saw the file, he was seized by an extremely bad premonition. Feeling that opening it recklessly would surely lead to something he would regret, Seowon could not bring himself to press it and instead stole a glance at Baek Kanghyun.

Without even sitting at his desk, the man headed straight toward the small conference room. Was he calling him because of the phone call last night? Was he planning to lock him in the conference room and do him harm? Although two sides of the small conference room were made of glass, there were clear blind spots that could not be seen from the outside. What if he cornered him there and raised a hand against him?

‘Surely he wouldn’t do something so crazy. Besides, this is a company.’

Regardless, since his superior had called, he had to go, so Seowon gathered his notebook and pen. He also left a short comment for Assistant Manager Seo Jiyeon, letting her know he had an interview with the Team Leader. This was to prepare for any potential emergency. She gave him a sympathetic look and puffed out her lips.

“Team Leader, I am here.”

The man was sitting in the seat usually reserved for meetings. The very center—the seat of honor. He stared at Seowon with a magnificent posture that looked like it belonged in a terrestrial TV office drama. Seowon sat across from him and kept his gaze appropriately lowered.

“Did you open the file I sent?”

“I have not checked it yet.”

Baek Kanghyun continued to stare fixedly at Seowon. He tapped the table with his finger, “tap-tap,” while persistently scrutinizing Seowon’s face. Seowon became anxious, feeling as though he were clutching a water balloon right before it burst.

If you have something to say, just say it quickly; why are you stalling like this?

His mouth was parched and his insides were burning.

“Assistant Manager Jeong, did you perhaps drink alcohol yesterday?”

“No. Is this because of the phone call yesterday?”

“Seeing as you remember, I suppose you weren’t drunk.”

The conversation cut off abruptly with the sound of Baek Kanghyun’s short, dry chuckle. Seowon retraced the contents of yesterday’s call.

<Don’t tell me, Team Leader, do you like me?>

That was the only sentence he remembered clearly. I must be crazy. He regretted ever picking up the phone; he should not have yielded to Baek Kanghyun’s threat.

“…”

Without a word, Baek Kanghyun took out his own cell phone and placed it right in front of Seowon. After pressing the play button, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

[Baek Kanghyun, you crazy bastard. Just because your face is slick… Bad bastard, a total son of a bitch with a huge cock…]

“Heck…”

Seowon’s eyes widened and he covered his mouth. The voice flowing from the cell phone was unmistakably his own. Furthermore, he suddenly recalled the moment last night when he had fallen asleep while pouring out curses toward the man.

What is this? Why does such a file even exist?

Seowon’s gaze remained glued to the screen, unable to move. He simply did not have the courage to face Baek Kanghyun.

“…”

“I think one can curse at a workplace superior. Since the evaluation of ‘good’ is relative, some people might view me favorably while others might think ill of me.”

“Team Leader, th-this is.”

He opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. His mind went blank and his face felt hot as if burned, but his fingertips turned ice cold. If only the subject “Baek Kanghyun” weren’t there, he could at least make an excuse that he wasn’t cursing at him, but this was a situation with no way out. If caught cursing, should he apologize first? But this was ultimately like talking to himself; do I have to beg for forgiveness for talking to myself?

“But what Assistant Manager Jeong said is quite peculiar. I can’t tell if it’s an insult or a compliment… anyway, Assistant Manager Jeong.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

He moistened his throat with dry saliva and tried to pull at the corners of his mouth to force a smile. However, his facial muscles were frozen solid and wouldn’t move. What if his fever rose again like this? What kind of bolt from the blue was this first thing in the morning? Had the call not been disconnected yesterday? So all of that was recorded? His heart, which had shrunk to the size of a bean, throbbed wildly. He had given Baek Kanghyun another useless pretext.

“By any chance, do you know me?”

Then, out of nowhere, an unexpected question flew at him.

“Wh-what a strange question. How could I not know the Team Leader? It’s been a while since you arrived.”

“I became curious while listening to Assistant Manager Jeong’s words yesterday. Although that incident happened last time, I didn’t think one could tell if my cock was big or small from just that much. So I wondered if you might have known me from before. Assistant Manager Jeong and I went to the same university, after all.”

“…Pardon?”

Seowon’s brain stopped working. Not only was he at a loss for words, but it felt as if his ability to breathe had stopped; he couldn’t catch his breath. Facing the deathly pale Seowon, Baek Kanghyun continued speaking without hesitation.

“You said I wasn’t your taste… but that was a lie too, wasn’t it. Since even in Assistant Manager Jeong’s eyes, my exterior looks decent. That means I am your taste.”

Seeing Baek Kanghyun give a twisted smile as if it were all laughable, Seowon desperately gathered his messy, scattered thoughts. If he stayed still, he would be treated like a fool. Knowing that a battle of nerves with a superior would be of no help to his future company life, he decided to apologize for now.

“It was something said while half-asleep, but I will apologize for now. I didn’t know the call was still active.”

“I didn’t bring this up just to receive an apology.”

Baek Kanghyun chuckled. After shoving a recording file at him to make his blood run dry, what kind of shameless attitude was this? His lower lip, which protruded more than usual, and the corners of his distorted eyes twitched with a tremor.

“Team Leader, please just tell me your business. It is working hours.”

“It’s because this is the first time in my life I’ve heard such insults. Especially hearing them directly.”

“So?”

The corners of Seowon’s eyes angled up sharply.

“I felt a bit disgusted… but on the other hand, it was a bit fun. Fresh, even.”

The figure that had been shouting fiercely at Seowon until yesterday had vanished, leaving only a Baek Kanghyun with an expression like a delinquent teenager about to pull a mean prank. Seowon could not grasp his intention at all.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to say something childish like ‘you’re the first person to insult me, so I’ve become interested’?”

No matter how angry he was, speaking calmly was one of Seowon’s strengths. However, that strength did not manifest with Baek Kanghyun. To Seowon, he was no different from a villain destroying his self-image as a respectable member of society.

“Well, I’ve just decided I want to live up to Assistant Manager Jeong’s expectations. Since things have turned out like this, I plan to faithfully play my role as a total son of a bitch.”

At Baek Kanghyun’s nonsense which wasn’t even worth listening to, Seowon gave up on thinking any further. He finally realized that the man had called him for nothing more than a new form of picking on him and harassment.

His breath quickened and the rims of his ears, where the heat had flared up, were not just hot but stinging. Not wanting to face him any longer, Seowon stood abruptly from his seat.

“If you are finished speaking, I will head out now.”

Seowon exercised the thread-like remains of his reason to maintain politeness. His tone was as impudent as could be, but this was the best he could do for now.

“Let’s be partners.”

An unpleasant voice flew at Seowon’s back as he turned away. Seowon stopped in his tracks. He did not turn his body toward Baek Kanghyun.

“Have you gone mad? I clearly told you I refuse!”

He had intended to never look back, but because what Baek Kanghyun said was such nonsense, his body moved first. Unlike Seowon, who was huffing with irritation, Baek Kanghyun looked completely composed.

Rising from his seat, he quickly closed the distance between himself and Seowon. Seowon reflexively drew his body back. He clenched his hands, prepared to swing a fist if the man came any closer.

“It’s not exactly a wrong statement. Assistant Manager Jeong said it himself. You called me a crazy bastard.”

“That was just talking to myself… and the talk about being partners ended a long time ago.”

“It hasn’t ended for me.”

Fortunately, Baek Kanghyun stopped exactly one step away from Seowon. He then looked down and stared at Seowon as if waiting for him to answer. Seowon struggled to push down his wildly racing emotions and tried to become calm. He soothed himself, telling himself he must not get angry here.

“I will tell you once more. I refuse.”

Seowon spoke each word with firm, stamped-in determination. However, Baek Kanghyun didn’t even pretend to listen; he stepped closer and whispered into Seowon’s ear.

“Honestly, Assistant Manager Jeong likes my pheromones too. I’ll be much better than that Assistant Manager from the PR team. Since my face is slick and my cock is also totally huge.”

“…!”

After saying that, Baek Kanghyun left the conference room, leaving the pale Seowon behind.