Work Text:
It had just been one of those days. The office was up in chaos because Director so-and-so from another company were due to arrive tomorrow for talks. Every single person was just about to lose their head, the higher ups being the most stressed out of all the employees.
Park Dong Hoon had gathered and managed his team impeccably, with each member up to date with all of the necessary paperwork, calculations and facts. Everything that needed to be known was, and his team seemed the most prepared out of the whole company. After working practically non-stop all day, the kind manager decided to call it quits for today. "Let's finish here," he said as he leaned back in his chair and sighed. His eyes closed and he felt relief. Today had gone to plan so far. Tomorrow just had to follow suit and he hoped things would be okay.
"Thank you, manager," a chorus of voices sang his praise.
"You all worked well," Dong Hoon opened his eyes and smiled at them all. "You too, ladies," he said as he nodded his head in thanks to the receptionists, who had their moments, but today had been irreplaceable. They bowed their heads low and returned his thanks.
"Let's treat tomorrow like we did today! Fighting!" said Assistant Manager Kim.
"Fighting!" Everyone echoed.
The team gathered their stuff together and headed out the door. They had been the last group to leave - others had left long before them.
Park Dong Hoon's eyes scanned over and he stopped in his tracks. She was still there.
"Manager! Let's go home now like you said!" his team called. They had paused and were all hovering by the exit.
"Yes," nodded Dong Hoon. "Go ahead, get some rest. We all have a big day tomorrow. Goodnight." After a bow they all left.
Park Dong Hoon walked over to her desk and stopped a few feet away from her. She had her earphones in, like always. On closer inspection Dong Hoon saw that she was fast asleep. He checked his watch - it was almost 11pm. Time to go home.
Knowing it wouldn't achieve anything, he whispered her name. "Lee Ji An." She didn't stir, as expected. He sighed. He watched as her shoulders gently rose and fell back again. He noticed a stray piece of hair had fallen across her cheek. He looked at her eyes, shut tight. He thought back to when she told him about all of her hardships, remembered her informing him she worked many other part-time jobs as well as this one. He thought about why she had to do so much.
"Lee Ji An." Gently, a hand was placed on her back. She woke with a fright and automatically yelled out in alarm. "Sorry. It's alright, it's me." She looked at him blankly and blinked hard. She looked at her computer screen and saw the time. She removed her earphones and bowed, thinking she was about to get scalded. "I'm sorry."
"No," Dong Hoon held up a hand and tried to smile at her. She didn't smile back. "It's alright." He cleared his throat. "But it's late, we should probably go home now." Lee Ji An nodded and quickly gathered up her things. Park Dong Hoon checked he had everything he needed and they left the office, and the building, together. In silence.
They walked to the train station at pace, and luckily made the last train. It was almost empty, apart from two middle aged men with briefcases on their laps, both fast asleep resting on each other's head.
"We aren't the only ones to leave work so late," Dong Hoon tried to make conversation, to make a joke, to make some form of communication. Lee Ji An just nodded, eyes barely open herself. With no response from her, Dong Hoon simply nodded his head once and sighed again.
Reaching their stop, Dong Hoon let her out of the carriage first. He noticed her movements. She was normally quick and almost cat-like, sneaking about the shadows as if she were one of them. But today she was different. She had already fallen asleep at work, and now she was closing her eyes again. He spoke her name and her eyes became wide. Realising the door was open, she hurried out and up the stairs, not bothering to wait for him.
"Lee Ji An," Dong Hoon was breathing heavier by the time he caught up with her, which was well past the station. She stopped but didn't turn to look at him. When she saw him out of the corner of her eye, she stepped forwards again. "Are you okay?" he asked her.
"Yes," was all she said. "I'm just tired."
They reached Jung Hee's bar, the sounds of the locals coming from inside those warming doors. "Go inside," Lee Ji An said to him before walking off again. He would have been more taken aback, having just been given orders by somebody lower down than him, but as it was her it was practically the norm. Her way of treating people, especially him, was sometimes refreshing rather than irritating. "No," he said as he caught up with her again. "I'm taking you home, and then I'm going home myself. It's a big day tomorrow. We all need to rest, if we can." Lee Ji An gave him a look he could not read.
Lee Ji An paused as they both reached the bottom of the hill that lead up to her house. It was painted black with the night and to Lee Ji An, right now it seemed like Mount Everest. She was fairly certain she would not make it all the way to the top. Park Dong Hoon seemed to realise this, and the next moment Ji An felt him grab a hold of the sleeve on her jacket.
He wasn't touching her exactly, he was only holding on to an item of clothing that she was wearing, very lightly at that, but still it caused her eyes to widen slightly. He led her, slowly, all the way up to her front door. When they had reached the top, she was breathing heavier than he was, and she looked up at him, all wide eyed with her face shining in the moonlight.
"Go inside, lock your door, get some sleep. I..." he paused. "I will understand if you don't show up at the office tomorrow. Please, Lee Ji An, try and have a good sleep. Goodnight." He waited until she went inside and he heard the lock sound shut before he began his descent.
Lee Ji An made herself a coffee before sitting down on the floor and closing her eyes. She was still wearing her jacket, and she ran her fingers over the area that Park Dong Hoon had touched. She felt so embarrassed - apart from that time she collapsed at her desk, she had never fallen asleep at work before. She had taken on two extra shifts the previous day at the restaurant, scrubbed more metal bowls and spoons than she could count, and had been yelled at by her hideously cruel boss for being too slow, even though at one point Lee Ji An recalled cleaning her other two colleagues' pile too because they were outside smoking instead of working. She had been grateful he hadn't yelled at her or fired her. She went to sleep that night still wearing her jacket.
The next day came, and there was a nervous air to the office, almost like the earth just before a colossal thunderstorm. Everyone came in earlier than usual. The Director's were all red faced and panicked, the coffee machines were never out of use, the secretaries took more insane orders and messages than any other working day. The meeting with the other director's was schedule for 10am. Park Dong Hoon had arrived at the office at 7am, went to his desk which looked exceptionally tidy and organised, and not as he had left is last night, and his team came in at 8am as he had requested. With the help of his team, and thanks to all the work they had managed to do yesterday, they were very prepared and ready for the day to happen.
His eyes scanned over to her desk and he found it was empty. He felt himself smiling. Good, let her have today off. She needs to rest. She deserves it.
"Here." Looking up from his finalised notes, he blinked. He hadn't expected to see her - she wasn't even here a minute ago when he had checked.
"Miss Lee Ji An," he didn't hide the surprise in his voice. She was holding a cup of coffee out for him.
"Here," she repeated, this time gently placing the cup into his hands. "Good luck today." She spoke these words only to him, and said it low enough that only he could hear, as she intended.
"T-thank you," he said. He was perplexed. She hadn't been here a minute ago!
"Can I have a coffee?" Assistant Manager Kim asked. Lee Ji An looked at him blankly before replacing her earphone and walking back to her desk. In actual fact, she had been here for a good hour or so. She had come in at 6am and had ensured his office and his desk was as presentable as it could be. She had organised his notes into the way she had listened to him going over and over and had smiled at his handwriting. She readjusted his chair, felt the back of it and imagined him sitting there. She allowed herself a moment and then she continued, stocking the coffee pot with coffee sticks and refilling the printer full with paper, checking the ink just in case. Lee Ji An knew he'd be here before long, and she made herself scarce. She went down to see Choon Dae, who when asked why she was here so early just got a shrug from her. Lee Ji An headed back up to the office just after 8am, sneaking in when everyone else was causing a commotion by checking everything was going to plan.
Typing away and scanning a few receipts that had appeared on her desk, she listened to him briefing his team and she half-smiled at the sound of him drinking his coffee, and of the petulant whine of Assistant Manager Kim: "Why couldn't she make me one too? Does she hate me? I offered to buy her food!"
The time came, and the office fell silent as a group of five well dressed men, all with very fashionable haircuts and shiny shoes, entered. It was almost like a movie scene, how slowly they walked and how everyone else, the mere mortals, bowed their heads in respect.
When it came down to it, Park Dong Hoon and his team shone. Lee Ji An listened to the entire meeting and couldn't believe how confident, how cool, how calm and collected her ajhussi was. He spoke with respect yet completely held his own. Every single one of the Director's sounded impressed. Even when his not so secret opponents tried to make him falter, he didn't crack under the added pressure and only came out even stronger. His team were also all on the money with everything, as they had prepared. The presentation he and his team gave earned a round of applause from three of the five men. The other two, despite not clapping, were more impressed than they were letting on.
"We are very excited about the future of our two companies," the leading Director, whose name was Song Han, said. He shook the hand of some other Director and after much bowing and hand shaking the meeting was over... successfully.
When the doors of the lift had closed and the number changed from 6 to G, everyone cheered and clapped.
"Well done team," Park Dong Hoon was professional as always. In his office with his team, he thanked them all for their hard work. Her typing stopped as she heard her name being called. "Lee Ji An, come here a moment please." She paused a moment before walking into his office.
"You should have knocked first," Assistant Manager Kim said, which earned him a death glare from her.
"It's alright," Dong Hoon said. "I asked her to come in. Thank you for your hard work today." Lee Ji An frowned. She didn't do anything in regards to the meeting, so she was confused. She gave a small nod of her head, however, out of respect.
"Everyone worked hard! Let's work hard for the rest of the day and then tonight I shall take you out for barbecue to say thank you." Everyone cheered and clapped and Assistant Manager Kim whooped.
Everyone got back to work as requested. Lee Ji An went to the break room and made herself a coffee. She took a sip and sighed. "You are invited, too." Looking up, Park Dong Hoon was standing in the doorway, looking at her. "Tonight. The meal. To say thank you." Lee Ji An just looked at him. "If you want to, of course. Don't feel like you have to." Lee Ji An nodded.
6pm came, and today that meant home - or barbecue - time. "Let's go," Park Dong Hoon called to his team. "We will stop now for today. You all worked well. Let's go for a meal."
"Barbecue! Awesome!" Assistant Manager Kim was as excited as a child. Park Dong Hoon grinned at him, and they all gathered their coats and made towards the exit. His eyes found her desk, but she was not there. He sighed. "Manager! Let's go and eat!" Park Dong Hoon nodded and he left with them. There was a good barbecue place not far from their office, and so they headed there.
His staff went in first like he told them and all gathered around the table and the barbecue. Soju was already being poured freely. As he placed his hand on the door to open it again, he heard his name being called. Turning, he saw Lee Ji An standing before him, breathless. She took a few small steps to close the gap between them. "Where did you go?"
"I had something to take care of," she answered, as mysteriously as ever. He nodded.
"How did you know we were coming here?"
She couldn't exactly say she had bugged and tracked his phone. "You mentioned barbecue. This is the best barbecue place in this area, and I know it's close to the office." He looked impressed and she knew she had gotten away with it - again.
"Come on, let's go and eat." Park Dong Hoon opened the door and allowed her to enter first.
Everyone stared at Lee Ji An when she walked over to their table, their kind manager following behind. "Oh, Miss Lee Ji An," Assistant Manager Kim said. "We didn't think you were coming."
"Go and sit," Park Dong Hoon said as he went over and took a seat next to Section Chief Song. Lee Ji An sat next to Assistant Manager Kim, and ended up opposite Park Dong Hoon.
The evening was a nice affair, with the meat being cooked well and the soju being poured often enough that nobody went without a drink for too long. Park Dong Hoon grilled the meat expertly and made sure everyone got the same amount. Lee Ji An drank more than she ate, despite Park Dong Hoon nudging the bowls of kimchi and garlic closer to her. "Cheers!" everyone clicked their glasses together and people clapped.
"Well done today," Dong Hoon said as everyone took a shot. "You all worked hard." Another shot. "Thank you for being such good workers!" And another shot.
Once all of the meat and the side dishes had been eaten, and several too many bottles of soju and makgeolli had been drunk, the night came to a natural end. Park Dong Hoon paid and everyone bowed their heads in thanks. People went their separate ways home, and Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An headed for the train station. Almost midnight, they had to run fast to make it. With seconds to spare they were on the carriage, which was tonight empty all but for them.
Park Dong Hoon rested his head on the hold rail and closed his eyes. He wasn't drunk, but he was close to it. Lee Ji An was drunk.
"Thank you," Park Dong Hoon said, eyes still closed.
"You already thanked me today, in the office."
"I know. But this is for something else." Her eyes challenged him. "It was you, wasn't it?" Lee Ji An swallowed hard. Oh no. Had he discovered everything?
"What was me?" she asked, thankful a tunnel was approaching.
"You tidied my office this morning," he said, just as the carriage went black. The darkness lasted a few seconds. "My desk, the way things were organised..."
"That wasn't me," Lee Ji An shook her head even if he couldn't see.
The light returned, and he was looking right at her. He stepped closer and held out his hand, closed. "I think I should give this back to you." She frowned. He opened his palm to reveal one of her receipts, handwriting all over the back of it. It must have fallen out of her pocket earlier without her realising. She sighed. "Just make sure you file it tomorrow," he tried to keep the mood light. "Miss Lee Ji An... thank you. You didn't have to do that."
"I didn't," she denied it still.
"Right," he said as the train reached their stop, "let's say that."
Their walk home was silent and dark, and Lee Ji An was stumbling slightly now. Tonight, outside Jung Hee's bar were Park Ki Hoon and Choi Yoo Ra, his girlfriend, and Sang Hoon. All three of them were drunk, and they yelled when they saw Dong Hoon approaching. "He's got that girl with him again," Sang Hoon said to the other two. "The pretty one."
"Dong Hoon!" Ki Hoon waved him over. Lee Ji An stood on the spot and looked on.
"Oh, you're all still here," his tone was light and he smiled. He nodded slightly at Choi Yoo Ra, who he had heard about but hadn't seen until tonight. "Hello."
"Hello!" Choi Yoo Ra sang like a fairy. "Who is your pretty friend, why is she hiding? You, excuse me! Come over to us." Lee Ji An's eyes found Park Dong Hoon's and he nodded. Slowly, she approached them. "Hello again," Sang Hoon grinned.
"Hello."
"You are pretty!" Yoo Ra was eyeing her up excitedly. "She could dress better," she whispered to Ki Hoon.
"Where are you getting back from, big bro?" Ki Hoon asked.
"Me and my team went out for barbecue," Dong Hoon answered. "Our meeting went very well today at the office, so I treated them."
"You are such a good man!" Choi Yoo Ra sang. "Such a good man! Ki Hoon-a, you will take me for barbecue. We can go on a date!" She squealed excitedly and planted a kiss on Ki Hoon's cheek.
"I will get going now," Lee Ji An said, making them all turn and look at her. "Manager, thank you for the meal." She bowed her head slightly at the others and began walking off into the night.
"I will walk you home," Park Dong Hoon offered, but she declined.
"I'm fine," she said. "You worked hard, you should have a drink with your friends." She walked off at speed before he could argue with her.
Lee Ji An felt the alcohol hit her more since she was alone, and she prayed tonight more than any that she wouldn't have any trouble before bed. She wasn't in the mood to be attacked tonight. Her steps became more wobbly and she found herself resting against a nearby wall. She thought back to tonight, at the barbecue place. Park Dong Hoon was such a kind man, a great manager, a really good person. Their eyes had met from across the table, room full of smoke and the smell of cooking meat, and... fireworks. One time when their eyes met, she had gone to look up at him to find that he had already been looking at her. She was unsure as to how long he had already been staring at her, but she didn't like to think.
"Yeah right," she said to herself as she tried to straighten herself back up again. "As if he would ever..." At that moment, she wobbled too much and her small legs weren't prepared. She fell to the floor in one swift drunken go. "This is why I said I would walk you back." Without looking, she could tell that he was smiling. A hand came into focus and she took it without properly registering. His smile stayed on his face when she was standing and looking up at him.
"You should have stayed where you were." No thanks, but honestly he had expected nothing less from her.
"Let's go." It was only then that she felt him take his hands away. He didn't look at her as they walked on.
In no time at all, they were standing once again at the foot of the hill to her house. "Can you make it tonight?"
"Of course," she said cockily. Halfway up, with her in front of him, she staggered again and fell back into him. Instantly, his hands had reached out and caught her, and she felt tears well up in her eyes. His hands were big and strong and... and she had never felt so safe in her entire life. She prayed he wouldn't let go. Not yet, she thought. In a minute, but not... yet. Granting her wish, and causing a war to rage inside his own heart, he held onto her. He could feel both his and her heart beating wildly. Minutes passed by, and finally he came to his sense. Nudging her gently, she walked on, and he walked at the side of her. Neither of them spoke for the rest of the way.
Once outside her front door, he said the same as always. "Go inside, lock your door, get some rest."
"Ajhussi," her words were slightly jarred now, but her eyes, her mind, her heart were all thinking clearer than ever before. "Thank you."
"Go on," he said, realising he had to leave. Now.
"Ajhussi."
"Goodnight, Miss Lee Ji An."
"Ajhussi."
"--" Before Park Dong Hoon had the chance to do... anything, it happened.
She reached up on to her tiptoes. She grabbed the lapels of his suit for leverage and reached up to him. Her eyes were closed shut, and a second later her lips were on his. She expected an instant breakaway, but she didn't get one. Instead of being shunned and pushed away, she felt his soft lips and nothing else. He didn't kiss her back, but he didn't stop the kiss either. HIs eyes were also closed. She was confused and she panicked. She had expected him to push her away. She did not see this happening. She moved her head back a little, breaking away. His eyes opened instantly, and she couldn't decide from the look in his eyes if he was going to kiss her again or strike her. He gulped. "Miss Lee Ji An," he whispered her name before taking a few steps closer to her...