Work Text:
The constant pounding of shoes against the broken treadmill marked a steady rhythm as Lee Seokmin, with his headphones on, listened "Superhero" by The Script. He had been stressed by the new project assigned to the company, for which he, as the team leader, bore the greatest responsibility for its success. Exercising helped clear his mind of stress and allowed him to think more clearly afterward. He was sure that after this routine, a bath would bring him the peace he needed to devise an effective plan moving forward.
The clock read 10:30 PM when an incoming call interrupted the music and, along with it, the train of his thoughts. Seokmin gradually slowed down the machine until he finally stopped it. He grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off his face and, with a smile on his lips, answered:
"What brings you to call at this hour, Miss Kim?" he murmured in a playful tone that one might use with a confidant.
"Ehem... good evening. Are you familiar with the owner of this phone?" Seokmin was taken aback by the unexpected response, and an alarm bell went off in the back of his mind.
"This... yes, what's going on?"
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In less than thirty minutes, he was walking through the doors of the place the lady had indicated. It turned out to be a barbecue-style restaurant, similar to those he and his work team frequented on weekends. The place was almost completely empty, except for a table at the far end where a very drunk Boram was sprawled out.
Seokmin walked over to her.
"Are you the one who called?" he intercepted a short-statured lady who, judging by the hat on her head, was the owner of the establishment.
"Yes," he replied as he made his way to his friend's table.
"Sorry for calling you," the lady continued. "Your number was the only one listed among her emergency contacts."
"No problem," he said. "You did well to contact me." Seokmin threw one of Boram's arms over his shoulder and, with some effort, managed to lift her limp body into his arms. "I'll take my card from my pocket. The bill will be ready when I get her to the car."
With a nod, the lady followed his instructions, and while he finished settling Boram into the passenger seat, she handed him the card with the receipt.
"Thank you very much," he said with a smile that made the lady reminisce about her younger days.
"Take care, young man. Drive safely and have a good night."
With a bow, Seokmin headed to his car, whistled twice as a farewell, and left.
Boram's slow, deep breathing filled the silence of the car. Seokmin looked at her fondly while patiently waiting for the traffic light to change. She had rosy cheeks and her bangs were so long they were covering her eyes in disarray.
"Only you, Boram," he smiled. "Only you could get drunk on a Sunday night."
If getting his friend into the car had been a challenge, getting her out without causing a scene was even trickier. Boram was of medium height and build, but at that moment, Seokmin had never been more aware of her weight as he struggled to get her out of the car without incident.
"Good grief," he muttered under his breath when he finally got her out. With his foot, he nudged the car door shut and grimaced in pain when it closed harder than he intended. "I swear, Boram, you're going to pay for this," he murmured in frustration.
At this point, he was feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment when Park, the doorman of his building, looked at him with an accusatory expression. He would definitely judge him harshly if he saw a man carrying an unconscious girl into the building. Thankfully, he silently thanked the heavens that the elevator in his building had been fixed that afternoon. He usually took the stairs, but right now, dragging 68 kilos behind him was not something he wanted to do. The journey to his room had never seemed so long, and when he finally reached his bed, he dropped Boram without any caution, surrendering to the exhaustion. He knew his herniated disc would bother him the next morning, but he accepted that as a collateral effect of being friends with the woman sprawled unconscious on his mattress.
To Seokmin, Kim Boram, at twenty-nine, was the embodiment of the word "disaster," and this scene did nothing to disprove that notion.
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Morning arrived, bringing with it a horrible migraine. Boram felt like she wanted to die. Her throat burned, her lips were dry, and a relentless pain hammered at her temples.
"Ahh, turn off the light," she groaned, not addressing anyone in particular.
She held her head with both hands and turned onto her back, just in time for a wave of nausea to hit her, causing her to empty the contents of her stomach onto the carpet.
Seokmin, who was entering the room, dropped the glass from his hands. Boram had just vomited on his carpet—his favorite carpet! This had to be a joke.
"Boram!"
"Ahh... Shhhhh, no shouting," she pleaded. "My head hurts."
"It's the least you deserve."
"Oh, just shut up, Seokmin-ah," she said, twisting on the bed.
Seokmin pressed his lips together tightly, fighting the urge to strangle his friend but managing to contain himself. He closed the curtains in the room to block out the harsh light and walked back to his bed.
"Today is the new boss's first day," he announced. "I don't know how you're going to manage, but recovering is not an option."
That morning, for the second time, Boram wished she could just disappear.
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What could be worse than a Monday morning? A Monday morning with a hangover. Boram had no doubts about that; her pounding head was all the evidence she needed to confirm her irresponsible theory. After all, she regretted choosing the night before to celebrate four months of being single. But she deserved it—a momentary escape from all the crap her ex had put her through. She deserved to celebrate her newfound freedom... even if it left a bad taste in her mouth. A retch escaped her lips, but luckily it was drowned out by the applause of her colleagues welcoming the new director: Hong Joshua.
Boram looked at him curiously. He was a solidly built man, around thirty-five—young and very attractive.
She felt a sharp jab in her ribs; it was Jiah, her office partner.
"Wow, look at you, Boram," she whispered mischievously. "With a boss like that, I wouldn't mind being a secretary."
Boram blushed in a way she couldn't explain but skillfully managed to hide it.
"You'll feel differently once you're sitting in that chair."
Sure enough, Mr. Hong hadn't even set foot in his new office before he started barking orders and outlining all the changes he wanted for the team.
"Who needs a coffee table in their office when there's a cafeteria on the same floor?"
"Get to the Economics Department and request the income, investment, and expense reports for the last three years. Schedule a meeting with the marketing team for tomorrow to discuss progress on the new project and contact HR to organize a corporate workshop for this weekend—we need to conduct some market research."
"For which weekend?" Boram asked.
At her question, Joshua frowned and turned toward her. He clasped his hands behind his back and pronounced slowly:
"For this weekend, Miss Kim." Boram swallowed hard at his serious tone. "My father had great things to say about you as an employee. I hope you live up to your reputation... and if it's not too much to ask, please don't drink the night before work."
"I... sir, I don't..."
"Of course, but why are you wearing dark glasses in a closed room?" Joshua replied, clearly surprised. "I'm amazed you can see anything you wrote."
Boram didn't understand a thing she had scribbled in his agenda. Luckily, she had an excellent memory and could reproduce everything they had discussed on the computer before it slipped her mind.
Joshua sat at his desk and gestured for Boram to leave.
"Remember bringing the designs for the coffee corner," he shouted just before closing the door.
It was going to be a long day.
Seokmin waited outside the office as he saw Boram exit. If she had wings, they would be cleaning the floor.
"And those encouraging words, huh?" he called out in his usual jovial tone. It seemed that the anger from the morning's disaster had already faded. Was the boss really that tough?
"You have no idea," she murmured as she pressed the button to inform Mr. Hong of Seokmin's visit.
She needed to step up her game; apparently, Mr. Hong Jr. was not as kind as his father. If resigning wasn't an option for Boram, neither was getting a dismissal letter.
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The day dragged on, and the week felt even longer. Each day seemed endless under Joshua's relentless demands. Boram managed to keep pace with him, but it was clear that he had no life outside of work.
He was now on his fifth cup of coffee in their "Chic Corner" while Boram recited the long list of supplies needed for the trip the next day.
"Did you get the list of members with food allergies?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I also included rechargeable lamps on the list."
Joshua looked at her quizzically. "Rechargeable lamps?"
"In case of emergencies. Some members have phobias."
"One in particular you mean," Josh thought but didn't dwell on it. "Did you mention the Soju? I didn't hear that."
Of course he hadn't listened if he was staying awake solely on coffee, Boram thought. "Yes, sir, we're ordering eighty bottles and sixty cans of beer."
"Good. I want to make sure the marketing team feels relaxed."
"Are you sure that amount will be necessary?"
Joshua smiled. This was the first time she had seen him do so.
"I suppose your alcohol tolerance is low, Miss Kim."
"You might be surprised," she replied, her tone too quick to analyze how informal she had just been.
Joshua laughed—a serious yet charming laugh. It was almost too much, Boram thought. Everything about him exuded experience, and for a moment, she felt curious about what kind of women he liked.
"Sorry," she muttered, feeling embarrassed, but Joshua brushed it off.
"Okay, I like you to be more open. Trust is essential in our relationship," he said. "Let's deepen our connection; I'll start—I'm unhappily engaged."
"I'm aware of that, sir."
"Of my commitment or my unhappiness?" he asked playfully.
"Both."
Shua chuckled. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his legs at the ankles and rested his hands on the table behind him.
"And you, Boram? Are you married, engaged, or do you have a boyfriend?" he asked with a peculiar glint in his eyes.
"None of those, sir. I'm single, without commitments or suitors."
Joshua's smile widened as he spotted Seokmin hovering near Boram's desk.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm enjoying my single life, sir. "she said, standing to bow slightly, "I'll take my leave."
Joshua watched them gather outside his office and smiled to himself.
"Fools."
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There were three minutes left until seven when Seokmin saw her leave the president's office. She had dark shadows framing her eyes and looked like someone who hadn't eaten in hours.
"Bo," he called her animatedly. "Do you want to go eat something?"
Boram smiled slightly, but without much eagerness. She leaned her weight on one foot, squeezing the portfolio in her hands against her chest.
"I don't have time, Seokmin-ah. I still have details to finalize, and I haven't even packed my suitcase for tomorrow's trip."
With that, she walked back to her desk, collapsing into her rotating chair and resting her forehead against the surface.
"I want my retirement," she sighed.
Seokmin chuckled. "I can't give you retirement, but I can cook Chicken Mayo."
Boram perked up, her interest piqued. "Chicken?" she asked with a hint of aegyo.
"Hmm."
"Will you really do it?"
"Yes, and then I'll take you home."
"I'll tell Mom that you're the reason I gain all this weight."
"When Mrs. Kim scolds me, I'll just tell her you're beautiful."
The distance from the office to Seokmin's apartment was about twenty-five minutes—time Boram had intended to use for work details but ended up falling asleep instead.
"Ram... Boram," Seokmin called gently as he brushed her hair from her face. She opened her eyes lazily and smiled at him.
"How can you be so radiant even at the end of the day?"
"A compliment coming from you?" she teased. "You should really be tired. Come on, we've arrived."
"It's not a compliment; it's an expression of jealousy. I hope to have as much energy in life as you do."
Once inside, Seokmin set aside his work folder and headed straight for the kitchen without further ado.
"Go shower, Boram," he called out while washing his hands. "You get home just to sleep."
"I don't have any clothes here," she muttered, causing him to lift his gaze.
"Go on, get changed. I'll leave you something on the bed."
"It's not to be picky, but I think I'd look good in that black jacket from Eastern League," she replied. "You know... it fits me perfectly even though you're taller."
Seokmin raised an eyebrow, interpreting her intentions. She had been pining for weeks over that jacket he had given her, and he had kept refusing to lend it. It had become her favorite, and he knew that once he lent it to her, it would likely never come back—just like many of his other clothes.
"Go shower," he insisted.
With a defeated sigh, she left.
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The delicious aroma of chicken sauce filled the house, making Boram's stomach growl even from the bathroom. Wrapped in a towel, she abandoned the mission of drying her hair and hurried to get dressed. Her bare feet froze in place when she spotted the black jacket she loved so much. With small victorious jumps, she crossed the room and began to put it on. This was undoubtedly a good reward after a long week.
Lee Seokmin was adding the final touches to his recipe when he saw Boram emerge from her room wearing oversized sports pants, a shirt, and the coat she had begged him for. With wet hair and a bare face, she looked youthful... and more beautiful than ever.
"Do you feel better?" he asked.
Boram nodded. "Should I set the table?"
"Yes, please."
The task was easily accomplished; they moved around each other with the ease of familiarity. Boram placed the dishes and cutlery on the table while Seokmin approached with dinner from the pan.
"Try this," he said.
Once everything was ready, they sat down together at the table.
"Enjoy!" they said in unison before diving into their meals.
"This is delicious," she murmured between mouthfuls.
Seokmin could only smile. "What have you been doing with Mr. Hong this week?"
At the question, Boram sank back into her seat with a sigh. "I haven't had a moment to breathe since that man came into the office."
"The marketing girls say he's very pleasant," Seokmin replied. "The team has a pretty good opinion of him."
"Because he's pleasant with everyone! Except with me!" Boram complained. "He makes illogical demands and sets schedules that are impossible to meet. Every day, I have to organize countless files and quotes—tasks I've never had to deal with in my six years here. It makes me feel like a novice, even more than when I started as an intern under Mr. Hong's father."
"I suppose he's so demanding because he knows you can handle it," Seokmin replied. "Besides, as his assistant, you're crucial to his success as a boss. If Mr. Hong isn't organized, the whole company suffers. Just think, he might be new at this too and doesn't want to make mistakes. You should be patient with him."
"Wow, look at you, Lee Seokmin! When did you become so wise?"
"Always," he laughed, "just because you think I'm silly because of my height doesn't mean I am."
"I don't think you're dumb." The sincerity in Boram's voice filled the atmosphere with seriousness. "You're intelligent and very capable. I'm proud of you and grateful to have you in my life."
Seokmin choked on his food, taken aback by her words.
"Damn! What does a jacket get" was all he managed to say to cover his blush.
"Indeed... and don't even dream that I'll return it to you."
With a jovial spirit, Boram stood up, kissed Seokmin on the cheek, and began clearing the dishes to wash them, completely unaware of the storm she had stirred in his heart.
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Morning arrived, bringing with it Boram's reluctance to spend her weekend on a corporate trip. Reluctantly, she dragged herself out of her department. Seokmin waited for her outside as they headed to the office.
Just as he promised after dinner, he dropped her off at home—a gesture she appreciated. However, she didn't touch her bed until about three in the morning when she finally finished organizing the trip details.
In the end, she had only slept for two hours and felt like a zombie; if someone pricked her, she'd bleed caffeine.
"Do you even will use everything of this?" Seokmin asked as he watched her emerge with three bags and a handbag.
Boram adjusted her sunglasses to hide the dark circles under her eyes and flashed him a tired smile.
"Two of these are from our 'Little boss,' and the other is for the games we'll be developing in the workshop," she muttered as they loaded everything into the trunk. "All I need is in that bag," she said, pointing to the handbag she'd left in the passenger seat.
"Seokmin," Boram said, clasping her hands as if in prayer. "Mr. Hong is coming with us. Under no circumstances are you to sit with anyone else but me, understood? I plan to sleep the entire trip, and if I'm next to him, he'll just spend it giving me orders. Take me with you, Seokmin! If you sit next to anyone else, it'll be your last day on this earth."
"Not even if that person is Miss Baek?"
Wait... What?
"Do you like Minji?" she asked, annoyance creeping into her voice more than she intended.
"Why wouldn't I?" Seokmin replied with a small smile. "She's nice."
Boram raised an eyebrow but refrained from responding. Instead, she settled into the passenger seat and waited for Seokmin to start the car.
This was unbelievable. No—Seokmin was unbelievable! Of all the girls in the company, he had to go for Minji?
Minji????!!!!
Of course, she was refined and elegant, perfectly made up with skin that would make anyone envious... including Boram herself.
"So... you know your face gives away your thoughts, right?" Seokmin teased.
"Tell me... what does Minji have that I don't?" Boram shot back.
"What?"
"What?!" She realized she had voiced her thoughts aloud.
Did I just... say that out loud? she thought.
"Forget it."
"Well then, Minji..."
"I TOLD YOU TO FORGET IT!!!"
Seokmin made a gesture as if zipping his lips and suppressed his mischievous smile.
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The trip turned out to be a success. Joshua noticed how Boram settled next to the marketing team leader and decided to leave it that way; it would be good for her to rest during the three-hour journey, after all. Seokmin finished the project presentation he had been assigned and prayed that his boss would find it good enough to take that strategy to market. Boram, on her part, was simply asleep. Finally, they arrived. The house was on the outskirts of town. It had two floors, with the women's rooms on the upper floor and the men's room, bathrooms, and kitchen on the first floor. It also had a terrace and a large field where they would develop games and have a barbecue at night.
"Do you have everything ready?"
"Yes," Boram replied, dropping an exercise bag at Joshua's feet. "I've already organized the girls, distributed tasks, and scheduled cleaning times."
"Very well. Hand me a hammer," he said as he drove the first stake that would mark the start of the racetrack.
Boram did as he asked and watched as Joshua's well-defined muscles flexed with each hammer strike.
"Is all this really necessary?"
"Yes, and we'll do the same with the economics team next month."
"Sir...?"
Ignoring the beginning of his secretary's protest, Joshua stood up and shouted to gather the entire marketing team. There were seven: four men and three women; counting him and Boram, they were nine people in total.
"Split into pairs," he ordered. "Boram, you'll join them so there will be an even number of women."
"What...?"
"The pair that wins will receive a monetary incentive and have the opportunity to choose any of the self-improvement courses our company offers."
Reactions of surprise and admiration spread through the team. Joshua, aware of all the attention, placed his hands behind his back and smiled.
"I think we haven't had a well-deserved presentation. My intention with this worktrip is to bring us closer and for you, as a team, to see me not as an inaccessible leader but as my more human side. Without further ado, I'll be the judge of the three powers. Let's play, guys!"
Amid games, laughter, and a few tumbles on the ground, time flew by. As expected, Seokmin paired up with Boram, although to her disappointment, they ended up in second place.
Night had fallen, and they were at the table having dinner. Joshua, in charge of the barbecue, looked at everyone with pride. He was genuinely trying to unite the team; he hoped not to come off as too strict or intense—especially with Boram. The aforementioned approached him smiling with a can of beer in hand. Once beside him, she offered it to him.
"After all, your idea wasn't so terrible."
"Now you think it's great?" he said teasingly. "It wasn't what you showed this week."
"I guess it was due to the adjustment period." Boram turned to face her boss. "You're very demanding, Mr. Hong."
"And there's still more to come, Ms. Kim."
Minji, from the team's table, watched the seemingly intimate exchange between the boss and his secretary.
"What are they so chummy about?" she asked Seokmin, who was sitting next to her at the table. However, he seemed not to hear her. He only had his eyes fixed on the couple with a strange smirk on his lips.
Annoyed by such a deficit of attention, she finished what was left of her soju mixed with beer and then stood up shouting.
"Hey, Boram!" Minji cheered, raising his voice above the noise of their drunken teammates. "Congratulations! Three cheers for you! It was impressive how agile you were out there despite the figure of your body." He chuckled, "Boram, you really surprised us all!"
"What was that? Why so free?"
Minji chimed in, her tone teasing. "Second place? Not too shabby, right?"
Seokmin finally reacted, reaching for Minji's arm, but she swiftly dodged him. "Apparently, you're also agile with men," he quipped.
"Unlike you, right, Minji?" Seokmin shot back. "You're only agile when it comes to looks."
A heavy silence fell over the group. Boram, unable to bear the humiliation any longer, turned away and fought back tears, resisting the urge to run away.
"No," Joshua interjected sharply as he noticed Seokmin's intentions to follow her. "Give her some space. First, fix the mess you created and take Minji to her room."
He gestured towards the youngest member of the team, who had been on the verge of tears after hearing Seokmin's words. Reluctantly, Seokmin obeyed his boss's orders and left with Minji in tow.
Seokmin emerged from one of the women's rooms, a frown etched on his face. Joshua leaned against the wall, waiting for him. When he saw Seokmin, he extended a flashlight towards him.
"What's this...?" The confusion was evident on Seokmin's face.
"It's dark outside," Joshua explained. "Boram told me you were afraid of the dark."
Seokmin raised his eyebrows in surprise but then, realizing Mr. Hong's intentions, pressed his lips together and nodded. He took the flashlight and walked away.
"I saw her heading towards the river," Joshua called after him. Seokmin gave a thumbs-up in acknowledgment. With each step he took, the jealousy he felt began to fade.
Joshua watched him go. It wasn't entirely true that his secretary had shared so much information with him, but during the week they had spent together, he had noticed how close those two were and how much they cared for each other. There was an undeniable attraction between them. For a moment, he felt envious; he wished his own relationship could be like that. With a sigh, he shook off the feeling. He just hoped that night would make it clear to those two what was obvious to everyone else at the company.
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With the flashlight in hand, Seokmin trembled slightly. This was the third time he had stopped since moving away from the house. Being so far from the city made the night seem darker than usual—heavy and oppressive, as if it could swallow him whole. Just as he was about to count to ten to calm his anxiety, he spotted her. His trembling eased a little, replaced by a comforting warmth. Sitting on the grass with her legs drawn up to her chest, Boram gazed at the waning moon.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he said softly.
She didn't shift her gaze.
"The moon? Yes, it is," she replied quietly.
"I meant you," he clarified.
Slowly, she turned her eyes towards him. There was pain reflected in her gaze, mixed with shame that threatened to spill over in tears.
"Don't say things you don't mean," she murmured.
"I've been accused of many things, but never of being a liar," Seokmin countered. "And I definitely am not one"
He sat down beside her. The delicate scent of her perfume enveloped him like a gentle embrace.
"You are the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen, Boram."
Both their hearts raced wildly.
"Really...?" Boram asked shyly and he smiled nervously. "You like me?" He nodded slowly. "Since when?"
"I don't know," he admitted with a nervous grin. "But thinking about someone hurting you... It makes my blood boil."
"Even if it's someone as pretty as Minji?" she asked hesitantly.Here's a corrected version of your paragraph with some adjustments for clarity, grammar, and flow:
"Especially if is a superficial person like her," Seokmin replied earnestly as he turned to face his friend who he now considered more than just that. "The question isn't what Minji has that tyou don't; it's what you have that she doesn't."
"Kilos more?" Boram retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
Seokmin tucked a stray hair behind her ear
"Natural intelligence, kindness, speed of thought and execution, creativity, and a high degree of resilience. "At that point, their faces were too close." I continue...?
"Please..."
"Empathy, honesty, a good sense of humor, style, a look that sparkles like a thousand stars, and..." Seokmin paused just before her lips, almost touching them. "That smile that disarms me."
"How cheesy," Boram muttered, her cheeks flushing.
"Is that so?" he replied, mischief in his voice, though there was no smile on his lips—only intensity. "I swear, Boram, for all the stars in the sky, if you don't back down, I'm going to kiss you."
"What if I don't want to back down?"
With a knot in his chest and unsure of what he was doing, Seokmin kissed her. It wasn't desire but necessity—a burning and suffocating need he hadn't realized until that moment.
Seokmin groaned at how overwhelming his feelings were. He wanted to worship her, to envelop her in love, to leave his mark on her lips as something precious and dignified. He wanted to tear down all the barriers and insecurities Boram had built throughout her life. When their lips parted, he felt an unsettling void. Seokmin embraced her tightly as Boram fought back tears. She clung to him like a shipwrecked person to a piece of driftwood. They both needed this connection, and best of all, they had found it.
Reason returned to them like a gentle breeze. It was more than obvious—there was no turning back.
"Boram, do you want to go out with me?"