Dong-ha began rambling.
"On Thursday night, at the bar… ugh, just thinking about that bar makes me want to swear again. Sorry— that's not what I meant…"
"…"
"Someone asked me if I had a girlfriend, so I just said yes. It had nothing to do with actually dating someone— I said yes because you exist, Yoojin. I meant you. But how was I supposed to know Manager Lee would yell it out in front of everyone like that? Do you get what I'm trying to say? God… how do I even explain this?"
Yoojin's eyes widened as she listened, and the moment Dong-ha saw her eyes, clear and bright, his breath hitched as if caught in them.
Her voice was calm— too calm for what he'd just said.
"What if I don't want to date you?"
"Then I'll wait. I'm good at waiting. Someday… maybe we'll end up together, right?"
"…"
"I never thought I could just easily start dating you. That's why I wanted more time. But weird guys keep circling around you, showing up everywhere… I can't wait anymore, Yoojin."
His gaze held an aching sincerity, like he was holding back an ocean of emotion.
Then, pulling himself together with visible effort, he softened his expression.
"I'm sorry for bringing this up when you're having such a hard time."
Yoojin looked at him with sad, conflicted eyes. Can I really let someone in?
She still had unresolved history with Choi Hyun-oh— a past he remembered far too well. His obsession would never end on its own.
And if Hyun-oh ever decided to act, Dong-ha— only twenty-one— would be crushed before he even had a chance.
Yoojin stared at him— at his sharp lines, calm brows, deep eyes, the face of the boy who had once been her pas de deux partner, the rising star everyone admired.
And now this same boy sat here, shaken and heartbroken because of her.
My past life was hell. And now… this life might become hell for you.
She wasn't confident she could bear watching him suffer because of her.So she made the cruelest choice she could.
"I'm sorry. I don't think I'm ready to date anyone yet."
A thin crack spread across Dong-ha's expression.But he had already prepared himself to wait— so it didn't destroy him.
"That's okay. Take all the time you need. I'll stay right where I am.And whenever you're having a hard time, you can think of me. I'll always be by your side."
His deep eyes locked onto hers— unwavering.
Yoojin met his gaze without flinching, but her heart trembled violently.
Had she ever— in her entire life— received affection like this?
Choi Hyun-oh's feelings were obsession, lust, possession.To him, she was an ornament, a trophy— never someone to protect or cherish.
But Dong-ha's affection was warm. Steady.The kind of love she had always thirsted for.He said he would wait as long as it took.The warmth of that promise stung behind her eyes.
"So tomorrow morning, I'll come to the office too. Don't tell me not to come— I'm staying with you."
"…"
"And in the afternoon, I have to stop by the entertainment division. Once you finish sorting things out, even if it's late, go to the salsa club with Seryun."
Salsa. In this situation? Impossible. Yoojin shook her head.
"I need to fix the mistakes and review Jang-woo's order files."
"Yeah. The club is open on Sundays too. If you get overwhelmed while working, just come for a bit."
Yoojin didn't respond. Her hand tightened around her bag strap as she opened the car door.
"Thanks for today. I'll go."
She stepped out, turned away from him, and shut the door.
Dong-ha watched her walk toward her building— and his eyes darkened to a deep, endless black.
*
Yoojin arrived at the office at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
She had left at 1 a.m.— she'd barely been gone six hours.
Her inbox was exactly as she'd left it. Oddly, that comforted her. At least nothing new had piled up in that short window.
She slowly pulled out Kim Jang-woo's thick black folder.
It felt like a forbidden fruit, glaring at her— warning her not to open it.
Do you really want to see what's inside?Once you see it, can you handle it?You sure you won't regret it?Just put it back. He'll return eventually.
But Yoojin tightened her grip and opened it.
After all— she'd survived worse beside Choi Hyun-oh.
The orders were organized by category: Men, Women, Boys, Girls, Toddler.
She skimmed them. There were thirty-five orders. The first FW orders had been placed three weeks ago.
She checked the first order in the system, compared it with the sales team's sheet and Jang-woo's order sheet.
Something was wrong.
Contrary to what Manager Kim Se-hee had said—the system data and Jang-woo's order sheet matched perfectly.
It was as if he had downloaded the system data, the sales team created their sheet from that, and the exact same data was sent to the supplier.
So it actually can be managed properly…?
No errors. Not a single mismatch.
Then she checked the supplier's emails— just in case.
Three days ago, they had sent the first dye lot sample and requested a color approval.
Color approval— the thing Manager Lee Hyuk had told her the colorist needed to sign off on.
Where was the sample?
Her eyes darted around— and she spotted a gray package on the desk.
Nice Fabric.
Inside, neatly packaged swatches labeled 1st dyeing lot by color.
Ah. I need to request a color approval from the color room.So the bulk production hasn't started because they're waiting for this…
Her face drained of color.
She bit her lower lip without realizing it.
*
While she was buried in emails and order sheets, her phone buzzed.
[You're at the office, right? Want something to drink?]
It was Dong-ha.
Her stomach twisted.She hadn't eaten properly since last night.
[It's fine. And you don't have to come.]
She replied sharply and thought of the lines she'd rehearsed last night— lines she might need to say today.
I'm not interested in you.I only think of you as a friend.
The last line felt safest.
But when she imagined saying it, her chest throbbed painfully.
Forcing herself to ignore it, she refocused on the file.
By the time she reached the second order, Dong-ha entered the office.
8:30 a.m.— exactly on time, like a weekday.
"Did you sleep okay? Have some warm grapefruit tea."
Cold air followed him inside as he placed the steaming cup on her desk.
The sweet scent drifted upward.
"This makes me uncomfortable," she said.
"It's fine. I just bought one for myself and grabbed one for you.And you've been drinking too much coffee lately, so I brought tea."
He smiled softly— a rare, gentle smile— and she had no rebuttal left.
He turned and settled at his desk.
Yoojin watched him for a beat, then forced herself back to her task.
It was time.
She needed to report the mistakes.
Whom to message first?How to phrase it?Should she text or call?
Her hands trembled from the pressure.She hated how inexperienced she sounded in her own head.
She typed quickly:
[Hello, Manager Kim. While reviewing yesterday's orders, I found two mis-orders. May I call to report them?]
Manager Kim Se-hee called immediately.
- Yoojin, mis-orders?
"Yes, I'm sorry. In 3216, I entered pounds as kilograms.And in 3217, the color quantities were entered incorrectly."
- …The weight unit?
"Yes. The vendor only accepts kilogram orders, but I submitted a pound-based order. I'm really sorry."
- Sales will tear you apart. What did the vendor say?
"They said dyeing already started."
- Oh god… unbelievable. Tell them to halt production right now. What about the color quantities?
"I followed the sales order's color order, but the purchase order uses a different order."
- Did you notify the vendor?
"Yes, but no reply yet."
- Jang-woo should have their business cards at his desk. If not, check the signature block for phone numbers. Call manually and inform them.
"Yes, ma'am."
- …You haven't told Manager Lee yet, right?
"No."
- Getting scolded early is best. Call him now.
"Yes…"
She exhaled a shaky breath.
For a split second she'd hoped Manager Kim might report it on her behalf—but no.
This was her mistake, and her responsibility.
Yoojin texted Manager Lee Hyuk, and moments later he called.
What is it?
His sharp, hysterical tone made her throat tighten.
"I… made a mistake on the order."
- That's not a report. Say it properly.
Damn it.
She'd explained perfectly fine to Manager Kim— but Manager Lee's voice made everything scatter again, the memory of him yelling at her earlier in the week hitting like a slap.
"In order 3216, I ordered pounds as kilograms.In order 3217, the color quantities were entered incorrectly."
- Han Yoojin! Did you even go to school? Do you know the 5W1H? When, where, how, what, how much, why. Can't you make a proper report?