#100

With just a single blink, I somehow found myself in Secretary Sung Yoojun’s arms. The arms wrapped around my waist and shoulders were firm and strong. Without saying anything in particular to console me, he simply held me and gently patted my back.

“……Normally, isn’t this when you say something like ‘It’s okay,’ or something?”

“I don’t want to say that to someone who clearly isn’t okay. I doubt that’s what you’d want to hear right now.”

I had meant my words to sound playful, but his reply came back sincere and grounded.

He was right. I wasn’t okay, and I didn’t want to hear someone tell me I was. The way Secretary Sung Yoojun so accurately understood and respected my feelings made my face crumple. It was the only way I could keep myself from bursting into tears.

With my hands still trembling, I clung tightly to Sung Yoojun’s waist and buried my face in his shoulder. His hand, which had been patting my back, slowly moved upward and began to gently stroke the back of my head.

“If you want to cry, just cry. It’s okay.”

His words were calm but filled with warmth. And at that, I finally let go of the tears I had been holding back. Silent tears fell, one after another, wetting Secretary Sung Yoojun’s shoulder.

“I’m not okay.”

“……I know.”

“I just can’t seem to be okay……”

The voice that came out of me sounded as though it might disappear at any moment. Sung Yoojun’s arms tightened around me slightly. Held within his broad embrace, I cried for a long, long time.

I only stopped crying not because the sadness had faded, but because my head was throbbing and my eyes hurt too much to cry any longer.

“President.”

As I leaned against his damp shoulder, breathing heavily after the flood of tears, Sung Yoojun quietly called out to me. At his call, I barely managed to lift my head and look at him.

As I looked up at him, Secretary Sung Yoojun reached out and gently wiped the redness from around my eyes. The soft touch of his large thumb brushing across my skin made my eyelids flutter at the tickling sensation.

“……Your eyes are swollen. Should I bring you an ice pack?”

As he wiped away the tears that still lingered on my face, he asked, and I shook my head. More than an ice pack, what I needed right now was Secretary Sung Yoojun. I needed his warmth, his quiet comfort. Holding that feeling, I clutched tightly at the hem of his jacket.

“Understood. I’ll stay right here, then. So don’t worry.”

Secretary Sung Yoojun gently patted the back of my hand that was gripping his jacket and whispered with a kind voice. His gentleness nearly brought on another wave of tears, but I barely held them back and buried myself in his arms again.

I couldn’t understand why something like this had happened to me. I was just an ordinary, plain person—how did I end up falling into such a strange world? A world where nothing I held dear remained.

Feeling a despair I hadn’t known in a long time, I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my teeth. I missed Cheon so much, the one I could never see again in this world.

***

Consciousness, which had sunk deep inside me, slowly began to rise. I opened my heavy eyelids at the sound of a quiet breath near my ear. Struggling to lift my eyes, I saw Secretary Sung Yoojun’s face, fast asleep with a furrow in his brow.

It seemed I had fallen asleep in Sung Yoojun’s arms last night.

……How embarrassing.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind after my heart had calmed a little and reason returned. I let out a heavy sigh and covered my eyes with the palm of my hand. Maybe it was from crying so much yesterday, but my eyes felt a bit swollen.

As I lightly traced the faint heat lingering on my eyelids with my fingers, I slowly sat up. Then, the arm Sung Yoojun had draped over my waist fell down with a soft thud.

“Mm……”

Startled by the movement, Secretary Sung Yoojun let out a small nasal sound and opened his eyes. I held my breath and watched as he blinked drowsily a couple of times.

“Did you sleep well?”

His now-clear eyes landed on me. He greeted me with a gentle voice. I blinked my heavy eyelids a few times before nodding.

“Yes.”

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Sung Yoojun sat up on the bed and asked. I shook my head to signal that I wasn’t in pain, but he didn’t seem entirely convinced as he carefully studied my face.

“Your eyes are swollen.”

“They don’t hurt, so it’s fine.”

I said that and discreetly covered my eyes with my palm. They didn’t hurt, but it was still a bit embarrassing that anyone could clearly tell I had been crying.

I never thought I’d end up crying in front of someone at this age…… Well, I did cry in front of President Go Woonjae yesterday too, but those weren’t my tears—they were in-game Goo Won’s tears, so that didn’t count.

While I pressed my warm eyes with the heel of my hand, Secretary Sung Yoojun got out of bed and began tidying up the messy hospital room.

Seeing Sung Yoojun, who had comforted me late into the night and was now cleaning up after me in the morning, made guilt blossom inside me. I hurried to start gathering the torn pieces of paper scattered across the bed.

“President. What should I do with this?”

As I was busily cleaning up my own mess, I heard Sung Yoojun’s voice. I looked up to see him holding a torn envelope.

[Top section of the first drawer on the left side of the bedroom dresser.]

I read the words written on the envelope again and then extended my palm toward Sung Yoojun.

“Give it to me.”

Sung Yoojun placed the torn envelope into my outstretched hand. I held it and let out a quiet sigh.

I didn’t know what this was, but since it had been delivered to me by Goo Won from the game, I figured it would be best to check it out. I was worried about what kind of shocking message it might contain this time. Trying not to think about Cheon’s death, I looked at Sung Yoojun, who had already finished tidying up.

“When did they say I could be discharged?”

“I’m not sure. Dr. Kang seemed to want you to stay a bit longer, but……”

“No. Please make arrangements so I can be discharged by this morning.”

At my firm words, Secretary Sung Yoojun seemed like he wanted to say something but simply nodded with a small sigh.

“Understood. I’ll handle it and return.”

With a brief bow, Sung Yoojun left the room. I moved to change into new clothes, intending to get ready while he handled the discharge process.

Sung Yoojun returned to the room when I had finished changing and packed all my belongings. However, he wasn’t alone. Behind him stood Uncle, wearing a sour expression.

“……Uncle.”

“I heard that our Chairman is leaving without waiting for the test results, so I came to check on you.”

Uncle’s words, sharp like thorns, made me offer a troubled smile.

“I’m sorry. Something urgent came up, and I have to leave. Could you please send me the test results by email, Uncle?”

“I’ll send them, but still……”

As Uncle spoke, trying to persuade me, his gaze landed on my swollen eyes. I instinctively avoided his stare, seeing his eyes widen in surprise.

“Young master, is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“……Our young master has never been good at lying since he was little. I’m not sure whether I should find it cute or worry about how he’ll manage in this harsh world.”

……How do they always tell when I’m lying? Am I that obvious? I’ve been trying hard to control my expression while lying. I stopped myself from trying to touch my face in embarrassment at Uncle’s subtle remark. It would be like advertising that I’d been caught in a lie.

“Anyway, it’s fine. It can’t be helped. I’ll send the results by email as soon as they come out…… Hmm, you probably won’t check them directly, so I’ll send them to this guy. Make sure to check it. Whatever it is, I hope it ends well.”

Uncle said this as he patted my head. His eyes were filled with worry for me. I felt guilty for causing him so much concern these past few days. Whether that was obvious, Uncle gave a small, amused smile and ruffled my hair.

“Don’t make that face, it’s fine. Worrying about our Chairman is my job.”

“……Thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, don’t just wipe it off with your mouth—pay more attention to your health.”

At Uncle’s kind words, I weakly smiled and nodded. He ruffled my hair a couple more times before saying goodbye and leaving the room. I looked at Secretary Sung Yoojun, who was holding the bag I had packed. With a calm expression, he asked.

“Where should I take you?”