Episode 6 / 10
Friday afternoon.
Minseo was leaving a meeting room when she ran into Doyoon from the neighboring team.
(Doyoon): “Meeting over?”
(Minseo): “Barely.”
(Doyoon): “Your face looks like it's still in there.”
Minseo snorted a laugh.
That was about the extent of their relationship. They said hello when they passed in the hall, exchanged a few words if they met while making coffee in the pantry.
Without thinking, Minseo glanced above Doyoon's head.
3
The number had barely changed since the first day she'd seen it.
A man with no interest in me.
Then Serin appeared behind them.
(Serin): “Assistant Manager, what are you doing tonight?”
(Minseo): “Why?”
(Serin): “Let's drink.”
(Minseo): “With who?”
Serin pointed at Doyoon.
(Serin): “Assistant Manager Doyoon, Assistant Manager Hajin. The four of us.”
(Doyoon): “Was I just recruited without my knowledge?”
(Serin): “But the recruitment succeeded, right, Assistant Manager?”
Minseo considered it.
Junho had a company dinner tonight.
(Minseo): “Sure. Let's go.”
Serin's eyes widened.
(Serin): “You've seriously changed lately.”
(Minseo): “How?”
(Serin): “The power of romance?”
Minseo stared at her.
(Minseo): “How do you even know?”
Serin laughed.
(Serin): “I sit next to you. I know everything.”
They went to a barbecue place near the office.
After a round of beer and half the meat was gone, Serin finally asked the question she'd clearly been waiting to ask.
(Serin): “So what's he like?”
Minseo paused with a piece of meat in her chopsticks.
(Minseo): “Who?”
(Serin): “Your boyfriend.”
(Hajin): “So this is why you gathered us.”
(Serin): “Aren't you curious?”
Minseo thought for a moment.
(Minseo): “He's just… a decent person.”
(Serin): “What does that even mean?”
(Minseo): “Good company. Owns a home. Calm personality.”
(Serin): “Handsome?”
(Minseo): “Presentable.”
(Serin): “If he passes your 'presentable' standard, he must be pretty good.”
Hajin laughed.
(Hajin): “Sounds like a good catch.”
Minseo nodded.
That was true. His circumstances were good. And he liked her.
A lot.
Serin asked again.
(Serin): “What about you?”
(Minseo): “What about me?”
(Serin): “How much do you like him?”
Minseo started to answer, then stopped.
How much?
Strangely, no answer came immediately.
(Minseo): “We haven't been dating long.”
(Serin): “Still.”
(Minseo): “He likes me a lot.”
Serin looked at her for a moment.
(Serin): “I'm jealous of that.”
(Minseo): “Of what?”
(Serin): “Dating someone who likes you more.”
Minseo's hand paused.
Junho's number came to mind.
100
(Serin): “I think it'd be awful if I liked someone more than they liked me.”
(Hajin): “Isn't that true for everyone?”
(Serin): “Exactly. A guy who likes me is the best.”
Serin suddenly turned to Doyoon.
(Serin): “What about you, Assistant Manager?”
Doyoon was turning the meat over.
(Doyoon): “What about me?”
(Serin): “Would you rather be in a relationship where you like the other person more, or they like you more?”
Doyoon thought for a moment.
(Doyoon): “I'd rather be the one who likes more.”
Minseo looked up.
Serin looked surprised too.
(Serin): “Why?”
(Doyoon): “Don't you want to date someone because you like them?”
He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
(Doyoon): “No matter how much someone likes me, if I don't feel anything, how is that a relationship?”
Minseo silently lifted her beer.
(Serin): “But if you like them more, you'd feel insecure.”
(Doyoon): “Maybe.”
Doyoon gave a small shrug.
(Doyoon): “Still better than dating someone I don't like, isn't it?”
Minseo looked at him.
He didn't seem like someone trying to sound profound. He was simply saying something he genuinely thought was obvious.
(Serin): “So you don't care about practical conditions?”
(Doyoon): “Of course I do.”
Serin laughed immediately.
(Serin): “I knew it.”
(Doyoon): “Maybe if we're talking marriage.”
Doyoon took a sip of beer.
(Doyoon): “But I don't think I'd make a checklist before I even started dating someone.”
(Hajin): “Serin looks disappointed.”
(Serin): “I am not.”
(Doyoon): “If someone asks whether you pay property tax before you start dating, that's scary.”
Minseo burst out laughing.
(Hajin): “If they're asking about property tax, that's a matchmaking agency, not dating.”
Serin waved both hands.
(Serin): “Hey, I don't go that far.”
Minseo kept laughing.
Maybe it was the beer. Maybe Doyoon was funnier than she'd thought. Maybe the conversation itself was simply enjoyable.
She wasn't sure.
When they left, the four of them walked toward the station. Serin and Hajin moved ahead, leaving Minseo and Doyoon naturally a little behind.
(Doyoon): “You're laughing a lot tonight.”
(Minseo): “I laugh all the time.”
(Doyoon): “Not much at the office.”
(Minseo): “There has to be something worth laughing at.”
(Doyoon): “Fair.”
Minseo laughed again.
They parted at a crosswalk.
(Minseo): “See you Monday.”
(Doyoon): “Yeah. Get home safe.”
Minseo turned away.
After a few steps, she glanced back without thinking.
Doyoon was walking in the opposite direction.
The number above his head was still
3.
Sitting on the subway, Minseo replayed the conversation.
No matter how much someone likes me, if I don't feel anything, how is that a relationship?
And the property-tax joke.
Minseo laughed quietly again.
Then her phone buzzed.
[Junho: Is your company dinner over?]
Minseo stared at the screen.
The smile left over from a moment ago faded slightly.
[Minseo: Yes. Heading home now.]
She sent the reply and put the phone down.
Junho liked her
100.
Doyoon was
3.
And yet, strangely,
time with the man at 3 had been more fun.