The paper bag gave one last soft crinkle as Ji-Ah tucked the empty food containers neatly inside.
She always cleaned up after eating.
Even when someone else had bought the meal.
She tied the handles into a little knot before brushing invisible grains of rice from her trousers.
The room had become quiet again.
The afternoon sun poured through the tall office windows, painting long golden rectangles across the wooden floor. Outside, tiny cars crawled through the streets far below while the city carried on as if nothing had happened.
Ji-Ah stood up.
Then looked at Ha-Joon. "...Thanks."
He looked up from the documents he had absentmindedly picked up. "For lunch."
She lifted the paper bag a little. "And for... everything."
He gave a small nod. "You're welcome."
She scratched the side of her cheek.
Then her smile slowly disappeared. "...And..."
Ha-Joon already knew that tone.
He quietly placed the file back on his desk. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I ruined the meeting."
She laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
"I mean... I slept. In front of everyone. I think Kai-Wen was presenting."
She covered her face dramatically. "I don't even remember what he was talking about."
Ha-Joon remained silent, letting her finish.
"I embarrassed you."
She looked down at the paper bag in her hands.
"I know you're the CEO. There were important people. And then your secretary..."
She sighed dramatically. "...fell asleep like she'd been tranquilized."
Ha-Joon watched her for another second.
Then stood up.
He walked toward her without saying anything.
His footsteps were slow, quiet against the wooden floor.
Ji-Ah looked up curiously. "What?"
Instead of answering...
He simply raised his hand.
Pat.
His palm rested gently on top of her head.
Not hard.
Not playful.
Just one warm, reassuring pat.
Ji-Ah blinked. "...Huh?"
"Don't apologize to me."
His voice was calm. "You were tired."
She opened her mouth.
He continued first. "I've been giving you more work than usual. The Canada preparations. The family schedule My meetings. My documents. My mother's endless requests."
His eyes lowered slightly. "You've barely had proper sleep for days."
Ji-Ah stared quietly.
"So..." He exhaled softly. "I'm the one who should apologize."
The words settled between them.
Ji-Ah had expected him to tease her.
Maybe tell her to sleep earlier.
Maybe complain.
Not...
This.
She frowned a little. "...Why are you apologizing?"
He looked at her. "I should've noticed."
She blinked.
"You were falling asleep yesterday too. I thought you were just bored."
His lips curved into the tiniest apologetic smile.
"I was wrong."
Ji-Ah looked away for a second.
Then sighed dramatically. "Aish..."
She folded her arms. "You really don't know how to accept an apology. You apologize. I apologize. Then we both feel guilty. Nothing gets solved."
Ha-Joon nodded once. "Exactly."
She stared at him. "...You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
She laughed.
A real laugh this time.
"You know..." She pointed at him. "If you keep being nice..."
"Hm?"
"...I'll start thinking you're sick."
"I'm healthy."
"You should get checked anyway."
"I had a medical examination two months ago."
"I mean mentally."
"..."
He looked at her.
She looked back.
Then both of them burst into quiet laughter.
The sound filled the little resting room so naturally that neither of them noticed how different it felt from only a few weeks ago.
No awkwardness.
No careful words.
Just...
Comfort.
Ha-Joon's phone vibrated.
He glanced down.
His expression returned to business for a moment. "They're here."
Ji-Ah leaned forward. "Already?"
He nodded. "Everyone's waiting downstairs."
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. "You should go."
She gasped dramatically. "Oh! Shopping! Exactly."
She clapped her hands together once. "I forgot!"
"You forgetting is becoming a habit."
"I remembered eventually."
"With help."
"Details."
She spun toward the door before stopping halfway.
She turned around so quickly her ponytail whipped through the air.
"Canada..." Her eyes sparkled. "I still can't believe we're actually going."
Ha-Joon leaned lightly against the edge of his desk, folding his arms.
"You've said that six times today."
"I'm going to say it sixty more."
"I expected as much."
Outside the resting room...
She closed the door behind her.
The smile never left her face.
Employees walking through the hallway greeted her politely.
She greeted every single one back.
"Good afternoon!"
"Hello!"
"Have a nice day!"
One employee blinked. "...Ms. Park seems happier than usual."
Another nodded. "I thought she got scolded after sleeping in the meeting."
"So did I."
"...Maybe getting scolded makes her happy."
"No. I don't think that's normal."
Meanwhile...
Four familiar figures stood beside the elevator pretending to discuss documents.
Pretending.
Very badly.
Do-Yoon looked up first. "There she is."
Kai-Wen followed his gaze.
Soo-Min slowly lowered her coffee cup.
Even Hye-Rin glanced up from her tablet.
Ji-Ah walked toward them smiling like she'd just received a lifetime supply of desserts.
Do-Yoon narrowed her eyes. "...No."
Kai-Wen nodded. "...Definitely no."
Soo-Min folded her arms. "Something happened."
Ji-Ah stopped "...What?"
The four of them simply stared.
She looked left.
Then right. "...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Do-Yoon walked over and grabbed her wrist dramatically. "What did he say?"
Ji-Ah blinked. "...Who?"
"Our CEO. What did he do?"
"He gave me food."
Four seconds of silence.
Kai-Wen frowned. "...Just food?"
"We ate. Talked. I apologized. He apologized."
Another silence.
Soo-Min's eyes slowly widened. "...He apologized?"
Ji-Ah nodded innocently. "Yes."
All four exchanged looks.
Do-Yoon whispered, "...She's lying."
"I am not!"
Kai-Wen crossed his arms. "Our CEO apologizing? Impossible."
"It happened!"
Hye-Rin finally spoke. "...Your hair."
Ji-Ah touched it. "What about it?"
"It looks messy."
She froze.
Then remembered.
Pat.
Her face slowly turned pink.
Do-Yoon immediately pointed. "SHE'S BLUSHING!"
"I AM NOT!"
"YOU ARE!"
Ji-Ah covered her face. "It's hot!"
"It's air-conditioned!"
"...Shut up!"
The hallway filled with laughter just as the elevator doors slid open.
Time to leave.
Time to shop.
And tomorrow...
Canada awaited
The assistants' office felt unusually lively that afternoon.
Sunlight spilled through the wide windows, washing over the rows of desks littered with sticky notes, coffee mugs, folders, and little potted plants. Computers hummed softly while the air conditioner whispered overhead.
Ji-Ah walked in still carrying the paper bag from lunch.
The smile on her face hadn't disappeared.
Not even a little.
She stopped in front of her desk and placed the paper bag down. "...Right."
She stretched her arms high above her head until her shoulders gave a satisfying crack. "Packing time."
She crouched beside her drawer and pulled it open.
The first thing she found was...
"..."
"...How many snacks do I own?"
One...
Two...
Three chocolate bars.
Two packets of crackers.
A tiny bag of gummy bears.
An instant coffee sachet.
And somehow...
A banana-flavored lollipop.
Ji-Ah blinked. "I don't even like banana."
Across the room Do-Yoon looked up from her monitor calmly. "You said that every time you bought one."
Kai-Wen nodded. "And then bought another."
"They looked lonely."
Soo-Min laughed into her coffee. "You rescue food now?"
"They deserved a home."
"You are unbelievable."
Ji-Ah smiled proudly before stuffing everything into her backpack. Pens came next.
Colorful sticky notes. Notebooks.
A tiny cactus she'd somehow kept alive for months.
She picked it up carefully. "...You survived."
Soo-Min smiled. "So did you."
Ji-Ah looked over.
Their eyes met.
For just a second... The joking stopped.
The realization quietly settled over everyone.
She was leaving.
Not forever.
But long enough for the office to feel strange without her.
Ji-Ah slowly zipped her backpack.
Then looked around at the familiar room.
"...I'm actually going to miss this place."
Kai-Wen snorted. "You mean you're going to miss bothering us."
"I can miss both."
Do-Yoon leaned back in her chair.
"I'm finally getting peace."
Ji-Ah pointed at her dramatically.
"Liar."
"What?"
"You'll miss me first."
"I absolutely won't."
"You'll cry."
"I won't."
"You'll stare at my empty desk."
"I'll put another employee there."
"You monster."
Soo-Min couldn't help laughing "You two sound like children."
Ji-Ah walked around her desk.
Then suddenly wrapped her arms around Soo-Min. "Sooooo-Min."
Soo-Min laughed immediately. "I knew this was coming."
Ji-Ah squeezed tighter. "I'm gonna miss you soooo much."
"You'll call me tomorrow."
"I know."
"You'll text tonight."
"I know."
"You'll probably video call from the airport."
"...Probably."
"You see?"
Ji-Ah buried her face against Soo-Min's shoulder dramatically. "I still miss you."
Soo-Min gently patted her back. "We're going to miss you more."
Ji-Ah pulled away just enough to look at her. "No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I refuse."
Soo-Min smiled warmly. "The office is going to be so quiet."
Do-Yoon raised her hand.
"I vote we keep it that way."
Ji-Ah turned.
"...Excuse me?"
Do-Yoon barely had time to react.
She marched over and threw both arms around him.
Do-Yoon made the most dramatic face imaginable. "Help."
"No."
"I'm being attacked."
"You deserve it."
"I've done nothing."
Kai-Wen folded his arms. She's lying."
Ji-Ah laughed. "There."
She stepped back. "Now you'll remember me."
"I'll remember the bruises."
"You don't even have bruises."
"My pride does."
Everyone laughed.
Kai-Wen slowly began backing away. "No."
Ji-Ah smiled. "...Come here."
"No."
"Come here."
"I said no."
She lunged.
Kai-Wen dodged.
She chased him halfway around the office.
Employees passing outside the glass walls slowed down to watch.
Finally...
She caught his sleeve. "Got you."
"I surrendered five minutes ago."
"You never surrendered."
"I was saving my dignity."
"You lost it."
She hugged him anyway.
Kai-Wen sighed dramatically. "...Fine. I'll admit it."
She smiled.
"What?"
"...I'll miss you too."
Ji-Ah gasped. "Did everybody hear that?"
"I hate all of you."
Even Hye-Rin smiled slightly.
Ji-Ah turned toward her last.
"Hye-Rin..." The woman looked up from her tablet. "...Yes?"
"Can I hug you?"
"..."
A small sigh escaped Hye-Rin. "...One."
Ji-Ah immediately hugged her.
Only once.
Only for a few seconds.
Hye-Rin gently adjusted Ji-Ah's slightly messy hair afterward. "There."
"Travel safely."
"I will."
"And..."
Hye-Rin looked at her seriously. "Don't start international incidents."
Ji-Ah placed a hand over her heart. "I'll try."
"The word 'try' worries me."
"It worries me too."
The office erupted into laughter again.
Then...
Click.
The office door opened.
Conversation slowly faded.
Min-Ji entered first.
Elegant.
Hair perfectly styled.
Designer handbag resting on her forearm.
She walked in with that practiced smile she always wore.
Behind her...
Ha-Joon.
Ji-Ah instinctively looked at him.
And immediately noticed the difference.
The man who had been sitting on the floor eating lunch with her...
Removing onions from her plate...
Patting her head...
Laughing quietly...
Was gone.
His expression had returned to its usual calm.
Professional.
Reserved.
His shoulders were straight.
His hands rested loosely inside his trouser pockets.
His eyes scanned the room once before stopping briefly on Ji-Ah.
Just one second.
Then he looked away.
CEO Kim Ha-Joon had returned.
Ji-Ah quietly muttered under her breath,
"...He's frozen again."
Yoo-Na had arrived only moments earlier.
She leaned closer.
"What?"
"The refrigerator."
She followed Ji-Ah's gaze.
"...You're right. He smiled upstairs. And now look. Factory settings."
Ji-Ah bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
Across the room...
Ha-Joon heard absolutely nothing.
Or...
Perhaps he did.
Because the tiniest twitch appeared near the corner of his mouth before disappearing again.
Soo-Min stepped forward first. "Sir."
Ha-Joon looked at her.
"We'll miss you."
Kai-Wen nodded respectfully. "Please enjoy your trip."
Do-Yoon added, "Bring us something expensive."
Ha-Joon answered without hesitation. "No."
"Sir..."
"You'll survive."
The office laughed.
Hye-Rin stepped forward. "Take care. We'll manage everything here."
Ha-Joon nodded once. "I know you will."
His gaze swept across the office.
"You've all worked hard. Continue doing so while we're away."
"Yes, sir."
Then he glanced toward Ji-Ah. "...Ready?"
She immediately picked up her backpack. "Always."
Min-Hyuk suddenly appeared behind the door carrying his own backpack with Seo-Yeon beside him.
"I've been looking for you people!"
Seo-Yeon sighed. "You got lost."
"I absolutely did."
"You've worked here for six years."
"The building changes."
"It doesn't."
"It feels different."
She simply shook her head.
Hopeless.
Yoo-Na walked over carrying her handbag. "Can we leave before I hear another one of Min-Hyuk's speeches?"
"I have plenty."
"Exactly my point."
Everyone made their way downstairs together.
The underground parking garage echoed softly with footsteps.
Luxury black vehicles waited neatly beneath bright white lights.
Drivers stood beside them.
Luggage had already been loaded.
Standing beside the first sedan...
Were two familiar men in black suits.
Lee.
And Choi.
Both stood with their hands respectfully folded in front of them.
Perfect posture.
Perfect professionalism.
The moment Ha-Joon approached...
Choi stepped forward.
He opened the rear passenger door with practiced precision.
"Sir."
Ha-Joon nodded once.
Min-Ji wasted absolutely no time.
She walked around him and slipped into the seat beside him first.
As if claiming territory.
Ha-Joon simply entered after her without a word.
The door remained open while Lee moved toward the second SUV.
Min-Hyuk was already climbing into the front passenger seat.
Seo-Yeon settled beside the driver, opening her tablet almost immediately.
"Workaholic," Min-Hyuk muttered.
"I heard that."
"I wanted you to."
Meanwhile...
Yoo-Na climbed into the back seat.
Immediately choosing the window. "I'm sitting here."
Hea-In entered from the opposite side.v"What a coincidence."
Yoo-Na looked straight ahead. "I disagree."
Ji-Ah sighed dramatically. "So..."
She looked at both women. "I'm the filling in this very uncomfortable sandwich."
Neither answered.
She climbed into the middle anyway.
Just before Lee closed the door...
He smiled. "Mrs. Park."
Ji-Ah looked up. "Hm?"
"Please don't strangle anyone during this trip."
She blinked.
Then suddenly pointed at him.
"WAIT!"
Lee stopped.
"I remember you!"
His smile widened. "I'm relieved."
She leaned out slightly.
"Lee!"
"Yes."
"And Choi!"
The other man nodded respectfully. "Good afternoon, Madam."
She laughed. "You two! The fake logistics department!"
Lee coughed politely. "We prefer 'executive security.'"
"I knew it! I told Seo-Jun you people looked like you wrestled bears before breakfast."
Choi answered completely seriously. "Only once."
Ji-Ah stared. "...You're joking."
His expression never changed. "...Maybe."
She burst into laughter. "I missed you two."
Lee chuckled.
"We've been around. Working."
Choi nodded once. "Always working."
Ji-Ah smiled warmly. "It's good to see you again."
Lee bowed slightly. "It's good to see you too, Madam."
He gently closed the SUV door. "Have a pleasant trip."
Ji-Ah smiled through the window. "Thanks, Lee! And Choi! We'll bring souvenirs!"
Lee smiled. "We'll hold you to that."
The engines came to life.
One by one...
The black vehicles rolled out of the parking garage.
Behind them...
Their coworkers stood waving.
Ahead of them...
The shopping mall.
And tomorrow...
Canada awaited.