Oppa, That Must Be A Mistake - Chapter 6

As a company with more than 100 employees, the occasional dinner was usually organized by each department.

However, when Mr. Kang Ju-won recently cleared through with a contract that had been stuck, the business and development departments that had worked on the project together had a dinner together.

Hye-joo and Da-hee from the business department, Seung-won from the development department, and Kang Joo-won, the hero of the contract, all gathered together.

“We didn’t get a chance to welcome our CEO, so we’re going to take this opportunity to congratulate him. Mr. CEO, please sit over here!”

Yoo Myung-hwan, a business unit manager with a special mission to liven up the atmosphere at the bar, was the master of ceremonies. The twenty motivated young people all opened their mouths for the first time in a long time, and a bottle of soju per person was placed on each table.

Hye-Joo was running late for work and arrived at the butcher shop almost last. The only seat left was next to Seung-won.

“Hello?”

Seung-won whispered, placing a cushion on her seat. Hye-Joo smiled slightly and thanked him.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s get started. It’s been said that the arrival time of female employees at Datas Korea has increased by half an hour since he arrived, so let’s all stop hiding and stealing glances. Please welcome Mr. Kang Joo-won!”

Thunderous applause erupted. Despite the glares, Joo-won stepped forward without hesitation.

“Good evening, everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here with the jewels of Datas Science Korea.”

He started to make a toast, but nothing came out. Hye-Joo’s attention was focused on Seung-Won sitting next to her.

“To the continued development of Datas Korea!”

“Cheers!”

Seeing Joo-won proudly making his toast. Then, out of habit, Hye-joo picked at her chopsticks and held them out to Seung-won.

“Here.”

For a moment, Seung-won looked a little confused. He looked at the table and saw the wooden chopsticks laid out in a neat row.

“Oh, sorry. I already got it.”

“No, no, no. Da-hee did it for me a while ago, and the first one I picked up broke in half.”

As he spoke, a pair of mismatched wooden chopsticks rolled around next to the pretty ones. Hye-Joo smiled awkwardly and bruised.

“Ew, you little shit. If you’re going to do that, at least buy some wooden chopsticks and practice splitting them.”

Everyone clinked glasses with Joo-won’s toast. Hye-Joo slurped her soju and lifted her chopsticks to pick up her appetizer. She felt a sharp stare.

“Hmm?”

Hye-joo reflexively turned around and saw Da-hee looking at her. When their eyes met, Da-hee quickly looked away, but the momentary animosity left Hye-joo feeling very confused.

“Why……?”

*

Everyone had left, and there were about ten people left at the second table.

The party was almost over, so Hye-Joo left the bar briefly to buy a hangover cure.

It was past 11 o’clock, and the sparse streetlights lit up the darkened street. It was quiet on the side street, a short distance from the office building.

“I drink a lot today, huh.”

Hye-Joo pressed her hot cheeks together and took a drink of her hangover cure. A familiar face was waiting for her when she arrived at the front of the store after grabbing a bunch of hangover remedies for the people who were still there. It was Da-hee, with her jacket slung over her shoulder.

“Zanda, why are you here?”

Zanda was how Hye-Joo usually called Da-Hee. Da-Hee’s nose was red from the long wait outside.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Hye-joo.”

“For me?”

“Yes.”

Even when their eyes eyes, She smiled softly, unlike usual, with a firm expression.

‘I guess I wasn’t mistaken about that look in your eyes earlier.’

Hye-Joo was a quick thinker. She guessed it was probably because of the time she broke Seung-won’s chopsticks at the bar.

Now, Seung-won’s girlfriend is Da-hee.

It might not seem like a big deal, but from a girlfriend’s point of view, she might feel bad that someone else is looking out for her boyfriend.

“What happened earlier…….”

Hye-joo was the first to speak, but Da-hee’s words cut her off at the knees.

“What did Seung-won take out of the house then?”

The attack-like question stunned Hye-Joo for a moment.

“It was just a simple belonging. I don’t even remember what it was.”

“Hye-joo, you don’t know?”

“……What do you mean?”

“You don’t want your stuff rolling around in the pigsty, and you always have your stuff with you. I leave my workout clothes and everything at the office, and you always leave yours in the locker at the community club. I even borrowed your makeup from the office and accidentally left it behind.”

Da-hee’s voice grew increasingly angry.

This is not right.

Da-hee’s uneasy gaze, her sharp questioning voice, set off alarm bells in Hye-joo’s mind.

“I know, and so does Seung-won, that what you had in your pocket that day wasn’t makeup, so come clean.”

“What the hell? You think I stole something from Seung-won’s house?”

“I hope not!”

Da-hee screamed.

“That song that was playing in your pocket at 12:00, I told you about.”

“Da-hee.”

“You said you had a crush on someone, that you were going to confess soon, and this is the confession song I told you to use then!”

Da-hee glared at Hye-joo with narrowed eyes.

“The person you said you like…… is Seungwon is it?”

Thump, thump.

Her heart was pounding like a madman. She never wanted to be found out.

The part of her that didn’t want to look back, that didn’t want them guys to feel sorry, that didn’t want to end up losing them both.

“What are you talking about? He and I have been friends for years.”

I tried my best to defend myself, but it didn’t work.

“Well, if you put it that way, I was friends with Seung-won, so I guess it’s a possible.”

Tears welled up in Da-hee’s eyes as she dismissed Hye-ju’s excuse.

“Now that I think about it, it’s weird. Ever since you found out that I’m dating Seung-won, you’ve been avoiding contacting me and making plans.”

“Hey, that’s because it’s uncomfortable. Will you be responsible if I get stuck between you two and turn into a chicken?”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting? You were the only friend I ever had…….”

The sobs intensified.

“You keep making me feel like I’m guilty. Like I took your man away from you!”

Hye-Joo patted Da-Hee’s shoulder with an embarrassed touch.

“It’s not like that, really, it’s just awkward, and I won’t do it again.”

“Then prove it.”

“What.”

“That confession song, who it was for. Seung-won said it wasn’t him. I don’t think that means you like Kang Joo-won. Common sense says so, how can you like someone who’s been in America for years?”

“…….”

“So tell me honestly. Hye-joo, who do you like?”

It was a dead end.

There were only two options: be honest or lie.

‘Should I just tell her?’

But there was nothing to be gained by being honest. The already awkward friendship would be even more awkward, and her work life would be hell.

And crucially, …… was embarrassing. I was shoveling my own snow while two of my supposed best friends were getting so close.

‘It’s better to be a little more modest.’

Da-Hee was quite persistent. If you talked to her, she’d ask you where you met, show you a picture, and get on your case. Hye-joo had to be more careful.

‘Am I going to tell her?’

She racked her brain, pulling out all the men in her memory.

“Hey, stalker.”

Joo-Won emerged from the underground stairwell, his skin as smooth as marble with no trace of red from all his drinking.

?
With each slow step he took, more and more of what had been hidden beneath the stairs was revealed. From his face to his chest, from his waist to his calves. When he took the final step, the full extent of his girth was enough to turn a back alley into a runway.

“Where did you live besides drinking on the side? You’re not doing stalker 101.”

Joo-won walked over and pulled a lighter out of his pocket.

Hye-Joo’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

‘What’s wrong with him? I explained it to you last time.’

He knows what everyone else doesn’t. He knows that my favorite person is Seung-won.

I couldn’t understand why such a person would say such nonsense again.

Just as I was about to ask him why I was stalking him, a light bulb went off.

‘Can I just say Kang Joo-won?’

There were four people who heard her confession song that day.

Of them, only Joo-won heard his true feelings. From the nuances of their speech, it seems that Joo-won still thinks that Hye-joo likes him. It’s a ridiculous situation, but for now, I’m grateful for his axeman.

“This is your chance, Oh Hye-joo.

There was no point in going back when there was a way to end this situation without hurting anyone. Hye-Joo made up her mind and turned to face Joo-Won.

“Why do you keep calling me a stalker? Is everyone who likes someone who isn’t interested in them a stalker?”

Joo-won paused as he lit his cigarette. I can see that he is flustered by this sudden change of heart.

This is kind of creepy.

“Hiccup!”

To my surprise, Da-Hee started hiccupping. Hye-Joo could feel that Da-Hee’s gaze shake like an earthquake.

Hye-joo placed her hands on her hips and looked up at him.

“I’ll talk to you in private, oppa.”

O..oppa……?

Joo-Won’s lips parted at the unfamiliar name.

“Does it feel good to tease you like that?”

“Who are you kidding …….”

“You keep on saying I’m stalker, and it makes me feel bad.”

Joo-Won’s eyes flickered from side to side. He hadn’t expected this from the girl.

‘Okay, we’re almost there.’

Da-Hee seeing them completely convinced, Hye-Joo was relieved.

It’s a bit sad that her unrequited love failed, and now she have to hide it……….

‘If you can protect your friends at the expense of your heart, which is now useless to anyone, then you’ve got a good business, don’t you think?’

Hye-Joo took a deep breath and steeled herself. It was time to drive a wedge.

I can do this. I can do this.

After repeating it ten times in her mind, she rolled her eyes.

“I know I had a crush on you, but I’m over it, and I’m over it clean, clean, clean!”

“Uh…… okay?”

“You’re the guy I confessed to that day!”

“?”