Dry Monsoon

Two cups of ice coffee were placed on a huge conference table where 20 people could sit comfortably. There was some condensation along the surface of the plastic cups that appeared to just have been bought from the coffee shop downstairs. Joo Hae-in handed over some napkins before the water droplets could touch the table.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Miss Lee Ji-Eun, you are very beautiful.”

When I hear such a pretence, I am always worried about what to express. Instead of answering, I smiled brightly and picked up a cup of coffee. Joo Hae-in was a man who appeared sharp and gave off a good impression overall. In addition, I felt a little bit of possible mysophobia and obsessive tendencies from him.

Wearing a business suit, he placed a thick portfolio and a printed resume of mine on the table. As he read over my history with his head leaned over, he smiled gently.

“Over time you’ve gotten better in your career, and your résumé has improved a lot it seems.”

“I had a lot of opportunities. Half of the work was overseas, and a half was domestic.”

“That seems to be so. Oh, the Korean hospital built in Venezuela was really a piece of art. I remember this project.”

“The reconstruction work was very difficult.”

We both laughed as if we were sharing some old memories. After scanning over my portfolio with satisfaction, he stared at me with his chin resting in his palm.

“Our office has a very free environment. All employees are treated fairly and equally. In the case of project collaborations, the base salary and performance bonus will be added together, and the total payment is calculated according to the scale of the project. Furthermore, our office doesn’t have as many regulations as SIN. There’s no hierarchy. There’s me as the representative and two designers, and most of the others collaborate frequently. Of course, the assistance is enough.”

Just as CEO Shin had said, Joo Hae-in was a very interesting architect. I felt a subtle uplifting feeling as I recalled Hae-in’s work I had searched up before coming. A boss who looked forward to the future more than the present. Or rather, a senior. I had a good feeling about the different atmosphere here than at SIN.

“I want to be a good partner with Miss Lee Ji-Eun.”

I was surprised by what he said, I gave him a bright smile and nodded my head in approval.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Then, when should we decide on the first day of work?”

I paused for a moment. Joo Hae-in leaned closer as he waited for my answer.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to join you right after the turnover, but I was requested to do a personal commission. If possible, I’d like to officially begin work after I’ve completed my current work in the form of a probationary period… Is that possible?”

“A probation? Hmm… Not having an assistant, but rather a designer as a trainee.”

“It won’t take long.”

Joo Hae-in pushed back his chair and opened the console behind the table, pulling out a handful of candy. He laughed saying he had quit smoking, and popped a candy into his mouth, rolling it from side to side.

“Apparently, I heard that the Red Dot Award winner was designed by Miss Lee Ji-Eun?”

My face hardened slightly at the unexpected words. Hae-in shrugged and handed me candy as well.

“The rumours have already spread. Lim Soo-wan has done more than just one or two things behind CEO Shin’s back. By any chance, did you decide to change jobs because of that?”

I bit my lip slightly and said,

“I can’t say it’s completely unrelated, but it didn’t play a big role. I was planning to leave anyway.”

“Ah… Then, what about your personal commission request?”

“I can’t tell you because it’s related to my family. But if granting my request is seen as preferential treatment, I’ll come back with my portfolio after I’ve finished the work. I think it might take about three months.”

“No, there’s no need for that. I won’t forget you Lee Ji-Eun. Don’t you see why we’re still the only two in the office?”

Hae-in smiled brightly and looked at me with his legs crossed. His expression seemed to radiate a bit of joy like something exciting was happening. Only then did I slightly raise my shoulders as I leisurely glanced around the office.

“I don’t know.”

“We have loose company regulations. You can come into the office when you want to work, or you can also work from home if you want. This office is mostly a renting place. Most of the time, you will meet the client in person, so you can manage your schedule appropriately. I trust you. This time, it can’t be helped. However, from the next commission request, we’ll proceed through the company. It will be helpful to build trust.”

With a smile full of trust, he stretched out his hand. I shook it without hesitation.

After drawing up the employment contract and engaging in some casual talk, I returned to the old office. Perhaps because I had spent a pleasant time with Joo Hae-in, I felt that the atmosphere in the office was strained.

When I handed over my work to a third-year assistant in Design Team 2, I felt deep down how it felt not to be loved anymore.

As Lim Soo-wan had asked me to do earlier, I deleted the six-year records one by one, and my lingering feelings of regret gradually washed away.

***

“Whose car is that? Your lover? Does Lee Ji-Eun have a boyfriend?”

I declined Director Ko’s offer to treat me and found Secretary Kim’s car waiting for me in the front of the office. I instantly felt relieved inside. I would have been in trouble again if Kwon Lee-Hyun had come in person. Good that he didn’t show up.

“It’s not a boyfriend, it’s an acquaintance. Then, I’ll be leaving first. Let’s have a meal on the last day, alright? The day I officially leave the company.”