Kim Se-hyun’s Man (3)

“Mmm, mm-hmm.”

Leaving work early—three hours earlier than the usual scheduled time, at that—was enough to make anyone feel like they were floating on air.

After a thorough wash, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist to find the living room spotless. I nodded to myself in satisfaction.

I felt a little sorry for the Association, but I truly hoped days like this would happen more often. With a small chuckle, I went to my room, changed into pajamas, and began drying my damp hair.

Ding—

“Who is it?”

Sadly, I didn’t exactly have anyone who would contact me at this hour. On any other day, I would have dismissed it as spam, but not today. Worried that a dungeon might have appeared, I scrambled for my phone, reaching into the coat hanging on the rack where the notification sound had originated.

If it were spam, the messages wouldn’t be coming in succession like this. I feared something major had happened. I opened the message box immediately to find texts from an unknown number. After a brief hesitation, I checked them.

[Ha-neul-ssi (✧˃ロ˂)੭♥] 75

[..Ha-neul-ssi?( •᷄⌓•᷅ )?] 76

[Ha-neul-ssi, do you not check your phone often? ¸◕ˇ‸ˇ◕˛??] 77

“…Who is this?”

If my name hadn’t been in there, I would have thought it was a phishing text. Then again, if my number had been leaked, the owner’s name likely leaked with it.

As I stared at the messages with suspicious eyes, the notification count surpassed eighty. I checked the content immediately.

[You checked the message! Ha-neul-ssi! _〆(ﾟ▽ﾟ*)!!!]

If it were spam or phishing, they wouldn’t have waited for me to check it. Was it an acquaintance I hadn’t saved yet? I cautiously sent a reply.

[Excuse me, but who is this?]

[Ha-neul-ssi!!!! ٩(♥ ˘ ³˘)chu(˘︶˘♥).｡.:♡]

[Did you get home safe? (๑ Ỡ ◡ Ỡ๑)ﾉ♡]

[˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚ I was worried something might have happened on your way home ˃̣̣̣̣̣̣︿˂̣̣̣̣̣̣]

[(ꈍ⌓ꈍ✿) Actually, the reason I visited the Hunter Department today wasn’t because of the cooperation fee (｡ì_í｡)]

[It was because I wanted to have dinner with you, Ha-neul-ssi ( ´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥` )]

“Ah.”

The mention of the cooperation fee brought to mind the guest I had met on my way out today. I watched the messages pour in rapidly.

[•̀ㅅ•́ I heard there’s some trouble within your department (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)]

[I can help you ᕙ( ︡’︡益’︠)ง ᕙ( ︡’︡益’︠)ง]

[I’m good at breaking things ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ]

[Thinking about how you looked out for me last time ( ♥˘ ³˘(˘︶˘♥).｡.:*]

[I could even pluck the stars from the sky for you (๑＞ڡ＜)☆]

“Haha.”

Even so, saying he’d pluck the stars from the sky was a bit much.

There hadn’t been any grand reason behind reaching out to the guest that day. I simply thought it was better to share the food than to throw it away. Though, I suppose I did offer because his loudly growling stomach was pitiable.

“…….”

Anyway, I wondered how every single message could have a different emoticon. The thought that he might be making the exact same faces as the emoticons made me laugh more than anything. My fingers moved across the screen as I chuckled.

[Thank you for your concern. Feel free to stop by whenever you have business at the Hunter Department. I can’t offer you a full meal, but I’ll definitely brew you some coffee.]

[Are you going to brew the coffee yourself, Ha-neul-ssi? (灬ºωº灬)♡]

[Yes. It’s my responsibility.]

I was the one in charge of the Hunter Association’s cooperation fees. Therefore, it was only right that I handle the guest who came to collect Hunter Kim Se-hyun’s fees as well.

[Coffee brewed by Ha-neul-ssi (｡・‧̫・｡).*＊♡]

[I want to drink it right now but =͟͟͞͞ =͟͟͞͞ ﾍ( ´Д`)ﾉ (☍﹏⁰)｡]

[I’ll hold back until tomorrow since visiting now would be a burden ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚]

[I can come for coffee tomorrow, right? ((๑✧ꈊ✧๑))???]

[Of course.]

Since he hadn’t collected the fee today, it was natural for him to come tomorrow. Even if it was the building right next door, it still took effort to make the trip. I felt a bit bad that he had already taken the time to stop by today. I sent one more message.

[You can come early.]

[✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:( ͡ꈍ ͜ʖ ͡ꈍ ):･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧]

“He’s cute.”

Perhaps because of his handsome looks, the gap was enormous.

I tried to press my lips together, but the tickling sensation in my chest wouldn’t go away. I sat on the edge of the bed and scrolled through the messages that had arrived earlier.

“…….”

Looking at the messages sent with all those emoticons, it felt as though the guest was trying his best to get on my good side.

I knew it was likely a delusion, but I couldn’t understand why my heart was racing so much. And what was this feeling, like my fondness for the guest was growing by leaps and bounds?

I was savoring the fluttering feeling when I froze upon seeing the time.

“Oh no.”

I had the luxury of time to exchange messages because I’d left early, but the guest was likely still at work. I hadn’t realized it wasn’t even six o’clock yet.

He might be sending these messages in between his tasks at the Association. I wrapped up the conversation by leaving a message saying I’d see him tomorrow, then turned off the screen.

“…….”

Perhaps because we had been laughing and chatting until just a moment ago, it felt strangely lonely once the messages stopped. I turned the phone back on to save the guest’s number, only to realize I’d forgotten something important.

“…I still haven’t asked for his name.”

Come to think of it, we hadn’t properly introduced ourselves yet. I considered asking for his name via text, but I didn’t want to be a distraction. After simply saving him as ‘Guest,’ I resumed drying my hair.

Ding—

“Hm?”

Just as I was nearly finished with my hair, the silent phone rang again. Checking the message, I saw he had asked for my age. I blinked and answered honestly.

[I’m twenty-eight.]

[∑( ◦д⊙)‼ Twenty-eight? I thought you’d be younger than me ૮・ﻌ・ა]

[ღ˘◡˘ற♡.｡oO But I’m glad. It’s a perfect age gap where we wouldn’t even need a matchmaker ❤︎⁄⁄꒰* ॢꈍ◡ꈍ ॢ꒱.*˚‧]

[I’ll call you Ha-neul-i Hyung from now on ( つ’-’)╮—̳͟͞͞♡]

[Uh, ‘Hyung’ is a bit…]

The time we had known each other was too short to be called ‘Hyung.’ Moreover, considering the guest’s position and mine, becoming too close felt a bit awkward.

“…….”

But there was a bigger problem than that.

There was no reason for my heart to race this much just because I was called ‘Hyung.’ My heart, oblivious to my turmoil, was busy pounding mercilessly. I placed a hand over my chest and swallowed hard at the messages that continued to arrive.

[(¬◡¬)✧ Then should I call you Hyung-ah?]

[Hyung-ah feels more friendly and nice than Hyung (•⚗৺⚗•)]

[(૭ ᐕ)૭✧ Ha-neul-i Hyung-ah (૭ ᐕ)૭ ♥♥♥]

‘Hyung-ah’ was too much. I corrected him immediately.

[Just call me Hyung.]

[Are you shy? Hyung-ah (ˊo̴̶̷̤///ᴗ///o̴̶̷̤ˋ)]

[…Hyung is better.]

Any more than this was impossible.

If a grown man—one significantly taller than me, at that—called me ‘Hyung-ah,’ it was only normal to feel a sense of rejection. However, my current state seemed far from normal.

My heart was showing such a turbulent reaction that I wondered if it could possibly beat any faster. Terrified I might actually faint, I pushed firmly for ‘Hyung,’ and felt a wave of relief when I saw him finally settle on it.

“Sigh.”

If nothing else, that ‘Hyung-ah’ comment was too powerful. I let out a series of sighs, but then I grew worried when the messages stopped.

“…….”

I didn’t want to believe it, but I’d heard that Kim Se-hyun was very fixated on money. Being fixated on money meant he would likely squeeze every bit of efficiency out of his employees’ wages. Worried that the guest might have been caught texting, I moved my fingers quickly.

[I have some things to do. I think we should stop messaging now.]

[Shall I help you, Ha-neul-i Hyung? ( ˘ ³˘(◡‿◡˶)]

[No, I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow then.]

[Contact me anytime you need help. I’m always ready to take your call, Ha-neul-i Hyung (ง •̀ω•́)ง✧]

[I’m really good at my job! I can do even better if it’s for you, Ha-neul-i Hyung (ˊᵒ̴̶̷̤ ꇴ ᵒ̴̶̷̤ˋ)و]

[Just leave anything to me! ٩(๑•̀o•́๑)و]

I read his message about having quite a bit of influence and how I should let him know if there were any uncomfortable situations, then I flipped the phone over and set it down on the bed.

If I sent a reply saying I understood, the messages would probably never end. Right, it would be better for the guest’s remaining workload if I didn’t check the phone anymore.

“…….”

Perhaps because I’d enjoyed the exchange, the lingering regret was strong. I fidgeted with the phone for a moment before hardening my resolve.

There was plenty of time, even if it wasn’t right now. Right—we had exchanged numbers and even texted, so there would be more opportunities like this in the future.

Growl.

“Should I eat?”

My stomach signaled for me to stop messaging. Rubbing my belly, I stood up and headed straight for the kitchen.

“Officer Yeon, you look very tired today.”

“…I had some trouble sleeping. I would have been late if you hadn’t come by, Deputy Team Leader. Thank you.”

It was lucky that I commuted with the Deputy Team Leader; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid being incredibly late. The Deputy Team Leader, finding it strange that I hadn’t come out to wait, had rung the doorbell to wake me up. As the Hunter Department office came into view, I took a deep breath to rouse my hazy mind.

“Whew.”

I shouldn’t let it show this much just because I stayed up a bit. Since I’d already burdened the Deputy Team Leader, it was only right that I stay sharp for the rest of the day. As soon as I followed him into the office, I saw the team members who had already arrived. I greeted them energetically.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning.”

“Youngest, you don’t seem to be in peak condition today?”

“Ah.”

I’d tried not to let it show, but I didn’t expect to be caught so soon. I rubbed my cheek and let out an awkward laugh.

“I just had some trouble sleeping.”

“You look like it.”

“Haha.”

It seemed I was making it very obvious. The drowsiness that hit me the moment I sat down and unpacked was no joke. I immediately stood up and spoke.

“Anyone want coffee?”

“You drink it, youngest.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Pass.”

On any other day, they were people who would have asked for a morning coffee. Seeing everyone pass today, I looked at the team members, but everyone I made eye contact with avoided my gaze. I sensed something strange.

“…….”

I usually needed at least five hours of sleep for my brain to function properly, but the current situation was strange enough to be felt even if I had stayed up all night. Observing my surroundings was important, but waking up was more urgent right now. After draining a cup of coffee at the water dispenser, I prepared another and returned to my seat.

It was strange.

It was far too strange.

The Team Leader was fumbling through documents he usually wouldn’t even look at, the officers were busy fiddling with their phones, and the Deputy Team Leader was preparing for the day as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

If I only looked at the Deputy Team Leader, there was nothing odd, but the movements of the other four were unnatural—far too unnatural.

The sight of the four of them continuing their awkward movements while even exchanging signals couldn’t have been more suspicious. I watched them with bleary eyes until the 9:00 AM notification sounded, and I started my computer.

“…….”

I was curious about what they were doing, but the day had only just begun. I could find out over time. After logging into the cooperation fee server, I looked toward the Team Leader.

“No morning meeting today.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood.”

“…….”

Even when there was nothing to say, he had always held a meeting, so this too was strange. I couldn’t quite hide my discomfort. I held up my paper cup to cover my mouth, and the scent of coffee wafting past my nose was wonderful.

I want to just sleep like this while smelling the coffee…

I was squinting my eyes, intoxicated by the scent, but only for a moment. Before I could even finish reviewing yesterday’s work, the entrance door opened. I lifted my head and my eyes flew wide as I spotted a figure dressed in a sharp, grey Glen check suit.

“…….”

He had been flashy yesterday, but today was incomparable. My mouth fell open at the sight of him not only in the grey Glen check suit but also wearing black clubmaster glasses. The guest was walking straight toward me. My heart beat as if it were about to explode.

Before I knew it, the guest had reached my side. I stared up at him vacantly, then blinked at the words that followed.

“Hyung, you must have had a hard time because you couldn’t sleep properly all night on account of me. Are you holding up okay?”