ushernet Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Sunwoo immediately left the building. There was a convenience store inside the company, but he needed to make a call too.
The street was packed with buildings of similar height. Sunwoo walked about two blocks away and looked around. The narrow alley between buildings was deserted. It was perfect for a private phone call.
“Hello, this is Han Sujin.”
The call was answered quickly, almost before the ringtone finished. Han Sujin was the family medicine doctor who had told Sunwoo about his pregnancy yesterday.
Han Sujin had given him her phone number, telling him to call if he needed help. Her gaze and tone were full of sympathy.
It seemed she had seriously misunderstood something, but Sunwoo let it be. It might actually be helpful.
“This is Choi Sunwoo, who was admitted yesterday.”
Sunwoo calmly identified himself. A welcoming voice came through the phone.
“Ah! Mr. Choi Sunwoo. Hello! How are you feeling?”
“Not bad. I had some trouble with nausea when smelling food, though.”
“Hmm... It seems morning sickness has started. It’s a symptom that usually appears around 2 months, but it can come 1-2 weeks earlier, so don’t worry.”
Han Sujin kindly explained, thinking Sunwoo had called about morning sickness.
“That’s not why I called.”
“Oh? Is it about other symptoms then?”
“No, it’s not that. I was wondering if anyone had asked about my condition separately?”
“No, no one has. Is there someone who might ask?”
It seemed Director Kang or Secretary Jo, who had been at the hospital, hadn’t said anything, which was a relief.
“Yes. Please keep the pregnancy a secret from now on too.”
“Don’t worry. Given our department, they won’t be too suspicious anyway.”
Han Sujin replied kindly. It made sense. Who would think someone was pregnant when they were treated in family medicine, not obstetrics?
“Thank you. Oh, if anyone asks about my health, please just say I’m sick. And that you can’t disclose symptoms without the patient’s consent.”
Sunwoo made one more request.
“Of course. Protecting patient privacy is a doctor’s duty. If you have any questions or troubles, feel free to contact me anytime.”
Sunwoo acknowledged and ended the call. He put the phone in his pocket and gently rubbed his stomach. Knowing there was life inside made his hand move unconsciously.
‘I think this might become a habit.’
Sunwoo rubbed his stomach once more and left the alley. Now it was time to feed the fetus inside him.
* * *
Sunwoo immediately left the alley. He came to the front of the company building and looked between a cafe and a convenience store before turning towards the convenience store.
Although the cafe sold various things, the convenience store seemed better with its wider variety.
Entering the convenience store, Sunwoo glanced over the triangle kimbap, hot bars, ramen, and boiled eggs. But unable to stomach the idea of eating any of it, he went to the snack aisle.
He suddenly remembered what a pregnant colleague used to eat.
Sunwoo picked up some plain biscuits and cereals that didn’t have strong smells or flavors. On the way to the counter, he hesitated at the freezer before choosing a soft-serve ice cream.
The cool sensation in his palm felt quite nice in the hot weather.
Leaving the convenience store, Sunwoo went straight up in the elevator.
“Oh? Sunwoo, what’s with all the snacks?”
When Sunwoo entered the secretarial office, Secretary Jo asked with a puzzled expression, seeing him with the convenience store bag.
“I just felt like eating something.”
Sunwoo answered, feeling a bit embarrassed and moving the bag to the side.
“Yeah? Is there something for me too?”
Secretary Jo, who had been cold and distant in the morning, asked warmly.
Is it because she wants to eat?
Thinking this, Sunwoo approached Secretary Jo’s desk without hesitation and opened the bag to show her the contents.
“Take your pick.”
At Sunwoo’s words, Secretary Jo looked inside the bag and quickly showed disappointment. It was full of bland biscuits with almost no taste.
“What’s this, it’s all bland and boring. Are you on a diet or something? Why all these dry biscuits? You know biscuits are actually higher in calories, right? This doesn’t help with weight loss.”
Secretary Jo rummaged through the bag half-heartedly and picked out two of the sweeter snacks and the soft-serve ice cream. Sunwoo’s gaze unconsciously followed the ice cream in Secretary Jo’s hand.
“What? Can’t I have this?”
You’re not going to be petty about food, are you? Secretary Jo asked with her eyes, swinging the ice cream left and right. It clearly seemed like she was trying to irritate him on purpose. He didn’t want to react to such transparent behavior.@@@@
He then found something related to Mushin Company while checking the unfinished schedule.
“When Secretary Jo provides the list of meeting places for Mushin Company, check if they can be booked by phone.”
‘Huh...’
Reading the note, it seemed that initially booking the meeting place for Mushin Company was primarily Secretary Jo’s task.
Sunwoo’s role was to call and check availability once Secretary Jo selected a few options.
But Secretary Jo had spoken as if it had been Sunwoo’s responsibility from the beginning.
Sunwoo’s gaze naturally turned to Secretary Jo. Having ended her call, she was now typing on her keyboard while looking at the monitor.
‘He was bullied.’
Though he had only experienced one day, Sunwoo could tell. Secretary Choi didn’t get along well with other employees. No, it wasn’t just not getting along; he seemed to be thoroughly disliked.
From Secretary Jo’s attitude at the hospital yesterday, to the employees’ conversation in the pantry, to deliberately irritating comments when taking ice cream from the convenience store bag, and even the recent rebuke for work that wasn’t explained to him.
A slight smile appeared on Sunwoo’s face as he organized his thoughts.
‘That’s great! Then they’ll be even happier when I say I’m quitting.’
With an even lighter heart, Sunwoo focused on finishing his work.
Time passed quickly, and it was already past 6 PM. Checking discreetly, he found that the secretaries’ quitting time was 6:30 PM.
So now was the perfect timing to make his move.
Sunwoo took out the resignation letter he had carefully stored in the drawer and walked over to Secretary Jo.
“What is it, Sunwoo?”
Secretary Jo, who had been observing Sunwoo subtly all day, asked with curious eyes.
“This.”
“What’s this?”
Secretary Jo opened the paper Sunwoo handed over with an annoyed expression.
Resignation Letter
“Huh?”
Secretary Jo quickly looked up after reading the title. Her eyes widened as if she had seen something unbelievable.
“What’s this?”
“I’m resigning.”
“What? You?”
Secretary Jo’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why so suddenly? You didn’t listen when we told you to quit before?”
Sunwoo was momentarily at a loss for words.
‘It wasn’t just bullying.’
To think he was openly told to quit. Yet he stubbornly kept working, caused trouble, and even shouted at Director Kang yesterday about being sick.
In some ways, Secretary Choi was quite remarkable.
‘What were you thinking...’
Sunwoo mentally addressed the original Secretary Choi. No answer came.
“Something came up.”
I don’t need to mention being sick, right?
“What’s going on, Secretary Choi? Did something really happen? What is it? Don’t tell me... did they say you have a terminal illness at the hospital? Are you dying?”
Secretary Jo suddenly burst out with words.
“What? No, it’s not that serious...”
Sunwoo’s bewildered response made Secretary Jo’s eyes widen even more.
“What? So you really are sick? It wasn’t a lie?”
Secretary Jo seemed to ponder something briefly before speaking again.
“Alright. Secretary Choi, just go home for now. I’ll deliver this to the director.”
Secretary Jo waved her hand, urging Sunwoo to leave. She seemed to have lost interest in Sunwoo already.
“Okay, understood.”
Sunwoo tilted his head but turned around. As if waiting for this, Secretary Jo quickly checked Sunwoo’s retreating figure and turned on her phone.
[Director, Secretary Choi has submitted his resignation letter. It seems...]