Born to Be a Secretary

“Executive Director, I’m driving right now, so I put it on speakerphone.”

Heewon answered, looking at the front windshield. Though he boldly took the call, he couldn’t help but feel tense knowing there were ears listening from behind.
How’s the company dinner?
“Just finished. I’m on my way taking Secretary Song and Secretary Lee home.”

Heewon quickly reported that there were passengers. A preemptive warning before Kwon could start scolding.
……
A brief silence followed. Everyone in the car was on edge when Kwon sighed deeply and spoke.

How long will it take?
Heewon’s eyes flicked briefly to the navigation and away. They had to go via Sangam-dong and then Yeouido. Calculating the route and time mentally, he answered.
“Should take about an hour and a half with some margin.”

Stop by home briefly after finishing.
Kwon’s tone was calm — the usual Executive Director tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. Heewon finally relaxed the tension he’d been holding. Unconsciously stretching his sweaty hands, he gripped the steering wheel again.
“Yes, I’ll contact you again before departure.”

Just as he smoothly replied and was about to end the call, Secretary Song suddenly thrust her face between the driver and passenger seats.
“Why! What are you trying to do by calling him home again!”
Heewon paused at her sudden outburst; Secretary Lee covered her face in shock.

“Oh my! What’s gotten into her? She must be crazy!”
“They’re going to kiss again!”
Secretary Song wildly gestured at the phone, shouting loudly. It was too shocking to dismiss as drunken nonsense.

By then, Heewon’s eyes started shaking noticeably. At the lowered glance, the still-active call screen was visible. Usually, the caller hung up first, so why was Kwon still holding the phone?
He frantically hammered the end call button. Even after the call ended, his heart kept pounding wildly. Swallowing hard, Heewon forced out a calm voice.
“Secretary Song is really drunk.”
Secretary Lee took over to look after Secretary Song. The latter was restless with so much to say, bouncing and trying to escape. Secretary Lee forced her to sit back down and straightened her head.

“Secretary Song! Yumi! Pull yourselves together! Do you even know what nonsense you’re talking?”
After the brief commotion, Secretary Song’s hair was disheveled. She murmured with heavy eyelids.
“Secretary Lee doesn’t know the dark side… but I saw it, all of it… they kiss a lot… like nonstop.”

Secretary Song clasped her hands shaped like a beak. Her gesture was cute, but the hand motions mimicking kissing were quite lewd.
“Director, I’m against this. Don’t meet Executive Director… ha, how can you handle that… isn’t it scary? Won’t your heart burst?”
Her rambling filled the quiet car. Secretary Lee was half dazed, and Heewon bit his lip while staring out the windshield.

At that moment, Secretary Song’s phone vibrated loudly. She fumbled to find it inside her bag.
Executive Director Kwon
Seeing the clearly displayed name on the screen, Secretary Song gasped sharply, breathing unevenly.

Her hands holding the phone trembled. Though drunk, she knew Executive Director Kwon was scary.
“Ugh, what do I do? I can’t answer this… Secretary Lee, please answer it for me.”
When the phone with Kwon’s name came over, Secretary Lee jumped back in fright.

“No way! I can’t!”
“Please answer… just once, save me.”
“I’m scared too! Let Secretary Song {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} answer! It’s her phone!”

The two kept shoving the phone back and forth, screaming as if it were a bomb. The call did not drop and seemed to continue until someone picked up.
Heewon couldn’t bear it any longer and reached back with his right hand.
“Give it to me.”

The whining phone finally landed in his hand. Heewon pulled over to the side and answered.
“Yes, Executive Director. No, it’s just… Secretary Song is very drunk. Sorry. I’ll take responsibility….”
Though no one could see, he bowed repeatedly, apologizing. At moments like this, all he wanted was to give up and run away. How was he going to fix this… Overwhelmed, he pressed around his eyes.

After the call ended, looking back, Secretary Song had already fallen asleep, and Secretary Lee was giving a knowing look. Heewon hid his mixed feelings and handed back the phone.
“You know it’s nonsense, right?”
“Of course. Who believes drunk nonsense?”

No way it’s true—Executive Director and Director? My hand on my heart. Secretary Lee laughed incredulously the more she thought about it. Heewon smiled faintly and turned his upper body straight.
I can’t take it. My conscience is shredded.
Time flows regardless of one’s circumstances. After the weekend passed, Monday came as usual, and Executive Director Kwon’s office was busy as ever.

Even after the weekend, office workers’ faces were still strained. Heewon stood in a corner, surveying the busy office.
Fortunately, Secretary Lee seemed completely unconcerned about the recent incident. On the other hand, Secretary Song’s eyes were hollow.
Heewon had briefly spoken to her over the weekend. She was overwhelmed, apologizing repeatedly, saying she must have been crazy. Heewon soothed her well. He felt sorry too. Who could feel comfortable carrying a secret alone? Secretary Song must have been suffering silently all along.

The problem was that since that day, Heewon had been more cautious around the secretaries. Afraid they might find out about his relationship with Executive Director Kwon.
He became careful with every move when with Kwon, worried about raising suspicion.
When Heewon suggested that Kwon should be more careful in front of the secretaries, Kwon replied,

‘You mind your own business.’
It was a typical cold reply from Kwon.
“Anyone have reports for the Executive Director? I’m about to enter the office.”

He was unusually forthcoming about his whereabouts even now. When had he ever asked before entering? Doing this dozens of times a day made Heewon’s feet numb. Fortunately, none of the secretaries cared; all were busy with their work.
Only Secretary Song peeked from behind the partition, looking downcast and raising a hand.
“I have this…”

“Just relay it?”
“Yes.”
A leather-bound file was passed into Heewon’s hands. Secretary Song kept glancing nervously toward the office.

She still seemed scared. She had yelled at Kwon after drinking… If only she’d blacked out. Unfortunately, she remembered every mistake.
Heewon ignored it and took the file inside the office. Sunlight from the morning filtered in as Kwon sat upright, absorbed in work. He did not look at Heewon, focusing solely on his tasks.
He carefully laid out the files Heewon brought. Heewon’s eyes darted busily. Checking the desk, watching the secretaries beyond the glass window, his gaze went up and down without rest.

In the process, his hand inevitably brushed against Kwon’s as he reached to take the files. Though only slight contact, Heewon’s shoulder jolted as if shocked.
Kwon slowly twisted his upper body and glanced indifferently at the secretary wobbling beside him.
“Did you sin?”

“No… I just touched your hand.”
“So what if you touched my hand? You think someone would suspect something between you and me?”
“Executive Director, please watch your words…”

Startled, Heewon reached toward Kwon’s mouth. The offhand tone was shocking.
But before his hand could cover Kwon’s mouth, it was caught. A strong grip pressed Heewon’s wrist down, slamming his palm onto the desk. Kwon stared with an unreadable look while holding Heewon’s hand firmly on the desk.
“Don’t put your hands on other people’s faces.”

“……”
“Are you doing this because you want to be scolded?”
Despite the cold tone, a smile lingered on Kwon’s face. Lately, Kwon’s smiles had become oddly frequent and generous. It looked suspicious. Heewon tightly closed his eyes to hide his trembling.

“I hope you behave. What would you do if someone saw? You’re just asking for misunderstandings.”
“I think Kim Secretary worries too much.”
“……”

“Watch your expression. Stop wearing that lustful face all year round.”
Who, me?