Chapter 69. I Need You (10)

Translator: Aura

“I’m trying really hard, you know?”

“Huh…?”

“Ha.”

Lee Seob’s eyes sharply rose,

“You really don’t know? Do you want me to tell you? I could hug you and kiss you right now. From the moment I open my eyes until the moment I close them, whether I see your face or not, I think about it dozens of times a day. It’s what I want most.”

“Sir!”

“Yes, since I’m your boss I can only, uh, clench my teeth.”

They weren’t close to the company, but not too far either. Minkyung quickly looked around and took a step back.

‘If anyone sees us in this situation…’

Her heartbeat was so loud that it even buzzed in her ears. Lee-Seob shook his head.

“Damn…”

He raised his hand and rubbed his face,

“This can’t go on like this. I’ve been working very hard for the last two weeks, to the point where I couldn’t move a finger and almost fainted from exhaustion. I pushed myself to the limit, went from one place to another without rest, prayed to a god I don’t even believe in, and meditated. I can’t take it anymore.”

Lee-Seob wrinkled his brow. He spat out the words so fast she couldn’t catch them all. Only the pain in his expression was clear.

“I will resign. You won’t have to be close to me anymore! I’m fed up with the company. Why am I the one who has to deal with the disastrous fashion division?! Fuck it! Fuck it!”

Lee-Seob turned around and walked up the stairs. Minkyung stared blankly at his back for a moment, then began to follow him.

She ran up to catch up with him. She thought at first to call him, ‘Mr. Representative,’ but reached out and grabbed Lee-Seob by the arm. Lee-Seob’s eyes were red as he looked back.

“… Why are you stopping me?”

“So, is it over?”

“…”

Minkyung took a deep breath,

“You said you were my boss! What kind of boss would give up at the slightest obstacle?”

She wanted to keep her composure, but her emotions were out of control, like a wounded wild animal.

“What about me? Do you think you’re the only one who tries hard?”

Lee-Seob asked in a calmer voice.

“What effort do you make?”

“I have always tried hard. From the first time I saw you at the training center that day, I wanted to look good… I knew you wouldn’t like it at first, but I still did my best since I became your secretary. To be liked, to do well. How much, how much I’ve tried…”

Her eyes became moist, as if she was about to shed tears. Lee-Seob looked away for a moment and smiled bitterly,

“It’s okay, I’m a whiner. That’s what you mean.…”

“No! I’m not comparing what I’ve experienced these past eleven years to the last two weeks. You are the one who really knows how hard it was. It would not have been easy for anyone.”

Lee-Seob’s expression slowly changed. He looked at her intently, as if he could read her inner thoughts in her eyes.

Instinctively, Minkyung turned her head. Once she cleared her emotions and thoughts, she looked at him,

“Still, you must not give up. Sir, think about the people who work for you…”

“Kang Minkyung.”

Lee-Seob focused on her eyes again,

“Don’t quit the company.”

“…”

“Continue to work as my secretary. I need you.”

Suddenly, she felt a lump in her throat. Minkyung bowed her head and barely responded,

“Thank you.”

“I want to have you by my side.”

Minkyung looked up,

“I’ll be there happily.”

His fingers ran along the collar of Minkyung’s blazer.

“See you tomorrow.”

Her recent efforts were futile. All that she had locked up in her heart suddenly overflowed.

On the way home, Minkyung held onto the subway handle and stared at her face reflected in the black window.

— I want to have you by my side.

— I’ll be there happily.

Minkyung couldn’t get that out of her head. She wasn’t so dull that she didn’t understand what he meant. Her face heated up and her heart raced.

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