Isaac remains standing for a moment after she leaves, fingers lingering on the faint warmth that remained on his palms from her shoulders. Its a strange feeling. He flexes his hand once, as if trying to erase the sensation. Then he clicks his pen twice, sharply, like he's snapping himself back into place.
Outside, Mina slams into her cubicle chair dramatically. Annie leans in. "Dead?" Mina stares blankly ahead, blinking slowly, "…He… explained?"
Everyone in the vicinity slow-turns toward her. Junho slowly lowers his coffee mug. Annie laughs, then casually remarks, "Ah. So he clarified, after all. Thought he might."
Mina squints her eyes, "You KNEW?!"
Annie sips her tea without breaking eye contact, her face has a sly grin. "CEO Henley doesn't touch female employees freely. He strictly keeps distance. It's in the handbook. It was just funny watching you ramble so I didn't say anything hehe."
Mina slowly lowers her head to the desk like a disappointed cat. " You were supposed to be on my side! And there was a handbook?!"
Junho pats her arm sympathetically. "There was orientation." Mina slams the cookie box down. "WHO EVEN READS ORIENTATION MATERIALS?!"
A few chuckles ripple through the office.
Upstairs, Isaac watches her through the glass. She's animated again. Loud. Alive. Dramatic. Back to normal. Good. Things are tidy again. Predictable. He tells himself this.
Then she looks up by coincidence, maybe sensing something. Their eyes meet through the glass. Mina flinches as if she's been shot.
Isaac's brows twitch. He looks away first.
Mina squints her eyes, her lips pout. "What's his deal?", she thinks, before trying to focus back on her work. She'd been assigned to make expenses reports, something she enjoyed. She quietly types away, humming slowly and stapling papers in a rhythm, as if she's in a waltz with it.
Later that day, a cleaning staff comes emptying the shredders. Mina recognizes and smiles at the lady, "Miss Yang! How've you been?" She greets her warmly. The lady smiles, and bows, "I've been well Miss. We enjoyed the cookies you brought us last time."
Mina gives a sly grin and a little thumbs up, making the lady smile in turn. She bows and leaves.
Annie leans in, "You know her name? And gave her cookies?" Mina's face is sort of melancholic, somewhat sad, but still smiling.
"She reminds me of my mom."
Annie pauses at that, watching Mina's easy grin lose a bit of spark. "Your mom?" she asks quietly. Mina never spoke of her personal life in a serious tone, this might be one of those rare times.
Mina nods, still typing as if it's no big deal. "She used to work cleaning offices like this. Different company though. She said the worst part wasn't the work. It was feeling invisible." She smiles, a little too cheerfully, almost too artificially, "So I try to make sure people like her are seen."
Annie stares at her for a moment, then looks away with a small, genuine smile. "You're….weirdly kind, you know that?"
Mina wrinkles her nose. "Weirdly?WEIRDLY?"
"It's a compliment."
"Doesn't sound like one."
They bicker lightly, laughter slipping between the desks like sunlight, before turning to their work again.
Its 8.30 PM when Mina finishes work that day. A little overtime as she wanted finance to have their files first thing tomorrow morning. She walks out the building. It's chilly. It was okay during the day, but she didn't pack a coat. She walks fast, trying to heat up her body, when her phone vibrates in her pocket.
Mom, the screen flashes.
She smiles immediately and picks up, "Eomma!" A warm, slightly raspy voice comes through. "Mina-yah..... I got the money you sent. You didn't have to send so much."
Mina adjusts the phone between her ear and shoulder as she walks. The night breeze brushes past, and she shivers slightly, "Its fine. Use it to buy the heater I told you about, okay? And don't just pretend you got it, I'll come check!"
Her mother sighs, soft and guilty.
"And what about you? You're outside, aren't you? You sound cold. Did you forget to pack your coat?"
Mina laughs, breath fogging in the air as she hugs her briefcase. "I'm wearing three layers. I'm basically a dumpling, mom."
A pause.
"You're lying. Why are you like this, always thinking about others, and so careless with yourself....." her voice softens, " I hope... someone there worries about you. Makes sure you wear jackets. In Seoul… you must feel small."
Mina's steps slow. She looks up at the tall glass building she just left, the Henley Group logo glowing above like a distant constellation.
"I'm okay mama," she says gently. "I have friends. Annie nags me a lot, she's like an older sister. Junho, he's really kind. A bit too polite sometimes but he's so observant."
There's a small smile in her voice.Her mother hums approvingly. "And your CEO? You mentioned him before. The cold one."
Mina's face contorts. "Ugh. Isaac Henley. He's like, idk, a perfectly ironed shirt with feelings ironed out too." Isaac's face flashes through her mind, stern, but there's a strange look of melacholy in his eyes. She shakes her head.
"Is he harsh?"
"No, not harsh," Mina says, scratching her cheek thoughtfully. "He's a good person, just too controlled I guess? Like talking to a wall that signs paychecks. He refused to catch me when I fell because he thought it'd be inappropriate, like what the hell?"
Her mother chuckles at that, a warm gentle sound."Walls like that often hide cracks on the other side. I'm sure he's a good person if you say he is."
Mina rolls her eyes even though she's smiling. "Mom, please don't compare my boss to a metaphor. And yknow about my people radar, better not talk about it. "
"Then tell me honestly, do you like working there?"
The question lingers in the cold air. Mina looks back at the company one last time, where lights still glow in a few windows. She breathes out, a long, warm puff. "Yeah. I do." she smiles.
She reaches the bus stop, and ends her call after bickering with her mother about the heater one last time. She sits by the window, and the citylights flash by her face. The city, and it's people, have been kind to her so far. The night is cold, but her heart is warm.