Minjae hung around the office later than he normally would that evening.
Things had gotten real quiet by then. The air conditioning hummed away, taking over where all the talking had been earlier. Half the floor sat in darkness. Monitors were off. Chairs tucked under desks nice and neat. The other half had these soft glows from task lights and screens. Little spots of brightness floating in all that shadow.
He was parked in one of those spots. Shoulders a bit drooped. Eyes stuck on a spreadsheet. Hadn't touched it in like ten minutes. Fingers just hovering over the keys. But his mind wasn't on the numbers at all. It wandered. Got all mixed up with looks and little moves and the way three women were starting to show up more in his days.
Door opened then. Broke the quiet. He half turned. Figured it was the cleaners or some other person working late. Nope. It was Seori.
She came in slow. Heels clicking soft on the floor. Stopped a couple feet from his desk. Arms kinda folded over her chest. Face calm. But on purpose, you know.
"You're not listed for overtime tonight," Minjae said. Voice even. But quieter than usual.
"I know," she said back. Her eyes went to the big window behind him. City lights spilling into the dark sky. Then back to him. "You've been off your game."
His fingers stopped moving over the keys. "I'm always thinking stuff through."
"That's not it," she said. No blame in her voice. Just noticing.
He looked right at her then. Eyes a little curious.
"You've picked up on it," Seori went on. Words coming careful. Like steps across something tricky. "The three of us."
Quiet hung there. Thick. But nobody said it out loud.
"You're not clueless, Minjae. You're just quiet. That's not the same thing."
He leaned back in his chair. Rubbed his temple. Didn't know what to say. "Why tell me this?"
"Because you're the kind who stays silent till it's way too late," she said. "And if nobody talks, we'll just keep going around in circles."
Her words stuck around. There was worry under that steady voice. And for the first time, Minjae got it. She wasn't just saying this for her. She wanted to lighten what he was carrying.
The next day, office noise picked up again. Usual buzz. But to Minjae, everything hit different. Sounds sharper. Looks weighing more.
Didn't spot Yuri till lunch. She showed up in the cafeteria. Tray in hand. Walking straight. Saw him at the corner table. Came over no messing around.
"Can I sit here?" she asked. Voice steady.
He nodded quick.
They ate without much talk for a bit. Forks and spoons clinking. Coworkers chatting all around.
Then Yuri said it. Clear. On purpose. "We talked. All three of us."
Minjae's fork stopped halfway to his mouth.
"We like you," she said. Looking right at him. No backing down. "It's no big secret. But nobody wants to mess things up for the others."
She gave a small smile. Kind of wry. "We're past high school days."
Minjae swallowed. Words not coming easy.
"So," she said softer. "You ever felt that way back about someone?"
He shook his head. Slow.
"Think you could?" Her voice even gentler now.
Eyes dropped to his tray. "I don't know how to do that."
Saying it out loud felt heavy. Heavier than any stack of work he'd handled.
Later that afternoon, Minjae ducked into the copy room for a report. Machine was groaning. Spitting out pages slow. Sound bouncing in the tight space.
Yura was there already. Arms crossed. Staring at the printer like it owed her something.
"You're extra quiet today," she said. Not even looking his way.
"I've been paying attention," Minjae said.
She put her cup down. Turned a little toward him. Eyes sharper. "And?"
"And I don't want to lead any of you on," he said. Words coming out careful.
Her lips twitched into a tiny smile. "That's the first honest thing from you all day."
She moved closer. Her being there filled the quiet.
"You don't need to pick. Don't even have to say anything yet. But if you're drawing a line, make it straight."
"I don't want to hurt you guys," he said.
"Then don't fib. Just be straight. That's how we'll keep respecting each other."
Her words hung on even after the printer stopped.
That night, Minjae ended up on the rooftop. City went on forever down there. Headlights like rivers snaking through streets. Tall buildings shining bright. Like they were keeping watch. Wind pushed at his sleeves. Brought the low hum of the city that never really shut down.
He shut his eyes. Breathed deep.
Could still feel them. Not right there. But in his head. Seori's calm way of calling it out. Yuri being straight up honest. Yura pushing for things to be clear. Each one reaching out her own way.
But when he looked inside, nothing was there to give back.
Not that he didn't feel anything. He did. More than he'd admit.
Just didn't get what it took to open up after keeping that door shut so long.
What would stepping up mean? Risking something not all numbers and breakdowns. But trust. Being open.
Wind pulled at him again. Cool. Like it wanted him to decide.
Minjae opened his eyes. City lights twinkled below. For a second, he pictured it. What stopping the hold back might feel like. Letting someone close.
Then he turned. Night's weight still sitting heavy in his chest. Walked back inside.