Back at his desk, Kiyonari flipped open the pocketbook. The handwriting inside was neat, almost meticulous.
[Director Je prefers cold coffee than hot ones. He hates sweets. Never schedule meetings past 9 p.m. Always prepare two backup pens. Avoid talking too much during car rides. If he doesn't touch the meal, don't ask why.]
Page after page was filled with similar notes—some practical, others cryptic. One line even caught him off guard: Don't look him directly in the eyes too long. You'll regret it.
Kiyonari exhaled softly. What kind of secretary wrote this...? He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to memorize as much as he could and those that actually makes sense to him.
[Never mention personal matters unless he speaks first.]
[He despises incompetence—but notices effort, even if unpolished.]
Kiyonari quietly blinked. If he really did noticed their effort even if it was unpolished work, would they be fired like that? I don't think this is true.
[Warning: Don't mistake his silence for approval.]
He smirked knowingly. See? I knew it.
Kiyonari skimmed through the pages, eyebrows knitting as he absorbed each line. So much detail... whoever wrote this must have known the director well.
Before he could dive further, the telephone beside him suddenly rang. Kiyonari jolted, quickly picking up and pressing the button.
"Come in here, Kihyun." The director's voice cut sharply through the receiver. It wasn't a request—it was an order.
Kiyonari swallowed, closed the pocketbook, and rose from his seat. "Yes, sir," he murmured, before heading toward Soo-hyun's office.
Kiyonari did not waste any time and obliged, stepping briskly inside the office. He stood with his back straight, facing the desk where his boss sat.
"Is there something you need, sir?" He asked politely.
Soo-hyun didn't bother to meet his eyes. His gaze stayed fixed on the neat stacks of paperwork, fingers flipping through documents without pause.
"Cancel my lunch schedule—get me a coffee instead," he said flatly.
Kiyonari's ears sharpened at the order, mentally locking it in place.
"No sugar, so get me an Americano. A big one. And don't forget to pick up the jewelry I pre-ordered yesterday. Also, run a few copies of this."
He slid a brown envelope across the desk without lifting his head.
Kiyonari glanced down at it, already calculating the string of errands piling onto his shoulders. With a deep breath, he took the envelope carefully into his hands and bowed.
"Understood, sir."
As he turned to leave, determination hardened in his chest. Let's do this. No mistakes this time, Kiyonari.
He strode out of the office, clutching the envelope tightly. His first stop was the jewelry store
Kiyonari strode out of the office, clutching the envelope tightly. His first stop was the café across the street. The aroma of roasted beans hit him as he ordered quickly, repeating Soo-hyun's exact preference in his head.
"No sugar, large Americano," he reminded himself, almost glaring at the cup to make sure it was right before leaving.
Next, he headed to the jewelry store. The clerk recognized the order at once and presented a sleek black case. Kiyonari carefully checked the receipt before tucking it under his arm.
Finally, he stopped by the print room inside the building. He double-checked the papers inside the envelope, ran the copies cleanly, and stacked them with precision.
Kiyonari checked his wristwatch as he strode down the busy street. Only a few minutes left. His pulse quickened at the thought of Soo-hyun waiting, his patience surely thin as paper. He lengthened his stride, weaving through people with no time to waste.
By the time he pushed through the glass doors of Soojin Corporation, his chest was tight with urgency. Just a little more—he thought—just reach the elevator.
But then—
BAM!
Someone collided with him hard. The paper cup in his hand jolted, and the steaming coffee splashed across his crisp white shirt and his skin beneath. The heat stung, but the shock froze him in place. His envelope slipped from his grip, scattering down on the marble floor.
A sharp gasp cut the air. "I'm so sorry!" a familiar voice cried.
Kiyonari blinked, eyes lifting slowly to meet the face of the man who had bumped into him. His heart jolted. It was him—the same boy from yesterday's elevator.
The boy bent quickly, snatching up the envelope with trembling hands, his expression riddled with guilt. "I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to bump into you—"
Kiyonari glanced at the brown stain spreading across his sleeve, his chest tightening at the thought of facing Soo-hyun like this. His jaw clenched, but he forced his voice calm.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
"What? But—your shirt—it's burned! At least let me—" the boy reached out with a handkerchief, dabbing frantically at the stain.
Kiyonari caught his wrist gently but firmly. "It's okay. Really, I'll be fine."
"But—"
"I should apologize too, for not paying attention." He adjusted his clothes, ignoring the sting beneath the fabric, then reclaimed the envelope from the boy's hand with a polite nod.
Without another word, he turned and walked briskly toward the elevator, leaving the boy frozen behind him, worry still etched across his face.
The boy's voice followed faintly. "But your burn..."
Kiyonari kept walking, not daring to stop.
He forced himself into the elevator, his pulse hammering against his temples. The damp sting of the coffee under his suit was nothing compared to the weight pressing in his chest. He clenched the envelope tighter.
Calm down, just hand in the documents.
But the moment he entered the executive office, the atmosphere shifted. Soo-hyun's sharp eyes immediately landed on him, scanning the stain on his shirt, then the cup-less hand.
"You're late." His voice was cold, clipped.
Kiyonari bowed quickly. "My apologies, sir. There was an—"
"And my coffee?" Soo-hyun's gaze narrowed like a blade.
Kiyonari stiffened, lips parting with hesitation. "I... It spilled."
Silence.
Then a loud slam—the director's palm striking his desk. "Not only were you late, you even came back without my coffee."
"..."
"Can't you do anything right, Mr. Soo?!"
The words cracked through the air like thunder.
Kiyonari jolted, his fists curling at his side as he bowed again, deeper this time. "I'm truly sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
"Sorry doesn't fix my schedule. Sorry doesn't bring back the time you wasted."
Soo-hyun's tone was merciless, each word sinking deep. "If you're this incompetent, then you're noting but useless."
Kiyonari bit the inside of his cheek, the urge to defend himself clawing in his chest—but he swallowed it. Raising his head slightly, his eyes steadied with resolve.
"I understand, sir. I'll make sure none of this won't happen again."
Soo-hyun's sharp gaze lingered on him, testing his sincerity. Finally, he scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a wave of dismissal.
"Get out of my sight. And get yourself cleaned up. I don't want my secretary looking like a complete mess."
"Yes, Director Je." Kiyonari bowed once more, retreating toward the door, his chest heavy but his steps steady.
The moment he left, Soo-hyun's eyes drifted back to the stain in his memory. His jaw tightened.
"That man..." He muttered under his breath. "I can't believe I expected him to do anything right...!"
"Just how clumsy can he be?"
*****
Inside the bathroom, Kiyonari stood at the sink, dabbing the stubborn coffee stain with a damp towel he's grabbed from his desk drawer.
No matter how much he pressed, the brown marks only blurred into messy patches.
He sighed, leaning heavily against the sink, both hands braced on its edge. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him—rumpled, stained, and frustrated.
Just when I swore I'd do better this time... this had to happen. He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief second.
The sound of the door opening pulled him out of his thoughts. When he turned his head, his eyes widened slightly. It was the same person from earlier—the one who had bumped into him.
The boy hesitated at the doorway, then walked close, fidgeting nervously with something in his hands.
"Um..." He extended a neatly folded white shirt toward him. His voice carried a mix of guilt and sincerity. "I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to bump into you."
Kiyonari blinked, caught off guard. "Eh?" His gaze dropped to the cloth.
"Here," the boy said, holding it out. "You can change into this."
"Ah—no, it's alright. Really, I'm fine. It was just an accident. I was at fault too, honestly. I can't possibly accept something like this."
But the boy's eyes lit with urgency as he insisted, "Please...! It's a spare one I bought by mistake. It's too big for me anyway. You can wear it instead. Besides..." His tone softened but carried a knowing weight. "The director doesn't want you walking around with a stain on your clothes, right?"
Kiyonari froze at that, caught off guard by how accurately he hit the mark.
"... Yes, but still—wait... you..."
The boy smiled faintly, almost sheepish but kind. "Of course I know. Everyone already does. You're Director Je's new secretary. It's been almost a week since you started, hasn't it?"
Kiyonari stared at him, the tension in his shoulders loosening just a fraction.
He eventually gave in. With a quiet sigh, he accepted the shirt. "Alright... if you insist."
After changing into it, he stepped out of the bathroom. To his surprise, the white long shirt sleeve fitted flawlessly, as though it had been tailored for his frame. The dark fabric sharpened his posture, giving him a more refined, professional look than before.
Waiting outside, the boy's eyes widened slightly at the sight of him.
"It suits you, Mr. Soo," he said with a soft smile.
Kiyonari felt a faint warmth creep up his cheeks. He gave a shy grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thank you... um..."
The boy blinked, then chuckled at his own oversight. "Oh, right. Where are my manners?" He straightened his posture politely. "My name is Kang Yiseo. From the Marketing Department."
"Nice to meet you." Kiyonari dipped his head in gratitude. "I'm Soo Kihyun. And... thank you again for lending me this shirt."
Yiseo's smile deepened, warm and genuinely kind. "Anytime."
With that, Kiyonari continued down the hallway, his steps lighter though his mind still busy. As he neared the elevator, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Kihyun-sshi!"
He turned around. Jiwoo came jogging toward him, a wide grin plastered across his face.
"Jiwoo."
Not long after, Kiyonari and Jiwoo ended up in the company cafeteria, sitting across from each other. Jiwoo leaned in, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Wow, I didn't know you were the executive director's secretary!"
Kiyonari gave a faint, shy smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, me too. I was shocked when they told me that, actually."
Jiwoo beamed. "I'm glad we both got into the same company we always wanted to work for."
"Oh, right," Kiyonari agreed.
"So, which department are you in, Jiwoo?"
"I'm at the Marketing Department."
"I see," Kiyonari snickered lightly. "If I remember correctly, you said you wanted to be at the Sales Department, right?"
Jiwoo sighed, then grinned. "Well, it was tough to get in there. I'm just glad I got accepted here."
Kiyonari smiled.
They chatted for a while, exchanging stories and laughing softly until the lunch break was finally over.
When Kiyonari returned to his desk, the telephone beside him rang. His heart skipped. As he clicked the button, the director's voice came sharp and low:
"Come in here, Kihyun."
He gulped before obliging.
As soon as he stepped inside the office, a couple of papers flew straight at him, scattering against his chest and onto the floor. Kiyonari froze, his breath caught.
When he lifted his gaze, Soo-hyun's face was carved with controlled anger, his sharp eyes cutting through him like daggers.
"You call this doing better at work?" Soo-hyun's voice boomed, every word laced with disdain. "It's nothing but trash dipped in coffee!"
The director's voice grew louder, harsher, spouting words that almost degraded Kiyonari's work ethic, tearing down every ounce of confidence he had built up.
"All this are nothing but garbage! How exactly did you do all these? Do you even use your head to check at least?"
"I bet you half-assed this because you think it's stupid. You think working here is all a joke? How incompetent! You act like a fucking amateur!"
Kiyonari stood still, shoulders stiff, hands trembling at his sides. He accepted every harsh word without protest, his lips sealed. He didn't defend himself, didn't try to argue. Instead, he stood in silence, bearing it all like a weight pressing down on bis chest.
Soo-hyun's voice cut through the room like a whip.
"You don't check the details, you don't double-check your numbers, and yet you expect me to approve this nonsense?!"
He slammed a hand on his desk, eyes narrowing.
"You think being a secretary is just about running errands and nodding your head? You're supposed to know my needs. Yet here you are—late, careless, and sloppy!"
Kiyonari flinched, but kept his head lowered.
"Every page reeks of mediocrity. Do you think this company is run by half-hearted effort? That I have time to correct your mistakes?!"
His voice grew harsher, colder.
"I don't need a secretary who can't even deliver a coffee right without turning it into a disaster. And someone who hides behind excuses or acts like an amateur on his job. I need competence. Learn the basics and adapt to any demands, Mr. Soo!"
Soo-hyun's words were relentless, sharp as daggers.
"If this is what you call working here, then you are nothing but a liability. And let me be clear, Mr. Soo—I don't keep useless people by my side."
"One more mistake and I won't hesitate to fire you!"
Kiyonari bowed his head deeply, absorbing every dagger-like word without resistance. Each harsh criticism burned into him, yet instead of crumbling, something inside him tightened with resolve.
When Soo-hyun finally dismissed him, Kiyonari returned to his desk in silence. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the worn pocketbook Eunji had given him earlier.
He opened it carefully, flipping through the uneven, layered handwriting—different people leaving behind their notes, mistakes, and remainders. Notes of failures, warnings, and even small strategies that had once helped them survive under Director Je.
His eyes scanned every word, every scribble.
So it's always been like this, huh?...
He clenched the book firmly in his hand.
No. I won't end up like them. I won't break, and I definitely won't lose my job!
His reflection hardened as determination filled his chest.
I'll have to train myself and change my ways and routine from now on.
"So, I can become the secretary he never expected," he whispered to himself. "No matter what he throws at me, I'll endure. I won't given in and quit like the others...!"
Kiyonari pressed the pocketbook against his chest, inhaling deeply.
Never say never.
And from that moment, he swore silently that no harsh words, no crushing workload, no impossible to errand would dishearten him again.
In order to that, I'll have to get myself use to this hellish ordeals... and figure them out myself on how to solve it without any fails.