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Miso Han had never been this proud of herself in her entire life.
Sure, she'd once made it through an entire month without accidentally killing her houseplant. And she'd gotten her driving license on the first try. But this?
This was big.
"I did it!" she shouted over the music, slamming her empty beer mug on the wooden table. "I got into Sungjin Marketing as an intern!"
Her best friend, Nari, who was halfway through her soju shot, looked up with bleary pride. "Our little Miso, joining the corporate elite!" She grabbed Miso's cheeks with both hands. "We have to celebrate. Like, celebrate celebrate."
They had already been celebrating for the past two hours, but Miso wasn't about to stop her best friend from spending money on her.
One internship in a highly competitive company deserved every last drop of soju and beer the bar could provide.
The place was loud, dim, and full of people in their twenties laughing over grilled skewers. But at the far end of the counter, someone didn't seem to match the rest of the crowd.
A woman in a fitted black suit sat on a high stool, legs crossed, a single glass of whiskey in her hand. Her hair was pulled up in a loose bun, a few strands framing her sharp jawline. She looked like she belonged in an expensive rooftop lounge, not a cheap downtown bar.
And she looked… tired. Not the "I worked a long day" kind of tired, but the "I've been carrying the weight of life on my shoulders for too long" kind.
Miso didn't notice she was staring until Nari followed her gaze.
"Oh-ho," Nari smirked, "do you have a crush already?"
"What? No," Miso scoffed, but her ears betrayed her, heating up. "I was just—she looks out of place, that's all."
"Then go keep her company," Nari teased.
"Why would I—"
"Because," Nari cut in, "you just got a job, and you're supposed to be in the mood for bold, life-changing decisions. And talking to a gorgeous stranger is way less terrifying than whatever your manager will do to you in the future."
Miso rolled her eyes but found herself sliding off the bench anyway, telling herself it was just harmless curiosity.
The stranger glanced up when Miso took the seat beside her. Up close, she was even more striking. Her eyes were dark and intelligent, her lips painted a muted rose that looked expensive without trying.
"Rough day?" Miso asked before she could chicken out.
The woman chuckled softly, swirling her whiskey. "More like a rough decade."
That earned a small laugh from Miso. "I just started my career today. Or… I will, officially, on Monday. So, my decade of suffering hasn't started yet."
The woman tilted her head. "Congratulations. First job?"
"First big one," Miso said. "Sungjin Marketing. You've probably never heard of it unless you're in the field—"
"Oh, I've heard of it," the woman said, her smile curling slightly, almost amused.
They talked. Miso didn't know if it was the alcohol or the low, warm timbre of the woman's voice, but conversation flowed easily. They traded work horror stories—well, Miso's were mostly from part-time jobs at cafes—and laughed about the ridiculousness of adulthood.
One drink became two. Two became… Miso lost count.
Somewhere between laughing about bad Tinder dates and confessing their worst karaoke performances, a group of college kids at the other end of the bar started a game of truth or dare. It wasn't long before one of them, clearly emboldened by beer, decided to rope them in.
"Truth or dare, unnie?" a boy asked, wobbling dangerously on his feet.
The woman—Yumi, as she finally introduced herself—smirked. "Dare."
The boy grinned wickedly. "Kiss the pretty lady next to you."
Miso blinked. "Wait, wha—"
Before she could finish, Yumi leaned in, her perfume subtle but intoxicating, and pressed a quick kiss to Miso's lips.
Quick, but not meaningless. It was deliberate enough to leave Miso's brain blank for a good five seconds.
"That's… one way to win," Miso muttered, trying to act unaffected even though her heart was doing gymnastics.
Yumi's smirk didn't fade. "Your turn, intern."
"I—how do you know I'm an intern?" Miso blinked.
"You told me."
"Oh. Right." Miso laughed awkwardly, heat crawling up her neck. "Fine. Dare."
Her dare was far worse. Something about whispering the dirtiest thing she could think of into Yumi's ear. Miso hesitated, then leaned in, murmuring something that made Yumi's eyes widen—then burst into surprised laughter.
The rest of the night blurred into more dares, teasing remarks, and stolen touches that could be passed off as drunken accidents. Miso didn't remember how many times their knees brushed under the bar counter, or how Yumi's hand lingered a second too long when she handed her another drink.
It wasn't until the bartender announced last call that Miso realized she didn't want the night to end.
They stood outside under the warm glow of the streetlights. The city hummed around them.
"Thanks for tonight," Yumi said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Likewise," Miso replied. And for some reason, she added, "I… think I like girls."
Yumi's smile softened, just a little. "Then I'll take that as my contribution to your career development."
They parted ways without exchanging numbers. It felt almost cinematic, like something out of a drama—fleeting, intense, and not meant to be repeated.
Miso went home, collapsed on her bed, and drifted into sleep with the ghost of Yumi's lips still on hers.
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The Next Morning
Her hangover was brutal. The details of the night played in her head like a slideshow: Yumi's laugh, the warmth of her hand, that kiss.
She groaned, burying her face in the pillow.
It was just a one-time thing, she told herself. No point thinking about it.
But come Monday morning, when Miso walked into Sungjin Marketing's office for her first day, her heart nearly stopped.
Because sitting behind the largest desk in the department, reviewing files with an air of authority… was Yumi.
Yumi Kang.
Her boss.
And the way Yumi froze mid-page-turn, eyes locking on her, made it very clear that she remembered every detail of that night too.
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