Chapter 23: The Bet

The thick door that completely sealed off the office from the outside closed silently. Miran guided Min-hyeon to a round table at one side of the office. Even to Min-hyeon, who knew little about such things, the single-seater leather sofas surrounding the round table looked exceptionally luxurious.

“Have a seat. The spot where you’re standing right now is where Jun-ho always sits. Why don’t you claim it before he gets here?”

Miran winked playfully. The woman who had seemed so dignified suddenly made a mischievous expression, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Min-hyeon bowed his head and sat where Miran had indicated.

“What would you like to drink? Coffee? Green tea?”

“I’m fine with anything. Please give me whatever is convenient for you.”

“Hmm. I find ‘anything’ the hardest to choose.”

“Th-then coffee! Thank you!”

“Alright. Wait just a moment.”

While Miran put a capsule into the coffee machine and brewed the coffee, Min-hyeon cautiously surveyed the chairman’s office.

One wall of the office was completely filled with glass-doored bookcases. Old books that looked like they’d be better displayed in a museum caught his eye as they sat firmly on the shelves. In front of the bookcase was a large desk, and the nameplate on it was written in Chinese characters—unfortunately, aside from the surname Ok (玉), he couldn’t read the rest.

Min-hyeon was impressed. The overall decor—the hanging oriental paintings, the antique-patterned carpet—was elegant and suited Miran perfectly. Yet the electronic devices scattered throughout represented the pinnacle of modern civilization. It was a perfect office, with even the newest Apple desktop and laptop that Min-hyeon had recently drooled over just from seeing their release.

He’d meant to look around subtly at first, but he must have been too obvious. Miran smiled and told him to look freely. Min-hyeon scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Look around as much as you like. Even capsule coffee tastes just as good when I make it.”

“Thank you.”

Miran set down cups in front of herself and Min-hyeon. Sitting across from her with the table between them, nervousness washed over him again. Min-hyeon straightened his back a little more.

“Oh, right. How absent-minded of me. I haven’t told Jun-ho to come here yet, have I? Go ahead and drink. I’ll call him.”

Min-hyeon bowed his head once more in thanks at Miran’s gesture and picked up his coffee cup. Miran took out her phone and called Jun-ho.

“Jun-ho?”

Min-hyeon was the type to order iced Americano even in the dead of winter, but he wasn’t bold enough to ask Miran for ice. He blew on the hot coffee to cool it and carefully took a sip. At the same time, he pricked up his ears at Miran’s call.

“Yes. Min-hyeon is here with me right now, so come this way.”

Naturally, Jun-ho’s voice from the other end didn’t reach Min-hyeon.

‘Hyung must be surprised. That I’m suddenly with the chairman.’

Even though he still didn’t know what relationship Jun-ho had with her, Min-hyeon himself could hardly believe he was sitting across from Miran like this. If it weren’t for this hot coffee that could burn the roof of his mouth, he might have thought it was a dream.

After conveying what she needed and hanging up, Miran smiled mischievously.

“It seems Jun-ho will be here any minute. Want to bet how many minutes it’ll take?”

“Right now?”

Min-hyeon glanced at the clock on the wall. It had just turned 2 o’clock. Jun-ho had even messaged him in advance to say he’d be late—it didn’t seem likely he’d arrive immediately. Still, he couldn’t outright contradict an adult like Miran, so he gave an ambiguous smile.

“I’m not sure? Even at the fastest, I’d say about 10 minutes.”

“Then I’ll bet on 3 minutes. Whoever’s closer wins—the loser grants the winner one wish. How about it?”

“Huh? A wish?”

So flustered, Min-hyeon’s voice cracked strangely. Startled by his own voice, his face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple.

“Why? Are you worried I might ask for something unreasonable?”

“Ah, no! It’s not that…”

“Or are you worried I might not have the ability to grant your wish?”

“No! Of course not!”

“Then it’s settled. The bet is on. Whoever wins, come here whenever it’s convenient for you. I’m here most of the time.”

“Huh? Ah, okay…”

Dumbfounded, Min-hyeon answered blankly. But once an affirmative answer came out of his mouth, Miran smiled with satisfaction.

“I’ll probably win. You know why? Because I’ve never lost a bet before.”

Miran lowered her voice and whispered as if sharing a secret. And in the very next moment, the chairman’s office door opened and Jun-ho walked in.

“Hyung?”

“Oh my, you’re early. You said you’d be late.”

Without even checking the time, it was clear Miran had won the bet. Turning toward Min-hyeon, she winked with a triumphant expression as if to say “See? I was right.”

“I happened to finish my business early and was nearby.”

“It seems my timing was perfect.”

“Yes. Well then, we should be going—we have our project. Min-hyeon, let’s go.”

“Alright. Go on, then. Goodbye, Min-hyeon. See you next time.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

Leaving a farewell to Miran, who waved with a smiling face, Min-hyeon hurried after Jun-ho, who had gone ahead. The heavy door closed softly, just as when they’d entered.

Jun-ho was standing right next to the chairman’s office door, waiting for Min-hyeon.

“You came fast. If I’d known, I could have just waited out here.”

Min-hyeon’s face bloomed with a smile at the sight of Jun-ho arriving earlier than expected.

“Ah. I hurried. Because you were waiting.”

As if never allowing a moment’s guard, Jun-ho’s unexpected words shattered Min-hyeon’s defenses.

Jun-ho was the kind of dangerous person who could make anyone’s heart flutter without any ulterior motive. Min-hyeon had firmly resolved not to get excited over every word and gesture from someone whose kindness was just a habit—but such resolutions were utterly useless. He desperately pulled himself together. Hyung doesn’t mean it that way, so don’t get your hopes up. Don’t get your hopes up.

“I-I see. Haha.”

“Shall we go?”

Jun-ho wrapped an arm around Min-hyeon’s shoulder and gently turned him around.

“Huh? Hyung? But the stairs are that way.”

“I didn’t bring the camera. I was in too much of a rush.”

Now that he mentioned it, Jun-ho was carrying nothing but his phone—no bag. Min-hyeon’s heart, which he’d barely managed to calm, went wild and tried to break free of all control.

‘He said he was in such a hurry to meet me that he couldn’t even bring the camera. Isn’t that enough reason to hope a little?’

When Min-hyeon turned his head slightly, his eyes met Jun-ho’s. The beautiful eye-smile dangling from his curved eyes made Min-hyeon’s firmly fortified heart melt helplessly. He quickly averted his gaze, fixing his eyes on Jun-ho’s hand draped over his right shoulder—swaying gently with each step.

“Th-then, since we’re leaving the main building anyway, shall we try finding somewhere else to shoot today?”

“That sounds good. But Min-hyeon.”

“Yes? Yes?”

The way his name was called, so sweetly, made Min-hyeon flinch violently. His body nearly jumped—startled, Jun-ho let go of his shoulder.

“Why are you so surprised? Like someone who’s guilty of something.”

“No! No! It’s just, well, I mean—ah! I was thinking about where to go, and hyung called me so suddenly…”

“Did I call you suddenly?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Is that so? Hmm. But why do you always answer twice?”

“It’s a-a habit!”

“A habit?”

Jun-ho tilted his head. Should a grown man over 180cm tall really be allowed to be that cute just by tilting his head? Min-hyeon felt like complaining to anyone who would listen. His facial muscles were practically cramping from forcing a nonchalant smile.

“Yes, yes! A habit!”

“You had a habit like this? How come I didn’t know until now?”

“W-well, sometimes I do it this way, sometimes that way.”

“Ah. I see.”

Jun-ho smiled in a way that made it obvious he didn’t believe Min-hyeon’s hurried excuses at all, and gave a lifeless reply. Min-hyeon laughed along awkwardly.

“But hyung, what were you going to say?”

“It’s nothing much—I was just curious. You suddenly being in the chairman’s office surprised me, that’s all.”

“Ah. I ran into the chairman on the stairs while heading to the rooftop. She recognized me and asked where I was going, so I said I was waiting for hyung on the rooftop—then she invited me to the office to have tea together while I waited.”

“I see.”

As if he’d really just been curious, Jun-ho’s reaction ended there. Min-hyeon studied Jun-ho’s expression. But his face, armed with a perfectly sculpted smile, revealed nothing of his intentions. Had he done something wrong by following her into the office? Min-hyeon grew anxious.

“Hyung, can I ask you something too?”

If Jun-ho allowed it, he wanted to ask what relationship he had with Miran. He needed to know so he wouldn’t make any mistakes next time. But instead of an answer, Jun-ho responded with a question.

“If I said no, would you not ask?”

“W-well, I suppose not?”

“Then no. Don’t ask.”

“Uh… okay.”

Perhaps Jun-ho had caught on to what Min-hyeon was about to ask and preempted him. Min-hyeon obediently accepted.

“That’s it?”

“Huh?”

Jun-ho sighed. It was an exaggerated sigh that anyone could tell was intentional.