25화 회식 다음 날

다음 날 아침, 은호는 평소보다 일찍 출근했다.

이유는 없었다. 아니, 있었는데 인정하고 싶지 않았다. 어제 그 기분을 지우고 싶었을 뿐이다.

사무실은 조용했다. 그런데 태경이 이미 와 있었다.

"일찍 오셨네요."

"은호 씨도요."

잠깐의 정적. 은호는 자리에 앉으며 아무렇지 않은 척 물었다.

"어제 하윤 차장님이랑 얘기 많이 하시던데요."

말해놓고 아차 싶었다. 왜 그런 걸 물었지.

태경이 화면에서 눈을 떼고 은호를 봤다. 조금 놀란 얼굴이었다.

"…업무 얘기였어요."

"아, 네."

"본사 쪽 검토 일정 조율할 게 있어서."

"네."

또 정적. 은호는 왜 자기가 이런 대화를 하고 있는지 몰랐다. 그리고 태경이 굳이 설명해준 것이, 왜 조금 안심이 되는지도 몰랐다.

English

The next morning, Eunho came in earlier than usual.

There was no reason. Or rather, there was one he didn't want to admit. He just wanted to shake off the way he'd felt the night before.

The office was quiet. But Taekyung was already there.

"You're in early."

"So are you."

A short silence. Sitting down, Eunho asked as casually as he could manage.

"You were talking with Ms. Ha a lot yesterday."

He regretted it the moment it left his mouth. *Why did I ask that?*

Taekyung looked up from his screen. He seemed slightly surprised.

"…It was about work."

"Right."

"There were scheduling issues with the headquarters review."

"Right."

Another silence. Eunho didn't know why he was having this conversation. And he didn't know why the fact that Taekyung had bothered to explain made him feel a little relieved.