Chapter 1 — I Know Nothing — Part 1 (1)

Lately, Miss Park's face had grown pale and puffy, as if her body were suffering some serious ailment.

Even if she wasn't a woman blessed with beauty, showing up to work with such a disheveled appearance—enough to catch everyone's attention—wasn't just unprofessional. Didn't she realize how uncomfortable it made those around her?

"Section chief, I'd like to take a week off starting tomorrow."

Miss Park approached my desk, the one right in front of mine, and handed me a leave application with a meek voice.

"Are you sick?"

I snapped the question out, half-irritated.

"I'm seven months pregnant."

"Who's the father?"

"There is someone."

"No wonder your face has looked so worn out lately. It's because of the pregnancy?"

"Yes."

"Miss Kim, when did Miss Park start looking like this?"

"She's heartbroken, I think."

"Why?"

"The man who's supposed to be the father is pretending he knows nothing. Because of that, she missed the window for an abortion."

"What a damn irresponsible bastard. Who is he?"

"He's a man from a client company. He's running away, saying he can never admit it."

"That's not something you run from!"

"They say she gave it up too easily. He called her a slut who sleeps with anyone, then expects him to claim another man's child. He even threw medicine at her."

"Was Miss Park really that loose?"

"That woman? Her face doesn't help her at all. I guess he thought, Why not just try it once as a joke? Now she's chasing him, demanding he take responsibility for one night—and he's denying everything."

"Damn…"

I felt a pang of pity for Miss Park. She was kind-hearted, but her looks were against her. Someone who didn't take the time to understand her inner world probably wouldn't even bother speaking to her.

She handled both big and small tasks with such meticulous care—anyone could see she was a woman of substance. But when it came to choosing a life partner, people would judge her by her appearance alone. I could imagine how hard that must be for her.

True, in this age where plastic surgery was so advanced, anyone with the will could reshape their face and become beautiful. But in Miss Park's case, the work needed would be so extensive, it was hard to even estimate.

If she kept neglecting her appearance like this, she wouldn't just miss out on office marriages—she'd probably never even get a single blind date or matchmaking session before growing old. If someone had whispered sweet words to her, of course she'd have been tempted.

Men these days—treating women not as people, but just as holes to stick their dicks into.

Maybe, because of Miss Park's plain looks, some bastard had jokingly flirted with her, wondering if she might be a virgin rarer than a national treasure.

And she, unaware of his true intentions, had let a child grow steadily in her womb. How bitter and painful her heart must be now.

"When did you find out about this, Miss Kim?"

"From the beginning. She didn't even realize it was something to be ashamed of—she was so proud, gossip was spreading in the women's restroom. She kept saying her older sister was getting married soon."

"You know who the father is?"

"He works in the accounting department of that big company across the street."

"Oh, that good-looking guy?"

"That's him. If she hadn't fallen for him, I might've ended up with him too."

"Why? Were you worried you'd end up unmarried?"

"No… his eyes were just so cold. Whenever he looked at me, I felt a chill in my chest."

"What about my eyes?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly, teasingly, and stared at Miss Kim.

"Ugh, Section Chief, your eyes look like codfish eyes. So gross."

Miss Kim recoiled, stepping back as if disgusted.

"Don't you have plenty of men chasing after you, Miss Kim?"

"There are a few. But they don't even care whether I'm a virgin or not."

"Why not?"

"What virgin exists these days? If a girl's even slightly pretty, she's already been around."

"But you're different, right?"

"It's killing me. Miss Park, who's not pretty at all, gets treated like a virgin and ends up pregnant—while I, a real virgin, get nothing but players. No serious man comes near me."

"Try practicing a more innocent expression. The bachelors are probably scared off, removing you from the marriage candidate list."

"And you, Section Chief—when you got married, did you pick someone just because she was pretty?"

"Hmm… it was so long ago, I don't even remember."

"I'm already twenty-six. Shouldn't I have at least one serious boyfriend by now?"

"He'll come soon. No need to rush."

"Ugh, it's bad enough Miss Park failed—but why can't even that kind of thing happen to me? It's driving me crazy."

"Calm down. Try being more demure. Practice looking innocent with your face…"

"Hmph. If those shallow men can't see real value, I'll just live alone. Fine by me."

Women were impossible to understand. One was agonizing over a child with a man who refused responsibility. The other, beautiful and untouched, was jealous of being ignored.

Miss Park returned, changed into her outdoor clothes, and came back down the stairs. The sight of her tightly binding her swollen lower belly—trying to hide it from everyone—was unbearably pitiful.

"Section Chief, I'm sorry. I'll think it over for a week and come back."

"Alright. Take care of yourself."

As soon as Miss Park left, Miss Kim turned and came over to my desk, chattering like a bird.

I wondered what she wanted now, but pretended not to notice, avoiding eye contact as I busied myself with paperwork.

"Section Chief, what do you think she'll do?"

"Do about what?"

"Nothing… It's just, in a week, will something be resolved?"

"You're curious?"

"No… I'm just worried she'll take a week off without any real plan."

"You wouldn't understand—you're not the one involved. How humiliating do you think it is? She's probably crying blood inside."

"Why would she cry blood?"

"Imagine giving birth to and raising a child with no father. Would that be nothing to you, Miss Kim?"

"Why are you getting so worked up?"

"You're acting like it's just someone else's problem. That's why."

"Acting like it's nothing?"

Miss Kim's face flushed, then tears began streaming down her cheeks. Without a word, she ran out of the office.

"Hey, Chief Choi. What did you do to that girl? Why is she crying and making a scene?"

Manager Park from upstairs called, scolding me over the phone.

"What? Who's crying?"

I asked, genuinely confused.

"Miss Kim just came up to the second floor, sobbing and complaining about how unfair it is!"

"What a joke. Nothing happened."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Really? Nothing at all?"

Manager Park asked again, concerned.

"That's right. I scolded her a little for acting too flippant about Miss Park's situation, but that's it."

"Alright… Just remember, you can't go around making women cry so easily…"

Manager Park finally hung up once he realized it wasn't a serious issue. The sun had dipped behind the hills.

Employees were leaving in small groups, whispering about after-work drinks, vanishing one by one until only empty desks remained.

Another ordinary day was ending. Soon, I'd board the subway and be wrapped in the warm embrace of home.

The security guard, making his final rounds, started urging me to leave.

A few employees—those more afraid of their boss's disapproval than actual work—hesitated, lingering awkwardly, until they were practically pushed out the door.

The sky hung low, as if winter's chill still suppressed the breath of spring. The cold air made me pull my collar higher.

Though the wind cut sharply through the streets, couples walked hand in hand, filling the evening commute with warmth.

On a night like this, maybe I shouldn't rush straight to the subway. A hot bowl of odeng soup with a shot of soju would've been perfect.

I imagined those coworkers, gathered in some cozy pojangmacha, drinking and gossiping about me as their snack. The thought made me smile emptily.

After all, the joy of office life wasn't much. There was a time when I, too, found the greatest pleasure in tearing apart my boss over drinks.

Just as I stepped into the subway entrance, my phone rang.

"Who could it be? No one should be calling me now…"

I didn't want to answer an unknown number, so I ignored it, shoving the phone back into my pocket and switching it to silent.

I bought a ticket and was about to pass through the turnstile when a vibrating ringtone sent a shiver through my body.

Annoyed, I pulled out the phone. Same number as before. Unknown caller—but they'd called again. I reluctantly answered.

"Section Chief, it's me. Miss Kim."

"Oh? What is it?"

"You were going to make me angry and just leave without even apologizing?"

"Apologize? For what?"

"For saying I was flippant."

"Oh… I'm sorry. My bad."

"That's it? Just words?"

"What else do you want?"

"Where are you now?"

"I just passed through the subway gate."

"I'm at Exit 3. I thought I'd have a drink with you, clear the air. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep."

"Really? Was what I said really that painful?"

"The one who speaks doesn't know, but the one who hears feels it like a knife, right? You can't possibly not understand that."

"Alright… If it hurt that much, let's have a drink and talk it out."

I turned and walked back toward Exit 3, where Miss Kim was waiting.