Time Mansour - Chapter 3



Only Noblemtl

Episode 3: Infinite Time

Sunlight seeps into the building.

Early departure from work for the first time in a long time.

Since there is no work left to do, a part of my mind that should be relieved instead feels uneasy.

Standing at the bus stop waiting for the bus, like someone wearing clothes that don’t fit.

at that time.

-Jiying. Jiying.

There was a vibration in my trouser pocket.

“hello.”

“Director Jeong. This is me. I heard you got off work today. Do you have time?

“Oh. Yes. What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. If you don’t mind, I was thinking about having a drink. I have some apologies to make.”

A calm voice came from the other end of the phone.

Whitesoft’s Sales Director, Dongjin Cheon. He is in charge of sales for the platform team.

“all right.”

He nodded and hung up the phone. Even after hanging up, he stared at his phone for a long time.

I’m not the type of person who would suddenly make a drinking appointment like this. We’re not that close.

The day of the funeral.

I guess he was secretly concerned that you called me about work.

I’ve seen your face a few times since I was at my previous company.

We’ve known each other for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean we’ve met in private or kept in touch.

I drank alcohol separately with Director Chun in a private setting.

‘I think it was when I quit my previous company.’

When I was about to go back to being a developer, Director Chun caught me.

At the time, I thought his behavior was a bit unexpected.

Me too. And Director Chun too. We weren’t the type to show our emotions to each other. So we never talked about anything other than work-related things.

A strictly business relationship.

But I couldn’t help but be a little surprised when Cheon Sang-moo, whom I wasn’t even personally acquainted with, recommended me to Whitesoft.

A foreign IT company worth 60 billion dollars.

I am a high school graduate, and I don’t even have a TOEIC score, let alone a certificate.

It was a combination that didn’t really suit each other.

‘Director Chun collected letters of recommendation from employees at the Korean branch and sent them by email to the headquarters.’

Thanks to his efforts, I was able to get a job at Whitesoft.

Since then, I don’t remember having many conversations with Director Chun about anything other than work.

Even after joining the company, he never once boasted that it was all thanks to him.

Director Chun is that kind of person.

Even when giving performance bonuses, he didn’t make a fuss about it and only reported the results via email.

A person who values ​​efficiency and results.

If necessary, I can even comfort and appease a hairy monkey.

A person who even ignores senior engineers from prestigious universities if they don’t need to.

To that person named Cheon Sang-mu.

It seemed like the country still needed monkeys.

**

As I opened the door to the meat restaurant and went inside, all kinds of drunken stories were floating around in the smoke.

I squeeze through the noise and look around until I spot a familiar back figure.

“Director Chun? Oh my. Why are you eating alone?”

“No. I just got here. Mr. Jeong. This way. Please sit over here.”

Director Chun lightly taps the table.

As I sat down, I glanced at the empty bottle of alcohol.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’m fine.”

Then, he fills Director Cheon’s empty glass with alcohol again.

While he was pouring drinks into my glass, I naturally picked up the tongs.

The griddle becomes dirty with a sizzling sound. Traces of life stick to the floor.

“Director Jeong. We’ve known each other for quite some time.”

“Yes. I’ve known her since I was at Mermaid. It’s been about 5 or 6 years.”

“Yes. I remember that time. I wondered why young people lived so fiercely. Later, when I went to the funeral, I understood. Director Jeong. You don’t usually talk about yourself.”

“It’s not a good thing.”

To me, my sister was the darkest star in the night sky. She existed but was invisible.

“I’m sorry about that day.”

Bow. Director Chun bowed first. On the day of the funeral. It seemed that he was secretly concerned about contacting me.

“No. I’m sorry too. I got too excited by myself.”

“It’s my fault. To the person who held the funeral. I shouldn’t have done that. But. You know, there’s really no one I can ask of you other than Director Jeong.”

Mr. Cheon, who is truly sorry. I don’t trust the expression on his sales face. However, what he said itself was true.

I know that too.

I ended up volunteering to provide technical support because I knew full well that there was nothing I could do.

In-memory grid. Message broker.

This is a new lineup that was added a few years ago.

It was a product that required support from the data team due to global policy.

Domestic data team engineers were refusing to provide technical support.

I thought the youngest member of that team was in his mid-forties?

Aging organization.

With retirement age just around the corner, they had little passion left to learn about new products.

“Sales are also a problem.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Director Chun’s expression darkens when talking about sales.

In Korea, the data team’s sales were more than five times that of the platform team. In the end, the only ones who were disappointed with the performance were the sales of the platform team.

Manager Cheon drank the soju in one gulp. Manager Cheon slurped the soybean paste stew with a bitter expression. The sleeve of his shirt, thin, soaked in the soybean paste stew, soaked his throat.

**

Late at night.

After Director Chun passed away.

Walking on an empty road.

I stumble alone, stepping on the peeling paint on the curb. The earth spins for the first time in a long time. I dance, unable to control my body. Emotions surge in like a tide.

I was holding onto the streetlight like that and started vomiting.

I’m really sorry.

I’m so sorry.

He sobbed loudly enough to reach the farthest star in the universe.

**

The next morning.

‘I’m crazy.’

As soon as I woke up, I grabbed my head and tore at it.

As the hangover subsides, regret sets in.

“I should have just drank less.”

I drank too much without even counting the amount. Not since my sister died. No. It was the first time in years that I drank this much.

An unpleasant smell permeated the house.

“Ugh. It smells.”

I guess I should do some laundry. I went into the bathroom and put the clothes covered in vomit into the washing machine. After pressing the power button, I turned on the shower and cold water poured out.

‘Oh, I don’t want to go to work.’

I place the shower head on the sink and pick up my toothbrush. I squeeze out some toothpaste to brush my teeth while the hot water comes on.

Because it takes time for the warm water to heat up. I think so and look in the mirror, smiling with my teeth exposed.

**

It’s April.

The weather is still chilly. Spring shyly peeks out through the gap. The flowers in the flower pots in the office burst into flower buds as if they had been waiting.

In this way, a single flower blooms while twisting its body.

“Ah!”

“Mr. Chae. Do you have a cold?”

“No. I have a pollen allergy.”

Assistant Manager Chae Shin-ah answers while rubbing her nose. She waves her hand as if it’s nothing.

“Looking at the flowers in full bloom, I can tell that spring has come.”

Deputy Manager Kim Tae-hyung’s voice was heard from behind. At first glance, it seemed like he was responding to Assistant Manager Chae’s words.

The gaze was directed at Manager Cho.

Deputy Manager Kim Tae-hyung looks at Manager Cho with a playful smile.

“That’s right. I was wondering where the pollen was flying from. It turns out Manager Cho was the culprit.”

In response to Deputy Manager Kim Tae-hyung’s prank, Manager Chae makes a meaningful comment.

Recently, Manager Jo Jin-woong’s expression has brightened significantly. His face has brightened up.

I think the girl said she was a middle school health teacher.

Manager Cho, 33 years old.

At an age where he would have been called an old bachelor in the past, Manager Cho started dating late in life.

Manager Jo Jin-woong’s face turns red like a flower at the mischievous joke.

“Ah. No. What kind of pollen is it?”

“No, that’s not true. Your face is really bright. I guess you’re happy because you’re in love.”

Even the gentlemen in their thirties, who were not good at anything, laughed and chatted like children. The friendly atmosphere in the office was childish but also affectionate.

Manager Cho, who had been continuously teased by Manager Chae and Deputy Manager Kim, finally looked at me with eyes of help.

“Why are you all acting so childish? Please say something, Director Jeong.”

“No, I don’t like you. Traitor Chief Cho.”

“Wow. Seriously. Why is even Director Jeong like that?”

I got caught up in the atmosphere and started playing around without realizing it.

Manager Cho, 33 years old.

And me, 35 years old.

Until last week, the two of us were colleagues who had been enduring the same old bachelor noise together.

When I turned away from Manager Cho, he looked at me with a resentful expression.

“Please, sir, try dating too. If you’re interested in going on a blind date, I’ll look into it.”

“Yes. You’re already thirty-five, sir. It’s time to meet some people!”

Assistant Manager Chae Shin-ah once again interrupts Manager Cho’s words. Before I knew it, I had become the target.

This is going to be difficult. Thinking that way, I pointed my finger at Manager Cho again to change my target.

“I want to do that, but the manager doesn’t give me time to date.”

“···Me? Sir. When will I come again?”

“Every day. 365 days a year. 24 hours a day.”

“Wow. Really. That’s not true. If someone heard me, they’d think I was a bad customer.”

At my words, Manager Jo Jin-woong shook his head with a look of disbelief.

Whether the manager is wronged or not, Manager Chae nods and pretends to agree with my joke about malicious customers.

While enjoying the free time that we had after such a long time, we were all chatting and joking around.

“What are you all doing? Is something good happening?

A new employee’s voice was heard from over the shoulder. Everyone turned their heads to look at Song Seo-yeon’s bright voice.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s have some coffee.”

The new employee smiles brightly and waves a carrier containing coffee from side to side.

He smiles brightly with his usual bright face.