The office was nearly empty, the air still and quiet under the soft hum of overhead lights. Most employees had clocked out hours ago, but Sooyaa remained at her desk—papers scattered across the surface, her laptop still glowing, and her fingers typing with quiet urgency.
She finally leaned back in her chair with a long exhale, stretching her arms over her head.
"Ahhh… now I can breathe," she whispered to herself, rubbing her eyes.
Her phone buzzed beside her. She glanced at it, then sighed. Without much thought, she unlocked it and scrolled through her contacts, finally tapping on a familiar name.
"Hye-jin," she said as soon as the line connected.
"Let's drink. I need to get out of here."
"You still at the office?" Kang Hye-jin, the finance head of the company, and his only best friend asked.
"Alright. Meet me outside in ten."
Thirty minutes later, the two of them were seated cross-legged outside a 24-hour convenience store, surrounded by empty green soju bottles and half-eaten snacks. The city around them pulsed with its usual nighttime rhythm, but their little corner felt like its own world.
"How many did we just finish?" Sooyaa asked.
"Fifteen," Hye-jin said proudly, holding up the final bottle.
"Fifteen!" she echoed, eyes wide. "We should get a trophy. Or a therapist."
Hye-jin laughed. "We're way past help."
Sooyaa leaned against her shoulder dramatically.
"Because my brain is tired! Because—ugh—because…"
She let out a heavy sigh.
"Because that Ice Man exists just to ruin my calm."
Hye-jin raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, who?"
Sooyaa sat up slightly, blinking in slow motion, her voice growing louder.
"You know—the Ice Man. The one who's colder than my fridge."
Hye-jin nearly choked on her drink laughing.
"That cold, huh?"
"That cold," Sooyaa nodded seriously.
"He looks like he was born in a snowstorm and speaks like each word costs him a thousand won."
She lifted her head and huffed dramatically.
"I'm talking about Kim Tae-hyung. The CEO."
Hye-jin raised her eyebrows.
"Ohhh… Kim Tae-hyung," she said knowingly.
"No wonder you're losing your mind."
Trying to stand up, Sooyaa wobbled, her steps far from stable.
"He walks like he owns the world… and stares like he's judging my soul…"
Hye-jin quickly caught her arm, steadying her with a grin.
"Careful there, drama queen!" she said, bursting into loud, tipsy laughter.
"You're one bottle away from starring in your own K-drama at this rate!"
Sooyaa giggled, then suddenly became serious for a second.
"When I was working earlier… he just glanced at me like he was estimating my price or something—like I was a product on a shelf."
She scoffed dramatically.
"And then he just walked away like nothing. He thought I didn't see him."
Hye-jin gasped in mock offense.
"He what?!"
Then smirked. "Classic Ice Man move."
Sooyaa leaned her head back on Hye-jin's shoulder again.
"I swear he studies people like he's preparing to invest in them."
Sooyaa giggled, resting her head on Hye-jin's shoulder with a dreamy sigh.
Hye-jin smirked.
"Do you know his secretary is Choi Yeonjun? His one and only best friend from university. They came up together, always side by side."
Sooyaa's eyes widened as if she had uncovered breaking news.
"Wait—don't tell me… I think they're dating!"
A beat of silence passed—and then both of them burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Please! CEO Kim Tae-hyung and Secretary Choi Yeonjun—the ultimate power couple!" Hye-jin wheezed, clutching her stomach.
"Imagine them having candlelight meetings!" Sooyaa howled, wiping away tears.
They laughed until their cheeks hurt, their voices echoing into the night!
Doing such mischievous things, giggling and leaning on each other, Sooyaa and Kang Hye-jin finally reached Hye-jin's apartment building, their steps wobbly and full of drunken energy.
They staggered into the elevator, still laughing, pressing the button with exaggerated effort.
"We're almost home, Captain," Sooyaa slurred with a silly salute.
"Just a few more floors, soldier," Hye-jin played along, chuckling.
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open.
And there, standing right outside, were none other than Kim Tae-hyung, the man colder than her fridge, and his composed secretary, Choi Yeonjun.
Sooyaa blinked dramatically.
"Hye-jin... now I'm seeing people in front of me."
Hye-jin tilted her head.
"Same here. Two very realistic, well-dressed illusions."
They both cracked up.
Tae-hyung raised an eyebrow, silently watching the scene. Yeonjun's lip curled ever so slightly in amusement.
Sooyaa leaned in to whisper—loud enough for all to hear:
"See, Hye-jin... they're still together. I told you, right?"
Then, eyes wide, she gasped,
"I also see the Ice Man! Ahhh! I'm scared of his eyes!"
Yeonjun quietly chuckled.
Just then, Sooyaa lost her balance and began leaning heavily toward Hye-jin, who quickly caught her.
"Careful," Hye-jin muttered, steadying her.
"No, you be careful," Sooyaa murmured back, resting her head on Hye-jin's shoulder as they started walking.
The two women supported each other, still laughing softly as they passed the men .
Yeonjun, who also lived on the same floor and in the same building as Hye jin.
The door clicked shut behind them as Kim Tae-hyung followed Yeonjun into the apartment.
Almost unconsciously, they both reached down and loosened their neckties at the same time, but neither of them noticed the synchronicity — but maybe that's what long-time friendship looks like.
Yeonjun tossed his keys into the bowl by the entrance and sighed, stretching his arms.
"Why do you often come to my place to clean and do dishes, huh? Go to your big Kim mansion and scrub marble floors instead."
Tae-hyung, already rolling up his sleeves and heading toward the kitchen, replied calmly,
"I don't like it there. It's too lonely… too dark."
He picked up a dish towel, drying the plates Yeonjun had left out.
"And what's wrong with cleaning? It helps me clear my head. It's my way to de-stress."
Yeonjun leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him.
Suddenly, Tae-hyung muttered under his breath,
"Ice man…"
Yeonjun smirked.
"I must say, Sooyaa has a good eye."
Tae-hyung stopped wiping the plate, frowning slightly.
"What do you mean? Do I really look like an Ice Man, huh?"
Yeonjun didn't answer. Just gave him that knowing, quiet smile.
A beat of silence.
Then Yeonjun spoke again, more serious this time.
"Why don't you pursue her?"
His voice was soft but firm.
"I know you like her, Tae-hyung. I've always known. So why?"
Tae-hyung stared at the sink for a moment, hands still holding the towel. Then he whispered without looking back—
"You already know why."
The room fell quiet. Both men stood there — one lost in memories, the other respecting the silence.