Private Secretary - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Private Secretary Episode 25

 

“What should we do tomorrow?”

 

“…Yes? Tomorrow?”

 

Tomorrow is Sunday, a day off, so what does he mean by what should we do?

 

“We agreed to go watch baseball tomorrow.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Lee Seol finally remembered the schedule she had forgotten. She recalled the ticket Tae-san had given her last time, saying he needed to visit the baseball stadium for work.

 

“I can’t ask someone who got hurt because of me to do that together too…”

 

“No. I’ll go.”

 

“Your shoulder hurts.”

 

“Do I watch baseball with my shoulder? My eyes are fine, and my legs are strong, so it doesn’t matter.”

 

“Don’t overdo it, just rest. Tomorrow let’s just go to the hospital together and come back.”

 

“No. I want to watch baseball.”

 

That statement was only half sincere.

 

While it was true she wanted to watch baseball, her desire to go to the baseball stadium with him was greater.

 

She simply wanted to be with him.

 

As soon as she acknowledged that she felt attracted to him, her feelings toward Tae-san spread like wildfire and became uncontrollable.

 

Perhaps it was already too late.

 

Tae-san only looked regretfully at the bandage on Lee Seol’s cheek, but didn’t give a definitive answer.

 

“You said you’re going for work. Then you should work.”

 

“…Do you like baseball enough to go with such an injured body?”

 

“Yes. I really love baseball.”

 

That’s what she had to say. Because that was natural.

 

“…Then I’ll come pick you up by eleven tomorrow. Let’s go to the hospital first, then to the stadium.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When you wake up tomorrow morning, if your condition isn’t great, call me. We’ll just go to the hospital and come back.”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

Only then did Tae-san prepare to leave, and Lee Seol stood in front of him to see him off.

 

“Thank you for today. Han Lee Seol.”

 

Tae-san patted Lee Seol’s uninjured shoulder a couple of times and opened the front door.

 

Lee Seol bowed at the waist and greeted him.

 

“Please get home safely. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

“See you tomorrow.”

 

Unlike when he entered, Tae-san quietly closed the door.

 

As he disappeared from sight, Lee Seol, drained of energy, plopped down on the floor.

 

Her heart was still pounding, and her flushed cheeks were as hot as heating pads.

 

“…What exactly am I trying to do? So what if I like him? Did I just decide to keep liking him? Don’t I even plan to deny it anymore?”

 

Lee Seol gripped both her cheeks tightly and let out a deep sigh.

 

Of all people, she had to fall for her boss at work.

 

With the premonition that the road ahead would never be smooth, her head was already spinning.

 

* * *

 

The next day, Lee Seol woke up at 7 AM, much earlier than the 11 AM when Tae-san was supposed to pick her up.

 

It was because she had spent the night tossing and turning with various thoughts, barely sleeping a wink.

 

Until then, Lee Seol’s mind was completely filled with only Tae-san.

 

Kang Tae-san who only took care of Kim Se-na when the accident happened. But then Kang Tae-san who came to her right after and personally applied medicine.

 

When he was applying the medicine, his face was so close that she could vividly hear his breathing – did he hear my breathing too?

 

Just thinking about that would chase away any sleep that was coming.

 

Eventually, Lee Seol got up early with a haggard face, washed up cleanly, and stood in front of her closet.

 

But somehow, everything inside was only work clothes.

 

With only neat dresses or shirts and slacks like business suits, Lee Seol spent a long time taking things out and searching through them.

 

Lee Seol managed to dig out a decent sweatshirt from among them and even ironed the jeans she would wear with it.

 

Then she carefully packed her backpack with items needed for watching the game: a tumbler, wet wipes, a mini desk fan, and more.

 

“Right, the uniform.”

 

It was when Lee Seol finally pulled out the uniform she had shoved into the corner of her closet.

 

Ring ring- Ring ring-.

 

She had definitely woken up early and thought she had plenty of time, but while choosing clothes to wear, the appointment time had suddenly crept up.

 

Tae-san, who kept time precisely, called right at 11 o’clock.

 

“Yes, I’m coming out now.”

 

[Okay.]

 

Lee Seol was about to put on the sneakers she had set out and leave immediately, but turned back to stand in front of the mirror hanging in the entrance.

 

She had put several times more effort into her hair and makeup than usual, but it didn’t look obviously done up.

 

“Are you going on a date?”

 

Lee Seol scolded herself, feeling doubtful about her appearance.

 

This was just part of work anyway, so why was her heart pounding and fluttering like someone going on a date?

 

“Get a grip. You’re going to work right now.”

 

The fact that she was attracted to Tae-san was something he must never find out.

 

But if a situation came where she got physically close to Tae-san like yesterday, she couldn’t guarantee what would happen.

 

So she had to make up her mind firmly before meeting Tae-san.

 

That he wasn’t someone Lee Seol could like. That she must never cross the professional line.

 

Lee Seol repeatedly convinced herself like that in her mind.

 

* * *

 

“I should have come out early and waited, I’m sorry.”

 

Tae-san was waiting right in front of the alley where he had dropped off Lee Seol last time.

 

Lee Seol hurried over and got in the passenger seat, placing her backpack, which had become fat from being packed full of items, on her lap.

 

“What’s in there to make it so packed?”

 

“Items to use at the baseball stadium.”

 

“You look really excited?”

 

“It’s been so long since I’ve watched a game in person.”

 

Tae-san waited for Lee Seol to put on her seatbelt while staring intently at her.

 

It seemed he noticed the wound on her face since she had removed the bandage while washing her face in the morning.

 

“Didn’t you apply medicine?”

 

Tae-san gently touched the wound on Lee Seol’s cheek. Flustered by the sudden physical contact, Lee Seol subtly pulled her head back.

 

“This much is fine. Let’s go.”

 

Lee Seol, who felt burdened by Tae-san’s face getting close, fixed her gaze straight ahead and stiffened her neck.

 

Tae-san looked at her for a few more seconds before slowly starting the car.

 

Only after confirming that his gaze was completely withdrawn did Lee Seol quietly catch her breath.

 

“But are there hospitals open on Sundays too?”

 

“My friend’s cousin is an orthopedic doctor. I found out he has consultations on Sunday mornings too, so I made an urgent appointment.”

 

“But I’m really fine. What if he scolds us for coming to the hospital over just this much?”

 

Tae-san quietly turned on the audio as if he didn’t want to hear Lee Seol’s unnecessary words.

 

Then classical music that he must have been listening to just before filled the car. Lee Seol chuckled, thinking that even his music taste was very much like Kang Tae-san.

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

 

“I asked why you laughed, but you’re answering that it’s nothing – what kind of response is that?”

 

“…I just thought it was a very Department Head-like song selection.”

 

“Then what do you listen to?”

 

“I listen to idol music when I drive. Upbeat stuff.”

 

“Then put it on.”

 

“No. It’s fine.”

 

As soon as Tae-san stopped the car at a red light, he handed his phone to Lee Seol. He had even opened the music app, as if telling her to change it to what she wanted to hear.

 

“That’s not what I meant to say….”

 

But since he had given permission, and it would be nice to go excitedly, she glanced at Tae-san and carefully picked up her phone.

 

When she played a recent idol dance song she’d been listening to frequently, Tae-san slightly furrowed his brow.

 

“If it doesn’t suit your taste….”

 

“Just leave it.”

 

Tae-san focused on driving again, and after confirming he wasn’t uncomfortable, Lee Seol silently turned her gaze toward the window.

 

On this summer Sunday afternoon, the Han River sparkled unusually bright under the blazing sunlight.

 

* * *

 

“From visual examination, there’s no major problem, and the X-ray shows no bone abnormalities either. There’s slight swelling from the impact, but if you apply cold compress once a day, it should get better quickly.”

 

“Could you also take a look at the wound on her face?”

 

As Lee Seol had expected, there was nothing seriously wrong with her shoulder.

 

Just when she was thinking they had come to the hospital for nothing, Tae-san, who was standing beside her, grabbed Lee Seol’s cheek and turned it to show the wound to the doctor.

 

“Why are you showing a scrape to an orthopedic doctor?”

 

Lee Seol grabbed Tae-san’s wrist that was holding her cheek and whispered, but Tae-san resolutely kept looking only at the doctor.

 

The doctor smiled lightly and examined Lee Seol’s wound.

 

“Leave the scab alone until it falls off naturally. If you pick at it forcibly, it might leave a scar.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“This level shouldn’t be a big problem, but if you’re really worried, get examined by a dermatology specialist.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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