A. SEOUL - 1

There was a sound of a keyboard being pressed, the paper printed from the printer and Park Jini's high heels. A twenty-five-year-old woman who was approaching Lee Umji's desk. A temporary translator and editor of the novel.

"What is wrong?" asked Lee Umji, fixing the glasses she was wearing.

Park Jini frowned. "You didn't forget about tonight, did you?"

Lee Umji took a deep breath. "I'm not in. I have a lot of work to take home," she said, glancing her eyes at the pile of foreign novels she needed to translate.

"Even though it's Mr. Ryeol's birthday today, delicious food will be served," Park Jini teased, glancing at Lee Umji, who didn't budge.

As an ordinary employee. Your boss's birthday celebration will really help your stomach get good nutrition. Especially if the end of the month is like now.

Lee Umji once again turned down Park Jini's offer. She really cannot and does not want to go to a crowded place. Fatigue and tiredness had accumulated in her body. After working later, she just wanted her eyes to be closed quickly. Rest.

Lee Umji's co-workers, including Park Jini, left early after receiving a message from Mr. Ryeol who had arrived at the venue first. Unlike Lee Umji who chose to stay for a while to organize her work before returning home.

"Did you not join the others?" A man appeared from another room.

The man has worn a backpack that accompanies him every day he works.

"How about yourself?" asked Lee Umji stopping her hand on the computer mouse.

Lee Umji turned to look at Ha Mino. An editor who last month moved to magazine publishing. He was previously been in the same novel publishing section where Lee Umji is now.

"I have an event tonight," replied Ha Mino watching the pile of manuscripts on Lee Umji's table.

Ha Mino slowly approached then touched one of the lower scripts. "This is interesting."

Lee Umji smiled. She knows very well that the choice of manuscripts that always go to publishing companies which, if Mino finds it attractive, so it's must be fascinating and worthy of publication.

"I never thought you would be transferred to another section. It's quite difficult now, especially since market tastes are always changing," said Lee Umji regretting Ha Mino's move.

Ha Mino chuckled. "I asked for it."

Lee Umji's left eyebrow rose in surprise. "Why? Oh I really missed." She then tried to remember after saying the sentence.

Lee Umji recalled a flashback that she had just finished after a month's leave which required her to return to Busan, her parents' home. Especially if it wasn't the recovery period after an accident that made her fall into a coma for two years.

"I feel like I need a new challenge and I don't want to meet someone in this section," Ha Mino said flicking his nails when he said the word 'this section'.

Lee Umji understands very well that the person Ha Mino doesn't want to meet is Park Jini. Because they were both former lovers when they first joined the company.

"Will you go home together?  The manuscripts are heavy enough for you to carry alone. Moreover, this is on the fifth floor," said Ha Mino.

After thinking, Lee Umji accepted Ha Mino's offer to have a private car. The two of them then headed to the parking lot carrying a stack of manuscripts that was ready to be read by Lee Umji when she returned home.

As soon as he arrived at Lee Umji's apartment, which was not far from the company, Mino brought the manuscripts to the door. Luckily Lee Umji's apartment didn't have the problem with the elevator like before.

"Wait a minute."

Lee Umji put the manuscript she had brought on the floor and then began to press the password button for her apartment.

"Do I keep it here?" Ha Mino asked, placing it on the front desk of the television, after noting that Lee Umji's desk near the bedside window had no free space. The pile of other manuscripts and some electronic equipment made her desk look so full.

Lee Umji's apartment is indeed small, with only one room where you can put a bed, work desk, television front desk and bookshelf. In addition to the bathroom, there is a room that is still attached to the main room as a kitchen where the bottom of the electric stove has a washing machine. Luckily she has a balcony for drying clothes.

"Yeah, sorry to bother you," said Lee Umji, also putting the script she was holding next to the one that Ha Mino brought.

"Would you like something to drink?" asked Lee Umji offering.

"No need. After this I will drink soju with my college friends," replied Ha Mino with a big smile.

Lee Umji nodded in understanding. She led Mino to the door. "Thank you."

Ha Mino who was outside the door nodded then raised his finger to point to something in front of the large window. "The whiteboard you made for drafting manuscripts looks like it hasn't been used for a long time."

Lee Umji followed Mino's forefinger, saw a rectangular object covered in black cloth. "Now I choose to use a tablet to make things like that. Practical."

Ha Mino smiled at Lee Umji's reply. "All right, good night. Have a nice weekend."

"Yes, you too."

Lee Umji closed the door then rushed to the bathroom to take a shower. Changing the shirt she was wearing with pajamas. The wall clock showed ten in the evening. No wonder her stomach started making sounds of hunger.

She went to the refrigerator and found nothing to eat except for the kimchi her mother had brought from Busan. So she decided to go to a minimarket near the apartment building to buy ramen noodles. But first she wore a large jacket to cover the pajamas she was wearing.

"Oh, you returned to the old taste," said the cashier known to Lee Umji named Kwak Siwo, through the badge attached to his shirt.  A student who works part-time as a minimarket cashier in that place.

Lee Umji frowned. "This is indeed my favorite," she said reading the spicy taste on the noodle packaging.

Kwak Siwo laughed. "You liked the taste of seaweed."

Lee Umji was too tired to remember whether she bought ramen noodles accidentally or on purpose that had the taste of seaweed. "Maybe it was my birthday," she said casually. Seaweed soup is synonymous with becoming a mandatory dish for birthdays, that's how she thought. Korean culture.

After returned to apartement, Lee Umji eats half-cooked ramen noodles with kimchi while watching a television drama. Before heading to bed, she took the script that Ha Mino had been reading for a while.

"Daydream," murmured Lee Umji reading the title of the script which she felt was quite mainstream.

However, Lee Umji's eyes were so eager to close that she had not time to read the synopsis of the script. She chose to go to bed and pulled the blanket while adjusting the air conditioner to a low enough point.

Lee Umji felt her body floating. Either because of the effects of fatigue that is too heavy or cold air. But her body felt so light and then a second later it became heavy. Her eyes wanted to open but her strength seemed to be lost. Her breathing slowed down and faintly heard a voice that did not clearly mean it.

Is she being oppressed?

***