Episode 2

Even though Irene had heard the mockery directed at her, she was unconcerned and dismissed it as a breeze. Irene, who is happy living a life that may appear ambitious in the eyes of others, is fine even if others believe she is not.

 

Getting married up to 30 years at age is not a sad thing for Irene, even though she wishes to marry soon. But how can she want to marry when she hasn't found the right man?

 

Although many people judge Irene as a picky person and very perfectionist, it's no wonder why she hasn't found her soulmate until now.

 

When it was time for lunch, Irene walked out of her room to the canteen with a sluggish face.

 

Irene was holding the tray and waiting in line for food when Aaron arrived and then was in line behind her.

 

"What's the deal with your sluggish face?" Aaron inquired of Irene.

 

"Good afternoon, Miss Park," said one of the catering waiters in charge of delivering various types of side dishes to the office employees' trays.

 

"Good afternoon," Irene said with a smile on her face.

 

Aaron continued to walk next to Irene while waiting for the answer to his earlier question. However, Irene remained silent until the two of them were able to occupy one of the tables in the cafeteria.

 

"Are you going to eat your lunch with that expression?" Aaron inquired once more as Irene continued to appear sluggish as if she lacked the will to live.

 

Irene started to put down her chopsticks and then held Aaron's cheeks to look at her "Do you think I look that pathetic?"

 

Aaron, who was taken aback by Irene's sudden grip on his cheeks, could only remain silent and shake his head slowly.

 

"Ah, I hate growing up so much."

 

Irene took her hands away from Aaron's face, folded them, and buried her face in her folded hands.

 

"Are you okay?" Aaron inquired once more.

 

"How old are you?" Irene shook her head, then raised her head to look at Aaron.

 

"Of course, it's the same with you," he said as he ate the teriyaki-sauced cutlets.

 

"Oh, you're right. Did your parents ever pressure you to marry?"

 

Aaron now shook his head while Irene sighed and rested her head on the table, saying, "Ah, that sucks."

 

“Did your parents force you to get married right away?”

 

Still, with a sluggish face, Irene nodded.

 

"Then how come you look so frustrated?"

 

Suddenly, Irene raised her head as she sat up straight and glared at Aaron that busy chewing his lunch, “Hey! What do you think? Do you think matchmaking is not something that sucks?”

 

"Not really," Aaron said casually.

 

"Ah no. You appear to be more annoying than my mother." Irene grimaced.

 

"If you only knew your mother was that way because she was worried about her eldest child."

 

"Of course, I know! But, what's to worry about?!” Irene said with an irritated look.

 

Yes, Irene can be herself only in front of Aaron. Irene is fun, friendly, annoying, and chatty; almost all of Irene's characteristics have been known by Aaron when all employees in this Company know Irene as a firm person in addition to her friendliness.

 

During his high school years, Aaron became one of Irene's closest friends. Even though they were only classmates in 10th grade, their friendship is still going strong.

 

"What kind of future do you want to create for yourself? Even now, only your future shines brightest among your friends. So, shouldn't you be looking for a life partner?" Aaron said then.

 

"If only getting a life partner was as easy as you say. Of course, I would get married right now. Then how about you? You're also still unmarried until now. You've also been quite successful." Now Irene asked.

 

"My parents haven't put any pressure on me."

 

Irene snorted, "Then you won't marry until your parents force you to? That's it?"

 

Seeing Irene's exasperated face, Aaron laughed, "It's not like that, it's just that I'm working on it too."

 

Irene attempted to eat the sliced meat with her two chopsticks while still irritated.

 

"So how? "Are you going to accept your parents' arranged marriage?" Aaron inquired once more after a brief pause.

 

"I'm not sure, I asked for some time to think about it before accepting the invitation to the dinner this weekend."

 

Aaron chuckled and started to get up off his seat while carrying his empty lunch tray.

 

"Good luck!" said Aaron, who lightly patted Irene's shoulder before leaving.

 

Irene remained silent, her face irritated, as she watched Aaron's steps towards one of the caterers in charge of receiving the lunch trays for them to wash.

 

***

 

Irene stretched her body for a moment before looking at the clock on the wall, which read 2 p.m., and indicated that the bell for going home from work would ring in 2 hours.

 

Someone knocked on Irene's door just as she was about to look back at her laptop screen.

 

"Come in," Irene yelled from her seat.

 

A woman with neatly tied hair began to walk inside slowly, "Excuse me, Miss Park, how about the proposal from Difour Company? Have you signed it yet?"

 

"Oh, that. No, not yet. I'll deliver it to your desk twenty minutes before office hours."

 

"There's no need, Miss. You can call me to have it brought to you in the room. In that case, I'll excuse myself and return to work," the woman explained.

 

After receiving a nod from Irene, the woman took a step back and exited Irene's room.

 

Now, Irene's hand pulled back her desk drawer and grabbed a proposal that she still hadn't signed until this moment.

 

It was the fifth time since she had accepted this proposal, and all she could do was look at it and then put it back into the drawer. Irene attempted to take a pen from her drawer.

 

With a deep sigh, Irene opened the pen and began to sign a cooperation proposal from the Difour Company.

 

And, as Irene stated, she got up from her seat and walked over to her personal secretary twenty minutes before office time.

 

"Yeri, this is the proposal, and I've finished signing it," Irene said as she approached the woman surnamed Kang's desk.

 

"All right, Miss. Thank you. I apologize for forcing you to bring it directly to me." Yeri bowed her body and placed the proposal in the desk drawer where she worked.