Start-Up

Sick Leave

"Why not join Sandbox?"

In-jae shook her head with a smile as she settled in at her desk. So many things had happened since Ji-pyeong planted that idea in her mind that night at his apartment. Since then, In-jae successfully launched her company and joined Sandbox. Never mind that Dal-mi and Do-san seemed to have worked things out and had somehow managed to get into Sandbox too, with their office right across the hall. In-jae much preferred to keep her focus on growing her company, not on what the wannabes were trying to do.

What did get on In-jae's nerves was the fact that Dal-mi had chosen Ji-pyeong to be their mentor.

"The couch is too small for you. I don't mind sharing the bed."

In-jae shook her head quickly and muttered, "Don't go there, In-jae." She did her best not to think of how they had lain in bed side by side that night, talking about everything and nothing until they had fallen asleep. They were colleagues now. It wasn't appropriate for her to be thinking of Ji-pyeong in any way that wasn't professional.

"I'm glad you're here. It sucks to be alone sometimes."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she remembered how Ji-pyeong mumbled those words right before he fell asleep and-- "Ms. Won?"

Her eyes flew open and she saw one of her staff standing by her table, "Don't forget your meeting with Ms. Yoon."

Grateful for the distraction, In-jae gave a brisk nod and gathered her things, heading off to the meeting room to see their mentor.

After their meeting, In-jae found herself walking past Ji-pyeong's office and surreptitiously peeking inside. His desk was empty. "Oh, Ms. Won!" Park Dong-Chun greeted her as he came around the corner. 

Before In-jae could stop herself, she asked, "Is Mr. Han not in?" 

Park Dong-Chun shook his head. "He took the day off. He's not feeling well--" He clapped a hand over his mouth. "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that. Please pretend you didn't hear it!" And before In-jae could say a word, Park Dong-Chun hurried into the office.

She walked back to her office slowly, but instead of entering, she found herself pacing outside the doorway indecisively. Heaving a sigh of frustration, she took out her phone and dialed his number.

"He-- hello?" She caught the way he cleared his throat.

"Are you sick?" she asked straightforwardly.

"I'm fine," he replied, his voice sounding more gruff than usual.

In-jae stopped pacing and stood still. She knew what "I'm fine" meant.

"Okay," she said and put down the phone.

Ji-pyeong stared at his phone, wondering why In-jae had called then hung up so quickly. He set the phone down at his bedside table and shut his eyes. His head was spinning, and he curled up under the covers.

He drifted in and out of sleep, and was suddenly awakened by the incessant ringing of doorbell.

With a groan, he got out of bed and padded barefoot to the front door.

"What-- In-jae?!"

She took one look at him. "You don't look fine," she said as she pushed past him and entered his apartment.

He followed her into his kitchen where she set down a takeaway bowl of porridge, then she turned around to face him. Before he could stop her, she raised her hand to touch his forehead. "You're burning up," she said, and as she pulled her hand away, Ji-pyeong caught her by the wrist.

"Why are you here?" he asked softly.

She avoided his eyes, and instead dragged him to his room.

Without letting go of her wrist, Ji-pyeong sat on his bed then looked up at her. "In-jae. Why are you here?" he asked again.

Finally, she looked down at him and gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't know, okay? All I know is I always hated being sick and alone."

They stared at each other until finally, Ji-pyeong gave a small nod, let go of her wrist, then slipped under the covers. In-jae left the room and returned with the medicine.

"We can heat up the porridge later," she said as she watched him take the medicine.

In-jae then turned to leave the room and said over her shoulder, "Okay, I'll be outsi--"

"In-jae?" She stopped in her tracks. "Could you stay?"

Time seemed to slow down as In-jae closed her eyes and thought of what it was she really wanted to do.

Without turning to Ji-pyeong, she nodded and said, "Okay."

She left the room and returned with her things, and Ji-pyeong closed his eyes as he felt In-jae sit on the bed with her laptop and other reading materials around her.

As Ji-pyeong slept beside her, In-jae worked at her computer and studied her business plans. Occasionally she paused to touch his forehead and check on his fever.

Finally, In-jae called it a day and shut off her laptop. She cleared the bed of her reading materials, then sat down and stared at Ji-pyeong's sleeping figure. It seemed as though his fever had gone down, she thought as she touched his forehead.

"Why are you here?"  His voice came back to her as she brushed the hair off his face, her fingertips lightly tracing his jawline before she withdrew her hand. She had said she didn't know, but deep inside, she knew.

It wasn't just because she knew what it felt like to be sick and alone.

If she was going to be completely honest with herself, it was because she didn't like the thought of him being sick and alone. 

Careful not to jostle the bed, In-jae lay on her side to face Ji-pyeong and watch him sleep.

The weariness from the day began to sink in, and In-jae felt her eyes closing. "I'll just take a quick nap," she thought.

In-jae's eyes suddenly flew open when she felt Ji-pyeong slip his hand into hers. She studied him carefully and realized that he was still asleep. He gripped her hand tightly, and In-jae had no choice but to close her eyes again. As she drifted off to sleep, In-jae had to admit that she could get used to the feeling of falling asleep hand in hand with Ji-pyeong.