Saturday's Master

Volume 2 - Chapter 6

After thinking about it, the place I decided on was almost the only restaurant I had visited near the company. Because the text he sent was a riddle, not a menu. It was long at first glance, so I hesitated even when I pressed it, but it was worse when I opened it.

"The dining room lighting is neither too bright nor too dark. Above all, don't be noisy. The menu is full of nutrients, not too sweet, not too salty, not greasy. And make a reservation for a seat where you can sit face to face."

I couldn't get a feel for it. After thinking about it, he even asked assistant manager Kwon, who said he knew a lot of delicious places near the company, to ask for help via messenger. I rewrote the text sent by Team leader Han one by one, hit enter, numbered 1 to 5, and sent them in order.

1. Lighting (not too bright, not too dark)

2. Noise (Not too loud)

3. Nutrition... .

"... Are you dating?」

Assistant Manager Kwon immediately sent me links to restaurants near the company. The problem was that all of those restaurants had an atmosphere where I would be too shy to eat with two men facing each other.

I looked at the elegant interior photos that seemed to be playing classical music, and eventually closed all the Internet tabs I had open. However, it was impossible to tell Assistant Manager Kwon that he was going to eat with Team leader Han.

In the end, we decided on a vegetarian buffet near the company. It was at the beginning of the company, so it was a year ago. He tried to buy meat for his sister who came to the company on purpose, but when he met his sister, she stopped eating greasy food and was on a diet.

When he heard that, he hurriedly searched his surroundings and went in as soon as he came out, but he remembered that it wasn't bad. From a rough idea, it seemed to satisfy all the conditions that Team leader Han had written down.

After repeated deleting and rewriting, I sent a text message to Team leader Han.

"Do you like vegetables?"

He replied in less than ten seconds.

"Choose roughly. Anything doesn't matter."

"Come now."

***

"... ah."

I got into his car and muttered involuntarily. Team leader Han who lit a cigarette gave a glance.

"what."

"yes?"

"What were you thinking?"

It started smoothly. I grabbed the seat belt with my right hand and pulled it. The scent of the air freshener mixed with the wind from the heater was familiar.

"It's strange."

"What."

"Eat out."

"You ate with me at the hotel. Don't you forget that?"

"... It's the first time after that."

I thought I didn't know why Team leader Han was next to me every time I ate something other than company meal or a convenience store sandwich. Except for my younger sister, I hadn't had a chance to go out for dinner with anyone else for years, but it was already the second time with Team leader Han in a few weeks. I turned my head and shut my mouth as I felt something like a fishing hook sticking in my chest.

By the time we left the parking lot, the sun had already set. Team leader Han grabbed the steering wheel with one hand and roughly stopped the car at the entrance to the parking lot. He shifted gears and looked back at me.