Unveiled Secrets

As Hei-ran and Dae-hyun walked side by side towards their hotel rooms, their conversation continued, fueled by the late-night adrenaline and camaraderie that came from hours of intense work.

"By the way, Hei-ran, I noticed the name 'A-ri' on Eun-tae's phone. Who is she?" Curiosity got the better of Dae-hyun, and he couldn't resist asking Hei-ran a question that had piqued his interest.

"Why do you ask?" Hei-ran glanced at him, her expression slightly sceptical, as if she suspected Dae-hyun might be more of a busybody than she had initially thought.

"Oh, no reason in particular. It's just that I saw her name when Eun-tae's phone rang earlier, and I was curious," Dae-hyun raised his hands defensively.

"You know, it's not polite to peek at someone's phone," Hei-ran couldn't help but chuckle at his explanation.

"For the record, I promise I'm not some phone-peeping pervert. I also heard Ji-eun and Seo-jin mention her name when I had a conversation with them, and it just caught my eye when Eun-tae's phone rang. It was a pure coincidence," Dae-hyun grinned, attempting to defend himself. "I'm telling the truth."

"Well, there's no harm in telling you. A-ri is Eun-tae's fiancée," Hei-ran's scepticism softened into understanding. "Eun-tae told me that when I first worked under him."

Dae-hyun's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Fiancée? I had no idea he was engaged. That's wonderful news," he exclaimed, genuine surprise evident in his voice.

"Yes, it is. They've been together for quite some time now, and I feel like they make a lovely couple. A-ri must have been a remarkable person, just like Eun-tae," Hei-ran nodded, a fond smile playing on her lips as she thought of this mystery woman.

Dae-hyun couldn't contain his curiosity.

"When's the wedding? How did they meet? I mean, I've known Eun-tae for a while, and I never knew he was interested in love," he asked, his questions tumbling out one after the other.

"I don't know exactly either. Maybe the wedding is still in the planning stages and perhaps Eun-tae want it to be perfect. As for how they met, I have zero idea," Hei-ran chuckled at Dae-hyun's enthusiasm, doing her best to answer his rapid-fire inquiries.

"Eh? I never thought Eun-tae would be the type," Dae-hyun's surprise deepened.

"Seems like our boss is full of surprises. Sometimes, it's the most hardworking individuals who have the biggest hearts," Hei-ran smiled knowingly.

"Well, you're right about that. Eun-tae has always been dedicated to his work. When it comes to love, I just could've never guessed," Dae-hyun couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Hei-ran, intrigued by Dae-hyun's statement, probed gently.

"Well, when it comes to office gossip or scandals, I'm almost always the quickest to catch wind of them. But with Eun-tae, it's like he's in a league of his own," Dae-hyun shrugged casually.

"Really? You mean you never heard any rumours or anything about him?" Hei-ran's eyes widened in surprise.

"Not a whisper. That's why this surprises me so much," Dae-hyun shook his head with a sly grin. "And speaking of surprises, did you know that Ji-eun and Seo-jin are a thing?"

"What? Ji-eun and Seo-jin? You must be joking," Hei-ran's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"Nope, not joking at all. They've been dating for a while, too. See, sometimes even the most observant people can miss the most unexpected things," Dae-hyun chuckled, clearly enjoying Hei-ran's reaction.

"I can't believe it. They've been right under my nose this whole time, and I had no idea," Hei-ran shook her head, still in shock.

"It happens to the best of us. Life's full of surprises, isn't it?" Dae-hyun patted her shoulder with a grin.

As they continued their conversation, Hei-ran couldn't help but reflect on the layers of complexity that made up their team. Even in a late-night chat, they were discovering new facets of one another, strengthening their bond as they prepared for their crucial presentation in Munich.

As Dae-hyun and Hei-ran reached their respective room doors, Dae-hyun couldn't help but notice that Hei-ran had been standing still, her door left ajar, and a contemplative expression on her face. He almost closed his door but decided to inquire.

"Hei-ran, is everything okay? You look like you're lost in thought."

"Oh, sorry. It's just... the conversation about Ji-eun and Seo-jin being together got me thinking," Hei-ran seemed to snap out of her reverie, and she turned to face Dae-hyun.

"Thinking about what?" Dae-hyun raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Well, Ji-eun is the first female coworker I happen to work with, and I thought we were close enough to know more about each other than you know about her. But I had no idea about this. It makes me wonder if I missed something or if she didn't feel comfortable sharing it with me," Hei-ran sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Are you planning to ask her about it? Just talk to her woman to woman?" Dae-hyun considered her words for a moment.

"Dae-hyun, it doesn't work that way. We can't just confront each other like that. It's more complicated," Hei-ran gave him a look of mild disbelief.

"I could just ask Seo-jin straightforwardly. He'll give me an answer, no problem," Dae-hyun shrugged, looking nonchalant.

"You men and your direct approach. Trust me, it's not that simple with women. Besides, it's late, and we're both exhausted. Let's get the rest we need, and we can continue this conversation in the morning," Hei-ran chuckled at his bluntness.

"Fair enough. Sleep does sound good right now. Goodnight, Hei-ran," Dae-hyun agreed with a nod.

Hei-ran smiled and bid him goodnight in return, finally stepping into her room and closing the door behind her. As Dae-hyun entered his room, he couldn't help but think about the complexities of relationships, both personal and professional, within their team. It was a reminder that even amidst a high-stakes project, life carried on with its share of surprises and uncertainties.

As Eun-tae rushed towards the elevator, his heart still raced from his conversation with A-ri. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not being entirely truthful about the time. As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped inside and pressed the button for his floor.

Revisiting the call with A-ri, he remembered how it had started so innocently. He had greeted her with a warm "good morning" and asked about her sleep, to which she had playfully apologized for sleeping in and missing his earlier message.

"Good morning, Eun-tae. I'm sorry I didn't see your message earlier. I must have been really out of it," A-ri had said with a hint of a smile in her voice. Their long-distance relationship had taught them to cherish these moments of connection. A-ri had inquired about his day, her voice carrying genuine interest. "So, how did the meeting with IAPC go?"

"It went really well, A-ri. The collaboration is progressing smoothly, and everyone seems eager to work together," Eun-tae had felt a rush of affection at her endearment.

Then, almost out of nowhere, she asked about the time in Germany. Eun-tae's mind raced for a moment, debating whether to be entirely truthful. Finally, he answered.

"Oh, it's not that late. Just around midnight here. I'm wrapping up some work with the team."

"Eun-tae, it's nearly three in the morning in Leipzig. Are you sure everything is okay? Why are you up so late? Is something bothering you?" There was a brief pause on A-ri's end, and Eun-tae could sense her concern.

"Well, we do have a lot of work to do, A-ri. We're preparing for a test in Munich, and it's been keeping us busy," Eun-tae sighed, deciding to share the truth about their late-night work session and the upcoming test in Munich.

"Eun-tae, I want you to promise me something," A-ri's voice took on a more serious tone.

"Of course, A-ri. What is it?" Eun-tae nodded, even though she couldn't see him through the phone.

"Promise me that you'll get some rest. I won't speak to you until I know you're in bed, okay? Your health is important, and I don't want you overworking yourself," She replied firmly.

With that, A-ri ended the call, and Eun-tae's face became a puzzle. What should he do? Call her back. But then what should he answer if A-ri asked if he was already in bed? His mind raced with conflicting thoughts and a growing sense of urgency.

Driven by a desire to reassure A-ri and heed her advice, Eun-tae picked up his pace. He needed to get to his room quickly, make himself comfortable in bed, and send her a message. But as he rushed through the hotel's corridors, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow caught in a dilemma, one that involved both his commitment to work and his love for A-ri.

As the elevator reached his floor, Eun-tae couldn't help but smile at A-ri's caring yet firm nature. It was one of the many things he loved about her. With a newfound determination to follow her directive, he hurried to his room, determined to rest so he could face the challenges of the next day with a clear mind and heart.