I'll Definitely Keep My Promise (2)
[Choi Hyena: Division director, hurry over.]
Choi Hyena said she'd reserved a spot at a nearby Chinese place.
But I decided to take my time getting there.
I did a round of Next Planet.
On days when I've fought a hard battle, for some reason, I always want to walk around Next Planet alone.
It feels like that's the only way to regain my calm.
So what's my next step? I pondered this for a while.
Most of the things I'd accomplished—except for the recruit promotion and a few others—were just temporary fixes.
They were the kind whose effects would quickly vanish with time.
I want to bring about a change to the theme park on a larger scale, from a more fundamental perspective.
I sat on a bench and looked at the roller coaster.
People don't visit theme parks just for the rides. But it's a fact that rides do make up a big part of the experience.
Next Planet's rides aren't bad at all. But on the matter of uniqueness?
'Silla Land' in Gyeongju is famous for its thrilling rides.
They have an attraction that drops guests from a height equivalent to a 20-story apartment building at an almost vertical angle; another that spirals at over 90km per hour; another that swings rapidly side to side, before turning 360 degrees at 30 meters up, and so on.
It could be said to be the Korean version of the roller coaster meccas—California's 〈X's Flags Magic Mountain〉 or Japan's 〈Fuji X Highland〉, which is known as a symbol of terror.
So, in Korea, when you think of fear or thrills, 'Silla Land' pops into your mind immediately. That means a lot.
But Next Planet doesn't have a flawless worldbuilding like 〈D*sney〉, nor does it allow guests to enter the world of movies as the main character, like 〈Uni*versal Studios〉.
That's a problem I can't even touch yet. But it's one I want and need to solve—someday.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah! division director Oh."
Division director Oh Kang-il was wearing a straw hat, a pair of garden shears in his hand to trim twigs.
Division Director Oh sat down next to me.
"Not often you see someone with such big achievements looking so troubled."
I told Division Director Oh about what I'd been thinking.
He let out a hearty laugh.
"You're young, you're young."
He gave my back a gentle pat with his thick hand.
"Division director Hyunmin, do you know what my dream is?"
I looked at him, puzzled.
"Why, just because I'm this old, does it seem like I wouldn't have dreams?"
"No... I didn't mean it like that. It's just such an unexpected question."
"You know there's an empty lot if you head out Next Planet's north exit? That land also belongs to Next Planet. Did you know?"
"Yes, I knew."
"I'd like to plant a small forest with a campsite there. I know well that's just a foolish daydream unless I become the chairman-nim."
It was surprising.
I wasn't especially close with division director Oh Kang-il. Yet he was confiding in me like this.
"Wouldn't it be nice if people could come to the theme park and go camping, walk in the woods? Of course, it's just because I like forests, that's where the thought came from... Once you get older, you start talking about all sorts of silly things. The reason I mentioned the forest is—"
"I'm very curious."
"You can't create a forest in a short time. It takes years of planting and nurturing trees. Right now, division director Hyunmin, you're in the process of planting and nurturing trees. Since you can't see what the forest will look like yet, maybe you sometimes wonder what you're even doing. But if you keep doing your best step by step, you'll end up creating a beautiful forest."
I bowed my head to show my appreciation to Division Director Oh.
I was so grateful for his encouraging words.
And I realized my own viewpoint was always trapped inside Next Planet.
But Next Planet could exist outside of itself too. That idea let new images form in my mind.
"On days like today, don't you think you should celebrate with the colleagues who worked hard alongside you? Don't just sit here."
"You're right. I was just about to go."
I got up from the bench.
It's a long way off, and I don't know if it can ever come true.
But I found myself wanting to grant Division Director Oh Kang-il's wish someday.
I joined the company dinner.
"Hello, division director."
There were two kids—a boy and a girl, both looking too young to be in grade school yet—who politely greeted me.
I glanced at Choi Hyena and team leader Shin Miyoung of the Marketing & PR Team in turn.
Amazing, Choi Hyena. I really didn't expect her to bring kids. And Team Leader Miyoung just went along with it.
There was an open seat beside Team Leader Miyoung, so I sat there.
She shrugged and said,
"Junho and Yunjung agreed to look after the kids, so we brought both."
Lee Yunjung was feeding the girl sweet-and-sour pork. Watching the little slices of pork disappearing into her tiny mouth...
Adorable.
Kim Junho and the boy were sharing a bowl of jjajangmyeon, both getting black bean sauce all over their faces as they ate.
They looked like they were having the time of their lives.
So I said,
"Should I order some cola too?"
"Huh? Can I drink cola? I want some."
"You already had cola earlier. Division director!"
Team leader Miyoung, who was drinking with Choi Hyena, shot me a glare.
"No more today."
"Okaaaay..."
It just looked so cute, watching the kids drink cola.
It made me want to sneak them some just like an uncle would.
Isn't that what uncles are for? Doing things mom says not to?
But Team Leader Miyoung was too scary for me to go through with it.
Deputy Kang Dae-hyun from the HR team was also there, sitting with his close friend Park Seok-min, team leader of the Event & Performance Team.
"Didn't expect you to be here as well, deputy Kang."
"Ha... I don't even know why I'm here. Hyena-nim all but dragged me along, so I had no choice. I'd rather be home already."
"If you came along, just eat quietly."
Watching those two, I couldn't hold in a laugh.
Should I say I was relieved?
At least team leader Kang Sangsu from the finance team and the other division directors weren't present.
When I mentioned this, Choi Hyena replied,
"Team leader Kang Sangsu said it'd be embarrassing for an older person to crash a gathering of young people, so he didn't come. As for the division directors... I was too scared to even contact them."
"So you still have some common sense left."
"When I get promoted to team leader someday, maybe then I'll have the courage to invite them!"
Let's delay your team leader promotion as long as possible.
As always, the dinner party was loud and boisterous.
Tonight, Choi Hyena was especially out of control, like a runaway train.
Lee Yunjung did her best to keep up with her, but eventually passed the supporting role on to Kim Junho out of exhaustion.
The first round ended, and as we moved on to the second spot.
Choi Hyena, her face already flushed, poked my arm insistently with her finger.
"Division director."
"What is it?"
"Since you kept your promise, I'll definitely keep mine too."
I remembered when she first came to me. Back then, I had no one on my side, not a soul.
Honestly, I hadn't believed I could ever persuade Choi Hyena to work with me. I had nothing to offer—naturally, I didn't think I could.
But she ended up joining me, leaving me with these words:
[Get rid of that jerk Business Planning team leader, and my ex-mentor, that woman Park Miran.]
I granted her wish.
[Within three years, you become Business Planning Team leader by your own merit.]
That was my own wish.
I hope she'll fulfill it.
I said to Choi Hyena,
"Just don't go inviting other division directors to company dinners without warning."
"Ah! But that's my dream. Someday, I was even going to invite the chairman-nim."
Please no...
Lee Yunjung leaned in between me and Choi Hyena and asked,
"So, what kind of promise is this? I want to know too."
Choi Hyena pressed a finger to her lips.
"It's a secret."
"What? Unni, come on, don't do that! No secrets between us, right? I always tell you everything."
"Yes! I have a secret. I'm the unni. You're the younger one. So I don't need to tell you."
"You're so mean!"
"I want to know what it's about too..."
Kim Junho said, pouting.
"Not even you, Junho-nim."
Seeing the three of them, I couldn't help but smile.
We moved on to the second round.
Around 9:00, a new person joined us.
"Hello, I'm Min Ji-na. I joined Next Global the same year as Hyunmin-oppa."
Lee Yunjung's eyes sparkled.
"Wow, you're so gorgeous. Can I call you unni?"
"It'd be an honor if someone as cute as you called me unni, Yunjung-nim."
"Unni, just call me Yunjung comfortably."
Min Ji-na melted right into the group in no time.
Surprisingly, Kang Dae-hyun, who usually really likes pretty women, was very quiet.
When he'd met with Choi Hyena before, he'd immediately tried to hit on her.
Team Leader Park Seok-min noticed this oddity and commented,
"What's up with you being so still?"
Dae-hyun, who was sitting close to me and Seok-min, whispered low enough only for us to hear,
"The way she talks, her clothes, her manners... I feel this huge status gap that's just unapproachable."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"All you can do is show respect to Ji-na-nim. Just remember that. She'll be of huge help someday."
As expected—Kang Dae-hyun has a keen eye for people. I couldn't help but be impressed.
My hunch had been that Ji-na was a close associate to the chairman-nim, and her family was well-off.
Lately, I'd updated that evaluation: her family's not just well off—they're very well-off.
Maybe her parents run a business?
Probably a solid company, somewhere between a medium and mid-to-large enterprise?
Anyway, dae-hyun must have meant what he said, because he started acting like Ji-na's personal attendant—bringing her an apron, placing her orders for her, and so on.
He really is a peculiar guy sometimes.
Min Ji-na said to Kim Junho,
"I'm the first to do the 115km music video challenge. Please do your best to catch my good side."
"Eh? I didn't hear anything about that..."
Everyone turned to look at me.
"Oppa, you didn't tell them? That's why I came all the way here."
"Oh, right."
At that, Kang Dae-hyun said disdainfully,
"Division director, what have you been doing? You need to share this kind of important info quickly. Aren't you a division director..."
This guy...
Meanwhile, Choi Hyena, already thoroughly drunk, suddenly had her eyes flash with a dazzling array of colors.
"So, you're planning to use Ji-na unni for the music video challenge as a promo video, right? Tsk tsk... You are always so damn calculating, using people one by one around you, division director."
Using people in such a calculated way. She made it sound like a compliment, but it felt weird.
Smiling innocently, Choi Hyena gave me a thumbs up.
"With Ji-na unni's looks, it's already a guaranteed hit."
Right beside her, Lee Yunjung chimed in enthusiastically.
"A Goddess doing the Your Touch challenge! Such a wonderful event. Unni, have another drink."
"Junho-nim, treat Ji-na unni like a princess. Seriously, what are you doing? Fill her appetizer plate."
"Yeah, oppa, make sure nothing happens to Ji-na unni's precious self."
At that, it was Kang Dae-hyun, not Kim Junho, who piled appetizers onto Min Ji-na's plate.
"I'm Kang Dae-hyun. Please, remember me."
Why is everyone so over-the-top?
Time passed, and soon only Min Ji-na, myself, Kim Junho, Choi Hyena, and Lee Yunjung remained.
The drinking party ended, and we stepped outside the bar.
With a brief window when Min Ji-na wasn't around, Choi Hyena nudged me in the side.
"Ji-na unni is really something. If she came all the way here just to see you, doesn't that mean she's interested in you?"
Lee Yunjung, her eyes filled with expectations, agreed.
"That's right. Ji-na unni is so pretty, smart, and cool. She's my role model. You have to hold on tight, division director."
"What are you talking about?"
Min Ji-na came over, and Choi Hyena and Lee Yunjung watched us like characters from a romance drama.
"It's nothing. Anyway, how are you getting back?"
"I called a cab. I booked a hotel by the lake. What about you, oppa?"
"I'm going to walk. Be careful heading up tomorrow."
"I had a great time today, thanks to everyone treating me so well. Let's meet again."
After she left, Choi Hyena and Lee Yunjung complained, their eyes full of dissatisfaction.
"Something something, but nothing happened, division director."
"Yeah, I was hoping for a more romantic vibe."
"It's late. Let's all head home."
And so, I parted ways with everyone.
On the walk home, I thought about Min Ji-na.
It's not that I'm not interested in her. To be honest, I wonder if there's any guy who wouldn't feel a flutter seeing her.
How could I not be interested?
But it's true that I've been making an effort not to see her in a romantic light.
I grew up in an ordinary household. That's why I can't bring myself to approach her.
Because I lack confidence, I don't approach.
Since becoming a division director at Next Planet, I've shown more daring than before, but... this is my essence.
To hide my lack of confidence, I keep rushing forward, not stopping to look around.
I have to make up stupid excuses like this for myself.
At that thought, I suddenly remembered something and sent a message.
[Me: Is Sungard Systems really a company that does business with Next Global?]
She replied right away.
[Min Ji-na: That's not important.]
***
I heard that team leader Lee Siwon and manager Park Miran were being criminally prosecuted.
Of course, from the company side, we'd also be filing a civil lawsuit soon. And two more people from the Business Strategy Team were fired.
The company was in an uproar, once again.
[At this rate, isn't division director Lee Hyunmin really here for restructuring? How many people has he let go since he arrived? Still, I have to admit, this is the most innovative downsizing I've ever seen.]
[I've never liked the Business Strategy Team anyway. They don't do any work but act like they're the company's control tower.]
[The Reform Division director is scary. Whether he's rooting out corruption or not, he's made the company atmosphere grim.]
[Is it wrong to root out corruption? Personally, I think the Reform Division did a great job.]
[I'm still scared of Lee Hyunmin. But that's just at work—otherwise he's really polite. I respect that.]
[Grim Reaper! HyunminDeath!]
[At first, I hated Lee Hyunmin and the Reform Division. But not anymore. Next Planet is headed in a better direction, isn't it?]
The mood on the anonymous message board wasn't bad towards me. But... Grim Reaper and HyunminDeath...
That stung. More than a little.
The Business Planning Team leader position was being temporarily filled by the executive vice president. It couldn't be helped, given the emergency.
Thanks to the shade-making and cooling product promotions, the daily average visitors only dropped by about 20 percent.
Normally, numbers would fall in half, so we'd beaten the odds.
The 115km mini concert began.
That day, Next Planet welcomed over 2,000 visitors—the most in nearly five years.
We threw another party.
Now all that was left was the music video making project. If that took off, summer would go smoothly.
At the Reform Division meeting, I spoke up.
"I'm thinking of making a trip to Japan."
"Ugh..."
Lee Yunjung didn't bother to hide her displeasure.
But it can't be helped.
If we can bring Yunjung's mother's shop in as a tenant in Next Planet, it'll be hugely beneficial.
And I had another plan connected to that. I hadn't figured out the specifics yet, so I hadn't told anyone; I just kept it to myself for now.
Next Planet can exist outside the boundaries of Next Planet too.