That Friday, there was excitement amongst a group of extroverted employees. They sipped on their coffee in the break room while talking with one another.

One of the employees spoke, "Did you hear? The welcome party for the new intern is today."

Another quickly asked a question that they needed the answer to, "Is the TL coming?"

"Knowing him, he'll give a speech then leave after an hour."

The employee that had been quietly drinking their coffee chimed in, 

"Either way, I'm going to drink till I drop today!"

"What's with that guy?" one whispered.

"I heard his girlfriend broke up with him yesterday...." Another replied.

***

Mr. Kim, as he always did at company dinners, sat near Ms. Park and the other more introverted employees. And slowly sipped on the drink that was set in front of him. 

Everyone tried to listen to the team leader talking, his speech going on longer than usual.

A few employees whispered to each other,

"How long has it been?"

"Ten minutes? twenty?"

The department didn't particularly dislike their team leader, they did however, dislike the speeches he always gave. 

He cleared his throat, "ahem. I hope you do good work, Mr. Kang."

Mr. Kang straightened his back, "Ye-yes, Sir." 

The newly broken up with employee picked up his glass and shouted, "Cheers!"

Mr. Kang drank a few glasses as people kept refilling his cup. After a while, he excused himself and sat near Mr. Kim who was still only half way through his first glass.

"Mr. Kim, do you not enjoy drinking?" Mr. Kang asked.

"I don't want to drink today."

"Mr. Kim, can I ask you something?”

Mr. Kang seemed to be a little tipsy, his face was flushed and he was slightly swaying in his seat.

“Sure.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“What?”

Mr. Kim didn’t know what to expect, but he didn’t think that Mr. Kang was thinking something like that.

Mr. Kang continued rambling, “I mean, you never eat lunch with me and the others. I don’t really understand office work and keep having to ask you for help. I feel like I keep burdening you, Mr. Kim.”

Mr. Kim pushed a cup of water towards him, 

“I don’t hate you, Mr. Kang.”

Mr. Kang grabbed the cup of water and quickly chugged it. Wiping the water that dripped down his chin.

“You don’t?”

“I don’t know if someone has told you. But, I haven’t felt well recently.”

“You’ve been sick?” 

Before Mr. Kim could explain more, Mr. Kang went on to block out any further words. He wondered why someone would work as much as Mr. Kim does if they were that sick. Which made him conclude that Mr. Kim works as a distraction. Even though this was simply a conclusion based on assumptions, it was surprisingly not that far off.

Mr. Kang felt all the drinks he had rushing to his head,

“Mr. Kim, don’t worry I understand.”

And Mr. Kang knocked out onto the table. Mr. Kim didn’t hear what he had just said, neither did he expect him to fall asleep. 

Ms. Park noticed the scene, and remembering what Mr. Kim did last time, wanted to make sure Mr. Kang got home safely.

“Mr. Kim, do you know his address?”

“Ms. Park. No, I don’t.”

“I can ask the team leader if they know, keep an eye on him for a bit.”

Ms. Park walked away to try and find out where Mr. Kang lived so that they could send him home safely. Mr. Kim was left to watch over the mumbling Mr. Kang who was sleeping with his head down on the table.

“Mr. Kim,” he mumbled.

Ms. Park came back, 

“I called a cab for him, Mr. Kim, can you help me take him outside?”

“Yes.” 

Mr. Kim didn't want to drink much because he had plans the next afternoon with Mr. Lim. 

He decided that he’d call himself a cab, after he made sure Mr. Kang got into one.

Mr. Kim started to pack his things and grabbed Mr. Kang’s suit jacket. He swung Mr. Kang’s arm over his shoulder and stood him up, Ms. Park grabbed his other arm over her shoulder.

The two struggled a little to carry Mr. Kang to the car outside. Once he was inside the car, Ms. Park told the driver his address. 

After she watched the car drive off, she turned to Mr. Kim, 

"Mr. Kim, are you leaving as well?" she asked.

"Yes, I have plans tomorrow,” Mr. Kim answered.

"I see. Mr. Kim, get home safe."

"I will."

Ms. Park stood still for a while.

“Do you mind if I stay out here until your ride arrives?” she asked.

Mr. Kim had noticed how Ms. Park was concerned with getting Mr. Kang home safe. Although he doesn’t fully remember the night of the company dinner where he seemingly entered an alternate universe. He knew that he simply left that day. And even though he didn’t get hurt, to the people around him, it would seem like he must have gotten hurt that day and lost his memories. 

Mr. Kim replied, “I don’t mind, the air is quite refreshing.”

“It is.”

“I hope you get home safe Mr. Kim."

Mr. Kim smiled faintly, "don’t worry Ms. Park, I’ll be okay.”