when the phone rings novel

"Had such a good sleep..."

On the bus, Hee-joo had fallen completely asleep. When she woke, she found herself leaning on Baek Sa-eon's shoulder, and he hadn't stopped her the entire way. Embarrassed and unsure of what to do, Hee-joo hurriedly got off the bus, avoiding his gaze.

Brilliantly colored maple leaves. The fiery reds blanketed the entire mountain, set against the clear blue sky.

"Wow..."

Everywhere was a sea of red. Her heart, which had been pounding since earlier, thumped even more violently.

Employees gathered at the foot of the mountain by the resort. This event was a company outing involving the entire publicity department, including the chief, spokesperson, and secretaries. Judging by their attire, they were all seasoned participants of such activities. Hiking clothes, backpacks, trekking poles, hats—everything was in place.

By comparison, Hee-joo looked as if she had casually gone out for a walk. She wore loose sportswear and carried a simple bag.

At that moment, Baek Sa-eon, who was managing the team, walked over and opened Hee-joo's bag. He glanced at its sparse contents and frowned slightly.

"I knew it."

Without hesitation, Baek Sa-eon unzipped his own bag and packed water, a towel, chocolate, and a first-aid kit into hers. Then, he removed the windbreaker he was wearing and tied it around her waist.

"Wear it if you get cold."

The fitted black top clung to his strong frame, accentuating every line of his muscles. Each time he bent over to secure the jacket around her, his shoulder blades shifted slightly under the fabric. It all happened so quickly.

"Wow, Mr. Spokesperson, you're never this attentive to the rest of us!"

"Yeah, why don't you check my bag too?"

"Are you playing favorites among the employees?"

The teasing complaints came from all directions. The typically cold and aloof Blue House spokesperson, who was now so attentive to the new sign language interpreter, had drawn countless curious stares.

"Yes, I'm playing favorites," he replied casually after securing the windbreaker, his tone indifferent.

Baek Sa-eon glanced briefly at Hee-joo before walking to the front of the group to continue organizing.

Hee-joo, flustered, rubbed her ear awkwardly.

And so, the hike began.

"Whew... whew..."

"Why do we put ourselves through this every year..."

"Totally... couldn't agree more."

The employees practically crawled up the mountain, their energy draining fast. Gradually, conversations ceased, leaving only the clinking of hiking gear.

A winding stone path. Twisted tree roots and dense underbrush. Rugged steps carved into the steep slope.

This activity, though physically challenging, seemed perfectly suited for the quiet Hee-joo. She focused on nothing but following Baek Sa-eon's back, which she trailed closely. Soon, she had passed her senior colleagues and moved to the front.

The elderly chief of public relations widened his eyes.

"Wow, our sign language interpreter has incredible stamina!"

Hee-joo could only offer a shy smile, but before long, even the chief fell behind.

"Hee-joo, watch out for that."

Baek Sa-eon pointed to a sharp stone half-buried in the ground.

Now, only the two of them were left at the front.

Walking ahead, Baek Sa-eon glanced back at her occasionally, his expression showing subtle surprise.

In truth, Hee-joo's legs were burning, but she felt an indescribable sense of relief.

"Turns out keeping up with him isn't so hard..."

Hee-joo found herself growing fond of hiking, discovering the simplicity of staying close to Baek Sa-eon.

"You haven't complained even once."

He suddenly stopped, gulping down water from a bottle.

"Hee-joo, do I make you uncomfortable?"

The 500ml bottle was emptied in an instant. He crushed it in his hand and asked, his tone firm.

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden..."

"What do I have to do for you to talk to me?"

"...!"

He wiped his sweat-soaked hair back in frustration.

"Is it because of our sign language interpreter? My head is filled with thoughts of what Hee-joo's mouth might want to say these days."

"...!"

"I've been so careful around you, and now I'm wondering... am I just an idiot?"

His brow furrowed as he handed a fresh water bottle to her.

"From the moment you started crying loudly, I should've started questioning things."

Reluctantly, Hee-joo engaged in an unexpected tug-of-war with the water bottle he wouldn't release.

At that moment, his sharp gaze pierced through her.

"Hee-joo, there's a thing in this world called justification. You know, the one who gets hit first is usually smarter."

The sound of his heavy breathing hung in the cool mountain air.

A mountain breeze blew past. Hee-joo casually snatched the water bottle, unscrewing the cap. She sensed something was off but assumed it was 406 complaining about her actions, making him unhappy. The sweat cooling on her neck brought a faint chill.

"Just letting you know."
"......"
"Stop bringing trouble upon yourself."

As she drank, a trace of coldness flickered across the man's face.

Finally, they reached the summit. The climbing activity that started in the morning culminated in the afternoon at the mountain peak.
"Wow! It's finally over!"
"Ugh..."
"The view is beautiful... but I'm so exhausted..."

At the summit, there was nothing but the endless sky. Listening to the groans of the employees who arrived later, Hee-joo stole a glance at Baek Sa-eon. The man had grown noticeably quieter. After reaching the summit first, he immediately put on headphones, engrossed in something. Was he working? Even here?

"Alright, everyone, spread out where the view is best!"
The head of the public relations department gathered the scattered employees. An assistant quickly produced a camera.
"Let's take a commemorative photo! Hold up the banner! Watch the cliff! Don't push those behind you, and those in front, crouch down a bit..."

The employees, clearly accustomed to such activities, swiftly assumed their positions. Hee-joo, unsure of what to do, decided to keep a low profile, standing in the back row and cautiously revealing her face among the crowd.
"Alright, this is the last group activity of the Blue House Public Relations Department. Seeing everyone together is truly moving! Let's count to three for the photo! Everyone, raise your right hand in a cheer pose!"

Where the crooked trees met the sky, people raised their right hands energetically, creating a picturesque scene captured in the lens.
"Ah—!"
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air.

All eyes immediately turned in the direction of the sound. Baek Sa-eon hurriedly moved, holding the banner.
"Someone fell off!"
A voice cried out desperately.

Everyone quickly knelt and peered down the cliff. All they saw was a steep drop.
Whoosh—whoosh— The crimson maple trees rippled like waves.

The deadly silent cliff had seemingly swallowed someone whole.
"Hee-joo Hong—!"
A single man's shattered voice echoed through the valley.

The Public Relations Office was thrown into a state of emergency. During the workshop, a newly hired sign language interpreter had accidentally fallen.

"How long have we been trying to contact 119?!"
The Public Relations Secretary shouted into his phone.
"Do you know who I am?!"
He waved his finger at nothing but air, his frustration boiling over.

For an incident like this to occur in the final stage of the president's term was an unthinkable misfortune. For the sake of political stability, they couldn't provide any pretext for rival parties. Public servant safety negligence was an easy target for criticism.

"The rescue team will arrive shortly."
At that moment, a hoarse, gravelly voice broke through.

It was Baek Sa-eon, his eyes bloodshot. The Public Relations Secretary noticed him and cautiously spoke.
"Are you calm now?"
"......"

Baek Sa-eon clenched his teeth again, the taste of blood returning as his injured gums tore further. Though he knew such behavior was unbecoming, he spat blood onto the ground regardless.

For someone usually so composed, this was the first time Baek Sa-eon had completely lost his reason. The other employees, wary of his presence, shuffled anxiously at a distance.

He remained at the summit even after the first helicopter rescue attempt failed, seemingly too shocked to speak. He simply stood, dazed.

"Hee-joo Hong, the interpreter—what's her relationship to you? The staff still doesn't know."
"......"
"You look utterly disgraceful right now."

Hee-joo Hong had vanished right before his eyes. This was something he had never dared to imagine.

"Still no contact?"
"Her phone is turned off."
"Any other means of communication?"
"......"

A wave of nausea hit him. Absolute helplessness.

Having weathered unstable times, Baek Sa-eon had never experienced such a crushing sense of failure since reaching adulthood. The feeling wrapped around him like unbreakable chains.

He let out a bitter smile.
Why did I push myself to climb so high?

For whom did I make such a decision?

How could you disappear like this?

Baek Sa-eon swallowed the bitterness in his throat and silently closed his eyes.
If it really is you... if my suspicions are true...

Unknowingly, the sun had already dipped behind the ridge.

"Had such a good sleep..."

On the bus, Hee-joo had fallen completely asleep. When she woke, she found herself leaning on Baek Sa-eon's shoulder, and he hadn't stopped her the entire way. Embarrassed and unsure of what to do, Hee-joo hurriedly got off the bus, avoiding his gaze.

Brilliantly colored maple leaves. The fiery reds blanketed the entire mountain, set against the clear blue sky.

"Wow..."

Everywhere was a sea of red. Her heart, which had been pounding since earlier, thumped even more violently.

Employees gathered at the foot of the mountain by the resort. This event was a company outing involving the entire publicity department, including the chief, spokesperson, and secretaries. Judging by their attire, they were all seasoned participants of such activities. Hiking clothes, backpacks, trekking poles, hats—everything was in place.

By comparison, Hee-joo looked as if she had casually gone out for a walk. She wore loose sportswear and carried a simple bag.

At that moment, Baek Sa-eon, who was managing the team, walked over and opened Hee-joo's bag. He glanced at its sparse contents and frowned slightly.

"I knew it."

Without hesitation, Baek Sa-eon unzipped his own bag and packed water, a towel, chocolate, and a first-aid kit into hers. Then, he removed the windbreaker he was wearing and tied it around her waist.

"Wear it if you get cold."

The fitted black top clung to his strong frame, accentuating every line of his muscles. Each time he bent over to secure the jacket around her, his shoulder blades shifted slightly under the fabric. It all happened so quickly.

"Wow, Mr. Spokesperson, you're never this attentive to the rest of us!"

"Yeah, why don't you check my bag too?"

"Are you playing favorites among the employees?"

The teasing complaints came from all directions. The typically cold and aloof Blue House spokesperson, who was now so attentive to the new sign language interpreter, had drawn countless curious stares.

"Yes, I'm playing favorites," he replied casually after securing the windbreaker, his tone indifferent.

Baek Sa-eon glanced briefly at Hee-joo before walking to the front of the group to continue organizing.

Hee-joo, flustered, rubbed her ear awkwardly.

And so, the hike began.

"Whew... whew..."

"Why do we put ourselves through this every year..."

"Totally... couldn't agree more."

The employees practically crawled up the mountain, their energy draining fast. Gradually, conversations ceased, leaving only the clinking of hiking gear.

A winding stone path. Twisted tree roots and dense underbrush. Rugged steps carved into the steep slope.

This activity, though physically challenging, seemed perfectly suited for the quiet Hee-joo. She focused on nothing but following Baek Sa-eon's back, which she trailed closely. Soon, she had passed her senior colleagues and moved to the front.

The elderly chief of public relations widened his eyes.

"Wow, our sign language interpreter has incredible stamina!"

Hee-joo could only offer a shy smile, but before long, even the chief fell behind.

"Hee-joo, watch out for that."

Baek Sa-eon pointed to a sharp stone half-buried in the ground.

Now, only the two of them were left at the front.

Walking ahead, Baek Sa-eon glanced back at her occasionally, his expression showing subtle surprise.

In truth, Hee-joo's legs were burning, but she felt an indescribable sense of relief.

"Turns out keeping up with him isn't so hard..."

Hee-joo found herself growing fond of hiking, discovering the simplicity of staying close to Baek Sa-eon.

"You haven't complained even once."

He suddenly stopped, gulping down water from a bottle.

"Hee-joo, do I make you uncomfortable?"

The 500ml bottle was emptied in an instant. He crushed it in his hand and asked, his tone firm.

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden..."

"What do I have to do for you to talk to me?"

"...!"

He wiped his sweat-soaked hair back in frustration.

"Is it because of our sign language interpreter? My head is filled with thoughts of what Hee-joo's mouth might want to say these days."

"...!"

"I've been so careful around you, and now I'm wondering... am I just an idiot?"

His brow furrowed as he handed a fresh water bottle to her.

"From the moment you started crying loudly, I should've started questioning things."

Reluctantly, Hee-joo engaged in an unexpected tug-of-war with the water bottle he wouldn't release.

At that moment, his sharp gaze pierced through her.

"Hee-joo, there's a thing in this world called justification. You know, the one who gets hit first is usually smarter."

The sound of his heavy breathing hung in the cool mountain air.

A mountain breeze blew past. Hee-joo casually snatched the water bottle, unscrewing the cap. She sensed something was off but assumed it was 406 complaining about her actions, making him unhappy. The sweat cooling on her neck brought a faint chill.

"Just letting you know."
"......"
"Stop bringing trouble upon yourself."

As she drank, a trace of coldness flickered across the man's face.

Finally, they reached the summit. The climbing activity that started in the morning culminated in the afternoon at the mountain peak.
"Wow! It's finally over!"
"Ugh..."
"The view is beautiful... but I'm so exhausted..."

At the summit, there was nothing but the endless sky. Listening to the groans of the employees who arrived later, Hee-joo stole a glance at Baek Sa-eon. The man had grown noticeably quieter. After reaching the summit first, he immediately put on headphones, engrossed in something. Was he working? Even here?

"Alright, everyone, spread out where the view is best!"
The head of the public relations department gathered the scattered employees. An assistant quickly produced a camera.
"Let's take a commemorative photo! Hold up the banner! Watch the cliff! Don't push those behind you, and those in front, crouch down a bit..."

The employees, clearly accustomed to such activities, swiftly assumed their positions. Hee-joo, unsure of what to do, decided to keep a low profile, standing in the back row and cautiously revealing her face among the crowd.
"Alright, this is the last group activity of the Blue House Public Relations Department. Seeing everyone together is truly moving! Let's count to three for the photo! Everyone, raise your right hand in a cheer pose!"

Where the crooked trees met the sky, people raised their right hands energetically, creating a picturesque scene captured in the lens.
"Ah—!"
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air.

All eyes immediately turned in the direction of the sound. Baek Sa-eon hurriedly moved, holding the banner.
"Someone fell off!"
A voice cried out desperately.

Everyone quickly knelt and peered down the cliff. All they saw was a steep drop.
Whoosh—whoosh— The crimson maple trees rippled like waves.

The deadly silent cliff had seemingly swallowed someone whole.
"Hee-joo Hong—!"
A single man's shattered voice echoed through the valley.

The Public Relations Office was thrown into a state of emergency. During the workshop, a newly hired sign language interpreter had accidentally fallen.

"How long have we been trying to contact 119?!"
The Public Relations Secretary shouted into his phone.
"Do you know who I am?!"
He waved his finger at nothing but air, his frustration boiling over.

For an incident like this to occur in the final stage of the president's term was an unthinkable misfortune. For the sake of political stability, they couldn't provide any pretext for rival parties. Public servant safety negligence was an easy target for criticism.

"The rescue team will arrive shortly."
At that moment, a hoarse, gravelly voice broke through.

It was Baek Sa-eon, his eyes bloodshot. The Public Relations Secretary noticed him and cautiously spoke.
"Are you calm now?"
"......"

Baek Sa-eon clenched his teeth again, the taste of blood returning as his injured gums tore further. Though he knew such behavior was unbecoming, he spat blood onto the ground regardless.

For someone usually so composed, this was the first time Baek Sa-eon had completely lost his reason. The other employees, wary of his presence, shuffled anxiously at a distance.

He remained at the summit even after the first helicopter rescue attempt failed, seemingly too shocked to speak. He simply stood, dazed.

"Hee-joo Hong, the interpreter—what's her relationship to you? The staff still doesn't know."
"......"
"You look utterly disgraceful right now."

Hee-joo Hong had vanished right before his eyes. This was something he had never dared to imagine.

"Still no contact?"
"Her phone is turned off."
"Any other means of communication?"
"......"

A wave of nausea hit him. Absolute helplessness.

Having weathered unstable times, Baek Sa-eon had never experienced such a crushing sense of failure since reaching adulthood. The feeling wrapped around him like unbreakable chains.

He let out a bitter smile.
Why did I push myself to climb so high?

For whom did I make such a decision?

How could you disappear like this?

Baek Sa-eon swallowed the bitterness in his throat and silently closed his eyes.
If it really is you... if my suspicions are true...

Unknowingly, the sun had already dipped behind the ridge.