Chemistry

2. A Day in the Life of a Chemical Company Intern(3)

‘You guys are dancing well.’

Jeong-woo was admiring the free electronic dance that the stardust was showing, but he reacted quickly when the old man raised his head.

Other passengers who happened to be watching this burst into laughter at the old man’s hair, which had just been stretched out to the sky.

‘What’s that sound?’ The old man looked around, but no one was talking about his hair, probably because of his mischievous behavior just now.

• This is Yongsan Station, Yongsan.

“Ahem!”

The old man stood up with his newspaper, wondering if he should get off.

‘How about you go out and look at the mirror, grandpa?’

The train doors opened and the old man disappeared. He would probably cause laughter as he passed by on the street.

The little boy who was watching burst into laughter and looked at Jeong-woo.

“Hey, you’re not crying anymore.”

“Yeah, magic is fun.”

“Magic?”

Jeong-woo didn’t mean to show him, but he involuntarily straightened his shoulders when the little boy looked up at him.

“Ahem. I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but I showed you something special.”

The little boy’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“What’s your name?”

“Eun-soo.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to my aunt’s house with my mom. We’re going to eat something delicious.”

During the conversation, the little boy’s mother sent a grateful glance at Jeong-woo. The boy seemed to have adapted well to the unfamiliar subway landscape and had become much more comfortable.

A moment later.

Jeong-woo waved goodbye to Eun-su and walked towards the exit. He looked at the subway map and checked the time, which was 7:45.

“I might be late if I transfer and take three more stops. I should run as soon as the gate opens.”

Jeong-woo was about to run as soon as the gate opened, but suddenly felt a fierce flow of dust particles, so he turned his head in surprise.

The woman in the “electrostatic bomb coat” from earlier was approaching right next to him.

‘Oh no.’

Jeong-woo pretended not to see her and only looked outside, but her cute face reflected in the glass window startled him.

A plain appearance with no makeup. She was as pretty as expected, but looked younger than he had thought.

She stood right next to Jeong-woo. Jeong-woo reflexively stepped back.

“Excuse me.”

‘Huh?’

Jeong-woo pointed to himself with his finger in response to her call.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

She nodded her head and took a step closer.

While he was thinking that he should apologize for staring at her unnecessarily a few minutes ago, she asked an unexpected question.

“How did you induce the static electricity just with your hand?”

“What?”

She covered her mouth and whispered quietly.

“Just now. You were moving the old man’s hair with your hand.”

“Oh, that.”

The subway train gradually slowed down. Jeong-woo said apologetically with a regretful expression.

“I’m sorry, I have to get off here this time. I don’t have time to explain….”

“I’m getting off too.”

“… I see. But I have to transfer quickly.”

“I’m transferring too.”

Jeong-woo was slightly scared at the moment.

‘What is this? Is she part of a cult or something?’

If someone with that kind of beauty asks, “Do you know the way?” he would be willing to follow her. He shook his head nervously at the thought.

Meanwhile, she asked.

“Are you going to the KG Chemical Central Research Institute?”

A real chill ran down his spine. These days, it seemed like the cults knew everything, even their personal information and how to approach them.

“How did you know that…?”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

She quickly pulled out her ID card from her coat.

‘Song Boyeong from KG Chemical Central Research Institute.’

Jeong-woo, who was reading the name, had to swallow his groan. The company was certainly big. Even if it was nearby, he didn’t expect to run into a colleague on his first day of work.

“Do you know me?”

After taking off her name tag, Song Boyeong quickly said.

“I asked someone I know in the personnel department, so don’t be too surprised. I work for the same company as you.”

It had been several hours since he had signed the contract. Jeong-woo calmed his flustered heart and offered a greeting.

“Hello, I’m Han Jeong-woo.”

“Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Parachute.”

“… Parachute?”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Uh, yes.”

Jeong-woo nodded, remembering Dr. Moon’s warning.

Han Jeong-woo kept examining Song Boyeong closely, which made her feel burdened. Because she looked like a freshman who needed to do well, it was hard to believe that she was actually a company employee.

While he was thinking that even Dr. Moon might prioritize a woman’s appearance when selecting a female researcher at KG Chemicals, Song Boyeong asked a question.

“Earlier, you warned me about static electricity, didn’t you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you did. Definitely.”

Click.

As the subway doors opened, people began to pour out, and Jeong-woo was pushed out along with them.

Song Boyeong naturally followed suit.

“Come on, tell me. Why did you say that?”

On the way to the transfer gate, Song Boyeong urged him with a gaze full of academic fervor.

‘It’s hard to grasp.’

The principle was simple, it was just about detecting the movement of free electrons and reporting it as it was.

However, convincing someone who has a completely different perspective on chemical phenomena was another problem.

‘If I start talking about dust particles and so on, they might think I’m crazy.’

Was it like trying to explain what color and shape an apology is to someone who can’t see?

Jeong-woo glanced briefly at the “static bomb coat” and spoke.

“That’s a bomb coat.”

Jeongwoo picked at Song Boyeong’s coat with his finger.

“There’s a lot of sodium carbonate stuck to it. So, static electricity would have accumulated excessively.”

“Sodium carbonate? What are you talking about?”

Jeongwoo narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her coat even more.

“There’s optical brightener in polycarboxylic acid, and zeolite residue too. Wait, if they all come together, it would be a cleansing agent, right? Oh, right. It was a detergent.”

At these words, Song Boyeong’s eyes widened even more.

“Hey, parachute guy. Are you saying there’s detergent powder on my clothes now?”

“It’s not enough to be noticeable.”

“Ridiculous.”

As Song Boyeong looked at Jeongwoo incredulously, she flicked her coat, causing white detergent powder to fly into the air.

“Huh? There was more in the lining. No wonder.”

Jeongwoo nodded his head as if he had solved a puzzle.

“I make mistakes when I do laundry too. Like accidentally putting in detergent when I spin dry. Then I get a good scolding from my mother.”

Even though Jeong-woo didn’t seem to care much, Song Boyeong’s pupils shook like an earthquake. She looked at Jeong-woo nervously several times before looking at the area where the powder fell.

The two of them passed through the transfer gate and boarded Line 9. Since it wasn’t as crowded as Line 1 and the fare wasn’t as expensive, Jeong-woo was able to take a seat with some ease.

“…And what about your hands? Did you purposely induce that static electricity or was it just a coincidence?”

“It was just a coincidence,” replied Jeong-woo.

“Ah, I see.”

Thinking that her curiosity was now satisfied, Song Boyeong immediately asked another question.

“Mr. Parachute, did you come recommended by Professor Cheon Seung-guk? Are you his disciple too?”

Dr. Moon had told him to use the excuse of being recommended by Professor Cheon Seung-guk, so Jeong-woo nodded his head. When he gave her a definite answer, Song Boyeong’s eyes sparkled more than ever before.

“Where is he now? Is he in good health? Even though I suddenly wanted to see him, I couldn’t find him anywhere.”

“I don’t really know much about that.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

He couldn’t reveal any details related to the contract, and he really didn’t know anything else.

“Can you keep it a secret?”

Song Boyeong’s eyes widened.

“Just tell me one thing.”

“Even if you beg me…”

“Just tell me where he is.”

“Well, he’s probably doing well somewhere.”

As he continued to refuse, Song Boyoung’s cheeks puffed up as if she had been offended. She couldn’t get any news out of Jeong-woo, so she decided it was enough and turned her head sharply.

“Oh well, something seems strange. He always complains about there being no space, even when he appealed so hard to be chosen for the project. Isn’t it because he’s trying to fill that position with his recommended disciple, Mr. Parachute? The talk about that detergent earlier was just like Professor Cheon’s style. He really surprised me. Who is his disciple and who is being ignored? It’s frustrating, really.”

“Uh, Song Boyeong, I’m still right here.”

“I said it so you could hear it.”

“Why do I have to hear that?”

“Because we’re rivals.”

Jeong-woo didn’t know how to react since he didn’t know why they were rivals.

Song Boyeong now remained silent, as if she had sealed her lips shut, and looked out the window as if nothing had happened.

‘Is she angry?’

Her eyes were round and adorable, making her seem cute instead of scary when she was angry. It felt like he was looking at a pet dog that had become sullen because it hadn’t received any treats.

The subway arrived at Yeouido station.

Jeong-woo looked at the clock on the information board and was surprised. It was 7:57 am. There were only three minutes left until the intern’s limit for arriving at work.

Jeong-woo hurriedly told Song Boyeong as they got off the platform, “We need to hurry. There’s only three minutes left.”

“Three minutes?” Song Boyeong replied. “The start time is until 9 am.”

Jeong-woo saw Song Boyeong’s expression, as if he had misunderstood something. He quickly got on the escalator and turned his back.

“No, that’s not it.”

He had been trying to talk about the positive impression of his first day as an intern, but he was taken aback when he saw her coat. People passing by, and before he knew it, dust particles had gathered around her like clouds.

“Defcon 1.”

“What?”

As Song Boyeong put her hand on the escalator handle, she let out a short scream at the crackling static electricity spark.

“Ouch. Again…oh…”

Annoyed, she shook her hand and suddenly lost her balance. Jeong-woo reached out to her unconsciously.

Snap.

Their hands touched, and static electricity sparked.

The two looked at each other for a moment as the silence lingered.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Jeong-woo looked at her hand that he had unintentionally grabbed, and flinched. A lot of free electrons were flowing out of her coat from his fingertips.

‘Don’t touch me, Whoo.’

Jeong-woo quickly let go of her hand and said, “When you go outside, solve that static bomb first.”

Song Boyeong was slowly taking off her coat and nodded her head.

“Yeah, I should do that.”

“And leave the laundry to the professionals.”

“I guess I should… You’re so funny!”

Song Boyoung suddenly lifted her head up.

Ziiing.

Jeong-woo’s phone in his pocket rang, and he took it out. It was a message from Dr. Moon.

[I contacted the personnel department, so go there first.]

‘He’s like a knife. It’s already 8 am.’

Jeong-woo said to Song Boyeong as they arrived at the end of the escalator.

“I have to go in quickly. Nice meeting you, Song Boyeong.”

“You too, Mr. Parachute.”

Jeong-woo ran towards the exit.

Song Boyeong watched his back in silence.