Working with Seungcheol became bearable. We didn't talk to each other. I tried to stay away from company dinners as best as I could. He did, too. I tried not getting into complicated relationships with any of my coworkers. He did, too. We both did anything it took not to talk to each other.    There was one day when I left the building for the day and it was raining. I didn't have an umbrella, but neither did Seungcheol. I was watching him from the steps of the building, only to see him run over to a person holding an umbrella that was walking forward to the building. It was Sujeong. He had wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug. Her hands did not hang onto him as tightly though. It might have just been because she was holding the umbrella. I'd like to think that way out of pity for him.              Sujeong had called me over to her house once to have dinner with me. I agreed, feeling that something like this would help ease my feelings.       She had a simple home, most likely provided by Seungcheol in secret from his family and society. It was a fancy condo behind a tall white metal gate, hidden on a private road. There were only two other houses along the street, and they were most likely owned by other rich people. I blinked as I stepped in the house, seeing how nice it was-- realizing that this provided home was not just a gesture of guilt, but of protection and love.       I got to meet Ai, finally. She was a very cute little girl, very smiley and happy, like Seungcheol had said. Her stature was very small and frail, like you just had to protect her, but honestly, they girl was so hyperactive it seemed like you'd never be able to hold her back. No wonder Seungcheol became enamored by this child. He was his daughter-- this tiny little thing.        Over dinner, we were awkward.       "How's work been?" she asked, cutting up her steak gingerly.      "It's been good. It's better than when I was an intern," I replied, stabbing at my vegetables.       "Oh, that's nice to hear." It seemed like we were both at a loss for words.       If you were to take a picture of us eating while Ai was playing around with her rice bowl in her high chair, you might think that we were a couple, happily having dinner together. That wasn't the case. It was so stiff and dismal that I wanted to scream, just to liven up the atmosphere a bit.       It was only when Ai had dropped her sippy cup that we both moved naturally.       "Ai," Sujeong sighed, picking up the cup and giving it back to her. She took the cup back happily, smiling as she did so, showing her small teeth. I looked at Sujeong who smiled back. She looked sad, almost regretful.       "How has Seungcheol been?" she suddenly asked me, not looking up from cutting her steak.      I was taken aback, but still answered, "He's been good. I don't talk to him much."      "Hm. He's kind of arrogant, I know. He's a good person, though." she replied back. This whole situation felt really weird. I didn't know where she was going with this.       "Yeah, he's always been like that," I said, poking at the food on my plate. I wasn't feeling too hungry any longer.       "You know," she sighed, letting her shoulders down, "he's been so nice to me. He lets us live here. He helps pay for Ai's child support. He buys her clothes some