Page 142 of When Worlds Collide
I was surprised when Director Kang agreed to meet with me, with almost no prior booking. I sent her an email as Jihoon and I shared a car ride to the company, and her response pinged back just as we drove into the basement car park, telling me to come up just before lunch.
Jihoon and I walked into the elevator, hand-in-hand. I’d tried to pull away, but he’d resisted, and I confess I didn’t try too hard.
As we reached his floor, he’d pressed a firm, but brief kiss to my knuckles, before letting it drop to my side, leaving me alone in the lift to ride the rest of the way upstairs.
It wasn’t an effort to contain my news. It was only really Hana that spoke to me, and she was too busy telling me some inane gossip about leaked photos on theTabs.I didn’t even really tryto pay attention, just giving her enough that she didn’t try and pry anything out of me.
If someone asked me by 11:00 am what we’d done that morning, I’d have been hard pressed to give them an answer. Mindless work, and in a way that was a relief. I was so tired of having to find solutions for things outside of my control.
I made my way upstairs to Director Kang’s office at the time she had requested. Seeing me approach, her secretary got up, knocked on the office door and then let me in. Not having the energy to be surprised, I walked inside to find the Director sitting behind her desk. She smiled at me and gestured for me to sit opposite.
“Miss Thompson,” she began, her smile tight. “I got the impression this was urgent. Is it about your Visa?”
“No,” I answered blankly. “I need to hand in my resignation. Immediately.”
She blinked, cocking her head to the side, narrowing her eyes as they roved over my face.
“Is everything alright?”
I’d always appreciated how upfront Director Kang seemed, and I think in another life she would have been someone to aspire to. I was sorry I wouldn’t get that chance.
I tried to offer a smile, but shaky as it was, I doubted it had the intended effect.
“I have a family emergency, and in light of what’s going on…” I took a breath, a beat to steady myself. “I need to go home.”
Director Kang clasped her hands on the desk, leaning forward slightly, and I think I saw a glimmer of sympathy in her dark eyes, but in the next moment it was gone.
“I see. I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Thompson. Do you expect to be back?”
“I– I don’t think so. At least not for a while.”
If ever, my internal monologue couldn’t seem to help but supply.
Director Kang sighed, a small, understated gesture.
“I understand. Kaiya – I probably don’t need to tell you this… your probation is dependent on your Visa being successful, and when you leave–”
“I understand.”
I pinched my leg, because then if I cried, I could at least say it was because of the pain. Not because I was hurting.
“We can’t keep your role open for you. Frankly, I don’t think we’ll be taking on any more juniors. At least not for a while.”
I stared, unable to help myself. Everyone else in a position of any power seemed to be pretending nothing was happening. Even the governments were glossing over it, despite the ever-increasing estimations of hospitalisations. This was the first time I’d seen anyone make an allusion to things maybe not being normal for a while.
“For what it’s worth; I think you’re making the right decision. I can see from your face that this is costing you something. I won’t sit here and pretend we don’t both know what brought you here – who – and I can only guess at what you’re going through right now, and I’m sorry for that."
Director Kang took a small breath, a tiny gap in her flawless façade.
“I think things are going to be difficult for a while. But I do want you to know that your department lead spoke very highly of you. In fact, every lead did. It may not feel like it, Kaiya, but you did well here, and I think – no. Never mind. Some things don’t need to be said.”
Before I could begin to guess at what she might have said, and to take in the unexpected praise from appraisals I hadn’t even known were happening, Director Kang stood up, holding out herhand. Mirroring her, I got to my feet. She took my hand firmly, and held it for just slightly longer than was necessary.
“I wish you all the best, Kaiya Thompson. I accept your resignation.”
I didn’t trust myself to speak. I offered her the best smile I could and bowed my head.
But I knew that I’d always wonder what she was going to say.
