Nunchi
NOON-chee
n.The art of reading a room and the unspoken feeling in it.
The Second Pot
The American did not understand why he had been sent home.
"Nobody sent you home," said Minjun.
"Director Baek said I should rest."
"Yes."
"So — I'm being sent home."
"You are being told," said Minjun carefully, "that the meeting is over for you."
Ryan put his hands over his face. It was his eleventh week.
---
Here is what had happened, from the outside: a two-hour meeting, at the end of which Ryan had asked one more question about the timeline, and Director Baek had said the timeline was under discussion, and Ryan had said yes, but specifically, and Director Baek had smiled and said Ryan looked tired.