#41.

On a quiet night, the silhouettes of two figures overlapped on a dark bench. Park Min-ah was on top of Lee Han, moving as quietly as possible. But the more she did, the more clearly rough breaths and wet sounds echoed in the stillness of the night.

Lee Han gripped Park Min-ah’s hips tightly and thrust his waist up violently. Each time Lee Han’s penis penetrated deeply, Park Min-ah’s inner walls convulsed, tightening around him. Overwhelmed by the intense pleasure, like being bitten by a beast, Park Min-ah tried to moan, but barely managed to clench her teeth and suppress the sound.

But as Lee Han’s movements gradually quickened, it became increasingly difficult to endure. Park Min-ah, who had been whimpering with her lips bitten, eventually couldn’t bear it any longer and covered her mouth with her hand. Engulfed in overwhelming ecstasy, she burst into a moan and collapsed onto Lee Han’s chest.

,Aheuk… haa… euung…”

Park Min-ah’s waist, which had been moving up and down rapidly, trembled and then limply drooped. Drained of all her energy, she lay limp, breathing heavily, soaked in the afterglow of her climax.

As Park Min-ah’s inner walls tightened deeply around Lee Han, reaching his peak, he too could no longer hold back. Overwhelmed by the surging sensation of ejaculation, he instinctively hugged Park Min-ah tightly. Lee Han’s fingers dug into Park Min-ah’s skin with explosive pleasure.

After convulsing for a while, the two slowly calmed down. But the uncooled heat still warmed their skin. Lingering beads of sweat soaked their bodies.

Gasping for breath, Park Min-ah buried her face in Lee Han’s neck and slumped. Lee Han embraced her, who had lost all her strength, and stroked her back. Park Min-ah’s panting breath tickled Lee Han’s ear.

They silently felt each other’s body temperature, reminiscing about the ecstatic moment. The sound of heartbeats and breathing echoing in their ears, the sensation of cool sweat tickling their skin, and the afterglow enveloping their bodies.

Park Min-ah carefully lifted her waist and broke the connection with Lee Han. A strange moan escaped Park Min-ah’s lips as she felt the fullness drain away.

Kneeling between Lee Han’s legs, Park Min-ah gently removed Lee Han’s condom with her fingertips. Then, she lowered her head and deeply bit his penis with her lips.

As Park Min-ah’s soft tongue licked Lee Han’s sensitive area, he groaned softly. Park Min-ah meticulously sucked his limp penis clean after his ejaculation. She closed her eyes, seemingly ecstatic, with the taste and smell of Lee Han filling her mouth.

After swallowing even the residue cleanly, Park Min-ah smiled at Lee Han with affectionate eyes. Lee Han, looking down at her, had a faint smile on his lips. He gently cupped Park Min-ah’s cheek with his palm and murmured.

“Good job.”

Lee Han quietly opened his arms towards her. Park Min-ah gladly accepted his invitation and nestled into his broad embrace.

“I love you…”

Even with her confession whispered in his ear, Lee Han remained silent with a subtle smile. In the darkness of the early summer night, the still chilly night air was cooling their heat.

After being immersed in the afterglow of their climax for a while, the two leaned side by side on the cold bench, enjoying the night air. Lee Han had one arm around Park Min-ah’s shoulder, looking far away at the sky. Then, he suddenly turned his head and spoke to Park Min-ah.

“But Min-ah-ssi, what did you think of Lee Hyun-woo-ssi, whom you met today? What was your impression?”

Park Min-ah paused for a moment at the unexpected question, but soon answered.

“Well… he’s handsome, I guess. But I didn’t feel anything particularly special.”

Then, she playfully added.

“Well, with that kind of looks, doesn’t he not need to be special?”

Lee Han chuckled at Park Min-ah’s joke, then immediately asked another question.

“Then, what about his attitude or behavior? What feeling did you get?”

Park Min-ah paused for a moment, lost in thought, and then answered.

“Hmm… he seemed very polite and well-mannered?”

At those words, Lee Han frowned as if lost in deep thought. Park Min-ah wondered why Lee Han was like that, but didn’t bother to pry. Instead, she snuggled further into Lee Han’s embrace, feeling his body temperature and closing her eyes.

Unlike the cold and rough surroundings, Lee Han’s chest was cozy and warm. Intoxicated by that warmth, Park Min-ah was able to forget all her worries and concerns for a moment. At this moment, only Lee Han was Park Min-ah’s only comfort.

–

Kim Eun-joo was sitting on the living room sofa, staring blankly into space. In the past few days, the anxiety that had taken root in a corner of her mind had grown moment by moment, and now it seemed to engulf her entire body. The seed of anxiety had taken root a few days ago, because of the unfamiliar scent emanating from her husband Lee Hyun-woo’s clothes.

At first, she tried to ignore it. She tried to dismiss it as the smell of newly bought fabric softener, or that a female colleague’s perfume had rubbed off on him. But as the same situation repeated itself, Kim Eun-joo’s suspicion deepened. ‘Could it be that Lee Hyun-woo is having an affair?’

She was startled by the question that flashed through her mind. No, that kind of thing wouldn’t happen between us. Lee Hyun-woo would never do that. It’s just my imagination. But no matter how much she reassured herself, the shadow of anxiety did not easily fade.

What was even more distressing was Lee Hyun-woo’s attitude. He was still affectionate and unreserved. There was no sign that he was hiding anything. For a moment, she felt relieved by his composure, thinking, ‘I must be mistaken after all.’ But soon, the suspicion arose, ‘Isn’t it strange that he’s so nonchalant?’

Kim Eun-joo hesitated for a long time even after filling the bathtub with water. Standing in front of the mirror, facing her own face, she sighed and headed for the closet. But even in front of the closet, she lingered for a long time, unable to calm her mind. The shadow of anxiety seemed to flicker around her as she wandered around the room.

Suddenly, the baby’s cry echoed in the room. Kim Eun-joo ran to the baby, startled. As she fed him formula, changed his diaper, and sang him a lullaby, Kim Eun-joo seemed to have regained some peace of mind. But that was only for a moment; her pupils flickered at the sound of the front door opening.

Lee Hyun-woo had returned. Suspicion and anxiety clouded Kim Eun-joo’s eyes as she faced him again.

–

Kim Eun-joo was pushing a stroller along the walking path in the apartment complex. The warm sunlight embracing her face felt good, but the stuffiness in her heart did not go away. Sitting on a bench, slowly pushing the stroller back and forth, Kim Eun-joo sighed deeply.

The baby in the stroller was already fast asleep. Looking at her son sleeping peacefully with an angelic face, she couldn’t help but smile, but soon she was lost in thought again.

‘Am I being too sensitive? Am I making Hyun-woo suffer with my unnecessary suspicions?’

As she tried to calm her troubled mind, she raised her head at the sound of someone approaching.

“Hello, Eun-joo-ssi. Were you taking a walk?”

The one greeting her with a cheerful smile was none other than Lee Han. He looked into the stroller and smiled brightly.

“This cute little guy is sleeping well. He’s really like an angel.”

Kim Eun-joo’s heart seemed to soften slightly at Lee Han’s warm gaze.

“Yes, he’s been eating and sleeping well these days. Watching him sleep like this is healing.”

“He’s getting more handsome the more I see him. He could become a celebrity later.”

Lee Han made eye contact with the baby for a moment, then naturally changed the subject.

“The weather has gotten a lot hotter. It’s so stuffy I can barely breathe. Eun-joo-ssi, don’t overdo it when you’re taking a walk with the baby.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern. I’m going to try to stay home when it’s hot.”

Even as she said that, Kim Eun-joo was grateful for Lee Han’s kindness. Lee Han was also sending her a warm gaze as she smiled and thanked him. But as if possessed by something, Kim Eun-joo failed to notice the strange shadow that flashed through Lee Han’s eyes.

Lee Han sat on the bench and began chatting with Kim Eun-joo. From stories about the apartment complex to advice on raising children, the two seemed to be getting closer naturally.

“Eun-joo-ssi, if you ever have any difficulties or need help, please tell me anytime. The chairman-nim instructed me to provide as much convenience as possible to the residents as the apartment manager.”

Kim Eun-joo smiled brightly at Lee Han’s kind words.

“Thank you so much. It’s reassuring to hear you say that. I’ll definitely contact you if I need anything.”

As the two were smiling brightly and continuing their conversation, someone was seen walking from afar. The person who approached was none other than Han Soo-jin.

“Oh, Eun-joo-ssi, I see you here. Hello, Lee Han-ssi.”

Unlike Han Soo-jin, who greeted them with a grin, Lee Han’s expression was subtly stiff. Kim Eun-joo, completely unaware of the strange tension passing between the two, greeted Han Soo-jin happily.

Soon, Lee Han stood up.

“I hope you have a pleasant time. I think I should get back to work now. Then, I’ll see you next time.”

As Lee Han left, Han Soo-jin sat next to Kim Eun-joo. While sending loving glances at the baby in the stroller, Han Soo-jin’s gaze often seemed to be directed towards the direction where Lee Han had disappeared. But soon, she forced a smile and focused her attention on Kim Eun-joo.

“Is our baby sleeping? He’s really like an angel. How have you been doing lately, Eun-joo-ssi?”

While the two women’s conversation was going back and forth, a friendly atmosphere surrounded the bench. But behind that friendliness, an invisible dark shadow was cast. Han Soo-jin’s uneasy eyes, as if hiding something, the secret hidden in Lee Han’s receding figure. And Kim Eun-joo, smiling brightly, unaware of all of it. An invisible tension was swirling around the three of them.