#77.

Late evening, a fancy Japanese pub with dazzling lights. Jung Seo-yeon and her work colleagues were gathered around a table. Laughter and conversation filled the space as glasses clinked.

“Seo-yeon-ah, congratulations!” Choi Min-ji said, beaming as she raised her glass. “Where are you having the wedding?”

Jung Seo-yeon smiled elegantly and replied, “Thank you. It’ll be at the Shilla Hotel.”

“Wow, luxurious!” another colleague exclaimed. “What kind of wedding gifts did you get?”

“Just the usual, a ring and a necklace, I guess?” Jung Seo-yeon replied, looking shy. Her expression perfectly portrayed a happy bride-to-be.

Suddenly, Kim Young-sook’s sharp voice cut through the air. “Aigoo, must be nice. Meeting a man with money.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

For a moment, Jung Seo-yeon’s eyes flickered, but she quickly regained her soft smile. She looked around the table, meeting the eyes of all her colleagues.

“Oh, now that I think about it, there are quite a few single people on our team. I heard there are many single doctors at my husband’s hospital… Would you all like me to set you up on blind dates?”

Kim Young-sook’s face brightened for a moment, but she quickly pretended to be indifferent. “Well… I’m fine with it, but I don’t know about the others.”

Choi Min-ji chimed in, her eyes sparkling. “Oh my god, I’d love that! Seo-yeon-ah, please set me up too!”

“Me too!” another colleague shouted, raising her hand.

In an instant, the table buzzed with excitement. Several colleagues raised their hands, shouting, “Me too, me too!”

Kim Young-sook said, pretending to be reluctant, “Alright, I’ll give it a shot too. I can’t be the only one left out.”

Jung Seo-yeon smiled elegantly and nodded. “Okay. If you all have any preferences for types or age ranges, please let me know later. I’ll do my best to match you up.”

The colleagues began to excitedly discuss their ideal types. Kim Young-sook also joined the conversation, eagerly explaining her preferred type of man.

The atmosphere of the gathering became increasingly convivial. “Where are you going for your honeymoon?” someone asked.

“We’re going to the Maldives. We want to spend some quiet time together,” Jung Seo-yeon replied.

“Aigoo, I’m so jealous,” Choi Min-ji said playfully. “Take lots of pictures!”

As the gathering deepened, Jung Seo-yeon answered every question perfectly. Her elegant demeanor and warm smile captivated those around her. But deep in her eyes, there was an unreadable shadow.

“Alright, let’s make a toast to Seo-yeon-i!” someone shouted.

Everyone raised their glasses high. “To Seo-yeon-i’s happy married life!”

Jung Seo-yeon smiled brightly and clinked glasses.

—

Late at night, Jung Seo-yeon walked slowly along the quiet streets of the apartment complex. The streetlight cast her shadow long, and the shadow wavered like Jung Seo-yeon’s inner self. The alcohol from the gathering made her steps more unsteady than usual, and her slightly flushed cheeks didn’t seem to be solely due to the alcohol.

Jung Seo-yeon’s mind was filled with complicated thoughts. Lee Han’s face flickered in her consciousness, appearing and disappearing as if in a fog. Her steps were drawn towards the management office as if by a magnet.

‘Why now of all times…’ she muttered to herself. The words were both a question to herself and a complaint against fate. She couldn’t tell if it was because of her unfulfilled desires or simply the alcohol. She only knew that a strange ache in her heart was leading her on.

The management office, with light seeping out, came into view. The light seemed to be beckoning Jung Seo-yeon like a tempting hand. Jung Seo-yeon stopped and stared at it for a moment. Her eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.

‘If I go there…’ A strange sense of anticipation welled up in her heart. At the same time, she was annoyed that she was feeling this way. The annoyance stemmed from the conflict between her reason and her emotions.

‘What am I, getting hung up on a guy like that…’ Pride and desire clashed within her. On one hand, she felt pathetic for being drawn to Lee Han, and on the other hand, she was angry at herself for not being able to deny the attraction. Jung Seo-yeon’s heart was tossed about like a leaf in a storm.

A chilly autumn breeze brushed against Jung Seo-yeon’s cheeks, and she unconsciously tightened her collar. The cold sensation made her hazy consciousness a little clearer. Jung Seo-yeon slowly, but with a determined look in her eyes, moved towards the management office. Her heart began to beat rapidly, like a bird in a cage, and the sound echoed in her ears.

Then, suddenly, she heard the sound of the management office door opening. As a reflex, Jung Seo-yeon quickly hid in the shade of a nearby tree. Her back touched the rough bark of the tree, but she didn’t even notice the discomfort as she held her breath and watched the scene.

A woman walked out quietly from the darkness. Her figure, revealed in the dim streetlight, was the voluptuous beauty she had seen before. She was wearing a neat suit, but her slightly disheveled blouse and tousled hair suggested something. Jung Seo-yeon unconsciously compared herself to the woman.

The woman turned her head as if looking around. At that moment, Lee Han, who had followed her out, approached her. Their lips met before Jung Seo-yeon’s eyes. The moment she witnessed the scene, Jung Seo-yeon’s heart ached strangely. It was as if someone was squeezing her heart tightly. Was it jealousy, or betrayal? She couldn’t pinpoint her emotions exactly. She only knew that the scene before her was unbearable.

As the woman hurried away, Lee Han stared at her back for a while. Jung Seo-yeon tried to read Lee Han’s expression, but she couldn’t see his face properly in the darkness. Then, suddenly, Lee Han turned his gaze in the direction where Jung Seo-yeon was hiding.

Jung Seo-yeon’s heart seemed to stop. She held her breath and hid deeper in the shadows. The streetlight that filtered through the leaves flickered on her face. After what seemed like an eternity, a smile spread across Lee Han’s lips. Jung Seo-yeon couldn’t tell what the smile meant.

Lee Han soon went back into the management office. The sound of the door closing cut through the night air. Only then did Jung Seo-yeon exhale the breath she had been holding. With a sigh of relief, her tension eased a little, but the strange feeling in her heart remained.

After the management office door closed and Lee Han disappeared, complex emotions swirled in Jung Seo-yeon’s heart. As the initial surprise and embarrassment faded, annoyance and anger surged up. Her eyes sharpened, and she bit her lip tightly.

‘Because of a woman like that…’ Jung Seo-yeon muttered to herself. She thought of her own appearance: her slim and youthful figure, her pure yet sophisticated looks. She was sure that she was much more attractive than the woman she had just seen.

She remembered the cold attitude Lee Han had shown when he parted with the woman. Jung Seo-yeon’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘He hugs a woman like that, but to me…’ Anger welled up in her chest. The difference between the way Lee Han treated her and the way he had treated the woman just now made her even angrier.

A strange impulse arose in Jung Seo-yeon’s heart: a desire to show Lee Han her charm, to seduce him. Her eyes changed. Complex emotions, a mixture of anger, jealousy, and desire, flickered in her eyes.

With a determined expression, she moved towards the management office. Her steps were slow but firm. Like a predator stalking its prey, all her senses were focused on the management office.

But then, suddenly, her cell phone vibrated. Jung Seo-yeon was startled by the sound and stopped in her tracks. As if waking from a dream, her expression faltered for a moment.

Jung Seo-yeon slowly took out her cell phone and checked the screen, her face becoming complicated. The name on the screen was ‘Kim Tae-woo’.

Jung Seo-yeon hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to answer the phone or ignore it. Her fingers trembled above the phone screen. Finally, she took a deep breath and decided to answer the phone. Her expression changed in an instant. The complex emotions from just now disappeared, and she returned to the face of a kind and loving bride-to-be.

“Hello, oppa?” Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were cold.

Kim Tae-woo’s drunken voice came through the phone. “Seo-yeon-ah… I miss you. I’m coming over now.”

Jung Seo-yeon’s lips tightened into a straight line. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.

“Really? Come quickly, oppa. Did you take a taxi?” Her tone was bright, but her fingers were gripping the phone tightly. “I’ll go pick you up.”

Jung Seo-yeon hung up the phone and glared at it. Her gaze slowly turned towards the management office. Lee Han’s shadow was faintly visible beyond the window where light was seeping out.

Jung Seo-yeon’s eyes changed. Her chin lifted slightly, and she bit her lip tightly. Unconsciously, her hand clenched and unclenched into a fist.

She took a step, but her steps were filled with hesitation. She looked back every few steps, and each time her expression changed in a complicated way.

Jung Seo-yeon quickened her pace. But her steps were still unsteady, and she often stopped. Each time, she took a deep breath and shook her head vigorously.

Jung Seo-yeon’s back, disappearing into the darkness, looked confident, but her shoulders were trembling slightly. The last time she looked back, her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

—

The morning sunlight streamed warmly through the kitchen window. The light that filtered through the curtains illuminated the fruit bowl on the table, creating a small rainbow. Kim Eun-joo, wearing an apron, was busily preparing Jin-woo’s breakfast. The aroma of freshly toasted bread filled the entire kitchen.

“Jin-woo-ya, here’s your milk. Drink it slowly and get dressed,” Kim Eun-joo said. She smiled as she gently stroked Jin-woo’s hair. Jin-woo took a sip of milk, leaving a white ring around his mouth, and looked up at his mom, smiling brightly.

Lee Hyun-woo entered the kitchen, adjusting his tie. His steps were light, and a refreshing scent emanated from his freshly shaved face. “Honey, looks like you came home a little late yesterday?”

Kim Eun-joo paused for a moment and looked up. There was a hint of fatigue in her eyes, but the smile on her lips remained. “Yeah, I had a lot of work to catch up on. I think I can come home early today.”

A warm smile spread across Lee Hyun-woo’s face. He gently put his arm around Kim Eun-joo’s shoulders. “That’s a relief. Actually, I think I’ll have to work late tonight, so I’ll have to ask you to take care of Jin-woo.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Jin-woo. Have a safe day at work,” Kim Eun-joo replied with a smile. She gently straightened Lee Hyun-woo’s tie and met his eyes.

Lee Hyun-woo leaned in and gave Kim Eun-joo a light kiss. At that moment, Jin-woo spread his arms and said, “Dad, me too!” Lee Hyun-woo laughed, picked up Jin-woo, and kissed him on the cheek. “Daddy’s going to work.”

Kim Eun-joo looked lovingly at Lee Hyun-woo’s back as he left through the front door. Her eyes were filled with warmth.

“Jin-woo-ya, let’s get ready so we’re not late,” Kim Eun-joo said. She went to Jin-woo and carefully put a t-shirt on him. A slight static electricity occurred as Jin-woo’s soft hair passed through the clothes, and Kim Eun-joo gently smoothed it down.

Jin-woo smiled brightly and looked at his mom. His eyes were filled with pure love and trust. Kim Eun-joo felt her heart warming at the sight and hugged Jin-woo tightly. ‘I’m so happy,’ she thought to herself. Jin-woo’s small heartbeat was transmitted to her chest.

Kim Eun-joo, who had gone to the room to change clothes, suddenly stopped. Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye. Slowly, her hand moved towards her body. Yesterday’s memories came back vividly: Lee Han’s touch, his breath… Her fingers gently caressed her stomach.

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A faint smile appeared on her lips at the subtle foreign sensation still remaining inside. The sensation gave her both forbidden pleasure and secret anticipation. Kim Eun-joo closed her eyes for a moment and indulged in the feeling.

“Mom!” Kim Eun-joo was startled by Jin-woo’s call and came to her senses. She quickly changed her clothes, checked her appearance in the mirror one last time, and went out to the living room.

Picking up Jin-woo, Kim Eun-joo whispered softly, “Jin-woo-ya, I hope you get a younger sibling soon.” Her eyes were filled with pure happiness and anticipation as she said those words. But deep in her eyes, there was also a shadow of secret desire.

Kim Eun-joo hugged Jin-woo tightly and prepared to face a new day. Her heart was filled with the happiness of her family and the anticipation of a new life.