#84.

Around dusk, Kang Ji-won’s shadow stretched long in the twilight embracing the apartment complex. Her steps were cautious, and her gaze was sharp. Her eyes, directed towards the management office, held complex emotions.

,Will that man really be there…?

Kang Ji-won’s mind was filled entirely with Park Min-ah’s story. Her tear-stained face, trembling voice, and the description of that man constantly swirled around in her head.

Just then, Kang Ji-won was startled by a sudden voice.

,Hello.

Her heart seemed to drop. When Kang Ji-won slowly turned her head, a man was standing before her. It was the man from the management office.

Kang Ji-won quickly composed herself. But it was not enough to completely hide the bewilderment that flashed in her eyes.

,Ah… yes, hello. Her voice trembled slightly. ,What’s the matter?

The man smiled gently. There was no malice in his expression.

,My name is Lee Han, and I’m in charge of managing this apartment. Is there anything I can help you with? I noticed you were looking intently at the management office…

Lee Han’s voice was warm, and his smile seemed kind. Kang Ji-won was momentarily confused. ,Could this person really be the man Min-ah-ssi spoke of?

,Oh, it’s nothing. Kang Ji-won mumbled. Numerous thoughts were colliding in her head.

Lee Han tilted his head slightly and looked at Kang Ji-won. Curiosity was evident in his eyes.

,Was there anything that made you uncomfortable?

,No, not at all. Kang Ji-won answered hastily. ,I was just passing by.

Lee Han’s eyes momentarily sharpened, then quickly returned to his original gentle expression. 

,I see. Anyway, please feel free to tell me if you need any help.

Kang Ji-won nodded. ,Yes, thank you.

She hurried away. She felt Lee Han’s gaze prickling at her back. Question and unease filled Kang Ji-won’s heart as she headed home.

,Is that person really the man who played with Min-ah-ssi?

Kang Ji-won’s pace quickened. Lee Han’s smile, Park Min-ah’s tears, and her own confused emotions were all tangled in her mind.

Watching Kang Ji-won’s receding figure, a faint smile spread across Lee Han’s lips. 

—

The midday sun streamed through the window of the management office. A shadow fell across Han Soo-jin’s face as she leaned against Lee Han’s chest. A strange tension filled the room.

Lee Han’s fingers tapped rapidly on the phone screen. Han Soo-jin glanced at his hand movements and opened her mouth.

,What’s going on? Her voice was mixed with light jealousy and curiosity.

Lee Han slowly put down his phone. ,It’s nothing.

A bitter smile spread across Han Soo-jin’s lips. ,It’s a woman.

Lee Han chuckled at her words. His hand naturally wrapped around Han Soo-jin’s waist.

,Are you asking because you’re curious?

Han Soo-jin closed her eyes. Her body pressed closer to Lee Han. ,I guess I have to get used to it now. I don’t think you’ll change anyway.

Her voice contained resignation and a strange sense of relief at the same time. Lee Han’s hand slowly stroked Han Soo-jin’s belly. Han Soo-jin’s body trembled slightly at his touch.

,How’s Tae-young-ssi doing? Lee Han’s voice was low.

Han Soo-jin’s expression momentarily stiffened, then relaxed. Her hand unconsciously covered her belly. ,Tae-young-ssi is very good to me. He’s only looking at me with undivided devotion.

Her voice was filled with complex emotions. Guilt, affection for her husband, and resignation to the current situation were mixed together.

Lee Han’s lips touched Han Soo-jin’s ear. ,That’s a relief.

His breath brushed against Han Soo-jin’s neck. Han Soo-jin flinched slightly, but soon leaned further into Lee Han’s arms. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

,But I wish you wouldn’t talk about Tae-young-ssi if possible. Han Soo-jin’s voice trembled. Her hand stroked her belly again.

Lee Han watched her and smiled. ,I understand. He hugged Han Soo-jin even tighter.

The breaths of the two people mingled as one. The laughter of children outside the window contrasted with their complicated relationship, filling the space. 

A small teardrop formed in Han Soo-jin’s eye, sparkling in the sunlight. The tear contained her complex emotions. Guilt, confusion, and a tender love for the baby in her womb.

,Lee Han-ssi… Han Soo-jin opened her mouth quietly. ,Is this… the right thing to do?

Lee Han gently stroked Han Soo-jin’s hair. ,This is the best thing to do for Byeol-yi.

Han Soo-jin sighed deeply. Her eyes were filled with a determined will. ,Yes… for Byeol-yi…

Her words contained a strong affection for her child and a resignation to accepting reality at the same time. Lee Han looked at Han Soo-jin with a faint smile. 

The tension between the two remained, but now it was also accompanied by a sense of responsibility for the new life. While Han Soo-jin’s fingers covered her belly, Lee Han’s hand overlapped on top of it. 

—

The chilly autumn evening air enveloped the apartment complex. Kang Ji-won hid in the shadows of a tree, watching the management office. Her hand was clutching her phone tightly, and her heart was beating irregularly.

,I have to get evidence today…

The image of Park Min-ah crying flickered in Kang Ji-won’s mind. That memory hardened her heart. But at the same time, guilt about her own actions crept up.

As the sun set and darkness deepened, Kang Ji-won’s tension increased. Then, the door to the management office opened. Kang Ji-won held her breath and watched the scene.

A woman carefully came out. Kang Ji-won’s eyes widened. It wasn’t the woman who had been pushing the stroller before, but a different woman. The woman was slightly covering her belly, and Lee Han was carefully supporting her.

Kang Ji-won’s heart began to beat rapidly. ,Could it be… that woman too…?

The woman looked around. And soon she approached Lee Han and tried to kiss him. Lee Han accepted the kiss without hesitation. Kang Ji-won reflexively took out her phone and took a picture of the scene.

Click- The moment the shutter sound rang out, a thrill ran through Kang Ji-won’s body.

After the woman left, Lee Han watched her go. No emotion could be read on his face. Kang Ji-won’s anger surged at his brazen appearance.

At that moment, Lee Han turned his head. His sharp gaze was directed towards where Kang Ji-won was. Kang Ji-won felt like her breath stopped. 

,He saw me… he saw me!

Terrified, Kang Ji-won quickly hid behind a tree. Her heart was pounding in her ears. She held her breath and waited for Lee Han’s footsteps. But unlike expected, she only heard the sound of the management office door closing.

Kang Ji-won, letting out a sigh of relief, quickly ran home. As soon as she opened the front door of the apartment, she felt cold sweat running down her back.

With trembling hands, she checked her phone. The scene of Lee Han and the woman kissing was clearly captured on the screen. Kang Ji-won was overwhelmed with complex emotions as she looked at the photo.

,How should I show this to Min-ah-ssi…

Kang Ji-won leaned back on the sofa. Her mind was confused. The desire to save Park Min-ah, anger at Lee Han, and guilt about her own actions were all tangled together.

Darkness deepened outside the window. The secret kiss scene captured on the phone screen in Kang Ji-won’s hand glowed faintly in the darkness. 

—

The cool autumn evening breeze enveloped the apartment complex. Kang Ji-won fiddled with the phone in her pocket and slowly moved her steps. Her mind was filled with complex thoughts.

,Should I show her this photo…

Kang Ji-won stopped walking for a moment and took a deep breath. Her eyes wavered.

,No, not yet. I need to hear more of Min-ah-ssi’s story.

She pulled herself together. She thought it might be too hasty to show the photo. She decided to listen to more stories about the man from Park Min-ah first, accurately grasp the situation, and then decide.

Park Min-ah was seen sitting on a bench. A bright smile spread across Park Min-ah’s face when she found Kang Ji-won. At that moment, the worries in Kang Ji-won’s heart disappeared for a while. She also smiled naturally and approached Park Min-ah.

,Have you been waiting? Kang Ji-won said, sitting next to Park Min-ah.

Park Min-ah shook her head. ,No, I just got here too.

The two naturally began to have everyday conversations. The weather, work, and even the movie they recently saw. As time passed, Kang Ji-won carefully tried to bring up the story of that man.

,Um, Min-ah-ssi… Kang Ji-won opened her mouth.

At that moment, Park Min-ah’s phone rang. Park Min-ah looked at Kang Ji-won with an apologetic expression. ,Just a moment, I’m sorry.

Kang Ji-won stopped talking and nodded. While Park Min-ah was on the phone, Kang Ji-won carefully observed the changes in her expression.

,Yes, I understand. I’ll go now. There was excitement in Park Min-ah’s voice.

Kang Ji-won’s chest felt strangely constricted. Park Min-ah’s expression, her voice… something was wrong.

Park Min-ah, who hung up the phone, looked at Kang Ji-won with a very apologetic face. ,I’m really sorry, Ji-won-ssi. I have to go somewhere urgently now.

Kang Ji-won suppressed her uneasy feelings and asked. ,What’s wrong?

Sadness flashed in Park Min-ah’s eyes. She hesitated for a moment and said in a small voice. ,That… that man said he wanted to see me for a while.

A sharp pain rushed into Kang Ji-won’s chest. Park Min-ah lowered her head and apologized again. ,I’m really sorry.

And then she hurried away. Kang Ji-won could only stare blankly at Park Min-ah’s back.

Sadness filled Kang Ji-won’s eyes, who was left alone under the streetlights. Her hand unconsciously clenched the phone in her pocket tightly. The photo inside weighed heavily in her heart.

,Why does she go to him so easily…

Anger, sadness, and jealousy were mixed together in Kang Ji-won’s heart. She sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. The stars were faintly shining in the darkening night sky.

Her steps towards home were heavy and unsteady. The cold autumn night wind brushed past Kang Ji-won’s cheeks, making the coldness make the pain in her heart even clearer.