#96.

Kang Jiwon was lying sprawled out under the dim office lights. Her body was still trembling slightly, and the tears that had welled up in her eyes were cooling down. Her gaze, fixed on the ceiling, was empty.

Her fingers repeatedly clenched and released the bedsheets. Kang Jiwon’s chest rose and fell rapidly, exhaling irregular breaths. Her legs moved unconsciously, and her toes were twisted with tension.

Kang Jiwon’s mind seemed to be emptying, turning white. Park Minah’s face, her worries about her own identity, everything blurred in that moment. Just as her consciousness was fading, everything suddenly seemed to stop.

Hot tears streamed from her eyes, running down her cheeks and wetting her ears. Kang Jiwon’s lips trembled, and a small groan escaped.

Slowly, her consciousness began to return. Kang Jiwon blinked and looked around. A sense of reality gradually washed over her, and at the same time, feelings of regret and self-blame surged in.

As reality gradually returned, Kang Jiwon’s face contorted. Her eyebrows furrowed, and deep wrinkles formed on her forehead. She bit her lip tightly, and a red light shone through her pale lips. Her fingers repeatedly clenched and released the bedsheets, leaving faint nail marks on the sheets.

Kang Jiwon recalled Park Minah’s face. At that moment, her chest ached as if it were being torn apart. Her breathing quickened, and her chest rose and fell rapidly. A small groan escaped from her throat.

,What have I done…” Kang Jiwon mumbled, her voice trembling. The moment she uttered those words, her shoulders slumped. The tears that had welled up in her eyes streamed down her cheeks.

She slowly sat up. Her muscles ached with every movement. Kang Jiwon lowered her head and looked at her body. Red marks were clearly visible on her skin under the dim light. They were Lee Han’s traces.

Kang Jiwon’s gaze turned to the inside of her thighs. Seeing the white liquid flowing down and the red traces mixed within, her eyes welled up again. When she carefully touched the marks with her fingers, she felt an unfamiliar pain. She bit her lip and closed her eyes.

Her hand slowly moved to her lower abdomen. Kang Jiwon’s face contorted at the heavy sensation she felt there. A feeling of being filled, yet also empty, confused her. She felt discomfort from the lukewarm sensation inside.

Tears streamed down Kang Jiwon’s face again. This time, she didn’t wipe away the tears running down her cheeks. Her shoulders began to shake, and soon sobs filled the office.

Kang Jiwon slowly got up and looked around. Clothes scattered on the floor caught her eye. She picked up the clothes with trembling hands. Her movements were slow and mechanical as she put on the clothes.

When she picked up the shirt, Lee Han’s scent brushed past her nose. Kang Jiwon froze for a moment. Her eyes widened, and her lips trembled. ‘How could I do this?’ The thought flashed through her mind.

As she put on her panties, she unconsciously stroked the inside of her thighs. Her face contorted at the sensation. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled up her leggings.

Kang Jiwon sighed deeply as she fastened her bra. Her shoulders slumped. Her gaze was fixed on the air as she put on her T-shirt. Confused emotions washed over her. Guilt, regret, and disgust mixed together, weighing heavily on her chest.

After getting fully dressed, Kang Jiwon slowly approached the mirror. She widened her eyes as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was different from her usual self. Red and swollen eyes, a pale face, and disheveled hair. 

She stared at herself in the mirror for a while. The sight was so unfamiliar. Kang Jiwon slowly reached out and touched the mirror. The cold sensation of the glass pulled her back to reality. 

Tears welled up in Kang Jiwon’s eyes again. She bit her lip and turned her head away. She couldn’t bear to look at herself in the mirror any longer. She took a deep breath and prepared to leave the office.

Her hand, reaching for the doorknob, stopped. She slowly turned around and looked at Lee Han. Her chest felt strangely tight at the sight of him. The fact that she had been in his arms, sobbing, until recently confused her. 

Her gaze moved from Lee Han’s shoulder to his forearm. At that moment, his scent and the sensation of his touch on her body vividly came to mind. Kang Jiwon instinctively raised her arms and wrapped them around herself.

‘How could I… with a man…’ Conflict arose in her mind. Her eyebrows furrowed at the feeling that her identity, which she had protected all her life, was shaking. At the same time, the pleasure she had felt in her relationship with Lee Han came to mind, and her face flushed.

Kang Jiwon was filled with deep self-loathing as she recalled the sensations she had felt. ‘How could I do this… I…’ Her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist. The fact that her body had reacted to a man tormented her.

She looked at Lee Han one last time. Complex emotions crossed her face at the sight of him. She stared at him with a look of disgust, anger, and disappointment in herself, then slowly turned her head.

Kang Jiwon’s steps were heavy as she opened the door and left. She tried to calm the storm of emotions raging within her as she took each step. Her sigh echoed faintly in the apartment complex along with the sound of the office door closing.

–

Kang Jiwon returned home. Darkness greeted her as she opened the front door. She entered the room without turning on the lights. Only the faint light from the streetlights seeping in from outside illuminated her path.

She was holding her cell phone in her hand. Kang Jiwon stared at the screen. Her eyes were complex. The voice recording icon caught her attention. Her fingers repeatedly clenched and released the phone, as if the small device held her fate.

Kang Jiwon slowly approached the bed. Her steps were heavy. She stopped in front of the bed and hesitated for a moment. And finally, she bent down and pushed the phone under the bed. At that moment, she felt as if she were burying something forever.

She slowly sat up. The room was still dark, but her eyes had now adjusted to the darkness and she could see her surroundings dimly. Her hand, leaning against the wall, reached under the bed again. She took out the phone with trembling hands.

Kang Jiwon’s fingers trembled as she dialed the number for the police department’s sex crime counseling center. Her heart beat rapidly each time she pressed a number. Cold sweat formed on her forehead as the dial tone rang.

,Hello, this is the sex crime counseling center.” A female counselor’s soft voice came through the speaker.

Kang Jiwon couldn’t speak. The words that had been welling up in her throat suddenly seemed to disappear. Her lips trembled. Tears began to stream down her face.

,I… I need help.” She barely managed to speak. Her voice cracked.

,Yes, what kind of help do you need?” Kang Jiwon bit her lip at the counselor’s soft voice. 

She paused for a moment. The darkness in the room seemed to press down on her even more. ,I’m… being threatened.” Kang Jiwon’s voice trembled. She paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

,Can you tell me a little more about what kind of threat it is?” the counselor asked cautiously.

Kang Jiwon chose her words carefully as she answered. ,It’s a sexual… threat. But the details… it’s hard to talk about.” Her voice grew softer and softer.

The counselor tried to understand her situation and said, ,I understand. I know it’s hard to talk about. Is your safety threatened right now?”

,No, not right now…” Kang Jiwon mumbled. Her fingers repeatedly clenched and released the phone.

The counselor tried to understand Kang Jiwon’s situation in more detail, but Kang Jiwon did not provide specific information. Instead, she said, ,I just… I don’t know what to do.”

The counselor understood Kang Jiwon’s anxiety and tried to reassure her. ,I understand how confused you must be. We want to help you. How about meeting with a female police officer in charge tomorrow? You’ll be able to receive counseling in a safer environment.”

Kang Jiwon was silent for a moment. Complex thoughts swirled in her mind. Eventually, she answered in a small voice, ,Yes…”

The call ended after the counseling session. The phone slipped from Kang Jiwon’s hand and fell onto the bed. She stood there, motionless. The silence in the room enveloped her.

How much time had passed? Kang Jiwon’s fingers trembled slightly. Her gaze slowly moved, first toward the floor, then out the window.

The lights of the apartments visible through the window flickered and reflected in her eyes. Some lights flickered and went out, while others turned on. They created an irregular rhythm, as if representing her complex inner self.

Kang Jiwon’s chest rose and fell sharply. A long sigh escaped from her lips, filling the silent room.

Her steps slowly moved toward the window. Her palm touched the cold glass. At that moment, her shoulders trembled slightly.

The night air seeped in through the window and brushed against her cheek. Kang Jiwon closed her eyes. Small droplets formed beneath her eyelids.

–

The doorbell rang late at night. Kang Jiwon opened the door with blurred vision. Park Minah was standing there. Kang Jiwon’s heart sank.

,Jiwon-ssi, I was so worried because you weren’t answering your phone. Are you okay?” Park Minah’s voice was heard.

Kang Jiwon burst into tears at the sound of that voice. Park Minah’s arms wrapped around her. At that moment, Kang Jiwon felt all her defenses collapsing.

,It’s okay, I’m here,” Park Minah’s words lingered in Kang Jiwon’s ears.

The two walked silently to the sofa. Kang Jiwon leaned on Park Minah’s shoulder and continued to cry. She felt Park Minah’s hand gently stroking her back. The warmth gradually melted Kang Jiwon’s frozen heart.

,What happened?” Kang Jiwon couldn’t answer Park Minah’s question. Instead, she sobbed even louder. 

As the night deepened, Kang Jiwon’s sobs subsided. But her hand was still tightly gripping Park Minah’s clothes. It was as if everything would collapse if she let go.

,Minah-ssi…” Kang Jiwon called out in a small voice.

,Yes, Jiwon-ssi?” Park Minah’s answer was heard.

,Thank you for coming,” Kang Jiwon barely managed to say. At that moment, a corner of her heart seemed to lighten a little.

The two fell silent again. The moonlight shining through the window faintly illuminated their intertwined figures. Kang Jiwon was gradually immersed in Park Minah’s warmth and scent.

Park Minah’s hand gently stroked her back. The warmth gradually melted Kang Jiwon’s frozen heart. She delved deeper into Park Minah’s warmth.

Kang Jiwon’s gaze stopped on Park Minah’s lips. Her heart began to beat rapidly. All rational thoughts disappeared, and only Park Minah’s warmth was felt.

Her body seemed to move on its own. Kang Jiwon slowly moved her face closer. Park Minah’s breath touched her cheek. With hesitation and desire mixed together, Kang Jiwon closed her eyes.

Finally, her lips touched Park Minah’s. At that moment, a thrill ran through Kang Jiwon’s entire body. The soft and warm sensation temporarily made her forget all her worries.

The kiss was cautious. Kang Jiwon seemed to be trying to put all her emotions into this kiss. Her hand naturally rose and wrapped around Park Minah’s back. 

Time seemed to stop. Kang Jiwon wanted this moment to last forever. Her lips moved gently on Park Minah’s. It was a sweet comfort that made her forget all the pain and fear.

After the soft kiss ended, Kang Jiwon was hugged by Park Minah again. Her heart beat rapidly. Park Minah’s warmth enveloped her, but the anxiety in her heart remained.

Kang Jiwon’s gaze wavered in the darkness. Lee Han’s shadow flickered in her memory. At the same time, the conversation she had just had with the counseling center came to mind. Her fingers unconsciously gripped Park Minah’s clothes tightly. ‘Tomorrow… if I meet the police…’ Her body trembled slightly at the thought.

Park Minah pulled her closer. At that moment, Kang Jiwon’s heart wavered. Park Minah’s scent, her warmth, and the sensation of her lips that she had just felt confused her.

‘If I really report it…’ Kang Jiwon closed her eyes. The fear of losing Park Minah washed over her, and her breathing became irregular.

Park Minah’s hand gently stroked her back. Kang Jiwon gradually regained her composure with the warmth. But at the same time, feelings of regret began to seep in.

‘If I just endure it for… a month…’ She tried to convince herself. She didn’t want to give up the safety of this moment in Park Minah’s arms. 

Tears welled up in Kang Jiwon’s eyes again. This time, they were tears of regret and self-blame. She quietly absorbed the tears into Park Minah’s clothes.