#97.

The midday sun seeped through the curtains, tickling Kang Jiwon’s eyelids. She woke up, slowly opening her eyes. As soon as she opened them, Park Minah, asleep next to her, came into view.

Kang Jiwon’s gaze slowly moved along Park Minah’s face. Her eyes paused, following her soft curves, then moved again, repeating the process. Kang Jiwon’s breath hitched for a moment as she watched Park Minah’s long eyelashes flutter slightly.

Her fingers moved unconsciously, reaching for Park Minah’s face. But they stopped midway, trembling in the air before returning to their original position. Kang Jiwon bit her lip slightly.

She felt something swelling up inside her chest. A warm and sweet feeling spread throughout her body. A smile spread across Kang Jiwon’s face. Without realizing it, she leaned closer to Park Minah.

Park Minah’s breath touched her cheek. Kang Jiwon’s heart began to beat rapidly at the warm sensation. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Park Minah’s scent filled her lungs.

Her hand moved towards Park Minah again. This time, without hesitation, she gently stroked Park Minah’s cheek. At that moment, small tears welled up in Kang Jiwon’s eyes. Complex emotions, a mixture of happiness and fear, love and anxiety, washed over her.

Kang Jiwon slowly pulled back the blanket. Faint red marks on her bare skin caught her eye. Her fingers trembled as she traced the marks. The scars left by the night with Lee Han were still vivid.

‘If Minah-ssi finds out about this…’ Kang Jiwon’s heart grew heavy at the thought. She had engaged in a relationship with Lee Han under the guise of protecting Park Minah, but wasn’t the act itself a betrayal of Park Minah? Self-loathing washed over her like a wave.

Her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist. ‘Was the choice I made really the right one?’ The question gnawed at her mind.

Just then, she heard Park Minah’s soft breathing next to her. Kang Jiwon slowly turned her head and looked at her. Park Minah opened her eyes with a smile. At that moment, Kang Jiwon’s heart sank heavily.

Looking into Park Minah’s clear eyes, Kang Jiwon began to regret reporting Lee Han last night. ‘If Lee Han is arrested…’ Cold sweat broke out at the thought. She was putting the man she liked in trouble.

‘If Park Minah finds out the truth… will she be able to forgive me?’ Anxiety gripped Kang Jiwon’s heart. The thought that the fact that she had a relationship with the man she liked under the guise of saving Park Minah might actually hurt Park Minah even more.

Kang Jiwon’s fingers gripped the bed sheets tightly. Fear of losing Park Minah’s trust overwhelmed her. She let out a deep sigh.

‘Can I just hide everything and live like this? Or should I confess everything and beg for forgiveness?’ Kang Jiwon thought, looking into Park Minah’s eyes. Guilt and anxiety, love and fear swirled in her heart. The time to make a decision was approaching, and Kang Jiwon’s heart grew heavier at the fact that the choice could change their relationship forever.

“Jiwon-ssi, rest a little more. I’ll make lunch,” Park Minah said, and Kang Jiwon nodded.

As Park Minah’s footsteps faded away towards the kitchen, Kang Jiwon took a deep breath. Kang Jiwon’s fingers slowly traced the remaining days. A week had already passed. Her secret had to remain hidden in the darkness for just a little longer. Her shoulders grew heavy at the thought, then straightened slightly.

A faint smile spread across Kang Jiwon’s face at the sound of dishes clattering from the kitchen. It seemed as if the future with Park Minah was contained within that sound. ‘Let’s hold on a little longer,’ she resolved in her heart.

Lying in bed, Kang Jiwon heard her cell phone vibrate. Her whole body stiffened with tension at the sound. She slowly reached out and picked up her phone. The number that appeared on the screen was a call from a number she had never seen before.

Kang Jiwon’s fingers repeatedly gripped and released the phone. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her thumb hovered over the call button. Just then, she heard Park Minah humming from the kitchen.

After hesitating for a moment, Kang Jiwon pressed the call button. “Hello?” Her voice trembled.

“Hello, are you the person who contacted the sexual assault counseling center yesterday?” The counselor’s gentle voice was heard.

The color drained from Kang Jiwon’s face. Her gaze turned towards the kitchen. Park Minah’s singing continued to be heard. Kang Jiwon’s hand began to tremble slightly.

“Ah… yes…” Her voice cracked.

“I would like to discuss the details of yesterday’s consultation in more detail. Is this a good time for you?”

Kang Jiwon’s eyes widened. Her breathing became rapid. Her heart felt like it was being torn to shreds between the sounds coming from the kitchen and the voice on the other end of the phone.

“I’m sorry,” Kang Jiwon said urgently. Her voice trembled. “I’m… I’m now…”

Unable to finish her sentence, she hung up the phone. Her hand trembled violently as she put down the phone. Kang Jiwon took a deep breath and exhaled. Tears welled up in her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.

Her fingers began to move slowly. But they went towards the power button, not the call button. Slowly, as if time had stopped, but surely, she pressed the button.

Kang Jiwon’s lips trembled as she watched the screen darken. A faint moisture formed in her eyes. She hugged her phone to her chest and let out a deep sigh.

A slight tremor could be felt in her fingers as she repeatedly gripped and released the bed sheets. Kang Jiwon slowly sat up. Her gaze wandered into the air.

The sky visible through the window was still clear. But Kang Jiwon’s heart seemed to be filled with gray clouds. She pushed her phone under the pillow. The action felt like burying her conscience.

Kang Jiwon closed her eyes again. Park Minah’s singing continued to be heard. A faint smile spread across her face at the sound, then disappeared.

Something seemed to be slowly cooling down inside her chest. But at the same time, something else was growing little by little. The calmness after making a decision, and the uneasy anticipation of the time to come, filled Kang Jiwon’s heart.

—

The warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the window of the management office. Lee Han was leaning back deeply in his chair. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, creating a rhythm. His eyes were staring into space, but his mind was working busily.

‘Kang Jiwon…’ The name flashed through his mind. The scene of yesterday’s report came to mind, but Lee Han’s expression remained calm. A small smile spread across his face. As long as he held the Park Minah card, he was sure that Kang Jiwon would not be able to do anything.

Lee Han slowly got up and headed to the window. He looked out at the apartment complex and fell into thought. ‘Still, I should be a little careful.’ His eyes sharpened for a moment, then softened.

At that moment, the door to the management office opened quietly. Lee Han slowly turned his head. His eyes changed at the sight of the woman standing in the doorway.

It was Jung Seoyeon. She was wearing a cardigan and a light dress. Her silhouette in the sunlight was as beautiful as a painting. Jung Seoyeon quietly closed the door and stepped inside.

A smile spread across Lee Han’s face. His eyes greedily scanned Jung Seoyeon’s figure. “Welcome, Seoyeon-ssi.” His voice was soft, but the desire hidden within it could not be concealed.

“It’s been a while,” Her voice was low and sweet. Her eyes were full of desire.

Jung Seoyeon’s fingers slowly began to pull off her cardigan. Each of her movements was seducing Lee Han. “Do you have time?” Lee Han’s breathing became rough at her words.

Lee Han slowly approached Jung Seoyeon. His eyes were also full of desire. “Of course.” His hand wrapped around her waist.

Jung Seoyeon placed her hand on Lee Han’s chest. Her lips touched his ear. “Hold me,” Her breath stimulated Lee Han’s skin.

The two people’s eyes met. They contained an intense desire for each other. Without hesitation, Lee Han covered Jung Seoyeon’s lips.

Jung Seoyeon willingly responded to his kiss. Her arms wrapped around Lee Han’s neck. The two people’s bodies were pressed together as one.

The air in the office became hot. Lee Han and Jung Seoyeon fell into each other’s desires. Their breathing and low moans began to fill the quiet space.

—

In the office filled with hot air, Jung Seoyeon and Lee Han, lying on the bed, were catching their breath. Their sweat-soaked skin was touching each other. Jung Seoyeon rested her head on Lee Han’s chest and listened to his heartbeat.

“How was your honeymoon?” Lee Han asked.

Jung Seoyeon smiled and raised her head. “It was boring. I missed this.” Her hand slowly went up Lee Han’s leg. Lee Han’s breathing became rough as her fingers touched his penis.

The two people’s eyes began to be stained with desire again. Jung Seoyeon climbed on top of Lee Han with an elegant movement. Her waist began to move slowly, and Lee Han’s hand gripped her butt tightly.

At that moment, Jung Seoyeon’s cell phone rang. She quickly checked the screen and signaled Lee Han to be quiet. “Hello?” Her voice suddenly became innocent and pure.

“Seoyeon-ah, I called because it’s my break time,” Kim Tae-woo’s voice sounded tired.

“Oppa, thank you for calling me during your break when you’re busy,” Jung Seoyeon’s voice was affectionate, but her eyes were still full of desire.

“Is everything okay? I miss you,” Kim Tae-woo asked.

Jung Seoyeon bit her lip and answered. “Yeah, I came to meet a friend at a cafe for a while.”

Lee Han slowly began to move from below, and Jung Seoyeon took a deep breath. Her eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth and suppressed a moan. She glared at Lee Han, but her eyes contained more desire than anger.

“Really?” Kim Tae-woo asked.

“I was bragging about our honeymoon to my friend…” Jung Seoyeon’s voice trembled slightly. Her lips trembled, and her eyelids were half-closed. Her waist moved slowly but rhythmically in time with Lee Han’s movements.

Jung Seoyeon’s fingernails scratched Lee Han’s chest slightly. She bit her lip and suppressed a moan. Lee Han’s hand grabbed her waist even harder.

“Ah, the honeymoon was fun. We were pretty hot,” Kim Tae-woo chuckled and whispered into the phone. His voice was playful.

Jung Seoyeon’s eyes widened for a moment. Her breathing became rapid, and her chest rose and fell quickly. Lee Han’s movements became a little more intense. Jung Seoyeon covered her mouth with one hand.

“Yeah… I want to go with oppa again,” Jung Seoyeon barely answered. Her voice trembled and she was out of breath. Her face became increasingly red, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

Jung Seoyeon’s hand gripped Lee Han’s chest tightly. Her fingernails left marks on his skin. Lee Han frowned slightly, but did not stop moving.

The two people’s bodies moved together as one. Jung Seoyeon’s long hair brushed against Lee Han’s face. A small moan escaped from her lips.

Jung Seoyeon’s whole body became taut like a bowstring. Her thighs tightened around Lee Han’s body even more, and her fingers dug into his shoulders. Her breathing became increasingly rough, and her lips trembled.

“O, oppa…” Jung Seoyeon barely managed to say. “I… I’ll hang up first.” Her voice cracked. She trailed off and took a deep breath. “Work… carefully.”

Jung Seoyeon’s eyes turned red, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead and flowed down. Her fingers trembled as she searched for the end call button. As if she couldn’t stand it any longer, her waist moved greatly.

The moment the call ended, Jung Seoyeon’s suppressed moan burst out. “Ah… ah…!” Her exclamation echoed through the office.

Jung Seoyeon’s body arched like a bow. Her waist bent greatly and pressed even closer to Lee Han’s body. Sweat flowed down her body, which was undulating like waves.

Her fingernails dug hard into Lee Han’s shoulders. Red marks were clearly etched on his skin. Jung Seoyeon’s legs wrapped around Lee Han’s waist even tighter.

Jung Seoyeon’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she breathed roughly. Her long hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead and neck.

Jung Seoyeon’s eyes changed. Now her eyes were filled with only desire. Her pupils were dilated to almost black, and her eyes were red.

Biting her lip, she looked down at Lee Han.

“You’re really…” she whispered lowly. Her voice contained an unfulfilled longing. Jung Seoyeon’s fingers slowly moved along Lee Han’s chest. Her body was still trembling slightly. Slowly getting up, she looked at Lee Han with a fascinating gaze.

“I won’t let you get away with this…” Jung Seoyeon’s voice was low and sexy. Her tongue slowly licked her lips. Lee Han’s desire began to burn once again at the sight.