Side Story. Mr. Kang Joo-hyuk’s Family Affairs (30)

As soon as I woke up in the morning, Ye-eun and Hinami, with severe dark circles, appeared.

Complaining of hangovers and staggering, the two of them regained some composure after eating the seaweed soup I prepared, and went upstairs with the kids.

Honestly speaking, Ye-eun was a bit unreliable, but Hinami takes good care of the kids, so it’ll probably be fine.

Hinami’s daughter liking her mom is natural, but sometimes I see other kids seem to like Hinami more than me.

As expected, babies recognize pretty things too.

“…I’ve got some time to rest for the first time in a while.”

“Right.”

Anyway, now that only two are left in the house that was bustling every day with three adults, three kids, and one or two guests, the house felt incredibly quiet.

Freed from childcare for the first time in a while, Haeun, wearing only Calvin Klein underwear, stretched, and then suddenly slapped my butt before walking to the kitchen.

“What the?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’? …You, Joo-hyuk, always slap butts when you’re bored, don’t you? Anytime.”

“…”

Hasn’t she learned her lesson, even after suffering like that yesterday? This woman.

To get immediate revenge, I followed her, but Haeun, with an impudent expression, poured and drank a glass of water from the water dispenser.

Even so, she might choke if I bother her while she’s drinking water, so I’ll wait a moment.

“…Hey.”

“Puhuhu…”

Haeun pushed her hand inside my t-shirt with her free hand, fumbling around as she searched for my nipples.

…How can a person be like this as soon as the kids are sent away?

Wasn’t she satisfied even after doing that yesterday?

I feel a little disappointed; I worked so hard.

“Haa… Why, are you turned on seeing me wearing only underwear this early in the morning?”

“Who’s saying that to whom right now?”

“No, just because. You followed me closely when I was going to get water and were puffing out your chest.”

“If you slapped your husband’s butt like that, you should have been prepared.”

“Oh, really? Should I take it off right now?”

“…Don’t take it off.”

…But to do it right here, right away, hurt my pride a little in its own way.

I wanted to set a better mood and do it, but like this, it’s just a normal married couple’s relationship.

Waking up in the morning, washing up, eating, leaving the kids somewhere, having sex, and exercising a bit.

This kind of thing is too wholesome; it’s not fun.

…It’s more fun when it’s a bit more sinister and suspicious.

“Your eyes are really lewd?”

“Because I drank yesterday, I’m tired, that’s why. This is.”

“Oh, really? …Okay. Then I should probably go exercise.”

Enduring my wife’s flirting as she constantly changed her posture this way and that, subtly tempting me, I pretended to be unfazed, caressing her neck and acting cool.

…Haa…

Later, if she’s stretching or something, I should help her out a bit.

Come to think of it, when I first met Haeun, she was wearing leggings too.

I wasn’t getting turned on for no reason. That.

**

Normally, Haeun always lays out her yoga mat and exercises at home around lunchtime.

Anyway, going to the gym just gets stares from guys, and she doesn’t really lift heavy weights, so she says it’s a waste of money.

“What? Are you going out somewhere?”

“I told you I was going to exercise. I’m going to the gym.”

“What?”

But today, for some reason, she seemed to be heading to the gym.

And not just that, she dressed up nicely too.

A tight-fitting white tank top and khaki cargo pants outfit.

Of course, she wore an outer layer over it, but even so, her belly button was visible and her bra was showing through; that didn’t change.

…Of course, her actual workout clothes are probably in that gym bag, but why is she dressed like this suddenly?

“Why? Can’t I go to the gym? You, Joo-hyuk, go often.”

“I go because I can’t exercise without barbells. You usually don’t go, but suddenly-“

“Usually, I couldn’t go because I was taking care of the kids, and today Hinami is watching them, so I’m planning to go, right?”

“…Where are you going?”

“Whyyy? …Are you coming?”

Fitting her outfit, Haeun stood with one leg crossed, smirked slyly, then took off the shoes she had just put on and stared intently at me.

…Ah.

This lewd bitch.

Did you want other people’s attention that much?

You’re not satisfied with being sexually harassed by foreigners on YouTube?

“…You’re going to that gym attached to this apartment complex anyway, right?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll quickly get dressed and follow you, so go on ahead.”

“Why? Not going together?”

“If we go together, anyone who sees us will recognize us as a married couple, won’t they?”

“…Ah, okay. I’ll go first.”

To satisfy this lewd wife, I sent the soon-to-be 30-year-old married woman, dressed somewhat young, off to the gym, and then searched hard for a tight-fitting tank top, finally finding one.

…Normally, I wear a t-shirt when I exercise, but I guess this seems more fitting today.

Since I don’t have tattoos on my body, it’s a bit disappointing, but I have a scar on my shoulder instead.

Considering that, it looks a bit delinquent in its own way.

Actually, when haven’t I looked like this?

**

Intentionally leaving a little time gap, I left the house about 3 minutes later than Haeun and headed to the gym.

As usual, there weren’t many people at this time of day, and about five or six people were mostly running on the treadmills, enjoying their workouts.

…Among them, there’s one woman whose butt looks particularly plump.

The woman, her beige hair tied in a ponytail, swishing like a horse’s tail.

“…”

After all that effort wearing even cargo pants, but when actually at the gym she was in leggings, I almost got confused.

But I’ve touched that butt so many times; I couldn’t possibly not recognize it.

After briefly considering whether I should give it a slap, I got on the empty spot next to a treadmill and casually spoke to her, who was glistening with sweat.

“Hello.”

“…”

…My Seo Haeun startled at her husband’s sudden use of formal language, flashed a sly smile, then shut her eyes tightly.

Then, slapping her own cheeks lightly to compose her expression, she cleared her throat and replied to me in the rudest tone possible.

“…What is it? Mr. Kang Joo-hyuk.”

“It’s been a while. Do you remember my name?”

“I remember. …What you did to me.”

…Although there’s no script or anything, the conversation flows like water.

Of course, it’s something that can be done if we just pull out the memories.

That day, the day my life changed.

After reuniting with Seo Haeun at the gym, I dreamed of futile revenge.

Thinking about it now, it wasn’t just funny, it was childish.

My shoulder getting ruined is because of that woman’s father, so I’ll get revenge by fucking her daughter raw?

…What am I, a middle school boy?

It would be a hundred times better to just say I seduced her because I liked her.

“What did I do to Haeun?”

“You did something wicked. …You did to me.”

Matching Haeun’s speed, I also increased the treadmill speed, and we exchanged meaningful words in voices just loud enough not to be drowned out by the music playing in the gym.

As a very suspicious conversation went back and forth, the other people exercising at lunchtime, without much thought, subtly started looking at us.

…Why are people so interested in other people’s business?

Is it because Haeun is pretty?

Or is it because her outfit and figure are a bit ‘violent’?

Well,

either way, I’m just grateful.

“What do you mean, ‘wicked thing’? We both agreed, didn’t we do it?”

“…You toyed with me.”

“I never did. I still like you even now.”

“You were never loyal/devoted to me.”

“…”

While weaving a more exciting story, Haeun poked my solar plexus hard with words I couldn’t tell if they were acting or genuine.

Seeing me speechless in an instant, one middle-aged woman running next to me clicked her tongue.

Seeing Haeun reply with a cold voice, one young man who looked like he just became an adult put down his barbell from the bench press and furiously typed on his phone.

…If it’s like this, I really look like the bad guy.

Or maybe not.

Am I a real bad guy?

“…So, why did you come looking for me? Mr. Kang Joo-hyuk.”

“…It wasn’t me who came looking; you came here. I originally worked out here.”

“Ha. …Do I look like I have lingering feelings for you?”

“Don’t you? …Because you do, that’s why you came.”

“…”

Haeun, who was talking rudely, perfectly immersed in her role, shut her mouth tightly and turned off the treadmill when I used informal language and spoke strongly.

Then, she got off the stopped machine, her beautiful beige hair swishing, and walked determinedly towards the pull-up bar, avoiding me.

“…Why are you following me?”

“Didn’t you ask me to follow you?”

“Haa. …Do whatever you want.”

Haeun sighed deeply with a look of utter exasperation, and pretending not to hear me whether I flirted or not, hung from the pull-up bar.

Then, straining with all her might…

“…Still the same. Can’t do pull-ups.”

“Issh…”

…She ‘pretended’ not to be able to do pull-ups.

“Should I help you? You used to do that every day.”

“Wait. Don’t grab me!”

…I had no choice but to grab my weak ex-girlfriend’s legs and support her firmly.

Haeun, barely succeeding in one pull-up thanks to me, immediately lost all strength, let go of the bar, covered her face with both hands, and looked embarrassed.

“…Are you going to exercise more?”

“…I’m done.”

We finally whispered in our usual tone so no one could hear, subtly shared some physical contact, and then quickly packed our things and left the gym.

Until the moment we left, everyone in the gym was watching us, but

fortunately, it seemed no one realized all of this was an act.

“Puhuhu…, Ah. Shit. You’re so good at acting, Seo Haeun.”

“…It’s not acting.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, I must have lost muscle because I’m getting old, Joo-hyuk…. I can’t do pull-ups.”

…Surprisingly,

it wasn’t acting.

“…From now on, let’s go to the gym often.”

“Yeah…”

After giving birth… my body has deteriorated a lot.

It looks fine, so I thought it was okay.

…I should help her with exercise often.

For now,

When we get back, I should do cardio first.