#30.

Park Min-ah felt fatigue all over her body as soon as she woke up. Last night, her first time with Lee Han left completely new sensations on her body. A slight ache and a wave of weariness. Maybe because it was her first real experience, her whole body ached more than she thought.

But at the same time, the memory made Park Min-ah’s heart flutter. The intense movements of the man to whom she had given her virginity, the ecstatic climax of pleasure. Although it wasn’t a planned encounter, the fact that she became one with Lee Han was special to her. It was a thrill like first love.

The world outside the window had already turned dark. She had fallen asleep so soundly that a whole day had passed. Looking at the clock, it was already past dinner time and heading into the night.

Park Min-ah jumped up and headed to the bathroom. Her reflection in the mirror looked like she hadn’t fully woken up yet. Her cheeks seemed slightly flushed and red, and her hair was disheveled. The traces of yesterday remained intact.

Park Min-ah came to her senses as she washed thoroughly with warm water. Washing her body made her feel refreshed, but her stomach rumbled. She remembered that she hadn’t eaten properly yesterday because of what happened.

She looked in the refrigerator and kitchen, but there was nothing to eat. In the end, Park Min-ah decided to change her clothes and go to the convenience store. Thinking she would at least boil some ramen, she opened the front door.

She went outside with a light step and stopped by the convenience store. She bought a couple of packs of ramen, some kimbap, and a drink. As she finished paying and came out, she suddenly thought of Lee Han. Had he eaten? Hesitating, Park Min-ah headed to the management office.

Park Min-ah arrived in front of the management office, but unfortunately, the door was tightly locked. She had grabbed the doorknob with a heart full of excitement, but the reality that it wouldn’t open complicated Park Min-ah’s feelings. Looking at the deserted office, a sense of disappointment washed over her.

He hadn’t even contacted her after she shared her first experience with Lee Han last night. Was the relationship, to which she had given special meaning, nothing to Lee Han? Was she just a plaything, as her friend had said? As Park Min-ah moved her feet, her mind was filled with only negative thoughts.

Returning home, she collapsed onto the bed. Overwhelmed by unbearable self-loathing, her eyes welled up. She wanted to resent Lee Han, but instead, she found herself blaming herself. Could it be that I did something wrong? Park Min-ah’s heart was increasingly drawn to Lee Han.

Park Min-ah, with her face covered in tears, longed for him. Instead of resenting Lee Han for not looking for her, she felt pathetic for wanting to cling to him. Lee Han, whom she missed so desperately. But the fact that she didn’t even have a way to contact him only deepened her sorrow.

Park Min-ah lay in bed, unable to control the tears that burst out. After sobbing for a while, she stared blankly at the ceiling. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Lee Han.

She should resent him, but Park Min-ah’s heart was increasingly flowing in a different direction. Could it be that he didn’t like me? She gave him everything for her first time, but the fact that he hadn’t even contacted her made her think it might be her fault.

Recalling the memories of last night, she went over her actions one by one. She must have upset Lee Han somewhere. Could it be that she didn’t satisfy him properly? Could it be that he was disappointed in her?

These thoughts chased each other’s tails and tormented Park Min-ah. Her clumsy self from her first time lingered in her mind. She began to attribute the reason why Lee Han hadn’t contacted her to her own fault.

Instead of thinking that something had gone wrong in her relationship with him, Park Min-ah placed all the blame on herself. The rationalization that he had distanced himself because she was inadequate grew deeper and deeper. The distorted self-blame even diluted her resentment towards Lee Han.

A part of her heart turned cold. The words he whispered, saying he loved her, couldn’t have been a lie, right? She didn’t want to blame Lee Han. She just should have tried harder. So that she wouldn’t be abandoned by him.

–

At that time, Lee Han readily accepted Park Tae-young’s sudden invitation to dinner. He could feel Han Su-jin’s rather cold gaze, but Lee Han didn’t care and enjoyed talking with Park Tae-young.

During the meal, Park Tae-young brought up a topic.

,Lee Han-ssi, I heard the atmosphere between you and Park Min-ah-ran is unusual…”

Lee Han’s eyes widened for a moment. He glanced at Han Su-jin, but she was just moving her spoon with a calm expression.

,Ah… that’s actually a misunderstanding. Min-ah-ssi and I are just residents and the manager.”

Lee Han stammered, unable to hide his embarrassment. Then Park Tae-young scratched his head apologetically and said.

,Oh, really? I must have misheard. I’m sorry.”

,No, it’s not like that. I should have been more careful… From a working perspective, there shouldn’t be unnecessary misunderstandings with the residents.”

Lee Han replied nonchalantly.

After a moment of hesitation, Tae-young looked at Lee Han and smiled.

,Still, isn’t it time for Lee Han-ssi to start dating?”

,Eyy, I don’t think it’s the right timing yet. I have a lot of work to do… I want to focus only on work right now.”

Lee Han said with a bitter smile.

,But if you only work, life will be tough. I’m so happy to have met my wife.”

Park Tae-young smiled proudly and looked at Han Su-jin. Han Su-jin accepted her husband’s smile with a bright face. The two clinked their glasses and drank.

At this moment, Lee Han’s gaze turned to Han Su-jin. It was clear that she had deliberately leaked the relationship between him and Park Min-ah to Park Tae-young. A fleeting exchange of glances. But Han Su-jin ignored his gaze and calmly drank her alcohol.

As the drinking party became more lively, Park Tae-young leaned against the sofa and fell into a deep sleep. He had fallen asleep due to the fatigue accumulated from work and the alcohol. Han Su-jin gently shook her husband’s shoulder to wake him up, but Park Tae-young, who opened his eyes for a moment, only gave Han Su-jin a blurry smile before falling asleep again.

Lee Han got up from beside Han Su-jin, who sighed. He carefully supported the sleeping Park Tae-young and hugged him. He carried him in his arms, limp with drunkenness, and gently laid him down in the bedroom. Han Su-jin stood in the doorway, watching the scene silently.

Lee Han laid Park Tae-young on the bed and quietly closed the door. He came out to the living room, stopped, and stood facing Han Su-jin. The two stared at each other for a moment. A strange tension filled the silent living room.

,I wish you wouldn’t go around talking about things recklessly…”

Lee Han murmured in a low voice. His eyes were piercing through Han Su-jin with a coldness.

,Hmph.”

Han Su-jin folded her arms and scoffed. Her attitude showed no sign of backing down.

,It’ll get boring if you do that.”

A faint smile appeared on Lee Han’s lips.

,I’m not going to die alone, so go ahead and try it.”

Han Su-jin’s voice, retorting, was full of challenge.

Lee Han looked at Han Su-jin as if she was interesting. He slightly raised the corners of his lips and slowly opened his mouth.

,Okay. Let’s let it go this time. But from now on, let’s keep our distance.”

Without replying further, Han Su-jin began to clear the table. Lee Han silently watched her back as she cleared away the remaining glasses and plates.

Lee Han scanned Han Su-jin’s back, who was focused on clearing the table, with a burning gaze. His eyes were filled with an uncontrollable desire.

,Su-jin-ssi…”

Lee Han whispered her name and approached her. His arms tightened as he embraced her slender waist. At the same time, he buried his lips in her smooth neck, leaving a faint kiss.

,What are you doing…”

At first, she seemed flustered and stiffened, trying to push Lee Han away. But as his kiss deepened, Han Su-jin’s body melted away. As Lee Han’s hand slipped between her clothes, she unconsciously gasped.

,This isn’t right… My husband is sleeping…”

Unlike the voice of reason whispering in her head, Han Su-jin’s instincts were craving Lee Han. Every cell in her body was twisting, wanting to be held in his arms right now, wanting to surrender to the passion.

,Su-jin-ssi… You’re beautiful…”

Lee Han whispered softly in her ear and took off her shirt. The two felt their increasingly heated skin against each other as they exchanged kisses. Lee Han’s hand, unzipping Han Su-jin’s clothes, was as skillful as playing an instrument.

,Huu… What if Tae-young-ssi wakes up…”

Even as she said that, Han Su-jin instinctively clung to Lee Han. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him closer and craving a deeper kiss. Along with the forbidden thrill of breaking the taboo, an uncontrollable excitement swelled throughout her body.

,You know? Once Tae-young-ssi falls asleep, he can’t wake up…”

Lee Han whispered in Han Su-jin’s ear, burying his burning lips on her bare skin. His nibbling on her earlobe turned it red. Han Su-jin shuddered at the whisper and closed her eyes.

The two, who had fallen onto the living room sofa, were swept away by an uncontrollable desire. Lee Han’s persistent tongue delved into Han Su-jin’s lips, then moved down to her neck, collarbone, and cleavage. Han Su-jin instinctively arched her neck back at the hot breath touching her skin.

At the same time, Lee Han’s hand explored Han Su-jin’s bare skin. As his hand, which had slipped inside her clothes, stroked her soft thighs, Han Su-jin’s breath grew rough. Leaning her body against Lee Han’s arm wrapped around her waist, Han Su-jin also ran her greedy hand down his back.

The sound of her underwear being removed by his gentle touch, the moans that burst out as his fingers delved into the inside of her thighs. All of this broke the silence of the night, creating an atmosphere filled with desire.

,Huuheung… Lee Han-ssi…”

As the climax approached, Han Su-jin’s moans became more desperate. The way she twisted her waist and clung to him made it seem like she had fallen into forbidden pleasure.

,Su-jin-ssi will never be able to escape me… Forever…”

Lee Han whispered lowly as he pressed down on Han Su-jin. Han Su-jin, feeling a strange thrill at those words, wrapped her legs around Lee Han’s waist and accepted him deeply.

A hot affair that didn’t stop all night. On the sofa, the two bodies were pressed together without an inch of space, undulating like waves. Sweat-soaked naked bodies slipped and intertwined, and red marks were clearly etched on the pure white skin.

It was only at dawn that the two collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. Amidst the messy living room and scattered clothes, the traces of passion, Han Su-jin was held in Lee Han’s arms.

As the dark dawn broke, the light began to seep into Han Su-jin’s reason. The skin that had been teased all night throbbed. Lee Han’s touch and kisses, and even his whispers, remained all over her body. All of that excited Han Su-jin, but on the other hand, it also caused her guilt.

,How did I end up doing something like this…”

Han Su-jin’s heart was heavy as she lay in Lee Han’s arms. The red marks left on her body clearly showed what had happened all night.

,Even today…”

Han Su-jin murmured, hugging Lee Han’s waist. She was ashamed of herself for not being able to reject her relationship with Lee Han, even though her husband was sleeping right in the master bedroom. Tears welled up in her eyes from the guilt that filled her throat.

But… there was a voice whispering deep inside her head.

,All of this… is for Tae-young-ssi. It was all to protect him…”

Han Su-jin wiped away her blurring vision and thought. No, wasn’t she enduring all of this for her husband? If she didn’t accept Lee Han’s desires, she might lose Park Tae-young.

Han Su-jin bit her lip as she looked at the soundly sleeping Lee Han. The more she surrendered to her desires and melted into Lee Han’s touch, the more her love for her husband became distorted and grew.

,If it’s for you… I can do anything…”

Han Su-jin murmured, swallowing her thick tears. Even amidst guilt and shame, Han Su-jin began to rationalize her actions. With a distorted affection and obsession, she was determined to block anything that threatened her and Park Tae-young’s future.

—

Park Tae-young stretched and got up from the bed. Rubbing his eyes, he headed to the living room, where he was greeted by the smell of food and Han Su-jin’s back in the kitchen.

,Honey, I think I had a bit too much to drink yesterday. I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

Park Tae-young wrapped his arms around Han Su-jin’s waist from behind and whispered in her ear.

,Oh, you. You startled me.”

Han Su-jin looked surprised, but she soon smiled. She gently placed her hand on Park Tae-young’s arm and soothed him.

,It’s okay. Go wash up and come out. We should eat breakfast soon.”

At that moment, Park Tae-young buried his face in Han Su-jin’s neck. The scent of her sweat-soaked body from cooking tickled his nose. It was a familiar scent, but it was strangely erotic today. Park Tae-young smiled happily, as if intoxicated by the scent.

However, a shadow fell over Han Su-jin’s face. Park Tae-young’s affectionate embrace felt more suffocating than welcome. Because the traces of her affair with Lee Han until dawn remained all over her body, she couldn’t help but be anxious that she would be caught. Han Su-jin calmly removed her husband’s hand.

Han Su-jin let out a sigh of relief as she watched Park Tae-young walk towards the bathroom. But at that moment, she was startled by the sensation of something seeping between her thighs. Lee Han’s traces were slowly leaking out from below, where she had accepted him all night. Han Su-jin quickly closed her legs. Her heart sank at the thought that her secret traces might be discovered by Park Tae-young.

Han Su-jin hastily wiped herself with a tissue. There was nothing she could do about the red marks that remained clearly on her pure white skin. She sighed as she looked at the reddish marks all over her body.