episode_0051

Exactly one week had passed since witnessing that shocking scene in the office.

Time flowed indifferently, but Juyoung’s time seemed to remain stopped on that night.

“…” “…”

An awkward silence inevitably hung over the dining table where Juyoung and Mincheol sat facing each other.

After their big fight a few days ago, Mincheol, who felt his wife noticeably avoiding him, was merely observing her mood, let alone eating.

“Honey.”

Mincheol finally broke the silence, as if he had decided on something, but.

Because of the scene that had been circling in her mind since last week, Juyoung didn’t hear his voice.

Mina’s cries. Hyeonseong’s rough breathing. The squelching sound of flesh colliding. And the spreading stain of humiliation on the floor, like a blot.

Though disgust and revulsion surged within her, every night when she lay down to sleep, the lingering images of that day would resurface, causing her to unconsciously toss and turn. Sometimes, she would even find herself caught in forbidden fantasies, comforting herself on the bed.

“Honey?”

“Ah, yes. Sorry. I was just thinking about something.”

Only after Mincheol called her name once more did Juyoung snap out of it and turn her gaze to him.

The strange vitality in his voice bothered her.

“Last week, no, even before that, I’ve been cruel to you. I’m truly sorry.”

At Mincheol’s sudden apology, Juyoung was speechless for a moment. What had gotten into him so suddenly?

“After what happened last time, I thought a lot by myself. Actually, you must be having the hardest time. And here I was, saying harsh things to you just to relieve my own stress.”

Juyoung couldn’t hide her bewilderment at Mincheol’s voice, which was heavily tinged with self-reproach.

“Oh, no. I was the one who wasn’t thoughtful enough. I should have been more considerate of your feelings…”

An awkward atmosphere settled over the dining table.

In fact, their cold war had ended like this several times before.

If this time, too, it had passed with a simple apology, it would have been no different from usual, but.

“…Actually, that company I submitted my resume to before. They contacted me for an interview. Next week.”

At the unexpected news that followed, Juyoung’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Really? That IT company?”

“That’s right. They were looking for experienced employees at the team leader level, so I applied, and luckily, my resume passed.”

Clear confidence and excitement flickered across Mincheol’s face.

How long had it been since she last saw such an expression on her husband’s face? Juyoung felt a warmth spread in a corner of her chest.

“That’s great, really.”

Her voice trembled slightly without her realizing it.

Perhaps, just perhaps, they could escape this tiresome cycle and return to how things used to be.

From the depths of her sunken heart, she felt a small spark of hope ignite.

Mincheol didn’t miss his wife’s change in expression and spoke with heartfelt determination.

“I’ll have to see how the interview goes, but I’ll try my best. I promise I’ll never disappoint you again.”

“Yes. It will definitely go well.”

In response to her husband’s sincere voice, Juyoung also smiled and cheered him on.

Yes. Let’s have hope. Finally, their day in the sun had come.

But at that moment, an image flashed through her mind, regardless of her will.

‘A soft gasp…’

Last Friday night, Hyeonseong’s image, roughly defiling Mina after tearing off her clothes. His firm, sweat-glistened muscles and forearms with prominent veins. And his massive presence that overwhelmed everything.

‘What am I thinking at a time like this…?’

Juyoung was startled and shook her head.

At this moment, when she should be cheering for her husband’s comeback, another man. And to be thinking of her subordinate’s body, no less. Her mind was so confused that it felt like she had lost herself.

‘Pull yourself together, Kang Juyoung. Don’t forget what’s important.’

After finishing her meal with a refreshed mind for the first time in a while, Juyoung was about to leave for work when Mincheol came out to see her off.

“Didn’t you say you had a team dinner today?”

“Yes. But I won’t stay long.”

Juyoung wasn’t someone who usually enjoyed drinking, nor did she deeply socialize with her colleagues.

For this team dinner too, she intended to just go along with the atmosphere for a bit and then leave, as always. That would probably be more comfortable for the other team members too.

“Um, hey.”

Before she stepped out of the front door, Mincheol’s lips parted as if he was hesitating to say something.

“Shall we have a drink this weekend for the first time in a while? To celebrate a new start.”

At her husband’s suggestion, which seemed to carry a hint of worry, Juyoung pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Alright.”

It was a good opportunity to break down the distance that had settled between the couple. There was no reason to refuse.

At Juyoung’s acceptance, Mincheol finally showed a sign of relief.

“Then, I’m off.”

Perhaps thanks to the hopeful conversation she had with her husband for the first time in a while, her steps on the way to work felt a little lighter than before.

Unaware of the dark shadow falling upon her, Juyoung set off for work.

****

Inside the restaurant, filled with boisterous noise and the smell of grilling meat. The Travel Wiz MD team’s dinner was quite lively, celebrating the successful buyer meeting.

Naturally, praises and drinks flowed non-stop towards Assistant Manager Lee Hyeonseong, the main contributor to the project’s success.

On the other hand, Assistant Manager Son Junhyuk was detached from the lively atmosphere. No one approached him as he sat alone, stiff-faced, merely tilting his glass.

“Hey, Assistant Manager Lee! We really owe you this time!”

“Right, right! We were genuinely terrified then, but you turned it around like that? It was like watching a movie.”

As his colleagues poured out praises, Hyeonseong seemed to glance at Junhyuk for a moment, then replied modestly, not losing his relaxed smile.

“What did I even do? It’s all thanks to the Team Leader-nim’s excellent guidance and the help of the team members.”

Hyeonseong’s gaze naturally turned towards Juyoung, who was sitting opposite him.

Juyoung deliberately sipped only the water in her glass, avoiding his gaze. A chilling sensation running down her spine made her needlessly uneasy.

‘Truly, I can’t figure him out.’

Her handbag, which she had dropped in the hallway in front of the office while frantically escaping that day. -“It was in the hallway.” Hyeonseong’s face, as he nonchalantly handed it back to her on Monday morning, flickered in her mind.

Hyeonseong must have known she was in the office. But how could he act so nonchalantly?

Juyoung pulled herself together, recalling the hopeful conversation and warmth she had shared with her husband that morning.

‘Yes, it’ll be fine. Let’s socialize a bit today and go home early.’

She spent her time quietly, hardly touching alcohol and giving only minimal replies, just like usual.

But as if to mock her plans, Hyeonseong kept trying to pull Juyoung into the center of the conversation.

“Team Leader-nim, you also went through a lot this time. In that sense, I’d like to offer you a drink.”

Hyeonseong approached her with a bottle of alcohol. In an atmosphere difficult to refuse, Juyoung reluctantly extended her glass. A soft *slosh*, and clear soju filled the glass.

“Assistant Manager Lee did the most hard work, though. I didn’t do much.”

Juyoung gave an awkward laugh and emptied her glass in one go. The bitter, strong alcohol flowed down her throat.

“Someone like me still has a long way to go. I kindly ask for your continued guidance and encouragement, Team Leader-nim.”

With a meaningful smile, Hyeonseong also filled his glass and emptied it in one gulp. At that moment, his gaze pierced through Juyoung, staring directly at her.

Remembering the intense gaze he had directed at Mina in the office a week ago, Juyoung unconsciously swallowed her breath.

‘…It must be my imagination, right?’

When she quickly turned her head, Mina, sitting demurely next to Hyeonseong, came into view.

Still isolated within the company, she occasionally gave awkward replies to Hyeonseong’s words, maintaining a stiff posture. And sometimes, a faint shadow of the slavish obedience and longing Juyoung had witnessed a week ago flickered in her gaze towards Hyeonseong.

‘Those two, still…’

For the past week, Juyoung had desperately pretended that nothing was wrong while going to work. But the more she did, the more overtly Hyeonseong and Mina’s relationship entered her view.

A hand brushing her wrist in the break room. Meaningful glances exchanged when they met in the hallway. Even the significant increase in time they spent alone in the meeting room, under the pretext of business discussions. It was almost enough to make her suspect they were doing it on purpose, just to show her.

‘Meanwhile, my mind has no peace because of those two.’

“Haa.”

If she got drunk, could she momentarily forget these filthy, unpleasant sensations? Juyoung’s hand kept reaching for the glass on the table.

“Oh? Team Leader-nim, how many glasses have you had already? You’re drinking more than usual, aren’t you?”

“…Ah, I just feel like drinking today too.”

When another team member, who happened to notice her, asked in surprise, Juyoung awkwardly mumbled a reply.

As time passed and the glasses circulated a few more times, the atmosphere ripened further. Those who were getting drunk began to speak louder and chat.

Meanwhile, Juyoung, who had accepted and drunk a few more glasses, had flushed cheeks, and her body swayed from side to side.

‘Now, I should probably get up soon…’

Remembering her husband who would be at home, Juyoung turned her head to look towards the restaurant entrance, but it was difficult to find the right timing to get up from her seat.

Just then, Hyeonseong, who had gotten up to go to the restroom, returned and naturally sat in the empty seat next to Juyoung.

Even amidst the noise inside the restaurant, his low voice pierced Juyoung’s ears with strange clarity.

“Team Leader-nim, you look unwell. Are you alright?”

Juyoung felt her heart drop with a thud at his scent and gaze felt from such close proximity.

“I-I’m fine. I guess I just drank too much.”

“In that case, how about you go out for some fresh air for a bit?”

His suggestion sounded perfectly sensible and considerate, but a different emotion seemed to be conveyed in his eyes.

“No, I’m fine. I was just about to get up.”

Juyoung said that and quickly stood up, but she swayed, probably due to the alcohol. When Hyeonseong grabbed her arm and helped her steady herself, Juyoung’s heart pounded rapidly.

“On such a good day like today, Team Leader-nim, you should enjoy yourself a bit more. Besides, it’s still early.”

At his voice, which was soft yet held a certain firmness, Juyoung unconsciously nodded.

‘That’s right. It’s still early. It’ll be fine to stay a little longer.’

The conversation and promise she had shared with her husband that morning quickly faded in her mind.

Perhaps it was even for the better. Now that they were this close, she might be able to gauge his intentions.

“Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Yes?”

“Well…”

However, contrary to her resolve, Juyoung couldn’t easily open her mouth.

It had been like this since last week. Whenever she tried to inquire about the truth of that night, it was as if something invisible clamped her mouth shut, rendering her unable to do anything.

Hyeonseong smiled contentedly and poured alcohol into Juyoung’s empty glass again.

“Here, Team Leader-nim. We still have a lot to talk about.”

Juyoung accepted the glass as if enchanted. Her mind was screaming ‘No,’ but her body was already obeying his words.

Feeling her senses grow hazy from the alcohol and an unknown pull, she had a premonition that she wouldn’t easily be able to leave this place tonight.