episode_0057

Under the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Juyoung sat quietly at her vanity, combing her hair.

With the business trip to Japan set for tomorrow, the day’s fatigue was clearly etched on her face, reflected in the mirror.

Yet, in her deep eyes, the forbidden connection she had shared with Hyeonseong a week ago spread out like ripples, refusing to fade.

The memory of that night was shameful, yet it left behind an undeniable aftertaste of pleasure.

“Honey?”

Lost in thought, Juyoung startled and raised her head at the sudden sound of her husband’s voice.

Mincheol, who had just finished showering and returned to the room, stood by the door, shaking his wet hair.

“Why are you sitting blankly in front of the mirror?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“What were you thinking about to be so startled? As if you’d seen a ghost.”

At Mincheol’s question, Juyoung flinched, her shoulders trembling slightly, then forced an awkward smile and spoke.

“It’s nothing. I’m just… a little nervous thinking about tomorrow’s business trip.”

It amazed and disgusted her how naturally, almost habitually, she now uttered such lies.

Whether it was misfortune or a blessing, Mincheol seemed not to notice Juyoung’s lie at all.

“It’s unusual for you to be nervous, isn’t it?”

“Even I have moments like that.”

At his wife’s curt reply, Mincheol draped a towel around his neck and chuckled heartily.

Perhaps thanks to the job interview he had today going well, a faint hint of confidence flickered in his expression.

Seeing his look made Juyoung happy too, but at the same time, an inexplicable heaviness weighed down her heart.

Meanwhile, Mincheol slowly approached Juyoung and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“There’s no need to be nervous. You’re someone who does everything well. I’m sure you’ll do great this time too.”

Just as she was about to feel a little better from her husband’s warm encouragement.

“And you’re not going alone; Assistant Manager Lee will be with you.”

At the name that came out of his mouth next, Juyoung’s face instantly froze.

Even though they had only met once, Mincheol completely trusted Hyeonseong.

It was proof that even if it was due to suggestion, that night’s ‘education’ had left a strong impression on him.

“Th-that’s right.”

As Juyoung forced the corners of her lips up to reply, Mincheol patted her shoulder and nodded.

“So, are you all packed for the trip?”

At Mincheol’s question, Juyoung glanced at the suitcase standing in the corner of the room.

“Yes, for now.”

Unlike her cheerful husband, her voice was utterly lacking in energy.

Fearing her husband might notice, Juyoung quickly stood up.

“…You must be tired from your interview today, so go to bed soon.”

Just as Juyoung said that and turned to head for the bed, Mincheol gently grabbed her wrist.

His gaze, unlike before, emanated a heated intensity.

“Honey, tonight…”

Juyoung easily understood the meaning conveyed in his cautious tone.

“I’m sorry. We have to leave early tomorrow morning, so today, I’m a bit…”

Even with her indirect refusal, Mincheol didn’t back down.

Since Hyeonseong’s ‘education’, Mincheol had been demanding intimacy as if he had reverted to a teenage boy.

“Just once is fine, isn’t it?”

For a moment, a fierce emotion welled up in her chest, but Juyoung swallowed it down.

She didn’t want to ruin her husband’s excited mood.

“…Alright.”

As Juyoung reluctantly nodded, Mincheol smiled happily and headed for the bed.

Juyoung watched his retreating figure, a bitter, faint smile on her face.

Yes.

Maybe, just maybe, this time it really would be different.

Mincheol-ssi was also improving day by day, so perhaps tonight would be like that night…

No, even if it wasn’t quite like that, perhaps she could find a different kind of satisfaction.

Clinging to such futile hopes, Juyoung followed Mincheol onto the bed.

****

A moment later, only the quiet sounds of two people clumsily exchanging body heat echoed in the bedroom.

Last Wednesday.

Under the influence of Hyeonseong’s ‘education’, Mincheol had been putting extra effort into foreplay every time they were intimate.

The problem was that his touch, despite his efforts, was clumsy and crude, failing to ignite even a small spark in Juyoung’s body.

Instead, his awkward touch only resurrected the memory of Hyeonseong’s skillful caresses that had toyed with her that night.

“Honey, does it feel good?”

At Mincheol’s expectant question, Juyoung calmly acted, uttering a false answer.

Whether her acting was convincing.

Or if he believed his wife was truly feeling it, seeing the natural lubrication.

Mincheol’s caresses became even more eager.

“Now, shall I put it in?”

When the tediously long foreplay finally ended and insertion occurred.

Juyoung, without fail, felt deep disappointment once again.

What she might have felt once.

But her husband’s ‘thing’, which since that night felt too small and pathetic.

It was an insult to even compare it to Hyeonseong’s unbelievably huge and firm ‘thing’.

“Haa. Haa.”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

After insertion, Mincheol soon let out short, rough breaths and crudely thrust his hips.

Even his stamina, which she had once considered decent, was, as expected, insignificant compared to Hyeonseong’s.

The rough breathing and sweat smell emanating from right in front of her, far from stimulating desire, only pushed Juyoung’s heart further away.

“Ugh… Mmm… H-huh…”

Nevertheless, driven by the sole desire not to disappoint her husband, Juyoung feigned pleasure beneath Mincheol, letting out awkward moans and arching her back.

To fill the void of pleasure, she recalled the memory of being brutally violated by Hyeonseong.

“Ugh. I’m coming!”

“Mmm.”

However, it wasn’t long before Mincheol reached his climax with an ungraceful gasp.

Juyoung, too, timed her fake orgasm, bringing the utterly boring encounter to an end.

“Hoo. Hoo.”

Immediately after ejaculating, Mincheol collapsed beside her with a satisfied expression, catching his breath.

But Juyoung’s eyes, staring at the ceiling, were cold.

If there is only love, size and technique don’t matter.

She had thought this over and over again as they engaged in intimacy.

Regrettably, the body does not lie.

“Ugh.”

With a sudden fear rising in her chest, Juyoung bit her lip secretly from her husband.

Fearing that she truly could no longer feel any satisfaction from intimacy with her husband.

Fearing that the distance between them, which had seemed to be recovering, was growing again.

Just then, Mincheol embraced Juyoung and kissed her forehead.

“Have a good trip tomorrow, Honey. I love you.”

In the past, this one phrase would have filled her with immeasurable joy and happiness.

But now, no ripple stirred in Juyoung’s heart.

“Yes. I love you too.”

Whispering softly in her husband’s embrace, Juyoung wished for tomorrow morning to come as quickly as possible.

Whether it was anticipation for the business trip to another region.

Or the expectation of something else she would encounter there.

She herself couldn’t be sure.

****

Before dawn.

Even in the cool pre-dawn air, Incheon International Airport Terminal 1’s departure hall was bustling with crowds.

Flight information flashed incessantly on the giant electronic display.

The sound of suitcase wheels rolling here and there.

Announcement broadcasts.

And amidst the murmuring noise of various nationalities’ languages intertwined, the scent of coffee and the excitement of travel permeated the air.

In front of H counter, where they had agreed to meet beforehand, Juyoung and Mina had already arrived and stood quietly.

A strange tension hung between the two, who were reserved with each other.

‘I don’t know what to say.’

While it might be different with others, Juyoung didn’t have much contact or familiarity with Mina outside of work within the company.

Moreover, because of ‘that thing’ she had witnessed in the office, it was even harder to readily talk to Mina.

But they were going to work together on the business trip, so they couldn’t just keep this awkward atmosphere.

“…Assistant Manager Lee is late.”

After much deliberation, the words that finally came out of Juyoung’s mouth were, after all, about Hyeonseong.

“He’ll be here soon, I guess.”

Mina fiddled with her phone, answering dryly.

Though her fingers weren’t really focused on the phone at all, worrying about what was to come.

“R-right.”

‘Was she always like that?’

Juyoung tilted her head at Mina’s unusual demeanor but didn’t press the matter.

Her own mind was just as complicated as Mina’s.

The fact that the cause was the same man for both of them was simply bizarre.

Flash-flash.

Just as silence was about to fall between the two again, camera flashes popped in the distance.

A noisy crowd, seemingly reporters and fans, surged from what looked like the arrival hall.

“Why is it so noisy over there?” Juyoung muttered.

As Juyoung muttered, Mina glanced sideways at the source of the noise and replied indifferently.

“I saw on YouTube that it’s probably Yuna’s return day today.”

Yuna.

A famous model, unknown to no one in South Korea.

A major star who recently succeeded in advancing overseas.

So many people flocked to the airport just to see her.

‘As expected, celebrities are really different.’

It was when Juyoung quietly admired this and turned her gaze back towards the entrance.

“Hmm?”

A familiar figure appeared.

Dressed in a neat casual suit.

And his distinctive relaxed gait.

It was Assistant Manager Lee Hyeonseong.

“Assistant Manager Lee, here…”

Juyoung reflexively raised her hand to call him but stopped, unable to finish her sentence.

Because he wasn’t alone.

“Huh…?”

Silver bob hair that gave a calm impression.

Doll-like, delicate features.

A beautiful woman exuding a subtly mysterious aura.

An unearthly beauty that made even other women stare, momentarily spellbound.

Such a woman, dressed in a sophisticated dress, was walking with Hyeonseong, her arm linked through his, as they conversed about something.

Not only Juyoung, but Mina, who had spotted Hyeonseong a moment later, also stared at them with wide eyes.

The intimate atmosphere flowing between the two.

It hinted at something more than just professional colleagues.

“You didn’t have to see me off, but thank you, Ms. Lizetta.”

“I merely did what was natural. And Child-nim said my appearances lately were too few, and that I should ensure I have enough presence.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Well, I don’t quite know myself. Anyway, have you packed all your bags?”

“I should have packed everything I need.”

“And your headaches? Do you still get sudden headaches these days?”

“I’m fine. Perhaps it’s because I usually turn off my self-hypnosis…”

Juyoung and Mina could only stare blankly at the affectionate yet inscrutable conversation flowing between the two.

Because Hyeonseong’s attitude towards Lizetta was completely different from how he treated Juyoung and Mina lately.

As if it contained deep trust and respect…

“Lizetta?”

Just then, Mina, who had been carefully listening to their conversation, muttered to herself.

“Could it be, the person he was talking to on the phone back then…?”

Mina frowned as if realizing something, but Juyoung heard nothing.

Her gaze was fixed on Hyeonseong, who was talking with Lizetta.

“Then, please have a safe trip, Hyeonseong-nim. I will take good care of the house.”

“Yes. Ms. Lizetta, please be careful on your way back too. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

As they exchanged final goodbyes, Lizetta’s gaze briefly shifted towards Juyoung and Mina.

“I will keep that in mind.”

With her reply, Lizetta stood on her tiptoes, lightly embraced Hyeonseong, and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek.

At her bold action, Juyoung and Mina’s faces twitched.

“I’ll contact you when I arrive.”

At Hyeonseong’s words, Lizetta bowed politely and turned away with elegant, light steps.

Her receding figure was annoyingly beautiful.

“What was that?”

Mina let out a hollow laugh, as if she had just watched a third-rate play, looking at Lizetta.

Juyoung, meanwhile, unconsciously clenched her fists at the uncontrollable surge of heated emotion rising in her chest.

Meanwhile, Hyeonseong casually stroked the cheek Lizetta had kissed, then pulled his luggage and approached the two women.

“You two have been waiting a long time, haven’t you?”

His voice cut through the air.

However, both of them seemed to be speechless, unable to utter a word.

Who Lizetta was.

What her relationship with Hyeonseong was.

Countless questions swirled in their minds.

But the words that rose to the tips of their tongues could not be brought out.

“Let’s go, we’ll be late for the flight.”

Hyeonseong, as if the women’s inner thoughts were of no concern to him, led the way with a businesslike voice.

The two women ultimately said nothing and followed heavily behind Hyeonseong.

Soon, the dangerous three-day, two-night business trip began.