Chapter 40
“I came because I wanted to see you. I couldn’t bear being alone at home without you, Sua.”
Hyun-oh’s words sent shivers down Sua’s body. She silently looked at him, her pupils shaking restlessly as she gazed at the man.
Me too… Today felt so long.
As long as waiting for Mr. Hyun-oh at home tonight, the time apart from you outside felt long and difficult.
I was scared, so I wanted to call you.
Instead of the words that almost burst out, Sua bit her lip. Her red lips turned pale.
“Han Sua.”
Hyun-oh called Sua’s name again as she sat there frozen.
“Why?”
His words, examining her, only made her chest ache more.
“Did you have a hard day today?”
She didn’t know how Hyun-oh would react if she said the company was tough. Would he prevent her from going to work? But compared to the chaos she had faced today, that was a trivial issue. The real problem was Jiheon. If Jiheon came looking for her and asked for money…
What would happen? How would Hyun-oh react?
Shaking her head at his brief question, Sua replied, “No. I drank a lot at the dinner… I think that’s why I feel a bit out of it.”
“You drank a lot on your first day at work?”
Hyun-oh furrowed his brows.
“No, it’s just that… the company isn’t that bad.”
She stumbled through her explanation.
“Chaeyoung kept giving me drinks, congratulating me on my new job, so… I ended up drinking a lot because I was happy. It’s my first job, you know? And it’s at the publishing house I wanted to work for. I was so happy, and Chaeyoung was there too, so…”
Excuses spilled out.
Sorry, my friend. I shouldn’t have let you make me look bad. But it’s better than being forced to drink at work.
As she rushed to explain, Hyun-oh looked at Sua silently. He still seemed uncertain.
“Han Sua.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to pretend everything’s okay.”
His large hand wrapped around Sua’s shoulder.
“Of course your first day at work was tough. Did you think I’d prevent you from going to work if you told me?”
“No.”
“Do you think lies will work? Your face looks so tired right now. If something was tough at work, you can tell me.”
Because he wouldn’t stop her from working.
His words made Sua’s eyes well up with tears.
Today was weird because of Jiheon, her brother.
She hesitated to speak for fear of causing trouble at work.
“No, really. I drank too much at the company dinner and got a bit excited. It’s okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“How much did you drink to be like this when you can’t even handle alcohol?”
Concerned, he leaned in, but Sua recoiled. The car was cramped, and her back reached the door.
If he comes any closer, he might smell the alcohol.
The terrible smell of alcohol from Jiheon’s breath earlier flashed in her mind. She didn’t want him to smell like that.
And more than anything…
She might blurt out something embarrassing because of Hyun-oh’s gaze, because his lips asking about her day seemed so gentle. It felt like she wanted to tell him that she missed him and that today was hard.
So Sua raised her hand to cover her lips and shook her head.
“It’s okay. Really.”
For a while, Hyun-oh looked at Sua with furrowed brows. Then he sighed softly and gestured towards home.
“Well, at least that’s good. Let’s go and rest. Get inside.”
“Yes, Oppa.”
“Oppa?”
“Oh, no. Mr. Hyun-oh.”
She quickly corrected herself.
Mr. Hyun-oh used to be called Oppa for a long time as he was Jiheon’s friend. But since they got married, she started calling him by his name. She wanted to appear more mature to him, and the reason she never made that mistake again was because of her mother-in-law. Unknowingly, she called him Oppa in front of her mother-in-law, and it caused a stir when Mr. Hyun-oh wasn’t around.
After that, she never called him Oppa again. She didn’t want to be criticized.
Using the title “Mr. Hyun-oh” was fine too. But somehow, she felt a little sad that the title she had been using since she was young had disappeared.
It was a mistake made under the influence of alcohol.
When Sua corrected herself to say “Mr. Hyun-oh,” he tilted his head. The well-defined muscles in his neck were faintly visible.
“Come to think of it, when did you start calling me Mr. Hyun-oh?”
“Because we got married.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m an adult now.”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”
The man who started the car looked ahead and whispered softly.
“But somehow, it feels like you’re not the same person I’ve known since you were young, and that makes me a little sad.”
***
While it was good that Hyun-oh came to pick her up and they arrived home safely, a small conflict arose between them after she showered.
“Just for today, I’ll sleep in the living room.”
“No.”
“Please.”
Today, Sua had ended up drinking a whole bottle of soju after meeting Jiheon, and naturally, she smelled of alcohol all over. She was afraid that he might think she was making a mistake.
“It’s because of the alcohol. What if I turn my head while sleeping?”
“We drank together when we went to Gangneung last time. You didn’t snore then.”
“We drank together that day. And… I drank much more today than that day.”
Just for today.
With that in mind, Sua took hesitant steps towards the guest room. Hyun-oh furrowed his brows as he watched her.
“Han Sua.”
Sua stopped in her tracks at the sound of Hyun-oh’s displeased voice.
“Don’t you remember?”
“What?”
“Our divorce agreement.”
Hyun-oh’s lips curled up.
“If you’re not uncomfortable, we agreed to have physical intimacy like any normal couple. Every day for three months.”
“….”
“If we don’t fulfill the terms of the agreement, we can’t get a divorce. It may sound like a threat, but it’s quite a fair statement.”
“Of course.”
He interrupted her.
“If you’re uncomfortable with me coming closer now, I’ll let you go.”
He was being unfair. She was just afraid that she might make a mistake by sleeping next to him while still feeling the effects of alcohol.
Sua sighed softly.
“But you won’t be uncomfortable, Mr. Hyun-oh.”
Even just looking at him like this made her heart flutter. She had to take several deep breaths to calm her pounding heart.
“Then.”
He reached out his hand.
“Come here.”
He extended his arms as if inviting her into his broad chest. Eventually, Sua sighed and took slow steps towards him.
She had wiped her teeth three times just in case, but still, what if he didn’t like it?
With an anxious heart, Sua walked towards Hyun-oh.
But her worries were in vain. Hyun-oh reached out and pulled Sua into his embrace. She was soon enveloped in his wide chest, held tightly by his firm and thick arms. He wrapped his arms around her slender body.
“Mr. Hyun-oh.”
She could feel his heart beating.
“I won’t do anything tonight.”
His words, usually trustworthy, felt untrustworthy today.
“We should sleep. You have to go to work tomorrow too.”
“….Really?”
“Just sleep next to me. Just stay by my side.”
And then, Hyun-oh bowed his head. Before she could avoid it, his sweet lips touched hers. Their soft lips met again. Even though it was just a brief touch, her lips parted slightly involuntarily. But then, his tongue lightly licked her lower lip and retreated as if reluctantly.
A thrilling sensation.
Even though it was just a momentary contact, her sweet breath escaped. Their lips, which had touched, soon parted, and Sua narrowed her eyes.
“Mr. Hyun-oh. You said we wouldn’t do anything…”
“This is a goodnight kiss for when you come home.”
And he kissed her lips again. Sua had no choice but to let him. This time, his slippery tongue delved deeper inside. Her trembling tongue tangled with his. His tongue stirred up her tender membranes, making Sua’s waist twist.
“This is a goodnight kiss.”
“….Liar. You said we wouldn’t do anything.”
“We have to say goodnight.”
“I didn’t want to do it because of the smell of alcohol.”
As Sua pretended to be angry and turned her head, he gently turned her chin with his hand.
He was too close. His finely sculpted nose brushed against hers.
“It doesn’t.”
Hyun-oh whispered, rubbing his nose against Sua’s skin. Even that sensation felt intimate.
“There’s no smell of alcohol, just your scent, Han Sua.”
“….”
“Do you know? You always have a sweet smell.”
Like honey, like flowers.
A scent that drives people crazy.
“A sweet smell that makes me want to swallow you right now.”
He said, then kissed her lips again. This time, there was no excuse. There was no need to ask. This time, Sua’s body also surrendered to him quickly.
Hyun-oh slowly led Sua to the bed and lay her down. His touch penetrated her intoxicated and sensitive body in an instant.
“Ah!”
