CHAPTER 77

It was when their stomachs were somewhat filled with meat.

“One bottle of soju here!”

Jiyeong called out to the kitchen. A refreshing bottle of soju was quickly delivered. The two quickly emptied three bottles of soju while cheering for Yeonseo, who couldn’t drink due to pregnancy.

Yeonseo didn’t put down her spoon until she’d scraped down the fried rice. She ate until her stomach felt tight for the first time in a long time, and she couldn’t move.

“How about karaoke after a long time?”

It was a welcome suggestion. Yeonseo was in dire need of digestion.

“Sure. I’ll take care of the bill here.”

“Leave it. Pregnant women are just here to eat. And let’s do something for our niece or nephew. What do you think?”

With Jiyeong’s situation, she had postponed giving a childbirth gift, and she was in a state of frustration for not being able to do anything for her niece or nephew. Knowing the affection hidden within that frustration, Yeonseo smiled.

Jiyeong walked up to the register and slid out her card. Whatever the three of them had consumed, the owner called out a sum beyond their imagination. The pupils of the owner and Jiyeong shook together.

The three headed to a nearby karaoke. Watching Jiyeong and Hyeonho shake their bodies energetically, Yeonseo smiled without worries.

“Now, let’s go for round three!”

With an excited expression, Jiyeong pulled Yeonseo close and asked, 

“How about the jjimjilbang?” (Jjimjilbangs are bathhouses in South Korea, like a sauna.)

“She should go in now. You don’t want to keep a married woman for too long.”

Although Hyeonho suggested otherwise, Jiyeong, with a regretful expression, rested her forehead on Yeonseo’s shoulder.

“Why? Let’s play more. Yeonseo, are you really tired?”

“Umm, I’d love to play more, but I think I should go.”

There were symptoms of her stomach tightening and loosening slightly since a while ago, so she couldn’t push herself too hard. After giving birth, it would be challenging for Yeonseo to spend time with friends for a while, and she felt the same regret.

“But, since there’s still time until my due date, let’s meet again.”

“I guess so. We’ll see each other before the baby is born, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll get in touch.”

Her face hurt from laughing so hard, Yeonseo rubbed her face and walked down the karaoke stairs. Jiyeong was in front, and Hyeonho was behind, making sure Yeonseo didn’t trip.

“Yeonseo, I’ll give you a ride. You didn’t bring a car, did you?”

“No, I’ll just take a taxi.”

Hyeonho had to call a driver anyway, and Yeonseo’s house was in the opposite direction.

“Hey, how can I let you go alone? Don’t say that, just ride with Hyeonho. Okay?”

Jiyeong said she couldn’t do that and hugged Yeonseo from behind.

Smiling, Yeonseo’s eyes widened as she stared at the road. A familiar silhouette walking toward them caught her eye.

A three-piece suit. Bangs covering one eyebrow. The steady stride.

It was Taeheon, the man who still made Yeonseo’s heart race.

Worried, she had left messages every time they changed locations, but she didn’t expect him to come to pick her up like this. He had said he was catching up on work at home, but his attire and overall appearance seemed more like he was coming from the office.

“Taeheon, did you stop by somewhere before coming?”

“It’s late, so I came to pick you up.”

“Hello.”

Hyeonho greeted Taeheon first. Taeheon slowly turned his gaze away from where it had been lingering on Yeonso and faced him.

Inwardly, Yeonseo was nervous. The past, when Taeheon didn’t particularly like Hyeonho, still hung like a curtain.

“Yes, nice to see you again.”

Taeheon greeted him casually. They had coincidentally run into each other at the department store before. Hyeonho greeted him warmly, extending his hand for a handshake.

Taeheon looked down at that hand. When someone offered a handshake, Taeheon usually lightly held the hand before letting go. It might seem rude, but he observed basic courtesy.

However, Yeonseo was nervous about how this would turn out with Hyeonho. If Taeheon had been a little more gentle, she would have been forced to introduce him to her friends.

What to do?

Taeheon’s silence made Hyeonho’s eye-smile even more pronounced. Before his hand could fidget, Yeonseo stepped forward.

“Say hello.”

She took Taeheon’s hand and Hyeonho’s hand, bringing them together.

“Nice to meet you. Please take care of us in the future. We’ll probably see each other often, right, Yeonseo?”

“Yeah.”

Although the hands that shook soon separated, the atmosphere was spared from shattering. Yeonseo nodded slightly, smiling satisfactorily. Yes, it was a good picture.

In response, Hyeonho gave a bewildered smile, shaking his head. The efforts of his friend were both amusing and poignant.

“Then why don’t you join us sometime?”

“After the baby is born and Yeonseo recovers, I’ll make time. Let’s properly exchange greetings then.”

Taeheon tilted his head slightly. When he spotted Jiyeong poking her head out from behind Yeonseo, he continued.

“We’ve never met. I’m Woo Taeheon.”

“Yes, yes……. I’m Jiyeong.”

Jiyeong’s voice was almost as small as a mole digging into the ground. Yeonseo laughed out loud at her shyness. In Jiyeong’s eyes, which had previously seen Taeheon as not much, there were now stars sparkling.

Ever since she became a mall employee, Jiyeong has often been dazzled by handsome, pretty, and beautiful things. With Taeheon, who had a superior appearance that made anyone turn their heads, it was only natural for her to be captivated.

However, it was Hyeonho who had captured Jiyeong’s heart.

“Let’s go, Jiyeong.”

“Yeah, babe.”

The two stuck to each other like magnets. Yeonseo still felt awkward to see Jiyeong and Hyeonho like this.

The two had been dating for six months now. Jiyeong realized her feelings when Hyeonho was about to leave for Taiwan.

Jiyeong, who had known about Hyeonho’s feelings for her before, had confessed boldly, but Hyeonho got sidetracked by keeping Yeonseo’s secret.

When Yeonseo traveled abroad and tried to erase the pain of her separation from Taeheon, Hyeonho chose friendship over love. She felt sorry and grateful to both of them. She could never repay them enough.

As she watched them walk away, Taeheon grabbed her hand.

“We should go too. It’s getting cold.”

“Taeheon, did you come out from home?”

“Yeah.”

But why did you dress up so nicely?

Yeonseo grumbled to herself, conscious of her husband’s constant glances. Taeheon and her held hands tightly.

Taeheon looked oddly out of place in a bustling area like this. Other people must think so, too because they can’t take their eyes off him. After all, he’s gorgeous and unique.

Yeonseo quickly pressed her lips against the back of Taeheon’s hand and then let go. After doing so, her cheeks warmed up, but her growing jealousy left no room for other considerations.

Still, it’s not allowed. He belongs to me.

As they got into the car, Taeheon approached, reaching behind the passenger seat. Yeonseo thought he was going to help with the seatbelt as usual, but his chin was aimed at the place where Yeonseo’s cheek was.

“Here, kiss me.”

“…What?”

“I’ve been waiting patiently, and you won’t give me a reward?”

Taeheon slightly parted his lips, revealing the tip of his tongue. Knowing how gracefully he could create a painting with his tongue, Yeonseo’s heart raced.

The space was cramped. As the time spent gazing at him alone grew longer, her breathing became more difficult.

Weekends were one of the few days she could spend time entirely with Taeheon, and she felt bad that she couldn’t be with him on those precious days to see her friends. But she shook her head firmly.

“No.”

“Han Yeonseo.”

Her body reeked of meat and alcohol. It was uncomfortable to be so close to him now.

Even though she had rinsed her mouth and chewed gum earlier.

“Let’s go home quickly, let me take a shower, and then…”

“I just asked you to kiss me, why can’t you?”

“Come on, it’s time to go.”

“But what if I do it?”

However, Taeheon showed no signs of backing away. He was behaving more insistently than before.

Covering Yeonseo’s thigh with his large hand, he dangerously insinuated, spreading it out as if to say something.

“It’ll take longer if I do it.”

“You’re a persistent blackmailer.”

“You’re the one who kissed me when you knew it would set me on fire.”

In the end, Yeonseo lowered her gaze. In reality, Yeonseo found it difficult to continue resisting the temptation because she missed Taeheon’s heat.

She pressed her lips to his, searching for hidden heat. She found the slick and soft tip of his tongue nestled in the gap, traced it between her lips, and gently sucked it in.

Oh, what should I do?

With her eyelashes trembling, she exhaled a breath and pulled away.

“It’s not enough.”

“But I did what you asked.”

“Sucking?”

His touch on her blushing ear gradually became more overt. His fingers traced along her lobe like a kiss, then dipped in and out of my ear.

In response to an action that hinted at something more intimate, Yeonseo grabbed his shirt and gasped.

“Tae, Taeheon…….”

The thick scent of Taeheon’s cologne made the moment even more distant. Taeheon’s hand lingered on the place that had been so open earlier, sending relaxing waves.

“Ah, Taeheon…….”

“Suck it properly this time, so we can go home.”

“Naughty…….”

She couldn’t finish her sentence and was swept away in a wave of pleasure. Opening his lips, Taeheon entered, and Yeonseo tried her best to lick, nibble, and swallow it.

They mixed their lips messily, stroking around her neck. Just as she felt suffocated, Taeheon withdrew his wet tongue.

“Why can’t you do it properly? Mine is much better than chewing gum.”

“…Ugh, calling that proper.”

“…I want to do something else.”

“I don’t know. Let’s go home.”

Taeheon licked the corner of Yeonseo’s mouth with the tip of his tongue and smirked. Then he slightly opened the driver’s side window. The previously sealed air, thick like fog, became a bit clearer, and the car started moving.

Taeheon reached for Yeonseo’s hand, clasped and unclasped it, and slid it down to his navel. When Yeonseo was startled by his increased presence and pulled away, Taeheon casually looking ahead, said:

“It hurts a little. Just unzip it for a moment.”

“…Here?”

“What are you thinking? I just want you to take it off.”

“Don’t lie. You asked for this before, saying you wanted me to touch you… pervert.”

Taeheon laughed out loud as Yeonseo scrunched up the bridge of her nose and turned her flushed cheeks to the side.