SIDE STORY 1 

Spring was approaching, and even though it was already past dinnertime, the evening sky was only now painted red with the sunset.

“Grandma, you should hurry and go home.”

“Yes, I should. I have to feed that mutt, too. But I don’t feel like feeding that old man.”

At Haji’s gentle reminder, Youngsoo’s grandmother grumbled as usual but finally got up from her seat. She was the café’s most loyal customer, always coming here whenever she didn’t want to see her husband.

“Boss, you should hurry home and squabble with your husband. This is the best time for you two.”

“When you leave, Grandma, I’ll hurry home and squabble, too.”

Haji smiled at the grandmother, who shuffled out while repeating the same words as always. Watching the bent-over elderly woman slowly head home, Haji quietly began tidying up the café.

It had already been a year since Haji left bustling Seoul and started anew in this small café. After her wedding, the fierce determination she had lived with began to soften as she lived with Seojin.

Perhaps it was the sense of having her own family that made her want to take things a little easier. At that moment, Seojin had suggested opening a café here.

So, leaving the Seoul café in Sehee’s care, Haji began a quiet life doing what she loved in a peaceful place. Her face had grown much brighter compared to a year ago.

“Oppa will be here soon; I need to hurry.”

It was 8 PM—time for Seojin to arrive.

Haji hastily moved her hands as she checked the time. Even though the café was small, there were many tasks to handle when she was alone.

But even this was a leisurely time that Haji had never experienced before.

“Ah, this feels so nice.”

Stepping out of the café, Haji looked at the fluttering tree leaves and took a deep breath. She hadn’t realized that just a little outside of Seoul, such a quiet village could exist.

In a place where grass and trees outnumbered buildings, the night was calm and peaceful.

Haji’s white sneakers followed the winding path. After walking for about five minutes, she arrived at her home.

Haji and Seojin’s newlywed house.

She looked up at the towering stone wall in front of her.

When the two of them first moved into this house, they had apparently been the talk of the town among the village elders. She only found out about this later.

Even before their wedding, Seojin had planned to build their newlywed house here. He had built it so large that it stood out in the small village.

When it was being built, it sparked curiosity about who would move in. Once people realized someone was living there, rumors spread—like it was a terminally ill patient who had come for their health or a researcher who had come for work.

After opening the café, Haji learned about these rumors and had to explain herself. It seemed that her failure to properly greet the village elders, being so used to life in Seoul, had caused the misunderstanding.

Since then, her café had become a space for children and elders to gather and chat, and she and Seojin had naturally become part of the village.

Clack—

Haji stopped as she pushed open the large gate.

Turning her head, she saw car lights flashing at the end of the alley. At this hour, the only person driving into the village would be Seojin.

“Huh? It’s Oppa.”

Haji’s eyes sparkled as her lips curled into a pretty smile.

Looking as if she might run over to him at any moment, Haji didn’t wait for Seojin and quickly slipped inside the gate.

***

Seojin parked his car in the private parking area in front of the gate, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I’m sure I saw her.”

As he entered the alley, Seojin had caught a glimpse of Haji from inside the car. Scanning his surroundings, he hurried into the house.

Seojin walked past the lush green grass and the small flowers budding in the garden as he entered through the gate. The garden, meticulously designed for Haji, didn’t even catch his attention as his gaze was fixed solely on the house where she would be.

Clunk—

When Seojin stepped into the house, it was eerily quiet as if no one was there. He took off his white sneakers and walked down the long hallway.

As he neared the end of the hallway, Haji’s reflection appeared in the glass wall to his left. She couldn’t hide the mischievous smile on her face, clearly waiting for him to arrive.

Even though he knew what she was planning, Seojin didn’t slow his steps.

“Wow!”

Just as expected, as Seojin approached, Haji let out a loud shout and jumped out from the end of the hallway.

“Kyaa!”

Haji’s voice turned into a near-scream of laughter as her body was lifted into the air. Seojin, as if waiting for this moment, pulled her into his arms and held her up.

It was a playful game they often indulged in as a sweet newlywed couple.

“Oppa!”

I’m dizzy.

Unable to finish her sentence, Haji buried her face in Seojin’s warm chest. She couldn’t stop laughing long enough to say anything else.

After spinning around a few times, Seojin stopped and carried Haji in his arms, heading toward the bedroom.

“Huh?”

Haji’s wide eyes blinked as her back touched the soft blanket. She loosened her grip around Seojin’s neck.

Seojin, who had been holding her close, leaned back slightly to meet her gaze. His dark eyes, filled with a heated intensity for her, consumed her entire field of vision.

The sharp line of his nose brushed against the tip of hers, teasing her.

“Not Oppa.”

“Then what?”

At Seojin’s low whisper, Haji chuckled softly and asked playfully.

She knew what he meant. Seojin preferred being called “honey” rather than “Oppa.”

Even though she knew this, Haji still found the term too embarrassing to use.

Seojin let out a soft laugh at her playful question.

“You don’t know?”

“Hmm, I don’t think I do.”

Haji’s feigned innocence made Seojin tilt his head slightly. His warm breath tickled the corner of her lips.

The ticklish sensation made Haji release her arms from around Seojin’s neck and grab onto his broad shoulders instead.

“Then I’ll make sure you know.”

His gentle voice lingered in her ears as Seojin’s hand slid under her shirt. When his warm hand touched her bare skin, Haji flinched.

Her playful smile disappeared as her lips tightened. She swallowed dryly.

“Wait, Oppa.”

“No, not that.”

Seojin shook his head at Haji’s words and lowered his face to her neck. The sharp line of his nose grazed her soft skin, making her shoulders tremble.

Realizing that Seojin wouldn’t listen unless she called him by the term he wanted, Haji tugged at the edge of his knit sweater.

“Aren’t we going to shower?”

She was worried about the sweat she had worked up earlier while moving tables at the café.

What if I smell?

“Do you want to shower?”

“Yes, I think it’d be good to shower.”

Seojin’s face, which had been tickling the nape of Haji’s neck, moved away. As he gazed into Haji’s clear eyes, he closed the distance between them, as if drawn by a magnet.

“Mm.”

Their lips met. The warm sensation of his thick lips ignited a fiery heat.

Seojin briefly captured Haji’s lips before slowly pulling away.

“Are you going to shower?”

Leaving the lingering sensation of the kiss, Seojin asked from a distance so close that it seemed like their lips might touch again.

Haji knew the question carried intent, but she hesitated to answer. She, too, felt the same sense of longing from the brief kiss they had just shared.

Smooch. Seeing her hesitation, Seojin gave her a quick peck before sitting up first. The sudden shift of his weight caused the bed to bounce slightly.

“Go shower.”

“…Okay.”

She had been the one to say about to shower, but she couldn’t understand why she was feeling disappointed at his words.

With a slight delay, Haji replied and slowly sat up.

“Ah!”

A startled cry escaped Haji’s lips.

“Let’s go. To shower.”

This time, Seojin picked Haji up in a princess carry and headed straight for the bathroom.

“Together?”

“You shower.”

“Huh?”

What was this now?

Haji, looking up at him with wide, rabbit-like eyes, saw Seojin’s lips curl into a seductive smile.

Since their marriage, Seojin’s tenderness had remained, but he had become a little… suggestive.

***

“Mm.”

A suppressed moan escaped as his lips persistently sought out her tongue, entwining and licking.

Even though they had already shared an intense moment in the bathroom, Seojin started fresh on the bed.

Haji’s swollen lips, already plump, parted from the pressure of his kiss. His movements were so overwhelming that it was hard to keep up with the way his head shifted. When she reached out to grab his arm, which was stroking between her thighs, his large hand moved up to grasp her chest. The lingering moisture on her body, not fully dried, made his hands glide smoothly.

As his palm circled her br*ast, the peak began to emerge. When the n*pple was pinched and squeezed between his fingers, Haji’s back arched.

“Mm, ah!”

Her already *rect n*pple was teased further as his fingertips rubbed and scratched it, eliciting even louder moans from her parted lips.

“Ah, ahh, mm!”

As soon as his lips left hers, the moans that had been suppressed burst out.

Before Haji’s excitement could wane, Seojin’s lips trailed down her neck, while the hand that had been fondling her chest slid down her stomach.

Haji tilted her head as his lips licked and sucked on her pale neck, wrapping her arms around his. Every movement of Seojin’s body carried love, and she wanted to embrace him even more deeply.

His long, thick fingers brushed against her cl*toris.

“Mm.”

Her head tilted further back as a groan escaped her lips. It acted as a signal, and the pressure on the small bud grew stronger.

The fingers that had been lightly rubbing began to draw circles, the bud rolling under his touch as a tingling pleasure climbed up her lower abdomen. Before she knew it, her toes curled and her legs flailed in the air. Seojin grabbed both of her ankles and placed them on his shoulders. With her l*bia now fully exposed to his view, his lust-filled gaze deepened.

His fingers slid into the slick folds, already wet with *rousal. Her insides were always warm, as if ready to devour him.

When he inserted another finger, her walls clenched tightly around him, as if it were their first time. Despite having just taken something much larger earlier, the tightness was maddening.

“Haji…”

As her name escaped Seojin’s lips in a groan-like murmur, Haji, who had been moaning uncontrollably, clenched even tighter.

Haji always became more aroused when he called her name during their moments together. Seojin knew this and would deliberately call her name at times. Watching her lose herself in pleasure was intoxicatingly erotic.

It was a sight only he could see, and no matter how much he looked, she was always beautiful.

“Ahh, Oppa!”

As his fingers, which filled her completely, moved back and forth, her fluids began to flow freely. When his now-soaked hand brushed against her sensitive v*lva, Haji twisted her hips.

Squish, squish. Her flushed l*bia appeared and disappeared as his fingers moved. Her hips rocked in rhythm with his increasingly fast movements. When her juices gushed out, his fingers withdrew.

Haji’s flat stomach heaved up and down. Pressing his palm gently against her abdomen, Seojin positioned his blunt tip at her entrance.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it feels good.”

Suppressing his own urgency, Seojin asked gently, and Haji nodded. As if he had been waiting, he pressed his manhood against her entrance and pushed in.

“Ah!”

As his p*nis filled her tight walls, Haji’s head tilted back sharply.

Seojin held her hips with both hands to steady her and began thrusting. Smack, smack. The sound of their bodies colliding filled the bedroom.

Her already dripping wet folds made it easy for Seojin to slide in and out, causing Haji’s hips to bounce. Seojin wrapped her thighs around his waist and pulled out almost all the way.

When he paused, leaving only the tip inside, Haji’s eyelashes fluttered. She knew exactly what he was about to do. It was a position he used to hear her cries more clearly.

“Ah, Oppa, ahhh.”

“Hmm? What is it…?”

Even though he knew why she was calling him, he pretended not to, which made him seem slightly mischievous. Sometimes, in moments like this, Seojin would feign innocence with an expression that seemed harmless.

“Slowly…”

“Well, I’m not sure about that.”

“Ah, ahh!”

His angelic face contrasted with the sudden, forceful thrust of his hips. His length drove deep, hitting her cervix as he continued to piston back and forth.

Squish, squish. Her fluids splashed everywhere, soaking the sheets long ago.

As the pleasure wrapped around her entire body and surged from her toes, her hands and feet began to tremble.

“Ahh, ahh, hah, mm!”

At the same time she reached her climax, his s*men spilled onto her abdomen.

***

Without the curtains drawn, the bright sunlight made Haji’s long lashes flutter.

“Mm…”

Murmuring softly, Haji turned over in bed and slowly opened her eyes. As her vision cleared, she saw the same dark eyes she had met before falling asleep.

Seojin, who had woken up earlier, brushed Haji’s hair away from her face. Squinting at the gentle touch, Haji curled up and turned toward him.

“When did you wake up?”

“A little while ago.”

As Seojin answered, his face drew closer, and Haji’s eyes naturally closed.

A kiss on her forehead, smooch. Another on her rounded nose, smooch. And finally, one on her plump, cherry-like lips, smooch.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Mm, honey?”

Haji’s playful tone, laced with sweetness, made Seojin’s lips curl into a satisfied smile. He felt it was worth the effort to make her call him by the affectionate nickname all night.