SIDE STORY 4

Haji’s voice was cautious.

Could it be that he didn’t want children?

“……”

A brief silence passed. Soon, Seojin’s upper body slowly rose.

Thud.

The bed shook. Seojin, still with the face mask on, got off the bed and bumped into something before bending over.

“Are you okay?”

Haji asked in a loud, startled voice. Since his face was completely covered by the mask, she couldn’t see his expression.

“I’m fine. I’ll go wash up.”

Seojin’s voice was calm, not at all like someone who had stubbed their toe. In fact, it was even more monotone than usual.

Seojin straightened his back slowly and, this time, walked toward the bathroom as if he could see where he was going. Though he limped slightly on his left leg.

“You don’t look fine…”

***

A little later, the two came out to the garden. There was a spot they always visited together to wrap up their weekends.

It was a wooden swing, nestled between thick tree trunks and flower beds, which Seojin had built himself.

Haji’s stray hairs fluttered as the swing swayed, propelled by Seojin’s feet. The gentle spring breeze felt refreshing.

Seojin’s gaze deepened as he watched Haji’s fluttering strands of hair. Soon, his eyes shifted to the small empty space beyond her shoulder.

“I’ll need to make another one.”

“Hm? Another what?”

“A swing.”

A swing?

It was true that they used the swing often, but it was sturdy enough that there had been no issues.

“It’s sturdy, though?”

“Of course, I made it. But I’ll need to make another sturdy swing.”

As the swing came to a stop, the surrounding breeze became more noticeable.

Under the streetlamp that illuminated them, Haji’s clear gaze captured Seojin’s face. His lips curved into a long, soft line, and his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

Even without words, his gaze conveyed everything.

“You’re not talking about the swing, are you?”

“How many do you want?”

“How many?”

“Our children. Or child?”

It was a continuation of the conversation about their plans for children, which she had brought up earlier. When Seojin had left for the bathroom, she had assumed he wasn’t interested.

After coming back from washing up, Seojin had pretended not to know and didn’t bring up the topic again. She had been secretly disappointed, but now she was relieved to know his thoughts. At least she wouldn’t have to give up on the idea.

“You were thinking about having children?”

“Your thoughts are my thoughts.”

At his words, a bright smile spread across Haji’s face. It was as if her face itself was glowing, not just the light from the streetlamp.

“Children. I want to have children.”

At that, Seojin’s eyebrows rose in surprise before settling back into place.

“I’d like at least two, so they won’t be lonely.”

“Then we don’t have much time.”

“Huh?”

A firm hand slipped between Haji’s delicate fingers, pulling her gently but firmly toward him.

Her body slid across the swing toward Seojin’s solid frame. As if that had been his intention all along, Seojin wrapped his arms around Haji’s slender waist, leaving no space between them.

Seojin’s warm breath brushed against Haji’s nose, close enough to tickle. The heat made Haji’s body stiffen with tension.

But it was only for a moment. Haji let out a small laugh and wrapped her arms around Seojin’s neck.

“We have to start quickly if we want to see the children, don’t we?”

His low voice, filled with certainty, sent a shiver down Haji’s spine. As the sensation spread through her body, Seojin’s other hand touched her face.

Before the cool night breeze could cool her flushed skin, her heart burned under his gaze, which seemed to set her ablaze. When Haji’s tongue wetted her dry lips, his eyes grew even more intense.

“Mm.”

When their lips met, they naturally parted. His soft lips invaded hers completely, leaving no gap between them.

Seojin, who had been teasing her sensitive spots, tilted his head and lowered his body. Soon, his hand slipped under Haji’s knees, lifting her upper body effortlessly.

“Ah!”

Still kissing, Haji opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Seojin playfully blew air into her mouth. Sitting face to face on his lap, Haji lightly hit his chest while their lips remained connected.

As they closed their eyes again, focusing on their lips, the surrounding air grew increasingly heated. The cool evening breeze was too gentle to cool their fiery passion.

Seojin’s lips, which traveled down Haji’s body, grazed her collarbone and touched the space between the loose dress. The hot heat covering her skin made Haji let out a small moan.

“Ah…”

Seojin, who took the rounded, swollen br*ast into his mouth, stimulated the n*pple with his tongue. The peak, excited by the sticky sensation, stood *rect. At the sensation of nibbling, a moan finally escaped Haji’s lips.

“Ha, ah…”

The large dress slid down, and the bra was slowly pulled away. As it unclasped, the bouncing br*ast filled his palm. The flesh, kneaded roundly in his hand, moved as if being molded, and the n*pple was rolled between his fingers. Every time the n*pple scratched against his fingertips, a tingling sensation spread to her lower abdomen.

“Ah, oppa…”

“Yes.”

Even as he sincerely responded to Haji’s call, Seojin’s movements did not stop. Instead, they intensified in response to her reactions. Watching her flushed face gasping, Seojin whispered words of affection and swirled his tongue. The sensation of his tongue wrapping around her brought a wave of pleasure crashing through her body.

“Ah!”

Haji’s hands grasped the back of his head. Her fingers, digging into his hair, acted as an *phrodisiac for him. As his tongue slid over her soft br*ast and nibbled on her n*pple, a sharp pain and pleasure traveled up her spine, making her shiver. Feeling Haji’s trembling body, Seojin let out a small breath.

“Ha.”

He brought his lips, which had briefly parted, back to her chest and began to suck again. With one hand, he pinched her n*pple, pulling it, while his lips bit and sucked persistently, leaving a sticky sensation above her underwear. Haji, trying to hold onto her fading consciousness, gripped his shoulder tightly. Watching Haji squirm with her flushed face, Seojin pulled his lips away.

As he stopped teasing her body, Haji’s chest heaved up and down. The surrounding heat grew hazy. The white skin of her chest was marked with reddish bruises.

“Ah!”

Haji’s pupils dilated as his fingers dug into her lower body. The sensation of air touching her bare skin made it even more thrilling. The sticky fluid pulled at Seojin’s fingers. As his thumb scraped the wet surface, transparent liquid flowed from the flushed entrance. When his fingertip teased the narrow opening, Haji’s legs twitched. Seojin supported Haji’s back with one hand and stimulated her sensitive flesh.

“Ah, ah! Ha!”

The burning sensation wherever his hand touched made her body tremble. When his firm fingers finally pushed inside, Haji gasped for breath. The two fingers that entered at once revealed how eager he was. She was just as desperate, as her hot inner walls clenched and swallowed his fingers.

“Haji, you’re so beautiful.”

“Ah, oppa.”

Seojin’s low voice, filled with heat, reached her ears. Responding to his words, Haji kissed his lips briefly.

His fingertips, finding Haji’s sensitive spot, pressed firmly inside. Haji’s body tightened. As her hips jerked, Seojin, as if waiting, began to thrust his fingers rhythmically. A tingling current ran through her toes, making them curl and tremble. His hand, exploring and teasing her soaked entrance, made her body sway helplessly.

As if an earthquake had passed, Haji’s movements slowed down, and Seojin unbuckled his pants, freeing his strained manhood.

“Ah, ah.”

The hard p*nis slowly pushed into her entrance from below. Haji’s raised knees moved cautiously. The burning heat made her body gradually open to accept him. As the sh*ft slid in slowly and filled her to the brim, the familiar fullness overwhelmed her.

With a soft kiss, Seojin’s lips touched the sweat-beaded forehead of Haji. As her inner walls tightened, the sensation of being about to burst made his large body press in deeper.

The thrusts from below made Haji’s body tremble. The slick inner walls, heated to the core, welcomed his body. Unable to endure any longer, Haji’s hips moved on their own.

“Ah! Ah!”

The inserted p*nis became even harder. Seojin, burying his lips into Haji’s neck, thrust his hips forcefully. The fear that her small body might break inside him made him hold her tightly.

“Haji, don’t squeeze so much.”

“I, ah, can’t!”

Her whimpering voice was soon swallowed by his lips. Thrusting roughly, he stirred her tightly clenching inner walls. The flesh, fitting together seamlessly, contracted and expanded, pulling him deeper into her heated core.

The relentless piston-like movements quickened. The persistent thrusting made Haji’s body convulse lightly. As she repeatedly tightened and loosened, Seojin, holding her small body tightly, reached his climax.

***

Chirp, chirp.

A month had passed since then. In the garden, the small seeds had blossomed into full flowers, and the grass and trees had matured. Bathed in sunlight, the living things glowed with green vibrancy.

“Have a safe trip.”

“I’ll be back.”

Still newlyweds, the two were sweet from the morning.

Haji, adjusting Seojin’s thinner clothing, brushed off his short sleeves and looked up.

“I’ll come back early.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

Though it was something he said every day, Seojin’s voice always sounded pleasant to Haji. Just the thought of returning home to find each other there made her heart flutter.

When Seojin’s left hand cupped Haji’s face, her eyelids naturally closed.

‘Smack.’

It was a short goodbye kiss. Soon, Seojin’s gaze filled with concern.

“If you feel sick, call me.”

“I’m fine. I’ll eat a lot at lunch.”

Haji tugged at the corners of her lips in a smile.

Haji, who usually ate breakfast with him, couldn’t eat today because her stomach wasn’t feeling well.

Seojin, who always left reluctantly because of the lingering regret of parting, found it even harder to leave today.

“I’m really fine. Go on now. Matthew might call you.”

Haji gently pushed Seojin’s arm. Knowing how Matthew had struggled with Seojin delaying his departure every morning since their wedding, she couldn’t help but urge him.

“If it’s too hard, stop working.”

“Okay.”

Though his reluctance to leave was evident, Haji smiled and waved her hand.

With one last kiss on Haji’s forehead, Seojin finally opened the door.

“Take care.”

As the door clicked shut, Haji headed to the kitchen.

“Should I pack a lunch?”

Packing lunch for work was part of her morning routine.

“Broccoli and radish sprouts have grown; should I make bibimbap?”

Recalling that the broccoli, mustard greens, and radish sprouts grown in the garden were ready to eat, she picked up a small basket.

Her stomach, which had been unwell earlier, now felt fine, suggesting it had only been a brief discomfort.

Thinking little of it, she prepared to go out to the garden. Wearing a round hat to shield herself from the sun, she hummed a tune.

“Tasty sprouts, one bite for me, one bite for oppa, let’s all have a bite together.”

Her humming turned into nonsensical lyrics. Her shoulders swayed slightly, showing how cheerful she was.

***

The dazzling sunlight streamed through the café’s glass walls.

It was an unusually sunny day. Strangely, the café was quieter than usual.

“That’s odd. Does everyone have something going on?”

Haji muttered softly as she looked at the glass door of the café.

Around this time, the group of grandmothers would usually crowd in, asking for cool, premium coffee. But not even an ant could be seen outside. The absence of the elderly ladies, who always started lively conversations on various topics, made her worry.

“Could something have happened?”

Just then, Youngsoo’s grandmother appeared in the distance, frowning as she walked.

Seeing the elderly lady sweating in the heat, Haji opened the door to welcome her in quickly.

“Huh…?”

Contrary to Haji’s expectation that she would enter the café, the grandmother hurried past. Her usually brisk walking pace seemed even more urgent today.

“Grandma?”

“Huh? Oh, Boss’s wife, why are you outside?”

Finally noticing Haji, Youngsoo’s grandmother raised her hand above her head to shade her eyes. Her poor eyesight had been an issue for quite some time.

Haji approached the grandmother, using both hands to create a larger shade.

“I was waiting for you, Grandma.”

“I can’t come in now. Youngsoo has gone missing.”

“Youngsoo?”

“It’s mealtime, so where could he have gone?”

Even as Haji asked in surprise, the grandmother waved her hand dismissively and turned around hurriedly. It seemed her worry had grown since Youngsoo, who usually came home promptly at mealtime after playing outside, hadn’t returned.

Before the grandmother, squinting her eyes to search for Youngsoo, could take a few steps, Youngsoo appeared in the distance, panting as he ran with his tongue out.

“Grandma, there’s Youngsoo over there!”

“Oh my! That rascal, where have you been?!”

Youngsoo, who ran up to the grandmother scolding him, was panting heavily from the heat. The grandmother, who had been worried, stopped scolding and soothed her startled heart. As she stroked his fur-covered back, Youngsoo rolled onto the ground, showing affection.

It seemed he knew he had been late for mealtime.

Watching this, Haji went inside and brought out a shallow bowl of cold water. Seeing the water, Youngsoo eagerly drank it, making the grandmother sigh deeply.

“This mutt scared me so much I thought my heart would drop to the floor!”

Though her words were harsh, the grandmother’s affectionate hand never left Youngsoo’s neck. Knowing he was loved, Youngsoo rubbed his head against her hand, showing even more affection.