Secret Temptation
“Let’s stop and go already.”
“Just a second, just a second—which one’s prettier?”
“Both. Buy both.”
“No way, I’m only getting one.”
“Your husband and wife are waiting.”
“Then hurry up and pick one.”
Do Mei, wearing the cute yellow and red hairpins, looked adorable. “Husband, just buy both. The young bride’s face is so pretty, they both suit her.”
“Oh my, young bride? Hohoho. Honey, should we buy both then? Hohoho.”
At the kind grandmother’s words, Do Mei beamed and linked her arm with Kim Su-heon’s. “Fine, we’ll take both.”
“Hohoho, Grandma, my husband is buying both for me! Hohoho.”
Do Mei stuck out her tongue playfully. The grandmother took the ten-thousand-won bill from Kim Su-heon and teased him while holding his hand. “They say this beef is real good for a man. Eat plenty and treat your pretty wife well.”
“Really? Truly?”
“Of course. If your husband eats even one piece of this beef, you probably won’t be able to get up tomorrow, young bride. Hahaha.”
“Oh my, Grandma, really! Hohoho.”
Do Mei, laughing with the grandmother, threw herself into Kim Su-heon’s arms. “Take care.”
“Yes, go on now. Live happily.”
After bowing politely, Do Mei and Kim Su-heon turned back the way they came, heading home. They walked along the rice paddy path, leaving the distant lights behind. Without streetlights, the moonlight brightly illuminated their way.
“Oppa, we look like a real couple, don’t we? Hohoho.”
“You’re just saying that because you wanted the hairpins.”
“Tch, you’re no fun. I like it. It feels like we’re dating. Hohoho.”
“By the way, are we even going the right way?”
“Yes, I’ve got a good sense of direction. Just trust me.”
Kim Su-heon and Do Mei walked hand in hand, fingers intertwined, surrounded by the sounds of insects and frogs along the paddy path.
“Huh? Isn’t that Noona up ahead?”
“Oh, it is.”
Far ahead, two figures walked with some distance between them—Oh Yoo-ri and Lee Dae-woo.
“Hmm, they seem awkward with each other.”
“...........”
“Where did all that passionate kissing go?”
“...........”
“Oppa, does it bother you?”
“A little.”
“Hmm, it looks like they’ve become uncomfortable because of what happened that day.”
“...........”
“Oppa.”
Do Mei pulled Kim Su-heon’s hand and stood facing him. She rose on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Mei-ya, people can see.”
“Who’s going to see? There’s no one else here.”
“If we don’t follow them now, we might get lost—mmph.”
Do Mei’s tongue slipped into Kim Su-heon’s mouth. A faint scent of makgeolli spread between them. The chirping of insects filled their ears. As if entranced, Kim Su-heon tangled his tongue with hers, tasting her deeply. Their kiss lasted quite a while before their lips finally parted.
“Haa, haa… Oppa, I can’t hold back anymore. Haa, haa.”
“Still, not here. Let’s do it later, okay?”
“Tch.”
Do Mei’s thigh, which had somehow wrapped around his waist, slowly slid back down. “Alright, eat that beef and build up your strength, my dear. Hohoho.”
Kim Su-heon glanced at Do Mei’s linked hand, then turned his gaze toward Oh Yoo-ri ahead. The two figures had grown even smaller, now just dark dots in the distance. Kim Su-heon and Do Mei followed slowly behind them.
A faint metallic scent of blood drifted through the air. Oh Yoo-ri looked curiously at the cow hanging from a long hook. A calf, already butchered and reduced to chunks of meat.
“You’re late? Everyone else already left.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I saved the best parts just for you, but they kept complaining about not getting any. Kekeke.”
“Thanks. Thanks a lot.”
“Just wait a bit. I’ll get it ready for you.”
The man with the large knife approached the hanging cow and began slicing with swift, precise strokes. His broad shoulders and arm muscles flexed with each cut, expertly separating the meat.
“Doesn’t it gross you out?”
“No, not really. I see this kind of thing all the time at the butcher shop anyway.”
“That guy deliberately slaughtered it late so we could have fresh meat for dinner.”
“Ah, is that so?”
After a few smooth cuts, the man set down his knife and pulled out his phone from his pocket. “What? What did you say?”
After talking on the phone for a while, he approached Lee Dae-woo. “Hey, wait here for a bit. I gotta run home real quick.”
“Something wrong?”
“Nah, it’s just my damn wife—never mind, never mind. Just wait a little.”
“Oh, alright. Go ahead.”
The man tossed off his apron and hurried home. Lee Dae-woo watched him go awkwardly, then gestured to Oh Yoo-ri. “Yoo-ri-ssi, come sit over here.”
“Okay.”
“Yoo-ri-ssi, do you eat tripe?”
“Yes, a little.”
“Then try some. It’s completely different from Seoul stuff.”
“Yeah, it looks really fresh.”
On the small table sat fresh liver and tripe, along with large chunks of meat. Lee Dae-woo and Oh Yoo-ri sat down and began tasting the fresh cuts.
“Hey, where are you? Can’t find it?”
“There were two people ahead of us just now, but they disappeared.”
“Aish, there’s only one brightly lit place on the way to my house. Just come there.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll be right there.”
“Hurry up. The yukhoe is killer. I’ll start eating with Yoo-ri-ssi first.”
“Got it, hyung.”
Kim Su-heon hung up and looked toward the bright light in the distance. “That must be it.”
“Where? Over there?”
“Yeah, looks like it. That’s the only lit place on the way back.”
“Let’s hurry then. There are tons of mosquitoes.”
“You’re just realizing that now, miss? Hahaha.”
Kim Su-heon and Do Mei quickened their pace toward the light.
“What did he say?”
“They’ll be here soon.”
“Okay. By the way, Dae-woo-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“The meat here is no joke. I don’t usually like meat much, but this…”
“Right? This place is really famous.”
“It’s sweet. The meat, I mean.”
“Try some of the liver too. They say it’s good for women’s skin.”
“Really? Then I will. Hohoho.”
Oh Yoo-ri picked up a piece of liver still dripping with blood and popped it into her pretty lips. Her red tongue licked the blood from her lips as she chewed. Lee Dae-woo stared at her blankly. Oh Yoo-ri’s long, slender fingers wrapped around the soju glass he poured for her. As she lifted it and drank, Lee Dae-woo felt a heavy sensation in his groin. Her pale, smooth neck moved slightly as she swallowed.
“Kyaah, oh my, hoho.”
Oh Yoo-ri’s cheeks flushed even redder at the sound that escaped her lips. Lee Dae-woo, who had been staring at her in a daze, panicked when their eyes met and quickly checked his watch. His heart pounded violently, so loud he worried she might hear it. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Dae-woo-ssi, you should eat too. It’s delicious.”
“Y-Yes, you eat.”
The bottle of soju emptied in no time. Between the beer and makgeolli from earlier and the soju now, Oh Yoo-ri felt her tension slowly melting away. Lee Dae-woo was the same.
“They’re late.”
“Su-heon-ssi?”
“Yeah. Did they get lost? He should’ve called at least. Seriously.”
Oh Yoo-ri watched Lee Dae-woo with half-lidded eyes as he pressed the call button. “Is he messing around with Mei-ssi? Hohoho.”
“Maybe? Hahaha.”
After a long ringtone, Kim Su-heon’s voice came through, accompanied by loud mechanical noise. “Hey, where are you?”
“Ah, seriously, I think we took the wrong path.”
“You said you were following us. Hmm. Where exactly are you?”
“I don’t know. There are tons of factory-like buildings.”
“Aish, sounds like you went toward the industrial complex. Turn back the way you came.”
“Aww, damn it. There were so many mosquitoes too.”
“Heh, come back out and call me when you reach the fork. I’ll come get you.”
“There are only two paths?”
“There’s only one road. You guys went off the actual path. Heh.”
“Kekeke.”
“Remember the main road we took to the market? Call me when you get there.”
“Got it. Just follow the main road, right?”
“Yeah. Just come in the opposite direction from where you went.”
“Okay. If I can’t find it, I’ll call again.”
Lee Dae-woo tossed his phone onto the table and downed a shot of soju. Oh Yoo-ri rested her chin on her hand, watching him. “They went somewhere else?”
“Kek, seems like it. They’re probably getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Heh heh heh.”
“Tch. Leaving his own wife behind to hang out with a younger woman—he must be thrilled.”
Oh Yoo-ri grumbled, her words slightly slurred. “Oh, we’re out of alcohol. Dae-woo-ssi, should we get another bottle?”
“No, let’s go inside and have a drink together.”
“Aww, but I’m not done yet.”
Oh Yoo-ri straightened up and crossed her arms. Lee Dae-woo checked his watch, stood, and started walking. “Where are you going?”
Oh Yoo-ri looked up at him curiously. “Ah, that guy said he’d be right back, but he’s taking forever.”
“He’ll come eventually.”
“His house is just behind here. I’ll go get him.”
Lee Dae-woo strode toward the door. “W-Wait, Dae-woo-ssi.”
Oh Yoo-ri glanced around, then quickly stood and followed him. “You can just wait here.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Lee Dae-woo looked at her, then glanced around before smiling. “It’s a bit scary to be alone, huh? Heh heh.”
“Yeah, it is. Hohoho.”
Lee Dae-woo and Oh Yoo-ri headed toward the small house behind the slaughterhouse, where light leaked from the windows. “Noona must be waiting a lot.”
“Ah, she’s still asleep.”
“Really? Did you call her?”
“Ah, yes.”
“You still have feelings for her, don’t you? For Noona.”
“It’s all in the past.”
“Still, you’re young to be living alone.”
“...........”
“...........”
They soon reached the front door. “Hey, Soo-ya! Hey!”
There was no response to Lee Dae-woo’s call. “What? Did something happen?”
With an anxious expression, Lee Dae-woo stepped through the open door into the yard, Oh Yoo-ri following close behind. His footsteps stopped abruptly as he looked around the house.