Transition Period 4: A Shared Secret
“Sigh…”
“What are you sighing like that for?”
As I let out a sigh that seemed to drag the ground down with it, Chul-min hyung, sitting across from me, looked my way. The office held only the two of us right now. Team Leader Park Yeong-hwan was away on a business trip, so he wouldn’t be back for some time.
“Ha… it’s just…”
“Why? What’s going on?”
To ease the tightness in my chest, I ended up telling Chul-min hyung everything that had happened. From the moment my wife caught me masturbating while watching Heaven Net, all the way to touching her body outside recently. Of course, I left out the part about jerking off to her photos on the site.
“So that’s how it went…”
“Hmm… I see. So what does your wife think about Heaven Net?”
“She seems to think it’s just a regular porn site for now. And yesterday… she suddenly told me that if I was going to watch it in secret, I might as well watch it with her.”
“Your wife said that?”
Chul-min hyung wore an incredulous expression and asked me again. That was understandable. The image of my wife he’d built up over the years was that of a conservative, modest woman—passive and reserved when it came to anything sexual. This had to sound completely out of character.
“It’s true… I never expected her to say anything like that either. I couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or just mocking me, so I barely slept last night.”
“Hmm… Still, if she said it outright, maybe she really meant it. No need to overcomplicate things.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like your wife has opened up a lot more in that area than before.”
“Exactly. In the past, if I grabbed her ass outside she would’ve slapped my hand away in anger. These days she might protest at first, but if I keep going she eventually gives in like she can’t help it.”
“That’s good to hear. I was actually worried when you complained about your sexless marriage last time, but now it sounds like I don’t have to be.”
“It’s all thanks to you, hyung. Because of you I discovered Heaven Net, found fresh stimulation at my age, and my wife is slowly turning into the woman I’ve always wanted. I feel great.”
“Makes sense. Your wife has always been overflowing with charm. It was honestly a shame watching her hide those assets all this time. This is the perfect chance for her to show them off. She’s in her prime as a woman, after all.”
“You’re right. We’re both in our thirties. If we keep living like this—buried in work and busy schedules—the day might come when we want to enjoy ourselves but no longer have the stamina.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying! You have to enjoy it while you still can. Love, sex—everything has its season.”
Chul-min hyung spoke with the passion of someone giving a presentation, eyes sparkling. Then he suddenly made a suggestion.
“So why don’t you watch Heaven Net with her when you get home tonight?”
“What?”
“Strike while the iron is hot, right? From what you’ve said, I don’t think your wife is completely uninterested. That’s probably why she suggested watching it together.”
“Hmm… you think?”
“Trust me. Try it later. Who knows? It might turn up the heat between you two even more.”
“All right. I’ll trust you and give it a shot. By the way, I never knew you were this passionate, hyung. Maybe you should channel some of that energy into research instead?”
“This kid—hitting me right where it hurts. Anyway, just try it for real later. I don’t think your wife will pull away.”
“Got it, hyung. Let’s get back to work.”
After work, at home.
“I’m home~”
“Welcome back, oppa.”
The moment I opened the front door, the rich aroma of doenjang jjigae filled my nose. It looked like tonight’s dinner would be my favorite stew. I headed straight for the kitchen and saw my wife grilling bulgogi.
She was wearing what people nowadays call a classic Missy Look—a dark gray one-piece dress that fell straight from shoulders to hem. The spandex material clung to her body, shamelessly outlining the full curves of her breasts and hips. Of course, this was one of the dresses we’d bought together at the outlet last time. One of the pieces I had chosen with plenty of selfish intent.
Just watching her from behind sent signals stirring in my lower body. Before she could notice, I quickly slipped into the bedroom to change.
Damn… No matter what she wears, my wife looks incredibly sexy.
It was the truth. Yu-jin possessed a truly voluptuous figure. Whether the clothes were loose or baggy, her curves announced themselves without apology. The gap between her pure, innocent face and that sinful body created an indescribable tension and sense of taboo in anyone who looked at her. That was exactly the kind of woman Yu-jin was.
To think a woman like her is my wife… I really am the luckiest man alive.
With those thoughts, I changed quickly and returned to the kitchen.
“Sit down, oppa. You must be hungry. Let’s eat~”
“Wow, all my favorites… I’ll enjoy it, then.”
While we ate, the conversation I’d had with Chul-min hyung kept replaying in my head. I was searching for the right moment to ask my wife if she wanted to watch Heaven Net together. She was the one who broke the silence first.
“Oh, right. I talked to Ha-jeong during lunch today.”
“Really? How’s she doing?”
“She’s working freelance now, so today must have been a day off. That’s why she called.”
“I see.”
“But it sounds like her back is really hurting. She kept groaning while we were on the phone.”
“Really? That’s worrying. Next time, buy her some good medicine for it.”
“I was already planning to. She also said we should all meet up next time when you’re free too, oppa.”
“Sure. Let’s get together when our schedules match.”
“Okay.”
After dinner, my wife started on the dishes while I sat alone on the living-room sofa watching television. My nerves, however, stayed fixed on her rather than the screen.
Hmm… I can’t find the right moment. If I suddenly suggest watching Heaven Net together, she’ll definitely think I’ve lost my mind…
Lately I’d been caught between joy at how much more sexually forward my wife had become and a growing impatience. It was true that she now accepted my naughty jokes and random touches far better than before. But there was still a clear limit. My mind kept telling me we needed fresh stimulation if we were going to move forward.
If she could watch Heaven Net without any resistance, maybe she would become even more open. That faint hope kept circling in my head.
I was still turning the problem over when my wife’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“Oppa~ What are you zoning out for?”
“Huh? Oh… it’s nothing.”
“Are you having dirty thoughts again?”
Her words hit dead center. My wife could be strangely sharp at moments like this. I almost brushed it off, but then realized this exact instant might be my chance. I decided to go for it.
“Yu-jin, do you remember what you said to me yesterday?”
“What words?”
“Before bed… you told me we should watch Heaven Net together sometime.”
Even as I spoke, I felt ridiculous, yet I kept my eyes on hers and continued.
“If you’re free tonight… how about we watch it together?”
Phew… I wonder what she’ll say.
“Sure, why not? Let me finish the dishes and quickly clean the bathroom, then we can look at it.”
“Huh? Uh… okay…”
The answer I never imagined hearing actually left her mouth. Instead of feeling triumphant, I was the one left stunned.
It’s really happening this easily? It went smoother than I expected… which somehow makes me even more nervous.
Because she had accepted so casually, my own heart began to pound violently. I glanced toward the kitchen to read her expression, but she continued washing dishes with an almost blank face, showing no visible change.
That calm look actually scares me more. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything… No. This was a gate I had to pass through sooner or later.
About an hour later, my wife finally finished the dishes and the bathroom cleaning. She shook the water from her hands and walked over to me.
“Oppa, I’m done. Like we promised, let’s watch that Heaven Net you like so much.”
“Uh… yeah. Just a second.”
I hurried to the study, grabbed my laptop, and returned to the living room. I unfolded the folding table in the center, set the laptop on it, and turned it on with trembling hands. Behind me, my wife sat on the sofa, quietly watching everything I did…