The Last Pure Embrace
The last pure embrace.
Both of them had received the message that Eunju was coming, but when the door actually opened and she stepped inside, neither could find words right away. Eunju saw their reaction and smiled softly for a moment. She wasn’t wearing the white tennis skirt like last time. Today she had on a calm, knee-length skirt and a lightweight knit top that gently hugged her body. It wasn’t a particularly revealing outfit. Yet in the eyes of both young men, the image of Eunju from the previous shoot seemed to overlap with the woman standing before them now.
“You’re both here,” Eunju said, closing the door behind her. “Good.”
“I came to talk for a bit.”
Hyeonwu quickly pushed his laptop aside. “Please, sit down.”
Eunju walked over to the simple bed where she had occasionally leaned back during previous visits. She sat carefully on the edge, and the mattress gave a tiny, almost imperceptible dip. Hyeonwu, still seated on the floor, turned his body slightly toward her. Doyun pulled his desk chair closer, angling it in her direction. All three had taken their familiar places, yet today the air in the workshop felt strangely different.
Eunju placed her bag on her lap. Just thinking about the draft contract inside it made her fingertips tense. It was only a few sheets of paper, but those pages contained words that would determine how far she would go in three days’ time.
Doyun spoke first. “What did you want to talk about?”
Eunju didn’t answer immediately. She looked at each of them in turn. Hyeonwu’s face had already stiffened slightly, as if he had guessed what was coming. Doyun tried to appear casual, but his fingers kept fidgeting with the camera strap. Eunju took a slow breath and spoke.
“After the last shoot, when we were drinking… I said I thought I was ready now.”
The workshop fell silent. The words were short, but to the two men they were crystal clear. Everything she had said that night over drinks—the request to look at her that way during the main shoot, the promise to set something up with Minjun—all of it had led to this moment.
Hyeonwu swallowed once. “Really?”
Eunju nodded. “Yes.”
“Then all that’s left is to decide the date, location, and concept.”
Doyun lowered his eyes and took a breath. “And… Hyungnim is okay with it?”
“He is.” A small smile touched Eunju’s lips. “He said he doesn’t have any major plans for a while. He’ll adjust his schedule to fit yours.”
At those words, Doyun and Hyeonwu glanced at each other. Surprise flashed across Hyeonwu’s face first, while something like restrained anticipation crossed Doyun’s. They both seemed careful not to look too happy too quickly, as if it might offend her. Eunju was grateful for that caution.
Yet at the same time, the things Minjun and Gyujin had said came back to her. Men are different before they have something and after they do. The tension eases. They might not look at you the same way anymore.
She kept those thoughts to herself. They weren’t words she wanted to confirm with these two right now. Even if she asked, there would be no real answer. Whatever was going to happen would happen. If they changed after they had her, she would feel it then. She didn’t want to ask in advance. The moment she did, she feared she would seem too pathetic.
Doyun spoke carefully. “Then…”
“When were you thinking?”
Before answering, Eunju touched the strap of her bag. “I don’t want to drag this out too long.”
Hyeonwu lifted his head. “Too long?”
“Yes.” Eunju spoke honestly. “The longer I wait, the more scared I think I’ll get.”
Doyun let out a low breath. “We also…” He paused for a second. “Honestly, waiting much longer would be hard for us too.”
Hyeonwu shot him a look. “Hey.”
“What? It’s true, isn’t it?” Doyun said without looking at him.
Hyeonwu couldn’t deny it. Eunju watched the two of them and smiled very faintly. Even in the middle of her nervousness, knowing they had been waiting for her warmed some quiet place inside her body.
“Then… how about three days from now?”
Both of them looked at her at the same time. For a moment Eunju wondered if it was too soon, but she didn’t take the words back. “If that works for you.”
Hyeonwu couldn’t answer right away. Doyun nodded first. “I’m free.”
A little later, Hyeonwu spoke too. “Me too.”
Just like that, the date was set. It had happened so easily that it only made her tremble more. Something she had imagined for so long, something she had only spoken about, now had the number three days attached to it.
Eunju breathed in slowly. “What about the location?”
Doyun’s expression turned practical at once. “We could shoot here, but…” He glanced around the workshop. “Honestly, the space is a little cramped.”
“And it has that lived-in feeling,” Hyeonwu added. His expression was slightly different. “Still… wouldn’t Nuna feel less uncomfortable here than somewhere completely unfamiliar?”
“Rather than a totally strange place…”
At those words, Eunju looked at Hyeonwu. He started to avert his eyes again, but seemed to remember what she had told him last time and managed to hold her gaze. Avoiding eye contact all the time isn’t polite. Sometimes a woman wants to be seen.
His face flushed a little, but this time he held steady. Eunju gave him a small nod. “Thank you.”
Hyeonwu looked even more flustered at her gratitude. Doyun spoke up. “We’ll look into some places. We can check out rental studios and see if we can make it work here too.”
“Alright.” Eunju nodded. “I’ll leave the location to you two.”
A brief silence followed. Next came the concept. Both Doyun and Hyeonwu knew it, but neither could easily open their mouths first. Feeling that silence, Eunju slowly curled and uncurled her fingers.
“For the concept…” she said first. “Why don’t you two think about it?”
Doyun looked up. “Us?”
“Yes.” Eunju looked back and forth between them. “How you want me to look. How you want to photograph me.”
Hyeonwu’s gaze wavered. Eunju took another breath. These were words she had to say herself.
“As for exposure…” Her voice dropped a little lower. “You can plan all the way up to full nude.”
It was as if both of them stopped breathing at the same time. Hyeonwu’s fingers froze on his knee. Doyun’s lips parted slightly before closing again. The air inside the workshop changed in an instant.
Seeing their reactions, Eunju smiled, almost playfully. “And on that day, you two had better come nervous. Because I’m going to devour you.”
Hyeonwu’s face hardened instantly. Even Doyun couldn’t come up with a quick retort. Eunju laughed softly at their expressions. “I’m joking.”
But the next words didn’t sound like a joke at all.
“To be precise, we’ll do the photo shoot first. And if our hearts are in the right place that day…” Eunju paused for a moment, then looked straight at both of them. “I’m also thinking about going all the way with you afterward.”
Hyeonwu couldn’t say a word. Doyun stared at her as if trying to confirm how far she truly meant. Expectation and bewilderment were mixed equally on both their faces. They looked as though they weren’t sure if they had heard her correctly, or if they had been thinking too far ahead.
Watching their expressions, Eunju felt her own face grow hotter. But once again, she didn’t back down.
“That’s exactly what you’re thinking.”
The workshop fell quiet again. Eunju touched the strap of her bag and continued.
“You two have played with me all this time. You worked hard to take my photos. You’ve looked at me and seen me as beautiful.”
Hyeonwu swallowed dryly. Eunju heard it but pretended not to notice.
“I want to repay you. And honestly…” She lowered her gaze for a second, then lifted it again. “I’m curious too.”
Doyun asked quietly, “About what?”
Eunju took a very small breath. “About what it feels like to hold you both.”
Her face burned even hotter after saying it, but the words were already out.
“So we’ll take the photos first. If the mood feels right, if I feel okay, and if you both feel okay…” Eunju spoke slowly. “That day, I intend to give myself to you.”
Hyeonwu looked like he had forgotten how to breathe. Even Doyun couldn’t manage any teasing this time. Eunju looked back and forth between them.
“If you’ll accept me.”
Her face grew hot again, but she didn’t look away. After a long moment, Hyeonwu spoke carefully, as if trying to move the frozen air even a little.
“I think… somewhere with nice light would be good.”
Eunju looked at him. He continued with difficulty. “Not too dark, and not too harsh. A place with big windows and white sheets. Where Nuna can sit or lean against something…” His face reddened as he spoke. “I think your shy expression would come out beautifully there.”
Eunju listened quietly. His words touched her in a gentle way. Hyeonwu was still awkward, but he wasn’t pushing her roughly. Doyun spoke next.
“I’d like there to be a mirror.”
“A mirror?”
“Yes.” Doyun glanced at her expression before continuing. “You should see it too, Nuna. How shocking your undressed body looks to us. I want you to see that for yourself.”
Eunju pressed her lips together slightly. A mirror. Just standing in front of the camera would already be overwhelming. The thought of also seeing herself in the mirror made her body tense even more. Yet she didn’t dislike the idea.
“And…” Doyun hesitated for a moment. “I’d like there to be a sense that Hyungnim is present too.”
Eunju’s gaze settled on him. He quickly added, “I don’t mean he should appear in the photos. Just the feeling that you’re standing there with someone’s permission. I think it would be good if that showed in your expression.”
Hyeonwu gave a small nod. “I like that too. The feeling that Nuna isn’t enduring it alone…”
Eunju looked at both of them and smiled slowly. “My husband can appear if you want.”
Hyeonwu and Doyun looked at her at the same time. Eunju shrugged lightly, as if it were nothing. “If necessary, I’ll even tell him to take his clothes off.”
Doyun’s eyes widened. Hyeonwu stared at her, speechless. Eunju laughed, finding their reactions a little amusing. “And you two can be in the photos with me too. If you want to hold me while shooting, or satisfy some of your desires, we can plan for that.”
Doyun couldn’t answer right away. Hyeonwu simply lowered his gaze. Seeing that, Eunju added more gently, yet with a hint of mischief, “In that case, you two will have to take your clothes off too.”
The workshop fell silent for a moment. The conversation that had been about photographic concepts had suddenly become far too real. Standing in the same frame as Eunju. Naked. In front of her husband.
Hyeonwu’s face darkened slightly. Eunju didn’t miss the change.
“What? Suddenly scared?”
Hyeonwu hesitated before answering with difficulty. “Hyungnim will be there too… Is that really okay? For us to… do that with Nuna.”
Eunju looked at him quietly. More worry than greed colored his words. So she softened her smile a little.
“Don’t worry.”
Hyeonwu lifted his head. Eunju spoke slowly. “You two contacted my husband and planned this together. Because you wanted to see my body. Because you wanted to photograph me. He knows all of that.”
Hyeonwu closed his mouth. But he still didn’t look entirely convinced.
“Still…” he said quietly. “I’m not sure if it’s okay to hold Nuna…”
Eunju paused at his words, then smiled very faintly.
“Hyeonwu.”
“Yes?”
“You’re secretly looking forward to it, aren’t you?”
Hyeonwu’s face turned bright red in an instant. “No, that’s not what I meant…”
“You’re a little greedy too.”
He couldn’t continue. Eunju leaned her body forward slightly. “You can barely even make eye contact with me. Do you think you’ll be able to touch Nuna?”
Doyun let out a quiet laugh beside them, as if swallowing his breath. Hyeonwu kept his head down, only opening and closing his fingers. Watching him, Eunju spoke in an even lower voice.
“My husband is fine with it. So don’t be too scared.”
She paused, then smiled shyly. “You can look forward to it.”
“And we can refine the concept a little more on the day itself. Once we see the location and I’m actually standing there, it might feel different.”
Doyun nodded. Now only one thing remained.
Eunju opened her bag. She took out a folded sheet of paper from the file inside. The moment she pulled it out, both Hyeonwu’s and Doyun’s eyes dropped to it at the same time.
“This is…” Eunju placed the paper on her lap. “Something I discussed with Minjun about the photos.”
Doyun’s expression grew serious. Hyeonwu straightened his posture. Eunju spoke carefully.
“Originally we agreed that we would take back all the memory cards. That condition remains the same. We will take all the photo files with us.”
They both nodded. Eunju pressed the edge of the paper with her fingertips.
“But… I was thinking maybe we could leave a few shots with you.”
Hyeonwu and Doyun looked at her simultaneously. It was a completely unexpected response. Hyeonwu’s eyes widened, and Doyun lost his words for a moment. Seeing their faces, Eunju felt even more embarrassed.
“Not many. Just some of the ones we choose together. Only the ones I’m comfortable with and Minjun is comfortable with.”
Doyun asked quietly, “We… can really keep them?”
Eunju nodded. “Yes. After looking at today’s photos, I had that thought. The way you two saw me as beautiful was captured in those images. So I wanted to leave a little behind. In your hands.”
Hyeonwu couldn’t say anything. Neither did Doyun make a joke this time. They both understood that this wasn’t a simple offer of files. Eunju was saying she would leave some of her photographed self with the two men who had seen her as beautiful.
Hyeonwu spoke carefully. “Nuna. Are you really okay with this?”
Eunju looked at him. She was grateful for the question. “It’s scary. I know how dangerous such photos can be for a woman.”
Doyun nodded. “Of course we should write a contract. We understand that.”
Hyeonwu added immediately, “We have no intention of doing anything reckless. Still, it seems right to have a contract.”
Doyun laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. “We shouldn’t trust ourselves too much either. You never know what a person might do later. I’ll think of the contract as something that protects us too.”
Eunju smiled at his words. “It’s not that I don’t trust you.”
Doyun nodded. “I know. It’s because you do trust us that you’re saying this much.”
Eunju slid the paper toward them. Hyeonwu picked it up. The content wasn’t long. The original shooting data would be recovered by Eunju and Minjun. The provided photos would be limited to cuts pre-approved by Eunju and Minjun. The provided photos could only be kept personally or used within the agreed scope. Without the explicit consent of the rights holder, Eunju, there would be no external disclosure, transmission, upload, or portfolio use.
Hyeonwu read each line carefully. Doyun looked over his shoulder. The stiff format of a contract made the upcoming shoot feel even more real. This was no longer just a verbal promise. It was a promise that would remain on paper.
Doyun picked up the pen first. “I’ll sign first.”
Hyeonwu looked at him. “Read it and then sign.”
“I read it.” Doyun’s answer was short, but his expression was not light. “Besides, this isn’t something you just read and decide on.”
He wrote his name. The sound of the pen scratching the paper echoed quietly in the workshop. Hyeonwu took the pen next. He glanced at Eunju for a moment, then quietly wrote his name as well.
Eunju watched them in silence. Two young men were signing a contract in order to photograph her. They were making a promise not to handle her carelessly in exchange for keeping some of her images. The fact felt strangely embarrassing. And strangely reassuring.
Hyeonwu handed the contract back to her. “We’ll really be careful.”
Doyun added, “With the photos too. And with you, Nuna.”
Eunju took the contract and put it back in her bag. It was only a few thin sheets of paper. But inside them were the time when she would stand in front of the camera in three days, the names of three people, and Minjun’s permission.
The workshop grew quiet for a while. Hyeonwu and Doyun simply looked at Eunju without speaking. A moment ago their faces had been waiting for a promise. Now they held the date in their hands. Eunju met their gazes. It was frightening. But this time she didn’t look away.
“Then,” she said slowly, “I’ll see you in three days.”
Hyeonwu answered quietly. “Yes.”
Doyun nodded too. “We’ll be waiting.”
Eunju stood up. The simple bed creaked very softly. Even that sound felt strangely clear today. As she walked toward the door, she turned back once more. They were still watching her. Eunju held their gazes for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Both of you, come here.”
Hyeonwu and Doyun glanced at each other. “Yes?” “Why?”
Eunju didn’t answer, only gestured. “Come here.”
They approached slowly, not understanding. Doyun’s face looked a little playful, but Hyeonwu still wore a tense expression. Eunju pulled Hyeonwu into her arms first. His body stiffened instantly. Feeling those rigid shoulders, she hugged him a little tighter.
“It’s okay. Today is just a hug.”
At those words, Hyeonwu’s breathing eased a little. But his hands still hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure where to place them. Eunju felt that hesitation and smiled softly.
“This is our last pure embrace.”
Hyeonwu’s breath stopped. Eunju slowly pulled away from his shoulder and turned to Doyun. The playful mask had slipped from his face. When Eunju stepped closer, he silently opened his arms. She hugged him tightly too. Doyun embraced her a little faster than Hyeonwu had, but his hands were surprisingly careful. The fingertips resting on her back carried more tension than playfulness.
Eunju closed her eyes for just a moment in his arms. In three days, how would these two look at her? How would they touch her? And after that, would they still see her with the same eyes?
There were no answers yet. But at least in this moment, their embrace was still pure.
Eunju slowly stepped back from Doyun. She looked at both of them in turn.
“Next time…” She paused for a second. Her face grew a little warmer, but she didn’t look away. “Let’s meet without being pure.”
Hyeonwu couldn’t say anything. Neither could Doyun laugh easily this time. Leaving their silence behind, Eunju opened the door. Before stepping into the hallway, she turned back one last time.
“See you in three days.”
The door closed. For a long time, no one spoke inside the workshop. Hyeonwu and Doyun stood there, each holding the warmth Eunju had left behind in their own different ways.