The Cuckoo’s Nest
What a crazy woman...!
At first, we were just walking together. But at some point, she became... well, how should I put it? Bold?
As we walked down the street, I had gently taken her hand in mine. Instead of pulling away, she just lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red.
"Let's see... is this the place?"
I checked the app and headed toward the motel designated by those people. It was located right in the heart of the downtown area, about thirty minutes away from the cafe.
People were coming and going, and as evening approached, the alcohol began to kick in. I could see people sitting on folding chairs in front of bars, drinking while plates of chicken sat on makeshift tables.
There were couples walking hand-in-hand, and groups of strangers wandering around, debating where to go next.
The bustling, vibrant street was filled with the distinct atmosphere of a summer evening.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why they had chosen a motel right in the middle of such a crowded city center.
It was as if they were telling us to be proud, as if this wasn't something to be ashamed of... or perhaps they were acknowledging that while it *was* something shameful, we were both here because we wanted it, so we might as well enjoy it.
I swallowed hard and looked back at Haneul, who was walking beside me. She was still keeping her head down, unable to hide her bright red cheeks. Even so, it seemed that for a married woman to enter a motel with another man in such a crowded place was a bit too much for her to handle.
"If you don't want to do this, we can turn back now."
"Turn back? Are you insane? I'm attractive enough that I could just push myself onto anyone! There are plenty of other people lining up, not just someone like you!"
She puffed out her cheeks and snapped at me, and I felt a genuine headache coming on. Seriously, what does she want? She’s shy and hesitant, yet she gets angry when I suggest turning back. It’s truly...
"Then what exactly do you want me to do? Go to those other people, then!"
When I finally said that out of pure frustration, she let out a small "Eek!" and recoiled, shrinking back. Seeing her look slightly frightened made me wonder if I’d gone too far, but then I realized that once you've come this far, there's no point in debating who's at fault.
You either back out, or you go all the way. There are no other options.
I heard the sound of her swallowing hard. People passing by glanced at us, whispering to each other as they saw us standing there, facing one another.
They probably thought we were a couple. It must have looked like a lovers' quarrel, but in reality, we were engaged in a madness that made even adultery look mundane. It was laughable.
"Let's go."
Oh, so she’s giving up after all. Well, it can't be helped. I nodded readily and was about to let go of her hand and turn away when—
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly, Haneul tilted her head and turned back. She looked at me, took my hand, and started walking toward the motel.
"Haneul...?"
"We've come this far, you don't really think we're just going to turn back, do you? I wouldn't have thought you were such a coward."
With a low, growling voice, she gave me a smile that was filled with a strange sense of anticipation, even as her cheeks remained flushed with embarrassment.
No matter how I looked at it, she didn't seem to hate this situation at all.
"So, let's go inside. We have to fulfill my husband's request, after all. Yes, that's right... it can't be helped. This is all for him."
She began to rationalize it, dismissing the act of offering her body for her husband's sexual gratification as something a wife ought to do.
Yet, the strangely flushed expression on her face never faded.
It was as if she was so excited about what was about to happen that she couldn't contain herself.
When we stepped inside, I saw an old woman nodding off behind the counter. Haneul, perhaps out of shame, couldn't bring herself to say a word to her and just kept her head bowed.
I wanted to tell her that if she was going to come this far, she shouldn't act like a coward and try to run away, but that felt a bit too harsh, so I suppressed the urge.
I pressed the small bell on the counter, and a soft *ding-dong* echoed through the room. The owner, who had been dozing, let out a grunt, lifted her head, and glared at both of us.
"We aren't open for business. Go back and find somewhere else."
"..."
I glared back at the old woman as she muttered that unkindly and tried to go back to sleep. Was this some kind of verification process?
"Um... ma'am? We're here from the Netorase club..."
"Hm...?"
When I said that, the old woman tilted her head, then nodded as if she understood.
"Ah, the club. Can you show me?"
"Of course, here it is."
I readily nodded at her request to see the app and pulled out my phone. I held it up to the glass partition, and the old woman peered at it before nodding again.
"Ah, you're from the club, alright. But to use this motel, the lady there needs to be verified, too."
"Ah... um, eek... h-here."
Haneul quickly opened the app and held it up to the glass. The old woman looked at the app for a moment and then produced a barcode scanner.
With a *beep-beep* sound, a voice spoke out:
> Authentication successful. Welcome, Male.
> Authentication successful. Welcome, Female.
They really weren't going to stop with the "Male" and "Female" labels, were they? I didn't feel like arguing, so I just nodded, and the old woman put the scanner back in the drawer.
"Go on in. It's room 504. The key is here, take it. Honestly, young people these days are so strange..."
I heard her muttering under her breath. I took the key she handed over and glanced back.
"Ugh... ooh..."
Haneul, her cheeks flushed deep red, was at a loss for what to do, just keeping her head down in silence.
She seemed quite embarrassed.
We entered the elevator and stood in silence, both looking away and staring at the doors. The subtle scent inside the narrow elevator as we ascended gave me a strangely erotic sensation.
It smelled like cheap air freshener, but I hadn't expected it to create such a suggestive atmosphere.
"You're sure this is okay, right?"
"Y-yes! How many times are you going to ask? Are you going to keep asking if it's okay for the rest of your life?"
"That's not it. It's just... well, it's a bit awkward."
I scratched my head and let out a small sigh, and she glared at me with a growl. She clearly looked annoyed, but since we’d come this far, wouldn't it be better to just accept it?
"I-it's just... you're my neighbor, it makes no sense. How am I supposed to look at your face from now on? Today, I'm going to be in your arms. I'll even have to pretend I don't know it's you."
"Is that so?"
Do we really have to pretend we don't know each other...? I mean, even if her husband is out of his mind, it's true that if the man who just slept with his wife is standing right in front of him, you never know what he might do...
But then again, a man who would do something like that wouldn't be the type to put his wife in another man's arms in the first place. Honestly, I thought she was worrying too much.
Or maybe it was natural to worry? Hmm... I was just starting to think that maybe I was a bit messed up myself when—
Ding.
[This is the 5th floor.]
"..."
We had arrived at the 5th floor before I knew it. As the doors slid open, I walked out into a rather narrow hallway. It was eerily quiet, as if there were no other people around.
Though, the idea of other people being in a motel like this was also unsettling in its own way.
I shrugged my shoulders, took her hand firmly, and arrived in front of room 504. I held the key card to the reader, and with a beep, the door unlocked.
"Well, we're really starting now. Don't regret this later."
"Y-yeah..."
She nodded readily, and as she stepped behind me with flushed cheeks, she suddenly linked her arm through mine?!
Seriously? She’s even linking arms?
I glanced at her, and she was breathing heavily, her cheeks stained a deep crimson.
I honestly wasn't sure if she was truly looking forward to this or not. I didn't know how to take it.
Inside, I saw a rather cramped room. There was a shower stall right in front of the entrance. I inserted the card into the reader next to the door, and the lights flickered on with a soft mechanical sound.
"Alright, let's go in."
As I said that and took off my shoes, she stood there, frozen in place, looking bewildered.
"Hey? What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Why are you so used to this?"
"Excuse me...?"
What is she talking about? Doesn't everyone stay in a motel for a night while traveling at least once?
"N-no... this is a motel! It's obviously a place for... you know! The fact that you've been to a place like this so many times... d-don't tell me...!"
She stood there, stuttering with bright red cheeks. I looked at her, frozen in place.
The words "You crazy bitch" rose to my throat. The only reason I stopped myself from spitting out the insult was thanks to an incredible amount of self-restraint.
"...A motel is an accommodation, not a brothel."
When I said that, her eyes went wide, as if she’d just realized it.
But we were here to do exactly that "suggestive" thing.
Hmm... come to think of it, she wasn't entirely wrong.