The Predator's Sweet Trap
Park Mina arrived at her office with heavy steps. The events of the previous day clouded her mind, but she had no choice but to force an even kinder smile to hide it.
"I'm so sorry for taking a sudden leave of absence yesterday. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
Her voice trembled as she bowed her head in apology. She could feel the cold, judgmental gazes of her senior colleagues, but she sat at her desk and tried her best to ignore them.
She buried herself in her assigned tasks all day. The moment her mind wandered even for a second, Lee Han’s face would surface, and she feared she would ruin everything.
Before she knew it, darkness had settled outside the window. Checking the clock, she saw it was nearly 9:00 PM. She had barely filled her stomach with a sandwich, yet she was still hungry.
The other employees had long since gone home. As she turned off her computer and the lights, Park Mina let out a sigh. The thought that this life of working overtime would continue indefinitely left her feeling hopeless.
She had been hanging on as an intern for six months, but a transition to a permanent position seemed like a distant dream. Judging by the company's atmosphere, it didn't seem like such an opportunity would ever be granted to her.
Is this my future? Does this dark tunnel even have an end?
With a heavy heart, she walked toward the apartment. It felt as if tomorrow, and the day after that, would just be a continuation of the same unchanging routine.
Just then, she heard someone calling her name from a distance. Startled, she turned her head to find Lee Han smiling at her.
"Manager. Hello..."
Park Mina greeted him, unable to hide her flustered expression. Lee Han stared at her intently before speaking slowly.
"Heading home from work? You look very tired."
"Oh... yes. I had to work overtime today."
Park Mina shifted her gaze here and there, feeling uneasy. Lee Han, observing her as if he found it amusing, held up a bag he was carrying.
"Have you had dinner? If not, why don't you join me for this? I bought it, but there's a bit too much for one person."
The savory smell wafting from the bag made her mouth water before she could stop it.
"Oh... I did eat dinner, but..."
"Aren't you weak because you're hungry? I saw you walking with your head down, looking so drained."
Blinded by her hunger, Park Mina ended up falling for his suggestion.
"Then... just for a moment. Thank you."
Hesitating, Park Mina followed Lee Han. A slow smile spread across Lee Han’s lips.
Led by Lee Han’s suggestion, Park Mina headed to the Management Office. Inside the narrow office, only dim lighting was turned on.
"Have a seat. Is there anything you want to eat?"
Lee Han shook the bag toward the bewildered Park Mina. Inside were instant tteokbokki, sundae, and fish cakes—the perfect late-night snacks.
"Oh... thank you. I guess I was hungrier than I thought."
Park Mina sat in a chair, laughing shyly. Lee Han’s hands, as he laid out the food in front of her one by one, looked incredibly gentle.
The two sat across from each other and began to eat. Unable to overcome her hunger, Park Mina devoured the food greedily. She ate so quickly that the dishes were emptied in an instant.
"Eat as much as you like. I have more."
Lee Han smiled broadly and served her more tteokbokki. Seeing this, Park Mina suddenly felt ashamed of her own behavior. She bowed her head deeply and began to chew the food slowly.
"You work a lot of overtime, and the job is tough, right?"
At Lee Han’s words, Park Mina felt a lump in her throat. It felt as if no one else understood her hardships, but this man was different.
"Yes... as an intern, there's still so much to learn. Because of that, it's hard to keep to my clock-out time..."
"And it looks like the transition to a permanent position is difficult?"
"That's right... I'm scared that if I stay an intern like this, I might just get fired."
Park Mina began to pour her heart out without even realizing it. The worries and anxieties she usually kept bottled up came spilling out.
Lee Han offered her solid comfort, as if he could see right through her heart.
"Stay strong. Everyone starts that way. I was lucky to land in this position, but I had my fair share of sorrowful days, too."
"Really? You went through that too, Manager?"
"Of course. Life is full of ups and downs."
Park Mina’s eyes widened at Lee Han’s words. To think that even someone who looked so dependable had faced such difficulties. She felt a strange sense of camaraderie.
The two shared various stories while eating. Park Mina began to open up more and more to Lee Han, whose attitude toward listening to her concerns was sincere.
Before long, the food on the table was all gone. Checking the clock, she saw it was past midnight.
"Oh my, it's already this late. I think I should head back now."
"Then get home safely. Let's meet again, Mina."
"Yes... thank you so much for today. Goodnight."
Park Mina said goodbye with a bright smile. Lee Han saw her off, acting as kind as he could.
The door to the Management Office closed, and her light footsteps faded down the hallway.
A strange smile played on the lips of Lee Han, who remained alone in the office.
Park Mina’s back, as she headed toward the apartment with light steps, was gradually swallowed by the darkness.
Since that day, Park Mina often headed to the Management Office after work. After graduating from college and jumping into the job market, she had barely been in contact with her friends. Moreover, the repetitive overtime work while interning meant her human relationships were almost entirely severed. In this situation, Lee Han’s warm comfort and encouragement became a small solace in her exhausted life, and meeting him had soon become a part of her daily routine.
"Manager, are you working overtime again today?"
"Ah, Mina. Welcome. I was just finishing up some paperwork."
At the sight of Lee Han welcoming her with a bright smile, a flower bloomed on Park Mina’s face.
"I bought some beer. Shall we have a drink together?"
Lee Han nodded readily at the bag of beer held in Park Mina’s hand, which she had offered without hesitation.
"I’d be grateful. I think it would be good to take a break for a while."
Before long, the two sat down in a corner of the office. They washed away the fatigue of the day while clinking their beer glasses.
"How is work life these days? Is that person, Lee Minho, still acting the same way?"
"Sigh, well, you know. He tries to touch me on the sly... ugh, it gives me the creeps."
"Just endure it. People like that always get what's coming to them."
The look in Lee Han’s eyes as he spoke was incredibly gentle. Park Mina felt comfort and empathy from him. The conversation between the two didn't stop until the beer cans they had bought were all empty.
"Oh my, it's already this late. I think I should head in."
"You seem quite drunk... shall I walk you home?"
"No, it's okay. It's just the apartment complex, anyway."
"No. It could be dangerous. Let's go together."
And so, the two walked toward Park Mina’s home. Lee Han naturally held the arm of Park Mina, who was swaying slightly. A strange tension flowed between them, but it didn't feel awkward.
"I can go in from here. Thank you so much for today."
In front of the front door, the two stood facing each other. Lee Han looked down at Park Mina, who was flushed from the alcohol, and smiled softly.
"Don't mention it. Get home safely."
That was when it happened. Park Mina suddenly leaned in. Her lips touched Lee Han’s lips.
'Ah...!'
Lee Han flinched in surprise, but soon responded to Park Mina’s kiss. Intoxicated by the touch of her soft lips, the kiss deepened.
A moment later, Park Mina came to her senses and hurriedly pulled back. Covering her flushed cheeks with her hands, she bowed her head.
"I, I'm sorry... I was drunk and..."
"No, it's fine. Um... go on in."
Their eyes avoided each other, both of them flustered. Park Mina opened the front door in a panic, embarrassed.
"Th, then, goodnight!"
Park Mina quickly closed the door and disappeared. Lee Han stared at the closed door for a long time and smiled broadly.
'Hmm... that was easy.'
Unable to control the desire spreading across his lips, Lee Han walked down the hallway. A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
As soon as Park Mina closed the front door, she let out a breathless gasp. Her heart was still pounding wildly. She couldn't believe what had just happened.
Lying flat on her bed, she buried her face in her pillow out of embarrassment.
'Why did I do that? I must have lost my mind...'
The memory of kissing him first while drunk flashed through her mind. Lee Han’s soft lips and warm breath surfaced vividly.
'But it didn't seem like the Manager hated it either...'
A smile spread across Park Mina’s lips at the memory of Lee Han accepting her without rejecting her.
'Could it be that he likes me?'
Her heart raced at the thought that perhaps such luck had finally come her way.
Letting her imagination run wild, Park Mina hugged her blanket. What would it be like if she and Lee Han became closer? If they developed into that kind of relationship...
'Gasp, what am I thinking!'
Startled by her own delusions, Park Mina came to her senses. As she shifted her gaze, she chuckled at the state of her room.
'The Manager would be shocked if he saw this. I really need to clean up tomorrow.'
The events of today and the sweet fantasies of the future. Lost in those thoughts, Park Mina fell asleep with a happy sigh.
Meanwhile, Lee Han, who had returned to the Management Office, sat at his desk, lost in deep thought. A muttering voice cut through the darkness.
"It's time to take the next step."
His eyes calculated something as he bit his lip. To him, Park Mina was not just prey to satisfy his desires. To break her and place her under his feet—that was Lee Han’s true goal.
'How can I make her completely mine...'
Lee Han, lost in sinister thoughts, grabbed his smartphone. He smiled broadly as if something had occurred to him and quickly began typing a text message.
'This should be enough. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.'
Darkness fell over Lee Han’s face as he closed his phone. He slowly closed his eyes, wearing a chilling smile.
Thus, the two were spending the same night. One was immersed in happy fantasies of the future, while the other was fully aroused by the plotting of a wicked scheme.
The night of a pure soul lost in sweet dreams and a predator stained with dark desires. A quiet silence settled over the apartment.
However, no one noticed the conspiracy unfolding in the darkness. No one worried about the future of a woman falling into the abyss of evil.