The Weight of Forbidden Fruit
Park Mina felt a deep, pervasive fatigue the moment she woke. Last night, her first experience with Lee Han had left her body flooded with entirely new sensations. A dull ache, a heavy lethargy—perhaps because it was her first real encounter, her entire body felt tender, bruised in a way that felt strangely significant.
Yet, the memory made her heart flutter. The intensity of the man to whom she had surrendered her innocence, the dizzying peak of ecstasy—it hadn't been a planned encounter, but the very fact that she had become one with Lee Han felt momentous. It was a tremor akin to a first love.
Outside the window, the world had already turned dark. She had fallen into such a deep, exhausted sleep that the entire day had slipped away. Checking the clock, she realized the evening had passed and night was well underway.
Mina sat up abruptly and headed for the bathroom. Her reflection in the mirror looked like someone still trapped in the haze of sleep. Her cheeks were flushed a faint, rosy pink, and her hair was a tangled mess. The traces of yesterday were etched clearly upon her.
She washed herself thoroughly with warm water, trying to clear her head. While the shower left her feeling refreshed, her stomach let out a loud, hollow growl. She remembered that, because of yesterday’s events, she hadn't eaten a proper meal.
A quick inspection of the fridge and cupboards revealed nothing to eat. Eventually, Mina changed her clothes and decided to head to the convenience store. Thinking she might at least boil some ramen, she opened her front door.
With a light step, she made her way out and stopped at the store. She bought a couple of packs of ramen, a roll of kimbap, and a drink. As she finished paying and stepped back out, Lee Han suddenly crossed her mind. Had he eaten? Hesitating, Mina turned her steps toward the management office.
When she arrived, however, the door was locked tight. She had reached for the handle with a heart full of anticipation, but the reality of the locked door left her emotions in a tangle. Looking at the silent, empty office, a wave of disappointment washed over her.
Last night, she had shared her first time with him, yet he hadn't even sent a single message. Was the relationship she had imbued with such special meaning nothing to him? Was she, as her friend had once suggested, merely a plaything? As she walked away, her mind was consumed by nothing but negative thoughts.
Back in her apartment, she collapsed onto her bed. A crushing sense of self-loathing made her eyes sting with tears. She wanted to resent Lee Han, but instead, she found herself blaming her own shortcomings. Did I do something wrong? Her heart drifted further and further toward him.
With a face streaked with tears, she longed for him. Far from resenting his silence, she felt pathetic for wanting to cling to him. She missed him with an aching intensity, but the fact that she had no way to contact him only deepened her sorrow.
Mina lay on her bed, unable to control the tears that kept spilling over. After sobbing for a long time, she stared blankly at the ceiling. Her mind was filled entirely with thoughts of Lee Han.
She should have been angry at him, but her heart was flowing in a different direction. Was I not to his liking? She had given him everything during her first time, and the fact that he hadn't reached out made her wonder if it was her own fault.
She replayed the memories of the previous night, scrutinizing every one of her actions. Surely, she must have offended him somehow. Had she failed to satisfy him? Was he disappointed in her?
These thoughts chased each other in circles, tormenting her. Her own clumsy, inexperienced behavior haunted her. She began to blame herself for his silence.
Instead of believing that something was wrong with the relationship, she took full responsibility. The rationalization that he had pulled away because she was "not enough" grew stronger. This distorted self-reproach even diluted her resentment toward Lee Han.
A chill settled in her chest. His whispers of love couldn't have been a lie, could they? She didn't want to blame him. She just needed to have tried harder. To ensure she wouldn't be abandoned.
At that same time, Lee Han had gladly accepted an unexpected dinner invitation from Park Taeyoung. He could feel Han Sujin’s cold, piercing gaze, but Lee Han ignored it, engaging in a pleasant conversation with Taeyoung.
During the meal, Taeyoung brought up a topic.
"By the way, Lee Han, I heard the atmosphere between you and that woman, Park Mina, is quite... unusual..."
Lee Han’s eyes widened for a split second. He glanced at Han Sujin, who was merely moving her spoon with a stoic expression.
"Ah... that’s actually a misunderstanding. With Ms. Mina, it’s strictly a tenant-manager relationship."
Lee Han stammered, unable to hide his momentary fluster. Taeyoung scratched his head, looking apologetic.
"Oh, is that so? I must have heard wrong. My apologies."
"Not at all. I should have been more careful... as someone in my position, I shouldn't give rise to unnecessary misunderstandings with the residents."
Lee Han replied with practiced ease.
After a brief pause, Taeyoung looked at Lee Han and grinned.
"Still, don't you think it's time you tried dating, Lee Han?"
"Haha, I don't think the timing is right yet. I have so much work... I want to focus on my job for now."
Lee Han said with a wry smile.
"Even so, life gets harder if you only focus on work. Look at me—I’m so happy since I met my wife."
Park Taeyoung looked at Han Sujin with a proud smile. Sujin returned her husband's gaze with a bright, warm expression. The two clinked their glasses and drank.
At that moment, Lee Han’s gaze shifted to Han Sujin. It was clear she had intentionally leaked the rumors about him and Park Mina to her husband. A momentary exchange of glances. But Sujin ignored him, calmly sipping her drink.
As the drinking session deepened, Park Taeyoung eventually leaned back against the sofa and fell into a deep sleep, overcome by work fatigue and the alcohol. Sujin gently shook her husband’s shoulder to wake him, but Taeyoung only opened his eyes for a second, offered a blurry smile, and drifted off again.
Lee Han stood up beside the sighing Sujin. He carefully supported the sleeping Taeyoung, lifting him into his arms. He carried the limp, intoxicated man to the bedroom and laid him down gently. Sujin stood in the doorway, watching the scene in silence.
Lee Han tucked Taeyoung in and quietly closed the bedroom door. When he returned to the living room, he stopped and faced Sujin. The two stared at each other for a moment. A strange tension hung in the silent room.
"I’d prefer it if you didn't go around talking about things you shouldn't..."
Lee Han murmured in a low voice. His eyes, cold as ice, seemed to pierce right through her.
"Hmph."
Sujin scoffed and crossed her arms. There was no sign of backing down in her demeanor.
"If you keep that up, things might get... unpleasant."
A faint smile played on Lee Han’s lips.
"I won't be the only one going down, so feel free to try me."
Sujin’s retort was filled with defiance.
Lee Han looked at her as if she were amusing. He raised the corner of his mouth and spoke slowly.
"Fine. I'll let it slide this time. But from now on, let’s make sure we both respect our boundaries."
Without another word, Sujin turned away and began clearing the table. Lee Han watched her back in silence as she gathered the remaining glasses and plates.
He scanned her back with a burning gaze as she focused on the cleanup. An uncontrollable desire began to bloom in his eyes.
"Sujin..."
Lee Han whispered her name as he approached. His arms tightened as he pulled her slender waist against him. At the same time, he buried his lips against the smooth skin of her neck, leaving a faint, lingering kiss.
"What are you doing..."
At first, she stiffened, startled, and tried to push him away. But as his kiss deepened, Sujin’s body melted. She couldn't help but gasp as his hands slipped between the folds of her clothes.
I shouldn't be doing this... my husband is sleeping right there...
Contrary to the voice of reason whispering in her mind, Sujin’s instincts were craving him. Every cell in her body was twisting, demanding to be held in his arms, to surrender to the passion.
"Sujin... you’re beautiful..."
Lee Han whispered low against her ear as he slid her shirt off. They exchanged kisses, both feeling the heat rising in their skin. His hands, unzipping her clothes, were as deft as a musician playing an instrument.
"Hnn... if Taeyoung wakes up..."
Even as she spoke, Sujin instinctively clung to him. She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, pulling him closer, craving a deeper kiss. The sense of forbidden pleasure, combined with the taboo of breaking her vows, made an uncontrollable excitement swell within her.
"You know, don't you? Once Taeyoung falls asleep, he doesn't wake up..."
Lee Han whispered into her ear, burying his lips into her bare skin. He bit down gently on her earlobe, turning it a deep red. At his whisper, Sujin shuddered and closed her eyes.
Collapsing onto the living room sofa, the two were swept away by an uncontrollable desire. Lee Han’s persistent tongue delved into her lips, then moved down to her neck, her collarbone, and the valley of her breasts. The hot breath against her skin made Sujin arch her back.
At the same time, Lee Han’s hands explored her bare skin. As his fingers slipped under her clothes and stroked her soft thighs, Sujin’s breathing turned ragged. Leaning into his arms, she ran her own greedy hands down his back.
The sound of underwear being stripped away, the moans that erupted as his fingers delved between her thighs—all of it shattered the silence of the night, filling the room with an atmosphere thick with desire.
"Hnn... Lee Han..."
As the climax approached, Sujin’s moans grew more desperate. The way she twisted her waist and clung to him looked as if she were lost in a forbidden pleasure.
"You’ll never be able to escape me, Sujin... never..."
Lee Han whispered low as he pinned her down. Feeling a strange thrill at his words, Sujin wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him in deep.
A hot, relentless affair that lasted through the night. On the sofa, their two bodies were fused without an inch of space between them, undulating like waves. Their sweat-slicked, naked bodies slipped and tangled, and bright red marks were vividly etched onto her pale skin.
The two finally collapsed, exhausted, as dawn began to break. Amidst the living room, left in disarray by the traces of their passion, Sujin lay in Lee Han’s arms.
In the dark, emerging light of dawn, reason finally began to seep back into Sujin’s mind. Her skin, teased and ravaged throughout the night, throbbed. The touch of Lee Han’s hands, his kisses, his whispers—all of it left her both aroused and filled with a crushing sense of guilt.
How did I end up doing this...
Lying in Lee Han’s arms, Sujin’s heart was heavy. The red marks all over her body were clear evidence of what had happened throughout the night.
"Again today..."
Sujin muttered, clutching Lee Han’s waist. She was ashamed that she hadn't been able to refuse him, even with her husband sleeping just in the next room. Tears welled up at the guilt rising in her throat.
But... a voice whispered from deep within her mind.
Everything... is for Taeyoung. It was all to protect him...
Sujin wiped away her blurred vision and thought. Wasn't it? Didn't I endure all of this for my husband? If I didn't satisfy Lee Han’s desires, I might lose Park Taeyoung.
Watching the soundly sleeping Lee Han, Sujin bit her lip. The more she surrendered to her desires, the more she melted under his touch, the more her love for her husband became twisted and distorted.
If it’s for you... I can do anything...
Swallowing her tears, Sujin whispered to herself. Even between the guilt and the shame, she began to rationalize her actions. With a warped sense of affection and obsession, she vowed to block anything that threatened the future of herself and Park Taeyoung.
Park Taeyoung stretched and climbed out of bed. As he rubbed his eyes and headed to the living room, he was greeted by the smell of food and the sight of Han Sujin standing in the kitchen.
"Honey, I think I had a bit too much to drink yesterday. I’m sorry I just passed out."
Taeyoung whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Oh, you startled me."
Sujin looked surprised, but she soon managed a smile. She placed her hand gently on Taeyoung’s arm to soothe him.
"It’s alright. Go wash up. We should eat breakfast soon."
At that moment, Taeyoung buried his face in the nape of her neck. Her scent, mingled with the sweat from cooking, tickled his nose. It was a familiar fragrance, but today, it felt strangely erotic. Taeyoung smiled happily, as if intoxicated by the smell.
However, a shadow fell over Sujin’s face. Taeyoung’s affectionate embrace felt suffocating rather than welcoming. Because the traces of her tryst with Lee Han still lingered on her skin, she was on edge, terrified of being discovered. Sujin feigned composure and gently pulled her husband’s hands away.
Watching Taeyoung walk toward the bathroom, Sujin let out a sigh of relief. But at that moment, she was startled by a sensation between her thighs. Traces of Lee Han, whom she had accepted throughout the night, were leaking out. Sujin hurriedly pressed her legs together. Her heart sank at the thought that she had almost been caught.
She wiped herself hastily with a tissue. Still, there was nothing she could do about the vivid red marks left on her pale skin. Looking at the reddish bruises scattered across her body, she swallowed a sigh.
