The Fragrance of Deception
Kim Eunju stepped forward quickly at the sound of the front door opening. Her husband, Lee Hyunwoo, had returned late, a tired smile gracing his face.
"Honey, you worked hard today."
"Yeah, but it's the weekend now. How's our son?"
"He's already asleep. We went out today, and he was so excited."
Lee Hyunwoo loosened his tie as he stepped into the living room. Kim Eunju approached and took the shirt from his hands.
"Did you eat dinner?"
"I grabbed something while working overtime."
The moment Kim Eunju went to put the shirt in the laundry basket, a scent that was slightly different from usual brushed against the tip of her nose. It smelled almost like perfume...
'Could it be... a woman's perfume? No, that's impossible.'
Kim Eunju shook her head and began sorting the laundry. As she folded the clothes diligently, trying to suppress her overactive imagination, Lee Hyunwoo approached the baby crib and leaned over.
A happy smile lingered on his lips, perhaps listening to his son's breathing. Kim Eunju's heart warmed in an instant. Lee Hyunwoo turned his head and met her gaze.
"It must be hard taking care of the baby, right?"
"No, I feel like I'm rewarded for everything just by looking at our son."
"I feel the same way—my fatigue melts away the moment I come home and see him."
Lee Hyunwoo walked toward Kim Eunju with a bright smile. The two, both wearing smiles, embraced gently. Kim Eunju buried her face in Lee Hyunwoo's broad chest.
'There's no way this man doesn't love me. I must be being too sensitive.'
Kim Eunju decided to put aside her unnecessary worries and doubts. Enjoying this happy moment was the most precious thing to her right now.
On a warm afternoon with early summer sunlight, Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo were walking along the promenade within the apartment complex, their baby in a stroller. A refreshing breeze rustled through the lush, green trees lining the path.
"Hyunwoo, by the way."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"I think I need to start preparing to return to work soon."
At Kim Eunju's words, Lee Hyunwoo's pace slowed.
"Returning to work already... our baby just turned one..."
Lee Hyunwoo looked at the baby in the stroller with worried eyes. The baby, dressed in white innerwear, was sleeping comfortably.
"It can't be helped. In this day and age, we can't survive without two incomes. Especially with a civil servant's salary like ours..."
Lee Hyunwoo nodded at her words. Their combined income wasn't enough to handle the skyrocketing cost of living.
"Still, it would be nice if our parents were nearby..."
"Well, it can't be helped..."
Kim Eunju's parents lived in Gangwon-do, and Lee Hyunwoo's parents lived in Jeju-do. Because they were so far away, it was difficult to expect a helping hand.
"The good news is that the daycare center in the complex stays open late and is free."
"Living in this apartment is a stroke of luck in itself, and to have this kind of support... But I'm worried because our baby is still so young. What if he can't adapt?"
At Lee Hyunwoo's words, Kim Eunju shook her head.
"These days, it's almost strange if you don't send your child to daycare early. Don't worry too much."
The two walked slowly along the shaded path, sharing their concerns about parenting and finances side by side. Just then, someone greeted them warmly.
"Hello."
Hearing the greeting while walking along the path, Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo turned their heads.
"Oh? Lee Han, hello."
"Hello, Eunju."
Lee Han approached with a good-natured smile. Kim Eunju recognized him immediately and greeted him happily.
"Honey, this is Lee Han, the apartment manager."
Lee Hyunwoo looked at Lee Han with curious eyes. Upon Kim Eunju's introduction, he greeted Lee Han immediately.
"Ah, I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Hyunwoo."
"Yes, nice to meet you. I'm Lee Han, the building manager."
Lee Han shared a handshake with Lee Hyunwoo, wearing a sly smile. Then, he bowed his head slightly toward the baby sleeping in the stroller.
"He's so beautiful. A blessed child."
"Thank you. It's so enjoyable to bring the baby out on a day like today."
"Yes, the weather is nice and refreshing, perfect for a walk. Besides, the company is constantly paying attention to the landscaping within the apartment."
Lee Han looked around and chimed in. His attitude was friendly and sociable, even as his eyes carefully scanned Kim Eunju.
Lee Hyunwoo continued the conversation with a bright laugh.
"We should come out more often on weekends to take walks."
"It's rare to see couples raising children these days; I respect you both."
As Lee Han praised Lee Hyunwoo, Kim Eunju's expression brightened with pride.
"Well then, have a pleasant walk and a great day. I'll be off to get back to work."
"Alright. It was nice seeing you, Lee Han."
"Yes, take care."
Lee Han bowed to the couple and hurried away. As he passed by Kim Eunju, a scent tickled her nose. It was a scent she had smelled before. Searching her memory, she realized it was the same scent she had smelled on Lee Hyunwoo's clothes last night.
'Did he meet that man?'
Kim Eunju smiled brightly, looking at her husband, who was laughing, and her innocent baby, as if the lingering suspicion in her heart had vanished.
Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo eventually sat side-by-side on a bench in the beautifully landscaped complex with their sleeping baby in the stroller. The warm afternoon sun embraced the young couple and their child.
Kim Eunju looked up at the sky. The rustling wind, the blue sky—this peaceful moment felt so happy. Lee Hyunwoo stared intently at the baby's face, a smile lingering on his lips. He seemed unable to get enough of his son sleeping soundly.
Just then, a couple approached and spoke to them.
"Hello, Eunju."
"Sujin, we're seeing each other here again."
"Oh, the baby was sleeping. I'm sorry."
Han Sujin peeked into the stroller and covered her mouth in surprise. Kim Eunju smiled with a welcoming face.
"It's okay. He won't wake up from this much."
"Honey, these are the people I told you about—Eunju and her husband."
Han Sujin said, looking at her husband, Park Taeyoung, who was standing beside her.
"Hello. I'm Park Taeyoung. Nice to meet you."
Park Taeyoung greeted Lee Hyunwoo.
"Yes, I'm Lee Hyunwoo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Lee Hyunwoo also responded to Park Taeyoung's greeting with a bright smile.
Han Sujin looked at Kim Eunju's baby with envy.
"Honey, isn't Eunju's baby so cute? He looks like an angel sleeping like that."
Hearing that, Park Taeyoung looked at Han Sujin with affectionate eyes and said,
"I hope we can have a baby soon, too. I want to have a baby as pretty as Hyunwoo's son."
Han Sujin looked at Park Taeyoung with loving eyes as she heard his words.
Kim Eunju was reminded of herself and Lee Hyunwoo during the early days of their marriage when she saw Park Taeyoung and Han Sujin. The mixture of strange excitement, fear, and affection regarding conceiving, giving birth to, and raising a new life was so similar to how she had felt back then.
Soon, Kim Eunju approached Han Sujin and whispered in her ear.
"I wanted a daughter no matter what when I was pregnant, but now that I've had a son, he's just so lovely. Sujin, do you want a son or a daughter?"
Han Sujin smiled shyly and answered.
"Well, it doesn't matter to me whether it's a son or a daughter. I just think it's important that they're healthy. But actually, Taeyoung seems to prefer a daughter."
"My husband wanted a daughter at first, too. So, as soon as I got pregnant, he mobilized every trick in the book to have a daughter."
Kim Eunju whispered with a sly smile.
Han Sujin's eyes went wide.
"Oh my, are there such tricks?"
"Hmm... first of all, they say the woman has to be on top. And, um... they say you have to wear pink underwear on that day."
Han Sujin felt her face turn red. But she couldn't suppress her curiosity.
"So, what was the result? Was it effective?"
Kim Eunju looked down at her baby and grinned.
"Well... you can tell by looking at our son. It was completely useless."
"Hahaha, maybe you ended up with a son precisely because of those methods?"
The two women burst into laughter. Lee Hyunwoo and Park Taeyoung, who were nearby, looked puzzled, not knowing what they were talking about, but they seemed satisfied just seeing their wives looking happy.
Han Sujin said,
"We've only recently started talking about having a baby. Taeyoung always comes home tired from work, but he says he works hard and tries because of me..."
Kim Eunju held Han Sujin's hand tightly.
"That's when you're happiest. You're creating a baby out of love for each other. Don't give up, even if it's hard. A miracle will definitely happen."
Han Sujin hugged Kim Eunju tightly out of gratitude. Her heart was overflowing with love for Taeyoung and hope for a new life.
Lee Hyunwoo and Park Taeyoung called their wives, looking puzzled.
"Honey, what are you whispering about?"
Kim Eunju and Han Sujin approached their husbands with grins.
Kim Eunju was smiling calmly, as if the conversation they had been having was nothing special. On the other hand, Han Sujin avoided eye contact, her face slightly flushed from the lingering effects of the joke. However, a warm atmosphere flowed between the four of them. The happy laughter of the young couples echoed through the park.
Just then, Lee Han could be seen walking slowly from afar. Han Sujin's smiling face stiffened for a moment. Her body tensed involuntarily when she made eye contact with Lee Han. However, Lee Han showed no particular interest in Han Sujin.
"Hello. It's been a while, Taeyoung."
Lee Han approached the two couples with a sly smile.
"Ah, hello."
"It's been a while, Lee Han."
Lee Hyunwoo greeted Lee Han happily, and Park Taeyoung welcomed him brightly as well.
Lee Han continued the conversation, exchanging light jokes with the two men. Light topics were exchanged, such as the weather and information about the facilities within the complex.
Han Sujin's tension eased little by little as Lee Han didn't turn his attention to her or Kim Eunju. However, she struggled to avoid making eye contact with Lee Han and gently linked her arm through Park Taeyoung's side.
"Well then, I'll go back to work. Have a great day."
Lee Han bowed to the two couples with a stoic face and then strode away.
Kim Eunju smiled brightly as if nothing had happened. She looked happy, leaning on her husband Lee Hyunwoo's arm. Guilt washed over Han Sujin as she glanced at that sight.
'I'm sorry, Eunju... but I have no choice...'
Han Sujin bit her lip hard.
Han Sujin didn't make eye contact with Kim Eunju, but instead held Park Taeyoung's hand tightly. She gave a faint smile and whispered to herself.
'It can't be helped... It's not my fault...'
But no one there noticed the secret and the pain hidden behind that smile.