The Fragrance of Suspicion
The morning silence hung heavy in Kim Eunju’s home. In the kitchen, she was focused on preparing breakfast, but while her hands moved with practiced efficiency, her mind was miles away.
'That perfume I smelled on Lee Han... it was the same scent that clings to Hyunwoo. Why on earth would that be...'
Kim Eunju’s head was a whirlwind of complex thoughts. Her husband and Lee Han, both carrying the exact same scent. And to make matters worse, Lee Han had claimed he didn't even wear cologne. That fact only fueled her suspicions further. Having tossed and turned all night, the exhaustion was clearly etched onto her face.
Lee Hyunwoo’s voice drifted in from the living room.
"Is breakfast almost ready?"
He asked while rolling around on the floor with their son. Kim Eunju didn't even crack a smile at her son’s laughter. She simply replied with a cold edge.
"Yeah, almost. Just wait."
Lee Hyunwoo looked slightly taken aback by her chilly demeanor. She had seemed particularly sharp lately.
'Why has she been so prickly lately...'
Lee Hyunwoo hid his confusion and sat down at the dining table.
As breakfast began, an awkward silence filled the room until Kim Eunju suddenly spoke up. Her voice was laced with a sharp, cutting tone.
"You’ve been coming home late a lot lately. Is something going on?"
Lee Hyunwoo looked momentarily flustered by the question, but he quickly composed himself and answered with a calm face.
"It’s just that work has been piling up. I’m doing my best to finish quickly so I can get home."
"Is that so? Are you sure it's because of work?"
Kim Eunju’s suspicious gaze bore into him. Lee Hyunwoo hid his discomfort and replied in the calmest voice he could muster.
"You know how it is, there have been a lot of directives coming down from the higher-ups lately..."
His considerate tone only made Kim Eunju more suspicious.
'Is he trying to hide an affair by pretending to be so thoughtful...'
Kim Eunju stared at her husband with eyes that had grown even sharper.
"Right. I see."
An uncomfortable energy lingered in the house all day. That evening, in the living room, Lee Hyunwoo was looking after their son and spoke to Kim Eunju with affection.
"You’ve been having a hard time lately, haven't you? I'll help out more with the childcare."
But Kim Eunju’s reaction was nothing but cold.
"I'll handle it myself. Don't worry about it."
"But we should do this together. It’s too much for you to do it all on your own."
Lee Hyunwoo looked at Kim Eunju with a worried expression. However, his consideration only left deeper seeds of doubt in her heart.
"You have no idea what I’m going through!"
Kim Eunju shouted in anger.
'Why is he acting so sweet? I can't trust him anymore...'
Nighttime, in the bedroom. Lee Hyunwoo was fast asleep, but Kim Eunju was staring at him with wide-open eyes. His peaceful slumber only made him look more suspicious to her.
'Acting this sweet is even more suspicious. He’s definitely hiding something... Lee Hyunwoo, what on earth are you thinking...'
Kim Eunju couldn't sleep, lost in her complicated thoughts. The suspicion and distrust toward Lee Hyunwoo were eating her alive. With each passing day, the relationship between them grew more strained. Deep wounds were being carved into Kim Eunju’s soul, and the cracks in her marriage were widening.
The afternoon apartment garden sparkled under the bright sunlight. Kim Eunju was walking slowly along the path, pushing a stroller with her child inside. The quiet scenery of the garden seemed to offer her a moment of peace. Just then, someone approached her. It was Lee Han, the apartment manager.
"Hello, Eunju."
Lee Han greeted her with a bright smile. Kim Eunju turned her head to face him.
"Oh, hello, Lee Han."
Lee Han stepped up beside her and matched her pace. After a brief silence, he spoke.
"Oh, that’s right. I’ve been thinking about that perfume you mentioned, and I think I know why it smelled that way."
Kim Eunju’s eyes lit up for a moment. She asked, showing genuine interest.
"Really? Why was that?"
Lee Han explained with a smile.
"I met a woman while I was out on my night patrol. The perfume she was wearing was incredibly strong. It must have rubbed off on my clothes."
'A woman?' At those words, Kim Eunju’s expression stiffened. She asked back in a startled voice.
"A woman?"
"Yes. I washed my outer jacket before the night patrol, and I’ve been wearing it through the day, so I guess the scent didn't fade."
Lee Han continued with a smile.
"It must be a very strong perfume."
Kim Eunju nodded, hiding her complicated feelings.
"Oh, I see..."
Deep within her eyes, the embers of suspicion began to burn.
'A woman... could Hyunwoo have met that same woman too...'
Lee Han didn't miss the change in Kim Eunju’s expression. He asked in a worried tone.
"Is something bothering you? You don't look so good."
"Oh, no. I’m just a little surprised."
Kim Eunju replied with an awkward smile.
"I didn't know perfume could cling like that."
Lee Han nodded.
"Yes, that’s right. These things happen sometimes. Don't worry too much about it."
Despite his comfort, anxiety was slowly rising within Kim Eunju’s heart.
'Could Hyunwoo be involved with that woman...'
Kim Eunju was confused by the deepening suspicion. She forced a smile and thanked Lee Han.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you."
The two continued to walk and talk, but Kim Eunju’s heart felt heavy. The suspicion caused by the perfume only fueled her anxiety. Even though the garden was bathed in dazzling sunlight, darkness was settling deep within Kim Eunju. She steadied her anxious heart and pushed the stroller slowly forward.
As her suspicion toward Lee Hyunwoo deepened, Kim Eunju was engulfed in confusion and agony. As her faith in her husband wavered, dark clouds began to gather in her inner world. Kim Eunju’s heart felt heavy, as if her once-happy home was crumbling down.
On the way home after the walk, Kim Eunju’s mind was full of complex thoughts. The conflict between her desire to trust her husband and her suspicion of him tormented her. Was all of this just a misunderstanding? Or was there really something going on? Kim Eunju let out a deep sigh.
The next day, late in the afternoon, Kim Eunju was walking through the apartment garden. As she pushed the stroller, her mind was once again filled with complex thoughts.
'That woman Lee Han mentioned... I really can't stop thinking about it...'
Just then, Lee Han, who was on patrol, approached her.
"Hello. You’re out for a walk every day, I see."
Lee Han greeted her in a friendly manner.
Kim Eunju replied with a smile.
"Hello. It just sort of turned out that way."
After a moment of hesitation, Lee Han spoke carefully.
"Oh, I actually saw Hyunwoo during my night patrol recently."
"My husband? When?"
Kim Eunju’s attention was instantly captured.
"Was it a few nights ago? I saw Hyunwoo greeting a woman. I only saw it for a moment as I passed by, but they looked quite close."
At Lee Han’s words, Kim Eunju’s expression changed drastically.
"A woman? Do you know who it was?"
"I saw them from a distance, so I’m not sure who the woman was. I only recognized Hyunwoo and just kept walking..."
Lee Han replied, hesitating. Kim Eunju could not hide her shock.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, I was on patrol, and I just saw them greet each other and talk for a moment. I don't know what they were talking about, and it wasn't very long. But the atmosphere seemed friendly, so I wondered if they were acquaintances."
The color drained from Kim Eunju’s face. As she listened to Lee Han, her heart grew increasingly anxious.
'Hyunwoo with another woman... surely they were just greeting each other?'
But soon, a greater suspicion took hold of her.
'They must not have any relationship, but why would they talk long enough for the scent to cling to him?'
"I see... Thank you. They must be acquaintances."
Kim Eunju greeted Lee Han with a stiff expression. As she walked away pushing the stroller, her back looked heavy. The suspicion regarding her husband’s relationship with another woman weighed down her heart. Lee Han’s words had brought Kim Eunju even greater anxiety.
Amidst the deepening suspicions, Kim Eunju was confused. She struggled between her desire to believe in her husband and her suspicion of him. She didn't know what the truth was or how to find it out. But one thing was certain: this situation was making her life increasingly difficult.
Looking at Lee Hyunwoo’s tired face, Kim Eunju spoke carefully.
"Work at the office must be very busy lately. You’re coming home late."
Lee Hyunwoo replied with a weary expression.
"Yeah, there’s a lot of work lately. I’m trying to finish as quickly as I can."
Kim Eunju replied coldly.
"I see."
The familiar scent of perfume clinging to her husband’s clothes lingered at the tip of her nose.
'It still smells like that same perfume...'
In the living room, Lee Hyunwoo was playing with their son and said to Kim Eunju.
"Eunju, get some rest early today. You’ve looked very tired lately."
But Kim Eunju’s reply was chilly.
"I’m fine. I’ll handle it myself."
Lee Hyunwoo wondered to himself.
'Why has she become so sharp...'
He nodded with a worried expression.
In the bedroom, Kim Eunju stared at the sleeping Lee Hyunwoo and sank into thought.
'Why would he talk to a woman at night until her perfume clings to him?... Who is that woman Lee Han mentioned...'
As her suspicion deepened, Kim Eunju made a decision.
'I’ll have to ask Lee Han for help. He might be able to help me. I need to confirm whether Hyunwoo is having an affair or not...'
The next morning, while pushing the stroller on her walk, Kim Eunju made up her mind to meet Lee Han.
'I have to meet Lee Han. I’ll ask him for just a little bit of help...'
Just then, Lee Han spotted Kim Eunju from afar and approached her.
"Hello, Eunju."
Kim Eunju greeted him with a determined expression.
"Hello, Lee Han. Could we talk for a moment?"
Lee Han looked at her with a curious expression.
"Of course. What is it?"
Kim Eunju hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
"Oh, I’m sorry, but... could you tell me which woman Hyunwoo met?"
Lee Han’s expression became troubled.
"I could look it up, but looking into someone else’s personal information without permission is a legal issue..."
Kim Eunju continued in a desperate tone.
"Is there any way you could find out somehow?"
Lee Han thought for a moment before answering.
"Hmm... I want to ask why, but I’ll let that slide. Since looking it up is illegal, why don't I try to keep an eye out at night to see if Hyunwoo meets anyone?"
A look of relief flashed across Kim Eunju’s face.
"Thank you so much."
Filled with anxiety and suspicion, she hoped to find peace through this. But whether Lee Han’s help would truly reveal the truth, and what results awaited her at the end, remained unknown.
