The Fragile Trust
The warm afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the Management Office. Kim Eunju closed her eyes for a moment and stretched. It was a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.
Lee Han was squatting next to the stroller, chattering away with Jinwoo. A bright smile played on his face.
"Jinwoo, you're so pretty. You're just too cute."
Lee Han said, gently pinching the baby's cheek. When Jinwoo met Lee Han's gaze, he giggled and reached out with his tiny hands. It was as if he were welcoming an old friend. Lee Han picked Jinwoo up and stood up.
"Eunju, Jinwoo is truly lovely. I'll watch him for a while. You should get some rest."
Lee Han smiled at Kim Eunju. She looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. The way he cared for the child seemed so natural and practiced.
"Lee Han, you're really good with children. How are you so good at it?"
Kim Eunju asked, filled with admiration. Lee Han seemed to drift into a memory for a moment. A shadow of the past flickered in his eyes.
"Actually, I grew up in an orphanage. I spent my childhood taking care of the younger ones."
Lee Han said calmly. Kim Eunju's eyes widened. She began to look at Lee Han with a new perspective.
"Oh, I'm sorry... Seeing how well you take care of the baby, I truly respect you."
Lee Han smiled, gently rocking Jinwoo.
"It's alright. Children are special to me. That's why I've always tried to take the best care of them."
Jinwoo seemed happy in Lee Han's arms, drifting off to sleep as if his embrace were the most cozy and safe place in the world. Lee Han stroked the baby's hair softly.
Kim Eunju was beginning to feel new emotions toward Lee Han. Like the warm sunlight, his sincerity was soothing her heart. She found herself wanting to know more about the man named Lee Han.
"I think Jinwoo really likes you, too."
Lee Han carefully laid the baby back in the stroller and turned toward Kim Eunju. His smile held a strange warmth.
"It's something I enjoy. I'll watch Jinwoo often from now on. If it helps you at all, just let me know anytime."
Kim Eunju nodded softly in gratitude. She couldn't fathom Lee Han's true intentions, but she could certainly feel the sincerity he displayed.
'He has a different charm than Hyunwoo...'
A strange emotion toward Lee Han began to bloom in Kim Eunju's heart. She couldn't even define what that feeling was. She only knew for certain that being with Lee Han made her feel at ease.
On a weekend afternoon, Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo were walking along the apartment complex's promenade with Jinwoo in his stroller. Unlike the sunny weather, an awkward and chilly atmosphere hung between the two. Lee Hyunwoo spoke first.
"The weather is really nice today. Don't you feel a bit better coming out for a walk like this?"
"Yeah, I guess. It's not bad."
Kim Eunju replied curtly.
The two exchanged words occasionally, but silence soon followed. Only the sound of their footsteps and the rattling of the stroller wheels broke the stillness.
Just then, Lee Han could be seen walking from afar. He spotted them and approached with a bright smile.
"Hello, Eunju, Hyunwoo. You're out for a walk today."
Lee Han greeted them in a cheerful voice.
"Yes, Lee Han. Thanks to you, I'm getting a bit of a change of pace."
Kim Eunju replied. Lee Han peered into the stroller at Jinwoo and said,
"Jinwoo seems to be growing very well. It looks great to see you getting some fresh air while walking."
At his warm words, a smile spread across Kim Eunju's face.
"Lee Han, thank you so much for always being so thoughtful."
While they were talking, a young woman approached slowly. Her vibrant outfit and bright smile stood out. Kim Eunju caught a familiar scent of perfume from her and felt puzzled.
"Hyunwoo, it's my first time seeing you on a weekend."
She greeted Lee Hyunwoo. Then, the woman looked into the stroller and said,
"So this is Jinwoo. He's really cute."
Lee Hyunwoo looked flustered as he replied,
"Yes, hello. It's nice to see you here."
Kim Eunju felt a discomfort deep in her chest. That Hyunwoo and that woman knew each other... Watching their seemingly intimate conversation, anxiety began to overwhelm her. Even after the woman left, Lee Hyunwoo's expression didn't easily relax. Lee Han suddenly spoke up, as if trying to quickly change the subject to Jinwoo.
"Jinwoo is still as handsome as his father, Hyunwoo. It's been so hot lately, but it's a relief for Jinwoo that it's a bit cooler today."
But Kim Eunju's heart was already filled with suspicion.
'Who is that woman? Why does she talk to Hyunwoo so naturally? Hyunwoo is definitely hiding something from me...'
All the way home after the walk, Kim Eunju was engulfed in a complex state of mind. Lee Hyunwoo tried to talk to her from the side, but her heart wouldn't settle. All that circled in her mind were suspicions about Lee Hyunwoo and that woman.
A few days later, Kim Eunju headed to the Management Office with a heavy heart. Her mind was complex with all sorts of thoughts as she pushed the stroller. When she opened the office door, Lee Han welcomed her warmly.
"Eunju, welcome. You've had a hard time again today, haven't you?"
Kim Eunju felt a sense of relief at Lee Han's warm voice.
"Yes, it's been really hard lately. Talking to you makes me feel a bit more at ease."
She replied, following Lee Han's guidance into the office.
Lee Han sat Kim Eunju in a chair and brewed her some coffee. After a moment of silence, he spoke with a serious expression.
"Eunju, I have a photo I took a few days ago. I felt I had to show you."
At his words, Kim Eunju's heart felt like it had plummeted. Lee Han carefully opened a drawer and pulled out a photograph. His hand trembled slightly as he handed it to her.
Kim Eunju's eyes widened as she took the photo. It captured Lee Hyunwoo and the young woman she had met that day, talking affectionately. It felt as if she were suffocating.
"Lee Han, what is this? Is Hyunwoo really with that woman...?"
Kim Eunju's voice trembled. Lee Han quickly shook his head.
"Eunju, please don't think that way. This photo is just a scene of them talking. Hyunwoo loves you. That woman is probably just an acquaintance."
But Lee Han's words didn't reach Kim Eunju's heart. Tears burst forth.
"Lee Han, thank you for comforting me like this. But my heart hurts so much."
Just then, Lee Han gently placed his hand on Kim Eunju's shoulder. His touch was so warm and tender.
"Eunju, stay strong. Everything will work out. I will always be by your side. You are not alone."
As Kim Eunju hung her head at Lee Han's comfort, tears streamed down her cheeks. Before she knew it, she was sobbing in Lee Han's arms, and he silently stroked her back. It felt as if his warmth were enveloping her.
"Thank you so much, Lee Han. Thanks to you, I feel a little more at ease."
For a while, they held each other like that. To Kim Eunju, Lee Han's embrace felt like the safest place in the world. Leaning on his comfort, she slowly regained a sense of peace.
Hyunwoo's image in the photo still stung, but for this moment, she wanted to forget everything. She wanted to focus only on Lee Han's warmth. Just as his tenderness promised, she desperately hoped that everything would work out in the future.
A moment later, Kim Eunju stopped crying and soothed Jinwoo. Lee Han, watching her, spoke carefully.
"Eunju, actually, taking photos is illegal. So I can't give it to you, but I promise I will find out for sure."
"Really? If you could do that for me, I would be so grateful."
A sense of relief flickered across Kim Eunju's face. Lee Han looked into her eyes seriously and continued.
"Eunju, don't worry. I will find out everything and then tell you. There is definitely nothing wrong with Hyunwoo."
"Thank you so much, Lee Han. Thank you for helping me like this."
Kim Eunju's voice trembled. Lee Han sent her a warm smile and gently took her hand.
"Seeing you struggle makes my heart ache, too. Come to me whenever you're having a hard time. I'll always be here."
At his tender words, Kim Eunju nodded. The anxiety that had taken root deep in her heart seemed to soften just a little.
Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo's bedroom was engulfed in a cold silence. Lying with their backs to each other, they were lost in deep thought. Kim Eunju hesitated before opening her mouth.
"Hyunwoo, you must be very tired because of work lately, right? Instead of waking up at night because of Jinwoo, why don't you sleep alone in the other room?"
After a moment of contemplation, Lee Hyunwoo nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
As Lee Hyunwoo accepted the suggestion without any hesitation, a chill ran through Kim Eunju's heart. Once he left the room, she was left alone. Clutching her blanket, tears burst forth.
'What is this... He didn't seem particularly reluctant, yet he agreed to sleep separately so easily.'
Shedding tears mixed with hurt and loneliness, Kim Eunju buried her face in her pillow. To agree to sleep apart without a moment's hesitation... The attitude was deeply hurtful and painful.
'Why did it come to this... Why have we grown so far apart...'
Clutching the tear-soaked pillow, Kim Eunju sobbed to herself. She felt bitter toward herself for doubting her husband, and desperate at the widening distance between them.
"Am I doubting him too much..."
The warmth she had received from Lee Han today came to mind. His presence was a comfort, yet it weighed heavily on her heart. Engulfed in complex emotions, Kim Eunju sobbed for a long time before falling into an exhausted sleep.
