The Price of Silence
The next morning, Han Sujin headed to the Management Office at Lee Han’s summons. Though she trembled with inner dread, she tried her best to maintain her composure, reminding herself that this was her first day as the building's general manager. Lee Han greeted her with an expressionless face and explained her tasks for the day.
"We’ll start by organizing the notice board for the apartment complex. You need to compile the recent accounting records and various announcements and post them. It’s not difficult, so just take it step by step."
Han Sujin nodded at his businesslike tone. She couldn't yet fathom his true intentions, but she decided to focus on the task at hand for now.
Standing before the notice board, she began to pull out the documents that had piled up. There was a mountain of paperwork to be posted every month: accounting ledgers, facility maintenance records, and resident notices. Han Sujin spent several hours organizing the old files and drafting new announcements.
As she worked diligently, she found herself forgetting Lee Han’s presence. Immersed in her duties, she lost track of time. When she returned to the Management Office after finishing the notice board, she found Lee Han sitting in front of his computer, seemingly paying her no mind.
He seems focused only on his work. Maybe my worries were just groundless fears...
Han Sujin let out a cautious sigh of relief. With Lee Han appearing indifferent to her, the tension she had been carrying seemed to ease slightly.
But that was merely one of Lee Han’s cunning ploys. While he acted indifferent and buried himself in work, he was inwardly savoring the anxious demeanor of Han Sujin, now that she had ascended to the position of general manager. He found it delightful to watch her oscillate between tension and relief, like a cat playing with a mouse.
"Good work. It looks like you're just about finished."
Han Sujin jumped in surprise when Lee Han spoke suddenly.
"Oh, yes... I think I've finished everything for today."
"Do you have a moment? There’s one more place I need to show you."
Han Sujin’s brow furrowed at his words.
"Where...?"
"The apartment storage room. You need to know your way around there if you're going to handle management duties. I’ll guide you."
A corner of Han Sujin’s heart grew anxious again. She wondered why the two of them had to go to the storage room together. However, Lee Han’s attitude was so calm that it was difficult to come up with an excuse. Reluctantly, she nodded and stood up.
As they opened the tightly shut storage door and stepped inside, a damp, musty smell of dust wafted out. While Han Sujin wrinkled her nose, Lee Han skillfully flipped on the light.
"This is where we keep lightbulbs and spare parts used by the residents. Writing up receipt forms and managing inventory are part of the general manager's job, too."
As Lee Han began his explanation, Han Sujin started taking notes. She recorded the location of the receipt ledger files, how to check inventory, and the procedures for incoming goods. As she focused on the work, her anxiety regarding Lee Han seemed to fade.
After finishing his explanation, Lee Han suddenly looked at her. The tension had almost vanished from her face as she concentrated on her notes.
Now is the perfect time.
A soft smile played on Lee Han’s lips. He walked slowly toward the storage room door and, without warning, slammed it shut with a loud thud. Startled by the sudden noise, Han Sujin dropped her pen and looked at him. At that moment, the sound of the lock clicking into place echoed through the room.
"Why are you locking..."
"Shh. Be quiet."
As Lee Han approached slowly, Han Sujin’s eyes trembled with terror. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the cramped storage room, his silhouette drawing ever closer. Han Sujin backed away until she was blocked by the wall. Lee Han trapped her between the wall and his body and laughed.
"This space, with just the two of us... how is it? Isn't it romantic?"
Han Sujin shuddered at the feel of his breath against her neck. She tried to push him away as hard as she could, but Lee Han’s arms held her like an iron wall. She knew that even if she screamed, no sound would reach the outside. Lee Han already knew the entire structure of the apartment building.
"P-please... don't do this..."
"Shh, someone might hear."
Lee Han’s lips brushed against her ear. The sound of her heart racing like mad, her terrified breathing, her trembling skin... Lee Han sensed every reaction of hers and wore a satisfied smile.
Lee Han slowly stepped back from her. Han Sujin leaned against the wall, gasping for air as she shook violently. It felt as though she could finally breathe now that he had pulled away.
"Ahem..."
Lee Han cleared his throat and gave a sly smile. Then, he suddenly began to lower the front of his trousers. Han Sujin let out an involuntary scream, but the sound died in her throat.
As his pants dropped, Lee Han’s erect penis was revealed. Han Sujin squeezed her eyes shut at the sight she hadn't even wanted to imagine.
"Come on, come here..."
Lee Han said slowly, pulling on her hand. He forced her fingers to touch his member. Han Sujin turned her head away, tears leaking from her eyes.
"N-no... please..."
"Why? It’s nothing special. You just need to stroke it with your hand a little."
Lee Han whispered in her ear. His hot breath tickled her earlobe.
"This isn't what we agreed on... you said! You said it would only be once!"
Han Sujin protested in a trembling voice. But Lee Han only scoffed.
"It ended at once. I’m not asking for the same thing as last time. Besides, I haven't said a word to your husband."
At those words, Han Sujin gritted her teeth. But no rebuttal came. She realized that the promise itself had been Lee Han’s trap all along.
You bastard... should I just kill you...
A murderous impulse flashed through her mind for a moment. But the reality before her eyes did not allow for it. She could not yet escape his grasp.
"Why? Are you going to give up on your husband just like that?"
At Lee Han’s mocking tone, Han Sujin’s shoulders slumped. She bit her lip and swallowed her tears. Then, she collapsed to the floor.
Han Sujin buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Small, thin whimpers echoed through the storage room. Soon, the sounds of sniffling and wet, rhythmic friction began to mingle in the air.
"Hic... sob..."
Tear-streaked and trembling, Han Sujin gripped Lee Han’s penis. With shaking hands, she began to stroke it up and down. Her stomach churned at the feel of the hot, hard flesh against her fingertips.
"It’s slow and weak..."
Lee Han said with dissatisfaction. Han Sujin burst into tears and increased her speed. She used both hands to masturbate him. It was an infinitely humiliating act, but she had no choice.
Lee Han threw his head back and groaned. As Han Sujin’s touch became more skilled, he quickly reached his climax.
"Ngh..."
Lee Han let out a low groan as he ejaculated. Sticky semen splattered across Han Sujin’s hands and face.
"Hic..."
Han Sujin collapsed backward. She shook her body and wept aloud. The revolting smell of bodily fluids stung her nose.
"You... you're a devil..."
It was a curse spat out amidst her desperate wailing. But Lee Han only laughed. As if performing a show, he wiped her face with his T-shirt and pulled his pants back up.
Bang! Lee Han opened the storage door. Air rushed in from the outside.
"See you next time."
Leaving behind his farewell, Lee Han walked out of the storage room. Han Sujin remained slumped on the floor, sobbing for a long time. Eventually, she stood up, staggering. She wiped the tears and semen from her face with her sleeve.
Reeking of that fishy scent, Han Sujin quickly fled the storage room. She ran straight toward her home.
Lee Han watched her retreating figure, following slowly behind. A satisfied smile hung on his lips. Today’s events had gone exactly according to plan.
Han Sujin collapsed under the shower, letting the water pour over her. The hot water soaked her skin. But no matter how much she scrubbed, the filthy feeling wouldn't disappear. The fishy smell of semen still seemed to linger at the tip of her nose, and the musty scent of the storage room felt embedded in her skin.
"Sob..."
Han Sujin buried her face in her knees and wept. Tears streamed down her cheeks endlessly.
I was wrong... it was all my fault...
Guilt tightened around her throat. The kleptomania impulse that surged uncontrollably during her period. The fact that she had tried to leave home because of it. The devoted love of Park Taeyoung, who had endured and stood by her. She had firmly sworn never to be swayed by that impulse again... yet everything had collapsed.
Someone like me... do I even deserve to be happy...?
Han Sujin curled her body in despair. She felt haunted by the nightmare of a past that could never be undone, no matter how much she repented. She would rather have died.
She had thought it would only be once. But that had been her own miscalculation...
That man showed no signs of giving up.
After sobbing for a long time, Han Sujin suddenly came to her senses. Looking at the clock on the wall, she saw that it was already time for her husband to come home.
It’s almost time for Taeyoung to be home...
She hurriedly turned off the shower and stood up from the tub. She stood before the mirror and stared at her face. Eyes swollen from crying, flushed cheeks, a mouth twisted by guilt... she couldn't greet her husband with a face like this.
She dressed quickly and sat at her vanity. She meticulously covered her reddened face with foundation. She defined her eyes with eyeliner and mascara. She applied a bright lipstick. Finally, she managed her expression, practicing a slight smile.
Having regained the appearance of a perfect wife, Han Sujin headed to the entryway. The front door opened, and Park Taeyoung walked in.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back."
Han Sujin greeted her husband with a smile. She soon took the bag of chicken he handed her.
"Wow, chicken. Did you buy this?"
"Of course! We have to have chicken on a day like today. Oh, look at this."
Park Taeyoung held out his phone to Han Sujin. A text message was displayed. It was a familiar deposit notification from the bank.
[5.5 million won has been deposited to Han Sujin.]
Han Sujin felt her heart sink. It was the salary for her work as the general manager. That dirty money had arrived.
"That's huge! 5.5 million won!"
But Park Taeyoung was rejoicing, unaware of the truth. Seeing his eyes sparkle with pure joy, Han Sujin suppressed the urge to tell him everything.
No... I can't tell him...
If she confessed, her husband would be devastated. She couldn't disappoint the man who loved her so much. Instead, she gritted her teeth and decided to endure it.
"Honey, thank you so much. It’s thanks to you that I got this job."
Han Sujin whispered, hugging her husband tightly. A forced smile was plastered on her face. She had to survive through this. For the sake of her husband’s peace...
And so, Han Sujin swallowed the agony of her humiliation and acted the part of a happy wife. To make her husband happy, she had to endure this hellish time.
But she herself wasn't sure how long she could hold on. Perhaps this false smile would crumble to pieces one day. She feared that day. But for now, for this night at least, she had to endure.