The Dog and the Cat

He looked like he was about to die from sheer, unadulterated rage. No, it was more like he was about to die from how dirty and pathetic the whole situation felt. At the company, they had made him crawl and grovel, and now, out of nowhere, they were pulling out a side contract, demanding he sign it without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any prior notice. And on top of that—as if the idea that she hated him to death was all complete nonsense—

"Hey. Eunbyul."

"I'm scared. Please, speak kindly... speak gently to me. Hehe, what was Clause 5 again~?"

'In addition, the "Party of the Second Part" may control all other actions and tones of the "Party of the First Part."'

"Fine. Byul-ah."

"....! You called me Byul, Byul-ah....! For the first time, Senior....!"

Ah.... seriously, what is this? What even is this....

"....You, you really.... that acting..."

"I'm a good actor, aren't I? I was channeling the heart of a high school girl who felt so filthy she wanted to die after being sexually harassed by a man in his fifties."

"You crazy bitch, seriously...."

Immediately shifting her expression to something icy, Eunbyul turned into a rapper.

"Crazy bitch? What did you just say? Oh, I see. You want to tear this contract to shreds, have the police investigation include a recommendation for indictment, get interrogated by the prosecution, beg the court for your life, get hit with a life sentence, and have it plastered all over the media. Is that what you're saying?"

Right. Come to think of it, I’m the crazy one.

"No, I'm not."

"Then you should conduct yourself properly, Executive Director."

"Yes. I was wrong."

Then, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she walked over slowly, sat down softly beside him, draped her arm over his shoulder, and whispered in a very low voice.

"If you were wrong, then keep up the good work until you get me pregnant. Got it?"

— However, there was one clause in the contract he hadn't seen. It was at the very bottom of the last page, something he hadn't been able to notice because he was too busy trembling with rage.

"Did you not know about this?"

"Ah...."

I was trapped into a remarriage. No, I had barely escaped, and now it felt like I had gained another stalker. What is this?

"Hey, Byul-ah."

"Hiiik.... Go, good... do it one more time."

"....Byul-ah....."

"Ugh... heart attack..."

Maybe Eunbyul dying of a heart attack would bring more happiness to my life? Utilitarian-wise... the happiness I’d gain from Eunbyul kicking the bucket might be greater than the happiness Eunbyul would have in the future...

"I won't push you too hard, Senior."

Having regained her composure, Eunbyul leaned her head slightly on his shoulder and spoke softly.

"I want to be a comfortable nest, a place of rest for you."

"..."

"If such a kind Senior decided to divorce... that means there was a problem with the woman. Kind people wouldn't do that otherwise..."

"I promise you."

Eunbyul spoke in a tone that had become quite serious.

"I saw it on the internet. The 'Dishwashing Theory'."

"...I don't know if you know, Senior, but I thought you were so cool when you were the senior who taught freshmen about course registration, subjects, and professors. In the next grade, I tried to talk to you... but it was hard, so I applied for mentoring. I think I’ve liked you since I was nineteen, when everyone else was just a high school girl."

"I still like you. To the point where I wonder if I’ll get a fever from liking someone this much... That’s why I’ve never been on a date, and the only man I’ve ever held hands with is my dad. ...You’ll find out later, but, um... it might not go in well at first. I’d like it if you could be gentle..."

"Anyway, they say the 'Dishwashing Theory' is about empty-headed bitches who live their lives sleeping with anyone, then snag one decent man to settle down with. I’m a virgin, and I’ve barely spoken to any other man besides you. So, I think that while we’re dating, getting married, and walking the same future, everything will be a first for me."

Her tone was slightly mournful yet monotonous. I had to admit... it was easy to listen to. Right. It was different from Seo Jia’s sharp, biting tone.

"I don't know if your ex-wife was a virgin, but I’m certain about myself. And... I’m ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not one of those 'Pongpong' wives. When we get married, I’ll even sign a contract if you want. I’ll follow my husband’s words within the house, and I’ll offer my opinion occasionally... but I’ll respect you. Because you’re the person I love."

"Even if we get married, even if we have children, I’ll keep working. You asked earlier when I was going to quit... Pfft. I think I’ll just keep being your secretary. This is more fun, and I’m happier. As I said, I think my role is to be the one who illuminates the person I like so they can shine. I think I’ve found work I love..."

"I’m not good at managing money. Every time I get my paycheck, I just put it into savings at the bank, and at most, a retirement pension? You seem like you’d be better at it.... Of course, if you blow it, I’ll scold you. But since you’re a smart person who doesn’t seem like the type to blow it, I’ll give all my salary to you. You can manage it. ....But you have to give me a lot of pocket money. Lunch is expensive. There’s so much I want to eat. Hehe."

"If we end up living together... I’m fine with moving into the house you live in now, but I want to move. Like a detached house? A place where, when we have babies, we can designate each of them a duplex room so they have an environment to study well, and a room where they can play games in secret comfortably. I hope we keep loving each other in the master bedroom..."

Then, blushing, Eunbyul whispered in a tiny voice.

"You might not know, but I have a high sex drive. Quite severely. On the days I kiss you and get my breasts bitten, my panties are soaked.... And originally, when I went to work and got near you, my body would heat up. It’s strange. The very feeling of you is stimulating. They say all those 'Pongpong' wives become sexless after marriage. That they don't want to do it with their husbands. I.... I’m fine with doing it all day long. I want you to dirty me so much that I can’t even think of another man...♡"

She has a habit of getting excited while talking, too. Is she Seo Jia?

"They say they block leisure time and force you to take care of the baby, but I won't do that. I don't know what you like yet, but if you say you’re going fishing, I’ll buy you a fishing rod as a gift and then go with you, carrying the baby. If you want to be alone sometimes, just tell me. Then I’ll wait quietly at home."

This is......... this is.... an angel.....

"They say chaebols play golf, so should I practice golf too? I like riding bicycles, so I rode my bike all the time. At first, I even commuted by bike! But I want to learn golf hard, too. I want to follow you around on weekends, hugging the baby, walking around the golf course, talking, thinking... I like it..."

"If you don't like something, tell me. I hope you don't cheat. ..I’m not the type who can cheat. I’m a sunflower. I’ve been waiting for years, looking only at one person.... So if there’s a point you don’t like, don’t have an affair, let’s resolve it through conversation. I’ll be so pretty and cute when I apologize to you."

And finally,

"...I want to be a spouse who supports everything you do. So that whenever you see me, you get energized, to the point where you want to leave work early. So that you and I... can always show our baby a happy image, and then the baby will be happy too. Right, I’ll do that."

As she said that, she smiled and shed tears, perhaps because she was happy. Her words touched my heart, and since it felt like she was erasing the scars left by Seo Jia, I felt my mood lighten. I took out a handkerchief from my inner pocket and wiped her tears.

She was so happy even about this small gesture that she said,

"I’m not crying because I’m sad, I’m crying because I’m happy.... That’s why."

"...."

Then, he began to slowly voice his own thoughts.

"...I have a lot to say, but we’ll talk about that later. For now, I’m fine with you liking me, but if you can really keep the things you said today, I’d want to get married right now."

My heart was indeed quite swayed. I was a person who had faced countless hardships during my marriage.

"But I haven't sorted things out yet."

".... Seo Jia?"

"Yeah. After she was the one who asked for a divorce, she must have regretted it, because she crawled back into the house and settled in."

She looked at him with an incredulous expression.

"Why haven't you kicked her out yet? ...Do you still have feelings for her?"

"No. I don't. Definitely."

He said it firmly. Even if he was exaggerating a little.

"But Seo Jia has laid out all sorts of traps."

"...?"

"She’s thoroughly hiding the fact that we’re divorced from my father, the Chairman. And my father likes Seo Jia very much. When my business failed in the past, Seo Jia lent me the money and made me pay it back."

"No, why would you pay that back.... You could have just given it to her,"

"I guess she wasn't like that."

He took a sip of his drink.

"Also... her personality has changed a bit strangely."

"How?"

"When her friends came over, your name came up. I’ll tell you what that was about later."

"Okay."

He paused to catch his breath, looking like it was difficult to say the words.

"She called you a... 'snobbish slut of an Eunbyul who brazenly confessed her love to me while I was dating her, a whore who’s about to be expired goods...'"

"....?"

"She said she’d tear you apart with her own hands, split you in half, and then pickle you in salted seafood..."

After he said it, he covered his mouth, realizing he’d gone too far. Eunbyul, who had been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost in thought, spoke a moment later, gently, as if nothing had happened.

"...Senior, you signed the contract."

"......Uh-huh..."

"Then I’ll ask for my second control."

After that,

"While I break into your house and split Seo Jia in half first and pickle her in salted seafood, you just sit in the living room."

"Wh...what?"

"Before I become salted seafood, I should just turn her into salted seafood first, right?"

"...."

"It’s true that she’s a crazy bitch, but we’ll have to see who the crazier woman is."

Eunbyul, who was grinning and thinking about something else, looked a bit scarier.