Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Married Woman's Escapade
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I turned off the computer.
The room fell silent, and I flopped down on the living room sofa in a daze.
The empty space, the dark TV screen reflecting my image.
Stressed out and disheveled... I looked like absolute shit.
But strangely, my mind felt at ease.
My chaotic thoughts had cleared up completely.
Yeah, I was Puffed Male.
Once I admitted that, the world started looking different, and a tune started humming from my lips without me realizing.
Pfft.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Crazy bastard.
Even I thought my current state wasn't normal.
Suspecting my wife of cheating, and here I was humming a song.
But what could I do?
This was reality.
I slowly got up from the sofa, and the humming stopped.
While Ji-hoon sat on the sofa letting out a hollow laugh...
Ji-su, who had stormed out of the house, had arrived at the bustling downtown area.
The bar street on a Friday night was packed, no room to step.
Flashy neon signs flickered chaotically, mixed with people's laughter, shouts, and music pounding in her ears.
Ji-su familiarly opened the door to one bar and spotted her friend Yuri waving from a table inside.
The moment she sat down, Ji-su snapped.
"Ugh, I'm so fucking pissed."
Yuri handed her the menu like it was routine.
"What, did your hubby say something again?"
Ji-su spilled what happened at home just moments ago.
Of course, every detail was thoroughly twisted in her favor.
"No, it's not like I go out all the time. I just wanted to meet some friends, and he keeps asking why I'm always going out. Then he says, 'Why don't you sleep with me at night anymore these days?' Isn't that ridiculous? Does he think I'm some sex toy to relieve his urges?"
Yuri jumped in as if she'd been waiting.
"He's lost his mind, seriously. Pervert, right?"
She grabbed Ji-su's hand, putting on a sincere face.
"Ji-su, I'm saying this because I care about you... You're still young and so pretty. Isn't it too early? You're at the age to dress up and get hit on by guys... It's such a waste, really."
Those words melted Ji-su's mood like snow.
It was true.
Objectively speaking, Ji-su had a pretty face.
Meanwhile, Ji-hoon was an average guy.
Not tall, not athletic.
What had possessed her?
Why had she rushed into marriage at such a young, pretty age?
At first, she hadn't regretted it...
But every time she met friends like Yuri, she heard the same thing.
'You're such a waste.'
'If you weren't married, guys would be lining up.'
Hearing it over and over, it started to feel real.
I'm the victim.
A pitiful victim, chained by marriage too young without knowing better.
Once that thought took hold, every part of married life became a regret.
Ji-su sipped her cocktail and smiled.
Yeah, Yuri was right.
I'm a waste.
Tonight, I won't let this beauty go to waste.
So-called 'pity lighting'.
Instead of respecting each other's choices, it's filling egos by saying they could have done better.
In the women's world, it's an essential survival skill and relationship template.
To Ji-su's friends, including Yuri, she had objectively married very well.
While her peers were just starting their careers, Ji-su was decked out head to toe in luxury brands.
At 21, a nice apartment in Seoul as their newlywed home.
All courtesy of the husband's side.
That alone ended the game.
What family buys an apartment and covers living expenses for their 24-year-old son just to get him married?
Deep inside, dark jealousy bubbled like lava.
From Ji-su's stories, her husband was a total sweetheart pushover.
Rich, kind, even handles in-law issues.
How ideal was that?
Hiding that jealousy, the friends wore masks.
And whispered endlessly to Ji-su.
"Ji-su, you're too good for this."
"Your husband is so lucky."
"If you hadn't married..."
Those words subtly nudged Ji-su's behavior.
Pulling her away from home, down the wrong path.
Of course, behind her back, the gossip never stopped.
"Look at Kim Ji-su, married into money and living large."
They took turns dragging her out at night.
The surest way to strain her marriage.
Watching Ji-su badmouth her husband each time, the friends smirked inwardly.
'She'll break up soon enough.'
That's why they say choose friends wisely, but maybe it's inevitable.
Women are jealous creatures by nature.
They were deep in chatter, tilting cocktail glasses, when a shadow fell over the table.
"Excuse me... if it's not a bother, mind if I join you?"
The two women turned toward the voice, eyes widening instantly.
The guy was extremely handsome.
An idol-level face, and even through his shirt, a solid build.
Seemed about Ji-su's age.
For a split second, her husband Ji-hoon's face flashed in Ji-su's mind.
I'm a married woman.
This isn't right.
Just as Ji-su opened her mouth to refuse...
Yuri beat her to it.
"Oh, sorry, we have some girl talk left. Could you come back in a bit?"
The guy took it as a maybe.
He flashed a charming smile and returned to his seat.
As soon as he walked away, Ji-su stared at Yuri in disbelief.
She whispered low.
"Hey! Are you crazy? I'm married!"
Yuri put on a near-tears face.
"Friend! He's totally my type... Please, just let him join once?"
"...Still, this is..."
Ji-su looked troubled, but Yuri persisted.
"Huh? Just get his number! Hang out a bit then split. Please?"
Ji-su's resolve wavered at her friend's desperate plea.
She finally sighed deeply.
"Haa... Just this once. And absolute secrecy."
Yuri's face lit up.
"Yes! Yes! Got it! Love you, friend!"
Yuri excitedly pulled out a compact mirror to fix her makeup.
Ji-su watched her for a moment.
Then let out a short sigh herself.
Pretending casual, she slipped the sparkling wedding ring off her left ring finger and into her pocket.
Moments later, the guy returned with one more friend and approached the table.
Yuri smoothly made space.
Naturally, guy-girl pairs formed.
The guy who introduced himself as 'Min-jun' sat next to Ji-su.
His friend 'Seo-jin' took the spot by Yuri.
23 years old, model majors, oozing confidence and youth.
Min-jun openly fixed his gaze on Ji-su.
"I've been staring since earlier. Your friend's a beauty, but I fell for you at first sight."
Cheesy line, but from a handsome face, it didn't feel bad.
Ji-su shyly ducked her head a bit.
The ring's feel in her pocket felt awkward.
Seo-jin wasn't slacking either.
He whispered low in Yuri's ear.
"Your friend's hitting it off. Not jealous?"
Yuri laughed and playfully smacked his shoulder.
"Make me jealous then."
Glasses emptied and refilled quickly.
The loud music oddly brought the four closer.
Leaning in to talk, whispering in ears.
Min-jun offered to read Ji-su's palm and naturally took her hand.
"Your hand's so small and pretty. No boyfriend? That's a lie, right?"
His thumb gently stroked her palm.
Ji-su held her breath for a moment.
A dizzy tension she'd never felt since marriage.
Beside them, Yuri and Seo-jin were already bantering casually.
Her husband's face at home.
The fact she was married.
All faded into the loud music, sweet alcohol, and the stranger's flirting.
The joined table was so fun, time flew by.
The cocktails tasted extra sweet tonight.
Each sip brought a pleasant buzz.
Ji-su, married young, hadn't had many proper drinking sessions.
Her tolerance wasn't great.
But what really intoxicated her wasn't the booze.
It was the handsome guy beside her, Min-jun's relentless advances.
Each sweet word launched her ego sky-high.
'Me... I'm still got it? If I hadn't married, guys like this would be everywhere, right?'
Women are creatures of delusion.
Especially those short on male experience.
She couldn't distinguish a male's one-night pursuit from a partner's lifelong love.
If she'd said 'marry me now,' would he be this eager?
She mistook his sweet talk for a fling as genuine.
Why?
Zero male experience.
Normally, at her age, she'd have been hunted, dumped—learned men's instincts firsthand.
But hers skipped that entirely.
The only man she knew was Kim Ji-hoon.
So this moment felt even more thrilling.
Long time—no, first time ever—fluttering excitement.
Not bad at all.
Time raced toward midnight.
A few sweet cocktails in, Ji-su's reason drifted far away.
Judgment blurred.
The world spun, and Min-jun looked even handsomer.
Suddenly, she glanced around.
The opposite seat was empty.
Last memory: Yuri saying, "I'll grab some banana milk!" and leaving.
But she hadn't returned after ages.
Bzzz... Ji-su unwittingly leaned her head on Min-jun's shoulder.
Drunk and completely defenseless.
"Yuri... where'd she go...?"
Min-jun looked down at her, eyes burning hot.
"Who knows...? No word from her either. Maybe they ditched already?"
Ji-su's eyes widened.
"Huh...? Left me alone...? Bitch... I'm going home too...!"
Ji-su stood, tongue thick, staggering.
Min-jun firmly grabbed her arm to support.
"I'll take you. Dangerous at night."
Hours of built rapport?
Ji-su nodded without suspicion.
"Yeah..."
Then she spotted the bill on the table.
Yuri had vanished without paying.
Ji-su, tipsy, pulled out her card casually.
The one from her father-in-law.
Min-jun thought he'd pay, but seeing her swipe without hesitation, he inwardly cheered.
'Jackpot.'
After settling, they stepped out.
Min-jun naturally draped an arm around her shoulders.
To anyone, a sweet couple.