Episode 16. Promise Me You'll Never Make Our Daughter Cry

"Come on in."

Deok-su greeted Jin-hyeok as the front door opened. Jin-hyeok removed his shoes and bowed slightly as he stepped inside.

The dinner table in the living room was already ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠set. Eun-ju must have prepared everything in advance. An array of dishes was neatly arranged on the table, with bottles of alcohol and glasses placed orderly beside them.

"Thank you for inviting me."

Jin-hyeok clasped his hands together in gratitude. Deok-su watched him with affectionate eyes. Seeing the boy who had followed Na-eun around since childhood now grown into a respectable young man filled him with emotion.

"Have a seat, sit down."

The four of them settled around the table. Deok-su took the head seat with Eun-ju beside him. As Jin-hyeok sat across from them, Na-eun quickly scooted in next to him.

Deok-su glanced around the table, his gaze lingering on Jin-hyeok sitting beside his daughter.

"Huh, I always wondered when you two would start dating. So it's finally happening now."

Jin-hyeok gave an awkward smile.

"I guess so."

Eun-ju chimed in with a quiet smile, her agreement subtle.

"Dad."

Na-eun called out shyly, her cheeks flushing bright red. Deok-su chuckled at her reaction.

"Though I wish you'd waited until after she got into college."

There was a hint of regret in his voice. Eun-ju responded.

"Na-eun insisted she'd definitely get accepted."

Jin-hyeok nodded beside her.

"I'll make sure to teach her properly."

"That's good. Haha."

Deok-su laughed, clearly pleased. He then picked up the bottle and poured drinks—first his own glass, then Jin-hyeok's across from him.

"Shall we have a drink?"

"Yes, Father."

Jin-hyeok held his glass respectfully with both hands. Deok-su's eyebrows rose slightly at the term.

"Already calling me 'Father'? Isn't that a bit too soon? Haha."

A hearty laugh escaped him as he raised his glass. Jin-hyeok clinked his glass slightly lower in deference.

Clink.

A clear sound rang out. Both men downed their drinks in unison. Deok-su emptied his glass in one go and exhaled with satisfaction.

"Don't drink too much."

Eun-ju murmured softly.

"If not now, then when?"

Deok-su teased, extending his empty glass again.

By the time dinner was winding down, more than half the bottle was gone. Deok-su, thoroughly tipsy, leaned toward Jin-hyeok.

"So... my daughter, just six years old and starting kindergarten, you know—"

He paused mid-sentence to clink glasses with Jin-hyeok again. After they drank, he continued.

"—suddenly announced she was getting married. Haha."

Jin-hyeok laughed.

"And she brought you home as her husband. Can you believe it? My precious little girl just—"

Deok-su's tongue was loosening with each drink, old stories spilling out effortlessly.

"She used to say she'd marry me before that."

"Dad, you've told that story a hundred times already."

Na-eun interjected, her face burning.

"That's enough, you too."

Eun-ju lightly scolded. Deok-su chuckled.

"So—"

He raised his glass toward Jin-hyeok again, his bleary eyes narrowing as he pretended to lay down the law.

"If you ever make Na-eun cry, I won't let it slide."

"Don't worry, Father."

"Good, good."

Deok-su drained his glass once more.

The alcohol had clearly spread through his system. His head began bobbing drowsily over the table, his words slowing as his eyelids grew heavy.

"Oppa."

Na-eun leaned slightly toward Jin-hyeok, whispering as quietly as she could.

"Are you staying over tonight?"

Jin-hyeok stiffened, quickly glancing at the dozing Deok-su and Eun-ju across the table.

"Where would I sleep?"

"You can stay in my room."

"But..."

Jin-hyeok trailed off. Na-eun discreetly checked Eun-ju's reaction.

Eun-ju met her gaze calmly, then smiled faintly.

"Your father already agreed, so go ahead."

"Thank you..."

The moment permission was given, Na-eun sprang up from her seat. Eun-ju turned to Jin-hyeok.

"Help me with him, please."

"Yes, Mother."

Eun-ju and Jin-hyeok supported Deok-su from either side. His limp body was surprisingly heavy. They carried him to the master bedroom and laid him on the bed. Before his head even touched the pillow, Deok-su was already snoring.

Jin-hyeok stepped out of the bedroom. Na-eun, waiting by the door, tugged at his sleeve. The two walked side by side into her room.

Eun-ju remained in the living room. She stared quietly at Na-eun's closed door for a moment before turning away to begin clearing the table.

The clinking of dishes echoed softly through the empty living room.

Inside the room, Na-eun's face burned.

She couldn't tell if it was from the alcohol or from being alone with Jin-hyeok. Her cheeks were flushed, her heart pounding wildly.

Jin-hyeok sat on the edge of the bed. Na-eun hesitated before sitting beside him, their shoulders nearly touching.

"I remembered something from when we were kids."

Jin-hyeok spoke first.

"What?"

"You held my hand while sleeping and then told everyone at kindergarten we were married."

"..."

"And then you said sleeping together meant you were pregnant."

"Ugh, why do you remember that?"

Na-eun grumbled, lightly hitting his shoulder. Remembering those days made her face burn even hotter.

"You even said you'd take responsibility because you thought it was real."

"Yeah, I did."

Jin-hyeok chuckled. They exchanged childhood memories—who said what, who cried when. As they shared these small recollections, their bodies gradually drew closer. Before they knew it, their shoulders were touching, their thighs brushing.

"Oppa..."

The sweet scent of alcohol lingered between them, mingling with Jin-hyeok's natural warmth. Intoxicated by it, Na-eun called his name softly.

Jin-hyeok tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, then leaned in slowly.

Their lips met. Softly, their tongues intertwined. Jin-hyeok's arms wrapped around her waist.

"Ah..."

Na-eun gasped as she pulled away.

"Oppa."

"Yeah?"

"Let's... let's..."

Jin-hyeok nodded slowly. He stood, turning off the light.

Darkness enveloped the room.

Na-eun lay back on the bed, staring at the blackened ceiling. Her heart raced, but a knot of anxiety tightened in her chest. Her parents were right next door. Taking things further felt too risky. And though she'd invited him to stay, she hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly.

'We should be using protection...'

Worries swirled in her mind. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just then, Jin-hyeok moved to lie on the floor instead. Na-eun quickly stopped him.

"Oppa, come... come here."

"Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Jin-hyeok climbed onto the bed and lay beside her. Na-eun immediately curled into his arms. His hand rested on her back as she tried to suppress her rising excitement.

His fingers trailed slowly from her waist, their legs tangling slightly.

Something firm pressed against her—Jin-hyeok's arousal.

'He's excited too...'

The thought sent a shiver through her lower belly. Na-eun looked up to find Jin-hyeok gazing directly at her.

Their lips met again. Jin-hyeok's hand slipped beneath her shirt, moving slowly upward.

"Ah... ngh..."

His touch was scorching.

His fingers glided from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her waist to her navel, leaving trails of heat wherever they passed. Even as she panted, Jin-hyeok's tongue teased hers relentlessly, making her head spin.

"Ngh..."

"Hah..."

Jin-hyeok pressed firmly against her lower belly. Na-eun's body trembled.

"Ah... ah! O-Oppa..."

"Shh."

Jin-hyeok whispered against her ear.

"Your parents are right there."

"Mmm..."

Na-eun bit her lip, stifling any sounds threatening to escape.

Jin-hyeok's index finger traced circles on her stomach before slipping beneath the waistband of her shorts.

"Ah... ah..."

Na-eun tensed, but she didn't stop him.

Jin-hyeok took his time, carefully exploring the inside of her thigh.

"Ah... ah!"

Her underwear was already damp. Pressing against the wet fabric, Jin-hyeok murmured.

"Does this feel okay?"

"Mmm... yeah."

Na-eun was mortified. Overwhelmed by the heat building inside her, she squirmed unconsciously, trapping Jin-hyeok's hand between her thighs.

His finger began moving in slow circles.

"Ngh..."

"Ah... ngh..."

A moan slipped out before she could stop it. Jin-hyeok's lips sealed over hers, muffling the sound.

"Mmph..."

Na-eun clung to his neck. His fingers sped up slightly. Tension coiled in her hips.

"O-Oppa... I... I'm..."

She couldn't finish. His lips captured hers again, their tongues entwining.

"W-Wait..."

Press.

His finger pressed firmly against the damp fabric. Her mind went white.

"Ngh... ngh!"

Her body arched off the bed, legs stiffening, toes curling into the sheets. It was a sensation she'd never ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt before.

Her entire body tensed—then released all at once.

Jin-hyeok held her tightly.

"Hah... hah..."

Drenched in sweat, Na-eun gasped for breath. Jin-hyeok stroked her trembling back gently until her breathing steadied.

"Okay?"

"Mmm... yeah."

Jin-hyeok brushed the damp hair from her forehead, his voice soothing.

"Feeling better now?"

"...Yeah."

A light kiss followed. A pleasant afterglow washed over her. Na-eun nestled deeper into his arms.

"...Next time... let's go further..."

Instead of answering, Jin-hyeok offered his arm as a pillow and patted her back.