Episode 27. I'm Having Dinner Alone with Oppa Today

"Hello."

"Oh my, Eun-joo's here."

Eun-joo bowed her head in greeting.

It was a rare golf gathering for professor couples. The ladies seated around the clubhouse lounge welcomed her one by one.

The moment she took her seat, all eyes turned to her. Her face, strikingly youthful for her age, stood out conspicuously among the middle-aged women. The atmosphere in the room subtly shifted, becoming more animated.

The other ladies concealed the marks of time beneath layers of makeup. In contrast, Eun-joo's nearly bare skin glowed radiantly amidst them.

"Eun-joo, your skin is always so enviable."

"Thank you."

"Do you go to a good dermatologist?"

"I recently visited one in Gangnam that's been getting good reviews. They were very thorough."

"Oh? Maybe I should try it too."

"I'll send you the contact info."

Eun-joo smiled softly. Even among the older ladies, she navigated the conversation effortlessly—complimenting just enough, humbling herself just enough. It was second nature to her.

Meanwhile, the husbands were already deep in golf talk. Deok-su was right in the middle of it, animatedly discussing drivers and scores, his face flushed with excitement. He didn't spare a single glance toward their table.

Eun-joo quietly steadied her breathing. Keeping her smile intact, she matched the rhythm of the ladies' chatter.

Buzz.

Her phone, face-down on the table, vibrated briefly. She tilted the screen slightly to check.

It was a message from Na-eun.

『Having dinner with Oppa tonight.』

That was all. A simple, ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ordinary message from a daughter. Yet Eun-joo's eyes remained glued to that single line, unable to look away.

Jin-hyuk. Alone with him.

The image of the two of them alone in the house burned itself into her vision. Her fingers froze over the screen. She needed to reply, but no words came to mind.

"Eun-joo, what's got you so distracted?"

"Oh, just a message from Na-eun."

"Ah, right. Isn't Na-eun retaking her exams this year?"

"Yes. She wanted to aim for a better school."

"Wow, she's so diligent. My kid's grades are still a mess even after retaking them. No idea who they take after."

"But your eldest got into med school, didn't they?"

"After how much money we poured into tutoring? Barely scraped by."

The ladies' complaints brushed past her ears. Eun-joo nodded along absently, her mind elsewhere. Another scene kept rising unbidden in her thoughts.

The house, lit up inside.

Two people sitting across from each other at dinner.

Her daughter and Jin-hyuk, sitting close—just like that night.

Her imagination spiraled out of control.

Shoulders touching. Eyes locking.

A cold knot tightened in her chest. A mother jealous of her own daughter's romance.

The thought disgusted even her. But beneath that disgust, something more stubborn reared its head.

The person who should be there wasn't Na-eun—it was her.

Na-eun's heart wouldn't stop pounding.

Jin-hyuk's warmth against her side, his hand reaching over the workbook, his breath occasionally brushing her ear—everything set her nerves on edge. Yet Jin-hyuk himself remained completely focused on teaching, unfazed.

Today, she kept making mistakes. She couldn't solve a single problem properly, not even earning the usual reward of a kiss.

"Not concentrating?"

"No, the problems are just too hard."

"You need to be able to solve these to safely pass the cutoff."

"Ugh."

Na-eun's shoulders slumped. She pouted and hung her head.

Jin-hyuk's hand landed on her crown, ruffling her hair gently with his large palm.

"But you're doing well so far."

"Hehe."

Her slumped shoulders perked right back up. Na-eun peeked up at Jin-hyuk, lips parting slightly as she gave him a blatant look. The expectation for another kiss was obvious.

Jin-hyuk pretended not to notice, picking up his pencil and pointing at the workbook again.

"So, for this one, you solve it like..."

Na-eun's lips jutted out further.

"Done!"

Na-eun flopped face-first onto the desk after finishing the last problem, arms splayed out, cheek pressed against the surface.

"Good work."

Jin-hyuk smiled and stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

Na-eun lifted just her head, lips twitching before she finally spoke.

"Stay for dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yeah."

She sat up, fidgeting with her fingers and avoiding his gaze.

"I'm all alone."

"Didn't they just step out?"

"No. They're at a couples' event. Overnight."

Her ears burned as soon as she said it. She didn't know why telling her boyfriend her parents weren't home felt so embarrassing. Na-eun fiddled helplessly with her hands.

Jin-hyuk, however, showed no reaction beyond a shrug.

"Oh? So you're alone. Want to order in?"

"I-I'll cook."

"Last time you tried cooking, you nearly burned the kitchen down."

"I know how now."

"Besides instant noodles, what can you make?"

"P-pasta?"

Boiling noodles was about the extent of her skills. Na-eun peeked at Jin-hyuk's expression.

Ever since she was little, whenever her parents were out, Jin-hyuk had always stayed with her. Being alone together in the house wasn't the least bit strange to him. No matter how hard Na-eun tried to set the mood, the atmosphere remained as casual as ever.

"Sigh. Fine, I'll cook."

"...Okay."

Jin-hyuk chuckled at Na-eun's deflated expression before turning toward the kitchen with familiar ease.

Jin-hyuk watched as Na-eun devoured her pasta across the table, shoveling it in like she was inhaling it.

Maybe this was where things were meant to be.

His relationship with Eun-joo was getting dangerous. It was a betrayal of Na-eun, and more importantly, he couldn't risk destroying Eun-joo and Na-eun's family. He couldn't tear apart three people under one roof just for his own selfish desires. That was the line he drew in his mind.

And yet, when he remembered their sex at the hotel, his cock grew heavy.

The sensation of Eun-joo panting, clinging to him, was still vivid.

Not that his sex life with Na-eun was lacking. If anything, being the one in control was a whole new experience.

The superiority of having two women at his mercy filled his chest.

Mother and daughter.

The immorality of it.

And yet, guilt layered over it all.

Na-eun grinned at him from across the table, fork in hand, cheeks puffed out happily. Seeing her innocent face, Jin-hyuk forced ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his wavering resolve to steady. The line had already been crossed, but he told himself he could still turn back.

"Oppa, aren't you eating?"

"Why, not enough for you?"

Na-eun's gaze locked onto his plate. At her blatant stare, Jin-hyuk scooped some of his portion onto hers.

"Have more."

"Hehe."

"You are exercising, right?"

"I... will."

Na-eun averted her eyes but didn't stop eating, stuffing her cheeks until they bulged. A long strand of pasta slurped between her lips before she beamed at him.

Then, lifting her fork, she extended a single strand toward him, puckering her lips and looking up expectantly.

"Wanna share?"

Her face was bright red. Jin-hyuk chuckled at her clumsy attempt at seduction.

He sucked in the pasta from his end. As the strand shortened, their faces slowly drew closer.

Mwah—

Their lips met. Eating was forgotten. The two lost themselves in the kiss.

Smooch. Smack.

Na-eun, who had long since set down her fork, gripped the edge of the table as she melted into the kiss. Her lips, glossy with oil, grew slicker with Jin-hyuk's breath.

The kiss across the table was sweet and tender. And most importantly—no one else was home.

Na-eun's heart pounded wildly. She wanted more. Just the two of them. No one to interrupt.

"Oppa."

She whispered his name. Jin-hyuk's hand cupped her cheek, his touch setting her skin ablaze. Even her exhales felt scorching. She wanted him to cool her burning body.

"Stay with me tonight...?" ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

At her whispered plea, Jin-hyuk slowly nodded.

They rose from their seats, pulling each other close. Her chest pressed against his firm body, the contact making her giddy. His scent filled her nose, intoxicating.

His tongue pushed into her mouth, exploring. Na-eun swallowed his breath, clinging to his neck.

Staggering, they ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moved to the living room. Even after collapsing onto the couch, their lips stayed locked.

"Haah..."

Na-eun's breath was feverish. Jin-hyuk's lips trailed from her jaw to her neck.

"Nngh, Oppa."

His mouth sucked at her skin, sending electric jolts through her. Na-eun gripped his shoulders, trembling.

Leaning back against the couch, she let Jin-hyuk's kisses continue. Eventually, he pulled away slightly. Na-eun looked up at him, panting.

"Oppa..."

She raised her hands pleadingly—a wordless demand for him to undress her.

Jin-hyuk tugged her shirt up, revealing smooth, pale skin and a simple bra, different from the one at the hotel.

Na-eun knew her breasts were pretty. So even as she flushed with embarrassment, showing them off to Jin-hyuk filled her with pride. She averted her eyes but didn't cover herself.

But Jin-hyuk's mind was elsewhere. Unconsciously, he compared them to Eun-joo's. Na-eun's were lovely, but Eun-joo's were fuller, more voluptuous. Though unlike Eun-joo's soft, yielding flesh, Na-eun's were firm, almost bouncy.

Youth, maybe?

Even as mother and daughter, their bodies were so different. Just imagining them side by side made his cock throb.