Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Chapter 25: Lee Da-mi
Lee Da-mi.
The owner of the building housing Joo Seong-hyeon's dojang, and the boss running a cafe on the first floor as a hobby (though she preferred being called the manager, so that's what those around her called her). She was the eldest daughter in a family with one son and one daughter. Not quite upper class, but still comfortably middle-class with a family business passed down through generations. In this day and age, it was rare, but her family held old-fashioned views favoring sons. So, rather than the eldest daughter like her, it was her younger brother—the eldest son—who monopolized the family's attention.
That didn't mean she was unloved, though. She'd received a decent allowance since childhood, enjoyed her high school years freely, and got into the college she wanted.
However. The moment she started college.
"Ahem, Da-mi. Say hello. Remember old Mr. Jeong I used to play Go with? This is his eldest grandson."
"Hello, Ms. Da-mi. I'm Jeong In-ho."
"...Hello."
Her grandfather introduced her to the eldest grandson from a close business associate. A man who was thirty-five at the time, a full fifteen years older than her. She had just turned twenty, but she wasn't naive enough not to understand what this meant. In fact, deep down, she'd already braced herself for it. The family atmosphere had been like that since she was young, so it didn't feel as repulsive as she might have expected. She might have even thought it was inevitable. Plus, it was hard to feel love for this prospective husband with such a big age gap.
"A gift. I heard you like these."
"It's beautiful~ Thank you. I'll treasure it."
He came from a family running a mid-sized company and was wealthy, so whenever they met, he'd give her luxury accessories or bags. For Lee Da-mi, who up to then had preferred traveling and hanging out with friends over dating men, these gifts surprisingly felt pretty good.
'Men are all the same anyway.'
She'd never dated, but compared to the guys who only ogled her curvaceous figure with lust-filled eyes... Around this time, Jeong In-ho, who was already a workaholic, started seeming relatively decent. He wasn't particularly handsome or fit, and the age gap was huge, but he was serious about his work, made good money, and was generous with expensive gifts.
"No way... Isn't this over ten million won? He gave you this too?"
"I've got a few more besides that. I can't give you this one, but how about another?"
"For real?! Da-mi, you're the best!"
"Yeah~ But Eun-hee's comment last time about him being a bit of an old guy is coming back to me. It might've hurt my feelings a little then?"
"Sorry!! I've thought it over, and your fiancé is actually super cool!! The best!!"
"Heh... Not cool, but whatever. Here."
"Kyaa!! Thank you!! I love you, Da-mi!!"
"D-Da-mi~ What about me?"
"Doesn't our Seon-ah have something to apologize for?"
"Sorry for my cheeky words last time, ma'am!"
Thanks to that, she could show off to her friends who weren't flush with cash and earn their envy. Of course, she'd only given them the gifts because they said it was fine. And she was the type who traveled abroad with friends every quarter or so.
"Plane tickets. I got ones for your friends too. Have fun."
"Thank you, In-ho."
He'd generously book business class seats for her and her friends. Her friends, who had initially been skeptical about the huge age gap and called him a total old man, stopped saying stuff like that. So Lee Da-mi started thinking positively about her engagement to Jeong In-ho. He was too busy with work to come bothering her often, and when they did meet, he'd hand over expensive gifts. He never nagged her about going out or tried to control her. She liked the easygoing dynamic. Marrying Jeong In-ho might not bring passionate love, but it meant she could live comfortably and have fun forever.
So when her grandfather and father wanted her to marry Jeong In-ho right after graduation...
"Yes. I'll marry In-ho."
She nodded, and they had the wedding.
'After the honeymoon, maybe Sweden with Eun-hee and Seon-ah? Paris is getting old.'
Lee Da-mi figured life after marriage would be just like now.
However. On their wedding night.
"...!!"
She could tell he was shocked. On their first night, Jeong In-ho was stunned that she, at twenty-four, was still a virgin. He might've assumed that since she traveled a lot, even if they kept in touch steadily, she'd probably hooked up with a few guys in between. But getting a younger wife who'd enjoyed college life to the fullest, he probably figured some things were unavoidable. However, Lee Da-mi hadn't fooled around, nor did she intend to. She preferred hanging out with friends over guys anyway, and from childhood, the adults had drilled into her to watch her behavior, so she'd never even considered it before marriage. If they'd brainwashed her forcefully, she might've rebelled and dated someone, but it wasn't that aggressive. They just gave her money and chuckled with that kind of implication, so it naturally sank in that that's how it should be.
Anyway. After that, Jeong In-ho's attitude changed completely.
"Don't you travel abroad too often?"
"Huh? I've always gone every season."
"True, but... now that we're married, could you cut back a bit? Isn't there anything you want to do domestically? Spend as much as you want."
He started getting possessive, restricting her little by little. Coming from someone who hadn't been like that, it felt stifling to Lee Da-mi.
"...Okay. I'll do that. There's a bag I want—mind if I go shopping?"
"Of course. We're married now. Use the card freely."
"Hehe, I've been doing that already. Thanks, honey."
"Mm."
He was her husband now, providing her with overflowing luxury, so she went along with it. And from then on... Lee Da-mi's boredom began.
Spending money was fun. But being stuck domestically, playing only where her husband's eyes could reach, like she was confined—that was no fun at all. To fend off the creeping boredom, she tried various things. She took up golf since he played, and treated managing the small building he'd gifted her like a game.
One time...
"Sob... Th-thank you... really... I... I'll do anything..."
"Glad the surgery went well. But it's still tough for the two of you, right? I'm thinking of opening a cafe—want to work there? I'll pay well."
"Y-yes! I'll do it! I'll give it my all!! Even seven days a week!!"
"No need to work that hard. Oh, and move out of that semi-basement. Your sibling might get sick too. I'll find you a place nearby..."
"How... Th-thank... Sob... Sniff, huhu... Waaah...!"
"Why cry on a good day? There, there!"
She meddled and helped someone out. While at it, she opened a cafe as a hobby and ran it. It was fun in its own way, rewarding even. She gained an employee who followed her devotedly, like swearing loyalty.
But that was it.
'...Boring.'
In the end, it was boring. Her life's fun was dwindling. Spending money only domestically, and only near home, was no fun at all. Was he so thrilled that she was all his? At every event or gathering, her husband started dragging her around to show her off, and it grew annoying. Of course, Lee Da-mi wasn't dumb enough to show it, and she knew he was doting on her out of love, so she accommodated him as much as possible. But the restrictions tightened, until she couldn't roam freely anywhere except the cafe she'd opened to help Yoon Na-rae.
'Husband said he'd be late tonight? Whatever.'
Plus, whether from work fatigue or natural lack of stamina... From early in their marriage, Jeong In-ho struggled with nighttime duties. He had trouble getting it up to begin with. Over nearly five years of marriage, they'd had sex fewer than a hundred times—shockingly few. And even that was just missionary position, barely once when his age-sapped energy allowed. Now, it had been over a year since they'd done it at all. Did his pride hurt because he couldn't get hard? He even started avoiding intimacy, despite claiming to love her so much. Such sex was better skipped, in her view, so it was a relief in a way.
So when meeting friends occasionally, as they chattered excitedly about sex's pleasures—which she knew nothing of... Unable to travel as she loved, her boredom piled up more and more. As she approached thirty...
"I wanna have some real intense sex with a guy too~"
Her unfulfilled desires shifted toward physical pleasure. Her increasingly mature body craved it. Perhaps in rebellion against the husband who confined her—a much older man with poor stamina.
"Wonder if there's a guy who'd fool around with me..."
She yearned for the thrill of cheating behind his back.
"If I'm doing it, better be a young, fit guy."
She wanted a younger man with a hot body and stamina. Of course, Lee Da-mi had a perfect figure and pretty face. She could find guys eager for fun in a heartbeat—a truckload of applicants. But she didn't want just any guy, and couldn't risk it. No idiots or scum who might cause trouble later. No getting caught cheating and losing this peaceful, comfy life.
So her criteria got extremely strict. He had to be innocent and straightforward enough for her to control, young and fit (not too young), able to embrace the immorality of an affair with a married woman and enjoy it. Plus, within her comfortable range of movement, but with minimal ties to her husband.
"Mm... Probably not."
Practically impossible. Meeting all those conditions. So she just fantasized. Thinking it unlikely to happen.
And so, as always. Being her husband's trophy to show off, spending money moderately, playing with her cafe a bit. On one such boring day. A man appeared before her.
"Hello!! I'm Joo Seong-hyeon, opening a Hapkido dojang on the second floor!!"
"Oh?"
Younger than her, with an incredibly sturdy build. Looking honest and innocent at first glance. Such a man. Joo Seong-hyeon. Had moved into the second floor of the building she managed.
Pfft.
Lee Da-mi chuckled, recalling the day she first met Joo Seong-hyeon. Beside her in the passenger seat sat a man rigid with tension. The man about to commit adultery with her, spend a steamy night. His rugged face and muscular body somehow gave off a cute vibe.
'Didn't think he'd be into this.'
Right after opening the dojang, Joo Seong-hyeon showed no interest in her. He focused solely on the dojang, grinning ear to ear at new kid members. A true Dojang Master. So at first, Lee Da-mi had no such thoughts about him. Forcing seduction on a guy showing no direct interest in her body was too risky.
'He looked down after the dojang struggled... but from last month, he suddenly perked up and started renovating energetically like when he first came.'
But after months of struggle when the dojang floundered, he suddenly regained his vigor and dove into renovations. His cheerfulness pleased her too. Seeing his gloomy face every now and then bummed her out, since they crossed paths occasionally. Especially since he lived right above her cafe, the one place she could roam freely. If the dojang failed and he left, finding a new tenant would've been a hassle. So gladly, when he was outside replacing the sign, she handed him coffee and chatted.
Up to then, it was just light chit-chat.
'Hmm...? Is he staring at my chest? Seong-hyeon?'
Over a year after first meeting, Joo Seong-hyeon finally showed interest in her. His eyes blatantly lingered on her figure, her breasts—ones he'd deliberately avoided before. Her fantasies started feeling real.
Joo Seong-hyeon was perfect. Young and fit. His muscles were solid, visible even through his dobok. His face was decent. Better than pretty boys coasting on looks. From their chats, he seemed shy, honest, innocent. Not the threatening type. His dojang was right above her cafe, easy to visit. He lived super close too, from what she heard. She liked his kindness and diligence. Seducing such a man as a married woman thrilled her.
But one thing missing. Even with a married woman, a guy desperate for physical relations regardless. He hadn't shown that erotic interest in sex at first. Now even that was fulfilled.
From then, Lee Da-mi visited him often, testing the waters. Was it a slip-up, or real interest?
"...Heh."
His reactions were honest. Pressing her breasts against his arm made him stiffen, unable to look away—she felt ecstasy. After a few meetings, for a final test. Lee Da-mi wore a short skirt and sexy lingerie. Lured him to the storeroom with a lame excuse.
"Was it in the bottom shelf~?"
Pretending to search, she flashed him intimate spots. She acted casual, but her heart pounded like it would burst. Seducing a younger man—not her husband—with sexy panties was insanely exciting. And when he responded...
"...It's fine. Take your time looking. I'll... keep holding you."
Now aware of her intent, his strong, large hand gripped and supported her ass.
'Haa... His grip is so strong...'
Immoral thrill and arousal heated her body. His rough hand on her ass felt amazing. Her strength slipped slightly, foot missing the ladder rung. In that unexpected danger...
"Ack... Kyaa!!"
"Manager!!"
He yelled in his thick voice, catching and saving her. His firm body—utterly unlike her husband's—hugged her tight, large hand squeezing her breast. His aroused bulge pressed against her ass through his pants, its presence undeniable.
'Hng...'
Lee Da-mi unwittingly rubbed back. She wanted that cock pounding her like an animal, fucking her. But she held back. Sex in the cafe storeroom was thrilling—she'd fantasized about it—but not for the first time.
'Gotta do it here someday.'
She planned for later. After, he avoided her eyes properly, and she set up dinner. Leading to today.
'Dressed up for dinner with me? Cute.'
A guy always in dobok trying to look nice was adorable. The outfit suited him, showing off his sturdy build. Dinner was nice too. His eyes widening at good food during small talk was cute. Already fond of him, everything looked good. Of course, she had no plans to cross lines beyond or whisper love. She just wanted adulterous sex with a man perfectly matching her criteria—curing her boredom and pent-up woman's body in one go, full of taboo thrill. Joo Seong-hyeon just needed to enjoy time with a pretty woman like her. Mutual understanding at that level was ideal.
With those thoughts. Lee Da-mi beckoned him with a finger, one last check if he was serious. And he...
"What does it matter? Manager... no, Ms. Da-mi, you're pretty, so I said you're pretty."
Said something charming. And gripped her small hand firmly.
'Hehe...'
She could barely hold back laughter. His touch was so warm, just holding hands made her body burn, driving her mad. So, finally.
"Shall we... move somewhere else?"
She led him out. Handed driving to the pre-arranged driver, cozy with the tense man beside her.
"We're here."
"This is..."
"Hehe, you know and still ask?"
"......"
A hotel. A nice one fitting their upcoming fantastic night alone. After getting out, Lee Da-mi took Joo Seong-hyeon's hand. She'd planned to link arms, but like before, their hands touching felt too good. What was it? A bit exciting, yet warm and reassuring. That subtle feeling.
But hands alone felt lacking.
Squeeze...
She laced fingers, clinging to his arm,
Squish...
Pressing her proud breasts against his forearm, glancing up at his equally aroused face. Lee Da-mi smiled deeply. Now, behind my husband's back, with me.
"Let's go, Seong-hyeon."
Time to fuck.