Lee Seo-yoon's Resolve 1
Kim Il-woo spent the whole day wandering around town, hiding various items here and there to test if he could send things to the future using the time capsule.
If only I had some personal land.
There was no way a college student like him, far from being rich, owned any property in his name. If the tests proved he could send items to the future this way, he planned to scrape together the money to buy even a small plot of land, no matter what.
Maybe sell some videos?
Uploading the footage he'd taken of the mother and daughter so far to a site like Hartpans could turn them into stars overnight and rake in cash. It didn't sound half bad. He mulled over these lecherous schemes as he headed home, when a message came in from Lee Seo-yoon asking to meet.
"What the...?"
She should be avoiding him like the plague, yet here she was initiating contact. Rather than joy, a surge of unease welled up.
Did she find out about Ara?
If she'd caught them in the act and was calling him out separately to spare her daughter the pain, it made sense.
"This is heading south fast."
She was enduring the defilement of her body for her daughter's sake, unyielding. Even if he explained that Ara had wanted it too, no mother would stand by while some guy devoured her precious girl. He'd controlled her so far with blackmail and leverage, but a cornered rat was dangerous.
I planned to break Mom first, but she's got way too much spirit.
Ara, with her fragile mind, had started throwing herself at him naturally, while Mom was only growing stronger.
"Is today the turning point?"
He had no idea how Lee Seo-yoon would play it, but he sensed this meeting would dramatically shift things between the two women. With few cards in hand, he decided to clash head-on and headed to the rendezvous point.
Sunday evening. The streets buzzed with people burning the midnight oil to savor the fading weekend and others hurrying home to brace for the long week ahead.
In the throng, how long had he waited? There, approaching from afar, was the person he'd been expecting.
"Whoa...?"
Kim Il-woo was stunned by the sight of Lee Seo-yoon walking toward him. Her youthful face radiating elegance and her voluptuous figure already drew eyes, but today she'd gone all out.
That's Ara's mom?
As the saying went, a woman's transformation was innocent. Instead of her usual ponytail draped forward, she'd swept her hair up, exposing her graceful neckline and amplifying her refined poise. Light makeup played up her beauty like a weapon, her lips a ripe cherry red.
Even earrings? Wait... haven't I seen those before?
She'd accessorized with earrings—diamond-shaped gold ones that looked familiar.
Those are the ones future Ara wore!
He had no clue why Ara's mom was sporting them, but decked out in fine jewelry, she embodied the young milf archetype. A trendy gray dress from the new city collection hugged her sensual curves, flesh-toned stockings enhancing her creamy skin. He couldn't tear his eyes away until the sharp click-clack of her black high heels echoed right beside him.
"What? First time seeing a friend's mom all dolled up?"
Lee Seo-yoon chuckled, clearly amused by his dumbfounded stare.
Poise radiates no matter what she's wearing.
Even glammed up, she exuded the restrained allure of a pearl from the sea. Her outfit teased like it could swallow a man's desires whole, but the hidden chastity and purity only made her more erotic.
"Mother, you look even more stunning today."
Kim Il-woo praised her appearance honestly. Her slightly drooping eyes softened with a smile, as if flowers were blooming around her.
"Good. Worth the effort to dress up."
He didn't know her intentions, but she'd seized the initiative.
"Let's go."
With destination already decided, she notified him and strode off, her resolve to never yield control today palpable.
The place they entered was an upscale bar, serene and luxurious.
"This way."
Apparently reserved in advance, a polite staff member guided them from the entrance to a private room.
"..."
To Kim Il-woo, with little social experience, this adult playground felt alien and intimidating. He tried not to show it, but Lee Seo-yoon had clocked him already, smiling indulgently like at a cute puppy as she nodded to the seat opposite with her chin.
"Sit."
"Mother must've been quite the partier in her day. You even know places like this."
He pointed out her familiarity to wrest back some ease, but she'd come prepared, crossing her legs and deflecting his clumsy jab effortlessly.
"He loved his drinks. We came here often in our younger days."
Kim Il-woo was inwardly surprised by the sudden mention of her late husband. The impression he'd had was of a mild, kind man—unexpected depth there.
"Uncle liked booze? Didn't see that coming."
"He liked the booze, but he loved me even more when I carried that subtle scent."
Lee Seo-yoon's face took on a wistful, bittersweet cast, reminiscing. Nothing captivated like a wounded woman; she wove an irresistible spell of allure in the silence.
As the odd tension thickened between them, a server entered, set down simple snacks and drinks, and left.
"What's this?"
"Figured a playboy like you hasn't hit spots like this much, so I picked something easy to drink."
She was right—his lust for women ran deep, but he was just a college kid. He hated being led by her pace, but with no retort, he let her take the reins.
The cocktail wafted sweet fruit notes. One sip filled his mouth with refined sweetness that barely tasted like alcohol, gliding down smoothly.
"...This is good."
"Right?"
Lee Seo-yoon poured herself a deep amber liquor into a fancy glass with round ice chunks. The potent aroma alone hinted at sky-high proof.
Is the ice there to tame it?
One straight shot of that would floor him. She downed it without hesitation.
"Whew..."
Stronger than expected, she grimaced and exhaled long, the rich scent blooming. Her cheeks flushed visibly through light makeup, proof of its kick.
"So, why'd you ask me out today?"
He could've enjoyed this date with his friend's mom as is, but he liked dragging women around like a dog—not being led.
Buoyed by the booze, she leaned back on the plush sofa with a pleased smile, pausing before speaking.
"You know a woman grows more beautiful the more she's loved?"
Not expecting a reply, she barreled on without context.
"He loved me enough that I could've lived out my days alone. In return, I took care of myself."
She gestured to her dolled-up allure as exhibit A.
"After he passed, I no longer needed to primp as a woman, so I lived as a mother."
She lounged languidly against the sofa, but her eyes burned fiercer than ever.
"Then one crisis after another kept hitting my precious daughter. As her mother, I felt ashamed."
She wanted to tear the rapist apart, but with no evidence, the investigation dragged.
Pushing her for testimony only worsened her state—she'd locked herself away, too broken for talk.
That explains it.
Now he understood the lukewarm attitude toward the investigation that future Ara had mentioned. True to her nature, she'd crave vengeance, but reliving the trauma for statements triggered Ara's breakdowns, leaving her holed up. She'd blame herself for pushing.
Kim Il-woo schooled his expression, sipped his cocktail, and listened.
"So while I was devoting myself as a mother, you slithered in."
Her glare could incinerate him.
"You exploited her weakness to worm into this house, humiliated me, and then laid hands on my daughter too."
"You knew?"
"How could I not?"
She knocked back another drink, pointing out that with poor soundproofing, their moans should've carried.
"Sounds weird, but I actually like Ara for real. And she..."
"Likes you too. Temporary or not, you've carved a place in her heart right now."
She cut him off coldly, uninterested in excuses about consent.
"I don't like her waffling between Jun-hyun and you, lost and confused."
The man who'd invent a time machine in the future versus trash who defiled his friend's mom—hating that her daughter agonized over it was clear.
"Mother, isn't that just how hearts work?"
"Exactly. Can't stop it, so here I am agonizing."
An unexpected response. He'd braced for demands to back off, but she seemed to prioritize her daughter's feelings more.