One Night in a Motel with Another Woman (1)
“Do-hyun-ssi.”
My mind snapped back to reality. That cold voice jolted me, and there she was—Team Leader Park Ji-eun, gazing down at me with an icy expression.
“Y-yes? Team Leader?”
“What are you doing instead of working?”
I'd been staring at my monitor, but I wasn't seeing a thing. My head was filled with other images.
Hnngh...! Ah, ahh...! There, more...!
My wife from before we met, during her working holiday. The sounds of her crying out beneath other men echoed vividly in my ears.
She'd had a long talk with me about it, sobbing as she confessed everything. I'd forgiven her—decided to, at least. The past was the past.
But my head and my heart weren't on the same page.
“I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment...”
“Lost in thought? Do you think this is some playground, Do-hyun-ssi?”
“N-no, of course not...!”
I tried to pull myself together under her sharp reprimand, but the visions kept flickering before my eyes. My wife, so shy and cautious around me—how slutty she must have spread her legs and shaken her hips for that massive black man. How her dripping pussy took his cock, squeezed it, swallowed it whole.
Just imagining it was enough to stir a reaction down below. It was driving me insane.
“What's been going on with you lately? Reports are a mess, you're spacing out in meetings. You were never great, but this is on another level.”
“...I'm sorry.”
“Something wrong at home?”
Her probing gaze pinned my face. I couldn't lift my head.
“N-nothing... at all.”
“That doesn't look like a 'nothing's wrong' face.”
She took another step toward my desk. The chill of her perfume stung my nose.
“By any chance... trouble with your wife?”
It was a cautious but pointed question. I jumped and stared at her.
“W-what? No, nothing like that!”
My overreaction made her step back a little instead.
“No, I just... You used to brag about her nonstop, and lately you haven't mentioned her at all.”
Oh, right. I'd gushed to my coworkers about my angelic wife every chance I got, so the rumors must have reached her ears.
But now... was angelic even the right word?
“...Thank you for your concern. But really, everything's fine.”
“Then why can't you focus? Do you think this is some part-time gig? Concentrate on your work!”
Her voice turned icy again. I had no choice but to bow my head.
“...Yes, understood. I'm sorry.”
Silence stretched on. I thought she'd just leave, but she lingered by my side, like she had more to say.
“Anyway...”
She finally spoke, her tone hesitant—nothing like before.
“Are you free tonight... for dinner?”
The unexpected question made my eyes widen. Dinner? With her?
“P-pardon...?”
“Don't get the wrong idea. The higher-ups said you've been pulling overtime because of me, so I should at least buy you a meal.”
She pretended to shuffle papers, avoiding my eyes.
Normally, I'd have refused without a second thought. I wanted to rush home to my wife as soon as possible.
But tonight... strangely, I didn't. Going home would just fill my head with her slutty past again.
I wanted to escape those thoughts, even for a little while.
“...Sure, that's fine.”
She glanced at me over her papers at my answer. And then... I saw the faintest upward twitch of her lips.
“See you in front of the office after work, then.”
I'd never seen her smile before. For a split second, spring seemed to bloom on that frozen face.
......
Sizzle, sizzle. The only sound filling the awkward silence was meat cooking on the grill.
I stared blankly at it, lost again.
“Do-hyun-ssi?”
Her voice snapped me back. She was looking at me.
“Do-hyun-ssi.”
“Y-yes!”
I startled upright, and she let out a small laugh. With practiced ease, she flipped the meat.
I fumbled awkwardly. “S-sorry. I should be the one grilling...”
As I reached for the tongs, she gently blocked my hand.
“It's fine. Just sit.”
“Ah... sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
She focused on the grill, nonchalant. It was excruciatingly awkward.
Being alone with Team Leader wasn't new—in the office, sure. But a private spot like this, face-to-face at a barbecue joint? Never.
Maybe I should have gone home... I'd come out to escape my wife's videos, but home might have been better. We'd talked it out, after all. The past was just the past.
And my netorare tendencies... maybe I had a bit of that too.
That's what I'd concluded, right?
As I sat there fumbling for words, she spoke first.
“How's company life treating you?”
“Pardon? Oh, good. It's good.”
“Been about a year since you started, right?”
“Yeah, almost.”
Polite small talk flowed. She placed a perfectly cooked piece on my plate.
“Eat up. You've been suffering through all that overtime.”
Her gentle tone hit me right in the chest. The same woman who was always so cold at work.
I bowed my head and popped it in my mouth. “...Thank you, Team Leader.”
That's when my phone buzzed loudly. The screen said Noona.
I'd texted her I'd be eating late... Why was she calling? Something wrong?
As anxiety welled up and I started to stand—
“Here, have a drink.”
She filled my empty glass with soju. She must have thought it was just a vibration.
I hesitated. Should I step out and take it?
But looking at her face, I couldn't bring myself to say it. The mood was soft for once; I didn't want to ruin it.
She'll call back later.
I decided quickly and raised my glass.
“Thank you.”
We clinked silently. The bitter soju burned down my throat.
Just then, the vibration stopped.
What started awkwardly dragged on longer than expected. The alcohol loosened us up, and talk flowed naturally—mostly work stuff.
How clueless I'd been when I started, the mistakes I'd made. She teased me wickedly but slipped in how she'd covered for me every time.
“Do-hyun-ssi, do you know how panicked I was when you sent that wrong email to the client?”
“Ah... I'm really sorry about that.”
“Apology accepted—with a drink.”
She laughed, refilling my glass. I couldn't refuse and downed it.
A few more shots in, she started showing a surprising side. The cold, sharp edge vanished; she'd say silly things or giggle like a kid.
“Truth is, I was worse than you when I was new.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Got chewed out by the section chief all the time, went home crying plenty.”
Hard to believe. The perfect one had rough days too.
I found myself listening intently.
Before I knew it, we'd emptied five bottles.
“Team Leader, aren't you drinking too much?”
“I know my limits. Worry about yourself and drink up.”
Her face was beet red, tongue slightly slurred. But she kept pouring.
Me too. The buzz dulled those tormenting images of my wife. That freedom felt good, so I drank whatever she gave.
“But... Do-hyun-ssi...”
She gazed at me with flushed eyes.
“Why do you always... talk about your wife?”
“Huh?”
“To everyone... 'My wife this, my noona that...'”
She mimicked me childishly. I laughed awkwardly, scratching my head.
“Did I... do that?”
“All the time. Everyone teases you for being such a proud hubby.”
My face burned. I chuckled sheepishly and filled my glass.
As the alcohol hit harder, buried feelings crept out.
“But... why don't you date anyone, Team Leader?”
The drunken truth slipped out. Her eyes widened briefly, then she smirked.
“Not interested.”
“Come on, no way. A woman like you? Guys must line up.”
“Shut up and drink.”
She cut me off and clinked her glass. We downed a few more.
The world started spinning. Meat looked triple on the grill; her face blurred.
“Team Leader, I... need the bathroom...”
I staggered up, legs buckling. She caught me reflexively.
Her cool hand gripped my arm tight. My body collapsed into her embrace.
Her perfume, shampoo, booze—all mixed, dizzying.
“...You okay?”
Her low voice whispered in my ear. Breathless, I leaned on her, no strength to reply.
I felt her soft body—firm yet glamorous, different from my wife's.
“...Do-hyun-ssi.”
She called my name. I looked up. Flushed cheeks, moist eyes. Not her usual cold face.
Then... blackout.
......
“Ugh... my head...”
Pounding pain woke me. First thing: unfamiliar ceiling. Not home.
I bolted up; the strange bed creaked.
Where...?
I turned—and froze. Team Leader lay beside me.
In nothing but black lace lingerie.
Her smooth shoulder and ample cleavage peeked from the white sheets. She breathed evenly, deep asleep.
“W-what the hell...?”
I couldn't process it. Why was I in bed with Team Leader?
I checked myself—still clothed, thankfully. But last night? Nothing after she caught me stumbling to the bathroom.
What happened next?
I slipped out carefully. Head throbbed like hell; stomach churned.
Girly furniture and decor. Her place, probably.
My phone on the table. I turned it on—dozens of missed calls and texts.
All from Noona.