Making the Family Harmonious (5)
Chop, chop, chop.
The crisp sound of the knife echoed through the kitchen.
The nutty aroma of sesame oil mingled with the sweet, savory scent of braised short ribs. A peaceful evening meal in preparation.
But Lee So-hee's mind, standing at the cutting board, churned like a storm.
'…….'
She paused mid-slice on a carrot. There was discomfort between her legs. Her soaked underwear clung stubbornly to the inner flesh of her thighs.
Every step she took, every time she pressed her thighs together, she felt a strange sensation—an illusion.
Yes, that sensation from just moments ago.
Her son Ji-un's hot, hard thing forcing its way between her thighs. The pressure. And the raw pleasure of his fingers stirring her inner walls.
"Ma'am? Your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?"
The housekeeping lady mixing side dishes beside her looked over with concern.
"Oh, no… Must be the heat from the stove. It's so hot…."
Lee So-hee hurriedly pressed the back of her hand to her cheek, pretending to cool it.
"I told you I'd handle everything today. You insisted on cooking yourself since the young master is home—aren't you pushing too hard?"
"No, no. It's been so long since Ji-un came home. I have to show him his mom's cooking."
Mom. The word made her heart sink.
Yes, I'm a mom. Ji-un's mom. But the moans she let out in the kitchen earlier weren't a mother's.
'Why did that happen? Why did Ji-un….'
It was confusing. Ji-un was a good boy. Gentle, without greed. For such a child to suddenly change and ravage her body.
Normally, she should be furious, slap him, or wail in front of her late husband's photo.
But Lee So-hee's thought process twisted in a bizarre way.
'Right… he's a young man. In his mid-20s, full of vigor, right?'
Mid-20s. Still a time when sexual desire runs high. Ignored at home, unrecognized outside—maybe that stress exploded in the wrong direction?
'And Ji-un is the head of the household now….'
The only man in this house. After her husband died, squeezed between strong-willed daughters—how hard must it have been?
'It's my fault.'
The conclusion veered off strangely.
'I failed to make the home comfortable… I made Ji-un turn outward, and eventually vent his frustrations on his mom. Because I wasn't enough.'
Clang.
She lifted the lid of the pot. White steam rose over the bubbling braised short ribs.
'Family peace.'
To protect it, she couldn't tell anyone. If Yu-na or Yu-min found out, the house would erupt. Ji-un would be chased out, and the family her dead husband left behind would shatter.
"Hoo…."
Lee So-hee stirred with a trembling ladle.
'Counseling… Right, Ji-un said he'd counsel me.'
He'd talk again tonight. She could guide him properly then. As a mom, as the lady of the house. Advise him to find a girlfriend to release his desires healthily.
But.
'What if he touches me again…?'
Her grip tightened on the ladle. If he overpowered her like before? Pinned her down as the head of the house, pressing that thick thing against her again?
A hot tingle shot through her lower belly. Against her reason screaming to refuse, her body remembered that intense stimulation. It was like a torrential rain pouring into a parched well after three years without her husband.
"Ma'am! The soup's boiling over!"
"Oh, goodness! Sorry!"
She fumbled to turn down the gas.
***
After dinner, in the master bedroom.
"Hoo, hoo…."
Lee So-hee took deep breaths. Had the kids noticed? Smelled anything?
'No, no one knows. I handled it well.'
She reassured herself.
Knock, knock.
"Mother, it's me."
"Oh… Y-yes, come in."
She hurriedly straightened her clothes. Tugged her disheveled robe into place, forcing a calm, loving mother's smile.
Creeeak.
The door opened, and Jeong Ji-un entered.
"D-did the food taste good?"
"Yes. It was even better because you made it, Mother."
Ji-un smiled as he approached. At that smile, Lee So-hee's body stiffened reflexively.
'What if he does it again?'
No. She had to draw a clear line here.
Before Ji-un could speak, she shot up from her seat.
"Ji-un! I thought about something!"
Her voice was urgent.
"Yes?"
"Your sisters were harsh earlier about work stuff. They're not malicious—they're just workaholics."
"I know."
"So, how about I pull some strings secretly?"
Lee So-hee's eyes sparkled.
"The management company the girls are starting. Officially, I'm the top person there, right?"
"…Yes."
"I'll get you hired on my recommendation, keep it from your sisters. But make your title something like non-executive advisor or external consultant—no need to show up at the office."
She rattled it off like a machine gun.
"Then, build up results and tell your sisters later. I know people from my active days, and retired ladies' groups. Some still have daughters in the field."
"Magical girls."
"Yes, yes. I'll introduce you. Say my son just got his counseling certification—total confidentiality, great skills. How's that? Word-of-mouth results, and your sisters will acknowledge you. Then you can proudly show 'Look what I did.'"
Lee So-hee gazed at Ji-un with expectant eyes.
Perfect. Boost her son's confidence, financial support, mend sister relations. And keeping him busy with work would cut time for misplaced lust.
"I'll make calls tomorrow if you're okay?"
Ji-un was silent for a moment.
Using his mother's connections was one of Jeong Ji-un's top goals. She didn't know, but hitting it like catching a mouse behind the stove—he should be thrilled.
Yet his expression didn't change.
"Thanks, Mother."
"R-right? Then I'll start right now…."
"But."
Ji-un stepped closer.
"First, something to confirm."
"C-confirm…?"
"What happened today."
His voice dropped low.
"In the kitchen. You didn't tell anyone, right?"
"W-what are you…."
Lee So-hee's face paled. She shook her head frantically.
"N-no! Of course not! Why would I tell anyone…."
"Your sisters too?"
"Yes! Absolutely… I swear I didn't."
"Good."
Ji-un feigned a sigh of relief, reaching back.
Click.
He locked the master bedroom door. Her shoulders trembled at the sound.
"J-Ji-un… why lock the door…?"
"We need to counsel. To execute your plan, verification first."
"V-verification?"
"What if I have no skills and embarrass you introducing me? It'd tarnish your face."
He walked to the bed, plopping naturally in the center. As if it were always his spot.
"So I'll counsel you first. Feel if my skills are real."
"N-no… I trust you. No need…."
"Sit here."
A command. Not forceful, but exercising natural rights.
"The head of the house says so. I want to relieve your fatigue."
Head of the house. The word lodged in her brain, breaking her will to refuse.
'Right… Ji-un is the head… for the family….'
Entranced, she stepped to the bed. The king-size she once shared with her husband, now hers alone. Her son sat there, and she approached his side.
"Here."
Ji-un patted the spot beside him.
"Won't you… be too tired…?"
"You look more tired, Mother. Your legs were shaking during dishes."
He smiled meaningfully. Blushing, she perched cautiously on the bed's edge, keeping distance. He wouldn't allow it.
"Closer. My hands can't reach."
"Th-this is fine…."
"Mother."
His hand wrapped her waist, yanking her to him in one pull.
"Eek?!"
She collapsed into his arms on the soft mattress.
"J-Ji-un… too close…?"
"Essential distance for counseling. Need to check pulse, feel breathing."
Simultaneously, he activated the app. Behavioral therapy. To trigger mild corruption desire in her speech—.
"Hic…?"
Her shoulders jerked. An electric tingle raced from her wrist up her spine.
At the same time, an itchy urge surged from deep in her throat.
Huh…? Why?
Suddenly, she wanted to speak. Spill it out.
"Mother, feeling stifled now?"
"Y-yeah…? Stifled… throat… itchy…."
"Too many bottled-up stories festering alone. That's poisoning you."
"R-really…?"
"Speak. Holding it makes you sick. I'm your counselor."
He whispered softly, lightly scratching under her ear. That was the trigger.
She spilled recent secrets.
Nothing major, unlike before. A neighbor got liposuction. Another lost big on stocks behind her husband's back.
Her mouth wouldn't stop. Others' flaws, gossip, private lives. Normally prim about 'not speaking ill,' now she poured like a burst dam.
Tap, tap.
Ji-un pretended to note on his phone memo.
Old news anyway. Family secrets mattered; neighborhood aunties' trivia? Zero interest.
But pretending to listen opened her more.
Sure enough, her face flushed with excitement and shame unlike before.
"Mother."
He cut her off.
"Not others' stories. Yours now."
"My story…?"
"Yes. Like today."
Her body stiffened.
"T-today…?"
"In the kitchen. I helped you."
He played innocent.
"How was it?"
"Uh… th-that…."
"Be honest. Counseling time. Lies block treatment."
Her eyes shook violently.
Want to say it. Confess. Mouth itching unbearably. But this… can't say. Voicing that incestuous act between mother and son would collapse everything.
"Ughhh… can't… say…."
"Why?"
"Embarrassed… too… embarrassing…."
"Not embarrassing. Honest. You felt good, Mother."
He drove it home. His hand slid up her side, probing her armpit.
"Hic?!"
She twisted at the sensitive spot.
"Say it. When my cock touched. How was it?"
"J-Ji-un…!"
"Hot, right? Hard, right? Rubbing your ass crack, you got wet."
His voice slithered into her ear.
"Ughhh…!"
She bit her lip. No. Can't say. But desire waves lapped at reason's dam.
"…Hot."
The dam broke.
"Pardon?"
"Hot… your thing… so hot and… big… ugh…."
She clutched his collar, moaning it out.
"Scary… but… strangely… didn't hate it…."
"Didn't hate it?"
"Yeah… since Dad died… nothing touched me like that… first man in so long…."
Her face burned crimson.
"Heart… pounding… between legs… itching… thought I'd go mad…."
"So you got wet?"
"Uh-huh… unknowingly… juices came… pants soaked… sticky… but that felt… good too…."
Now fully surrendered. Once opened, unstoppable.
"C-can't help it! M-mom's a woman too… n-not because it's you… physiological… that…."
"That?"
"When you… shook your hips from behind… ass tingling… womb… thudding… couldn't help it…."
She bowed her head. Abnormal state, but shame remained. Just, confessing it sent electric pleasure jolting her brain.
"What were you thinking then?"
"Thinking…?"
She stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Just… Ji-un… my son… but a grown man…."
"Because he's a man?"
"Yeah… reliable… strong… holding me tight… not letting go… so… manly…."
As expected so far. Physical pleasure, instinctual pull. But what Ji-un really wanted was next.
"What about me doing that to you? Seeing you as a woman, touching you. Thoughts?"
"That… you…."
She looked up at him. Lust mixed with deep pity, maternal love.
"You're… suffering a lot, right."
"…."
"Pushed by sisters… no dad… so lonely… that's why to mom…."
Ji-un's brow furrowed slightly.
"So?"
"So… mom has to accept it."
She caressed his cheek.
"I know you didn't mean bad. Just… needed comfort. As a man… lots pent up…."
"…."
"If it makes you feel better… I can… endure a little. If you smile again… my body…."
Ji-un nearly laughed.
Even now. Yielding to lust, yet framing as sacrifice for her son.
"So, I can do it again?"
"Uh…? Th-that…."
She panicked, averting eyes.
"No… can't. We're family…."
"You said you could endure."
"That… occasionally… very rarely… when you're really suffering…."
Her voice trailed small.
"But… not all the way. Got it? No insertion… that's real sin."
"Touching?"
"Ugh… touching too… if possible…."
"Rubbing?"
"Haa… Ji-un…."
She buried her face in his chest, pouting.
"Don't make it hard for mom… I'm a woman too… keep it up and… my heart wavers…."
Ji-un stroked her hair, pondering.
One line crossed wouldn't shatter the ideal mother, chaste wife mold. She drew the line. Just warmly embracing his 'mistake.'
Unsatisfying. Infuriating.
'But.'
A twisted smile curled his lips.
'Heart wavers.'
Means a crack. Give her the excuse 'for her son,' and she'd permit anything.
No insertion? We'll see. Thighs today, next… mouth. Gradually expand territory; that 'absolute no' line would blur eventually.
"Got it, Mother. I asked too much."
He backed off meekly. She looked up relieved.
"Y-you understand?"
"Yes. Like you said, I've been… really stressed. Acted spoiled without knowing."
"Yes, yes… Mom knows. My son's heart."
She hugged him tight.
"Tell me anytime you're hurting. Mom'll listen. Cook tasty food… hear your stories."
"Thanks."
From behind, Ji-un stared coldly into space.
Conclusion reached.
Make Mother fully his. Not just 'son,' but accomplice in the 'sin' she spoke of.
Then this house, family, couldn't ignore him.
App off. His hand trailed her back, smacking her ass.
"Oh!"
"Get up now. Counseling's over."
"Ah, y-yeah…."
She rose, flustered. Face still flushed, but calmer than before.
"Then… I'll make calls tomorrow. For counseling work."
"Please do, Mother."