A Father's Lingering Guilt
Before heading back to the Academy, I genuinely believed I had left everything behind in my wife’s arms. The crushing guilt that weighed on my entire body, the burdensome sense of duty I knew I had to carry anyway. But…
“You’re late.”
The sight of Soyeon sitting in her seat as if she’d been waiting for me made the emotions I’d tried so hard to forget surge up to my throat.
…Stay calm…
Was it a silver lining in the midst of misfortune? Even after seeing Soyeon, I didn’t feel the same excitement I had yesterday. It simply remained lodged in my chest like a scar that refused to fade.
“I… overslept a little.”
I forced myself to act normal as I returned her greeting, then sat down beside her and quietly unpacked my things. Min Soyeon, however, rested her chin on her hand and began staring at me intently.
This is driving me crazy…
Enduring her piercing gaze, I barely managed to finish organizing my belongings. Deciding I might as well check my phone, I quietly pulled it out.
At that exact moment—
Swish—
Min Soyeon slowly reached out as if to grab my hand.
…Ugh…!
Startled by the approaching touch, I flinched and pressed myself against the wall as far as I could, blurting out in a panic.
“W-what? What is it?”
She watched my reaction with a calm, observant stare, then slowly withdrew her hand and spoke casually.
“…Nothing. Just because.”
Then, as if disappointed, she clicked her tongue softly and turned her gaze away.
…Phew…
With my pounding heart finally settling, I eased away from the wall. I cursed both Soyeon’s unpredictable behavior and my own heart that refused to stop racing.
I think I need to go see my wife again.
Unlike the warm, lively atmosphere of the classroom, I felt like I was walking on thin ice as I kept sneaking glances at Soyeon. The moment morning assembly ended, I shot up from my seat.
“Where are you going?”
Min Soyeon asked, tilting her head. Her slightly raised eyes and tightly pressed lips looked unbearably cute.
No, don’t…!
Thinking I needed to get to my wife as quickly as possible, I gave a vague answer.
“I have somewhere I need to stop by for a bit.”
But Soyeon clearly had no intention of letting me go. She leaned back as if to block my path, then looked me straight in the eyes and asked again.
“Where?”
I had no reason to answer her. But facing her like this made me feel like I’d become the guilty party, as if I had to answer.
“Your mother… the Sword Empress called for me.”
“…Mom?”
Soyeon’s expression turned suspicious as she pressed me for more details.
“What for?”
Was it because I was blinded by affection? Even her sharp, demanding attitude seemed adorable to me.
Was this the heart of Min Sungjae, her father? Or was it the heart of Yu Jihwan, her partner? I resented this cruel fate that made me doubt even my purest feelings.
“I don’t really know either.”
When I gave a suitably vague reply, she stopped interrogating me. It seemed that mentioning I was going to see her mother was enough for her to accept it.
After leaving the classroom, I clutched my racing heart and hurried toward my wife’s office.
[BUSY]
After confirming my wife was inside, I glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then carefully knocked on the door.
Knock knock—
A moment later, I heard her voice telling me to come in. I scanned the hallway one more time before stepping straight into the office.
Click—
The moment I opened the door, my wife’s scent brushed past my nose.
Sniff—
It was the kind of fragrance that instantly put my mind at ease.
“What is it?”
My wife, who had been sitting at her desk checking something, looked slightly surprised to see me and slowly stood up.
Her white dress shirt hugged her voluptuous figure tightly, while her dark skirt had a modest slit at the side. Black stockings wrapped around her long legs, and her heels accentuated their elegant lines. It was clearly just a normal business suit, yet to my eyes right now, it looked incredibly seductive.
Gulp—
I swallowed unconsciously and tried to calm my still-pounding heart as I looked around the office. As expected, no one else was there.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Before I knew it, she had stepped close and looked up at me with a worried expression.
The scent of her body washed over me like fuel poured onto the fire already burning in my chest.
But I couldn’t just jump on her without warning. I suppressed the heat surging through my body and answered carefully.
“I just… wanted to see you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, then she covered her mouth with a small laugh. She gazed into my eyes and whispered seductively.
“Just… to look?”
It felt like I was possessed by a ghost. Instead of answering, I slowly raised my hand and brushed her hair back.
Swoosh—
Her long lashes fluttered as she quietly closed her eyes, savoring my touch. As I gently caressed her doll-like face, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
When Soyeon grows up, will she be as beautiful as my wife?
…You crazy bastard…
I squeezed my eyes shut to erase the thought, then gently pulled her head closer. As if she’d been waiting for it, she took a step forward, stood on her tiptoes, and threw herself into my arms.
The overwhelming softness pressing against my chest. Unable to hold back any longer, I wrapped my arms tightly around her and kissed her.
“Mmmph… slurp… chu…”
Her delicate body nestled perfectly in my embrace, and the sweetness of her tongue. The liberating feeling of coming to devour my wife’s body instead of attending class. And the hateful sense of immorality that came from washing away the emotions I felt toward Soyeon in my wife’s arms.
These terrible sensations gnawed away at my reason.
“Slurp… mmm… haa…”
When I squeezed her ass hard, she let out a coquettish moan.
“Haa…”
Suddenly she pulled her lips away and stepped back, walking over to her desk and picking up the remote.
Beep— Clack— Ziiiing—
As she pressed the remote, the office door locked and all the windows began to lower their blinds.
What a prepared woman.
While I was still marveling at her thoroughness, she leaned her hips against the desk, hiked her uniform skirt all the way up her thighs, and beckoned me with a seductive gaze.
“I still have work to do, so I can’t take anything off.”
Her words sounded firm but weren’t firm at all. I lost what little reason I had left and pounced on her.
…
“Haa… haa…”
We were lost in each other, completely unaware of the passing time, when—
Knock knock—
Someone knocked on the office door.
“Hmm?”
“…Shh.”
We froze in our current position.
Knock knock knock—
The knocking came again, followed by a familiar voice from beyond the door.
“Is anyone there!”
“…Huh?”
It was Soyeon’s voice.
S-Soyeon…?
My heart sank. In an instant, panic flooded me and I hurriedly let go of my wife.
“…Hng…”
My wife let out a soft moan, shot me a quick glare, then suddenly began pushing down on my head.
“…Get under…!”
She whispered for me to hide under the desk.
“What?”
Under the desk? I looked at her like she was crazy, but the knocking grew more insistent.
Knock knock knock knock— Is anyone there—!
“…Just a moment, dear…!”
While answering Soyeon through the door, my wife kept shoving me down.
This crazy woman…!
Even in the middle of this, she had the presence of mind to turn on the ventilation fan. She quickly pulled her underwear and stockings back up around her ankles and gave me a meaningful look.
It clearly meant get under the desk right now.
Damn it, seriously…!
With no other choice, I bent down and shoved my head under the desk as she ordered.
The space beneath the desk was darker than I expected. Actually… it was suspiciously spacious. Swallowing my surprise, I clamped a hand over my mouth and held my breath.
“…Come in, dear.”
My wife’s voice called out to Soyeon.
Click—
The door opened.
“So! The important thing here is…!”
I sat with my chin in my hand, staring blankly as the lesson continued. My eyes kept drifting to Yu Jihwan’s still-empty seat.
Why isn’t he back yet?
It had already been two whole periods since Jihwan went to see Mom. What on earth were they talking about that was taking so long?
I’d be happy if they were talking about me, but somehow it didn’t feel like that.
“Historically! Beasts that refuse to obey must be disciplined with this whip…!”
Maybe I should go check on them.
Time passed, the boring class finally ended, and the long-awaited break arrived. Following through on my decision, I headed straight to Mom’s office.
And there…
[BUSY]
I saw the “BUSY” sign hanging on the doorplate.
“…”
It looked like Mom was definitely in her office. Since Jihwan, who had gone to see her, still hadn’t returned, he was probably still there too.
Having reached that conclusion, I knocked on the door without hesitation.
But…
Knock knock—
No sound came from inside the quiet room.
Is no one there…?
Just in case, I waited a moment and knocked again.
Knock knock knock—
“Is anyone there!”
I even called out this time, but there was still no answer.
Are they really not here?
“…Hmm…”
With my arms crossed, I tapped my foot impatiently while waiting for a response. Deciding to try one last time, I knocked again.
Knock knock knock knock—
“Is anyone there—!”
Then—
…Just a moment, dear…!
Mom’s voice came from inside.
So they were there…?
After three attempts, I finally heard her response. I waited with a slight sense of doubt, and soon after—
At Mom’s invitation, the door clicked open automatically.
“…”
The moment I stepped into the office without thinking, I noticed something strange.
Sniff—
There was an odd smell in the office. It was unfamiliar, yet somehow strangely alluring.
Did she spray air freshener?
I savored the peculiar scent brushing against my nose as I looked around the office. But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t see any sign of Jihwan.
He’s not here?
I was wondering why Jihwan, who should have been here, was nowhere to be seen when Mom, sitting at her desk, spoke up.
“What brings you here, dear?”
I glanced around the office a bit awkwardly as I answered.
“Well… Jihwan said he was coming to see you, but he hasn’t come back to class…”
“Jihwan left a while ago. Didn’t he go back to class?”
“…Huh? He left?”
“When?”
“About twenty minutes ago.”
Twenty minutes ago. That was right in the middle of class. Maybe he was killing time somewhere else so he wouldn’t interrupt the lesson?
Having resolved one of my questions, I walked over to Mom’s desk.
Sniff—
The mysterious scent grew even stronger. For some reason, it made my body feel slightly warm.
“Mom. Why did you call Jihwan, anyway?”
I asked casually while looking her in the eye.
But…
…Hmm?
Her face was strangely flushed, and her lipstick looked faintly smudged. She seemed more disheveled than usual.
Somehow… it felt a little lewd.
“That child has had a hard life, you know? So I wanted to help him a little.”
“Really?”
It seemed Mom really did think highly of Jihwan. Well, he was going to be her son-in-law someday, so there was no harm in looking after him.
While we were having this short conversation, the bell rang for the next period. I said goodbye to Mom and returned to the classroom.
And there…
“Y-you’re back…? Haa…”
I found Jihwan sitting in his seat, breathing heavily as if he’d rushed back.
“You’re late?”
“Y-yeah… I was just getting some fresh air… Haha…”
I could sense a subtle lie in his awkward laugh. Resting my chin on my hand, I studied his face carefully.
His tie was neatly knotted. His collar was perfectly folded. His hair was a little messy, but… he probably got like that while running.
“W-what’s up…?”
Jihwan spoke as if he felt guilty about something.
Am I being too sensitive…?
Thinking it wasn’t good to be so suspicious, I continued scanning his face without much thought.
Then—
…Huh?
I noticed a faint red mark near his mouth. It looked like it had been wiped with water and had smudged.