Embedded Files
[Are you sure you don’t need tutoring?]
[I was going to arrange it for you if you wanted.]
[There’s only a month left until the college entrance exam, you know.]
[I’ll find a really good tutor for you.]
Beep beep. The incessant buzzing made Hae-soo heave a deep sigh.
Honestly, she couldn’t tell if he was trying to help her study or just distract her. He probably didn’t realize she was already straining her eyes over a workbook right now. There was no malice in his willingness to help—how could there be?
Hae-soo picked up her phone, switched it to silent mode, and pushed it far away from her.
Ever since their last meeting, he had been contacting her nonstop. It seemed like he had plenty of free time on his hands. Maybe after being called back home by his family, they were leaving him to his own devices. As Hae-soo absentmindedly doodled in the margins of her workbook, she shook her head to snap herself out of another wandering thought.
This wasn’t the time for distractions. As Seo Hae-seung had reminded her, there was only a month left until the college entrance exam.
The workbook under her pen was a special non-commercial edition given to her by her homeroom teacher, who knew her difficult circumstances. She didn’t have any grand ambitions of scoring high, but as a student preparing for the exam, she couldn’t just sit idle. For days now, she’d been diligently working through the problems.
Perhaps because of her past habit of consistent studying, she didn’t struggle much with understanding the basics and applying them to the questions. The only issue was that sometimes she found herself reflecting on the meaning behind receiving such kindness. Now, she realized, accepting this goodwill was part of her reality as she tried to focus on studying.
“Haah…”
Just moments ago, she had been smoothly working through the problems, but Seo Hae-seung’s messages had completely shattered her concentration.
With an empty stomach growling, Hae-soo reluctantly stood up. Even though she knew there was nothing to eat, she opened the fridge out of habit. As expected, it was almost entirely empty. Her eyes scanned the barren shelves before naturally reaching for the freezer.
Through her blinking eyes, she saw a mountain of ice cream piled high inside.
What the…? Why are there so many ice creams…?
“Ah.”
Hae-soo suddenly remembered something from the summer.
It had either been during one of Lee Ho-beom’s sudden intrusions into her home or after they’d finished having sex. Out of nowhere, he had filled the freezer with hard ice cream bars. Staring at the overflowing pile of ice cream, she had asked in bewilderment:
“Why did you suddenly buy all this?”
“Because you’re terrible at oral.”
“...”
“When I’m not around, practice sucking on these.”
He had mockingly mimicked the motion with his hand, forming a crude gesture of a cylinder moving back and forth near his mouth. At that moment, she had felt an overwhelming urge to throw an ice cream bar straight at his smug face.
He had bought these during the summer, but in defiance, she hadn’t touched a single one. And now, here they still were, piled up even as winter approached. It seemed Lee Ho-beom hadn’t given it much thought after impulsively filling the freezer; he never mentioned it again.
Seeing the ice cream brought back memories of sticky summer days when the humidity made sweat bead on her skin with the slightest movement. Though she didn’t feel like eating it, there was nothing else to fill her stomach at the moment. Reluctantly, she grabbed one of the colorful ice cream bars.
“If Seo Hae-seung finds out, what would he say?”
He’d probably scold her for trying to fill her stomach with snacks instead of proper food.
Lost in these trivial thoughts, Hae-soo unwrapped the packaging. Returning to her low desk, she sat down and took a bite. The cold sensation overwhelmed her mouth, making her head throb as if pricked by needles. Her teeth ached from the chill, so she stopped biting and stuck out her tongue instead. Still, the sweetness melting on the tip of her tongue provided a brief change of mood.
As she savored the sugary taste coating her palate, something caught her eye.
Hae-soo stretched her hand out instinctively.
It was the card Seo Hae-seung had given her the other day. The small, thin rectangle fit easily in her hand. Though seemingly insignificant, this card alone could eliminate any difficulty in navigating the world. Somehow, she had ended up keeping it after forgetting to return it that day. The sense of self-loathing for wavering in front of money was clear, but so was her desperate desire to escape her miserable reality.
Most importantly, because of this card…
BANG!
A loud kick reverberated from the gate in the distance, shattering the stillness of the night. Hae-soo’s frail shoulders flinched at the abrupt noise. Still clutching the card, she stared blankly toward the door as the doorknob creaked and turned moments later.
“Damn it, this thing needs to be fixed.”
Soon after, Lee Ho-beom appeared through the opened door, his brow furrowed in irritation.
Her racing heart found its rhythm again at the sight of his familiar face. Realizing her own reaction, Hae-soo felt a pang of exasperation. Why did she feel relieved seeing him? Despite the different methods, wasn’t he just as tormenting as the thugs who had harassed her?
Lee Ho-beom repeatedly opened and closed the stubborn door, which groaned noisily every time it moved, sometimes refusing to shut properly. Finally, with a forceful push, he closed it and stepped inside. His presence seemed to fill the small house with an overwhelming, intangible aura. The light from the ceiling fixture cast a deep backlight around his head.
After tossing his jacket aside, Lee Ho-beom strode toward Hae-soo. Before he noticed, she quickly hid the card between the books on the nearby shelf.
“What are you doing, high schooler?”
He asked, even though her workbook lay open right in front of her.
Instead of answering, Hae-soo turned her head away. Effortlessly sliding next to her, Lee Ho-beom pulled her waist and seated her on his lap. The sequence of events unfolded exactly as they had the previous week. If she pushed him away now, everything would align perfectly—except for the ice cream in her hand. Unable to resist because of it, she resigned herself to sitting quietly in his grasp.
“Eating ice cream in this weather? Aren’t you cold?”
“...Don’t you remember this?”
“What?”
Clearly, his actions that day had been nothing more than a fleeting impulse.
As Hae-soo sighed, Lee Ho-beom’s hand naturally slipped under her t-shirt and began exploring. Finding no bra in the way, he seemed satisfied and proceeded to grope her soft breasts without hesitation. His lewd, insistent touch pressed against the fabric of her shirt, creating an obscene outline.
The uncomfortable sensation prickling her lower abdomen made Hae-soo grab his wrist. In response, he deliberately pinched and twisted her nipple. The reddened peak was mashed under his fingers, sending sharp tingles of pain through her body.
“Ah...!”
At her faint moan, Lee Ho-beom’s eyebrows twitched.
“You’re sensitive today?”
“Just… ah, it hurts.”
He rubbed her prominently swollen areola, seemingly puzzled.
“Looks a little swollen. Did you pleasure yourself with your nipples while I was gone?”
Was there ever a day he didn’t say something vulgar?
Hae-soo shot him a glare and gripped his wrist tighter. The cold metallic touch of the watch he wore brushed against her skin, making her flinch slightly—it was colder than the ice cream itself.
“It’s not that...”
“It’s dripping.”
“Huh?”
Just as she was about to speak, the ice cream melted into liquid form and dripped down. Her loose pants, hiked up from sitting on his lap, allowed the sticky mess to land directly on his thigh. The hand that had been busy kneading her breast immediately descended to smear the melted treat. He brought his finger, coated with the sticky substance, to her lips.
“Come on, open up.”
Though his tone sounded gentle, his actions were anything but. He forcefully shoved his long finger into her slightly parted mouth. As her inner membranes were pressed harshly, Hae-soo winced, prompting him to chuckle softly. She gave it a perfunctory lick before pushing his finger away. After clearing the sweetness from her mouth with her tongue, she tried to speak again, but his large hand slipped into her loose pants.
Hae-soo hastily grabbed his hand as it hovered over her panties.
“I can’t… I can’t do it today.”
“Why not?”
“It’s that time of the month.”
“That time?”
Hae-soo nodded slowly. Lee Ho-beom’s face darkened with dissatisfaction as he easily understood what she meant. He groped over her panties with sluggish movements, as if to confirm it himself.
When the texture of the sanitary pad became unmistakably clear beneath the thin fabric, he frowned in discontent.
Feeling uncomfortable, Hae-soo squirmed. The presence of the sanitary pad already made her feel stifled, and his direct touch only added to her discomfort. However, Lee Ho-beom’s long fingers continued to linger and rub against the area beneath the pad. His slow, deliberate movements felt unnervingly persistent, almost sticky in their intensity.
“Ah... stop...”
“You’re on your period, huh?”
Lee Ho-beom looked visibly irritated. As Hae-soo tried to push his hand away, she noticed the melted ice cream dripping down her wrist. She couldn’t understand why the ice cream, which had been nearly frozen just moments ago, was now melting so uncontrollably. It felt as though the temperature in the room had suddenly spiked since his arrival.
“I thought maybe this time it’d be late, so I was looking forward to it.”
Between trying to push his hand away from between her legs and dealing with the melting ice cream, Hae-soo was overwhelmed. Taking matters into his own hands, Lee Ho-beom gently grabbed her wrist and licked the trail of cream-colored ice cream off her skin.
“What were you looking forward to?” Hae-soo asked, watching the sinuous movement of his tongue across her wrist. At that moment, the hand that had been between her legs moved to press against her back, pulling her closer to him.
“Thought you might’ve gotten pregnant with my kid.”
His crude tone left Hae-soo momentarily speechless. Seeing her stiffen, Lee Ho-beom smirked lasciviously. Hae-soo averted her gaze from him as he continued to lap at the ice cream trapped between her fingers.
“Let me go. I want to wash my hands.”
She twisted her body away from him, as if the entire situation was unbearably unpleasant. Lee Ho-beom shrugged, as if indulging a child throwing a tantrum, but instead of letting her go, he slipped his hand further into her loose pants. Startled by the bold intrusion, Hae-soo’s shoulder twitched as if burned, jerking upward.
“No, no.”
“...”
“Don’t give me that look.”
Hae-soo glared at him with an uneasy expression, and he grinned smugly, brushing off her irritation. Still, the sharp tension in his eyes didn’t fade as he began pulling her pants down slowly.
Moments later, Hae-soo’s body was dragged by his strong arms and propped up against the wall. He lifted her shirt just enough to expose her nipples. Grabbing her wrist, he guided her hand to trace slow circles around her breast. Just then, a clump of melted ice cream dripped onto her flushed areola. The cold sensation caused her toes to curl inward. Without hesitation, Lee Ho-beom leaned in and licked the areola, taking the entire mound into his mouth.
“Ah...!”
Though his words were never kind, his lips formed a surprisingly gentle curve as they sucked on her nipple. Each deep suction followed by a release created a wet, sticky friction that echoed audibly in the room.
Lee Ho-beom gripped her wrist as if it were his own, making her hand hover over her breast for a while. The remaining half of the ice cream continued to melt, and like an excited dog, he enthusiastically flicked his tongue over her voluptuous breast.
The relentless pressure of his tongue pressing and licking caused her breasts to sway continuously. Already sensitive due to her period, her nipples throbbed painfully, standing erect as if begging for more attention.
“Ah, ugh, it’s so cold...!”
Suddenly, he pressed the mushy remnants of the ice cream directly against her nipple. The icy chill froze her nerves, stiffening her spine with tension. He eagerly licked up the leftover ice cream from her taut nipple, even going so far as to suck on it like a baby feeding, creating loud slurping sounds.
“So fucking sweet.”
“Hnn...”
“Is this what breast milk tastes like?”
Dazed by the mixed sensations of heat and cold, Hae-soo flinched again when she felt her legs being spread wide open.
“Hnn, wait...!”
“I said I’m not doing anything.”
As Hae-soo tried to close her legs, feeling a sense of foreboding, Lee Ho-beom scowled and firmly grabbed her ankle. With his thumb and index finger, he began exploring the untouched inner thigh—smooth and pristine like freshly fallen snow in winter. The sight stirred within him an overwhelming urge for possession and conquest, as if he couldn’t resist leaving his mark, whether it be footprints or bite marks.
He brought the nearly melted ice cream to her upper thigh, letting droplets fall one by one. Trapped between the man and the wall, Hae-soo’s body twitched involuntarily, like a frightened bird. Her helpless movements filled Lee Ho-beom with a heavy surge of lust. His patience paid off as her inner thighs became smeared with the sticky remnants of the ice cream. After stuffing the last bit of ice cream into her mouth, he tossed the wooden stick aside and immediately buried his face between her legs.
“Ah...!”
Hae-soo swallowed the creamy lump in her mouth but gasped sharply as she felt his tongue glide over her sticky thighs. Lee Ho-beom gripped her knees tightly, biting down hard on the soft flesh of her inner thighs, grinding his teeth against her skin. Her pupils dilated from the strange sensation, and her head lolled back. Her breasts swayed up and down as her body jerked in short spasms.
Lee Ho-beom savored the sweet taste, swallowing it down before continuing to leave marks on her thighs. He bit into the tender flesh with even pressure, licked it with his tongue, and sucked on it repeatedly. Each time he raised his head to check, the once-pristine skin now bore distinct reddish marks.
“Shit,” Lee Ho-beom muttered under his breath, unable to hold back a crude curse. Finally burying his face beneath her panties, he lowered his hand to his crotch. With hurried movements, he unbuckled his belt and pulled out his swollen member.
Hae-soo, realizing both his face pressed against her sensitive area and that he had exposed himself, panicked and pushed desperately at his head.
“Mmm, no, I don’t want this…!”
“Haa, I said I’m not doing anything. Just stay still for a moment, okay? Shit...”
With her period, the texture of her panties felt different than usual. He pressed his nose firmly against the fabric, greedily inhaling.
Most encounters with this man were intense, but today’s bizarre behavior seemed particularly excessive. Hae-soo struggled desperately. Despite being on her period, every time he rubbed his nose against her covered opening, she felt an unsettling pulsation deep inside. This primal sensation amplified her discomfort and fear.
Lee Ho-beom continued licking the cloth-covered area with fervor while gripping his erection in one hand. He expertly stroked himself, spreading pre-cum along the shaft, sliding his fingers up and down its engorged length. His blood-filled veins throbbed visibly; even his large hand couldn’t fully encircle the swollen organ.
Desire boiled over like sewage. Right now, all he wanted was to push aside the thin layer of fabric and thrust himself greedily into her wet hole with all his strength. He imagined watching Ahn Hae-soo sob uncontrollably as he forced himself inside her. The thought of penetrating her deeply, making her tremble and unable to swallow, sent a burning thirst through him that drove him mad. His tongue moved more erratically across the fabric.
A moment later, Lee Ho-beom abruptly lifted his torso, which had been lying low against the floor.
Hae-soo, barely holding onto her slipping consciousness, tried to close her legs, but Lee Ho-beom quickly pressed his massive frame against her first.
He grabbed her hair forcefully, twisting her neck to expose the pale nape. Kissing her long, graceful neck obscenely, he ground his throbbing cock against her panties. His relentless, lewd movements resembled a snake slithering into a narrow, damp swamp.
“Hnn...!”
“Haa, Ahn Hae-soo...”
His lips clung to her nape, sucking on her skin while rubbing insistently below. Hae-soo didn’t know what to do, pinned helplessly under his solid weight.
Lee Ho-beom finally lifted his head from her slender neck, staring intently at Hae-soo’s dazed face. His lips twisted into a fierce smirk before he shoved his tongue deep into her slightly parted mouth.
By now, their lower bodies were colliding intensely, mimicking actual sex. With no way to escape his proximity, Hae-soo’s hands naturally rested on his neck and shoulders. Her timid movements stimulated his lower abdomen. Treating her tongue like a lump of sugar, he sucked greedily, swimming freely inside her small, warm mouth.
Eventually, the tingling sensation at the back of his throat prompted him to withdraw his tongue from her mouth. His rough movements left a thin strand of saliva stretching between them. Rising on his knees, he lifted her shirt, which had slipped down to her waist, exposing her soft, full breasts. The thick tip of his erection nestled itself between her breasts.
“Squeeze your tits together.”
The man’s gravelly voice was unnervingly low, signaling how close he was to climax. When Hae-soo remained motionless, feeling embarrassed and unwilling, Lee Ho-beom’s brow furrowed angrily.
“I don’t want to hit you today, so listen to me.”
It was a venomous threat. Memories of being struck across the face while her hair was yanked resurfaced. The corner of her mouth, now healed, suddenly stung again, pushing her toward some unseen edge.
With no other choice, Hae-soo reluctantly raised her hands and awkwardly squeezed her breasts together. The thick shaft nestled between the soft mounds of flesh, almost completely buried. Lee Ho-beom began moving his hips up and down, coaxing himself toward climax.
The throbbing head of his erection, veins pulsating visibly, slid back and forth between her breast tissue, an unbearably arousing sight. He pinched and gently twisted her erect nipples with his fingers, adjusting the intensity of his stimulation. Then, in a low, hoarse voice, he growled, “Open your mouth.”
Desperate for this to end, Hae-soo obediently parted her lips. The tip of his member brushed against her lips, rubbing slightly. A sharp, metallic scent wafted over her, and she instinctively tried to close her mouth. But Lee Ho-beom hooked his finger under her lower lip, stopping her. As she waited with her mouth open, the twitching shaft soon erupted, spurting sticky semen deep inside.
The viscous, bitter liquid clung to her mouth like spider webs. Some of it spilled out, dirtying her lips. She wiped it away indifferently with the back of her hand. Trying to ignore the overwhelming feeling of being a seasoned prostitute who had grown numb to such acts—despite no actual penetration—she pushed the thought aside.
Even without intercourse, exhaustion weighed heavily on her entire body. Hae-soo stood up, feeling uncomfortable all over—her chest, her groin, everything. She decided to wash up, but as she stumbled slightly, Lee Ho-beom pulled her waist toward him and chuckled, “Want me to wash you?”
Hae-soo managed to push him away and entered the bathroom alone. The one-pyeong bathroom, covered in water stains and mold, couldn’t produce warm water no matter how much she turned the faucet. At first, she couldn’t even shower properly with the lukewarm water, but now she let it run over her body without flinching.
After a quick wash, Hae-soo emerged to find Lee Ho-beom rummaging through the bookshelf near her desk. Startled, she scurried over in small, hurried steps and snatched the workbook he was handling.
“Leave now,” she muttered curtly. He had already climaxed after intense foreplay, and since they couldn’t go any further anyway, there was nothing left to do. But before she could finish speaking, Lee Ho-beom pulled her onto his lap. Even when not engaging in physical contact, he always insisted on pressing their bodies together. The smell of the cigarette he was smoking stung her nostrils.
“What’s this?” he asked, flicking at the clumsily taped scraps of paper on the moldy wallpaper next to the desk. They were old and faded, having been brought from her previous home, and crumpled easily under his rough touch. Hae-soo grabbed his hand to stop him.
“Do you want to go to the sea?”
The crumpled papers all featured photos of flowing water. The sunlight captured in the images created a gentle shimmer, retaining a certain romance despite their age.
“No.”
“Then why do you have these?”
This man occasionally showed an oddly persistent interest in strange things. Knowing that trying to evade his questions would be futile, Hae-soo decided to answer honestly.
“I want to live in a house with a view like this someday.”
It was both her dream and her father’s dream.
She couldn’t explain why she had brought only these pictures with her, folding away all other memories.
“A house overlooking the sea?”
“It doesn’t have to be the sea. Just… scenery like this.”
Her father had promised that if his ongoing projects succeeded, they would move to a beautiful house with a view like this. He had even said he’d already found a place. In the end, that dream had vanished like a midsummer night’s fantasy…
Lee Ho-beom stared at the pictures for a moment, following her gaze, then abruptly changed the subject.
“JK Hotel.”
The sudden mention of those words caught Hae-soo’s ears sharply.
“Have you been there?”
Her head turned toward him stiffly, like a broken machine forced into motion.
“Why do you ask?”
“I think I saw you there.”
“...”
He hadn’t asked out of uncertainty. From the start, he had been sure it was her and dangled the question like bait. The tips of Hae-soo’s fingers, gripping the towel, stiffened. Lee Ho-beom took a final drag of his cigarette and exhaled, letting pale smoke drift lazily between them.
“Your lover?”
The tone was as subtle as the haze of smoke filling the air.
Her thoughts froze solid. The JK Hotel was part of Seo Hae-seung’s family conglomerate and currently served as his temporary residence while he stayed in Korea. Just a few days ago, Hae-soo had met him there for another meal.
Refusing to meet him under the pretext of preparing for the college entrance exam could only work so many times; completely ignoring him wasn’t feasible. If she pushed too hard, it might backfire and lead to Seo Hae-seung visiting her at home, which would be an even bigger disaster. But how could Lee Ho-beom have seen them? On reflection, avoiding him wasn’t limited to just this house—it applied everywhere.
Her sinking consciousness snapped back when Lee Ho-beom’s hand, which had been wandering near her pelvis, slipped stealthily toward her groin. Unable to stop the contact as his fingers brushed against the inner thigh, Hae-soo responded with as much indifference as she could muster.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Just… a friend.”
She didn’t know why she felt compelled to explain herself to Lee Ho-beom, but placating him seemed better than provoking unnecessary trouble.
“Did you have friends?”
His tone carried more surprise than dismissal. Though she answered him, Hae-soo found the conversation deeply uncomfortable. With a vague nod, she muttered, “I’m going to bed,” attempting to forcibly end the discussion. She stood up from where she’d been perched on his thigh and walked toward the wall switch in the living room.
“Ahn Hae-soo.”
The lights clicked off.
In the darkness, only the glowing ember of Lee Ho-beom’s cigarette remained distinct, its faint glow intensifying his presence. Breaking through the pitch-blackness, he approached her with heavy steps, the acrid smell of tobacco growing stronger.
“I asked you before—what are you planning to do after graduation?”
“...”
“Don’t you want to go to college?”
Because of his towering height, Hae-soo had to crane her neck painfully upward just to face him. In that position, her gaze slid away, drifting toward the workbook he had been examining earlier. Her head dropped abruptly, as if mocking her previous upward glance.
A suffocating silence devoured the air. After a long pause, Hae-soo finally replied:
“I haven’t thought about it.”
“Why not?”
“You told me not to live a pathetic life.”
“...”
“To me, right now, that’s what going to college feels like—a pointless act.”
The collapse of her family due to her father’s failed business had brutally awakened her to the fact that the privileges she once took for granted were never guaranteed. For Hae-soo, nothing was “guaranteed” anymore. Everything required justification, and justification required money—something she utterly lacked. Even if she had reasons or dreams, without funds, they were all impossible pursuits.
College.
Once, it had been as natural a part of her scripted life as breathing. But no longer.
“Do you really believe that?”
Lee Ho-beom tilted his chin slightly, as if presenting evidence to counter her claim.
She knew exactly what he was referring to: the non-commercial workbook sitting on the desk. Hae-soo bit down hard on her lower lip. Even she sometimes felt a deep sense of futility while studying those materials. If she wasn’t going to attend university anyway, poring over such books was utterly useless. Yet, she clung to excuses like “the entrance exam is approaching” and “it’s my duty as a student,” deluding herself into believing there was purpose in it.
“Whether you believe me or not, I don’t care.”
“...”
“Besides, it’s none of your business anyway.”
Her fists clenched tightly.
It was an uncomfortable topic, one that pricked her mind like a sharp thorn. Especially since the person she was discussing it with was Lee Ho-beom. Talking about the future with a man who had contributed to shattering her life felt absurd and out of place. No matter how she thought about it, it only seemed like a cruel joke, akin to torturing her with false hope.
That’s why her words came out sharper than intended.
And it was Hae-soo herself who flinched and stepped back after speaking.
A single red ember glowed in the darkness. The faint light revealed Lee Ho-beom’s gaze, fierce and predatory, sending a wave of oppressive intimidation that instantly crushed her unease.
“You said ‘you’?”
Lee Ho-beom slowly wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and tilted his head slightly. His towering frame made even minor movements feel like overwhelming threats. Unconsciously, Hae-soo pressed her back firmly against the wall, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route. In that moment, he reached out and extinguished his cigarette on the wall right next to her face. Even in the dim lighting, she could feel the force he applied to snuff it out. It felt as though the burning cigarette were searing her own skin, sending chills down her spine.
Finally, he tapped her pale cheek lightly with the back of his hand.
“You sure know how to talk pretty, Hae-soo.”
The seemingly teasing gesture quickly turned violent as he grabbed her chin with crushing force, as if he wanted to shatter the bone. Fear gripped her—what if he really dislocated her jaw? Panicking, Hae-soo hastily grabbed his arm.
“Uh...”
“No matter how much I try to be nice to you, damn it.”
Clicking his tongue in irritation, Lee Ho-beom released her face with a rough shove, causing her to stagger. As Hae-soo rubbed her sore jaw, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Left alone in the cramped apartment, she slowly slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor.
The longer time went on, the more unmanageable things became. At some point, her life had turned into a tangled mess of threads—so tightly knotted that from afar, it just looked like a lump of dust, crude and filthy. But even if she examined it closely, there seemed to be no solution in sight.
Hae-soo buried her face in her knees, which she hugged tightly. Only now did she feel the tension easing, but a dull ache in her abdomen began to throb. There was no moment of rest; each layer of pain was quickly covered by another. Sighing deeply, she got up and headed to the kitchen, opening the cabinet.
She pulled out a pre-purchased menstrual painkiller but hesitated. Her hand moved across the shelves inside the cabinet. Stopping abruptly, she turned toward the trash can.
“...Hah.”
There, buried in the trash, was the emergency contraceptive pill she had set aside.
Who else could have done this?
It was clear that while she was showering, Lee Ho-beom had thrown it away. She had gone straight to the trash because this wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this. Though he never explicitly mentioned contraception, whenever he found any related items, he would toss them into the trash—a silent expression of his aversion. Today, hearing that she was on her period and realizing she had taken the pill must have upset him.
Moreover, today he had mentioned expecting a child.
As always, Lee Ho-beom treated her life like a toy to play with. If she were to get pregnant, she would be the only one falling into ruin. Despite pushing her deeper into the mire, why did he keep asking about her future?
Every time Lee Ho-beom showed excessive curiosity about unnecessary things, it made her deeply uneasy. It was as if he assumed they would remain entangled in this messy relationship forever. The only thing binding them together was the debt she couldn’t repay, yet he acted as though there was something more...
“It’s so frustrating...”
Hae-soo hesitated as she reached into the trash can for the pill box.
In the past, she would reluctantly fish out items from the trash, driven by the cost. But now, things were different. Her gaze shifted to the low desk, specifically to the card Seo Hae-seung had slipped between the books. Thanks to that card, she had been able to stock up on menstrual painkillers and contraceptive pills without worry.
Today, she didn’t stoop to digging through the trash for the pill.
────────────
Hae-soo awkwardly fiddled with the buttons.
The button was engraved with an intricate pattern, as if paint had been spread across its transparent surface. But it wasn’t just the buttons—every aspect of the uniform she wore was smooth and free of any discomfort. The material was lightweight yet provided excellent warmth, making the room feel almost too warm with the heater turned on.
Hae-soo’s hand moved to the back of her neck, intending to search for the price tag, but it was gently pulled down before she could.
“Just stay still.”
Seo Hae-seung whispered firmly, uncharacteristically decisive.
Hae-soo dropped her hand from her neck and glanced around nervously, rolling her eyes as if checking for something. Meanwhile, Seo Hae-seung adjusted the collar of the coat that had been flipped inside out. After straightening it, he stepped back, looked her over from head to toe, and said:
“It suits you well.”
Hae-soo tucked a strand of tangled hair behind her ear and lifted her face. In the large mirror, their reflections stood side by side, along with the dazzling chandelier lighting and the extravagantly luxurious scenery of the place. Unable to hide her unease, Hae-soo quickly averted her gaze from the mirror.
“Should we try something else on?”
Unlike Hae-soo, Seo Hae-seung seemed completely at ease. He browsed through racks filled with coats, some similar to what Hae-soo was wearing and others entirely different, searching for designs that might suit her.
His refined yet commanding touch paused after a while. Apparently dissatisfied, he furrowed his brow and glanced toward the corner. With just a flick of his eyes, the personal shopper waiting nearby bowed deeply and hurriedly instructed the staff standing nearby. It seemed they were being told to bring something else.
“I think this one is fine...”
Hae-soo clutched the hem of the coat, which she had been fidgeting with endlessly. She couldn’t get used to the situation in this place where Seo Hae-seung reigned like a king, treating everyone else like servants. To ease the awkwardness weighing on her shoulders, she looked around.
This space resembled a scaled-down version of a grand hotel banquet hall, designed exclusively for high-end customers who boasted annual expenditures in staggering amounts. It functioned as a private shopping area tailored specifically for individual clients. Sitting on the plush sofa, one could wait while clothes, accessories, and other items curated according to their preferences were displayed on racks, saving them the trouble of unnecessary walking or wasted energy.
If Seo Hae-seung were the main guest here, there wouldn’t have been any issue. Hae-soo could simply sit comfortably on the sofa, enjoy refreshments, and watch him shop. This wasn’t the first time she’d done so—it was simple enough to just comment on what suited him best or what looked better.
But today, she was the main guest.
Every piece of clothing filling the space illuminated by the sparkling chandeliers was prepared for her. She hadn’t overlooked how Seo Hae-seung had remarked during their last meeting, “You seem to be dressing too lightly,” while fiddling with his own coat. Of course, even though she hadn’t ignored his comment, it didn’t mean she had come up with any solution.
“You look too childish.”
Hae-soo snapped back to attention when Seo Hae-seung tapped her cheek lightly with his finger. The touch disappeared before she could flinch. As she blinked in confusion, he was already tenderly closing the front of her open coat.
“Maybe it’s because the color is beige.”
“...”
“You really look like a high schooler.”
“...”
“Do you like this design? Should I ask them to bring a darker one?”
Though it sounded like he was speaking to Hae-soo, his words were actually directed at the employees listening intently. Soon, another coat of the same design but in a different color was brought out. Hae-soo removed the beige coat and put on a deep navy-blue one. As Seo Hae-seung began fastening each button, he hummed a cheerful tune, seemingly in a good mood.
And when he finished buttoning it, he couldn’t suppress a grin.
“Ah, this one makes you look childish too.”
“What do you mean, ‘childish’? I’m the same age as you!”
“What were you doing while I was abroad? Seriously, you haven’t grown up at all, Ahn Hae-soo.”
Every time Seo Hae-seung smiled, revealing his neat teeth, deep dimples formed on his cheeks. His expression radiated immense satisfaction, as if dressing her up like a doll brought him endless joy. Hae-soo couldn’t understand what was so enjoyable about it—trying on one coat after another.
While Seo Hae-seung handed the beige coat to an employee, Hae-soo quickly checked the price tag. She nearly bit her tongue in shock. Was there something wrong with her vision?
How many zeroes was that?
Though she had expected the item to be expensive since it was presented in his VVIP room, the actual price far exceeded her imagination.
“Maybe I’ll buy both… You can alternate between them.”
“Hae-seung, I don’t need these kinds of things.”
The vague figure suddenly took on concrete weight, and a wave of burden surged within her like bile. How much did this cost? And he wanted to buy two of them? Hae-soo hurriedly removed the navy coat she was wearing and shook her head. The dimples on Seo Hae-seung’s cheeks disappeared as he quickly stopped her from taking it off.
“I want to buy them for you. You barely use the card I gave you anyway.”
“But...”
“Hae-soo.”
Seo Hae-seung called her name softly.
Perhaps because their names were so similar, Hae-soo sometimes felt as though she heard her own voice in his tone when he addressed her. Whenever she called him “Hae-seung-ah” to stop him, he would reluctantly smile and let it go. In turn, she felt obligated to do the same when he called her name in that familiar way.
In truth, Hae-soo wasn’t unaware that buying a few coats like these wouldn’t make even the slightest dent in Seo Hae-seung’s wealth. But knowing that didn’t fully suppress her pride, which occasionally made her defensive and reluctant.
“I only bought medicine...”
Hae-soo’s fingers twitched inward. Whenever she used the card, Seo Hae-seung received a text notification. And recently, due to her pharmacy purchases, texts related to drugstores must have been sent to him. Just moments ago, she had lied, saying she bought cold medicine and vitamins to cover it up.
Was it because she had something to hide? Ever since that day, whenever Seo Hae-seung mentioned pharmacies, she instinctively became nervous.
“Alright...”
Swallowing a sigh, she reluctantly agreed. Seeing her response, Seo Hae-seung smiled, his eyes crinkling as if he’d gotten exactly what he wanted. For some reason, she always felt drawn in during moments like this—but without any concrete evidence, all she could do was let it slide. Seo Hae-seung carefully helped her remove the half-taken-off coat, treating her like royalty. He even adjusted the collar of her uniform shirt, which had flipped inside out.
That was when his hand slipped toward the nape of her neck.
“What happened here?”
Slap!
Before her rational mind could catch up, Hae-soo reflexively swatted his hand away and stepped back. It was an involuntary reaction, driven by instinct.
And no wonder—it wasn’t just any mark his fingertips had brushed against; it was a trace left by Lee Ho-beom.
She had been uneasy when he bit her neck too hard the other day, and sure enough, a vivid red mark now lingered on the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck. While areas like her chest or thighs could be covered by clothing, her neck was prone to exposure. As a result, she had no choice but to cover it with a bandage.
After managing to conceal it until now, the sudden discovery of the mark triggered an overreaction. Even Seo Hae-seung seemed taken aback, his hand frozen mid-air after being slapped away. Hae-soo quickly covered the spot with her palm and said:
“Ah, I accidentally scratched it while showering...”
“...”
“Sorry... I was startled and reacted without thinking.”
“Are you hurt badly?”
“Huh? No, it’s not that serious.”
Hae-soo frantically waved her hands, worried that Seo Hae-seung might lift the bandage. His sharp, probing gaze lingered on the bandage, as if he could see through it and uncover everything beneath. Her fingers, busy denying anything was wrong, gradually froze, and an inexplicable cold sweat trickled down her back. She finally relaxed when Seo Hae-seung nodded.
“Make sure you treat it well so it doesn’t get worse.”
“Yeah.”
Fortunately, he didn’t press further and dropped his curiosity about the bandage. Hae-soo left the private room with Seo Hae-seung, receiving overly polite farewells from the staff along the way.
“Should we grab something to eat before we go?”
“Huh? No, I’m not really hungry.”
Seo Hae-seung’s skeptical gaze landed on her once again. Hae-soo gave a quick smile, pretending she was telling the truth. Ever since being spotted by Lee Ho-beom at the hotel restaurant, she had tried to avoid open spaces with Seo Hae-seung as much as possible.
She didn’t fully understand why she was so determined to prevent the two men from meeting, but she knew one thing for certain: their encounter wouldn’t lead to anything good for her. That’s why she worked so hard to keep them apart.
“Lee Ho-beom...”
Hae-soo recalled the violent man who had extinguished his cigarette right next to her face just days ago.
Had it already been a month since then?
It seemed Lee Ho-beom hadn’t shown up since that day.
Sometimes, thoughts of him would creep into her mind, bruising her pride. It wasn’t because she wanted to think about him—it was beyond her control. If he stayed out of sight, it was better for her. After all, she wouldn’t have to spread her legs unwillingly or feel the crushing shame mixed with unwanted pleasure.
Even so, every now and then, an indescribable sensation would stir within her—something akin to anxiety. She couldn’t explain why it felt anxious or what exactly triggered it, but there it was.
In the time Lee Ho-beom had been absent, Hae-soo met with Seo Hae-seung a couple of times. Their encounters were usually peaceful, like today’s, but occasionally, she felt overwhelmed by his staggering wealth, leaving her chest tight and suffocated.
“Seo Hae-seung?”
They had just arrived at the parking lot where his car was parked.
As they exchanged casual remarks about the day’s events, a sharp female voice suddenly interrupted. Both their gazes slid toward the source. There stood a woman gripping the driver’s side door of a bright red imported car. From her high heels to the nail polish on the hand holding the door, everything about her was strikingly red.
“I thought so—Seo Hae-seung, it really is you.”
The woman, having confirmed his face in the dim light, abruptly closed the car door she had been about to climb into with a firm thud. Then, with deliberate clicks of her stiletto heels, she approached them. The sharp sound of her shoes echoed across the vast space, piercing their eardrums.
As she drew closer, a strong perfume enveloped the air around them. It was a seductive rose scent that matched her alluring image—but it was unmistakably artificial, far removed from anything natural.
“It’s been a while. I heard you’d returned to the country, and here you are.”
“Indeed, Unnie.”
Apparently, they knew each other, as Seo Hae-seung greeted her naturally. Despite wearing extremely high heels, the woman didn’t wobble once. On the contrary, she exuded confidence and poise as she stepped directly in front of him. Even in those towering heels, Seo Hae-seung still towered slightly over her. In moments like these, Hae-soo found herself thinking, He really is a man. Beneath his usual gentle and approachable demeanor lay a masculinity that revealed itself unexpectedly.
The woman and Seo Hae-seung began chatting about matters Hae-soo knew nothing about. It seemed their families were connected through business, as they exchanged greetings about each other’s relatives without hesitation. Though Hae-soo was technically part of Seo Hae-seung’s group, she quickly became an afterthought, like a sack of barley left forgotten in the corner. Still, she couldn’t disrupt the atmosphere by making things awkward, so she quietly stood aside.
In the meantime, she subtly rolled her eyes to take in the woman’s appearance. Underneath the sleek black fur jacket, a sliver of her dress peeked out—a scrap of fabric that barely deserved the name. The top plunged dangerously low, revealing a teasing glimpse of cleavage, while the hem ended high enough to expose most of her thighs. Her outfit starkly contrasted with Hae-soo’s modestly covered look.
At that moment, Hae-soo’s eyes met the woman’s.
“Oh my, you brought someone with you.”
The corners of her lips, painted in deep red lipstick matching her heels, curled into an amused smirk. Her eyes, half-hidden in the dimness of the parking lot, reminded Hae-soo of a snake’s gaze. The way she scanned Hae-soo from head to toe sent chills down her spine. When the woman noticed Hae-soo’s neat school uniform peeking out from under her coat, she burst into laughter.
“Your taste in women has changed quite a bit since I last saw you, Hae-seung-ah.”
It was unmistakably closer to mockery than a genuine smile. The discomfort it stirred in Hae-soo made her shrink inwardly, but Seo Hae-seung answered on her behalf.
“We’re not like that.”
“Really?”
The woman beamed as if she’d just heard the most delightful news. She rummaged through the small handbag slung over her shoulder and pulled out something—what looked like a business card. With her red-polished fingers, she handed it to Seo Hae-seung, then slowly dragged her hand down his chest. The unexpected intimacy stunned Hae-soo, leaving her mind blank, as though she had witnessed something she shouldn’t have.
“I’m running late for an appointment, so I’ll get going. But if you ever feel like it, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Blowing a playful kiss into the air with her fingertips, the woman turned without a trace of regret. Her black fur jacket fluttered dramatically, filling Hae-soo’s vision before she disappeared as swiftly as she had arrived—like the wind.
Hae-soo only snapped back to reality after climbing into the passenger seat of Seo Hae-seung’s car.
“Are you sure you don’t want to eat before heading home?”
Specifically, it was when she heard that question.
Hae-soo nodded, careful not to reveal her startled thoughts. Though Seo Hae-seung looked slightly displeased, he didn’t press further. He placed the shopping bags in the backseat and started the engine. The car glided smoothly out of the parking lot. As they emerged outside, the night sky was already speckled densely with stars.
The interior felt slightly suffocating due to the heater being cranked up. Just as Hae-soo reached to adjust it, her eyes landed on a carelessly discarded business card in the cup holder near the console box.
“That woman earlier...”
Coincidentally, a red light stopped them, and Seo Hae-seung naturally glanced at Hae-soo.
“Were you two dating?”
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason... It’s just that she touched you so casually.”
It was the kind of physical contact that seemed natural only between ex-lovers. The fact that Seo Hae-seung might have had a girlfriend in the past didn’t bother her much. She was simply surprised by the woman’s appearance—her voluptuous figure clashed with Seo Hae-seung’s clean-cut, pristine image.
Seo Hae-seung’s amber eyes were tinged red by the stoplight, giving off a subtly dangerous vibe. Hae-soo couldn’t tear her gaze away from his irises.
“No.”
He finally spoke after the light turned green.
“That unnie… She acts like that with all men.”
The rush of redness that had flooded her cheeks receded like an ebbing tide. Only then did it feel like the Seo Hae-seung she knew had returned.
“Is that so? When she mentioned your taste in women, I wondered if maybe…”
The woman had seemed confident that she embodied Seo Hae-seung’s type—not someone like Hae-soo. The implication in her tone supported that idea. Hae-soo had asked the question assuming that only an ex-girlfriend would speak so definitively about his preferences.
But his immediate dismissal suggested it was merely her own misunderstanding.
In truth, it wasn’t something worth overthinking. What did it matter to her how Seo Hae-seung’s romantic relationships played out?
“That unnie does know a bit about my preferences.”
Just as Hae-soo’s curiosity began to wane, her eyes caught sight of the crumpled business card again. A floral pattern engraved on one corner suddenly stood out to her. A flower… on a business card? Finding the combination odd, her hand instinctively reached for it.
“Aren’t you curious?”
Seo Hae-seung gently caught her hand. His touch was soft yet firm. Preoccupied with pondering his words, Hae-soo didn’t realize it was meant as a restraint.
“What good does it do for me to know your type…?”
She genuinely sounded puzzled as she asked. Then, almost reflexively, she added:
“I don’t have any girlfriends to introduce you to anyway. Especially not someone like the woman we saw earlier.”
“You’re too much, Ahn Hae-soo.”
Seo Hae-seung shook his head with an amused, exasperated smile. While Hae-soo wasn’t looking, he retrieved the crumpled piece of paper hidden under the console box and stuffed it into the door pocket on the driver’s side. Fortunately, Hae-soo didn’t remember or show further interest in it.
Before long, the car arrived near the dimly lit, run-down neighborhood.
“I’ll get out here.”
“I’ll take you further.”
Hae-soo silently stared at him, her hand resting on the passenger-side door handle. Sometimes, her gaze conveyed more than ten words ever could. Seo Hae-seung reluctantly unlocked the door, and Hae-soo stepped out. She accepted the shopping bags he handed over after climbing out of the car as well. Though she had only agreed to two coats, the number of shopping bags had subtly increased. No wonder he had insisted she not carry anything when they left the parking lot.
When Hae-soo narrowed her eyes suspiciously, Seo Hae-seung chuckled sheepishly.
“You really didn’t need to buy this much...”
“I got you a scarf and a few other things. You get cold easily.”
After his concise explanation, he gestured for her to go ahead.
“Go on, I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
But when Hae-soo remained rooted in place, Seo Hae-seung scratched his head, seemingly at a loss. He likely already knew the location of her house among the tightly packed, roach-infested homes in this neighborhood, but Hae-soo still wanted to avoid giving him even the slightest glimpse of vulnerability.
Before climbing back into the driver’s seat, Seo Hae-seung leaned toward her.
“Ahn Hae-soo, do your best on the exam tomorrow.”
“...Okay.”
“When it’s over, let’s hang out.”
His childishly innocent suggestion made Hae-soo burst into laughter despite herself. “Alright,” she replied gently, and with that, Seo Hae-seung finally got back into the car. Only after watching him drive away did Hae-soo turn and walk toward the shadows behind her.
The steep slope she climbed felt unusually bright tonight. Hae-soo lifted her head and saw the full moon hanging low in the sky, illuminating the world with startling clarity. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the crisp winter air.
Finally, tomorrow was the college entrance exam.
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