Husband Role - Episode 15

The honeymoon was Eun-seol’s first trip abroad. Everything felt foreign and awkward, just like her picture in her passport. So, Eun-seol confessed something to Jung-hyuk before he even asked.

 

That it was her first time overseas.

 

Jung-hyuk calmly replied that she would have more opportunities in the future.

 

A month ago, Jung-hyuk had asked her where she wanted to go for their honeymoon.

 

Eun-seol couldn’t think of any particular place.

 

She had been struggling to get through each exhausting day, so she hadn’t had time to think about it.

 

After hesitating for a moment, Eun-seol suddenly remembered the famous line, “A mojito in the Maldives,” and immediately said she was curious about the Maldives.

 

How good must it be to inspire such a line?

 

She had a hunch. That it would be a heavenly, blissful place.

 

“The Maldives. Understood.”

 

He replied concisely.

 

And that’s how they ended up here, in the Maldives.

 

Eun-seol’s premonition was correct.

 

The Maldives, where each island was like a resort, was paradise on earth itself.

 

The clear blue sky, the endless transparent sea, the cajans made of thatched roofs, and the towering palm trees boasted a refreshing and peaceful landscape.

 

It was as if she had been sucked into a high-resolution photograph.

 

However, it had taken too much time to get here. Eun-seol couldn’t help but feel uneasy about it.

 

He must be so tired already.

 

She thought it would have been better to go to nearby Jeju Island and get some rest.

 

Then Jung-hyuk asked.

 

“This place. Is it worse than you thought?”

 

She must have unknowingly made a dark expression. Eun-seol shook her head.

 

Even so, the question didn’t leave Jung-hyuk’s face, so she honestly told him her thoughts.

 

“Actually, I don’t know much about foreign countries. I wasn’t interested either. All I know is that the capital of France is Paris, and the capital of China is Beijing. That’s about it.”

 

Jung-hyuk looked at Eun-seol with listening eyes. Eun-seol continued without stopping.

 

“When you asked me where I wanted to go, I couldn’t think of a place right away. So, I said ‘Maldives’ on a whim. I didn’t know it was such a faraway place.”

 

“It’s far, but,”

 

He continued in a gentle voice.

 

“When else would we come if not on our honeymoon?”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“Next time, feel free to tell me if there’s anything you don’t know. Or you can leave it to me.”

 

“Am I too stupid?”

 

Eun-seol asked, covering her flushed cheeks. Then Jung-hyuk shook his head and opened his mouth.

 

It was understandable, and they could learn things little by little in the future. Then he said again.

 

“If you don’t know, ask, and if it’s difficult, get help.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“You can do that with your husband.”

 

Eun-seol replied softly, “Yes.” Then Jung-hyuk placed his hand lightly on the crown of Eun-seol’s head. It wasn’t a significant touch, but Eun-seol’s face flushed red again.

 

“Like a cherry tomato.”

 

A faint, smiling voice echoed from above her head. Eun-seol mumbled, “Cherry tomato…” and smiled wryly.

 

 

Evening came earlier than expected in the Maldives. The surroundings were shrouded in pitch-black darkness, leaving only the restaurant with its soft orange lights.

 

Eun-seol and Jung-hyuk sat facing each other and opened the menus. Even while reading the menu, Eun-seol couldn’t guess what kind of dishes they were. She could only read the English and identify the main ingredients.

 

After pondering for a moment, Eun-seol recalled what Jung-hyuk had told her that morning. To ask if she didn’t know, and to get help if it was difficult.

 

“I… I don’t really know what anything is.”

 

Eun-seol said, closing the menu. Then Jung-hyuk said he would order and called a waiter.

 

Soon, he recited the menu in fluent English. Then he looked back at Eun-seol and asked.

 

“Want to have some alcohol too?”

 

“Yes…!”

 

Jung-hyuk slightly raised the corners of his mouth at her immediate answer and opened his mouth.

 

Jung-hyuk’s voice, pronouncing the name of the alcohol, softly penetrated Eun-seol’s ears. Her heart pounded for no reason.

 

The first time drinking together.

 

She had never been in a relationship before, so this situation of drinking alone with a man felt very special to her.

 

The waiter stepped away, and Jung-hyuk looked at Eun-seol.

 

“I ordered a simple course meal.”

 

But he was just nonchalant.

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Soon, chicken noodle soup and satay were served. Just by looking at them, she couldn’t tell what they would taste like or how to eat them.

 

This time, instead of asking Jung-hyuk, she quietly watched what he did.

 

He scooped the soup from the outside of the deep bowl to the inside, and he poured sauce over the satay and picked it up with a fork.

 

When Jung-hyuk took a bite, Eun-seol also took a bite, when Jung-hyuk wiped his mouth, Eun-seol also wiped her mouth, and when Jung-hyuk placed his cutlery in a cross on the plate, Eun-seol also placed her cutlery in a cross on the plate.

 

Then, her eyes caught sight of his knuckles, which were bruised badly. He had been injured right after the wedding ceremony, and when a surprised Eun-seol asked why, he dismissed it as nothing.

 

It didn’t seem like nothing, but judging from Jung-hyuk’s firm attitude, there seemed to be nothing she could say.

 

She felt a little disappointed, and beyond disappointment, worried.

 

“Is the shadow play over?”

 

Jung-hyuk asked with a low laugh at Eun-seol, who had been in a temporary state of pause.

 

Eun-seol forced herself to suppress her presumptuous feelings and replaced them with a smile.

 

After that, the main course, steak, came out. This time, Jung-hyuk swapped the plate of steak cut into small pieces from the left with Eun-seol’s.

 

He gestured silently for her to eat.

 

Eun-seol hesitated for a moment, looking down at the bloody meat.

 

“I ordered it medium. Is it not good?”

 

“No.”

 

She preferred well-done, but for some reason, she didn’t want to say it honestly.

 

Last year, she had gone to a buffet with her university classmates.

 

Her classmates had teased her for being unsophisticated because she couldn’t eat raw food.

 

Eun-seol didn’t feel offended, but rather a little embarrassed.

 

“I’ll enjoy the meal.”

 

After saying hello spiritedly, Eun-seol took a deep breath and put a piece of meat in her mouth.

 

It was as if a sparkling sound effect rang in Eun-seol’s ears.

 

As she widened her eyes and moved her mouth, Jung-hyuk stopped cutting his steak and looked at her.

 

“Looks like you like it.”

 

“It’s delishush.”

 

She spoke with unclear pronunciation because she was in a hurry to express her feelings.

 

Jung-hyuk poured the red wine from the decanter as if it didn’t matter.

 

Crimson wine sloshed in the unique blue glass. The aroma of aged grapes brushed against Eun-seol’s nose.

 

Eun-seol grabbed the glass stem as if possessed. Then she glanced sideways at Jung-hyuk.

 

He gently swirled the glass.

 

Eun-seol awkwardly tried to follow, but the red liquid in the glass lost its way and splashed around.

 

Surprised, she flinched, and Jung-hyuk chuckled softly.

 

“…”

 

Eun-seol felt embarrassed for no reason.

 

“Try it.”

 

He recommended it in a calm tone as if nothing had happened, and Eun-seol quietly took a sip of wine.

 

“…!”

 

Her eyes widened again. It was delicious. It was sour and bitter, but the aftertaste was slightly sweet.

 

“If you keep sipping like that because it’s delicious, you’ll get drunk quickly.”

 

He warned, but Eun-seol turned a deaf ear.

 

Because it was the most delicious alcohol in the world.

 

Before her leave of absence, the soju she had tried a few times had a nasty taste that made her grimace involuntarily.

 

The makgeolli she had accidentally tried was delicious, but she soon felt nauseous and threw it all up, leaving her with bad memories of passing out.

 

But the wine…

 

“Why don’t you fall in love, Teacher?”

 

Before she knew it, Eun-seol asked, widening her blurred eyes.

 

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but he seemed to be looking at her with an “oh really” expression.

 

“Huh?”

 

“That’s why I told you to drink slowly.”

 

He clicked his tongue and called a waiter. Mango ice cream came out for dessert. Jung-hyuk naturally cleared Eun-seol’s glass and placed the mango ice cream in front of her.

 

It felt like she was being treated like a child. Eun-seol felt a little upset about it.

 

She looked at Jung-hyuk with dissatisfied eyes, but he pointed outside with his eyes.

 

A fire show was taking place on the beach. The dynamic movements of the flames were eye-catching, but not for Eun-seol.

 

“Why aren’t you answering my question?”

 

The wine had made her tongue clumsy, causing her to speak in a foolish tone. Conversely, the wine had given her courage, allowing her to ask questions she wouldn’t normally ask.

 

“I hate situations I can’t control.”

 

Only then did Jung-hyuk answer concisely.

 

Eun-seol stared at Jung-hyuk like that.

 

His naturally disheveled hair and the two unbuttoned buttons of his white shirt. His slightly lowered eyes looked tired and comfortable.

 

“What does love have to do with control?”

 

Eun-seol took a bite of the ice cream she had been ignoring, finding her tone funny even to herself. It was to come to her senses.

 

“…!”

 

But the ice cream was so delicious. Something natural yet crunchy. It felt like sugar was being chewed, but it wasn’t as artificial as sugar.

 

“Why is this so delishush??”

 

Eun-seol said with tearful eyes before even hearing an answer from Jung-hyuk. Then Jung-hyuk chuckled.

 

“Eat or ask.”

 

“Ah… Why don’t you fall in love?”

 

Eun-seol asked again, holding a tea spoon in her mouth.

 

“Because those feelings ruin people.”

 

He said in a dry voice.

 

“Why do you think that way?”

 

“Indirect experience is a scary thing.”

 

It was a nonchalant tone, but somehow it felt like he had an unspeakable story.

 

If it were any other day, she, who was sensitive to other people’s pain, would have quietly shut her mouth. But not today.

 

“Tch.”

 

She snorted and took out the spoon. And she shook it gently, speaking as if teaching him.

 

“You can’t say you know unless it’s your own experience.”

 

“Have you done it, then?”

 

“…No.”

 

Then Jung-hyuk laughed softly.

 

Eun-seol, provoked by that, made a stern expression.

 

She wanted to look scary, but he looked down at Eun-seol with his arms crossed as if she were pathetic.

 

“I was busy studying.”

 

“I was busy working.”

 

“Also, I lost my parents early. I didn’t have an environment where I could be loved like you, Teacher.”

 

It was the first time. It was the first time she had directly spat out her pain without the other person asking.

 

But Jung-hyuk didn’t bat an eye. Rather, he averted his gaze, shifting his attention to the fire show.

 

Some time passed in that state.

 

Eun-seol felt strangely upset.

 

Why was he pretending not to know even after hearing it?

 

Was it because he wasn’t interested in her past?

 

Or was it because he wasn’t interested in her at all?

 

Maybe it was both…

 

She felt upset and resentful again.

 

Eun-seol called him forcefully, “Teacher.”

 

Jung-hyuk gestured, telling her to speak, with an indifferent face.

 

“…Can’t you comfort me?”

 

Jung-hyuk’s handsome brow slowly furrowed as if he had heard an unexpected question. But Eun-seol wasn’t afraid.

 

“Then what about pity?”

 

She asked repeatedly.

 

“Do you even feel that?”

 

It wasn’t that she wanted to look pathetic. She just wanted to be a presence that made him feel something in some form.

 

Even if it wasn’t love.

 

Because she was his wife.

 

“Those things too,”

 

He continued in an emotionless voice.

 

“I can only do if I think I’m better than you.”