Husband Role - Episode 16

Ugh. Ugh…

 

Eun-seol clutched her head, which felt like it was about to shatter. She didn’t know when she had returned to the resort, but that wasn’t important in the slightest. More than the desire to find the missing pieces of her memory, she just wanted to live right now.

 

Ughhhhh…

 

Even as she writhed in pain, she could tell that the spot next to her was empty.

 

It was a relief. She didn’t want to show this side of herself to Jung-hyuk.

 

To give her wedding night… to wine…

 

She was the worst new bride.

 

“Feeling like you’re about to die?”

 

Jung-hyuk, who had somehow appeared in a bathrobe, asked as he towel-dried his hair.

 

Eun-seol took in Jung-hyuk’s dark hair, beaded with water droplets, his damp neckline, the firm muscles revealed through the slightly open robe, and his long calves all at once.

 

“I’m… I’m okay.”

 

She took her hand off her head and tried to look as nonchalant as possible. Jung-hyuk then said, “At least you have a conscience.”

 

“So, you’re not saying you’re fine.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“I see.”

 

Your pronunciation is…

 

Eun-seol was at a loss for words at his pointed remark.

 

“…”

 

“Take a shower first.”

 

“I’m fi—”

 

“I’m not fine.”

 

He said firmly. When he was like that, Mr. Jung-hyuk was really resolute.

 

“I’ve drawn the water.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Eun-seol suppressed the urge to crawl and entered the bathroom.

 

Emerald sea was framed by the hexagonal, large window in the gold marble bathroom.

 

“Wo… Wow…”

 

The bathroom she had used yesterday was on the opposite side, and it was just a simple shower room compared to this one.

 

Eun-seol walked over as if possessed. Then, she flinched when she saw her reflection in the mirror on the side wall.

 

“…Gasp.”

 

Her complexion was still red, and anyone could tell she was completely drunk. So the alcohol…

 

“I’m still not sober.”

 

That’s right.

 

Jung-hyuk’s expression as he looked down at her yesterday floated back into her mind.

 

A sudden wave of shame made her face flush. Eun-seol got into the bathtub and submerged herself completely.

 

…Let’s just die.

 

That was all she could think.

 

After showering, she felt somewhat clearer. The problem was what came next. She hadn’t brought any clothes to change into. But she couldn’t just confidently wear a bathrobe.

 

Eun-seol, fidgeting, cautiously opened the bathroom door. She was about to call out, “Mr. Jung-hyuk…” when she saw her neatly folded clothes on the floor in front of the bathroom.

 

“…Ah.”

 

She was grateful, but not grateful. Because the pink lace peeking out from between the clothes was clearly underwear.

 

Eun-seol snatched it up like a claw and slipped back into the bathroom.

 

“Eat breakfast.”

 

At Jung-hyuk’s call, Eun-seol hesitantly headed to the dining room.

 

On the table were two fried eggs and rice noodles in a red broth.

 

“…Do noodles come out for breakfast?”

 

She was muttering, “That’s nice,” when—

 

“I bought it.”

 

He said casually, telling her not to eat too fast because he had added a little chili powder.

 

Unfortunately, however, Eun-seol took a sip of the broth before he finished speaking and burst into a violent cough.

 

Jung-hyuk looked at Eun-seol with the same “well, well” look as yesterday. Then, he bluntly handed her a napkin.

 

Eun-seol took it and demurely wiped her mouth. It seemed like it was already too late, but she wanted to try to look like she was okay.

 

“You seem to like eating.”

 

“…Is there anyone who doesn’t?”

 

Eun-seol retorted as if she had heard a strange question. Jung-hyuk could only chuckle at that.

 

Eun-seol focused on the rice noodles again. She couldn’t get the noodles down, so she just drank the broth. And she drank it very cleanly.

 

Only then did she feel like her stomach was settling.

 

As she placed the bowl with only noodles left on the glass table, she could see the clear seawater below. Just then, a small, adorable creature darted past.

 

“Oh!”

 

“It’s a shark.”

 

Jung-hyuk informed her in a calm voice.

 

“No way, something that small? It just looked like a fish…”

 

“It’s a shark.”

 

“Ah…”

 

I should never go into the sea, she thought, just then.

 

“If you’re done eating, let’s get up now.”

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“If we’ve come all the way here, we have to go to the beach.”

 

“…”

 

“Change your clothes and come out.”

 

Eun-seol said, “Thank you for the meal,” and got up from her seat.

 

She changed into a pure white sleeveless dress instead of a swimsuit. It was a clear statement that she would not be going into the water. Jung-hyuk escorted Eun-seol without another word.

 

The white sand was truly beautiful. Eun-seol quietly watched the waves diligently erasing the footprints she left behind. Then, she started to move a little faster.

 

Come to think of it, that was right. Footprints left in a foreign country.

 

Strangely, she felt excited and was in high spirits for the first time in a while. It seemed like she was completely sober now.

 

Eun-seol repeated jumps with widened strides, as if stepping only on the white lines of a crosswalk.

 

“Eun-seol-ah.”

 

Jung-hyuk called from behind. Eun-seol answered, “Yes,” and continued her progress.

 

Her vision was fixed on the ground beneath her feet.

 

The sensation of clean seawater and soft sand being crushed together was so blissful.

 

“Lee Eun-seol!”

 

She felt him running as he called out once more, quite a distance away.

 

Eun-seol also answered, “Yes!” a little louder, and just as she jumped again—

 

She collided with something heavy and plopped down on her butt. It didn’t hurt, it was just wet.

 

Eun-seol slowly raised her head, still submerged in the shallow water.

 

A well-built middle-aged Westerner was looking down at Eun-seol.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Sorry…”

 

Eun-seol muttered softly. Just as the Westerner smiled, saying he was fine, and politely extended his hand.

 

“Eep!”

 

Suddenly, Eun-seol’s body floated up.

 

Jung-hyuk had put his hands under Eun-seol’s armpits and lifted her up. It had happened in an instant.

 

Surprised, Eun-seol turned around and saw him looking down with a frown on his handsome brow. His eyes were very stern.

 

It was as if he was saying, “I called you.”

 

“Haha! Sorry…”

 

Eun-seol apologized to Jung-hyuk once more.

 

“Come here.”

 

Jung-hyuk pulled Eun-seol to his side and bowed to the Westerner, saying that his wife had made a mistake.

 

The Westerner looked surprised and said he thought Eun-seol was still a student. Jung-hyuk flinched at that.

 

Eun-seol quietly whispered, holding onto the hem of Jung-hyuk’s shirt.

 

“Foreigners usually think Asians look younger.”

 

She had spoken in a tone of comfort without realizing it.

 

Instead of answering, Jung-hyuk picked Eun-seol up in his arms. As Eun-seol staggered in surprise, he whispered commandingly in her ear.

 

“Stay still.”

 

Eun-seol’s heart pounded in his large embrace and strong arms. The sensation that made her fingertips tremble even made her breathing quicken.

 

Eun-seol, with a reddened face, told him to put her down. Jung-hyuk ignored her and continued walking.

 

“…I said put me down. I’m not hurt.”

 

“It’s see-through.”

 

He replied curtly.

 

“Huh?”

 

“Pink.”

 

“…”

 

Eun-seol quietly wrapped her arms around Jung-hyuk’s neck.

 

 

“Alcohol?”

 

As the night deepened, Jung-hyuk held a bottle of whiskey in his hand. Eun-seol shook her head with a startled look. Then, she heard a low chuckle.

 

Eun-seol looked at Jung-hyuk with a sulky look. He had no impact whatsoever, and he was just filling an empty glass with the amber liquid.

 

“Come to think of it, Mr. Jung-hyuk, you’re a drinker.”

 

Jung-hyuk remained silent even at Eun-seol’s timid remark.

 

“Since you’re not denying it, I guess it’s true. ”

 

Eun-seol muttered quietly.

 

“Just. Since I’m away from everyday life, there’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s comfortable.”

 

“Are you comfortable?”

 

As she asked, her chest strangely stung. Comfortable. Right. She, too, felt more comfortable with Jung-hyuk than with anyone else.

 

But it was different from being comfortable like air.

 

It was a kind of relief that started from unconsciously relying on him.

 

And above all, she couldn’t let her guard down even a little.

 

Her heart pounded fiercely when she looked at Jung-hyuk.

 

She was greatly swayed by his eyes, voice, and every gesture. She had a hard time suppressing it because she was afraid of overreacting.

 

“I think I made the right decision to marry you.”

 

He said in such a calm tone.

 

“Because it seems like it’s a controllable situation?”

 

Eun-seol remembered what she had heard at the restaurant yesterday.

 

“That’s right.”

 

Jung-hyuk replied casually. Eun-seol felt strangely gloomy. And she didn’t understand this herself.

 

In the first place, when she proposed the arranged marriage to him, she had said first.

 

That it would be comfortable.

 

But when she actually heard that it was, she felt bitter.

 

Silence flowed for a while.

 

It might be comfortable for Jung-hyuk, but it was a lonely silence for Eun-seol.

 

Eun-seol sat in front of Jung-hyuk like a doll, quietly watching him empty his glass. Had he drunk about two more glasses?

 

Suddenly, Jung-hyuk cleared away the glass. Eun-seol turned her body and followed his movements with her eyes.

 

Soon, Jung-hyuk returned and quietly looked down at her, who was resting her chin on the headrest of the sofa with her arms on it.

 

The man’s gaze, which was too much for Eun-seol to bear, made her heart flutter once again.

 

The tension was consuming her whole body through her blood vessels, but somehow she didn’t want to avoid it.

 

She wanted to be the only person who could handle Jung-hyuk. She wanted to become a true ‘wife’.

 

“Are you done drinking?”

 

Ignoring the pounding of her heart that echoed even in her ears, Eun-seol asked.

 

“Yeah.”

 

So, are we going to sleep now?

 

So, are we really going to have our wedding night?

 

So, now…

 

Her lips were parched. Eun-seol waited for him to say it quickly.

 

Let’s go to bed now.

 

But.

 

“Go to sleep.”

 

He touched the top of Eun-seol’s head in a familiar way, but with a tone that seemed to draw a line.

 

Ah. So, this was like what you would do to a pet dog or cat or a young child. No. It was the same.

 

Realizing that, Eun-seol quickly grabbed Jung-hyuk’s hand as he moved away. And she brought his hand, which still had scars, to her cheek.

 

Jung-hyuk’s gaze, startled, reached Eun-seol. Judging from his slightly furrowed brow, he seemed a little embarrassed.

 

Yoon Jung-hyuk was not a robot.

 

Of course, it was true that he was more rigid and difficult to read than others, but that was all.

 

Depending on what Eun-seol did, he was reacting too.

 

Subtly, but surely.

 

“Please, take me to bed.”

 

“…Lee Eun-seol.”

 

His prominent Adam’s apple heaved greatly. It was clear that he was wavering.

 

Eun-seol’s heart felt like it was about to explode, but she opened her lips again.

 

“We’re a married couple.”

 

…That’s what we decided to do.

 

As she repeated, he covered his eyes with the hand that was not being held. He seemed troubled. Even so, Eun-seol didn’t want to give up.

 

It was something that had to be done someday.

 

Above all, she wanted him.

 

“Don’t call me ‘Mr. Jung-hyuk’ anymore.”

 

Jung-hyuk frowned. Swirling emotions.

 

As far as she knew, it was the first time he had revealed it.

 

Eun-seol made Jung-hyuk’s hand, which she was holding, touch her lips. She wanted him to fully feel the wriggling, hot sensation.

 

Jung-hyuk, gritting his teeth, let out a low sigh.

 

But Eun-seol didn’t stop.

 

She led his large hand down again. His large hand covered her small chest.

 

He stiffened, but he didn’t pull his hand away.

 

“Hold me, Jung-hyuk.”

 

Jung-hyuk, with an expression that collapsed in an instant, bent his large back and pulled the back of Eun-seol’s head.

 

“You started it.”

 

It was a barbaric kiss, like a warning about the night to come.