Husband Role - Episode 25

As I got into the car, raindrops began to fall, one by one. The wipers, set to automatic mode, slowly started to wipe away the water droplets.

 

Eun-seol, her eyes fixed on the darkening road, was lost in thought.

 

Did I make some kind of mistake today?

 

Nothing came to mind.

 

Just then, a gentle voice from a female DJ flowed from the radio.

 

—Hello, Moonlight Family listeners. As predicted, it’s starting to drizzle. It seems like the summer monsoon season is about to begin. On nights like these, when even our hearts feel damp, a strand of loneliness flows down within us.

 

It was a sweet voice that harmonized with the softly playing music. Eun-seol found herself listening intently without realizing it.

 

—In times like these, how about not suffering alone and finding the courage to act? When the hesitation of whether to speak or not isn’t excitement, I think taking a step forward is a good idea. Of course, it won’t be easy… but wouldn’t a valuable result follow as much as the courage you take?

 

Ah…

 

—Hehe, I’ll play a song for you. It’s a singer who goes very well with the rain, Yoonha’s version of “Umbrella.”

 

Soon, a familiar melody flowed from the speakers. As the song reached its climax, Eun-seol suddenly felt courage welling up inside her.

 

“Did something happen today?”

 

Eun-seol asked, gazing at Jung-hyuk.

 

Jung-hyuk paused for a few seconds before asking back, “Why do you think so?”

 

It was a flat voice, as if putting up a perfect wall.

 

But something was strange. In Eun-seol’s eyes, Jung-hyuk didn’t look calm at all.

 

She couldn’t pinpoint the reason, but she just had a feeling.

 

“…Or did I make a mistake?”

 

She couldn’t think of anything specific. However, she thought she had to find an answer somehow.

 

It was truly distressing to speculate vaguely on her own and be caught up in harmful delusions.

 

“…”

 

Jung-hyuk concentrated on driving without a word.

 

In the meantime, two more songs played, and soon the car stopped in a quiet place.

 

When Jung-hyuk pressed the red triangle button, the hazard lights turned on with a faint blinking sound.

 

However, the heavy rain quickly drowned out any other noise.

 

Silence settled, and the couple faced each other.

 

His long, narrow eyes seemed to contain a scream within the silence.

 

But Eun-seol couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

 

She just kept looking at him.

 

“Please tell me now.”

 

Eun-seol quietly requested.

 

Jung-hyuk’s dark expression bothered her, but she didn’t want to gloss over it.

 

That’s when her heartbeat became louder than the sound of the rain.

 

“I’m uncomfortable with my birthday.”

 

Jung-hyuk said in an emotionless voice.

 

“…”

 

Eun-seol was silent for a moment.

 

It was something she hadn’t expected at all.

 

“That doesn’t mean your efforts are meaningless. But…”

 

Jung-hyuk continued, his voice as if he was suppressing something.

 

“From now on, you don’t have to try so hard.”

 

“I wasn’t trying hard.”

 

She replied immediately in a firm voice. Suddenly, something hot welled up inside her.

 

It wasn’t because she didn’t receive personal recognition.

 

Her husband hated his birthday.

 

A long time ago, she was the same as Jung-hyuk.

 

The guilt of being born at the cost of her mother’s life. And the self-reproach of being a burden to her relatives in difficult circumstances.

 

If it hadn’t been for Bong-cheol’s endless affection, she would still be thinking that way.

 

That’s why Eun-seol knew.

 

Only those who deny their own existence hate their birthdays.

 

“For me, your birthday is the most important event in the world. It’s been that way for a while now. Because it’s the day my husband was born.”

 

She still couldn’t know the deep wounds inside Jung-hyuk. But regardless of the reason, she wanted to make him realize.

 

That to someone, like me, you have become such a precious being.

 

“So, even if you’re uncomfortable, get used to it. I’m going to celebrate your birthday every year.”

 

Perhaps my voice had no power at all. But she didn’t want to just stand by and do nothing.

 

“And as grandly as I can.”

 

“Eun-seol.”

 

Jung-hyuk called her in a suppressed voice. A fleeting moment of anguish crossed his face.

 

“So,”

 

Eun-seol held Jung-hyuk’s large hand tightly and emphasized the next words.

 

“Don’t hate yourself.”

 

“…”

 

Jung-hyuk didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze reached Eun-seol’s hand.

 

His fingertips stroking the bandage were warm. Conversely, Jung-hyuk’s expression was somehow twisted like a sick person.

 

“Honey.”

 

Eun-seol called Jung-hyuk and made him look into her eyes. And she said in a tearful voice.

 

“Happy birthday from the bottom of my heart.”

 

Suddenly, a vague yet intense emotion rushed towards Jung-hyuk.

 

Instead of trying to understand his own emotions, Jung-hyuk pulled Eun-seol’s head closer and swallowed her lips.

 

Eun-seol also relaxed her lips as if she had been waiting for it. Furthermore, her soft, small tongue began to gently wriggle shyly.

 

In an instant, Jung-hyuk felt like he had been struck in the head, and he kissed her with his feverish desire.

 

Gradually, the sound of the rain faded away, and moisture began to form from the bottom of the car windows.

 

In the now stuffy space, only wet sounds continued erotically.

 

When they parted for a moment, a silver spider web stretched out.

 

“Haa, H-Honey…”

 

Eun-seol said with lips swollen red from being sucked.

 

Jung-hyuk’s heart ached for a moment at her moist eyes and sweet scent.

 

“…I told you not to call me ‘Honey’.”

 

He warned, his chest heaving.

 

“Ah…”

 

Eun-seol parted her lips slightly in realization. The dark pink opening was dangerously obscene.

 

Jung-hyuk’s Adam’s apple bobbed once, greatly.

 

His gaze closely examined Eun-seol’s face. Her darkly lustrous lips entered his black retinas.

 

Jung-hyuk couldn’t resist and rushed in immediately.

 

Thud.

 

The backrest of the passenger seat was pushed back at once by him.

 

“…!”

 

Eun-seol reflexively hugged Jung-hyuk’s neck. She opened her eyes wide, unaware that she was trapped inside the burly man’s body.

 

Suddenly, dizzying gazes intertwined.

 

“Are you scared?”

 

He asked like on their first night.

 

No.

 

She replied boldly.

 

Jung-hyuk stretched his lips and lowered his upper body. He loved how she was struggling, buried in his large body.

 

His kiss with his wife tasted like summer peaches.

 

After the flashy commercials ended, the yellow lights in the theater went out with a snap. Darkness seemed to fill the spacious space in an instant, but soon the large screen lit up brightly. At the same time, a grand opening sound that was deafeningly loud flowed out.

 

The familiar intro screen quickly transitioned, and a famous actress appeared with a haggard look.

 

She was a veteran actress that Eun-seol usually admired. She sparkled with anticipation at the different acting transformation.

 

And she fell into the movie as it was.

 

About 30 minutes passed like that.

 

“Honey, can I have some cola…”

 

She said to Jung-hyuk while keeping her eyes fixed on the screen. There was no response. So Eun-seol’s gaze naturally turned to the side.

 

Jung-hyuk was already asleep.

 

Eun-seol quietly stared at her husband’s face as he slept soundly instead of the movie.

 

The changing lights each time the screen changed illuminated Jung-hyuk’s sharp features every moment.

 

He had long eyelashes with a lot of volume, a manly straight nose, and below that, handsome lips were tightly closed.

 

Eun-seol’s heart also throbbed following his faintly exhaling breath.

 

The movie had long been forgotten.

 

Eun-seol continued to look at her husband with a trembling heart.

 

He seemed to be having a bad temper, frowning faintly with his arms crossed, as if he was dreaming.

 

Eun-seol secretly smiled, then, ah, took something out of her pocket.

 

It was a birthday present wrapped in a pink heart pattern.

 

She moved secretly like a cat.

 

Then, she slipped the present into Jung-hyuk’s coat pocket.

 

She hoped he would like it.

 

“…You should have woken me up.”

 

He said in a more subdued voice than usual after leaving the theater.

 

Eun-seol felt a sense of guilt for no reason. He was already working on a murderous schedule. She should have told him to go home after the movie.

 

“It’s because you were tired.”

 

She held back the words “I’m sorry” and “I was thoughtless” that were about to come out and answered calmly.

 

It was to correct the habit of apologizing, as he had told her before.

 

“I’m going to wash up.”

 

“Yes. I’ll wait here.”

 

Eun-seol answered, sitting on the sofa.

 

And she watched her husband walk away for a moment. It always felt like she was looking at his back.

 

But she didn’t hate it. Just being in the same space made her feel like some warmth was filling her up inside. His presence was truly great.

 

Suddenly, she had that thought.

 

How nice would it be if we weren’t apart?

 

Then, thoughts followed one after another and dug a little deeper.

 

Why are we apart?

 

Why did he make me live in the separate house?

 

It was then.

 

“Wow! Look who it is.”

 

A husky voice that was uncomfortably loud struck Eun-seol’s ears. Startled, she quickly turned around.

 

It was Joon-seo, arm in arm with a blonde woman.

 

Joon-seo scanned Eun-seol with a savage yet intriguing gaze.

 

“Wow, Lee Eun-seol, damn, you’ve really become someone, huh?”