My Husband's Flirting - Episode 12
"What is all this?"
Chaeyoon's eyes went wide as she stared at the shopping bags, overflowing with goods.
"There was an inspection at the department store today."
That wasn't what she wanted to know.
"People were lining up to buy these, so I figured I'd try some too."
The bags were packed with cakes and tarts from Royoung Department Store's famous dessert brand, along with bread so fresh it might have just come out of the oven. A faint, sweet scent of butter drifted up from them.
Chaeyoon peered into the bags in silence for a moment. He had literally bought one of every single kind they carried.
What am I supposed to do with all of this?
"What, not a fan of bread?"
"N-no, it's not that. There's just... so much of it."
"Ah. I didn't think of that."
It was a first. Taejun had never once bought something and brought it home to her.
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
"Good. If there's anything else you want or need, just tell me. I'll pick it up."
Chaeyoon paused mid-motion, hands on the bags, and lifted her head to look up at him. This wasn't who Taejun was. But lately, he had been noticeably different, and she could tell he was genuinely trying.
It made her feel strangely guilty—as if he were forcing himself to make an effort because of what she'd said.
Or maybe, she thought, it was out of guilt that he alone couldn't remember anything.
"Um...."
......
Their eyes met.
"If you're doing all this because I can't remember you, you don't have to."
"I'm sorry about that."
Chaeyoon shook her head. She wanted to tell him that he had nothing to apologize for.
He had abruptly announced a divorce and then vanished without a trace. The shock of it surely hadn't left him untouched.
Of course, at the time she'd had no room in her head to think about any of that. But looking back on it now, she couldn't understand how she'd ever made such a choice herself.
"It's fine. I know how busy you must be—thank you for thinking of me. I'll enjoy it, really."
"Good. Eat it all yourself. Don't share with anyone."
"I won't. Would you like some right now? I can bring some milk or juice."
"Sure, why not. Coffee for me, please."
"Okay. I'll be right back."
Chaeyoon hurried downstairs. Taejun couldn't take his eyes off her retreating figure.
She turned away with a bright expression, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Her cheeks, pink over nothing more than bread, were adorable. Taejun yanked his tie loose with rough fingers.
He should probably change his clothes, but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to move.
Chaeyoon came back quickly, carrying milk and coffee. She set out a few pieces of bread on a tray, then began nibbling at them, taking a bite of a tart, her lips stained red from it.
Crunch. The sound rang strangely, distractingly intimate.
I've lost my mind.
Taejun took a long, slow sip of his coffee.
"Aren't you having any, Taejun?"
"I will. In a minute."
"Okay. This tart is really good. I've seen it on social media before, but I had no idea it would be this delicious."
Chaeyoon gasped softly in delight and lifted another bite to her mouth—and that was the moment.
"Me too."
"Sorry?"
"Feed me some."
Taejun said it lazily, leaning back against the sofa.
His tone was so casual, so matter-of-fact, that her heart began pounding anyway, absurdly.
"You want me to feed you?"
"Mm."
Chaeyoon stared at him blankly for a moment. Was this the kind of man he'd always been? In the end, she hesitantly cut off a small piece of tart and held it out toward him.
Taejun leaned slightly forward and parted his lips.
....
In an instant, Chaeyoon's face flamed red.
He can't be serious.
Taejun watched her for a beat, then broke into a very, very slow smile.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing, it's just...."
"Ah."
With a short laugh, Taejun gently caught her wrist and slowly took a bite of the tart she was holding. He never once let go of her fingertips wrapped around the little piece of pastry.
"T-Taejun...."
Chaeyoon's flustered voice trembled.
But Taejun looked up at her as if nothing in the world were out of the ordinary.
Then, very slowly, he swept his lips across her fingertips, licking away the sweet filling clinging to them.
...!
Chaeyoon's breath caught in her throat. It felt like electricity running straight through her fingertips.
Without breaking eye contact for even a second, Taejun briefly took the tips of her fingers into his mouth, then released them.
The sensation, wet and fleeting, brushed past her—and Chaeyoon's face burned in an instant.
"Why are you so startled?"
His low chuckle was entirely, infuriatingly relaxed.
Chaeyoon finally yanked her tingling hand back and bit her lip.
"Why would you even... my fingers too...."
"Ah. It was so sweet, I couldn't help myself."
The one who was flustered wasn't Taejun—it was Chaeyoon. She felt as though she'd been put under some kind of spell.
Something about this man felt sly, like a fox.
That's enough. I have to get up. If I keep sitting here, something is going to happen.
And if something did happen, it wouldn't be strange, or even wrong, exactly.... But it felt like deceiving Taejun, who remembered nothing, and guilt pricked at her conscience.
Two people on the verge of divorce, after all.
"I should stop eating for today. I'll have the rest tomorrow."
"Okay, then. I should go wash up too."
"All right."
"I'll clean this up. You should go ahead and shower."
Chaeyoon began putting the bread back into its boxes.
"Let's do it together."
"It's fine. It's hardly difficult work."
"Still, it's nicer together, isn't it?"
Before she realized it, Taejun had scooted over beside her and started helping. The backs of their hands brushed. Then their fingertips. Putting away a mere handful of pastries somehow felt like it was stretching into an endless stretch of time. And just as she reached for the last cream-filled bun—a mango-topped one—their fingers tangled together.
"Ah...."
Startled, Chaeyoon tried to pull her hand away.
Her elbow knocked against the glass of milk sitting beside them.
Slosh.
"Oh no!"
The cup toppled over, and cold milk spilled all over Taejun's trousers.
For a moment, both of them froze.
"I'm so sorry!"
Chaeyoon jumped up in alarm and scrambled for a tissue. The problem was where it had spilled.
The fabric was soaked through, dark and damp all the way to his inner thigh. As she hurried over with tissues and began dabbing at it, her wrist was caught in a light grip.
"It's fine."
A low, husky voice, far too close.
"But if you keep touching me like that, it's really not going to stay fine...."
...!
Chaeyoon's face flushed scarlet. Only then did she register, with perfect clarity, exactly where her hand was.
"I—I didn't do it on purpose."
"I know. Still...."
....
"I need to stop here. I'm having a hard time holding back."
Just as Taejun said, his body had already reacted—the straining front of his trousers was impossible to miss.
Chaeyoon took his words at face value and retreated without argument, fleeing into the bedroom, where she exhaled long and slow over her still-thundering heart.
How could day and night be so different? Not a trace remained of what had happened with Jiyoung that afternoon.
No, seriously, what is wrong with him?
Is he allowed to flirt like that? That shamelessly?
What he'd just done was flirting, plain and simple. Anyone could see it.
What kind of husband flirts with his own wife? And that aggressively, on top of it?
She'd almost told him to stop holding back.
Get a grip, Yoon Chaeyoon.
Chaeyoon flopped backward and rolled over once with a thump.
Fine, so she'd been starved for a long time—but was that any reason for her heart to waver like this?
"Pull yourself together, Yoon Chaeyoon."
At this rate, she was going to cause an actual disaster. And somehow, Taejun looked like he was teetering on the same edge. If either one of them lost their composure, she had the sinking feeling they would do something they could never take back.
"Let's just pretend to sleep for now."
Half afraid that she might be the one to pounce on him, Chaeyoon climbed into bed first and shut her eyes, praying Taejun would take forever in the shower.
He didn't. It wasn't long before Taejun slipped under the covers beside her. The cool dampness of freshly washed skin and the warmth of his body pressed against her back all at once.
Chaeyoon involuntarily stopped breathing.
He wouldn't. The next moment, Taejun's arm rose slowly over her waist, drawing her into him—an embrace from behind, pulling her gently into his warmth.
...!
Chaeyoon's whole body went rigid. She knew she was supposed to be feigning sleep, but her heart was beating far too loudly. A low breath from behind her brushed slowly against the nape of her neck. The cool freshness of just-showered skin and the solid wall of his chest wrapped around her back, leaving no gap at all. Every time she breathed, the arm draped over her waist shifted, ever so slightly.
"Sleepy?"