Trick or Treat
Through their frequent nights together, the couple finally succeeded in conceiving their second child. Born two years apart, their daughter Eui-young looked astonishingly like Seo-woo. Her personality, however, was a perfect replica of Eon-hyeok’s rather than her mother’s. She showed no shyness around strangers and possessed a striking lack of curiosity. In contrast, Hee-ho—who bore an uncanny resemblance to Eon-hyeok—took after Seo-woo in his gentle nature and was fiercely devoted to caring for his younger sister, who still struggled to speak clearly.
“Eui-young, over here.”
“Mmm….”
The sight of tiny Hee-ho trying so hard to look after his sister was undeniably adorable. Eui-young, for her part, seemed to tolerate his efforts with mild reluctance. Even before she had begun speaking in full sentences, her cynical demeanor was already evident. While Eon-hyeok was showering, Seo-woo had taken the children to their room to put them to bed. Some time later, Eui-young toddled out, dragging a blanket behind her. Her expression suggested she had been the one doing the bedtime duty, prompting Eon-hyeok to ask again.
“Where are Mom and your brother?”
“Sleeping.”
The single-word answer—slurred somewhere between “seeping” and “sleeping”—sounded so utterly calm and indifferent that Eon-hyeok always found himself letting out a helpless breath whenever he looked at his daughter. She took after him so strongly, yet she adored Seo-woo beyond measure. She clung to her like a little burr, never letting go, and even when separated she wouldn’t cry; her eyes simply followed Seo-woo everywhere.
“Whoa, Dad’s home! Dad!”
Hee-ho had run to his father from the time he was a baby, and he still dashed out the moment Eon-hyeok’s usual arrival time approached. Seo-woo couldn’t help smiling at the contrast—especially when she saw Eui-young’s tiny hand clutching her sleeve.
“Do you like Mommy? Mommy likes Eui-young too.”
Seo-woo peppered her daughter’s cheeks with kisses as she spoke. Usually Eui-young only blinked in response, but at her mother’s affection she would break into a bright smile and say, “Mommy,” in the sweetest voice. Seo-woo could never get over how beautiful her daughter was, even though she looked just like her. Taking the little girl’s hand, she walked out with her to see Eon-hyeok off after work. The moment he saw Eui-young toddling toward him, a soft, almost disbelieving laugh escaped him. He had fiercely opposed having another child right away, worried it would harm Seo-woo’s body, but their daughter—who looked so much like her mother—was truly lovely.
“Eui-young, Daddy’s home.”
After Eui-young’s birth, Eon-hyeok had immediately taken measures to prevent further pregnancies. Seo-woo had wanted a third child, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Her recovery after the second delivery had taken longer than the first, and he couldn’t bear to put her through that again. Besides, they were rarely given the chance. After work, Eon-hyeok spent time with Seo-woo and their two children before bed. Even though they had their own rooms, the children always wanted to sleep together. And they were so insistent on fairness—if Seo-woo kissed Eon-hyeok, Hee-ho would immediately demand one too.
“Mommy, me too please.”
“Should Mommy give Hee-ho a kiss too?”
Seo-woo bent down and pressed her lips to his cheek. People often said that parents were a child’s entire world only for a fleeting moment. That once they grew a little older, friends and lovers would take priority and parents would be pushed to the sidelines. But for now the children stood guard like sentinels, making proper sex nearly impossible. Even kisses had to be stolen in secret. The one time they had been caught, Hee-ho’s eyes had filled with tears and he had looked so worried that it broke their hearts.
“Daddy grabbed Mommy… and ate her….”
“No, he didn’t. Mommy’s right here.”
“But Mommy’s lips are gone.”
Seo-woo had struggled to console him as Hee-ho kept rubbing his little hands over his own perfectly intact lips. Eui-young, who understood far more than her limited speech suggested, had busily pounded on Eon-hyeok with her tiny fists. The way she smacked him while saying “Daddy, bad,” was indistinguishable from actual scolding. Then one day, an opportunity arrived.
“The kids are asleep.”
Eon-hyeok had barely finished washing his hands before he was dragged into the children’s room, only to emerge rolling up his shirtsleeves. Curious, Seo-woo peeked inside and saw the two bumper beds pushed together, both children breathing softly in deep sleep. The only empty spot was where Eon-hyeok had been sitting between them, reading a storybook. Seeing that he had carefully tucked the blankets around them, Seo-woo smiled and quietly closed the door. The moment it clicked shut, his hand pulled her waist close and their lips crashed together.
“Hah—mmph….”
The brief kiss wasn’t nearly enough. Eon-hyeok tangled his tongue with hers urgently, as if releasing all his pent-up hunger. He lifted her by the hips, never stopping the deep, devouring kiss. His steps toward the master bedroom were both frantic and careful. Every time a moan threatened to slip from Seo-woo’s lips, she curled her toes to hold it back. If the children woke, all his hard work putting them to bed would be wasted. Even after entering the bedroom, they didn’t bother turning on the light. They stumbled against the wall, mouths still fused, before he finally laid her on the bed.
“I’ve been starving for a while. You know that, right?”
Eon-hyeok whispered as he pressed his erection—straining so hard against his suit pants it seemed ready to burst through the fabric—between her legs. Seo-woo wrapped her arms around his neck and murmured, “Me too.” Their lips met again instantly. They had occasionally stolen moments in his parked car, clinging to each other like forbidden lovers, but it had been a long time since they’d done this at home.
“Mmm… ah….”
The tension made Seo-woo’s body stiffen; she swallowed her moans as best she could. The man above her yanked his tie loose with impatient tugs, rubbing his cheek against hers and deepening the kiss until her arms tightened around his neck. That was when they heard it—the creak of the bedroom door they hadn’t locked in years.
“Hup….”
Seo-woo froze in shock. It was Hee-ho. The small mercy was that they hadn’t turned on any lights; the room was dark enough that he probably couldn’t see anything. Eon-hyeok only pulled back slowly once he confirmed who had entered. Hee-ho rubbed his sleepy eyes and mumbled.
“I had a nightmare….”
“Did our Hee-ho have a bad dream?”
Seo-woo sat up quickly. She gave Eon-hyeok a quick peck on the lips—despite his painfully heightened arousal—then hurried to lift Hee-ho into her arms. Eon-hyeok stood as well, wrapping his arms around both of them and returning a kiss to her lips. Hee-ho nuzzled his cheek against them and whined.
“Why do Mommy and Daddy get to sleep together alone?”
“Let’s all sleep together tonight. Mommy and Daddy will sleep together later.”
Eon-hyeok’s voice was calm and soothing. To Seo-woo, however, it sounded like a tactical retreat. When their eyes met, she caught the faint smirk tugging at his lips. She had never had a secret romance before, but she imagined this was exactly what it would feel like.
It was Halloween. This year, Hee-ho had insisted on wearing matching dinosaur costumes with Eui-young, turning the two of them into a pair of green dinosaurs. While Hee-ho energetically wagged his tail and ran around, Eui-young sat on Eon-hyeok’s shoulders, clutching his forehead. Seo-woo followed behind them, smiling quietly when she noticed her daughter’s dinosaur tail dangling over Eon-hyeok’s shoulder. The day coincided with a short tea time with the family, so the two children entered the hanok house still dressed as baby dinosaurs.
“Hee-ho has grown so much already. Eui-young really does take after her mother.”
The adults welcomed the children who had appeared in the middle of their rather dry tea gathering. Hee-ho had diligently brought along a pumpkin-shaped candy basket, but instead of candy the adults slipped checks inside, calling it allowance. No one had actual sweets. Hee-ho politely thanked them with a bow, steadying Eui-young as she bowed beside him. But when he looked into his basket and saw nothing but money, his face fell—only to brighten again as he ran to Seo-woo and shouted once more.
“Trick or treat!”
Unfortunately, Seo-woo had no candy either. She had just returned from the kitchen, which was staffed only by professional chefs. When she asked if there were any desserts suitable for the children, the head chef had hurriedly offered dasik, jeolpyeon, and Gaeseong juak. While the treats were beautifully made with care, they didn’t seem like the kind of thing that belonged in a plastic pumpkin basket. The space was clearly designed for adults—the sound of a gayageum even played from hidden speakers. The only recent additions were children’s food and a makeshift play area. There were no sweets on hand.
Seo-woo decided to play along and see what prank her son would come up with.
“What should we do? Mommy doesn’t have any candy either.”
“You don’t?”
Hee-ho’s eyebrows drooped as he asked again. He had gone around everywhere, but his basket only held money and nothing he could actually eat. His sad little face was heartbreaking—but only for a moment. As if he had never been disappointed at all, he grabbed Seo-woo’s sleeve and tugged.
“Then let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To Daddy.”
Seo-woo let herself be pulled along by the two little dinosaurs, feeling rather like Santa Claus as she wove through the crowd. She didn’t think Eon-hyeok would be carrying candy—he barely carried snacks for himself. But that had been a very narrow-minded assumption. Ever thorough in his preparations, Eon-hyeok listened to Hee-ho’s chant, murmured something to his executive secretary, and soon dropped a handful of chocolates into the boy’s basket.
“You have to brush your teeth after eating those.”
“Thank you.”
Hee-ho beamed and gave a deep bow. Seo-woo looked at Eon-hyeok with slightly misty eyes and smiled. She had worried Hee-ho would stay disappointed without anything sweet, so this was a tremendous relief. Having secured the hard-won chocolate, Hee-ho promptly held the entire basket out to Seo-woo.
“Here.”
“Hm? Should Mommy hold it for you?”
“You said you didn’t have any candy, Mommy. This is yours.”
The sight of her son offering her the basket made Seo-woo’s heart melt into a warm puddle. Overcome with emotion, she pulled both little dinosaurs—Hee-ho and Eui-young—into her arms and kissed them over and over. Eon-hyeok watched them with a faint, tender smile. It was going to be trouble that Hee-ho had inherited Seo-woo’s soft heart. But that same softness gave him incredible emotional resilience and the power to move people’s hearts. He really was just like her.
“Grandfather has arrived! Look at these baby dinosaurs! Why did you dress these kids in such ridiculously cute outfits?”
Chairman Kim burst into loud, booming laughter the moment he appeared and saw the children. The instant Eui-young spotted him, she wriggled out of Seo-woo’s arms and held out the candy basket with both hands. She might not have mastered every word yet, but she was exceptionally skilled at communicating her desires. The way she zeroed in on the most powerful person in the room and demanded candy was exactly like Eon-hyeok. Chairman Kim laughed heartily as he lifted her into his arms.
“Grandfather brought candy just for my precious grandchildren.”
Chairman Kim, who had been overjoyed at the news of the pregnancy, became an absolute fool for his grandchildren. He whispered that he wanted to spend time alone with them and shooed the adults away. When the children nodded in agreement, he gave Seo-woo a meaningful look, signaling her to leave with Eon-hyeok. Eon-hyeok took the wide-eyed, startled Seo-woo by the hand and led her outside.
“I asked for a little understanding.”
Seo-woo’s eyes rounded at the sudden, brief escape as she followed him. Outside, the view of Samcheong-dong with its many tiled-roof houses spread before them. The autumn leaves were at their peak. It felt as though they had circled back to the season when they had first met again. Only this time, they were together with children who looked like both of them. Seo-woo walked through the brilliantly colored scenery until she saw him open a car door. It wasn’t the usual vehicle with baby car seats in the back—this one had an empty rear seat. She knew exactly what that meant, so she asked with a slight tremor in her voice.
“When did you prepare this?”
“I’m always prepared.”
Eon-hyeok answered her playful tone lightly. The moment she climbed in, he followed, pressing close. In the backseat their bodies tangled, and their kisses grew deeper. They tugged at each other’s clothes with equal urgency, looking every bit like newlyweds. If their honeymoon had been Eon-hyeok pouncing on her like a beast, now Seo-woo wrapped her arms around his neck and moved against him with just as much hunger. When he licked between her legs, flicked his fingers just right, and finally thrust inside her, a sharp wave of pleasure surged through her.
“Hngh, ah, ahh… ah!”
“Ha… Seo-woo, you need to relax. It’s been a while, so you’ve forgotten how to let go again, haven’t you?”
Eon-hyeok looked down at Seo-woo, who was soaked and sobbing with pleasure more intensely than usual, and rolled his hips. Every time their wet bodies met, her lower half jolted as if being lifted from within. The heavy thrusts made the entire car rock. His strong hands kneading her breasts made her back arch. Each time he kissed her as if pouring all his longing into it—sucking on her tongue, claiming her lips—her moans were swallowed into his mouth.
“Haa, mmph, nngh….”
The man who was usually such a gentle father became a starved beast, pounding into her without pause. Though his roughness overwhelmed her and made her tremble, Seo-woo still moved her hips to meet him. Their family of four was warm and happy, yet they were occasionally parched for these lewd, secret moments. Stolen kisses in blind spots only made the thirst sharper. They collided like animals driven by pent-up desire, devouring each other until they reached climax together.
“Huu… khk….”
“Hahng, ah, ahh!”
Seo-woo’s lower belly convulsed as she drenched his entrance. It had been a long time since they had come together like this. After Eon-hyeok finished and pulled out, she instinctively pressed a hand over her opening and clenched. It was a reflexive action, worried his release would spill. When he watched her with darkened eyes, she offered a shy excuse.
“The seat… it might drip….”
“Are you saying I should never pull out again?”
Eon-hyeok rubbed his still-hard length against her entrance once more. Their second round shook the car even harder before the heat finally subsided. He carefully cleaned her with a handkerchief, then took her for a drive. Speaking shamelessly about the arrangement he had made with Chairman Kim, he said,
“We’ll have to steal you away like this more often.”
Of course, time spent with the children they loved so much was incredibly joyful. But because the children were still so young, the boundary between family time and couple time had blurred. Even though Eon-hyeok knew it couldn’t be helped, he craved Seo-woo like a man dying of thirst. He thought his own father—who had chased nothing but pleasure his entire life—could never understand this feeling. It wasn’t mere lust. The desperate desire to smell her, to possess her, to make her cry and to make her laugh—it was all something she had taught him.
“I’ll always be waiting and prepared for you.”
Leaning over from the passenger seat, Seo-woo kissed his cheek and smiled. Even a single kiss on his cheek made Eon-hyeok’s heart flutter. He couldn’t begin to imagine how many more times she would make his heart race in the years to come. Thinking of their children, who would grow as quickly as his love for her, and of Seo-woo who would remain by his side, he took her hand. He kissed the ring on her left fourth finger and silently vowed eternal obedience.