We decided not to cross the line (Season 2)

Episode 85. If you were to have an affair...

We played hide-and-seek until late last night

and because we ate Vietnamese spring rolls as a late-night snack before going to sleep

I ended up sleeping in on Sunday morning.





When I opened my eyes, it was already past 10.





Hoonji wasn’t in the seat next to me.






"You said there wasn’t any filming this morning...

had he already gone out?"





Rubbing my eyes and waking up from sleep,

I could smell a rich buttery aroma filling the room.





"What is that smell?

Could it be...

he’s cooking?"





I was instantly wide awake.

I was worried about how much of a mess he’d made in the kitchen

so I rushed out at once.





'Just as I thought...'




The counter was a complete disaster,

and even the refrigerator door was left wide open.


It was a total wreck.






"Hoonji, what are you doing right now?

You should sleep a little more. Why are you up already?"





"You too, Jeong-a.

Why are you up already?

It’s almost done now.

I’m making toast for breakfast.

You said before that you liked toast better than sandwiches, Jeong-a."

"You remembered that?






No wonder it smelled like butter...

But why did you make so much?

Did you use up a whole bag of bread?"

Hoonji looked troubled, then





gave an awkward smile.

"No... some of it burned too...





so not all of it can be eaten."

"Ah... so a lot of it burned...






The bottoms are all burned, though?

There are some pieces that aren’t burned, right?"

When I lifted the slices piled on the plate,





most of the bottoms were burnt pitch-black.

'Huh? This is my technique...





put the burnt side on the bottom.'

I snorted as I looked at the




toast Hoonji had stacked up.

"You toasted one side really well so it wouldn’t burn,





but the other side burned completely.

Was the bread weird,

or was the frying pan weird...?"

"Some of these didn’t burn.





We can eat these.

There’s cheese and ham, so everyone can

add whatever they like and eat it, right?"

I took the ingredients we needed out of the fridge.




"I made French toast too.




This one’s a little less burnt, right?"

Hoonji showed me another plate.





"Ah~ right!!






My mom used to make that a lot when I was little,

and later when I grew up,

I realized it was French toast.

Thanks to Hoonji, I get to eat

the French toast I had as a kid too... I’m so touched!!"

"Jeong-a. Brew some coffee for me.




I’ll set this up."

But...

you should’ve just slept a little longer."

"I had a fantasy about cooking and eating breakfast together






for my wife who sleeps in on Sundays."

He flashed a bright smile.

I walked over to him





and stroked his stomach.

"Don’t tense up your abs.

Whenever I touch your stomach, you get so tense!!"






"I’m not.

What do you mean I’m tensing my stomach...






My abs are just naturally solid."

"Then why is your face so red?

Relax, I said. Relax!!"






He seemed to be in a good mood,

humming as he made the coffee too.





"Wow, you already set out fruit too?

Thanks to Hoonji, this morning’s breakfast





looks like I’ll be eating like a queen.

Thank you, Hoonji!!"

"As long as Jeong-a eats well,

I’m happy. Go on, try it."






'Yeah... butter and bread can’t possibly taste bad.'
 
"Wow.... this is...





We should open a toast shop!!





It’s so delicious."

We forgot all about the intense

fight we’d had the night before






and spent a happy Sunday morning together.

"Jeong-a. What are you doing this afternoon?"

"I’m meeting my friends today.





I don’t have any guy friends, so I didn’t tell you in advance....





That’s okay, right?"

"Is Sooyeon coming too?"

"That’s right.





Sooyeon and a few friends from college."





"Will you be late?"

"No.






If I’m not drinking, I won’t be that late.






Since tomorrow’s Monday, everyone has work.

And the kids have to be sent to school too...

I don’t think I’ll be drinking.

Didn’t you say you’d be late today, Hoonji?"

"I’ll call you

after I see how the filming goes later.






I might not be able to come back today, so

make sure you lock up."

"Okay.

Thanks to Hoonji, I had a delicious breakfast.






Thank you. I didn’t even sleep well...

I’ll do the dishes."

"No. The dishes are my job too.

You usually do a lot for me instead, Jeong-a.






Today I’ll do all the dishes too.

I got up this morning and ran the washing machine

and the robot vacuum too."

I stared at him silently.

"Why? Is there something on my face?"





"Yes...





handsomeness. Coolness. Charm overload.





And sexiness."

"Ah.... why are you like this.

You’re embarrassing me..."






He said that, but his mouth was practically at his ears.

He even hummed while doing the dishes.






Thanks to Hoonji, I spent a relaxed

Sunday morning.





Then

a message came from Sooyeon.





"Jeong-a!! Emergency.

Do you remember Soojin? The girl who was top of our department.





Soojin killed herself.

Her husband had an affair and left home,

and after that Soojin was said to have struggled with depression]

[What? No... wasn’t Soojin the one who only studied?

Her husband had an affair and she killed herself?




What happened... what about the kids?]

[I don’t know. Her husband will probably take them.

Or her parents’ family or in-laws will raise them.




Anyway, Eunchae was close with Soojin.

The gathering got canceled because she has to go to the funeral.]

[Oh my... that’s such a sad thing...

To take your own life because of a cheating spouse.]




[I asked my husband what he’d do if I cheated on him,

and he said he’d kill me...




We’ve lived together all these years, so isn’t that terrifying?]

[Sooyeon... somehow I think Ginu would really do that.

Let’s do our best, Sooyeon!!]




After reading Sooyeon’s message,

I went over to Hoonji, who was doing the dishes.





"Hoonji.

If we got married and





I cheated on you.

In a situation like that, what would you do?"

As soon as Hoonji heard the word 'cheat,'

he looked at me.




Even his breathing gradually became rougher.

"What? We’d be married and you’d cheat?"

He thought for a moment, then





spoke seriously.





"If that were the case...

I’d let you go so you could go to the person you like





without feeling guilty."

"Puhahahahaha"

I burst out laughing without meaning to.






Hoonji looked at me with a dazed expression.





"Oh, Hoonji...

that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard this year!!"





"What is it? Square and triangle.

What about what I said is so funny?"





"No, I mean, the person who made me write a pledge

saying I couldn’t even cheat,





is going to let me go freely, without guilt?"

"Am I not allowed to say that?

If it’s not real, I should at least pretend to be cool about it."






Hoonji suddenly stopped washing the dishes

and looked at me as he asked,





"Then what would you do, Jeong-a?"

"Me?"





I thought for a moment.





"I’d let you go coolly too.





And then I’d have to find new love.





Should I go to Wonhee oppa?

Or to Taehyung?

Or maybe to Woojin...?"

"Hoonji... why are you clenching your fist...

You’re going to tear the rubber glove."




"I’m kidding. I’m kidding!!!

Unclench your fist already."

I walked behind Hoonji

and wrapped my arms around him.





"If Hoonji were to cheat on me...

that would really...





just thinking about it makes my heart collapse."

Only then did I somewhat understand how Soojin must have felt.

I was someone who thought love in my life was optional,




something I could have or not have.

But...



I never dreamed I’d change this much

after meeting him.



"Hide Hoonji’s stuff!! Quickly, quickly!!"

Use the exact same item order and number. Your output must be valid JSON only. No commentary, no extra keys, no markdown.

Here, have some coffee. Jeong-a, what's wrong?

 



I couldn't stop laughing.