TE 20

At first, Seo-ha thought it was just a new congregant who hadn’t yet acclimated, acting awkwardly due to poor timing. But even as other people’s gazes were clearly focused on him, the man’s eyes, hidden beneath his hat, remained fixed on her.

Flustered, Sarah looked up at the stage in confusion. She sought to gauge her father’s mood and await his instructions.

But something felt off.

Her father’s gaze lingered on the face of the man wearing the deeply pressed hat. It was as if he was trying to determine whether he knew this person or not.

However, this hesitation lasted only a moment. Pastor Moon quickly regained his composure and gave Seo-ha a subtle nod.

As Seo-ha descended from the platform, she could feel a gaze following her. And she had a pretty good idea who it belonged to.

“This person is truly bizarre,” she thought to herself.

Seo-ha came to pray,  but instead of the pastor, someone inexplicably shouted “Hallelujah” at her. Even now, it wasn’t her father still delivering his sermon that caught her attention, but rather the piercing gaze of that man who had finished his bizarre outburst.

Somehow, the incident reminded Seo-ha of a man who had leered at her in front of a convenience store, souring her mood. Deliberately, she maintained her composure and steadfastly avoided the man’s intense stare.

Despite her efforts to ignore him, the man’s presence nagged at her consciousness. Her father’s unusually sharp reaction, albeit brief, only amplified her unease.

However, thoughts sparked by this fleeting encounter couldn’t sustain themselves for long.

After all, it hadn’t escalated into anything significant. Though she hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face, he was surely just one among the many congregants. While a hint of curiosity lingered, Seo-ha tried to dismiss it as nothing more than a mildly perplexing incident. She reasoned that outside of service hours, she’d likely never cross paths with the protagonist of this odd occurrence again, further diminishing its importance.

Indeed, in the wake of this small disturbance, life for Seo-ha continued without incident.

She changed her clothes, finished the remainder of the service, and descended to the basement to work on her projects. Even now, as she immersed herself in her tasks, all seemed normal.

“Miss?” a voice called out.

Silence.

“Miss?” it repeated, a little louder.

Still no response.

“Miss…?” the voice persisted, tinged with concern.

“Oh,” Seo-ha finally stirred.

The manager, who had been calling out to Seo-ha multiple times, finally resorted to gently tapping her shoulder. Only then did her unfocused eyes regain their clarity. Having watched her lost in thought—despite not listening to any music—the manager cautiously approached her, ready to speak.

“Are you tired?” the manager asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Oh, no. It’s not that,” Seo-ha replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then, is there something troubling you?”

Troubles… The word echoed in Seo-ha’s mind.

As the worship service ended, Seo-ha’s thoughts were once again consumed by Ki Tae-beom. Thanks to Park Hee-jung, who had kept her overnight stay a secret, Seo-ha found herself lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

Park Hee-jung and Ki Tae-beom.

What if there was more than just a pursuit of pleasure between them? What if there were genuine feelings?

If so, what was she to Ki Tae-beom?

“You’ve seemed distracted all day,” the manager observed, her tone gentle.

Seo-ha remained silent; her eyes distant.

“Ah, I don’t mean to criticize you, miss. I’m just… worried,” the manager added hastily.

Seo-ha realized how little she knew about relationships. Having never experienced meaningful connections, she had no one to turn to for advice on such matters. The only person she could possibly confide in was the manager standing before her, eyes brimming with concern.

But how could she discuss matters of the heart with a fervent believer who wouldn’t hesitate to report every word back to her father?

Still, the urge to reach out, to ask anyone—even a stranger on the street—was overwhelming.

“There’s this devotee I know…” Seo-ha began impulsively, attempting to disguise her own story as someone else’s. But no sooner had the words left her mouth than she realized her mistake. The manager might believe her father was the Messiah and have willingly thrown her life into an abyss, but she was far from stupid. She was capable and perceptive.

There was no way she wouldn’t see through this thinly veiled attempt.

Suddenly, Seo-ha felt utterly pathetic.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“You know you can talk to me if something’s bothering you…”

“I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.”

It wasn’t a lie that she was tired. After all, she’d been tormented by thoughts of him all night…

Until now, Seo-ha had never had such thoughts, but because of Tae-beom, she felt herself becoming increasingly pathetic. Strangely enough, when she actually met him, those feelings of self-loathing vanished.

As if intoxicated by his presence, she found herself swayed by his every temptation.

Even now, she felt that meeting Tae-beom might somehow clear her cluttered mind. It was an unfounded notion, perhaps just an excuse to see him, but the feeling persisted.

“I’m going to get some fresh air for a moment.”

Seo-ha rose from her seat in the break room, swiped her card, and headed upstairs. Working in the stuffy basement had genuinely made her crave fresh air, though that wasn’t her primary motivation.

How many hours had it been now? Since she’d last exchanged even a single word with Ki Tae-beom…

It felt like just yesterday when Seo-ha was terrified of dark, empty corridors—a lingering trauma from past discipline. Now, however, she raced towards the outdoor parking lot, oblivious to those old fears.

Tae-beom, smoking with his car window open, instantly spotted Seo-ha at the sound of her surprisingly robust voice. He watched as she bounded towards him like an eager puppy, a far cry from her previous wariness. To accommodate her approach, he stepped out of the car, stubbing out his cigarette beneath his shoe.

Carried by the momentum of her joy, Seo-ha found herself running faster than intended. In a moment of unchecked enthusiasm, she instinctively spread her arms wide, nearly embracing Tae-beom.

But reason intervened at the last second. Like a car slamming on its brakes, Seo-ha awkwardly halted her advance, arms still partially outstretched.

The contradiction between her heartfelt elation and the reality of their relationship struck her. While her soul sang with genuine delight at seeing him, their actual connection didn’t warrant such an intimate gesture.

It was, plainly put, an overreaction.

As this realization dawned, Seo-ha felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, her cheeks flushing hot in the cool evening air. The parking lot suddenly felt too bright, too exposed, as she stood frozen in her aborted greeting, keenly aware of Tae-beom’s gaze upon her.

“Were you about to hug me? Don’t hold back on my account.”

Tae-beom teased with a smirk, having caught on to Seo-ha’s intentions.

“I… I was just so happy to see you… I couldn’t help myself…” Seo-ha stammered, flustered.

“Was I really that missed?” Tae-beom’s playful tone was both irritating and irresistible. Seo-ha couldn’t deny it; she had indeed been overjoyed to see him, almost childishly so.

“Moon Seo-ha, what am I going to do with you?”

“…”

“It’d be troublesome if you became too attached to me just because I helped you once.”

His words, no matter how they were phrased, always seemed to have a biting edge. Seo-ha frowned, her brow furrowing in frustration.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” she retorted sharply.

“Oh? That’s a shame,” Tae-beom replied, his voice tinged with unexpected disappointment.

As Seo-ha turned to leave, stung by his words, Tae-beom caught her wrist and pulled her into a sudden embrace. His arm encircled her slender shoulders, and he found himself both pleased and disquieted by how small she felt against him.

“You know,” Tae-beom whispered, his voice soft and sincere,

“I really hope you like me, Seoha. I mean it.”

“…”

“Enough to be completely devoted to me.”

His deliberate words sent a shiver through Seo-ha, instantly melting away her previous irritation.

“I-It was just one time you helped me,” she protested weakly, her resolve crumbling. “It’s not like it was anything special.”

As she playfully threw his words back at him with a coy attitude, Tae-beom buried his face in her shoulder, letting out a soft chuckle. Seo-ha, trying to hide how easily her mood had lifted, couldn’t help but let out a faint laugh as well.

The atmosphere was delightful. There was a subtle tingling sensation, a warmth that enveloped them, and laughter that flowed freely.

In this perfect moment, Ki Tae-beom was actually testing the waters with Moon Seo-ha.

Seo-ha, so naive and easy to manipulate.

It was far too early to speak of love. Even a woman as inexperienced as her would find it strange if he did.

In their relationship, which had begun with physical intimacy devoid of emotion, Tae-beom wondered how far Seo-ha would be willing to go for him.

If she allowed him to cross certain physical boundaries, it would become easier to manipulate her in other aspects of their relationship. He needed to test this theory.

“I should probably head back now. I left in the middle of…”

“What do you do in the church every day? You’ve been so secretive about where you go and who you meet.”

“It’s just… a Bible study group for people who feel their faith isn’t strong enough.”

Seo-ha, who had always maintained eye contact during their conversations, suddenly lowered her gaze. With an awkward smile, she tried to leave, but Tae-beom had no intention of letting her go so easily.

“I’m disappointed, Seo-ha.”

“W-why?”

“You’re leaving just like that?”

Seo-ha’s eyes trembled slightly at the emotional outpouring of disappointment.

‘Oh no, what should I do? Was I too harsh? What am I supposed to do when I come out to see someone like this? Did I upset him unintentionally?’

“I’ve been waiting only for you,” Tae-beom said, his voice tinged with hurt.

“But… I still have work left to do…” Seo-ha replied hesitantly.

“I know. I understand, and yet…”

Seo-ha’s heart sank at Tae-beom’s unfamiliar expression. She felt she had genuinely done something wrong, but she really needed to go back inside. What was the right thing to do in this situation?

“Comfort me before you go,” Tae-beom requested softly.

Seo-ha raised her eyes, carefully gauging Tae-beom’s mood.

“H-how should I do that?”

Silence hung between them.

“How can I comfort you?” Seo-ha asked again, genuinely unsure.

Tae-beom’s voice carried a hint of irritation as he responded, “That’s for you to figure out.”

Seo-ha pondered, wondering how to soothe someone who was upset with her. Judging by Tae-beom’s reaction, a simple apology didn’t seem to be what he was after. He wanted to be comforted, to feel better, but how?

Ah, there was one way she knew…

“Should I… do it for you?” Seo-ha suggested, referring to the most recent and easiest method she had learned.

Tae-beom stared at her face intently, without responding. Despite the boldness of her words, Seo-ha’s expression was earnest, showing that her sole intention was to genuinely comfort him.

“It’s just… I have work to finish now. And you know it doesn’t end quickly with you, Tae-beom. So, maybe later…?”

Tae-beom’s voice softened as he replied, “You know, putting it inside you isn’t always the answer.”

Tae-beom grasped Seo-ha’s wrist, pulling her hand towards his pants and wrapping her fingers around his belt. Seo-ha, caught off guard, instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Tae-beom refused to let go of her slender wrist.

The slightest stimulation was enough to make his erection throb, and Seo-ha’s eyes darted nervously around the room, her shoulders squirming uncomfortably. Tae-beom, noticing her gaze, continued to ponder.

How far could he push her? How much would she permit, having spent only one night together?

If he could get away with this much, did that mean her world was incredibly narrow?

“Seo-ha,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, as he slid her hand up and down his center.

Sex was a convenient tool, after all.

Especially when it came to testing how much the other person was willing to surrender for their own gain.

Seo-ha’s gaze, alternating between the empty church building and Tae-beom, was fraught with hesitation. To expedite the unnecessary delay, Tae-beom seized her nape, brushing his lips against her ear and gently nibbling on her earlobe.

“Ah, hmm…”

Seo-ha’s voice trembled, her breaths quickening as she recalled the sensations from the previous night.

“This will be over soon.”

“Hmm, uh-huh…”

“Will you help me?”

Seo-ha’s face flushed from her neck to her ears, and she weakly nodded her head. Tae-beom’s satisfaction was palpable.

“Will it be enough if I just touch you?”

Seo-ha’s surprisingly submissive demeanor further delighted Tae-beom. If his partner was going to be so obliging, there was no need to proceed with caution.

“That’s not it, Seo-ha.”

“What, then…?”

“Firstly…”

In an instant, Tae-beom had become the dominant one, issuing commands to Seo-ha.

“Kneel down.”