How about Cosmic Horror? Chapter 8

She was physically exhausted after the checkup, so outdoor activities seemed difficult. But ‘being lovey-dovey at home’ kept conjuring up strange images in her mind… For that reason, she hesitated to choose.

“What would we do if we were being lovey-dovey at home?”

Hesitantly, she decided to probe. He chuckled softly.

“Something that would bring us closer.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Terrified, she pressed him. Her pesky imagination was starting to kick into gear. No, it had already run wild, and this was just a confirmation.

The graceful swaying flowers tilted their heads in unison, then transformed into heart-shaped petals. She braced for what he’d say next.

“Hmm, how about watching that movie you wanted to see?”

His shockingly wholesome suggestion made her feel like trash. Shame washed over her, making her want to crawl into a hole. 

How did I get so depraved? 

Reflecting on how depraved she’d become, she nodded.

“Alright, let’s go home.”

 

When they went to the parking lot, her husband’s secretary was waiting for them. It was the same man who’d driven them home after she was discharged.

When did he get here? Did her husband contact him? But wasn’t it a bit much to call him just to drive?

“Hello.”

She greeted him awkwardly. The secretary stared at her for a moment, then responded a beat later.

“Yes, hello.”

His name was… Nia, right? It was an unusual name, so she remembered it instantly. She didn’t know his last name because her husband had said it was fine to just call him Nia.

Tall and lean, he wasn’t a flashy heartthrob but had a refined look with no flaws up close.

“Don’t stare too long, honey. I’ll get jealous if you eye another guy.”

Her husband joked, perhaps because she was staring too intently. At the same time, Nia’s face crumpled as if he’d heard something unbearable.

“Unbelievable…”

Irae was stunned. First, because Nia grumbled so openly. Sure, people badmouth their boss behind their back, but right in front of him? Second, because Yohan didn’t react. With the bouquet head, she couldn’t read his expression, but from other cues, he didn’t seem to care about his secretary’s insolence.

Maybe they weren’t just boss and secretary? Maybe friends? But if that were the case, why hadn’t they spoken even once on the drive from the hospital?

After getting out of the car, she asked.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

“There isn’t one. Just an errand boy.”

An errand boy who was openly rude and seemed rather comfortable doing so?

“The only being in this world who has a ‘relationship’ with me is you, honey.”

His unexpected remark sobered her up. She understood what he meant.

His parents must’ve passed away. He wouldn’t say such a thing if they were alive and well. He was still young, how could…

She looked at him with pity and decided to be good to him from now on. First, she would watch a movie with him and try to close the distance between them. And…

Less than 30 minutes later, she regretted her decision.

Chu. His lips touched her cheek, then pulled away. Soon after, they landed on her hair. Then he lifted her fingers and kissed them. It felt like every five seconds, he was kissing some part of her.

“Aren’t you watching the movie?”

“I am.”

His shameless answer made her neck throb. Kissing her all over incessantly while blatantly lying without batting an eye. It was impossible unless he had a hundred eyes.

She was sitting between his legs, nestled in his arms, watching the movie.

“Does it have to be this position?”

“It’s how we always watched movies.”

Her timid protest fell on deaf ears. Restless, she tried her best to focus on the TV screen, but when his lips grazed the line between her neck and shoulder, she flinched.

Was he possessed by a ghost who died kiss-deprived? It was almost obsessive. He wasn’t sloppy with his kisses, just light pecks, which was the only saving grace.

The moment she let her guard down, his lips brushed her earlobe. They pulled away quickly, but her fine hair stood on end.

This wasn’t watching a movie. It was Yohan’s Yoo Irae tasting session.

“Are you always this kiss-obsessed?”

“Isn’t this normal? Doesn’t everyone do this?”

She was speechless. What parallel universe did this man come from?

“I’m gonna wear out at this rate.”

“No way. Humans are fragile, but not that fragile.”

Was he embracing the monster label now? She played along.

“Humans are more fragile than you think, Yohan.”

His lips pecked her jawline—chu, chu.

“Yeah, I can see that.”

No point arguing. She gave up trying to stop him.

“Is there a reason you’re doing this?”

“Because I want to? You do the same with cute animals or plushies—hugging, kissing, rubbing your face on them, pretending to bite them—throw a whole fit?”

When did he see that?

Embarrassed that her pre-memory-loss self showed him such antics, she cringed. Even if they were married, couldn’t she have kept some dignity? Imagining herself grinning like a creepy old man over a plushie, she recoiled. At the same time, she realized this man was completely smitten with her. To him, she looked as cute as a fluffy puppy or a soft plushie?

Unbelievably, he kept kissing her for the entire two-hour movie, and after a hundred, she stopped counting. Needless to say, she retained none of the film’s plot.

“Why did the protagonist turn around at the end? I couldn’t follow because of you.”

“Because of the snake’s shadow.”

“What? Really? Didn’t the snake die earlier?”

“Rewind it if you’re curious.”

Skeptical, she grabbed the remote and pressed the rewind button. He kissed her cheek and added, 

“Bottom left corner of the screen.”

“Oh? It’s really there!”

She paused the screen and saw something that indeed looked like a snake shadow. Irae was dumbfounded. How did he spot that while he was busy kissing her all over? Did he really have a hundred eyes?

“How’d you notice that?”

“I told you, I was watching the movie.”

He replied casually. Was this true multitasking? She’d only ever seen people claim to multitask while failing at everything, so this was impressive.

“That’s amazing. But the movie’s over now, so how about we change positions?”

Having someone behind her felt awkward. Honestly, being back-hugged by a man was a first, and it made her restless.

The sensation of a much larger, firmer body pressed against her back stirred a primal fear, like being hunted defenselessly.

He could see every inch of her, while she had no idea what he was doing behind her. All he’d done was kiss her, but still…

As she tried to slip away, he whispered in her ear, 

“Wanna watch another movie?”

“I’ll wear out if we do.”

It felt like she’d endured a lifetime’s worth of kisses today.

“I can’t have my precious wife wearing out, so I’ll hold back.”

He chuckled and let go of her waist. Finally freed from his embrace, she stretched. Two hours in the same tense position had left her body stiff.

“Ugh.”

“Are you sore anywhere?”

“A bit. I guess I held one position too long.”

“You’re so fragile. Your durability’s terrible. How do you live with a body like that?”

Tilting his bouquet head curiously side to side, he stood from the sofa.

“Come here, honey. I’ll give you a massage.”

“You’ll give me a massage?”

“Yes.”

That was tempting. Who’d say no to a massage?

Irae quickly sat on the floor in front of the sofa, the perfect position for him to rub her shoulders while seated.

“Come up and lie down on the sofa.”

“Huh? You don’t have to do that.”

His serious request caught her off guard. Was he going to give her a full-body massage? She felt overwhelmed and was about to refuse, but he patted the sofa lightly, urging her to come up. After hesitating, she reluctantly lay flat on the sofa.

“Lie on your stomach.”

“Uh…”

She slowly flipped over. A creeping sense of unease mixed with slight distrust began to take hold.

He wouldn’t use a massage as an excuse for something weird, right? Like, kneading her stiff spots but letting his hands drift to more intimate areas… She shuddered at the inappropriate images that popped into her mind.

“Honey, you cold?”

“Oh, the sofa leather’s a bit chilly.”

“Is that so? Hold on.”

He disappeared and returned with a blanket.

“Lie on this.”

Irae mentally scolded herself again. Imagining this considerate husband as some sleazy pervert in a 19+ fantasy? The rot was in her head alone.

“Thanks.”

“No big deal.”

Lying on the blanket he’d spread out, a thought struck her. If he was this kind of husband, maybe she could live with him even if he always looked like something inhuman. She wondered if it was too early to make such a judgment when she barely knew him, but his attentive care and doting felt so good, at least for now.

The sofa sank under his weight. He must’ve climbed over her, but kneeling, as she felt no pressure.

“Where’s it bad?”

“My shoulders, probably from tensing them… My lower back’s a bit sore too.”

“Got it.”