Chapter 267.2

Chapter 267.2

The truth was… had he wanted to punish himself, not Lee Wooshin?

Had he wanted to see a face identical to his own mock him, call him pathetic, and in the end save his wife? Had he envied that face, the one desperately saving its wife?

“I am truly late, but… congratulations…”

…Honey. His voice shook. Before he knew it, his wife stood in front of him. Her hands were black, like branches scorched by fire, the fingertips split. Her nails had melted completely, and clear traces of current remained on her palms.

Tae Mu-kyung could not even squeeze his eyes shut. He had not even been able to collect her body with his own hands.

When he reached out, the crying apparition of his wife roughly slapped his arm away. She looked blurred, as if drawn from electricity, but the eyes trapped in anguish were sharp enough to chill his chest.

The guilt he had denied for so long surged in like a flood. Slowly, he stepped toward the shattered bathtub.

Blue sparks flickered low from her fingertips. It was too late, but he still wanted to hold on.

He should have taken off the mask and gone to her sooner.

“I am truly… sorry….”

Step by step, he walked across the water soaked floor and muttered one last time.

The moment he set his foot down, blue fire suddenly ignited across the short circuited floor. Flames spread in an instant, but Tae Mu-kyung bent at the waist, intent on picking something up.

It was…

“They told me later that my wife had been pregnant.”

Before it had been torn apart, it had clearly taken the shape of a full term belly.

He gathered the pieces of silicone one by one. It was too late, but… congratulations on the pregnancy.

*

Once outside, Lee Wooshin could not hold back any longer and captured Seoryeong’s lips in a fierce kiss.

He had bitten down on his tongue for so long that his mouth tasted entirely of blood. He could not even tell whether it was his blood or hers.

He slid his tongue into her mouth as it opened naturally and brushed against her slowly. She gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck. The tremors wracking her body from the pain gradually began to subside.

‘I am glad you did not let me go.’

He pressed firmly against her lower lip and drew it into his mouth, tightening his brow.

He saw his past self, who had torn off his mask and walked away as if relieved.

That day when he had left her alone and clomped down the stairs of their newlywed home flashed vividly before him.

“Where do you think you are going? You have to come back.” In that memory, Lee Wooshin had stopped mid step. Then he turned around and started walking back home, one step at a time. He had leapt up the stairs two or three at once, breathless, and pulled the front door open again.

Now, he twisted his head as he faced the afterimage unfolding before him. He shoved his tongue deep inside her mouth and pressed into every corner, then wrapped around her trembling tongue in a slow, dense swirl.

“Haah…!”

Seoryeong finally released the breath she had been holding. Lee Wooshin rubbed his lips gently over hers and wiped the red from inside her mouth clean. He pressed his lips to her damp cheek and ear, then moved up to her forehead.

In his mind, he opened the front door, she was there. She had been waiting only for him, for hours, for months, exhausted and alone.

He choked out the words.

“First survival. First mission. You did well, Agent Han Seoryeong.”

“…!”

“It is time to clock out. Withdraw with me.”

Her eyes widened at his words. Lee Wooshin kissed her adorable eyelids and rubbed his nose lightly against hers. Then he inhaled her scent deeply and let out a sound that was almost painful.

Seoryeong. From now on, the one who waits at the front door for you is me…