THE COST OF PERFECTION

Fractured Reflections

The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, casting a muted glow across the room. Jeong Eun lay in bed, her eyes open but lifeless, dark circles underlining her pale complexion. The turbulent emotions of the past days had left her looking worn and hollow, a stark contrast to her usually vibrant self.

Joon Jae stood by the bed, his irritation palpable. He held his phone in his hand, which he had found carelessly left in the living room. His frustration was evident as he muttered to himself, cursing his own carelessness. "Damn it, how could I be so careless? I can't believe I left it out like that."

He turned to Jeong Eun, his face tight with annoyance. "Why didn't you wait for me last night? I was so worked up, and now I'm dealing with this mess. I was incredibly horny, and you just vanished."

Jeong Eun's demeanor remained calm and collected, her inner turmoil carefully concealed behind a veneer of calm. She looked at him with a composed expression, her voice steady as she replied, "I assumed you weren't that eager last night. You have your ways of controlling your impulses, or so I thought."

Her response seemed to momentarily confuse Joon Jae, who was taken aback by her nonchalant attitude

Jeong Eun forced a smile, attempting to mask her inner turmoil with a façade of normalcy. Her voice was soft, almost soothing as she said, "I'm just really tired. I think I need some time to relax."

Joon Jae's brow furrowed with concern. "Should I get a doctor for you?"

"No, it's nothing serious," Jeong Eun quickly replied, shaking her head. "I just need some rest. Will you stay with me?"

Joon Jae hesitated, his unease palpable. "I have a meeting later, but I suppose I can stay for a bit."

Jeong Eun nodded reassuringly, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. As Joon Jae leaned in to kiss her, his touch was eager and insistent, but Jeong Eun remained unresponsive, her mind elsewhere. Joon Jae's frustration was evident as he pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face for a sign of what was wrong.

"Why aren't you reacting?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation and worry.

Jeong Eun chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood despite her inner turmoil. "How can you expect a tired woman to be all enthusiastic? I'm barely managing to stay awake."

Joon Jae sighed and shook his head, his frustration growing. He began to plant kisses along her neck, his lips pressing hard enough to leave hickies. What once might have felt like a passionate gesture now felt like a punishment to Jeong Eun. Each kiss was a sharp reminder of the pain she felt inside.

As the burning sensation from his kisses intensified, Jeong Eun's expression twisted with discomfort. "My head is hurting," she said sharply, her voice edged with pain.

Joon Jae pulled away, his face a mix of disappointment and concern. "Alright," he said, his voice subdued. "I'll go get ready for the office."

He nodded and walked toward the bathroom, leaving Jeong Eun alone in the bed. As he closed the bathroom door behind him, Jeong Eun lay back, her eyes staring at the ceiling, reflecting the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind. The stark contrast between Joon Jae's obliviousness and her own internal strife only served to deepen her sense of isolation and confusion.

Joon Jae emerged from the bathroom, now dressed in a tailored suit, his hair meticulously styled. His unease was still apparent, and he couldn't seem to shake off his frustration. He approached Jeong Eun with a renewed intensity, pressing his lips to hers with an almost frantic urgency. His kisses were wild, driven by a mix of desire and an attempt to reclaim some semblance of normalcy.

Jeong Eun's expression grew increasingly strained, her forced smile faltering. "You're being funny, not horny," she said softly, trying to make light of the situation. "I'm just tired, not in the mood."

Joon Jae's irritation seemed to wane slightly as he chuckled, his tension easing just a bit. He responded with a deep, lingering kiss that lasted for a full minute, pouring all his emotions into it. When he finally pulled back, he looked at her with a mix of affection and frustration. "I really have to go," he said reluctantly. "I have a meeting."

Jeong Eun nodded, her smile a thin veneer over her rising anger. "Of course," she said, her tone almost too calm. As Joon Jae left the room, she watched him go with cold, unfeeling eyes.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Jeong Eun's expression hardened. "Yeah, right, a meeting," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with bitter disbelief. She picked up her phone and opened her call history, quickly finding a recent call to his secretary. The realization hit her like a cold wave—there was no meeting scheduled for today.

Her eyes narrowed with a mixture of anger and determination. She threw her phone onto the bed, her face set in a grim expression as she processed the new layer of deception she had uncovered. Joon Jae's lies were becoming increasingly transparent, and the façade of his perfect life was crumbling further with every passing moment.