Woeman

Lee Min Kim

He was part of a dangerous specie of man.

Graced with features made charming by its flaws---lips that stretched a bit too wide, a nose with elegant character, brows that reminded me of a dragon's, eyes darkened by a hint of mischief that poured from the soul. The eyes were really a window to the heart of a good guy. A little opinionated, was what I thought while dating him in university. For that we argued many times, but he was my oppa. Not the unrealistic type---the safe kind. After graduation we ended it when he took time off to travel. At the time it tore my heart to let him go. I barely survived it.

Our contact faded with the ticking of time. It was the common fate of young lovers, but I found someone better. His name was Dae Hyung Park. Another dangerous kind of man, the kind that genuinely wanted to take care of a woman's heart. Sarang was always a dangerous game of fate yet apparently, I hadn't had enough. We got married. A part of me was always bracing itself, but one year flew by and there's no ending in sight.

I began another stage of my career as a salary woman in the world of marketing after we moved out of Seoul into Busan to be closer to my sickly eomma. It was there that I saw him again. A fresh recruitment for our team. The ground under my feet felt like sinking sand as he came up to me grinning, hand outstretched. I grasped it. We bowed.

"Jae Hwa," he said in an affectionate voice, "we meet again."

"We do live in a small country," I quipped.

He laughed. It was friendly. It put me at ease.

Good.

The initial shock was over.

I really didn't love him anymore.

He wasn't a dangerous man.

"I'll better introduce you to the others," I smiled. "And don't hesitate to come with us for lunch. We spoil newbies."

"Hmm, I definitely will like it here," he said.

Our office friendship grew without a hitch, and everyone in the department became quick friends with him. That was his specialty. It soon felt as if he'd always been there.

"Yeobo, warn me if I have reason to be jealous," Dae Hyun's warm lips trailed a path on my neck. Turning off my bedside lamp was becoming a confusing task. My vision was blurring. I did it before melting against his skin for a long kiss.

I stopped him before it would be too late to talk. "Maybe you should be."

We made a joke of it. My husband was chasing me again for the thrill of it because it pleased us. But then Lee Min Kim changed. The lady's man and everyone's friend disappeared. One evening, he was his comedic self at the dinner we shared after work. The next day...

Snap!

~:~

Jin Ae: Did a close family member die?

Kyung Soon: I don't think so. No announcements

Mi Young: Aigu! Iseul's going to him with a peace offering

Every woman within range peeked above their computers as Iseul, Lee's greatest admirer, came to him like a lamb to the slaughter. Even the men had finally noticed what was happening and we all watched---not even daring to breathe too loudly---as she slowly placed coffee on his desk. Up to that point, only the white noise of the AC, printer, and the rapid typing of Lee's fingers on the keyboard could be heard. Our eyes grew when the latter abruptly stopped. Iseul prepared to break the silence. She gulped.