Lost in translation

Chapter 11: Unforeseen Desires

As Evelyn washes the dishes, Min-jun sneaks up behind her and begins kissing her neck sensually, trailing down to her back. Evelyn moans in pleasure but reminds him about her period. Undeterred, Min-jun asks her what would happen if they were to have s*x anyway. Evelyn, intrigued, responds that she doesn't know, playfully asking if he wants to find out. Their moment is interrupted by a knock on the door, revealing Tae with Min-jun's clothes for the day.

Min-jun takes his suit from Tae and as Tae leaves, Min-jun returns to Evelyn, asking flirtatiously, "Where were we?" Evelyn teases him about being late for work, but Min-jun is determined to continue their intimate moment. He carries her to the dining table and lays her down, resuming their passionate kissing.

Evelyn, feeling hesitant, breaks the kiss and expresses her discomfort about having s*x during her period. Min-jun, sensing her hesitation, asks if he should stop. Evelyn, caught between her desires and practical concerns, shakes her head. Min-jun begins to caress and kiss her breasts, slowly removing her underwear. However, when he notices her v****a covered in blood, he can't help but exclaim, "f**k!" in surprise.

Concerned, Min-jun asks Evelyn if what he's seeing is normal. In his worry, he suggests taking her to the hospital, unintentionally offending Evelyn. She pushes him away, feeling annoyed and embarrassed by his reaction. Standing up, she begins to dress, her initial desire now replaced with frustration. Min-jun, sensing her anger, realizes he's said something wrong.

Evelyn, still upset, tells Min-jun to get dressed for work. He complies, knowing he's misstepped. As he gets ready, there is an air of tension between them. Min-jun, feeling regretful, tries to make amends, but Evelyn remains quiet, her earlier passion now a distant memory.

Min-jun, feeling dejected, bids farewell to Evelyn as he leaves for work. The atmosphere is strained, and it's clear that their earlier intimacy has been overshadowed by the misunderstanding. As Min-jun exits, he wonders if he handled the situation correctly, feeling a mix of desire, concern, and confusion.

Evelyn, alone in the apartment, reflects on the events that just transpired. She feels a mix of emotions: frustration at Min-jun's reaction, embarrassment about her period, and disappointment that their intimate moment was interrupted. She wonders if she overreacted and contemplates the complexities of relationships, where passion and practicality often collide.

Min-jun stepped into the office, his heart racing. Desire, confusion, and concern swirled within him. Had he handled the situation correctly? He couldn’t be sure.

Ms. Joen, the enigmatic manager, glided in, her heels clicking on the polished floor. She settled into the chair across from Min-jun, her eyes assessing him. “Are you all right?” she asked, her tone too sweet to be genuine. “Evelyn never gets anything right, you know.”

Min-jun shifted uncomfortably. Evelyn, his assistant, had been suspended, and Ms. Joen was quick to exploit the situation. But what did she want from him? Her gaze lingered on his tattoos, and Min-jun’s pulse quickened. Ms. Joen leans in, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal more of his tattoos. “I’m interested in spending the night with you,” she murmured. “Your wild side intrigues me.”

His instincts kicked in. Min-jun grabbed her hands, squeezing them tightly. “Enough,” he ordered, standing up. “Leave my office.”

Ms. Joen’s lips brushed against his shirt collar, leaving a crimson stain. She exited, a silky smirk playing on her lips. Ms. Joen exits the office with a smirk, catching the attention of the employees. They begin to gossip, speculating about a potential relationship between her and the CEO.

Min-jun is unaware that the lipstick stain on his collar fuels their suspicions further. His colleagues exchanged knowing glances. Ms. Joen’s assistant fueled the fire, spreading rumors about her and the CEO. The cafeteria hummed with gossip.

Ms. Joen’s secretary approached the group. “A romantic relationship at work?” she exclaimed. “Absolutely. They’re together.”

Ms. Joen appeared, nonchalant. “Don’t fuss,” she said. “Min-jun doesn’t mix business with pleasure.”

After lunch, Min-jun met with the design and marketing teams. Then Ms. Cha, his loyal employee, entered. Concern etched her features. “Suspending Evelyn—was it wise?” she asked. “I care about her.”

Ms. Cha suggested a temporary assistant while Evelyn was on suspension. Min-jun agreed. As she left, she noticed the lipstick stain. “What happened?” she inquired.

Min-jun hesitated. “An incident,” he replied cryptically. Ms. Cha changed the subject. “By the way, Min-jun, when are you going to visit your parents? Someone from our hometown called. They said your parents would like to see you.”

His heart sank. Min-jun had been avoiding them, too busy climbing the corporate ladder to spare a weekend for the family.

“I’ll… I’ll think about it,” he mumbled.

Ms. Cha’s gaze softened. “Don’t wait too long, Min-jun. Family is important.”

As Ms. Cha turned to leave, Min-jun’s phone buzzed. Evelyn’s name flashed on the screen—a beacon of sanity in the office storm.

“Hello?” Min-jun answered, his voice softening.

“Evelyn here,” she said. “How’s your day?”

He glanced at the chaos outside his office. “Chaotic,” he admitted. “Yours?”

“Same,” she replied. “Listen, can we meet later?”

Relief washed over him. “Absolutely,” Min-jun said. “I need that.”

Their brief conversation grounded him. Amidst rumors and power plays, Evelyn was real—a connection worth pursuing.

Determined, Min-jun marched into Ms. Joen’s office. “Enough with your silly behavior,” he declared. “I have no romantic interest in you so cut the games.”

Ms. Joen stammered, trying to dismiss it. But Min-jun stood firm. “Your behavior was inappropriate,” he warned. Ms. Joen’s smile wavered. “Oh, come now,” she said. “It’s harmless flirting.”

“Disciplinary action if you persist.”

Her bravado crumbled. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.” He turned to leave. “This ends now.”

She paled, defeated. As he left, Min-jun felt lighter. Maybe clarity was worth the chaos.

Back in his office, he smiled. Evelyn awaited—a genuine spark in a tangled web.

Evelyn, excited to reunite with Min-jun, spends the day preparing Korean delicacies. She sets the table and awaits his arrival, but as the day turns to night, there is no sign of him. Restlessly, she dozes off in the kitchen, still clutching hopes of seeing Min-jun.

The morning sun brings disappointment as Evelyn wakes up to an empty home. Confused and hurt, she questions Min-jun's absence and tries to contact him, only to find his number unavailable. Her emotions spill over as she packs the uneaten food into containers, symbolizing the end of their promised reunion. Days turn into weeks, and Evelyn is left with no answers. She seeks comfort from her friend Nomsa, who suggests that Min-jun, known for his travels, might have unexpected circumstances.

However, Evelyn struggles to accept this explanation, believing that distance is no obstacle to communication. As time passes, Evelyn's mind begins to play tricks on her. She questions the authenticity of their relationship, wondering if Min-jun truly liked her or if it was all an act of pity after their first encounter. Her insecurities deepen as she grapples with the uncertainty of his feelings.

Unexpectedly, Evelyn receives a phone call offering her an interview for a job in another city. Surprised, she confides in Nomsa, who reveals that she had forwarded Evelyn's resume to other schools through a recruiter. This unexpected turn of events presents Evelyn with a chance to start anew.