Kiss Me Like You’re Not Married.

Tae-hyun sat there on the couch, shoulders still tense, trying to process how calm she was.

Seo-yeon wasn't supposed to smile like that. Not when everything felt so unstable inside him. Not when he had just whispered to Joon 'keep the door open' like it meant something. Like he wanted something.

Yet here she was, standing in front of him with a quiet sort of grace, sipping her coffee like she had all the time in the world.

"You're… really okay?" he asked, voice low, tentative. "About all of this?"

She tilted her head at him, then turned away and walked toward their bedroom.

Tae blinked, confused, until he heard her call back, "Come here."

"…What?"

She poked her head around the doorframe. "You heard me. Come here."

Still bewildered, he followed barefoot and still tired from the night's call until he reached the bedroom.

She was already pulling the covers back, patting the edge of the mattress.

"Sit," she ordered.

Tae hesitated.

Then she rolled her eyes, stepped forward, and dragged him by the wrist until he was sitting at the foot of the bed.

"You're acting like I just caught you cheating," she said, climbing onto the bed. "You didn't."

He looked up at her, still unsure.

Seo-yeon didn't say anything for a moment. She just moved toward him, gently pushing him backward by the shoulders until he was leaning on his palms. Then she straddled his lap, settling there with casual familiarity like it was still 2013 and they were two dumb college kids who had no idea what kind of adults they'd become.

Tae swallowed, unsure where to put his hands. He rested them awkwardly at her sides.

She stared at him, her expression softer now, more thoughtful.

"I've known something like this might happen," she said quietly.

He blinked. "What?"

"I mean—" she sighed. "Maybe not this exactly. But… I've always known."

Tae's brows furrowed.

She brushed the hair off his forehead, her fingers slow and fond. "Since college. Since the night you came out to me."

He exhaled sharply through his nose. "That was years ago."

"And you were scared back then too," she murmured, "thinking I'd walk away. But I didn't."

"You didn't even flinch."

"Because it didn't change how I saw you. It still doesn't."

Tae looked down at the space between them. "I told you then, too… that my attraction was stronger with men. But I still—"

"Loved me. I know."

She leaned forward, resting her forehead gently against his.

"You do love me, Tae. You've shown me that in a thousand little ways. That's why I'm not upset."

He closed his eyes for a second.

"But…" he said, hesitantly, "doesn't it hurt? Even a little?"

Seo-yeon let out a small breath. "Of course it stings. You were the person I built my life around. But I never built it thinking you were perfect. I built it because you were honest."

He felt her fingers curl slightly against the back of his neck.

"You didn't lie to me. Not now, not then. You were always careful with me. And that matters more than anything else."

Tae's throat tightened.

"I just…" He paused. "I never imagined it would be him."

Seo-yeon chuckled softly. "You mean the very attractive, emotionally repressed father you couldn't stop talking about after that first dinner? The one you kept Pickering with everytime we hang out?" Tae groaned.

"Yeah," she teased, "I saw it way before you did."

"You're unbelievable."

She smiled. "Maybe. But I'm also right."

He opened his mouth, but she pressed a finger to his lips.

"I've watched you light up, Tae. The way you'd get quiet when his name came up, or how you'd linger in the kitchen when I mentioned that Eun-woo and Min-jun had a playdate. I noticed the way you touched your phone more often. How you'd stare at the screen like waiting."

Tae didn't speak.

"And then," she added, "when Ha-eun called and told me about the break… I don't know. I felt something click. Like I already knew you two were drifting closer."

Tae searched her face, confused.

"So… you're not mad?" he asked again, voice smaller this time. "Not even jealous?"

Seo-yeon looked at him for a long moment, then leaned back slightly, settling more comfortably on his lap.

"I don't think it's about jealousy," she said, eyes distant. "It's about time. Timing. Life. I knew I was marrying a man who would never fully fit into a single box. And I was okay with that. Because you were mine. And you chose me."

He nodded slowly.

"I still love you," he said, voice barely audible.

She cupped his cheek again. "And I love you too. I'm just not sure love means the same thing it did ten years ago. People change. We're changing. But I trust you. Even if… even if something's happening between you and him."

Tae looked down, breathing shakily.

"He's not even… he's not even mine," he said quietly.

"No," she agreed, gently brushing her thumb against his skin. "But you want him to be."

His jaw clenched slightly. He didn't answer.

"And that," she said softly, "is what scares you."

He nodded, finally.

She pulled him into a hug then, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his head.

"I'll be okay," she whispered. "We'll be okay. I just want you to keep being honest with me."

He closed his eyes and let himself hold her back, the woman who knew him before he knew himself. Who didn't scream. Didn't accuse. Just understood.

After a while, she pulled back, her smile returning.

"Also," she added, "I'm serious about what Ha-eun said, she literally asked me to watch out for you."

Tae raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"She literally told me, 'Keep an eye on your husband. I don't trust mine right now.'"

Tae snorted.

"I told her I'd keep you away from his bad influence," Seo grinned, "but between us? I'm kinda rooting for him."

Tae groaned again, this time hiding his face in her shoulder.

"I hate you," he mumbled.

"You love me," she corrected, smug.

"…That too."

They sat there for a while in silence, Tae still cross-legged on the bed, Seo-yeon curled into his lap like a content cat, her fingers lightly playing with the hem of his T-shirt. The earlier vulnerability had softened into something more familiar. Comfort. Playfulness.

Then she tilted her head up with a sly smile.

"Okay," she said, voice sweet and slow. "Now spill."

"…Spill what?"

She sat up straighter, eyes widening innocently. "Everything. From the beginning. You're not getting out of this. I mean the tea, Tae-hyun. The drama. The scandal. You think you can drop a 'we maybe like each other now' bomb on me and not give me context?"

"I didn't drop anything—"

"Don't backpedal now," she grinned. "I want details. From the very beginning."

Tae leaned back slightly, groaning. "Do we have to—"

"Yes. And no editing. I want the full, uncut, emotionally tense drama version."

He opened his mouth to protest again, but she was already climbing off him.

"Wait here," she said, sliding off the bed. "I'm bringing our coffee. If I'm gonna hear about my husband's secret gay slow-burn affair, I need caffeine."

He sighed as she padded out of the room in her oversized sleep shirt, humming to herself like this was the most exciting part of her week.

When she returned, she was carrying both their half-forgotten mugs and had thrown on her cozy cardigan. She climbed back into bed, crossed her legs under the blanket, and faced him with sparkling eyes.

"Okay," she grinned, handing him his cup. "I'm ready. Begin."

Tae stared at her in slight disbelief.

"You're insane."

"Emotionally stable and curious," she corrected.

He chuckled despite himself.

Then he took a deep breath. "Alright. First time I saw him was here… the dinner."

"Oh, I remember," she said with a smirk. "You were so cold. And angry."

"He was smug," Tae muttered. "Just… too calm. He kept looking at me like he already knew something."

Seo's brow lifted. "Knew what?"

"I don't know. Like… like he saw through me, or knew I was nervous, or—" He stopped, frowning. "It felt like he was testing me."

"Maybe he was."

Tae looked up. "What?"

"Some guys do that. Especially the ones who don't even realize they're flirting. Or, worse—do realize but pretend they're not."

Tae narrowed his eyes. "He definitely realized."

Seo grinned, pleased. "Oho?"

"I'm serious. That first night he didn't say anything obvious, but… the way he looked at me, how he spoke to me in that low voice while our wives weren't watching—" He paused, mouth tugging to the side. "I knew."

"And?" she leaned closer. "What'd you do about it?"

He gave her a long look. "…Two weeks later, I ran into him again. At a bar, by chance."

She gasped. "Fate!"

"Oh my god."

"Continue," she ordered dramatically.

He rolled his eyes. "We were both in our suits, he had a gin and some file on the counter. I wasn't gonna say anything but then… I don't know, we just started talking. And it got intense, fast."

"How intense?"

Tae hesitated.

She raised a brow.

He exhaled. "He said things. About… not knowing if he was straight anymore. Said he used to think he was, but something had changed."

Seo's mouth slowly parted. "He said that to you?"

Tae nodded.

"And you—?"

"I left my number in his phone before I left."

Seo clutched her chest. "Romance!"

Tae flushed. "It wasn't romantic. It was tense. Hot. Like… I almost kissed him."

She grinned, practically bouncing where she sat. "And then?? What happened next?!"

"We texted. For days."

"Dirty?"

"Flirty."

She wiggled her brows. "Flirting straight away huh?"

"No.. not at first."

"But eventually?"

He paused. "Yeah. Eventually."

"Who initiated it?"

"I don't know."

"Liar."

He chuckled. "Okay, fine. Maybe me.. But he didn't push me away."

Seo-yeon nodded, taking another sip. "You started it because you liked how it felt."

Tae looked up at her at her curious eyes, her patient face, her kindness that didn't waver and felt something pull in his chest.

"I did," he admitted softly.

She didn't flinch. Didn't bristle.

Instead, she tilted her head, a small smirk forming.

"I knew he was your type."

Tae groaned again and covered his face with one hand. "Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because I told you that the day you first met him," she laughed. "I was like, 'He's totally your type,' and you got all defensive."

"You said it in front of Ha-eun!"

"Because it was obvious! Tall, sharp jaw, emotionally repressed but probably would write a love letter and buy you flowers with bloody hands—"

"Stop."

"—probably stares at the sky smoking while overthinking conversations—"

Tae laughed, holding his stomach. "Seriously, stop."

But she was laughing too now, warmth in her chest, glowing in the early morning light slipping through the blinds.

And for a moment, Tae just stared at her.

He remembered every reason he'd fallen in love with her. How she always knew the version of him he didn't know how to express. How she let him feel safe. How she could tease him, press into him, break him down and still hold all the pieces gently.

She caught his stare and blinked. "What?"

"Nothing," he said, voice soft.

"No, seriously. What?"

He leaned forward, bumped his forehead against hers softly.

"I just remembered why I love you so much."

Seo-yeon smiled. "Only just remembered?"

He pulled her into a hug, chest tightening with something that felt like gratitude and grief all at once.

"No," he whispered. "I never forgot."

"Stoppppp continue I need more tea." She chuckled softly and punched his chest lightly.

Tae shot her a look with a soft smile then he sighed and continued. "Anyway. The next time we met… it was a lounge. Not going to lie.. I invited him. I thought we'd just talk, but—"

"But?"

Tae hesitated again.

Seo leaned forward, eyes huge, her mouth slightly open.

"He kissed me."

She shrieked, flopping backward onto the bed like someone had just revealed the plot twist of the year.

"Nooo. He kissed you?!"

Tae tried not to smile more and shook his head. "He snapped. I said something.. um.. I kind of teased him and he grabbed me."

Seo was laughing now, kicking her legs under the blanket. "I knew it! I knew he was the grabby type. I saw it in his arms."

"You what—?"

She waved her hand. "Doesn't matter. Keep going. Then what?"

Tae scratched the back of his neck. "I didn't stop him. That's all."

She narrowed her eyes. "That's not all. What else happened?"

"…Nothing happened."

"Don't lie to me, Tae-hyun."

He smirked slightly and looked away. "We've kissed more than once after that. That's all."

She squinted at him. "You're hiding something."

"I'm not."

"You are. Your ears are red. That's your guilt zone."

He looked away, but she lunged forward, grabbing his face between her hands.

"Tell me!"

He groaned. "Fine. I told him I liked being—"

He stopped.

Seo's eyes lit up.

"You what."

"…I hinted at him that I'm more on the submissive side since he said something about liking to be in control..."

She screamed into her hands, then collapsed dramatically onto his lap, burying her face in his shirt.

"Oh my godddd."

Tae chuckled awkwardly, running a hand over his face in embarrassment. His ears red and his cheeks burning slightly.

She peeked up at him. "That explains so much. You always loved when I was bossy in bed."

"Don't say that out loud."

"Don't be shy, Mr. I-Like-Being-Dominated."

He groaned again, trying to push her off. She clung tighter.

"I love you," she said between giggles, "but you're so lucky you married someone who gets it."

He laughed under his breath. "Yeah…"

Then he paused, looking at her really looking at her, sitting there all warm and close and loving him without even blinking.

"…Yeah," he said again, more quietly this time. "I am."

She looked up again, cheeks still a little flushed. "You okay?"

He nodded, the smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. "Better than okay."

Tae-hyun stayed quiet for a long second, eyes drifting to the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, voice low.

Seo-yeon turned slightly toward him, her warmth still pressed against his side.

"For what?"

"For hiding it. Lying. Letting it happen and pretending it wasn't."

His fingers twisted around the rim of his coffee mug, voice growing more raw with each word. "I didn't… mean for it to. But once it started I just, I felt like I'd already done something wrong. Like I was cheating on you."

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she reached out and gently took the mug from his hands, setting it on the nightstand. Then she leaned in close, touching his jaw.

"It's not cheating," she said softly, "if I already knew."

He blinked. "What?"

"I knew, Tae." She gave a small smile. "I just didn't say anything. I knew you'd tell me eventually."

His throat tightened. "How long…?"

"The night I saw you in the backyard," she said simply. "Right after that lounge meeting when you came back late, You came home distracted, flushed. And when I kissed you and tasted the cigarettes I knew it wasn't because'joon spoke at a close range.', then later when I saw your texts lighting up your phone… and your face when you read them.. or how Min-jun mentioned those scars on your wrists."

She tucked her legs up beneath her and turned toward him completely. "I knew something had changed. But I also knew you. I knew you'd tell me sooner or later. Because you love me too much to keep lying."

Tae's mouth parted, eyes stinging as he looked at her still here, still soft, still his.

She leaned in, pressing a small, lingering kiss to his lips. "I'd still like to be married to you, you know. I like being your wife."

"Even now?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Seo nodded, brushing a bit of hair from his forehead. "Even now. Especially now."

He swallowed hard.

"And," she continued, her tone a little lighter, "I don't really mind you doing whatever with Joon. Just… don't lie anymore. Tell me if you're seeing him. Or texting. Or hanging out. You don't have to hide."

"…Really?"

She nodded again, more serious this time. "I want things to stay the same between us, Tae. I still feel attracted to you. I still want us. I don't care about labels or what it means. You're mine. You always have been."

That cracked something open in him.

With a half-sob disguised as a laugh, Tae tackled her, pushing her down on the bed with a sudden burst of affection, peppering her face with kisses.

"You're insane—completely insane," he said between kisses. "I should've told you. I should've known you'd be like this. Why was I even scared?"

She shrieked, laughing beneath him, swatting at his arms as he tickled her sides.

"Because you're a dumbass!"

He laughed harder, nose brushing hers. "God, I love you."

She caught her breath, still smiling up at him, her face flushed and eyes shiny.

"I know. I love you too."

Tae pulled her up into a tight hug again, arms wrapped around her waist as if he was trying to memorize the shape of her all over again.

They stayed like that for a moment, hearts full, tension dissolved, love unshaken.

Then he whispered against her shoulder, "Just… don't tell Ha-eun."

Seo pulled back, brows lifted. "Why not?"

"Because she's not you," Tae said, serious now. "She wouldn't understand. Not like this. Joon's still supposed to be straight in her eyes."

Seo nodded slowly, lips pursed in thought. "Right. And if she finds out from anyone else, she might react badly."

"Exactly."

She sighed, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear. "Alright. Your secret's safe with me."

He exhaled, relieved, and laid back on the bed beside her.

Seo settled next to him, resting her head on his chest. "But one thing's for sure…"

"Hm?"

"…I knew Joon was your type the second I saw him. I should've bet money."

Tae groaned into his hand. "God babe.. Don't start again."

She just giggled, her fingers playing with the hem of his shirt again.

"So…" she said sweetly, "when are you seeing him next?"

"…Later today."

"Ugh, you whore."

Tae smacked her with a pillow, and her laughter rang out again.

The morning sun streamed in gently through the living room window as Tae-hyun adjusted the cuffs of his blazer. Seo-yeon was already in the kitchen packing Min-jun's lunchbox, humming quietly as the smell of toast and warm milk floated through the house.

Tae approached her from behind, arms sliding around her waist as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"I'm heading out," he murmured.

She turned, pecking him on the lips in return. "Good luck at work. Be nice to your coworkers today."

"I'm always nice," he said, feigning offense.

She raised a brow knowingly. "Mmmhm."

He chuckled, then looked over her shoulder at their son sitting sleepily at the table, milk mustache already forming.

"Min-jun, buddy," he called, "listen to Mommy and be a good boy at kindergarten, alright?"

His son gave him a slow blink and a thumb up without lifting his head from the table.

Seo shook her head with a laugh. "I'll get him there… somehow."

Tae hugged her again and kissed the side of her head. "Good luck with that. See you later."

"See you," she replied, grinning. "Say hi to your boyfriend for me."

Tae groaned loudly, grabbing his keys and escaping before she could tease him any more.

⸻

Work passed like a breeze.

For the first time in weeks, Tae-hyun didn't feel like he was suffocating in silence or guilt. The conversation that morning with Seo-yeon had lifted something off his chest not just relief, but a renewed sense of self. His focus sharpened, his shoulders relaxed. Even his coworkers noticed the change, tossing playful remarks about him "finally getting some sleep" or "winning the lottery."

He just smiled and shrugged, letting them think whatever they wanted.

⸻

By the time he got home, the sky was soft and golden with late afternoon light. The house smelled like Seo-yeon's scented candles and fabric softener, comforting and familiar. Tae stepped in, loosened his tie, and called out, "I'm home!"

"I'm in the bedroom!" she called back, voice mischievously cheerful.

He followed it and stopped short in the doorway.

Laid out on the bed was a full outfit: casual but well put-together. A loose white button-down, half-tucked into light jeans, a beige knit sweater slung across the edge in case it got chilly. Even his favorite sneakers were neatly placed at the foot of the bed.

Seo-yeon stood beside it, arms crossed, a triumphant grin on her face.

"What is this?"

"You said you were going out," she said innocently. "Thought I'd help you look cute. Again."

Tae chuckled under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're unreal."

"Try it on," she said, sitting at the edge of the bed and watching him like a proud stylist.

He obeyed, slipping into the clothes while she fussed with the sleeves, the buttons, even tousling his hair slightly.

"You're having too much fun with this," he mumbled.

"You're lucky I didn't give you cologne and a flower to pin on your shirt," she teased. "This is your gay second first date, Tae."

He laughed, then leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"I'll send you a text when I get there."

"Good," she said, grabbing his wrist before he turned to go. "Also, tell Joon I still like him. He doesn't have to be awkward with me, alright? He can confide in me if he ever needs to."

Tae paused.

"You're serious?"

"Completely." Her smile softened. "I know you. Which means I know the kind of person he has to be for you to care this much. I don't hate him. I'm curious. So bring him over sometime just the three of us. Wine, maybe? I wanna hear him talk when he's not trying to act all cool and mysterious."

Tae blinked at her, warmth blooming in his chest.

"You're really something else, you know that?"

Seo-yeon winked. "I know."

He kissed her again, longer this time before heading out with her teasing him once more with a laugh, making him roll his eyes playfully before leaving, dressed and glowing with quiet anticipation.