DFY Ch 19

The tiny-dicked Junghyuk, who couldn’t get it up and spouted nonsense to Sodam, was out clubbing with women… He probably went to a hotel, couldn’t perform, then returned to the club like a hyena, scavenging for other women. Sodam had heard that men with sexual problems often refuse to acknowledge reality, blaming everyone but themselves and sleeping around even more. Now she understood why Kim Junghyuk had gone through so many women.

Junwoo’s eyes burned. Even though Sodam wasn’t his, he wanted to pummel the guy who was using other women to deny reality while stringing Sodam along. Even though he probably couldn’t get it up with them either.

“Ha…”

Junwoo stalked Kim Junghyuk’s social media all night. The angrier he got, the more aroused he became. It was strange.

✦ ✦ ✦

Sodam had a hectic Monday, tasked with selecting a catering company for the Strategic Planning Department’s workshop. The company they’d contracted earlier had caused a mass food poisoning incident a few days prior, necessitating a new vendor search. Autumn was peak workshop season, making it difficult to find a caterer that offered both quality and affordability.

Exhaustion, at least, kept the distracting thoughts at bay. Team Leader Yoon Junwoo, still holed up in his office, was a minor concern, but Sodam had exchanged over thirty emails that day and could barely remember who she’d talked to about what. The thought of calling the vendors who’d promised a response by tomorrow filled her with dread. She didn’t want to go to work, and she didn’t want to go home. She wished she could move out, but her empty bank account held her back.

As Sodam trudged out of the building, a sharp voice called out, “Wang Sodam!”

She turned to see Kim Junghyuk’s mother, Mrs. Choi Jeongja, glaring at her as if she wanted to eat her alive.

“How dare you break off the engagement with my son?”

Sodam had called Junghyuk’s parents to apologize, but she hadn’t expected Mrs. Choi to show up at her workplace.

“M-Mother…?”

“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me!”

People from other departments started to stare. Mrs. Choi raised her toad-like hand high in the air. It swung towards Sodam’s cheek in what felt like slow motion.

“Stop right there!”

Junwoo appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Mrs. Choi’s wrist.

“Let go of me! Who are you?”

Mrs. Choi yelled, oblivious to the onlookers.

“Oh, it’s you! Did you seduce my Junghyuk and make him break up with Sodam?”

Mrs. Choi twisted the story completely. Sodam couldn’t bring herself to mention Junghyuk’s erectile dysfunction, or even his gaslighting. She just bowed her head.

“…I’m sorry, Mother.”

“Sodam, you don’t have to apologize.”

Junwoo interrupted. Sodam shot him a reproachful look.

“This doesn’t concern you, Team Leader.”

“Yes, it does.”

“…!”

Sodam panicked. Was he going to confess his feelings for her right here? That would only give Mrs. Choi more ammunition. Or worse, was he going to reveal Kim Junghyuk’s secret? She braced herself for the fallout, whatever it might be.

“Your son went to a club for his bachelor party and had a one-night stand with a woman.”

“…!”

“…!”

Sodam gaped at Junwoo and whispered,

“Why are you lying?”

“I’m not lying. I saw it on social media. I have proof.”

Sodam felt like she’d been hit by a truck. Even Mrs. Choi, who had been creating a scene moments before, faltered, her fist trembling.

“N-no, my son would never do that!”

“Exactly. Instead of blaming Wang Sodam, you should go and discipline your son.”

“…!”

Mrs. Choi froze, speechless and immobile. Junwoo looked at Sodam, who was standing there awkwardly.

“Get in my car.”

Sodam wanted to disappear, to run away. She didn’t want to be with Junwoo, but with the entire office watching, she wanted to escape as quickly as possible. Junwoo escorted her to his car and opened the passenger door. Still dazed, Sodam sat down. Junwoo walked around the car, got in, and immediately drove off. In the rearview mirror, Mrs. Choi was still standing there, rooted to the spot.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Is it true? Junghyuk… slept with a woman at a club?”

Sodam asked Junwoo, tears streaming down her face, as they sat in a whiskey bar. She was disgusted and horrified. She had felt immense guilt over breaking off the engagement due to his sexual problems, but now she was consumed by betrayal. She’d known about Junghyuk’s promiscuity before they dated, but it was shocking that he hadn’t changed even with the wedding looming. A man who frequented clubs for his bachelor party would likely continue his behavior after marriage. It was a blessing they hadn’t consummated their relationship.

“He didn’t sleep with a woman.”

Junwoo’s next words confused her. Sodam glared at him and took a swig of her drink.

“Team Leader! Did you lie to get me out of that situation? Why would you do that?”

“He didn’t sleep with a woman. He slept with women.”

Junwoo revealed that Kim Junghyuk had slept with three women at the club.

Sodam’s world crumbled. Even though she had initiated the breakup, the betrayal stung. It had only been two weeks. Five years of love couldn’t be erased overnight. She was the one who had ended it, but she felt like the one who had been dumped.

“So it only didn’t work with me…? Sniff… It was my fault…”

The strong whiskey on an empty stomach loosened her tongue, even in front of her boss. She’d thought Junghyuk simply had erectile dysfunction, but the realization that he couldn’t perform only with her made her feel utterly undesirable. How unattractive must she be if he could sleep with multiple women but not her? Maybe Junghyuk hadn’t been gaslighting her. Maybe she really was that unappealing.

“It’s not your fault, Sodam. There are men like that. Men who have sexual problems but refuse to seek treatment, thinking they can fix it by sleeping around. Those are the ones who are the biggest cheaters.”

Sodam gave Junwoo a pointed look.

“…You’re like that too, Team Leader.”

“When was I like that?”

“You said you had a sexual problem, but you didn’t go to a hospital, you just asked me to sleep with you and take responsibility…”

Junwoo didn’t even blink at her bluntness.

“That’s only natural.”

“What’s natural about it? Other men are bad, but you’re okay?”

“My condition can’t be treated at a hospital.”

“You haven’t even been to one.”

“What am I supposed to tell them? I wish I had erectile dysfunction. At least then I could live a normal life. But I can’t live a normal life right now. Am I supposed to go to a doctor and say I have priapism?”

“Priapism…”

“And I never asked other women to fix me. I don’t want to. Only you, Wang Sodam, can cure me. Don’t compare me to that filthy bastard.”

Junwoo’s words offered little comfort. The thought that she was sexually unattractive, even when actively pursuing a man, continued to erode her self-esteem.

“Give me another drink.”

Sodam held out her glass to Junwoo.

“Sodam, you’re drunk. You’ll get sick. Eat something first.”

“No, just give me a drink!”