Chapter 1 — The Trembling Was Not Because of the Silken Wind. Conclusion

"Sarah... have you ever masturbated...?"

"Hmm? No. I haven't."

"If you really want to enjoy it, you should try it at least once..."

"I don't want to. I don't even know how."

"Just follow your instincts... You remember, don't you? That feeling when I first touched you, when I made love to you?"

"Hmm."

"Try to feel that yourself. Let your hands become me."

"Do I really have to...?"

"There are two reasons. First... I want to see you doing it. I want to watch my Sarah. And second... if you don't learn how to feel pleasure on your own, sex will never truly be enjoyable."

"Jjit-gul-jja. You're so pushy, hyung..."

She laughed softly, but in that laugh was the quiet surrender to my words.

"Tomorrow, your husband leaves for work around 8:30, right? The moment he walks out that door, you do exactly as I say."

"What do I do?"

"First, take off every single piece of clothing. Not even a thread. And don't lock the door. Then go to the bed and do it—by yourself. Understand?"

"I'm not sure I'll be good at it... but I'll try."

I listened. His footsteps faded into silence. I glanced once more at the wall clock.

8:35.

Just thirty minutes to go. Then I could head over to apartment 302.

I assumed it would take her more than thirty minutes to reach climax on her own.

To pass the time, I wandered onto the balcony, watching the car carrying her husband grow smaller in the distance.

At last, 9:00 arrived.

Slowly, I opened the door to 302 and stepped inside.

As I approached the bedroom, the sound of her ragged breathing grew louder with each step.

When I quietly turned the doorknob, I found her at the peak.

"Hah... hah... hah... hah..."

Her hips thrashed wildly against the bed, and between the fingers of her right hand, milky fluid seeped out.

I walked in silently and sat down at the head of the bed.

"Was it good?"

I smoothed her tangled hair as I asked, brushing it back gently.

Blushing, she offered only a faint smile and a small nod in reply.

"Then today, you'll feel it twice..."

Before the words had even finished leaving my mouth, I climbed onto her. Without preamble, I thrust my cock deep into her soaked heat.

Still trembling from the first climax, the sudden penetration overwhelmed her. She writhed beneath me, crying out louder than before.

"Ah... hyung... a... a... aaa..."

After a long while, she reached her second peak—and then collapsed, limp and spent, like a marathon runner who had just crossed the finish line.

A week later, she rang the doorbell of my apartment.

"What brings you here? This is the first time you've come to my place..."

"It's not that... Here..."

In her outstretched hand was a neatly folded piece of stationery.

"What's this?"

"Just read it."

She handed me the letter with a soft smile, then disappeared behind the door of apartment 302.

To hyung,

Hyung, knowing you and everything we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Because of you, I think I can finally enjoy sex with my husband—actively, passionately.
Tomorrow, I'm moving because of my husband's transfer.
I'm sad to part from you, but somehow, ending it here feels right too.
These days have been wonderful. I'll miss you so much.
Always be happy, hyung.

— Sarah Park

The next day, I leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, silently watching the courtyard below as movers bustled about, loading belongings.

Eventually, the moving truck pulled away ahead, and Sarah stepped toward her husband's car, hand on the door—then suddenly paused, turned, and looked up toward my window.

Our eyes met.

She gave me a fresh, tender smile.

And I, in quiet return, smiled back to bid her farewell.

I watched until the car vanished from sight.

As it disappeared, the morning sun rose over the road, spilling red like ink across autumn's sky.

She would live a life ablaze, like that morning sun.

You be happy too, Sarah...

I whispered the words I never got to say, staring for a long time at the rising light.