Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Senior Who Cares for His Junior
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When I opened my eyes, the air in my cramped studio apartment had completely changed.
The space that usually greeted me with the musty stench of a single guy and dust was now filled with the savory aroma of doenjang jjigae and a faint scent of fabric softener.
"Mm..."
I rubbed my stiff back as I sat up. Sleeping on the floor had left a heavy ache.
Glancing toward the bed, I saw the blankets neatly folded with military precision. From the kitchen came a pleasant clattering sound.
"Senior! You're awake?"
Seo-ah poked her head out.
She had tied a pink apron over my favorite black boxy T-shirt.
Smooth lines of her legs peeked out from under the loose shirt, and morning sunlight filtered through her casually tied-up hair.
Wow...
For a moment, I was speechless. Right before my eyes was the live-action version of every guy's fantasy: a girlfriend wearing her boyfriend's shirt.
"Is your back okay? I told you to sleep in the bed with me, but you insisted on the floor."
"A man doesn't go back on his word. But what's with the cooking this early?"
"It's a hangover remedy for you, Senior. You went through so much because of me last night."
Seo-ah hummed a tune as she set the table and placed the hot pot on it.
Bubbling tofu doenjang jjigae, perfectly grilled mackerel, and glossy rolled omelet. It was a revolution in my bachelor life of convenience store meals and chicken breast.
"Eat up before it gets cold."
We sat facing each other and picked up our spoons. The first sip of broth slid down my throat—spicy yet deeply flavorful.
"Wow... You’re really good at cooking."
"Good thing you like it. Does it suit your taste?"
"Yeah. Feels better than my mom’s even."
"Hehe. Consider this my pre-marital training. If I’m taking responsibility for your life, this is the basics, right?"
Seo-ah joked as she placed a piece of deboned fish on my rice.
She barely touched her own food, propping her chin and staring intently at me eat.
Like an owner watching a hamster stuff its cheeks—content, with a thick possessiveness in her gaze.
It was a look I’d grown used to, but still dangerous in all sorts of ways.
"You eat too. Why just watch me?"
"Watching you eat fills me up, Senior. Your cheeks puffing out is so cute."
Her eyes lingered obsessively on my lips and Adam’s apple.
I should’ve felt burdened, but strangely, I didn’t mind.
Eating the meal she’d prepared in this tiny room, under her gaze—it felt intensely comfortable.
"I’ll do the dishes."
"No way! I don’t want water on your hands, Senior. Just sit."
"Hey, I ate for free. Gotta earn it somehow."
"Then... Hug me from behind."
Seo-ah turned from the sink, eyes sparkling.
"Dishwashing’s boring. Give me a back hug, and I’ll let it slide."
I already knew we weren’t a normal senior-junior pair. We did things couples would do, casually.
Still, I couldn’t refuse easily.
I sighed in defeat and approached her back, wrapping my arms carefully around her waist. Her body fit perfectly into mine. The sweet shampoo scent tickled my nose.
I was already addicted to this smell.
She hummed the whole time she washed dishes, and I basked in her warmth.
1 PM, student cafeteria.
I’d come to eat lunch with Seo-ah, who’d clung to my arm through morning classes.
After last night and this morning together, being apart felt awkward now.
As I scanned for an empty table with my tray, someone blocked my path.
"Hey, Kang Minwoo. Hold up."
A familiar face, but worn out beyond recognition in just days. Student Council President Park Jin-tae.
Looks like he’s done for.
With the embezzlement scandal rocking the school, he hadn’t even shaved, and dark circles ringed his eyes.
"Seo-ah, give me a sec with Minwoo."
Park Jin-tae forced politeness with her but spoke down to me bluntly.
Seo-ah’s expression hardened instantly. She gripped my arm tight and tried to pull back.
"We’re about to eat, President. Nothing to say."
"Eat? Yoon Seo-ah, you think you can even swallow with that bastard next to you? He ruined my life!"
Park Jin-tae sneered, scanning me up and down. The cafeteria noise died down as students’ eyes turned to us.
"Kang Minwoo, you did your military service—know your place. Who are you to parade around with Yoon Seo-ah pretending to be a couple? Can you even buy her a proper meal?"
"......"
"A dirt-poor returning student like you shouldn’t aim so high. Know your limits."
Park Jin-tae’s voice grew louder. He was lashing out over his downfall.
And I was the easy target.
"Senior, shut your mouth."
Seo-ah couldn’t hold back. Her voice trembled.
"Minwoo Senior is a hundred times cooler and more capable than you. Money? We don’t need it. I’m here."
"Ha! Unbelievable. Yoon Seo-ah, your family would faint if they knew. Their precious daughter playing around with a bum like that."
Park Jin-tae poked my shoulder provocatively.
"You need a good grad school later. Don’t ruin your reputation with trash like him. You’re way above his league!"
The cafeteria fell silent as his words ended.
Seo-ah bit her lip in humiliation, her grip on my arm turning her knuckles white.
I clenched my fist.
I could take insults to myself. Being called poor? Whatever.
But degrading her pure feelings, her blind affection for me as "playing around"—that I couldn’t tolerate.
Hot rage surged through my veins again.
"Hey, Park Jin-tae."
My voice came out low and rough—not the irritated tone of a junior to a senior.
"What? You little—"
Park Jin-tae reached for my collar.
I didn’t swat his hand away.
Instead, my left hand seized his collar, right hand clamped his nape.
"Don’t you dare badmouth my junior."
I spun and slammed him full force into the stainless steel wall by the tray return.
Thud.
A massive crash swallowed the cafeteria.
His back and head hit the metal with a dull crunch.
Trays clattered to the floor.
"Gah...!"
Park Jin-tae gasped without screaming, eyes wide in pain.
I kept my grip, shoving my face close.
"Don’t care what trash you pull."
My breath hit his face.
"But say Seo-ah’s name with that filthy mouth one more time."
"Ugh..."
"And I’ll really kill you. Got it?"
I flung him to the floor like garbage.
He crawled, retching, too terrified to look at me as he fled the cafeteria.
The room was dead silent. No one dared speak.
I turned, breathing heavily. My hands trembled faintly, adrenaline still pumping.
Seo-ah stood frozen right behind where I’d been.
"Seo-ah. You okay?"
As I approached carefully, she looked up.
Was she scared? Disappointed?
But seeing her face, my heart sank again.
Her cheeks were flushed red.
Tears glistened in her eyes—not from sadness or fear.
Her pupils shone with eerie brilliance.
Pure ecstasy. Overwhelming joy and pleasure.
"Senior..."
She reached out with trembling hands and took my right hand.
The back was scraped from grabbing him, blood seeping out.
"Blood..."
Seo-ah pressed my injured hand to her cheek.
Hers was cool, but my hot skin seemed to soak in her warmth.
She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply—like savoring the blood, sweat, and violence lingering on me.
"So warm..."
She opened her eyes. Her hazy gaze looked up at me.
"You were amazing. The coolest in the world, Senior."
She whispered, voice quivering with excited breaths.
"When you took him down... my heart felt like it would burst. You did it for me, right?"
"Of course. You think I’d let him touch you?"
"Ahh..."
Seo-ah sighed in rapture, burying her face in my chest.
Her body pressed tight. Her heartbeat pounded through our clothes—fast and strong.
The soft swell of her chest made me catch my breath.
She kissed my scraped hand.
Soft, wet lips covered the wound. A shiver ran down my spine as her tongue tip licked the blood.
"I’ll stop the bleeding. I’ll take responsibility. This hand... it’s mine to touch."
Her smile deepened.
Any normal girl would fear or stop a boyfriend who’d lashed out violently.
But Seo-ah was different.
She loved—worshipped—the violence dormant in me.
This woman was utterly captivated by my savage instincts.
And so was I.
Her abnormal obsession, seeing me as a hero—it gave me an inexplicable thrill and sense of belonging.
We were already crazy.
That afternoon.
The Park Jin-tae incident spread like wildfire across campus.
"Returning student Kang Minwoo nearly killed the Student Council President for Goddess Yoon Seo-ah." The tale plastered Camper.
But I felt no worry. He couldn’t sue for assault.
Exposés were flooding Camper about him routinely beating underclassmen.
He’d have headaches for a while.
Seo-ah stuck to me like my shadow.
In classrooms, hallways, even the vending machine—she never let go of my arm.
Her eyes never left me.
That gaze screamed ownership: You’re completely mine now.
For some reason, her arrogant possessiveness appealed to me.
As class ended, my phone buzzed on the table.
Kim Ji-yeon’s name lit the screen.
My hometown friend, a close platonic buddy before enlistment.
I reached for it absentmindedly.
But Seo-ah snatched my wrist.
Grip strong enough to hurt.
"Don’t answer, Senior."
Her voice dropped low.
The worshipful gaze vanished, replaced by icy wariness.
"Huh? Just a friend. Could be urgent."
I tried to reassure her, but her eyes shook violently.
Anxiety, raw jealousy, possessiveness exploding.
"I’m right here. Focus on me."
She squeezed harder, veins bulging on her pale hand.
"I hate other girls hearing your voice. Hate you worrying about some other girl’s business."
She leaned in close, whispering.
"You fought for me, Senior. Protected me. So look only at me till the end. That’s taking responsibility."
Her gaze left me defenseless.
Just as my violence thrilled her, her control was sweet punishment for me.
She turned my head, forcing me to see only her.
I flipped the phone face down powerlessly. The buzzing stopped.
"...Fine. Won’t answer. Later."
Her expression melted into bliss at my surrender.
Drunk on victory, she beamed, hugging my arm and resting her head on my shoulder.
"Knew I liked you best, Senior."
Her whisper lingered in my ear.
Sunset painted the window red, dyeing her face.
Beautiful. Dangerous.
I gave a wry smile, stroking her hair.
Park Jin-tae was handled, but I couldn’t escape this labyrinthine bond.
Seo-ah and I were already inextricably tangled.
I was trapped in her world.
And honestly... I didn’t want out.