Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Counterattack
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Heading out from the library toward Seo-ah's studio apartment.
The university district past 10 p.m. was a riot of lights. Drunken students staggering around, blaring music, and the streets filled with the tantalizing smells of street food.
"Senior, look over there! They're selling dalgona."
"How long ago did you eat? Already craving snacks again?"
"Sugar helps my brain work. Just buy me one, please?"
Seo-ah shook my arm pleadingly.
She was usually haughty, earning whispers of "Business School Goddess," but in front of me, she was nothing but a spoiled little sister. Pretending I couldn't resist, I pulled out my wallet.
"Here. But eat this and go straight home to bed. You've got first period tomorrow."
"Hehe, got it. Senior's the best!"
Seo-ah nibbled on the dalgona like a hamster.
Was she acting cute, or was she just naturally adorable?
We left the noisy main street and turned into a quiet alley leading to the officetel neighborhood. Streetlights were sparse, leaving the path dimly lit.
As the surroundings grew silent, Seo-ah hooked her arm deeper into mine.
Her soft breasts brushed teasingly against my arm through her thin cardigan. The body heat seeping through felt more vivid than if it had been over a puffy jacket.
I tried not to notice, but as a healthy guy in my twenties, every nerve in my body was drawn irresistibly toward it.
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"What if... just hypothetically."
Seo-ah looked up at me while sucking on her dalgona. Her eyes sparkled unusually under the streetlight.
"Even if I did something really bad, you'd take my side, right, Senior?"
"What's with the random question?"
"Just like that time with Park Jin-tae's wallet."
Seo-ah's eyes gleamed as she asked.
Her tone was playful, but her gaze held a strangely serious edge. Like a child seeking reassurance.
I chuckled and replied.
"Well... as long as it's not a crime."
"Tch, you're already my accomplice."
Seo-ah pouted and turned her head away.
Her expression was so cute that I unconsciously reached out to pat her head.
Right at that moment.
Vroooom-!
A sharp exhaust roar pierced my eardrums from behind.
Less than a second after the sound hit, blinding white headlights swallowed the alley.
"Huh...?"
It was a delivery scooter.
And it was barreling around the corner at insane speed, veering straight onto the sidewalk.
Right toward the side of the road where Seo-ah was walking.
Seo-ah froze in place, blinded by the lights or paralyzed by fear. She just stared blankly at the oncoming metal beast, not even thinking to dodge.
"......!"
No time to think.
Was it instinct from my army days, or some buried memory resurfacing?
I reflexively grabbed Seo-ah's wrist.
"Hey!"
I yanked her roughly toward me.
Her slender body came flying like a paper doll.
Thud-!
A dull impact as her face buried into my chest.
At the same time, I wrapped my arms around her and twisted my body, turning my back to shield her. I intended to take the hit with my back.
Bang-!
The scooter grazed past where we'd been standing, smashing a roadside sign to pieces.
A gust of wind whipped across my back.
A split second later, and Seo-ah would've ended up like that sign.
The rider wobbled, lost control, but didn't stop—fleeing down the alley without looking back.
It all happened in an instant.
"Haa... haa...."
Ragged breaths escaped me. My heart pounded like mad.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Seo-ah trembled faintly in my arms.
For a moment,
I was furious at the hit-and-run rider, and even at Seo-ah for standing there dazed.
Without thinking, I gripped her shoulders hard and pulled her away from my chest.
"Are you crazy? Snap out of it?!"
The shout burst out unbidden.
Not my usual gentle, deliberate tone. It was the low, gruff voice I used in the army.
Seo-ah looked up at me with wide, startled eyes.
Her pupils shook violently.
"Didn't you hear the scooter? Why'd you just stand there? Trying to get yourself killed?!"
I gripped and shook her wrist with crushing force.
So tight she couldn't even complain of pain. Veins bulged along my knuckles.
"You almost got hurt. Stop spacing out, please."
The last words came out almost like a plea.
My heart had plummeted. I'd nearly watched someone get hit by a vehicle right in front of me again.
Then it hit me.
What had I just done?
Yelling at a junior—a girl—with such harsh words.
"Ah... sorry. I was just so shocked...."
I hurriedly tried to release her wrist.
It must've hurt. Red marks from my fingers stood out starkly on her pale skin.
Mistake. I needed to apologize.
But.
"......"
Seo-ah said nothing.
Or rather, she couldn't find the words.
Her face was flushed beet red.
Not from fear.
Her eyes glistened with moisture, her lips quivered... but not from terror.
Her hand rested on my chest, right where she'd crashed into me moments ago, as she gasped for breath.
Like someone who'd just sprinted 100 meters.
"Seo-ah? You okay? Hurt anywhere...?"
"Senior."
She cut me off.
Her voice trembled faintly.
"Did you... just get mad at me?"
"Huh? Yeah... sorry. I lost it without thinking. You were pretty shaken, right?"
"No."
Seo-ah shook her head firmly.
She took a step closer to me.
She grabbed the hand I'd been about to release, holding it tight again.
"Scold me... more."
"What?"
"I spaced out, didn't I? Acted dangerously. So... get mad at me more."
Her eyes were glazed over.
Deep in those pupils burned an intense, chilling heat.
Too fervent and obsessive for eyes gripped by fear.
A faint sense of déjà vu flickered through my mind.
Long ago, in bone-chilling cold, someone had looked at me just like this.
'When was that?'
But I couldn't pin it down.
I just figured Seo-ah was in temporary panic from the shock, rambling incoherently.
"You must've really lost it from the scare.... Calm down. We're almost home."
I casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders, acting unfazed.
But Seo-ah clung to me, clutching my shirt hem tightly.
As if it were her lifeline.
Her body burned hot.
Her heartbeat thrummed against me, loud enough to feel.
It wasn't from fear.
She was reacting to my rough touch and voice.
My boiling anger subsided in an instant, replaced by a strange tickle scratching at my heart.
I barely remembered walking to the officetel lobby.
Seo-ah hung on my arm the whole way without a word.
Just glancing up at me now and then with damp eyes.
Each time, my heart raced harder.
"We're here. Go in and rest. Forget what happened today."
As I awkwardly tried to pull away, Seo-ah grabbed my sleeve and wouldn't let go.
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"My... wrist hurts."
She held out the wrist I'd grabbed earlier.
My fingerprints stood out vividly like bruises on her pale skin.
Guilt washed over me. How hard had I gripped?
"Ah... sorry. I couldn't control my strength. Want me to get some painkillers? Or patches from the convenience store...?"
"No."
She shook her head and took my hand.
Then placed it over her reddened wrist again.
"This... you made it, Senior."
"Huh?"
"You did it trying to save me. So... ."
Seo-ah pressed her lips to the back of my hand on her wrist.
A soft smooch, and the sensation of her lips transmitted through.
It felt like an electric current.
"I don't want to erase it. It hurts... but it feels good."
Seo-ah beamed.
Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes, yet her mouth smiled—a bizarre expression.
A chill ran down my spine.
Was this normal? Pain feeling good?
"You... you're really okay?"
"Yes. I'm totally fine. Thanks to you, Senior."
Seo-ah released my hand and stepped back.
"Get home safe, Senior. And... ."
Just before stepping inside, she turned and whispered.
"Next time too, handle me like that. Roughly."
The door closed.
I stood there blankly, staring at the shut door.
The night breeze was cold, but the back of my hand where her lips had touched burned like a burn.
'Handle me roughly?'
What did that mean?
Just that she felt secure? Or... .
My mind grew tangled.
But one thing was certain: the sight of Seo-ah trembling in my arms moments ago had been intensely stimulating.
I clenched and unclenched my fist as I turned away.
The feel of her slender wrist lingered in my palm,
and I had a feeling it would torment me all night.