Travel (1)
Even after washing away the musky, lewd scent left by the storm of passion with Choi Deok-hun, a heavy residual heat still pooled deep inside my body. When I opened the front door and stepped inside, Dad turned his head from the TV in the living room.
"Where have you been until now? Answer your phone once in a while."
My heart sank at Dad's indifferent voice. The memory of shaking my hips under Choi Deok-hun while listening to Se-yeong's voice just moments ago flashed through my mind. I answered as calmly as I could while taking off my shoes.
"Ah, I was working out a bit with Uncle Deok-hun. I asked him to teach me some exercises..."
"Well, that's a first. That guy actually working out."
"Anyway, Dad, I'm going on a trip from tomorrow through Sunday. Before university starts, I decided to get some fresh air with friends."
"A trip all of a sudden? You never even go out normally."
"Things will get busy once school starts. I'll let Se-yeong and Hui-yeong know too."
The lie slipped out more smoothly than I expected. Dad nodded without much suspicion, and I hurried into my room and locked the door.
Checking my phone, I found it flooded with messages from Se-yeong and Hui-yeong. I left a short note in the group chat.
A reply came immediately from Se-yeong. Reading that same affectionate voice from earlier as text stabbed a fresh pang of guilt into one corner of my chest.
But any noble resolve had long since scattered like light dust before the sensation that felt like it would melt my brain.
I pulled a large travel bag out from under the bed and began packing the "supplies" Choi Deok-hun had ordered, one by one.
The first thing I picked up was a bikini with almost no fabric. I held it against my body in front of the mirror. The design was so skimpy it barely covered what needed covering.
Next came the competition swimsuit that clung to every curve without a single gap—the one this body had used before.
The vicious sense of betrayal I had felt while being ravaged by Choi Deok-hun's massive frame layered itself over the smooth texture of the fabric.
Just imagining the look in his eyes when he saw me wearing these, and the ways he would dig into me at that pool villa, made my lower belly twitch with a sharp thrill.
As if trying to smother the guilt, I shoved the provocative clothes deep into the bag.
I barely knew whether I had slept or simply spent the night with my eyes open. When the promised Thursday morning arrived, I grabbed my luggage and headed for the airport.
The feel of the bikini and competition swimsuit hidden deep in the bag never left my mind, so my heart pounded the entire way.
At the terminal entrance, Choi Deok-hun's massive frame stood out even from a distance. Instead of the apron he usually wore at the café, he waited for me in comfortable clothes that still radiated an overwhelming presence.
"You're here. Not late."
Choi Deok-hun took my bag, checked it as luggage, and casually wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
I shrank under the feeling that people's eyes were on us, yet the warmth from his huge palm stirred last night's memories and gave me a strange sense of relief.
Even after the plane took off and climbed above the clouds, Choi Deok-hun kept touching my body.
I pretended to look out the window, but every nerve was locked on the heavy presence of him in the seat beside me.
Already like that... no... that's just normal for him.
All sorts of images rose around his enormous thing. I could almost feel the many pleasant sensations waiting for me.
This trip, kept secret from Lim Se-yeong and my friends, both terrified and excited me with the thought of what abyss it would drag me into.
Around lunchtime we stepped out of the gate and were greeted by the unexpectedly warm, distinctive wind of Jeju.
"Hungry? Let's go eat first."
Choi Deok-hun pulled my waist hard against him and led me out of the airport. Even under the bright terminal lights, his eyes behind the sunglasses flashed like a beast's as they raked over me.
I felt the stares of people around us. They probably thought I was some gold-digger who had latched onto him for money.
It's not like that...
I tried to deny it and pull away, but I couldn't. His thick arm, his broad and soft chest, and then...
Before the thoughts could deepen, we stopped at one side of the airport parking lot. A heavy black SUV that Choi Deok-hun's "acquaintance hyung" had supposedly left for us was waiting.
With practiced hands he loaded my trunk into the back seat and climbed into the driver's seat.
"Get in. There's a recommended place with good food—let's fill up there."
The blue sea of Jeju and the basalt stone walls sliding past the window felt unfamiliar. Soft music played, and outside the glass the sky was so clear it almost hurt.
This side of him is... unexpected.
It was hard to believe this was the same violent man from last night; Choi Deok-hun's profile as he held the wheel looked surprisingly calm and relaxed.
After a few minutes the car stopped. The place we arrived at was not a famous restaurant packed with tourists, but a local eatery hidden at the end of a coastal road.
As if he already knew my tastes, Choi Deok-hun skillfully ordered a full grilled hairtail set that was mild yet packed with firm flesh.
"Eat plenty. You'll be at a disadvantage tonight if you run out of energy."
He dropped a thick piece of deboned hairtail onto my rice bowl. That rough yet gentle gesture made a strange flutter rise in my chest.
Behind the predator who had forced me into submission last night lay the distinctive kindness of a grown man, and it shook my heart helplessly.
After the meal we headed to a nearby famous canola flower field. Perhaps because the end of February had been unusually warm, yellow blossoms were in full, overflowing bloom.
While I was taking in the open landscape, Choi Deok-hun did something unexpected.
"Stand in the middle there. I'll take a picture for you."
He took my phone with his large hand and began framing shots carefully.
Caught by a strange emotion at the sight, I grumbled for no real reason.
"Uncle, you're not taking weird pictures again, are you?"
"Don't worry. It's your phone, after all. And since the person is pretty, even a casual shot comes out well."
The offhand compliment made my face burn. It was a feeling I had never experienced with Se-yeong—being treated completely as a woman.
In this moment of walking tourist spots together, we would look to others like any ordinary, affectionate couple.
But every time the presence of the bikini and competition swimsuit deep in the bag suddenly came to mind, the secret plans for the night hidden behind this peaceful time made my lower belly tingle.
Choi Deok-hun held my hand tightly as he drove to the next destination. I sank deeper and deeper into the charm that swung between kindness and intimidation.
Leaving the canola field behind, we drove along the coastal road with Seongsan Ilchulbong visible in the distance.
Choi Deok-hun stopped the car at every scenic spot, wrapping an arm around my shoulders with a casually affectionate touch while taking pictures.
Each time his rough knuckles brushed my shoulder, the daytime kindness made my heart flutter, yet the sudden feel of his solid strength revived last night's memories and made my body tremble.
As the afternoon deepened we stopped at a large nearby supermarket.
"We'll eat dinner at the lodging. Since we'll be here a few days, let's stock up properly."
He pushed the cart and skillfully loaded meat, wine, and drinks for the long nights. The whole time we shopped he casually tossed in the snacks he knew I liked.
Just before we reached the checkout, I slipped a small item among the groceries. He glanced at what I had placed and gave a slight smile.
"What, were you planning to use them too?"
"No, it's just..."
He grinned mischievously.
"Doesn't look like we'll need these... do you?"
When he reached to pull the box of condoms out, I grabbed his hand.
"That... I'm still..."
Right then the cashier auntie cut in.
"Is that your girlfriend? The young one is so shy."
Just as I was about to make some excuse, Choi Deok-hun jumped in at once.
"Something like that. But she's amazing at night. Hehehe."
Choi Deok-hun casually draped an arm around my shoulders and gave the cashier a friendly smile.
"Oh my, how nice. Must be great having such a reliable boyfriend."
The auntie chattered on, and I could only keep my burning face lowered in silence.
After paying and leaving the market, Choi Deok-hun's stride was far more confident and unrestrained than before.
In the back view of him loading the car, the daytime kindness gradually faded, replaced by an oppressive air mixed with the triumph of having claimed me completely.
"That stuff earlier—since you picked it yourself, be ready to use every last one."
From the driver's seat he tossed the words in a low voice. Flustered, I asked again.
"Whaat?? Do you know how many there are..."
"A-yeong still doesn't know me well."
He reached over and stroked my thigh.
"You don't even realize how much I've been holding back... Three days? One day is plenty."
With that single line, the embarrassment from the market instantly turned into blatant anticipation.
Before long the car left the busy downtown and entered a quiet forest road in the mid-mountain area of Jeju. At last it stopped in front of a luxury pool villa surrounded by high walls.
"We're here. This place is just for us."
The pool villa that began to appear beyond the tall stone walls was an oppressively quiet and independent space.
After checking in, Choi Deok-hun led the way with the heavy bags in both hands. When the room door opened and a private pool with blue ripples appeared beyond the living-room picture window, he dropped the bags on the floor and turned to me.
"A-yeong."
He called my name shortly. I had been looking around; at the call I looked at him, and he pointed at me.
"The only thing you're allowed to wear today... is a swimsuit."
The man who had played the affectionate boyfriend in front of the market auntie just moments ago was gone. He undid the buttons of his shirt one by one, raking his eyes over me with a beast-like gleam.
"The swimsuit you packed earlier—put it on right now and come out. For starters... shall we exercise first?"
His short, coercive command cut through the air. With trembling hands I opened the zipper of the bag.
The moment my fingertips touched the smooth texture of the competition swimsuit buried deep inside, the things that would happen in this sealed space began to embroider themselves across my mind.
Feeling Choi Deok-hun's relentless gaze on my back, I moved toward the bathroom as if entranced.