Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Awakening (2)
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The day dawned. Normally, I'd have finished getting ready for school early and gone for a predawn walk, or if it was vacation, I'd have lounged in bed a bit longer.
But today was different. I couldn't afford to, and I couldn't ignore the piercing, smoldering glare Cheon So-yul was shooting at me from the side.
She'd been sniffling for a while, clearly upset about something, but eventually, she stopped crying.
That didn't exactly mean it was a green light for me, though. I couldn't boldly claim it was.
Her tears had stopped without warning, and now she was clutching the pillow tight, grinding her teeth as she glared at me.
Yeah, what exactly do you resent so much? I wanted to ask, but I held it back, worried a sharp bolt of lightning might answer instead.
No matter how much of a rough-around-the-edges friendship we'd built over a year of bickering, I didn't want to start a bloody arena fight first thing in the morning.
Especially not in a motel. That'd just be too much. It'd feel like an apology owed to the owner, at least.
'What am I supposed to do with this atmosphere?'
I sat there awkwardly, not even properly covered by the blanket. She had dragged more than half of it over to her side.
Didn't she care at all about my embarrassment?
Of course, she was probably just as flustered, confused, and her head filled with regrets and minor worries.
'I didn't see this coming either, you idiot.'
How could I have known? On the day of the graduation ceremony, we'd just been classmates who'd spent a lot of time together, whether we liked it or not, and we decided to celebrate becoming adults with our first drinks...
I had no idea we'd end up so chummily in a motel the next morning.
More than anything, the traces of what must have been an intense physical battle last night were scattered all over the bed and sheets, nagging at my nerves.
Mysterious liquid stains on the mattress cover, a half-smashed pillow, strands of our tangled hair.
Now that I looked closely, Cheon So-yul's collarbone, shoulders, and chest were covered in red marks.
My face flushed for no reason, and I covered my mouth lightly, letting out a fake cough.
...It was awkward to say it, but damn, we'd made love pretty fiercely.
'Well, to be precise, neither of us actually likes the other that way.'
Or did we? I paused, pondering. Nah, after building a whole year on bad blood, we couldn't exactly be on good terms.
But saying there was zero affection? That didn't feel right either...
And even if there was some affection, calling it love or romantic feelings? That was too vague to pin down. It was a tricky problem.
We'd been through so many events and incidents together that, despite the surface growling, our bond wasn't all that bad deep down.
If it had been, we never would've gone out drinking alone in the first place.
Like I kept saying, it was complicated. I let out a reluctant sigh.
It was awkward and uncomfortable. This whole vibe felt like the prelude to one of Cheon So-yul's hysterical outbursts.
But what could I do? Sit there? No matter how it happened, I'd spent the night with her.
Whether it was a drunken mistake or we'd gotten heated and locked eyes, if we'd done the deed, I had to clean it up.
I steeled my resolve.
And I fired up my brain at full capacity. Right, what was the perfect first line to say without offending her?
I searched for the best option. If not that, then the next best. That's the situation I was in.
'Ah, yeah. That's it.'
I finally came up with something close to the right answer... Without dragging it out, I turned to her.
I wasn't sure if she'd been waiting, but coincidentally, those subtle golden eyes were fixed on me too.
I plastered on an awkward smile, and as her expression softened just a bit, I voiced the conclusion I'd agonized over.
"...How about we both pretend last night never happened and forget it?"
"Say it again."
"...?"
"I'll give you a chance to choose your words again. For your sake."
...Hmm.
Wrong answer, apparently. I swallowed a groan inwardly and tried to avoid her chilling glare, which looked like it could devour a person whole.
If this wasn't it, what answer did she want? What was she expecting me to say?
I'd never faced a puzzle like this in my life. Even when I got stuck on the written academy entrance exam, it hadn't tormented me this much.
'...Screw it.'
I had no more room for deliberation. Was my reputation as a genius mage all hype? My brain just froze up.
Plus, Cheon So-yul didn't seem like she'd wait much longer.
"I'll take responsibility."
I just blurted out what I thought was the right thing, no filter. Her eyes blinked.
I bowed my head slightly before she could respond.
"It wasn't like we planned it, and honestly, it's reasonable to chalk it up to a drunken slip-up between the two of us... But if you're feeling uneasy and that's what you want, from now on, I'll take care of you─."
Thwack! But my earnest words didn't get to finish. Cheon So-yul had smacked the top of my head first.
Dazed, I awkwardly straightened my turned head back to position.
What was that? It wasn't quite a slap on the cheek—more like a precise, sneaky hit near my temple, targeted or not.
A bit anxious, I glanced up, but contrary to my fears, her face wasn't outright vicious.
Compared to the 'I'm going to kill you' glare from moments ago, it actually looked fairly relaxed.
...Relatively speaking, anyway.
"Haa."
Cheon So-yul let out a low sigh. She had that habit of pressing her brow that I'd seen before, so she seemed dissatisfied about something. But what?
I had no clue, so I just stared at her in bewilderment.
Soon, she called out to me, brow half-furrowed.
"You."
"What."
"...?"
"...What? You called me. Say something."
I straightened up, a bad feeling creeping in. This was high odds of the 'stay silent then strike like lightning' pattern.
You think I haven't figured out your algorithm after a year stuck to you? Please.
"You don't need to do that."
"...Huh?"
But what came back wasn't a thunderbolt ready to barbecue me. Cheon So-yul brushed her bangs up awkwardly, glancing at me sidelong.
That motion briefly exposed her bare arm and armpit from under the blanket barrier...
She didn't seem to notice. I heroically suppressed the blood rushing south with superhuman willpower.
Mornings made it worse, blood boiling hotter. Did Cheon So-yul even know the torment she was putting me through?
Probably not. She was casually picking up her bra and panties from under the bed and folding them.
What was this? Temptation? Nah, probably not.
"I said that, but you don't have to take me in your arms or whatever. Jeez, who asked you to take responsibility? Last night was just... we locked eyes and went for it."
Anyway, that's what Cheon So-yul said. She neatly folded her underwear, shirt, and uniform jacket before adding nonchalantly.
"Besides, I'm not some helpless girl who needs to rely on you."
She flicked her hair dramatically. Wow. Looking that punchable yet cool was a talent.
I couldn't help but snort in disbelief.
"Hilarious."
Cheon So-yul chuckled dryly and flung the blanket she was using over me.
Caught off guard, I ducked my head out instinctively, but her voice came first, now a bit farther away.
"Cover up. I see it, you're dead."
"...What?"
"I'm going to shower."
Screech. I faintly heard the glass door slide open.
I scowled and grumbled.
"We've already seen everything last night. What's the point now...?"
"You bastard. Don't mention it."
Crackle!
A sparrow-shaped bolt zigzagged toward me under the blanket.
Blind as I was, I rolled across the bed on instinct.
"Ow."
Close call. Without the uniform's protective magic, it'd have paralyzed me for at least an hour.
Cheon So-yul scoffed dismissively, as if it was no big deal, and slammed the bathroom glass door shut.
"Follow me in and you're dead!"
...She left those parting words.
I sighed despite myself and, like her, started gathering my clothes from under the bed.
'Hmm.'
But did she know this motel room's bathroom wall was semi-transparent?
Curious, I looked up—and sure enough, there she was beyond the glass, carelessly turning on the water.
Not crystal clear, but the seductive curves of her silhouette were plenty visible. I watched for a moment, then pulled out my smartphone.
Click.
One prime teasing material secured for later.