Cuddles and Close Calls
Sem... no way! …………… Han Sol came back from the fridge with a can of beer. "Have one with me."
'Isn't that a can, not a glass?' If I said that, she'd probably scold me for acting like an old fogey.
She set the beer down on the table in front of the sofa. Hmm. Booze. Sticking a cold beer in front of a guy who'd solemnly sworn to cut back on drinking.
"Ugh……."
Beer. Water droplets beaded on the can's surface—it looked ice-cold. In this living room so toasty it bordered on sweltering from the blasting heat, after a day of bickering with Lee Jin-ah and dragging my exhausted body around, pouring that chill down my throat...
'Keuk...!' Was this how a debtor felt when the foreman at some shadowy conglomerate's underground labor camp offered him a beer? For Han Sol to tempt her old man like this.
'……Still, gotta do what I gotta do.' I, booze, cut back. With blood-curdling resolve, I pulled my hand away from the beer.
But suddenly, Han Sol's expression shifted subtly. She didn't say a word, but her eyes seemed to ask, Don't you want to drink with me? Seeing that look on my daughter's face, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
"Ahem, when your daughter offers, how can I say no? Just one."
They say nothing beats a parent's love for their kid. True that.
I cracked open the can, and foam bubbled up lightly. One sip—and damn! Nothing like the watery, bland domestic canned stuff. This had real flavor; at a glance, it had to be around 10% ABV. Almost craft beer level.
'Guess when your daughter's raking it in, you get to try the good stuff.'
Still, I held back any 'kyaaaah—!!' reactions. Pull that, and I'd look like a sloppy drunk dad for sure.
"Tasty, right?"
"Yeah, not bad."
Han Sol brought over popcorn and set it on the table too. Perfect movie-watching setup.
She cracked her own can. We lightly clinked them—clink!
By the time I'd drained half the second can, a pleasant buzz settled in. What, didn't I say just one? Even that gambling pro from the labor camp couldn't stick to one. That's just how the world works.
The movie started. On screen, a college girl walked down a dark forest path. Ominous background music swelled.
I grabbed a handful of popcorn and watched. Han Sol sat quietly beside me, eyes on the screen.
'Not bad.'
Had I ever gone to the movies with Han Sol...? Rummaging through Han Kang's memories, it seemed we'd never actually seen a film in a theater together. At best, we'd rented VHS tapes from the video shop and watched at home.
But then— Han Sol moved. She got up from her spot and came right in front of me.
"Hm?"
Then she slipped naturally between my legs and sat down.
"—!?"
Her back against my chest, her ass wedged between my thighs. Basically in my lap.
Her body heat radiated straight through. The faint scent from her nape tickled my nose.
"S-Sol. What're you doing all of a sudden."
"Problem?"
Han Sol turned her head slightly and looked up at me. "We used to watch videos like this when I was little."
"Th-that was..."
Words failed me. She had a point. But that was over a decade ago, and Han Sol wasn't an eight-year-old kid anymore—she was a 23-year-old woman in her prime.
"That's different from now."
"It's not. I'm still Daddy's little girl."
Han Sol pouted her lips. 'Uuum.' Sol, honey, that's the kind of thing you do to lure a boyfriend with a crush. ……Couldn't say it out loud, though. She'd throw a massive fit.
And seeing that disappointed look on her face right there, no father could stay strong.
In the end, I surrendered my lap. "Fine. Let's watch like this. Don't complain if it's uncomfortable."
"Not uncomfortable at all. Thanks, Daddy."
Han Sol smiled contentedly and leaned her back deeper into my chest. 'Kids really do rule their parents.'
Dong Zhuo dying to Lü Bu, the thunder god felled by his bald son, Yi Seong-gye chased out by Yi Bang-won. Having lived it, I got it—no empty words.
Just watch the movie.
……………
The college girl chatted with a pale guy—and probably a vampire. But none of the visuals or dialogue registered.
Because— Han Sol's presence was overwhelming.
Blue twintails brushing my skin, body heat seeping through her back, subtle fragrance. And above all... her pale thighs draped over mine.
'Gonna lose it. Calm down. Please.'
Just my daughter. Daughter. No thoughts, just watch the movie.
But it got worse as time passed. Beer and popcorn gone, she'd been holding my hand at some point. Then she slyly guided it... to her stomach.
"……!"
Soft bare skin met my palm. Under her shirt—warm, supple, resilient flesh. The firm, slender contour of her abdomen felt vividly real.
'Th-this...!'
Bad. Pull away. Right now.
But Han Sol overlaid her hand on mine. Like she wouldn't let go no matter what. Couldn't move.
"S-Sol?"
"Shh. Important scene."
'This girl.'
Intentional? Unconscious? Couldn't tell.
The movie rolled on. Vampire and college girl talked in a dark mansion. Music turned sinister. Black shadow at the end of the hall. Camera zoomed slow.
Bang—! Classic jump scare.
But being romantic fantasy vampire flick, not that scary.
"……!"
Han Sol flinched and burrowed back—deeper. Her back flush against my chest, ass grinding into my crotch.
And— she shifted. Squirm, squirm.
'Uuugh.'
Electricity shot through me. Adjusting position? But why this angle?
No matter the reason—dangerous.
'N-no...!'
Even if not my daughter but Han Kang's. Even if not his biological one!
No boner for daughter. In this position, she'd notice instantly. Social life over!
I focused desperately. But Han Kang's body was too healthy. That was the problem.
Joints creaked from overuse. Mornings brought stiff back. True.
But quarterly combat agent checkups always topped the charts. Testosterone included.
Baseline better than Olympic gold medalists. Full-body augmentation—no exceptions there.
And post-divorce? No women for over ten years. Celibate life.
'No, no, no...!'
Allah hu akbar, namu amida butsu, form is emptiness emptiness is form, tax fine craaack reboot... Chanted every prayer in my head. Useless.
Eventually. It. Grew. Hard.
……………
Done for. Han Kang's life.
Han Sol had to feel something pressing firmly against her ass. From delinquent to solid in 30 seconds.
Take my dignity, my father card—spare me!
Lost in escapism delusions, Han Sol suddenly reached back. Wrapped her arm around my nape, turned her head to look up.
Cheeks nearly touching. Hers flushed pink. Blame the booze. Had to be. Not noticing my lower half.
……Right?
"Daddy."
"Y-yeah!?"
"Phone in your pocket... move it somewhere else."
"……!"
Phone. She said phone.
'Saved!'
My innocent girl. So pure at her age. But that innocence saved me this time.
Escape priority one. "R-right! Gotta grab my phone. Mind scooting? Might as well shift positions too."
Sounded natural. Splash cold water in the bathroom, step out for air—cool this blood-engorged beast down.
But.
Han Sol's face changed in a flash. Pink flush and sly smile vanished; eyes turned icy. Venomous. Like the ex-wife raging.
"Me? Why? No thanks."
She tightened her arm around my neck. No escape.
'Wh-what?'
Atmosphere soured further. Where'd my sweet cuddly daughter go? Who was this choking me?
……………
"Bathroom!"
Nearly a scream. "G-gotta pee! For real!"
Please let me go. Seconds stretched like minutes.
Her eyes scanned my face—sweaty brow, frozen panic.
Then her gaze shifted, like realization dawned.
"……Fine."
Arm loosened. I practically launched off the sofa. Bolted to the bathroom without looking back.
"……Phew."
Door shut, back against it. 'What was that?'
Chaos. Hand on her belly. Ass grinding my crotch. Arm around neck, face close.
'My imagination?'
Couldn't be deliberate... had to not be. Scared of movie, grabbed hand, burrowed, adjusted. Yeah.
Convinced myself with deep breaths. No daughter flirts with dad like that.
Splashed cold water, toweled off. Mirror showed red face still. Pants kid...
- Hey there? I'm fully—
"Begone!"
……Willed it down.
"Ah, perfectly calm now."
If you think not, you're wrong.
Time to go back.
……………
Back in the living room, Han Sol sat primly on one end of the sofa. No diving between legs. Just polite distance, empty seat beside.
'Good.'
She realized the skinship was too much.
Movie continued. Vampire vs. werewolf over college girl; she torn between. Honestly, meh.
Especially that vampire—overly polite, gentlemanly.
- Let me get the door. Let me carry your bag.
These types snap and go villain one day. 18 years as anti-villain agent, I knew.
Anyway, credits rolled.
'Late.'
"Sol. Daddy's heading ho—"
Started rising; Han Sol beat me. "It's late, so stay over tonight."