Birds Chirp, Flowers Bloom
Birds were chirping, flowers blooming....... .......... My face was buried in Kang Haneul's chest. Her arms wrapped around my back, her legs tangled with mine. Skin pressed against skin, her body heat seeping through.
What, what is this......?! My heart pounded like a drum. The scent of her body made it impossible to think straight.
C-Calm down. I couldn't panic. Stay composed. Her breath tickled my ear. Her breathing was steady—she was still asleep. That meant I could slip away. Quietly, while she slept. I tried to shift my body little by little—
"Mm......"
Kang Haneul let out a soft groan. Then she hugged me even tighter.
Ugh. I couldn't move. Not even an inch.
"U-Ugh......!" The moment I twisted to break free—
"Mm......" Kang Haneul's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Yujin-ah, sleep well?" She grinned wide.
"Uh...... yeah. But this situation......"
"Yeah?"
"We made a line with pillows as the boundary, right? So why are we like......?"
I trailed off and looked around. The pillow boundary was still there, exactly as we'd left it. But my position— I'd crossed over to Kang Haneul's side.
"Yujin-ah came over?" Kang Haneul said with a smile. "I followed the rules. You must've rolled over to my side in your sleep."
"......No way."
"It's true. I stayed right here. You rolled into me."
That was what she said, but mischief danced in her smile. Still, no matter how I thought about it, something was off. I didn't have sleep habits that bad. Clearly, she'd pulled me over while I was out. No proof, though.
"Anyway, since you broke the rule, we can stay like this today, right?"
"........."
I had nothing to say.
"Let's stay like this a bit longer. We woke up before the alarm anyway."
Kang Haneul squeezed me tight again.
............
It had been a few days since I started living with Kang Haneul. My "proactive needs fulfillment strategy"...... seemed to be working, more or less. At least on the surface.
I acted before she demanded. Hugs first thing in the morning, helping with meals, sticking by her side during work. Kang Haneul was satisfied. Happy. So I figured I had the upper hand.
For a little while.
I say "a little while" because...... that's no longer the case. As time passed, one thing became crystal clear: Kang Haneul's demands have no end.
It started with skinship. Then 24/7 companionship. Then sharing a bed. Now?
Kang Haneul's finger pointed to...... her mouth.
"No, that's really......"
"Just kidding, kidding. Go quick."
That's what she said, but her expression didn't look like a joke.
She's lost it for real.
A young man and woman living together, eating and sleeping under one roof. Kang Haneul exploited that, testing my psychological barriers, crossing lines bit by bit. Meals, showers, even bathroom breaks. She wanted to be glued to me 24/7. It was practically married life.
No—maybe even more intense than newlyweds.
In the end, I...... was getting worn out.
Kang Haneul likes me—that's certain. No doubt. But she's unmistakably obsessed. Severely so.
Yeah, obsession. On a very serious level.
I thought it'd get better over time. That by easing the side effects of her EX-rank Awakener ability—the constant rage fueling her power—I could help. But that hope had faded.
My ability did free her from rage temporarily. But it only made her crave me more. So her obsession won't improve. She won't let me go.
Ever.
Can I live with her while keeping her in check? I wasn't sure. We could coexist, but controlling her? Probably not.
Then, an opportunity arose to be apart for a few hours. The Association called an "EX-rank Awakener closed strategy meeting." It dealt with top-secret national security matters. For security, managers like me couldn't attend.
Kang Haneul's reaction?
"I'm not going."
"Why?"
"I'd have to leave Yujin-ah."
......She's completely lost it. Skipping a national security meeting? Isn't attendance mandatory for EX-ranks?
"Haneul-ah, don't you have to go?"
"I don't wanna go alone."
Why did she turn so childish around me? Unfathomable.
"You still have to. Association rules."
"But I don't wanna leave you alone......"
"Haneul-ah, this is unavoidable. I'll wait in your private office. Come right back after."
After much convincing, she reluctantly agreed.
"......Fine. But."
She gripped my hand tight.
"Don't go anywhere. Stay put in the HQ building. Got it? No wandering off talking to other female Awakeners."
"......Yeah. Got it."
"Promise. No leaving the building."
"I said I got it."
"And if that bitch Baek Sehee contacts you, ignore it."
"Okay."
Kang Haneul kept looking back as she entered the elevator. The doors closed.
Silence.
......She's really gone. Alone. For the first time in days. Excluding bathroom breaks. It felt like I could finally breathe.
I headed straight to the first-floor cafe in the Association HQ building. Still inside, so no rule broken. Sat by the window, ordered coffee. With my drink in front of me, sank into the plush sofa.
And...... did nothing. Just sat there.
Solitude. How sweet it was.
Gazed out the window. Blue sky, people bustling in the plaza before HQ. Peace I'd missed for days.
Birds chirping, flowers blooming. On days like this, people like me......
......have nothing to do. Now what?
Check my phone? Or just zone out? Being free from Kang Haneul was happiness enough. No tasks needed.
My matcha-marachoco latte arrived. A weird but warm taste. How long did I sit like that? Footsteps approached. Right toward my table.
......Who is it? No way Kang Haneul bailed mid-meeting. Please no.
Slowly turned my head. White suit, long pink straight hair.
Baek Sehee.
............
Baek Sehee stood before me.
"Yujin-ssi, long time no see."
"......Ah, yeah. But isn't it meeting time now?"
The EX-rank closed strategy meeting was happening upstairs. And Baek Sehee was an EX-rank, leader of the Dimensional Gate special response team. She had to attend.
"Ah, my briefing ended early in the meeting. The deputy will summarize the rest."
"Oh......"
Baek Sehee pulled out the chair opposite me and sat.
Why's she here? Because of Kang Haneul? Or something else?
"Yujin-ssi, how have you been?"
"Ah, yeah. Well......"
"You're with Kang Haneul, right?"
"......Yes."
Baek Sehee neatly folded her hands on the table.
"Then, Yujin-ssi."
"Yes?"
"Why haven't you contacted me?"
"......Pardon?"
"I gave you my number. 'Contact me anytime, I'll help.' That's what I said."
Baek Sehee smiled as she spoke. A kind smile. Her voice soft too.
But...... something felt off.
What is this vibe? Hard to put into words. She seemed gentle, but the air grew heavy. Like the pressure when Kang Haneul got mad. Breathing got a bit harder.
"Well, you see......?" How to respond? Tell the truth—that Kang Haneul deleted it? That'd spark a fight for sure. Between her and Kang Haneul. Better dodge.
"......Busy. Haha."
"Busy?"
"Yes. Manager work and all......"
"Is managing Kang Haneul that demanding?"
"Yeah. Various things......"
"From Association records, she has almost no schedule. Eight official events in the last month...... twice a week?"
......Busted. My hasty excuse crumbled instantly.
"Yujin-ssi, I'm not mad. Really. So tell me honestly."
Her voice stayed kind. But "not mad" was a lie.
She's pissed right now. Not as obvious as Kang Haneul. But definitely angry. I could tell. Somehow, for sure.
What if I lied again? Something bad would happen to me. Instinct screamed warning.
"Haneul-ah...... Kang Haneul deleted it."
"Deleted what?"
"S-Sehee-ssi’s number. You gave it to me in the hallway, right? She snatched my phone and deleted it."
"Deleted it?"
"Yes. Right there."
Silence. Baek Sehee's smile deepened. But the air grew heavier. Colder. Like the cafe temperature dropped.
......Ugh. Different from Kang Haneul's pressure. Hers was hot and explosive. Baek Sehee's was cold and silent. Just as terrifying.
"S-Sehee-ssi......?" My voice trembled unbidden.
"Ah......" Baek Sehee slightly turned her head, and the pressure vanished like a lie.
"Sorry, Yujin-ssi." She bowed her head. "I lost control of my emotions. Hasn't happened recently. You must've been startled."
"N-No, it's fine."
"Kang Haneul...... went that far."
Baek Sehee looked up again. Now truly calm. The pressure gone completely.