Chapter 220: Sincerity
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 220: Sincerity
A quiet hotel room.
Choi Jin-ah poured herself a glass of wine alone on the top floor of a hotel that offered a panoramic view of the city's night skyline.
“…….”
She had booked it in a hurry, so she was relieved there had been a room left.
Taking a sip of the wine, Choi Jin-ah smiled bitterly. The wine itself was on the sweeter side, but strangely, the bitterness seemed more pronounced.
Perhaps the bitter taste lingering on her own tongue had tainted the wine.
“Sigh.”
Her reunion with Kim Woo-jin after all this time had been quite pleasant. People usually change as they get older, but surprisingly, Kim Woo-jin hadn't changed much at all.
He was always living a life that exceeded her imagination, and that aspect of him stimulated her interest to an almost obsessive degree.
A life that was the polar opposite of hers.
Unlike her, who lived within the framework constructed by her parents, he seemed to shine, in a sense.
“Honestly… should I call him a fool, or is he just incredible?”
She had talked with Kim Woo-jin for quite a long time. Starting from the park bench, Kim Woo-jin had poured his heart out to her as if venting.
He told her stories about the people he loved.
“Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo, and Yoo Ah-rin, was it?”
It was crazy enough to admit he liked three women.
But what kind of man comes to a blind date and spends the whole time telling his date about the virtues of the other women he likes? He was truly a hopeless case.
And that was why so much time had passed.
Just because she had stayed to listen to him brag about them.
“I wonder if he’s met them by now.”
He had rushed off, saying it was late. He had likely gone to see them.
Even while they were talking, he couldn't keep his seat still, fidgeting his hands and making it obvious he wanted to see them right away.
“I don't even know what to say to them.”
The blind date itself had happened because she had been somewhat stubborn about it. Since it was a failure, she’d probably get an earful from her parents.
That was part of the reason she had checked into a hotel instead of going home, but...
‘I want to hold onto this feeling… just a little longer.’
Back in elementary school.
To a girl who lived a life of planned schedules, moving from one academy to another, he had been a brief breathing hole.
She felt like a dolphin.
For the first time in a long, long time, like a dolphin surfacing for a breath of air before plunging back into the deep, dark abyss.
Before going back under, she took a long, deep breath.
“Haa.”
* * *
“Ugh, I’m seriously going to die.”
Yoo Ah-rin was on my back.
Seo Ye-rin was on my left, and Choi I-seo was on my right.
I heard they were drinking, but I didn't realize they’d get this wasted.
They were all leaning on me, unable to even hold themselves up. I thought they all had decent tolerances, but they were completely trashed.
‘I guess the news of me going on a blind date was a pretty big shock.’
I felt a pang of guilt, wondering if I’d put them through too much.
“Anyway, give me some help here! I seriously can’t walk!”
I felt like my back was going to snap.
Thinking I might actually get crushed to death, I sat them down one by one on the outdoor terrace of a nearby convenience store.
“Wow, what do I do now?”
Calling a taxi was one thing, but I wasn't sure if they could even make it home safely in a cab.
I figured I’d buy some hangover cures from the convenience store first and then check on them.
I ran inside, grabbed them quickly, and came back out, but...
“Excuse me? What did you say?”
I was only gone for a second, but a group of guys had already swarmed them.
Three guys were hovering over each of them, and just as I felt my temper starting to flare—
“Piss off, you asshole.”
Yoo Ah-rin, who was pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed, muttered through gritted teeth.
That brat was faking it.
My back was screaming in pain, and she just had to be carried?
Regardless, I stepped forward and pushed the men away.
“Hey. Sorry, but they’re all taken, so move along.”
“What?”
“Taken? We saw you bringing them here by yourself earlier.”
Maybe it was the alcohol, but they weren't backing down. The fact that the girls were stunningly beautiful was definitely a reason they were lingering.
“Yeah, they’re all mine, so beat it.”
I spoke confidently, squaring my shoulders, and the men just stared at me blankly.
What? It’s not like I said anything wrong.
“Is this guy insane?”
“What do you mean they’re all yours? Hey, don't bite off more than you can chew.”
“Ha, what kind of porn did you grow up watching to act like this?”
“I can handle it. I’ve got the capacity for it. I stay rock hard all day long. I’m not like you guys who squirt once or twice and go soft.”
I’ve been in this situation enough times to know.
In moments like this, acting like a total lunatic is the most effective strategy.
Just look at them.
They’re staring at me like idiots because I said something they never expected.
I wasn't confident I could win a 1-on-1 fistfight.
Let alone 1-on-3?
Are you kidding me?
If it came to that, it would just be a matter of how long I could hold out before the police arrived.
“So get lost. You have no idea how much these girls cling to me, do you? If you want to join in, you’d have to stay up all day—”
“You son of a bitch, what the hell are you saying?!”
“There are things you can say to people and things you can't!”
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo suddenly bolted upright and lunged at me.
They started pummeling me, but even as I was getting hit, a laugh escaped my lips.
“See! Look at this! You were awake the whole time and pretending to sleep! Anyway, here’s the hangover cure—Gah?! Wait, that hit a bone!”
The two of them kept thumping on me, cornering me and landing blows.
Then the last one, Seo Ye-rin, jumped up and shouted.
“Our Woo-jini can go ten times a day, you know?! And look at this, look! He’s got a huge—!”
“Hey, ack! Wait a minute! Stop her! What the hell are you saying?!”
Even though I yelled for them to stop Seo Ye-rin, the two of them didn't stop hitting me, as if they were perfectly in sync.
Anyway.
The guys eventually left, looking completely fed up.
In the end, it was just the four of us.
“That hurts like hell.”
I muttered, slumped in a convenience store chair, staring blankly up at the moon.
It really hurt.
My whole body was aching, and it wasn't just because of what I’d said; it felt like they’d channeled all their feelings about my blind date into those hits.
“……So, what did you do there?”
Yoo Ah-rin slid into the seat next to me.
She had swiped my card earlier and was now sipping on a Chocomong she’d bought. When I held out my hand for my card, she handed me a Hershey Choco Milk instead, so I just decided to drink that.
“Nothing much.”
Then Choi I-seo, sitting on my other side, asked.
“You went to the main house. How did you get back so suddenly?”
“I took a car. The driver dropped me off.”
I heard an “Oh, a driver,” but I just ignored it and kept drinking my chocolate milk.
That wasn't the important part.
“How was the blind date? What was she like? She’s famous, isn't she?”
This time, Seo Ye-rin, sitting across from me, asked tentatively. Seo Ye-rin wasn't very good at these kinds of leading questions.
Her intentions were transparent.
“I got dumped, obviously.”
The sweet chocolate flavor flowed down my throat.
Why did these girls gather to drink today? I didn't have to think long for the answer.
Since I’d made them feel insecure, I wanted to give them some reassurance.
“I told her I already have three people in my heart.”
A sudden silence fell.
The three of them stared at me with blank expressions, seemingly sobered up instantly.
“And I spent the whole dinner talking about you guys. Yeah, so I actually forgot to contact you.”
Where else would I get the chance to brag about them?
I had just poured out stories about them, and that’s why I was so late.
“That’s why I wanted to see you. No, it’s not just that. From the moment I met her, all I could think about was seeing you guys.”
It was too late for the bus, and I didn't feel like waiting, so I just hitched a ride in the family car.
Thanks to that, I was able to make it back at this hour.
“Ah, it’s good to see you.”
Yeah, it really was.
I confessed honestly and peeked at their reactions. I was worried they’d scold me for flirting with all three of them again.
But the three of them kept their mouths shut.
They started glancing at each other.
“What? What’s wrong?”
The atmosphere felt chilly, and I wondered if there was a problem. Seo Ye-rin glanced around and then suddenly raised her hand and shouted.
“Woo-jina, these two said they’re going to give up on you!”
“Hey, Seo Ye-rin!”
“Wait, wait a second.”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
What was she talking about?
The statement hit me like a physical blow. I looked back and forth between Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo.
Seeing their awkward, embarrassed expressions, it seemed she wasn't making it up.
“Y-You said it too!”
Yoo Ah-rin pointed at Seo Ye-rin, but Ye-rin just smiled confidently.
“I said I’d put it on hold. I said I’d meet him again if he succeeded.”
Look at her, acting all proud because she’d left herself a loophole.
No, more importantly.
“R-Really?”
When I asked in a trembling voice, both of them avoided my gaze.
“Whew, okay. I see.”
I closed my eyes tightly.
“I told you I wouldn't hold you back.”
I had told them many times. That I wouldn't force them to stay if they wanted to leave.
Since I had all three of them in my heart, forcing them to stay would be crossing a line.
“I’ll accept it.”
I let out a long sigh.
“I guess I’ll be doing a lot of crying when I get home tonight.”
I felt like I’d drink and just sob my eyes out. As I was venting my gloom, Choi I-seo gently stroked the back of my hand.
“W-We just felt like we were blocking your path. The person you went to meet is famous.”
“…….”
This time, Yoo Ah-rin put a hand on my shoulder and muttered awkwardly.
“Honestly, wouldn't most people feel a sense of self-loathing compared to someone like Choi Jin-ah?”
Hearing their words, my tears vanished, replaced by a bit of anger.
“So? If there was someone else who was super handsome, rich, and successful, would you guys just go to him?”
At my words, the two of them seemed to realize something, their eyes widening.
“So what if Choi Jin-ah is rich, a famous musician with awards, and beautiful? Why does any of that matter?”
It didn't matter at all.
In the first place, I didn't like them because I wanted something from them.
“I liked you guys just because you’re you. That’s why I wanted to be with you. What, was I the only one who felt that way?”
I huffed and stood up from my seat.
“Fine, go then! If guys like Chan-woo hit on you, I guess you’ll just fall for them! Go on, go! Dammit, I’m going home to jerk off while thinking about Jin-ah!”
I started heading toward the dormitory, but Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin both grabbed one of my hands at the same time.
“……I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I guess we were overthinking things.”
“Sigh.”
I let out a deep sigh.
After they let go of my hands, I turned around to face them.
“I know I’m a piece of trash… but I liked the three of you so much that I was willing to accept that. To the point where no one else compares.”
This time, I took their hands in mine.
Neither of them pulled away; they just looked at each other shyly.
“If you leave, I won't stop you. But I think it’ll be really hard for me.”
When I said that with a bitter smile, the two of them hesitated for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
“Trash.”
“Asshole.”
Yet, the fact that they didn't let go of my hands was, in a way, a form of permission.
I tried to pull them into a hug, but I was immediately pushed away and rejected.
“What? Wasn't this the part where we hug?”
“If only Ah-rin wasn't here.”
“I was going to say the same thing. I don't want to be rubbing up against Choi I-seo.”
“…….”
Anyway, it seemed things were settled for now.
“Then, as a sign of reconciliation, let’s all sleep at Woo-jini’s place!”
Seo Ye-rin hugged me from behind and made a rather tempting proposal.
I was already an expert at sneaking into the dormitory, so that wasn't an issue.
I gulped and looked at the two in front of me; surprisingly, they didn't seem like they were going to refuse.
However, Choi I-seo gave a firm warning.
“But we are only sleeping. Nothing more.”
“Agreed. The three of us getting tangled up was an accident, but four is definitely a no-go.”
“……Wasn't this supposed to be reconciliation sex?”
My shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Still, the two of them remained unmoved.
In that case, I had a strategy too.
“Then I have one condition. Don't get me excited. The moment I get hard, we’re doing it.”
“…….”
“…….”
I was serious.
Dead serious.
The moment one of them got me up, it was war.
“Then just do it with me! Let the others sleep next to us!”
Seo Ye-rin, still on my back, laughed and made the suggestion. Doing it with Seo Ye-rin right in front of Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin would be incredibly erotic, but...
“Ye-rin, you have to go home.”
Unfortunately, Seo Ye-rin couldn't come along.
“……Why?”
“I was only able to find you because your mother contacted me. She asked me to make sure you go home tonight.”
“…….”
“I have to stay on her good side, too.”
There was nothing I could do.
I thought about saving the 'four of us as one' for next time and just becoming 'one' with the three of us for now, but...
“Dismissed.”
Seo Ye-rin climbed down from my back and made a cold declaration.
“Don't do it. Don't have sex without me. Besides, realistically, it makes no sense for the four of us to go to the dorm and sleep at this hour.”
“You’re the one who suggested it.”
“You’re a perfect match for him with that double standard.”
“No, Ye-rin. That’s a bit……”
I felt like a husband who’d come home drunk and was making excuses to his wife. I tried various ways to convince Seo Ye-rin, but...
“Erectile dysfunction, kiiiick!”
Thwack!
Seo Ye-rin’s upward kick landed perfectly between my legs, striking my vitals.
“C-cough?!”
I immediately dropped to my knees, clutching my lower half.
A huffing Seo Ye-rin gave me a grim warning.
“If I can't have this dick, no one can.”
“You… crazy… bitch!”
The pain!
The pain was overwhelming!