Chapter 247: Thread of Vulnerability
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 247: Thread of Vulnerability
“…….”
Stepping into the mart finally began to mask the subtle, awkward silence hanging between the three of us.
Actually, not the three of us.
To be precise, it was the silence between me and those two.
The two of them were still stuck together like glue, whispering to each other while glancing my way.
What the hell is wrong with them?
Since this morning, the atmosphere around Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin had been beyond strange—it was downright eerie.
At first, I thought they were angry. I figured they’d found out about what Seo Ye-rin had done for me.
But as time passed, I realized that wasn't it. If anything, the emotions they were projecting toward me were closer to pity or sadness.
Is there even anything for them to feel sorry for me about?
My injured leg? If that were the case, they should have acted like this from the start. It felt a bit late for that now.
I have no idea what’s going on.
Since we were at the mart anyway, I needed to stock up on food for the next few days. Seo Ye-rin had also asked me to buy some pudding, so I couldn't forget that.
I tried to grab a cart, but Yoo Ah-rin cut me off and stopped me.
“You’re hurt, so I’ll push it….”
I mean, I am hurt. But is she talking about my leg?
“Uh, okay.”
As I stepped back, accepting her unsettling kindness, Choi I-seo slunk over and linked her arm with mine.
“I-seo?”
It was rare for Choi I-seo to initiate physical contact, and even rarer when there were so many people around. On top of that, Yoo Ah-rin was right there pushing the cart.
“What…?”
Seeing her hold on despite her own obvious embarrassment left me wearing a blank expression. Even Yoo Ah-rin didn't show much of a reaction to I-seo’s behavior.
Whew, I really don't get it.
I wondered why they were suddenly acting like this. It was clear something was off, and I was about to speak up seriously and tell them to stop hiding whatever it was, but…
“…….”
Feeling Choi I-seo’s breast press against my arm as she hugged it, I decided to change my train of thought.
Let’s just enjoy the perks for now.
I’d enjoy the treatment first. I could interrogate them later.
The shopping itself proceeded normally.
“Let’s get some ramyeon too.”
“We have some at home, don't we?”
“We can't just eat everything you have at your place.”
The atmosphere was strange, but the conversation wasn't awkward.
“Oh? How about we buy something like that? It’d be fun to play games together when we’re bored at home.”
“A board game? Those are only fun right when you buy them. You never use them again after that.”
“Whose money are we using, and where are we putting it? Not at my house.”
There were moments where it felt like they were being nice, and then moments where it felt like they weren't. If Seo Ye-rin were here, she would have smiled and agreed immediately, saying we should buy it.
In the end, I bought one board game under the condition that I was paying for it and taking it to my house. Personally, I’d always wanted to try playing something like that with everyone gathered together.
“Ham, let’s get some ham. It’s perfect just to fry up and eat.”
“Mmm, that’s good too, but…”
Choi I-seo trailed off, and Yoo Ah-rin subtly steered the cart toward the canned goods aisle. Then, they headed over to the seafood section and picked up a thick, healthy-looking eel.
“Hey, let’s eat stuff like this. We need to think about health.”
“Ah, I saw an eel recipe on Neutube earlier. I’ll make it for you.”
Eel?
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo began tossing eel into the cart with awkward, rehearsed tones. Not only that, but as I watched them start picking out all sorts of stamina-boosting foods, I felt a sudden chill.
Are they trying to seduce me?
Are these girls trying to use sex appeal on me right now? No, maybe assuming that just because they’re buying health food is a bit of an overreaction.
I considered asking the Bamboo Forest, but Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin were right here. Besides, the Bamboo Forest was half-dead as a community anyway, so it wasn't particularly useful.
In the end, the grocery trip ended with nothing but questions.
After grabbing a quick lunch at the mart’s food court, we returned home around 2:00 PM. It was an awkward amount of time, but plenty was left in the day.
I sat on the sofa, stretching out my right leg, and asked, “Does everyone have plans for today?”
Choi I-seo, who was briefly organizing the groceries, glanced my way and answered.
“I have my part-time job starting tomorrow, so I don't have anything special today.”
“Ah, right.”
I-seo had said she was going to help Yun-ji. I heard she wasn't a trainer, just more of a partner. Popo was supposed to help too, and I thought about going to see them, but with Yun-ji there, the situation was a bit delicate.
Is she really okay with that, though?
I don't know if she’s completely moved on, but how could she ask Choi I-seo, who’s basically dating me, for a favor like that? She’s always been the strong-willed type, so I guess that side of her was coming out here too.
“I decided to go to the dojang to practice this evening.”
Yoo Ah-rin said she was going to the dojang, but since that was in the evening, it wasn't urgent.
“So everyone’s free for now?”
I was about to suggest playing the board game we bought earlier, but Yoo Ah-rin brought over a bunch of bananas and set them down in front of me.
“Let’s eat bananas.”
“……What?”
What did she just say?
“I said, let’s eat bananas.”
Usually, bananas are just a snack you eat in passing. She was talking about it like it was a scheduled event.
“Why so suddenly? I just had lunch, so I’m kind of full.”
I grumbled about eating bananas right after lunch, but Yoo Ah-rin peeled one herself and held it to my mouth.
“Say ahhh.”
“…….”
This was rare, so I accepted it and ate, but…
“Hey, what is actually up with you?”
I finally couldn't hold it in and had to ask.
“Huh?”
Yoo Ah-rin looked visibly flustered. She was usually a good liar, but the sudden question caught her off guard.
“You and I-seo. You’ve both been acting weird for a while now. Are you being considerate of me? Or are you mad at me?”
“…….”
Yoo Ah-rin kept her mouth shut and glanced toward Choi I-seo. But I-seo had already abandoned her, burying her face in the refrigerator under the guise of organizing.
After glaring at Choi I-seo for the clean betrayal, Yoo Ah-rin took a breath, looked at me, and said with a smile, “It’s nothing.”
The fact that I could feel the consideration in her smile made things even more complicated for me. However, seeing the lingering look in her eyes—as if she were doing this for my sake and asking me not to push further…
“…….”
I lost the urge to interrogate her and simply kept my mouth shut.
* * *
“Hey, you’re really going to cut me loose like that?”
“……I didn't know what to say either.”
While Kim Woo-jin sat on the sofa checking his phone, Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo had retreated into the main room to talk.
“Whatever, you handled it well.”
Looking at Choi I-seo giving her a thumbs-up, Yoo Ah-rin wondered if she had always been this shameless. I-seo must have been just as desperate.
“Sigh, they say you shouldn't even bring stuff like that up in conversation.”
Regarding Kim Woo-jin’s current condition.
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo were currently cooperating. They didn't think it was full-blown erectile dysfunction, but it was clear his libido had declined. They felt a sense of responsibility for him changing like that.
That was why they were trying various things behind the scenes.
“I heard that for a man, not being able to get it up is a huge blow to his pride. So they said you shouldn't talk about it directly.”
Choi I-seo nodded at Yoo Ah-rin’s words. Especially at Kim Woo-jin’s age, mentioning it could cause even more stress than he was already under.
“They said bananas are good for stamina, so let’s just keep feeding them to him for now.”
At that, Choi I-seo crossed her arms and replied, “I’m going to make eel and oyster pancakes for dinner. I read that oysters are really good too.”
Whew.
The two of them sighed simultaneously.
“Honestly, sexual desire is a natural thing. I think we were too hard on him.”
Choi I-seo agreed with Yoo Ah-rin’s self-reflection.
“Yeah. I heard from a friend that refusing intimacy altogether can actually be an act of deception toward your partner.”
Whatever the case, Kim Woo-jin accepted them because he loved them. If they said they didn't want to do it, he would never force it.
They felt responsible once again for the current result of that willpower. At the same time, they stole glances at each other.
To be honest, if they just went to Kim Woo-jin right now and told him they wanted to do it, they could find out his status immediately, but…
Ah-rin is here, so…
Another threesome is a bit much…
Because they were both there, they couldn't resort to such a blatant method of verification.
While the two of them were drowning in responsibility…
Slurp.
Sitting on the living room sofa looking at erotic images, Kim Woo-jin licked his lips and muttered to himself.
Maybe I should go to the bathroom and just rub one out.
Since the two of them were being strangely proactive today, he felt the need to vent the urges he’d been suppressing.
* * *
Dinner time.
Yoo Ah-rin had left for the Taekwondo dojang, and Choi I-seo was busy cooking, saying she would prepare dinner. The sound of Seo Ye-rin showering after just getting home could be heard from outside.
I’m not doing anything.
I told myself it was because I was a patient, but sitting still didn't exactly make me feel great.
“I-seo, is there anything I can help with?”
When I walked toward the kitchen and asked, Choi I-seo held out an oyster pancake.
“Here, try this.”
“You’re making pancakes? Isn't that a lot of work?”
“It’s not that much work if I’m only making one kind.”
“I see.”
I quickly ate the oyster pancake and gave her a thumbs-up.
“It’s sho delicious.”
“Eat a lot of it.”
What is this? This feels less like a couple and more like a mother and son.
That felt a bit unpleasant, so I was about to go over to Choi I-seo and initiate some skinship, but…
……No. Let’s hold back.
I pulled my hand back and suppressed my desires. I had to show Choi I-seo a changed version of myself. She had been so angry about what happened with Yoo Ah-rin last time. Showing her that I was still letting my lower half run wild didn't seem like a good idea.
Besides, this was Yoo Ah-rin’s house. In her rational mind, doing it here would be absolutely impossible.
As I walked back to the living room, I felt Choi I-seo’s gaze and turned around, but she was just silently continuing to cook.
Is there really nothing I can do for them?
I couldn't come up with an answer, and just then, my phone rang. I sat on the sofa and answered it.
“Hello?”
— You sound like you’re doing well.
The bluntness of my Big Hyung’s voice was annoying, but honestly, I was doing well.
“Why’d you call? To check if I’m doing okay?”
— That, and I called to confirm something else while I was at it.
“Confirm? What?”
— The reunion.
“Ah….”
He was talking about attending the elementary school reunion with Choi Jin-ah and the others.
“I told you I don't want to. I have a valid excuse since I hurt my leg.”
Just then, Seo Ye-rin came out of the bathroom. With wet hair and only a towel wrapped around her body, she smiled brightly and walked into the main room where her things were.
— Sigh, I know. But I’m telling you to at least think about it.
“Think about what? I’m not—”
As I was about to speak, a thought occurred to me.
“……Hyung, if I go, can you do me a favor?”
— A favor?
Shouldn't I do something to repay these girls who are working so hard for me?
“Just something like… covering expenses for a trip?”
— You’re going somewhere alone with a bum leg?
“No, I’ll take a few friends with me. My leg is only in a half-cast; it’ll be off soon.”
At my words, Big Hyung let out a deep sigh and asked back.
— They requested this because of the mistake you made. Why should I be the one granting you a favor?
“Fine, then don't. I’m not going even if I die.”
— …….
“Hurry up and answer. I just changed the destination from Jeju Island to Japan.”
— You have a habit of being bold exactly when you shouldn't be.
“From Japan to Guam.”
— Do you realize there’s a big difference between the two?
“I don't know. I’m just blabbering the first places that come to mind.”
— Sending you on a trip isn't difficult. But the condition is that you don't cause any trouble while you’re there.
“Geez, anyone listening would think I cause trouble every time I go somewhere.”
— …….
“What, fuck.”
When silence followed, I just threw out a curse.
“Of course, it’s not a definite 'yes' yet. I have to talk it over with the girls. Sound good?”
— Sigh, just do whatever you want.
Click.
Big Hyung hung up, sounding fed up. I was thinking about bringing it up when Yoo Ah-rin got back and we were all together, when…
“Woo-jin, I’m going to run to the mart nearby for a second. We’re out of oil.”
Choi I-seo untied her apron and hurriedly headed out. I was heading to the kitchen to snag a few more oyster pancakes when…
Creak.
The door opened and Seo Ye-rin stepped out, still wearing nothing but the towel.
“Why aren't you dressed yet?”
“I was drying my hair.”
“……Come have some oyster pancakes. These are amazing.”
“More importantly, did I-seo leave?”
“Yeah? She went to buy oil—”
Whoosh.
Seo Ye-rin unwrapped the towel immediately. The sight of her walking toward me naked made her look like a model walking a runway.
“Ever since you said you wanted to fuck me this morning, I haven't been able to stop being turned on, Woo-jin.”
She pressed her body against mine. My lower half, which I’d been forcing myself to restrain all day, began to swell instantly.
“Hey, I-seo will be back soon.”
No matter how long it took, she’d be back in 10 to 15 minutes. I told her that even if I wanted to, now wasn't the time, but…
“Ah, in that case.”
Seo Ye-rin slid her hand into my pants and whispered.
“I guess we’ll have to be intense about it?”
“Whew.”
You’re dead.