Chapter 309: Accomplice
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 309: Accomplice
"Ahem."
Having come out for breakfast, I forced food onto my fork and shoved it into my mouth.
I was hungry, sure, but more than that, I wanted to plug my mouth with food. That was the only way I could avoid answering their questions.
The gazes of the three women sitting across from me pierced through me like sharp needles.
If there was any saving grace, it was that the remaining person, Choi Jin-ah, was happily munching away, seemingly indifferent to the atmosphere.
"This is delicious, isn't it? I didn't try this yesterday."
"..."
"I guess they even pick out the shrimp for you if you have an allergy. Usually, buffets don't go that far with their service."
"..."
"Oh, look. Some of the items that are usually premium add-ons are out on the buffet as an event today. You should definitely try those."
"..."
"Phew."
Exhausted from trying to lighten the mood while walking on eggshells, Choi Jin-ah let out a deep sigh. Eventually, she too looked at me with a pained expression.
Despite her resentful eyes pleading with me to do something about the situation, I just kept doggedly stuffing my face.
"Didn't someone say something?"
That was when Choi I-seo spoke up, her chin resting on her hand as she let the words drift out.
"That he only loved the three of us."
"Cough! Hack!"
I choked on my food and pounded my chest, but no one spared me a glance. In the past, they would have rushed to give me water or pat my back.
If Senior Ju-hee and Yoo Ah-rin were here, would they have taken my side? But those two were currently passed out in my room like defeated soldiers, sleeping soundly.
Truthfully, I wanted to sleep too, but Seo Ye-rin had summoned me, so I’d been forced to crawl out.
"No... my feelings haven't changed."
I tried to argue that I’d just been swept up in the mood yesterday, but really, what did that matter? The fact remained that I’d done it, which made me a piece of trash.
I’d felt so relieved when I thought the story about sleeping with Senior Ju-hee was a lie. And then, on that very same day, I went and actually did it with her.
I wonder if they sell handguns around here.
It was the first time I’d ever felt like shooting myself in the head.
"So this is what it feels like to be NTR-ed. It feels... filthier than I thought."
Oh Yun-ji muttered with a dazed expression. Technically, since I wasn't dating Yun-ji right now, it wasn't NTR. Still, her mind seemed like a mess of complicated emotions.
She might have accepted the other three, but she probably never imagined Senior Ju-hee would join the fray.
To be honest, neither did I.
Thump.
Suddenly, Seo Ye-rin slammed the table and pointed her fork at Choi I-seo.
"Wait, wait! Do you all realize that, excluding me, none of you have the right to blame Woo-jini?!"
"..."
"Who was the one who broke the wall between the three of us by making a gesture to let Oh Yun-ji join in?"
Seo Ye-rin questioned her like an aggressive news anchor.
"Ugh."
Choi I-seo’s expression darkened as if she’d been hit where it hurt, and she nodded in reluctant acknowledgment.
"I... I just provided a space so she could try."
"That alone is a capital offense! That’s why Woo-jini thinks he can just go around swinging his junk willy-nilly at anyone!"
Even if I wanted to deny it, she wasn't wrong. I had swung it around pretty recklessly.
"Yoo Ah-rin is a problem too! How can someone be such a scrub? I bet she begged Senior Ju-hee for help because she couldn't handle it herself. It makes people who actually put in effort look like fools!"
Seo Ye-rin’s instincts regarding sex were terrifyingly sharp. How could she pin down the truth so accurately? Was she deducing this based on what she saw during our 3P session?
"Do you see what I'm saying? I-seo and Ah-rin, you both need to wake up. You’re the ones who turned Woo-jini into this!"
"I... I'm sorry."
I think this was a first—Seo Ye-rin actually winning an argument against Choi I-seo.
"And Oh Yun-ji! You’re an ex-girlfriend to begin with. What are you talking about NTR for?!"
"Ahem."
Having even repelled Oh Yun-ji, Seo Ye-rin whipped her head around to look at me.
"In the end, who do you think is the biggest victim here?"
"...Choi Jin-ah?"
She was the one suffering through a trip surrounded by couples. She’d even been outed to her parents for having sex she didn't even have. Come to think of it, I wondered if she’d managed to resolve that.
Stomp!
Seo Ye-rin stepped on my foot under the table and asked again with a bright smile.
"Who?"
"Miss Seo Ye-rin."
"Right? It’s me. I’m the victim."
I was starting to feel genuinely sorry.
"I wondered if it was okay to let this slide so easily. But looking at it, I realized it’s not just Woo-jini’s fault; there are other problems at play."
"No, I wouldn't go that far—"
I tried to intervene, thinking that I was the bad guy and the responsibility shouldn't fall on the others, but...
"Zip it."
I shut my mouth at Seo Ye-rin’s stern warning not to talk back.
"Therefore, I am monopolizing Woo-jini today."
"...How does it jump to that conclusion?"
"Why are you skipping the process and going straight to the result?"
Choi I-seo and Oh Yun-ji asked simultaneously, but Seo Ye-rin remained firm.
"Do you think I can trust Woo-jini with slackers like you? I’m going to spend the day with him and properly whip him into shape."
Choi I-seo looked like she couldn't believe she was hearing this from Seo Ye-rin of all people, but she didn't seem to have a comeback.
"We have scuba diving today."
That was the only thing she could bring up—the schedule. Choi I-seo had really wanted to go scuba diving, so she mentioned it, but Seo Ye-rin pouted and rejected it.
"Do you think Woo-jini can even do that after how much he exerted himself?"
Choi I-seo glanced at me. She had a point. Having done it two days in a row, moving was honestly a struggle. I was so fatigued I wanted to go to sleep right this second.
"Mmm."
Since the schedule had already been pushed back once because of her yesterday, Choi I-seo found herself speechless again.
"It was booked for three people, right? You, Yun-ji, and Jin-ah go enjoy yourselves."
"Eh? Me too?"
"Oh, I love scuba diving!"
Oh Yun-ji looked openly displeased, while Choi Jin-ah welcomed the idea. Whatever the case, Seo Ye-rin, having seized the moral high ground, spoke with a voice that carried absolute authority.
* * *
"..."
"..."
After Kim Woo-jin left for breakfast, Yoo Ah-rin and Min Ju-hee were left alone in the room.
Min Ju-hee was covering her face with both hands, trying desperately to hide her embarrassment.
Is this right? Really?
The time she spent with Kim Woo-jin had been good. That was the problem.
She was a mere bodyguard, and Kim Woo-jin already had three lovers. The resolve she’d built up to stop liking him had crumbled after just a few touches from him.
"Ah, shit."
Yoo Ah-rin, lying next to her, had a hollow expression on her face.
"I must be crazy."
No matter how hard it had been, she shouldn't have dragged Min Ju-hee into it. Yoo Ah-rin was currently drowning in regret. Had she been under some kind of hypnosis? Could she claim she was coerced?
She looked at it from every angle, but the conclusion was always the same: it was her own fault.
"Senior, are you awake?"
"...Yes."
"What do we do now? Ye-rin and I-seo are probably going to come kill me soon."
"Ahem."
"Haa, I'm going crazy. Why did I do that? I must have lost my mind in the moment."
"..."
Min Ju-hee listened to Yoo Ah-rin’s grumbling in silence. She had no idea what kind of relationship they were supposed to have from now on.
After a brief silence...
"Senior, why did you start liking Kim Woo-jin?"
Yoo Ah-rin asked, deciding to just go for it. After a short pause, Min Ju-hee answered.
"I first got interested... when I saw what you guys were doing at Gold One."
At that honest confession, Yoo Ah-rin bolted upright.
"What?! If you mean at Gold One—!"
"I saw the three of you doing it."
"Are you insane?"
Yoo Ah-rin’s head spun at the unbelievable answer, but then a strange thought occurred to her.
"Why would that make you interested?"
She could understand any other emotion. Surprise, disgust, a desire to keep her distance. But developing a crush seemed a bit odd.
"Ahem, well... he felt like the most 'manly' person I’d ever seen."
"..."
"Back in high school, I was usually the one fighting the guys. So it was the first time I’d ever seen someone who looked stronger than me."
The manly pressure she’d felt for the first time in her life. That was how Min Ju-hee’s interest in Kim Woo-jin began, and after spending time with him here and there, he had naturally settled into her heart.
"Don't worry. I know what your relationship is, so I don't plan on butting in."
"..."
"I'll just... yeah. I'll just think of it as a good memory."
Hearing that, Yoo Ah-rin flopped back onto the bed and let out a sigh.
"Whatever. I don't know anymore."
She really didn't. She’d already given up on trying to make sense of the situation. She decided to just go with the flow.
Dammit, technically I’m a latecomer too.
She’d joined in even though she knew Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo liked Kim Woo-jin.
Vibrate! Vibrate!
Just then, a phone began to ring. Min Ju-hee saw the name on the screen, jumped up, and answered urgently.
"Yes, Vice Chairman."
The Vice Chairman?
Kim Woo-jin’s big brother?
Yoo Ah-rin crawled over to Min Ju-hee to listen in. Min Ju-hee tried to push her away at first but eventually gave up.
— There was no report yesterday. Is something wrong?
"Ah..."
Since she hadn't made her regular reporting call yesterday, he had called her directly. Min Ju-hee lowered her head, unable to find the words.
Looking at her aching lower body and the fact that she was only wearing underwear, she felt a wave of self-loathing.
"N-nothing happened."
— Hmm?
The Vice Chairman sounded slightly suspicious, his voice trailing off, but...
— Fine. I’m counting on you. Make sure no accidents happen.
He didn't press further, trusting in the restraint Min Ju-hee exercised over Kim Woo-jin.
Min Ju-hee’s eyes fell on Yoo Ah-rin. The girl who had enjoyed herself without a care for things like condoms.
"Yes... I will do my... best."
Min Ju-hee hung up with tears in her eyes and let out a long breath.
"Heh."
Beside her, Yoo Ah-rin let out a smirk, looking at the woman who had now become her accomplice.