Chapter 338: Chewy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 338: Chewy
Whatever the case, Choi Jin-ah ended up staying in my room.
I wondered if she could just go to Yoo Ah-rin’s place, but thinking about it, that would require her to step outside.
And looking out the window, there were men in black suits waiting for her.
For the time being, it seemed best for Choi Jin-ah not to leave.
“Mom, I think I’m sleeping over at a friend’s house. Who? I-seo, our class rep.”
Because of that, Yoo Ah-rin naturally had to stay as well.
She couldn't exactly let another woman sleep in her boyfriend’s room alone, after all.
It was a dormitory, but as long as we didn't get caught, it was fine.
In fact, quite a few guys brought their girlfriends over to sleep over.
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. No, what are you even talking about? I’m hanging up.”
Yoo Ah-rin’s expression darkened the moment she ended the call.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m gonna barf.”
It seemed a bit strange to react that way after talking to her parents.
But her next words made it understandable.
“They said they’re thrilled to have some ‘couple time’ now that I’m gone.”
“……They must be very close. They were always going on trips before, too.”
“They even asked if I had any plans to move out for good. I’m seriously terrified I’m going to end up with a sibling twenty years younger than me.”
That would be a bit terrifying.
I also find it hard to imagine my own mom and dad doing that sort of thing, and frankly, I don't want to imagine it.
“You must be very close with your parents.”
Choi Jin-ah, sitting on the blankets spread out on the floor, looked on with wonder.
Thanks to her suitcase, she had already changed into her pajamas.
“Well, it’s not bad,” Yoo Ah-rin replied awkwardly, having heard the gist of Choi Jin-ah’s family situation.
Yoo Ah-rin’s parents were a bit much at times, but overall, they seemed like an ideal family.
When I visited their house last time, they seemed a bit better off than the average Korean household.
Maybe not wealthy, but they certainly didn't lack for anything.
“Are you jealous?”
When Yoo Ah-rin glanced at her and asked, Choi Jin-ah scratched the surface of the blanket awkwardly and replied.
“Um, I’m not really sure, actually. I can’t even imagine having a conversation like that with my parents.”
She couldn't even picture a harmonious scene.
That was quite a sad thing to say in its own right.
“For now, I think I just need to break out of this passive life. Things will probably change after that.”
Choi Jin-ah made a vow, clenching her fists. Suddenly, I grew curious.
“What about your mother?”
I had met her father, but I had never heard a word about her mother.
“My mother lives separately. It was an arranged marriage, so apparently, they’ve barely looked at each other since I was born.”
“…….”
Yoo Ah-rin glared at me as if asking why I had to bring that up.
“Should we just have some chicken and beer? It’s not like we can go anywhere anyway.”
“Can we even order chicken at this hour?”
Since it was a dormitory, delivery options were somewhat limited.
“How about the loser of a bet goes and gets it?”
When I made the suggestion, Yoo Ah-rin and Choi Jin-ah stared at me blankly.
“Jin-ah can’t go out.”
And Yoo Ah-rin had a firm determination not to leave me alone with Choi Jin-ah.
Thinking about it, that meant I was the only one who could actually go….
“Let’s just not eat.”
I tried to put it off because I was feeling lazy, but the two of them looked disappointed, likely because I’d already brought up the idea of chicken.
In the end, I headed out to get the chicken.
Once I left the university grounds, there were plenty of chicken places nearby. My plan was to pre-order for pickup, stuff it in my bag, and sneak back in.
‘It’s just such a pain to walk all the way out of campus.’
This is what I hate most about living in the dorms.
The campus is so huge that it takes forever to get out; it feels like the distance from the shoe rack to the front door is miles long.
The men in black suits guarding Jin-ah glared at me as I emerged.
They probably already guessed that I was the one harboring Choi Jin-ah.
“Boy, you guys sure are working hard.”
“…….”
“Should I buy you some drinks on my way back? You might as well give up for tonight; she’s sleeping in the dorm anyway.”
Since they couldn't actually do anything to me, I teased them mockingly and prepared to leave.
“Woo-jin!”
Senior Ju-hee’s voice called out from behind me.
She was approaching me, sweating in her workout gear as if she had been exercising.
“Senior? You’re jogging at this hour?”
“Yeah. If I run like this and then go study, I can focus better.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get some chicken. Want to join us?”
“…….”
As she hesitated for a moment, I quickly added.
“Let’s have some beer with it, too. Exam period is coming up soon, so it’ll be awkward to drink if we don't do it now.”
“That’s true, but—.”
She seemed a bit reluctant to waste her workout.
But honestly, I felt like someone with a body like hers didn't need to worry about what she ate.
“Senior, you’re already in great shape. I saw last time, you even have abs.”
“Well, yeah. It’s not like I’m on a strict diet or anything. I just don't eat much because I don't want to waste money.”
A true miser, as expected.
Even though she must have made a decent amount working as a bodyguard over the break, she was still diligent about saving.
“Then you go on ahead. I’ll buy enough for you, too.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go with you.”
“……Is it because of those guys?”
The men in black suits were still watching me.
Senior Ju-hee didn't answer, but she glared in their direction with a questioning look.
“Those are Jin-ah’s bodyguards, right? I recognized them from when we fought before.”
“Yeah, that’s right. They’re here to catch her.”
“I see, so that’s—.”
Senior Ju-hee started to respond half-heartedly, then suddenly stopped.
She grabbed my shoulder, and her grip was so strong it actually hurt.
“Just in case I’m right… is Jin-ah in your room right now?”
“Yeah, she’s in my room because she has nowhere else to run.”
Her expression darkened instantly.
I laughed and added to reassure her.
“Hey, don't get the wrong idea. Yoo Ah-rin is there too. Don't worry.”
“Ah-rin?”
Her expression grew even worse.
I realized it right after I said it, but wasn't Yoo Ah-rin the whole reason Senior Ju-hee and I ended up doing it in the first place?
“…….”
“…….”
A silence fell between us.
She let out a faint sigh and warned me.
“You realize you have a very dangerous combination of people together right now, don't you?”
“I really have zero intentions of doing anything. Didn't you feel it when we did it? How much I was holding back?”
“……That was you holding back?”
“Well, maybe a little… I did put some effort into it because I wanted to see you lose your composure, but—.”
Wait, what kind of conversation is this?
“Senior, wait a second. I think we should talk about something else.”
“I-I agree.”
Look at how red her face is.
She’s gone from Captain Ju to Ju-Scrub.
“Something else. What else is there….”
The moment I started trying to think of something else, my mind kept drifting back to what I did with Senior Ju-hee.
It was like that thing where if someone tells you not to think about an elephant, all you can think about is an elephant.
I remember there was a professional term for that, but I forgot it.
“Ha, damn it.”
I covered my face and was about to apologize to her.
But she composed herself and spoke firmly.
“Woo-jin, I was just doing my job as a bodyguard back then.”
“……Huh?”
“I mean, it was to resolve the client’s discomfort and to carry out the instructions I received from the Vice Chairman.”
I wanted to ask what kind of bodyguard provides sexual services, but I felt like that would tear down the wall of justification she was trying so hard to build.
Right now, she looked so obsessive it was as if she were hypnotizing herself.
“What we did wasn't something to be ashamed of at all. It wasn't personal; it was strictly professional.”
“Was… was it?”
“Yeah, so don't be embarrassed. I’m perfectly fine with it.”
“…….”
“In fact, the more you try to force yourself to ignore things like that, the more they come to mind. You just have to think of it like playing basketball or soccer.”
Is that how it works?
Strangely, I felt myself being swayed by her logic.
“So there’s no need to feel awkward, and no need to force yourself not to talk about it.”
“I see.”
It felt like I had crossed a threshold.
The taboo area between us had crumbled, and I felt even closer to her.
I nodded and gave her a big thumbs-up.
“Your ass was seriously beautiful, Senior.”
“…….”
Her expression froze for a moment, but she laughed it off awkwardly.
“Woo-jin, you’ve clearly been working out too.”
“Right? My body was pretty solid, wasn't it?”
“Yeah, it wasn't bad.”
“But Senior, your body was really amazing too. You have muscle, but you’re still so feminine.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Yeah, your skin was a bit tanned then, so I thought you’d put oil on your body. I ended up licking your abs without even realizing it.”
“…….”
“Ah, I remember your reaction then. You were all like, ‘Why are you licking there?’”
“…….”
“Surprisingly, your stamina wasn't that great. I could have gone much longer—.”
“That’s enough, you brat!”
Senior Ju-hee’s low kick landed with pinpoint accuracy.
“Gah!?”
I swear.
I can confidently say that was the most painful kick I’ve ever received in my life.
I dropped to my knees, bracing myself against the ground with my hands.
If I hadn't, I would have keeled over instantly.
“Y-You have to know when to stop!”
“You said to think of it like soccer or basketball, so I just….”
“Do you really think that’s possible?! I-I was just saying we should act like that for now!”
“C-Could you help me up first? I think my leg is broken.”
“It’s not going to break from just that.”
Despite her words, she helped me up. After a moment, I felt mostly okay.
“Ahem, I won't talk about it anymore.”
“……Good.”
Now that I’d said that, she seemed to be contemplating something again.
Regardless, we went to the shop, picked up the chicken, and bought beer at the convenience store.
There was no conversation on the way back.
The situation felt several times more awkward because of what had just happened.
Just as we crossed the main gate of the university, Senior Ju-hee finally seemed to have found a topic and spoke up.
“Tell Ah-rin and Jin-ah to sleep in my room. It’ll be more comfortable that way.”
“…….”
“…….”
A brief silence.
I didn't mind her taking Choi Jin-ah, but I wondered if she really had to take Yoo Ah-rin too.
However, the spot where her low kick landed was still throbbing, so I just nodded.
Silence again.
I wondered if I should have tried to keep the conversation going earlier.
“Phew, Woo-jin.”
Senior Ju-hee suddenly stopped walking.
I had already walked past her, so I stopped and turned to look at her.
“Yes?”
“Um, really… can I ask you just one thing?”
“Of course. Honestly, the awkwardness was killing me.”
“Sigh.”
The atmosphere lightened slightly.
If she was asking like that, it must be something serious.
Still, walking all the way back in silence just to eat chicken felt wrong.
“Um, about when we did it.”
But what came out of her mouth was the same topic as before.
Was she trying to strike while the iron was hot and settle this once and for all?
I expected her to try and rationalize it again.
But instead, she asked while covering her face with both hands.
“Was it good?”
“……Huh?”
When I stared at her blankly at the sudden question, she turned her head away and added as if making an excuse.
“N-No, I mean, it was my first time… so I was a bit. Um, worried, and wondering if it was okay—.”
Ah.
A memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
The first night I spent with Yun-ji.
The day we became a man and a woman to each other.
‘Yu-Yun-ji. Was it okay?’
Looking back, such a question might seem a bit childish or even dense.
But at the time, I was so anxious, wondering if I had made some kind of mistake.
Senior Ju-hee must be feeling the same way.
In fact, it was impressive that she had held back from asking until now.
Because I could deeply empathize with how she felt.
I gave her an honest answer with a smile to reassure her.
“It was fucking tight.”
“…….”
“It was delicious.”
“…….”