Chapter 347: Dormitory Rumors
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 347: Dormitory Rumors
I skipped the Taekwondo gym’s after-party.
It was because Yoo Ah-rin was in no condition to attend.
“Are you okay?”
I asked as I walked her home. Since she said she could barely stand, I was carrying her on my back.
People passing by stole glances at us, but I didn't care. I was more worried about Ah-rin, who was keeping her mouth tightly shut.
Did I go too far?
I had to admit, I’d gotten swept up in the moment. Doing that while the rest of the team was right outside was a clear mistake—no matter how good it felt.
To make matters worse, I’d gone for another round after everyone else left. The playful excuse that she was too charming to resist probably wouldn't fly right now.
“Stop at the convenience store.”
We were near the apartment complex where she lived. As we passed a convenience store, Ah-rin finally spoke.
“The convenience store?”
“Get me a Chocomong.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
I quickly set her down on a chair in front of the store. I dashed inside, grabbed a Chocomong and some snacks she liked, and came back out.
I hadn't noticed while she was on my back, but her expression was grim. She looked like she was deep in thought. I approached her as she sat there with her chin resting on her hand and presented the Chocomong with a straw already poked in.
“Here you go.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Are you feeling any better?”
Slurp.
Ah-rin didn't answer; she just drank the Chocomong. Her silence made me strangely anxious.
Slurp.
The juice pack crumpled as it emptied. Its shriveled appearance felt like a warning directed at me.
“Did you enjoy it?”
Ah-rin asked, gnawing on the straw. I lowered my head like a criminal and answered.
“Yeah.”
Of course I did. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have gone at it like a madman.
“Are you sufficiently satisfied?”
“I mean, obviously.”
Satisfied didn't even cover it. I was beyond thrilled.
“Is that so?”
Her mood seemed to soften slightly. I opened the bag of snacks and continued with a more detailed explanation.
“I don't think I can even get it up anymore. You drained me completely. That’s Yoo Ah-rin for you. A woman even more lewd than Seo Ye-rin! A succubus with all her stats poured into one area!”
“Knock it off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Sigh, I think I’m starting to understand how Choi I-seo feels.”
“Hmm? About what?”
“Just…”
Ah-rin fell silent again as she munched on a snack. She looked like she had something to say—was she just embarrassed?
“What is it? Just tell me. It’s not like there are any secrets between us.”
We’d seen everything there was to see of each other, and we’d even done it with other people watching.
Ah-rin let out a small chuckle and finally confessed her honest thoughts.
“I’m just wondering if this is okay. You just went and finished inside me without a second thought.”
“Ahem.”
“I’m worried. What if I actually get pregnant? That kind of thing.”
“...Would you hate that?”
I carefully watched her reaction. Hearing her say that made me realize just how much I’d acted on pure impulse.
“I wouldn't say I’d hate it, exactly. It’s more like… a concern?”
“A concern?”
“If one of us actually gets pregnant, this whole relationship might have to end.”
“...”
“That’s why my head is a mess.”
Had she discussed this with Choi I-seo?
“Ugh, fuck it. I don't know anymore. I just don't know.”
Ah-rin scratched her head. We were still too young to be having these kinds of conversations.
“I wonder if it’s okay to be this irresponsible. But honestly, no matter how much I think about it, I can't find a good answer.”
Ah-rin stood up. She faltered for a moment, but it seemed she’d recovered enough to walk.
“Ah-rin.”
I stood up and stepped in front of her. When I pulled her into a hug without a word, she didn't resist and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“You don't have to worry.”
Because I’ll take responsibility, no matter what.
“Ha, you brat.”
Ah-rin’s voice sounded much lighter as she leaned her head against my chest. It seemed she wasn't in a bad mood anymore; she rubbed her cheek against my chest and whispered.
“You really have to take responsibility for my life.”
It was meant to be a warning, but…
“Thank you.”
I hugged her even tighter, welcoming those words.
“For letting me be the one to take responsibility.”
* * *
Time passed, and it was now midterm season.
I was currently heading to the library with Seo Ye-rin. She had strongly suggested we study in my room, but the last time we tried that, we just ended up having sex all day.
Fuck, is this really how I should be living?
I was a college student, yet every time I was alone with my girlfriend, all we did was fuck. Some might be envious, but I felt like something in me was starting to break.
But it’s not like this with I-seo or Ah-rin.
Even when I was with them, it didn't get this extreme. But for some reason, the moment I was alone with Seo Ye-rin, it was like a trigger was pulled, and we’d be stripping each other's clothes off before I knew it. It was a similar feeling to when I was dating Oh Yun-ji back in the day at her studio apartment.
Vibrate!
My phone went off. I checked the message and glared at Seo Ye-rin, who was muttering beside me about how much she hated studying.
“Ye-rin?”
“Yes?”
Look at that innocent face.
“Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo just sent me these texts.”
“Oh my.”
Ye-rin covered her mouth, acting surprised. She reached out to brush a fallen leaf off my head and asked, “I guess they know what we did yesterday.”
“How did they find out?”
Ye-rin tapped her chin like a detective solving a mystery. Being an actress, her acting was quite natural, but…
“Right? Only you and I know what we did yesterday.”
“Hmm, a locked-room murder… no, a locked-room sex case.”
I couldn't take her cheeky attitude anymore and grabbed both of her cheeks, pulling them wide.
“Locked-room sex, my ass!”
“Ow, ow, ow!”
“You’re going to do so well in the corporate world! You’re so good at reporting, contacting, and consulting!”
“Thith ith violenth!” (This is violence!)
“Why! Why do you keep reporting our sex life to them? This isn't the first time! You did it last time, too!”
“...It wathn’t me.”
“Only you and I know. If I didn't say anything, who else could the culprit be?”
When I let go of her cheeks, Ye-rin massaged her face and nodded.
“That’s logical.”
I swear, I’m going to kill her.
“No, seriously, why do you tell them? Why? Can't we just keep it between us?”
“But then it feels like I’m bullying them! As the Main Wife, I have a duty to look after the concubines!”
“Why does my head hurt every time I talk to you?”
“Does it hurt, Woo-jin? Should we go to the infirmary for a bit? Let’s go and take those pants off.”
“...Just go away. Please.”
“Hehe! I find it so sexy when you curse at me!”
Ye-rin immediately clung to my arm. I was about to ask what she’d do if someone saw us, but she acted completely shameless, saying she didn't care.
“How am I supposed to reply to them?”
I sighed as we walked toward the library with her arm linked in mine. Ye-rin raised her hand, saying she had a great idea.
“Tell them that if they’re concubines, they shouldn't open their mouths outside of the bedroom.”
“Wow.”
I imagined sending a text like that and shuddered. It wouldn't be strange if they came and killed me on the spot.
“I’ll have to find a way to soothe them.”
Once we got to the library, I spent a few minutes texting them to calm them down before focusing on my studies. Ye-rin tried to mess with me at first, but eventually, she started focusing on her work, perhaps conscious of the people around us.
About two hours passed.
Tap, tap.
Ye-rin poked me with her pen.
— What?
I wrote on my notebook and pushed it toward her. Ye-rin scribbled back.
— I have to go soon. My manager unni is coming to pick me up.
Was it that time already? She did mention she had a night shoot today.
— You’re working hard.
Studying and acting. Aside from her loose screws regarding sexual morality, she really was an impressive girl.
— Walk me out.
I didn't argue and stood up immediately. I could at least walk her out. Ye-rin happily packed her bag and followed me out of the study hall.
The sun had been up when we entered, but it was already dark outside. I tightened my coat against the chilly air.
“Nnnngh!”
Ye-rin stretched. Her chest bounced prominently right in front of my eyes, but I clenched my fists and forced myself to show restraint.
“Your manager is coming?”
“Yeah, she’ll be here any second.”
She looked around, then leaned her face toward mine with a smile.
“Kiss?”
“What if someone sees?”
“There’s no one around.”
She was right. After a quick glance around, I leaned in to kiss her. Ye-rin pulled me into a tight embrace and hungrily pushed her tongue into my mouth.
After a brief, intense kiss, I pulled back and glared at her. She wiped her lips and smirked.
“That was special.”
“I told you, what if someone sees?”
“Whatever. This is all preparation. I have to loosen up my tongue so I don't mumble my lines.”
“...Want me to loosen it up some more?”
“Come here.”
We were lost in another long kiss when—
Beep! Beep!
“Ye-rin!”
The manager’s sharp shout echoed from the van approaching in the distance.
“I’ve begged you a thousand times not to make it so obvious in public!”
The manager looked like she was at her wit's end, having dealt with Ye-rin’s antics many times before.
“Unni! This is my boyfriend!”
“Oh, please! You’re an actress!”
“Woo-jin, I’m going now, okay?”
“Uh, yeah. Have a safe trip.”
I felt incredibly apologetic. I gave a deep bow as a sign of apology and waved until Ye-rin got into the car. I looked around, and thankfully, the coast was clear.
Should I go back and study some more?
As I headed back into the library, I saw some familiar faces in the lobby. A group of guys my age who lived in the same dormitory were whispering by the vending machine.
“You guys here to study?”
“Oh, Woo-jin.”
“What the? We went to your room to see if you wanted to come with us, but you weren't there.”
“Hey, let’s ask Woo-jin too.”
“Hmm?”
Ask me what? It looked like they’d come out for a break and gotten caught up in a conversation.
“What is it?”
When I showed interest, the others spoke up as if they’d been waiting.
“Do you know about the strange person in our dorm lately?”
“...Strange person?”
“Yeah. You know how the lobby is empty late at night? Apparently, there’s this woman wandering around.”
“What, is this a ghost story?”
I wasn't particularly interested, as these kinds of rumors were common in dorms.
“No, but they say she’s incredibly beautiful.”
“Seriously pretty. But she’s someone no one’s ever seen in the dorm before.”
“Some guys are even staying up until dawn just to catch a glimpse of her.”
“We’re going to study until late tonight and see if we can run into her.”
“...”
I was about to tell them it sounded like a boring story. I really had zero interest.
But then.
A certain person flashed through my mind, and my expression instantly soured.
She still hasn't left?!