Push, Pull, and a 1% Charge
Plop!
In a corner of an alley somewhere in Gangnam, Adele crouched, staring intently at her phone. The clean call log and chat room made her puff her cheeks in frustration. If he had groped her unprepared backside, the least he could do was apologize, yet he hadn’t sent a single message. This was her first time feeling disappointed in Jihyeok… She almost added a sulky little whine but stopped herself.
Adele, who had been about to reply in a hurry, froze. She should have been furious, yet here she was, aching to see him. Yes, she was angry. But not because of her bottom. She was upset that he had touched her without asking how she felt.
Restless, she tried to kill time by reviewing the Device instructions Jihyeok had given her, only to stop when she remembered she was still outside. Then her phone began to vibrate repeatedly. It was Jihyeok calling.
Adele hesitated, then recalled a variety show she had seen on TV a few days earlier. The hosts had said that in the early stages of a relationship, a little push and pull made both people miss each other more. She was certain this was the perfect moment for it. Internet advice had failed her before, but this would be different. After all, real experts had said it on television.
Jihyeok would have to pay properly for the crime of startling her. Adele snorted, slipped her phone into her pocket, and stood up. She left the alley and wandered into the food street. Delicious aromas drifted from every direction. She wanted to step into one of the shops right away. Come to think of it, she was hungry… It would be nice to eat something together with Jihyeok.
While she strolled slowly through the alley lost in thought, she spotted a familiar face in the distance wearing a dark navy suit and nearly jumped.
Heuk!
Tall, handsome, perfect posture. It was Jihyeok. Adele dashed into the nearest side alley and hid, then carefully peeked out to watch him.
Unlike his usual calm demeanor, he wore an urgent expression as he darted in and out of every shop. He was clearly searching for someone—her. Every few moments he raised his phone to his ear, and each time Adele’s own phone buzzed in her pocket.
He seems to have reflected enough. Adele decided to answer.
“Ahem. Hello?”
She kept her head poking out while she gauged his reaction. Jihyeok froze for a second, then let out a long sigh of relief. His voice came through the speaker, laced with worry.
“What were you doing that you couldn’t pick up? I thought something had happened to you.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Where are you right now?”
“On my way home. I’m in a taxi.”
Jihyeok’s face went blank for a moment. Then he pressed his forehead with the hand not holding the phone.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
“About what?”
“I… in the heat of the moment, touched Adele’s—” He stopped and glanced around nervously.
Watching him, Adele giggled silently.
“What exactly did you do wrong? Be specific.”
“I put my hand on Adele’s… haa… butt.”
Adele realized she had misspoken. His concrete words brought the office incident rushing back, and her face suddenly burned with embarrassment. She lowered her head.
“If we were still on our planet, you would have been excommunicated, Jihyeok. How could you lay a hand on the Saint’s body like that!”
“.....”
Jihyeok remained silent. Was he feeling as embarrassed as she was?
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you feeling guilty?”
He still didn’t answer. Just as Adele was about to speak again, a voice came from right beside her.
“When you say ‘like that’… can I take it to mean that it’s okay if both people enjoy it?”
“Hyaaak!”
Adele jolted so hard her whole body shook. She even swung her knee up in a reflexive kick through the air. The shock was so intense that the stares of passersby barely registered. All she could do was panic at the man who had somehow found her.
“H-how did you—!”
“Find you? Your face was peeking out from the corner of the alley wall.”
“.....”
“You said you took a taxi, but that was a lie. Did you really want to torment me that badly?”
Adele’s already flushed cheeks grew even hotter. Jihyeok exhaled through his nose, then offered a faint smile.
“If that was your intention, it worked perfectly. It felt like someone had placed a stone on my heart. I thought I had done something unnecessary.”
The push and pull worked. The experts really knew what they were talking about. When she got home she would bookmark that variety show and watch it again and again.
Thinking that, Adele asked, “What made you come to this alley? How did you know I was here?”
“You said you were hungry. So I figured you might have come to the food street.”
It had been a coincidence… but it was true she had thought about eating while walking around, so she had no rebuttal. Still, to track her down with only that small hint… Adele became certain that Jihyeok truly liked her. And she felt exactly the same.
She really liked him. She wanted to throw herself into that broad chest right now. But they were in the middle of push and pull; she couldn’t show any weakness.
While she hesitated, Jihyeok stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Joy bloomed inside her, but her outward reaction was the complete opposite.
“Let go of me.”
Even though she spoke in an icy tone and pretended to be angry, Jihyeok didn’t release her. Instead he tightened his hold, drawing her closer. With her face completely buried against his thick forearm, Adele finally gave in. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his waist.
Jihyeok murmured, “I believe love should not be calculative.”
Adele flinched. He must have noticed her little game. At the same time, she deeply agreed with his words. She liked him so much, yet she had not only acted stubborn but tried to manipulate his feelings with calculations… She felt terribly sorry.
The TV show was complete nonsense! The bookmark idea was canceled.
So good…
From his shirt came the mixed scent of Jihyeok’s body and the cologne he always wore. It was a hundred times, a thousand times more pleasant than any aroma from the food street. Every time she met him, she felt as if she were losing her dignity as a Saint. But Lady Rosario was very generous when it came to love. As long as she maintained her saintly grace in ordinary times, the Lord would surely understand.
While she basked in that fresh, sweet feeling, Adele suddenly wanted to bite his firm chest. She didn’t know why. The urge simply arose. Perhaps it was a rebellious reaction to the way he had pressed against her lower back and bottom earlier.
Confused by her own wayward thoughts, Adele snapped back to attention when Jihyeok asked,
“Shall we eat first and then watch a movie? Or watch the movie first and then eat?”
Right. No strange thoughts right now. She needed to focus on spending precious time with him.
“Eat first…”
“Then shall we go?”
To suggest leaving at such a sweet moment… She didn’t want to. Gathering her courage, Adele said,
“L-let’s stay like this a little longer…”
She repeated the exact words he had used in the office. Jihyeok let out a low chuckle.
“Understood.”
“You’ve been coming home late a lot lately?” Silvia asked.
Adele, who had just returned, answered with a bright smile. “I was with Jihyeok.”
“You’re smiling more than usual. Must have been really good today.”
“Yes. I received a Device, too. I’m a Beast Slayer now as well. Look at this.”
Adele raised her right arm to show it. Silvia’s eyes sparkled with interest as she hurried over for a closer look.
“This is the Device…? The one that holds Aether?”
“That’s right. Jihyeok said he’ll make yours soon, too. It’ll be the same design, so he told me to explain all the functions to you. Want to hear them now?”
“Of course. Tell me quickly.”
“Yes. First is the button for using the Portal. This one activates when it detects Aether energy…”
Adele relayed every single detail Jihyeok had taught her without missing a word. Finally she pressed the charge-level display button. When the number appeared as 50 %, her mouth fell open.
When she had checked it with Jihyeok in the office it had definitely been 49 percent. Now it had risen by one whole percent.
“Fifty percent… You used quite a bit too.”
Fortunately Silvia was too focused on the Device to notice Adele’s expression. Quickly composing herself, Adele said, “Y-yes… I used a lot… May I go take a shower now? My throat hurts from talking so much.”
“What does your throat have to do with showering? Fine. I understood everything, so you can go. Show me your transformation later, too.”
“Of course. Oh, and my activity name is Celine.”
“Celine? That name suits you perfectly.”
“Doesn’t it? Jihyeok chose it for me. When your Device is ready, you’ll get an activity name too.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll have to tell him to pick a good one.”
Adele beamed at Silvia’s answer, then headed straight for the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes, stepped into the tub, and pressed the spa button. Bubbles rose with a cheerful gurgle. A languid sigh escaped her as she rested her feet on the edge. The tickling sensation around her calves made her giggle, but her expression soon turned troubled.
The charge… went up…
Aether was replenished through sexual acts with someone you liked. In other words, she had interpreted Jihyeok’s touch as sexual and had become excited by it. Did that mean she would have to do even more embarrassing things from now on? And if only one percent had risen after all that… Just imagining spending a long time doing those things made her face burn so fiercely she couldn’t lift her head.
“Haa…”
With a sigh, Adele reached for her phone on the holder. There was a new message from Jihyeok. When she read it, her lips stretched into a wide grin.
Normally she was the one who suggested meeting first, but this time he had reached out. The desperate way he had searched for her earlier, the way he had acted during dinner and the movie… Today Jihyeok’s affection had been almost overwhelming. She didn’t dislike it at all. On the contrary, it made her feel loved, and that felt wonderful.
Adele thought that perhaps… if it was with Jihyeok, she might be able to perform the charging with a happy heart.
With a firm resolve, she typed a reply.
One thing was certain: she was in love with Jihyeok right now. And he loved her just as much. When two people loved each other, it was only natural for their affection to grow bolder. Besides, Earth couples moved quickly, she had heard. There was even a saying: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. She lived on Earth now and would continue to do so, so she had to adapt.
Also, if not Jihyeok, who else could charge her? It had to be him. For the sake of protecting the Earth, and for her own happiness.
With that firm decision made, Adele imagined how wonderful it would feel if Jihyeok told her he loved her in that deep, majestic voice of his. She buried her face in the bubbles and asked Rosario,
Lord… I made the right choice to protect the people, didn’t I? Please tell me I did.