Everything's Hard at First #3
Three days. That was how long it took for Yu Seunghyeon to finally give Yuria his contact information. It had barely been a week since his relationship with Sehwa had completely fallen apart, yet handing over his number to Yuria felt... idiotic. Still, I understood. Between his personality and the fact that no man could refuse a beauty like Yuria when she asked for his number, it was inevitable.
Now I needed to show Yuria Yu Seunghyeon's weak side and make her look down on him. I wasn't going to use the exact same method I'd used on Sehwa before her corruption. Instead, I planned to steer things so that Yu Seunghyeon would come to rely on the far more mature Yuria. Once their relationship had developed enough, I'd begin the real operation. Until then, I would build my own relationship with Yuria—one that was even more advanced than his.
'My relationship with her is the complete opposite of Yu Seunghyeon's. Yuria must depend on me.' I had to make it so that without me, she couldn't do anything, couldn't even find the will to try.
While these thoughts ran through my head, Yuria approached carrying popcorn and cola.
“Jihyeok, what are you thinking about?”
We were at the movie theater. After the kiss three days ago, I hadn't met her in person, but I'd spent nearly every day texting and calling to strengthen our bond. The same went for the Kim Taegon persona—by acting clumsy and harmless, I'd lowered her guard until she called him “Dad” without hesitation, sometimes even with affectionate irritation.
Taking the large bucket of popcorn from her arms, I answered.
“Nothing.”
“You were thinking about Sehwa, weren't you?”
Unlike Sehwa, Yuria had no hesitation when it came to sensitive topics.
“No. I wasn't thinking about Sehwa at all. Do you feel guilty about her, Yuria?”
“Yes. Terribly guilty. You said you two made up... So isn't this wrong?”
It was a defense mechanism to ease her guilt—and a way to probe my feelings.
“Then you should have refused when I suggested the movie.”
“.....”
Yuria pressed her lips together. Her expression grew troubled when she didn't get the answer she wanted. Who said I'd play along with her wishes? Let's just watch the movie nicely.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes...”
I showed the ticket to the staff and entered the screening room with Yuria. Corner seats. The movie had been out for a while, so the theater was nearly empty—perfect for getting up to something indecent. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we were the only ones in our section. Still, I couldn't do anything strange the moment the lights went out. If I touched her while her mind was clear, Yuria might firmly refuse. The right approach was to show her glimpses of Aaron to lower her guard and judgment before attempting any skinship.
'Opportunities are rare, so when one comes, I have to push forward boldly.'
If I'd painted Sehwa's entire body stroke by stroke with a small brush, then for Yuria I would have to pour the paint all at once when the chance appeared.
Resting my elbow on the armrest and propping my chin on my hand, I watched the ads on screen with a melancholic gaze. Before long, I felt Yuria's eyes on me. She was staring straight at me. She had probably worn this same expression whenever Aaron looked up at the stars.
KABOOM!
The spectacular trailer ended with a loud explosion. Immediately afterward the lights dimmed, the theater went dark, and the movie began.
Yuria let out a sigh so soft I wouldn't have heard it without focusing, then turned her head forward. Now you'll be able to watch properly, right?
The movie was a comedy. I chuckled at the funny scenes, and once the first half had passed, I glanced over and whispered.
“If you keep holding it like that, the cola will get lukewarm.”
“Huh...? Ah...”
Yuria hurriedly placed the cup in the armrest holder. When I saw that and laughed, she asked in a small voice.
“How long have you been watching...?”
“Ever since we sat down.”
“That can't be... You were only looking at the screen. You even laughed...”
“My eyes were on the screen. Since someone far away was laughing, I just laughed too. But how did you know I was only watching the screen?”
“.... That's...”
She hesitated. I picked up a piece of popcorn and brought it near her mouth. She tried to take it with her hand, but when I shook my arm firmly she gave up and ate it directly from my fingers. The touch of her dry lips against my fingertips was warm. After a few more attempts, she obediently accepted the popcorn with her mouth.
Convinced it was fine, I lifted the armrest between us and shifted closer until our arms touched. Yuria was startled by the movement but didn't pull away. I openly turned my head toward her.
“Is the caramel popcorn better, or do you prefer plain?”
“I-I don't know... Why?”
She lowered her head deeply. It was dark, but I'd bet my Demon King throne that her face was bright red.
“Because I want to feed you.”
“.... I said... I don't know... Jihyeok, I'm not a child...”
Timing it with the moment her lips parted, I brought the popcorn to her mouth. Yuria unconsciously opened up and took it. With a playful smile, I brought the cola I was drinking close to her lips.
“.....”
After hesitating and glancing between me and the cup, she finally bit the straw gently and drank. When I pulled my arm back slightly, a drop of cola clung to her chin. I wiped it away with my finger and licked it off.
Even after seeing that, she said nothing. She only looked embarrassed. The education was progressing nicely.
Now that the movie was the last thing on her mind, I reached out and pulled her waist toward me.
“Ha!”
She swallowed a sharp breath. The person sitting in the middle row turned around. Yuria glanced around the theater before whispering.
“Jihyeok... Can't we just... watch the movie...?”
If you really want to watch, push me away. You're strong enough. But after establishing our power dynamic from the start, she probably had no intention of doing so.
I changed the subject.
“Are you going straight home after the movie?”
“What do you mean, suddenly...”
“We're having a drink, right?”
“.... No. I want to go home.”
“You will.”
“I don't want to... Hng...!”
When I pressed firmly on her side, she let out a soft moan. Taking the chance, I kissed her lips.
“Drink with me.”
Yuria brought her hand to her mouth and touched her lips. She gave a small nod.
“You have to answer properly.”
“.... Yes... I'll drink... I'll have a drink...”
Satisfied, I smiled, released her waist, took her hand, and interlaced our fingers. Then I frowned—Yuria was gripping so tightly it hurt. Her emotions had made her squeeze without realizing it. I'd endure. Showing weakness could flip the master-servant dynamic.
I rested our joined hands on her thigh.
After Aaron died, she probably never considered meeting another man. But she must have been lonely. She had swallowed that loneliness alone somehow, yet the appearance of Kim Taegon and the reincarnated Aaron—Song Jihyeok—had stirred the desire to date again. Fill that romantic longing with me.
“I like you.”
At the sudden confession, Yuria lowered her head completely. I felt the strength leave her fingers. Now I could breathe again.
I unlocked my index finger and gently scratched the inside of hers.
“Jihyeok... Stop...”
“Sounds like you're asking for more.”
“.....”
She didn't deny it. I had no intention of stopping here. As I'd thought earlier, when the opportunity came I had to push hard. But I still had to maintain the line. Let's raise the intensity just a little higher than the park kiss.
I set the popcorn bucket down and released her hand. The moment Yuria turned her head with a puzzled look, I pulled her firmly onto my lap.
“Hup!”
She tried to cry out but covered her mouth with both hands, terrified someone would hear. Thanks to that, I safely seated her on my thigh. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I buried my face against her back. The flustered Yuria struggled, but when I blew hot breath onto her skin she went limp.
Seizing the moment, I slipped my hand under her black T-shirt and caressed her waist.
“Huaa...”
A languid moan escaped her. Perhaps because she'd already allowed me to touch her chest last time, there was almost no resistance. I continued stroking her waist, deliberately stimulating her sensitive spots.
“Hoot...”
Her breathing grew rough. She had tasted it again—this pleasure I was giving her.
Convinced that going further was acceptable, I boldly slid my hand higher, slipped my fingers beneath her bra, and pressed firmly.
“Unghat...♡”
This time she twisted in my arms. The sound was louder too. Should I continue? Then—
Bringing both hands to her chest and kneading, Yuria tried to look back at me. She wanted to see my face, but she couldn't.
“Jihyeok... Please stop... I can't take any more...”
“You can just get down yourself.”
“I can't... My body has no strength... I'll report you... I'll report you...♡”
Saying “report” in such a lewd voice.
“Tell me you like me and I'll stop.”
“.....”
No answer. I tried to push my hand completely inside her bra. Then Yuria hurriedly spoke.
“I like you... I like you.”
“Who?”
“You, Jihyeok...”
“Understood.”
I withdrew my hand from her clothes. Yuria quickly lifted herself off my thigh, sat beside me again, and fixed her clothes.
I asked playfully.
“Are you going to report me?”
“.... No...”
Yuria shook her head and looked at her Device. Why? Because she was so aroused the reading had exceeded 100% and she felt indecent? She had already dipped her feet deep into the swamp of immorality. There would be no turning back.
Noticing my stare, she pulled her arm aside to hide the Device and brought the cola to her lips, sucking hard on the straw. The caresses just now must have been quite satisfying.
“Are you going to finish the movie? Or... shall we leave?”
“Watch... the movie...”
“You won't even know what's happening, right?”
“Haa... Don't tease me. I'll really get angry.”
“You promised we'd drink, didn't you?”
“Yes... I said I know...”
Grinning, I nodded and turned back to the screen, taking her hand once more. She flinched, then held on. This time there was no strength in her grip at all.
While watching the movie like an affectionate couple, I thought:
'Right now, I'm meeting Yuria even though I already have Sehwa.'
Yuria knew that fact very well. So she would rationalize that it was fine for her to meet Yu Seunghyeon too. While seeing him, she would fall completely for me and offer both body and heart.
I wanted to use a different method than the one I'd used on Sehwa... but there were plenty of ways. I was looking forward to the day Yuria, caught in the net, would agonize over her choices.