Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Friendship (3)
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Sharon, who had said she'd just change clothes and come out, finally emerged into the living room after about ten minutes.
"I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"
"Nah, grab us some beers. I already popped the popcorn."
"Sure!"
Microwave popcorn from the convenience store for 2,000 won and ice-cold canned beer.
With the AC blasting and a knee blanket draped over them, watching a movie was pure bliss.
Especially with a pretty girl friend like Sharon...
"Heave-ho!"
Sharon set the popcorn and beer on the armrest and flopped back onto the sofa.
She sat close, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She scooted right up so that her smooth thighs peeking out from under her dolphin pants touched his.
"Pass me a beer."
"Here."
Even in summer, the AC was so cool that being pressed together didn't feel sticky. At first, he'd been hyper-aware of it, but now it felt completely normal.
Siwoo leaned toward Sharon to grab a beer, extending his arm, when he noticed something.
"......?"
Sharon favored dolphin pants and a tank top for loungewear.
Combined with her slim waist and unexpectedly ample chest, the no-bra tank top combo had been a destructive shock to Siwoo's senses all this time.
Her breasts would jiggle and shift with every little movement, her nipples poking out prominently, all but unfiltered.
He'd gotten used to everything else, but that was hard to ignore, so he'd just averted his gaze.
It wasn't like he could bluntly say, "That's kinda pervy, so could you wear a bra around the house?" She wasn't that bold anyway...
But today, Sharon was suddenly wearing a black bra under her black tank top.
Probably matched the straps.
The bra cups had taken the place of those protruding nipples that used to assert their presence.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing."
Sharon asked, noticing Siwoo's hesitation.
But here's the thing.
The way she asked, sounding a bit embarrassed, was full of signs she was conscious of his reaction.
She even fidgeted, lifting her hips and stroking his arm for no reason.
"......Ahem."
"Hmmm..."
Siwoo cleared his throat awkwardly, quenching his dry throat with beer and straightening his posture.
Why wear a bra now, of all times?
Had he been glancing too much, even though he'd tried to avoid it?
Thirty percent relief that the distracting spot was gone without him having to awkwardly ask.
Seventy percent unease wondering, "Why now, Sharon?"
"...Well, you seemed kinda bothered by it, so."
"Huh?"
"You know... the underwear thing. I hadn't worn any before, but suddenly I did. Worried you might think differently."
Sharon glanced at Siwoo's face, then averted her mint-green eyes as she spoke.
Siwoo wasn't great at hiding his expressions or emotions, so it showed right away.
"Oh. Yeah."
The curt reply ended the conversation, leaving only the sound of sipping beer for a while.
What was this suffocating awkwardness?
He felt like he should say something, but had no idea what.
Thankfully, Sharon broke the ice.
"So, what movie are we watching today?"
"Haven't picked yet. Not great at this stuff anyway."
"Then just pick anything. I don't care."
"You sure?"
He jabbed the remote randomly and selected something.
He'd meant to go for war flicks or suspense, but in his haste, he grabbed a genre he hadn't planned on—a romantic comedy he'd never heard of, nothing acclaimed.
Siwoo and Sharon munched on popcorn and started watching.
"......"
"......"
Less than fifteen minutes in, Siwoo had a gut feeling.
You know how it is with movies?
From the opening scenes and plot flow, you can just tell if it'll be boring or fun.
His first judgment: total failure.
The acting was awful, and the contrived events forcing the leads together were eye-rollingly forced.
This was going to be a yawn-fest from here on.
Sharon, though, was glued to the screen with bright eyes, oblivious.
"Siwoo."
"Yeah?"
A steamy kiss scene just fifteen minutes into this so-called rom-com.
Seeing it, Siwoo gave up all hope.
As the male and female leads clung together in a sticky graduation party kiss, Sharon suddenly called his name.
A quick glance sideways, and she was side-eyeing him too.
The room was dim except for the screen's glow, so maybe it was his imagination, but her face looked a bit flushed.
"Have you ever kissed?"
"Out of nowhere?"
He scratched his head at her sudden question.
Siwoo prided himself on understanding women a bit now.
But Sharon asking this, of all people, at this timing? Hard to read the intent.
Because from living with her, he'd concluded: "Ah! Sharon has zero interest in romance and doesn't see me as a guy at all!"
So, probably just curiosity.
Proving it, she followed up.
"I've seen leads kiss in tons of movies, so I got curious. Thought I'd ask if you had experience."
Experience, huh...
Off the top of his head, four: Amelia, Odile, Odette, Yebeen.
Suddenly felt like his Gehenna life had been more indulgent than expected.
"Yeah, have."
"Knew it..."
Her voice sounded oddly deflated.
"Knew what?"
"You just watch kiss scenes like it's no big deal."
She hadn't been gripping her fists with sparkling eyes or anything.
Anyway, the point was why she brought it up.
"Oh, right. What I wanted to ask."
"Yeah."
"When do you kiss? Is it like in movies?"
"Like in movies how?"
Sharon had seen and heard plenty.
But the criteria were still vague.
Movie leads kissed during reunions with exes, confessions, or when love bloomed—to romantic BGM.
"Kissing's between two people, right? In movies, they both start at once, so is there a 'this is it!' feeling? Or some social agreement?"
But did kisses only happen in those "big moments"?
Nope.
Morning wake-ups, right on meeting, mid-meal, bedtime—lovers sucked face in every routine.
"Hmm..."
The movie was background noise now as conversation took over.
Siwoo thought her question resembled the twins'—pure curiosity from a blank slate.
Trying to categorize emotion-based stuff rationally?
"What about you?"
"Me?"
First kiss was Odile pouncing, Odette's was love potion bondage.
Left with Amelia and Yebeen.
Amelia: hugged her sobbing apology, lips met unconsciously.
Yebeen: "Kiss before sex?" on her request.
"Hmm..."
Only one fit Sharon's question: Amelia.
His chest twinged for some reason.
Forcing it aside, he focused on that moment.
But it was hard to pin down.
Like recognizing a bouquet but fumbling "how many flowers make one?"
"Tricky. Like... you just feel like it."
"What kind of feeling?"
And this topic was...
Embarrassing to discuss during a rom-com, right?
Even if Sharon didn't mind, Siwoo felt awkward.
"Heart races."
"Heart? Like, pounding?"
"Yeah."
Sharon's eyes widened, shocked.
"Then it feels like their lips are all you see? You think 'I wanna kiss,' and just go for it."
"Go for it? What about the other person?"
"Dunno from there. But I got a hunch they wanted it too."
Despite the cringe topic, Siwoo answered her probing questions earnestly.
"Wouldn't have if I wasn't sure?"
"Probably not."
"Hmmm... Romance is harder than movies."
It was.
Siwoo still didn't get tons of it.
All complex, indefinable stuff.
Conversation wrapped there.
Time passed without watching, but they let it play.
Siwoo wasn't into it anyway; Sharon mulled his words.
[Smooch... slurrrp... oh... smack]
[Haa... smooch smooch slurp slurp]
"......"
"......"
Soon, another steamy kiss.
Sharon, lost in thought ignoring the screen, tuned back in.
Her profile showed intense analysis using Siwoo's explanation.
But this felt like it wouldn't end at kissing.
[Oh, fuck yeah~]
Siwoo's rom-com-honed instincts were spot on.
Home from a date, instant kiss, straight to foyer sex.
"Adult" rom-com, so blatant bed scenes with full breasts and male butt.
At first, awkward watching with Sharon.
But sex scenes are common; she never reacted, so Siwoo chilled too.
Though convos would halt, slight awkwardness.
But today felt different.
A glance confirmed it.
Sharon, knees hugged, now half-buried face, sparkling eyes fixed on him.
No way...
"Can I ask one more?"
Her scent closer today.
TV glow dim, but this close, every detail visible.
Mystical eye color impossible in nature.
Flawless features, half his face size (exaggerated).
Long lashes, stray side hairs.
Hit him: we're this close, together.
"Nothing big."
He wanted to refuse.
Liked this life as-is.
No rash changes.
Instinct said: this question could be a turning point.
Some incident ruining friendship? Or growing distant? Would suck.
"What?"
Words slipped out braver than his heart.