Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Juni
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“Tora’s got a cute girlfriend now too.”
“Lieutenant Summer is cute? I can’t agree with that.”
Doyoung’s words made Gamal look even more disagreeable.
“I stroked Jain’s head because she was so cute. She liked it.”
“She was probably too stunned to react.”
He could almost see Jain’s exasperated expression. Her parents probably never patted her head either.
Doyoung pulled Gamal into a hug and buried his face in the pillow as he lay down.
“Sleep.”
Lying in the same bed, chatting softly like this was nice, but they had to go to work tomorrow, so it was time to sleep.
Held in his arms, Gamal whispered.
“Goodnight, Doyoung.”
Instead of replying, Doyoung patted his back as if to say go to sleep already. Gamal closed his eyes.
***
Gamal sat on the bed.
He gazed quietly at Doyoung, asleep in the moonlight. With his hands tucked under the pillow, his muscles bulged slightly.
Gamal lightly touched the tattoo. Then, with his fingertips, he traced the scar from the knife wound and the intricate tattoo pattern covering it.
It was as if the tattoo itself was speaking—of Doyoung’s feelings when he got it.
Doyoung squirmed, perhaps tickled, and rolled over.
“Nn… Gamal.”
Doyoung mumbled and fell back asleep. Watching his peaceful face, Gamal thought to himself.
‘Doyoung is alive.’
And then.
‘I’m dead.’
Gamal finally realized.
‘I have to die for it to end.’
He’d believed that in time, something would change. That the years would right the wrongs, or some solution would come.
But no matter how much time passed, nothing happened, only making it clearer how naively he’d been thinking.
Tora and Rato could live without him now. He worried a bit about Rato, who hadn’t found a mate yet, but with Tora there, it would be fine.
Tora and Rato had created Ituha purely because of him. Now it was time for the twins to be free too.
Gamal looked toward the window. The moonlight was beautiful. And that made it so sad.
***
Today too, after their date, Tora walked Jain home.
“That was fun.”
Then he gave her a light goodnight kiss on the cheek. Even that had taken some hesitation, making his movements a bit awkward.
“Goodnight.”
As Tora turned to leave, Jain suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Tora, have some tea before you go.”
“Tea?”
Surprised by the unexpected invitation, Tora blurted it out. Jain nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Oh… sure.”
Tora answered awkwardly and followed Jain inside.
“Sit.”
Jain pointed to the living room sofa.
“Want something to drink?”
“Anything’s fine.”
Jain went to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Tora sat awkwardly on the sofa, feeling tense like a boy invited to a girl’s place for the first time.
A little later, Jain returned and handed him a drink.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Then she sat next to him. Tora flinched inwardly.
Silence fell.
This atmosphere was definitely….
He might be the world’s biggest blockhead these days, but he wasn’t oblivious enough to miss it.
He thought he should make an excuse to leave soon, when suddenly he sensed Jain moving. Thinking she was setting her glass on the table, she instead pulled off her sweater. Tora jumped.
It wasn’t his first time seeing her, but Jain had more volume than expected. Her body was toned, showing abs, with no excess fat anywhere.
Jain braced herself on the sofa and leaned in. Her hair was mussed from taking off her clothes. It was incredibly sexy….
Tora snapped out of it and hesitated before asking.
“Why…?”
“What do you mean?”
Jain countered instead. Tora pointed to the drink.
“You said have tea before you go….”
“Of course I meant come inside.”
Jain said it like he was ridiculous. Tora was speechless. Then Jain stared at him and asked.
“What’s with the cosplay?”
“It’s not like that.”
Tora grumbled. He couldn’t argue given his past actions, but did she have to see it that way?
“Or is it that you don’t want to with me? Sorry about that.”
With that, Jain put her sweater back on and stood. Tora immediately grabbed her wrist.
“You know that’s not it.”
“Then?”
Jain turned, her face as cold as when they first met. Finally, Tora came clean.
“I don’t know. What to do.”
Jain furrowed her brow.
“What? It’s not like it’s our first time….”
“It feels like it is. Weirdly, with you, it does.”
Jain sat back down beside him.
“Tora, do you regret choosing me?”
“What? Just because we haven’t slept together?”
He never imagined he’d be saying this, but it was true. Doubting his feelings over something so minor?
Tora said seriously.
“Just talking to you makes time fly, and being with you makes me happy.”
Jain sighed.
“I didn’t know I was this jealous. I get mad when random girls on the street even look at you.”
“Should I get a tattoo on my forehead? ‘Property of Jain.’”
“What if I said yes?”
He could actually see Jain doing it, but Tora shrugged.
“I’d do it. If it’s done well, it’d look hip.”
Jain looked exasperated, then let out a chuckle.
“Sorry. I got impatient too.”
“No need. You’re all I see. Sure, I messed up at first… but think of it as me wandering back then.”
“Wandering? You seemed to enjoy it way too much.”
“How can I make you forget?”
“Some things are unforgettable.”
“My fault.”
As he said it, Tora rested his elbow on his thigh and ruffled his own hair. Watching, Jain placed her hand on his head.
She had been impatient. Because Tora showed no sign of it.
She’d acted like a woman desperate to hold onto a man slipping away with her body. Even knowing his true feelings. Even deciding to trust him.
She needed to take it slow. Since she knew this kind of relationship was new for Tora too.
Tora looked at her, and their eyes met.
Resolve flickered in Tora’s eyes.
“Can I… kiss you?”
He braced on the sofa and leaned in as he asked. Instead of answering, Jain closed her eyes. Their lips touched lightly, like teenagers on their first kiss.
Jain thought.
Maybe there was another tribe girl by Nika’s side, secretly in love with Tora.
She would have been that girl. Desperately hoping Tora would look her way. Probably cursing like mad the tribe tradition that brothers had to marry one woman.
The hands cupping her face slowly slid to her neck, sending shivers. Their tongues began to tangle in earnest.
She never wanted it to end, but they slowly pulled apart. Sitting side by side, awkward air hung between them.
Her heart pounded. The heat from beside her consumed her attention, making her feel like a teenager on her actual first date.
Jain glanced at Tora. At that exact moment, Tora was checking on her too, and their eyes met.
That was it. It was like lightning struck. They crashed into each other’s arms, kissing fiercely. Saliva exchanged wildly.
Slowly? What nonsense was that?
Jain couldn’t wait even a second longer.
As Tora pulled her in, Jain climbed onto his lap. Without deciding who started, Tora yanked off Jain’s t-shirt, Jain pulled off Tora’s, tossing them behind the sofa.
Jain pushed Tora down onto the sofa. Then, sliding down, she said.
“If you don’t know what to do, I’ll handle it. You just stay still.”
“Jain….”
She moved boldly down his rough, uneven abs.
Tora furrowed his brow, stifling a groan.
***
Sweat trickled down, soaking into the sofa.
The spacious living room felt humid and stifling like a sauna. Breathing heavily nonstop left her mouth parched.
Jain wasn’t sure if she was awake or passed out. The sweat pouring down her body and the throbbing aches were definitely real, but she felt hazy like she’d smoked marijuana.
“Wait… water…”
Jain pushed Tora away and staggered to her feet, heading to the kitchen. Then she froze at the presence in front of her and looked up.
Tora stood under the archway to the living room, which had no door.
Bathed in the glow of the living room lamp, his sweat-slicked body gleamed like it was oiled.
His red eyes burned fiercely, pupils dilated.
“No. Not yet.”
Tora approached, bracing on the side wall, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her as they collapsed onto the carpet.
“I held back. A lot.”
She sensed she’d triggered something.
Like a wild animal dragging prey to its den, Tora gripped her tight, rolling her this way and that, refusing to let go.
“Wait…”
Jain instinctively tried to crawl away. But Tora dragged her back. She slid across the carpet.
“Wai…”
Tora leaned over her from behind.
***
Jain opened her eyes.
Long years of training had made her body numb to most muscle pain. Yet now, aches radiated through her entire body.
A thick brown arm held her.
He breathed steadily in sleep, looking like an animal sated and deep in slumber.
Her soldier’s habit made Jain quick to get out of bed. Normally she’d rise immediately upon waking, but today she didn’t want to leave the large embrace enveloping her.
As she lightly hugged the arm, Tora woke—or maybe hadn’t been fully asleep—and pulled her closer, murmuring in a husky voice.
“You awake?”
“Not hungry?”
“Starving.”
Yet he showed no sign of getting up.
Jain traced the protruding bones on the back of Tora’s hand holding her as she waited.
Tora mumbled.
“Feels good. Pat my head.”
She slipped her hand into his tousled hair, lightly scratching his scalp. Tora seemed ready to purr.
They lay like that for a bit. Peaceful.
Suddenly Tora lifted his head.
“Want me to make breakfast?”
“You?”
“I said I’m good at cooking.”
Tora pecked her lips and got up.
“Wash up and come down.”
He grabbed only his t-shirt, put it on, and left the room.
Jain buried her face in the bed. It felt so good, she wondered if it could get any better.
***
Tora finished cooking, humming a tune.
“Smells delicious.”
Jain entered the kitchen as she said it.
“Should I set the table?”
She came beside him and took plates from the cabinet.
Because it was home, Jain wore a loose black t-shirt that was generous in size and short shorts reaching mid-thigh.
It was the most relaxed he’d ever seen her.
She never wore makeup anyway, but the casual home vibe was somehow sexier. Like glimpsing the most private side of an otherwise impenetrable soldier.
Especially considering how, when they first met, she’d practically despised him—though it was his fault—and kept her walls up high. Seeing her like this now was nearly miraculous. Thinking that…
Tora sucked the sauce off his thumb.