Stage Two, Round Four

Yumin had lost both parents in a sudden car accident, thrust unwillingly into the role of family breadwinner. Even as a student, he would have struggled alone, but he also had his younger stepsister Gayeong to care for and protect. With himself in university and Gayeong on the cusp of enrollment, expenses piled up from every direction.

The inheritance left by his parents wasn't substantial either. Inevitably, Yumin grew hypersensitive to money, scraping by with ruthless tenacity. He wasn't chasing unearned windfalls or get-rich-quick schemes—just like any ordinary homemaker, his eyes naturally gravitated toward discounts and buy-one-get-one deals to save even a single penny. Yumin wasn't some freeloader by nature, but who in the world truly disliked freebies? Especially ones with no strings attached or debts incurred. For Yumin, whose mindset had quietly shifted to that of a full-fledged householder, such opportunities were always welcome.

True to form, the moment he acquired his privileges, Yumin headed straight for the free lounge. There, he surfed the web with carefree abandon, rediscovering the sheer wonder of the internet. Satisfied after a thorough session, he returned to his private room just in time for dinner.

Once again, he savored delicacies worthy of a five-star hotel—another perk of his privileges—before resting briefly. When the plaza opened, he made his way there. His companions—Jeongho, Seohyeon, Suji, Jiwon, Minseo, and his stepsister Gayeong—had gathered at one table. Farther off, at separate four-person tables, sat Mikyung and Soyoung alone. Junyoung, who had vanished from the plaza for a while only to reappear recently, was absent today. What happened to him? Yumin pondered briefly before letting it go.

Having scanned the plaza casually, Yumin joined his group for conversation. In Paradise, where nothing extraordinary happened outside of missions, their chats were predictably mundane. Utterly trivial talk. Yet these unremarkable exchanges were the daily spark that kept Yumin and his companions going.

As plaza hours ended, the group dispersed to their private rooms. Yumin returned to his as well. Though his privileges let him linger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and hit the lounge again, he minded the others' glances—it was best to head back first. Besides, the personal info on Kang Ji-won that he'd requested from Angel after the mission should have arrived by now.

Reaching his bedroom, Yumin picked up the document envelope on the bed and sat on its edge. He tore it open and began reading the contents.

I was born the youngest in a four-member family with parents quite a bit older than average and an older brother five years my senior. As the baby and the pretty daughter, I soaked up all the family's love. I had what felt like a happy childhood.

But that happiness didn't last. Dad, a notorious playboy in his bachelor days, started sneaking around again as marriage wore on. Or maybe that's just when he first got caught—perhaps he'd been at it all along. Mom could have divorced him and been done, but lingering love or maybe us kids kept her from it. Dad swore it was a mistake, promised never again, and seemed remorseful. Things appeared to settle.

But Dad's wandering eye never faded. He cheated again, got caught again. I learned later that even during their dating days, Mom had suffered from his infidelity. Their first meeting wasn't proper romance—it was seduction from the start. Mom joined the company where Dad worked as a new hire. He lured the naive, man-inexperienced woman to drinks, forced himself on her, then aggressively pursued. Naturally, her first impression ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of him was the worst. Losing her virginity that way—practically raped—left no room for fondness.

Still, Dad was capable, handsome, attentive, and caring in ways that eventually melted Mom's heart. A seasoned charmer, he knew exactly what women wanted, how their minds worked. Innocent Mom couldn't escape his grasp. The catch? He already had a girlfriend—classic two-timing. Mom was shocked but couldn't bring herself to end it first. Dad, preferring Mom's youth and beauty, dumped the other woman and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠married ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

A relationship born in disaster was doomed to falter. They'd somehow lasted this long was a miracle. Yet Mom grew accustomed, enduring the heartache without ever divorcing.

What of my one and only brother? Inheriting handsome Dad and pretty Mom's genes, both he and I turned out good-looking. Bro had humor and athleticism too, so girls naturally flocked. Signs showed in high school; by my middle school days, as a college student, he peaked. Harmless enough on its own. But he dove into promiscuity—not with "a girl," but "girls." He cycled through them, sometimes juggling multiples. Like father, like son.

Growing up watching Dad and Bro, I developed profound distrust of men. Pretty as I was, the more guys swarmed like moths to a flame, the deeper it rooted. By college, distrust had morphed into loathing. I kept my distance, avoiding any contact.

Like most girls my age, my circle obsessed over boyfriends—desperate, as if single life was unbearable. But I never felt lonely without one. Instead of repulsive men, I had comfortable, like-minded women around me.

Especially my bestie and classmate, Juyeon. We shared lectures, meals, nearly all our time. She lived off-campus; I frequented her place, sometimes crashing. One such night: next day was weekend, no plans, so we drank at hers and planned to sleep over.

"Time to crash? I'm beat…."

"Yeah? You shower first then, Ji-won."

"Thanks, Juyeon."

I stripped and hit the bathroom. The cold shower spray chased off some buzz.

"Ji-won, let's shower together."

The unlocked door swung open; naked Juyeon slipped in slowly.

"I just finished…. Come back later."

"What's the big deal? We're both girls. No need to be shy."

"Well… fine."

Juyeon always barged in when I started showering, insisting on joining. Same girls, whatever—but sharing in her tiny apartment felt oddly intimate, unlike a public bathhouse.

"Ji-won, your body's so perfect."

She didn't just look—her hands roamed my skin.

"No, you're prettier. Bigger boobs too…."

"I'm a bit chubby. Love handles here…. How are you so slim, no flab anywhere? Secret dieting?"

Juyeon kept caressing. Started innocent—sides, thighs—but grew bolder, venturing intimate. Her hand slid up from my waist, cupping my breast from below, kneading gently. Beyond girly shower play. She gripped both, massaging earnestly, then pinched and twisted my nipple lightly.

A sharp thrill shot through me. No guy experience, but I masturbated. Felt like that—nipple play during solo sessions. No, more electric.

"Hey, cut the joking."

I swatted her hand away lightly. Part of me craved more sensation, but it felt like crossing a line—losing myself, changing things with Juyeon. Scary.

Was it really just play? She backed off quick, but seemed disappointed.

We finished up and returned to the room. Her sleepwear pick: a simple boxy tee, no bottoms. Her touch lingered weirdly today; I considered a bra but ditched it as overkill. Went braless in panties and tee. Juyeon? Fully naked under hers.

We lay side by side, lights out.

"Ji-won? Asleep?"

Buzzed and late, drowsiness hit. My drowsy reply lagged.

Thinking me out? Juyeon reached over, kneading my breast through the tee. Wake up and stop her? I hesitated. Usual roughhousing, so I let it slide. Secretly… excited.

I stayed still; her hands grew bolder. From over-clothes to slipping under, tracing my lower belly upward. Now direct on bare breast—not just squeezing, but targeting erogenous zones meticulously, like she wanted me to feel it. Like in the shower, she trapped my nipple between fingers, twisting softly.

I felt it. Bit my lip to stifle a moan.