Comforting Eunseo
"Yunho oppa. It's been a while..."
"Haa... Studying is so hard."
"Can I really get into the university I want?"
"Last time I missed by a hair's breadth too. What if it happens again?"
"I don't want to disappoint my parents."
"Can I really do this?"
Eunseo's inner thoughts shifted moment by moment, but they all shared one common thread: they were wrapped in anxiety and worry, steeped in negativity.
The girl who used to show messages like "Eek! It's embarrassing seeing you after so long!" was now filled with nothing but unease even at the sight of me.
Honestly, I couldn't quite empathize with why Eunseo was so anxious. It had been just under two months since we'd parted ways, promising to meet again after her college entrance exam. In that time, the Eunseo I'd seen had always been diligent, pouring herself into her studies. If I'd studied as hard as she had, I wouldn't have been anxious at all.
In other words, Eunseo just lacked self-confidence right now.
'This is exactly when I should step in, right?'
Who else would step up if not me, the one who could read her inner thoughts? Of course, it wasn't purely out of selfless desire to help her.
There was another reason I'd asked to meet her at this point. To Eunseo, I was still the guy who'd saved her—the oppa she felt grateful to. She liked me somewhat, but it was at a normal level. My greed was to tilt her emotions toward a more rational affection by comforting her while she was struggling, right in front of her face.
'Especially with a personality like Eunseo's, building affection through comfort should work like a charm.'
Leaving that aside, it just felt bad seeing her suffer like this, purely speaking.
Suddenly, I wondered: Was I trying to help Eunseo out of my own greed, or genuine goodwill? For a moment, it felt like this thought could be a pivotal turning point for me.
I finished thinking and spoke to her.
"You look really worn out lately."
Eunseo looked a bit flustered at first, then gave a shy smile.
"Eum... Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah. Exam stress?"
"...It's just that the college entrance exam is getting closer. I'm a little anxious."
"I know it's not my place to butt in, but can I say something? I'm worried about you."
She looked a little touched by my calm, caring words.
"Huh? What is it?"
Oppa wouldn't say anything unhelpful to me.
Oh, that reaction. All the effort I'd put into building her affection had paid off.
"What I want to say is simple. How'd you do on the 10th mock exam?"
Eunseo's face darkened slightly.
"Eek, I got two wrong..."
Her casual attitude—referring to only two wrong answers across all subjects as if it were nothing—surprised me, but I didn't show it.
"That's above the cutoff for Seoral University, isn't it? Isn't the cutoff like one mistake or less per subject?"
"Hiiing, that's true, but... I slipped up on real mistakes last year too... So I'm anxious."
"I don't think you need to worry."
I checked her status messages and laid out the words she wanted to hear deep down, words no one else had given her.
"You've never been outside the top five in your entire high school career, right?"
"Eek, I even told oppa about that..."
It was something I'd gleaned from peeking at her KakaoTalk, but I played it cool. The important thing was to guide her toward self-confidence.
"You mentioned it before. Eunseo, you can relax. You've got this."
"...Really?"
I looked at her, pouring sincerity into my gaze.
"What's lacking in you is self-confidence. I've been watching you closely, and I'm certain of it."
"Ah..."
"I haven't known you long, but from our chats over the past few months, you've been diligent enough to more than get into Seoral University. That's what I think, at least."
Eunseo finally smiled.
"Thank you, oppa. I feel a bit better thanks to you."
"Glad to hear it."
I checked her inner thoughts.
I feel at ease thanks to oppa. I'm really glad I met Yunho oppa.
Her inner thoughts said she was glad to have met me. A smile crept onto my lips unbidden.
"By the way, you've gotten even prettier since I last saw you."
She reacted immediately to the compliment.
"Eek, I'm not pretty..."
"Nah, you really have. Your cheeks are slimmer now?"
"Uuu... I've actually gained weight..."
"Guess you're the type who gets prettier through hardship, Eunseo. You'll be stunning after the exam."
She blushed but looked intrigued.
"Really?"
"Of course. I promise."
"Pfft, it's not like my body changes just because you promise."
Oh, it will. I thought to myself. After the exam, as a reward for her hard work, I'd accelerate her beauty's bloom early.
"How's your physical condition?"
"Hiiing, it hurts... My neck and shoulders ache from hunching over my books all the time."
Hearing her whine sparked a fun idea. It'd be a shame to just comfort her and leave after coming this far.
'Yeah, time to satisfy a little greed.'
"Want me to help?"
"Eung? How?"
"I'm good at massages. Let me give you one."
Eek, a massage means physical contact...
"Ah, it's fine. I don't want to trouble you."
Eunseo shyly declined, but I moved to the seat beside her.
"Turn around."
She hesitated a moment, then turned her back to me. Her petite frame came into view.
There were two reasons I'd offered the massage. First, a bit of playful mischief. Second, the quest to claim ownership of Eunseo. Since the quest required making her—who saw herself as a virgin—crave sex first, I needed to build it up in advance.
'I was planning to start after the exam, but a little early preview won't hurt.'
With Action Hand, I could dispel the physical fatigue and exam stress built up in her body—a three-birds-one-stone deal.
I placed my hands on her shoulders. Her skin trembled under my touch. I gently kneaded her trapezius muscles.
"How's that, Eunseo? Feel good?"
"Y-Yeah... Ahh. But you really don't have to..."
Ah, that feels so good... That spot was really knotted.
My massage therapist experience was well over half a year now. I could do this much without Action Hand.
"No need to hold back between us."
I could feel her body relaxing bit by bit. Her status messages confirmed she genuinely felt refreshed.
'Seems she's getting used to it. Time to kick it up.'
"Neck next."
When massaging the neck from a seated position, it's key to support the chin with one hand so the neck muscles can fully relax.
'Action Hand, 1 GP.'
Action Hand (1 GP)
"Euuuht...!"
Eunseo's nape prickled with goosebumps at the sudden pleasurable sensation.
Haa, suddenly it feels... So embarrassing...
My hand cupped her chin, fingers brushing her earlobe and lips.
"Eek!"
"Did it hurt?"
I feigned ignorance, and she shook her head vigorously.
I made a weird noise again... Gotta hold it in quietly.
'We'll see if you can hold it.'
I pressed her neck muscles with my thumb again.
"Huuuht!"
"Not actually painful, right?"
"No... Hiiht."
Despite her resolve, moans leaked out each time my fingers pressed her neck muscles.
Uwaaang, why am I like this!
I'm gonna die of embarrassment!
Her reactions were great, just like last time. My playful side was rising. Of course, I was steadily loosening her muscles too.
Unable to hold back her moans any longer, Eunseo covered her mouth with both hands. Seeing that made blood rush below. I wanted deeper skinship, but Action Hand only worked on bare skin.
'Too bad her only exposed skin is her neck.'
I considered massaging her waist with a light hug, but she might get startled. I decided to stop here.
"Feeling refreshed, Eunseo?"
"Haaa, yeah... but... Hiiht...!"
I moved my hand to her lower abdomen.
Oppa’s hand on me makes my lower belly... tingle...
Her reaction was so fun I nearly upped it to 2 GP, but held back. 'Can't turn stress relief into awakening lust.'
The exam was only a month away; I couldn't plant distractions. I finished the massage and returned to my seat.
"Huuuee... Thanks, oppa..."
Her relaxed expression stirred a man's urges, but I suppressed it.
"Oh, right—before we part, let's take a photo."
"A photo all of a sudden?"
After the exam, I'd fully correct her body. For that, a recent full-body shot was ideal.
"I realized we don't have any pictures together. What do you say?"
A line that hit her pure heart perfectly.
"Ah! Sure!"
Of course, Eunseo didn't refuse. I asked someone else in the cafe to snap a photo of us standing side by side.
On the way home after parting, a KakaoTalk came in.
Her heart was as pretty as ever. I'd have to prepare a congratulatory gift after the exam. I pulled up the photo of us on my phone screen. Applying the nude filter revealed her naked form. I made minor adjustments and applied reality correction.
Eunseo would never have to worry about dieting again. That was my exam gift to her. In other words, she'd live as mine forever. That was the desire I harbored.
Whether it'd end up as a gift for her, I wasn't sure. But I hoped it would be.