Ranch Date
Seo-ha Yoon stretched languidly as she settled into a seat at the cafe.
She still had some time before the appointed hour, so she figured she'd take a quick break.
She ordered a simple coffee and a dessert, then sat down.
"Haaah."
She felt a bit sleepy and tired. The caffeine and sugar helped a little, but she was still drowsy.
Letting out a sigh, Seo-ha gazed out the window at the scenery.
The early morning view from the cafe's second floor was the same as always. Office workers and students starting to head to work, one by one. The crowds packing every bus stop were enough to make anyone feel exhausted just looking at them.
How suffocating would it be to be stuck in the middle of that?
Grateful for her company's flexible start times, Seo-ha took a bite of the sweet chocolate cake.
Well, on paper, our official start is still an hour later than most places.
The sweetness filled her mouth.
It was more than just sweet—it bordered on bitter, a total chocolate bomb melting on her tongue.
It was the kind of cake she wouldn't normally even glance at.
"Urgh..."
She took a sip of coffee after the bite. Condensation beaded on the outside of the glass from the cold ice.
"Hooo..."
She stretched briefly and exhaled. Wiping away the tears from her yawn, Seo-ha rubbed her sleepy eyes. A check of her phone showed she had an hour left.
Time to get moving.
She set down the small fork, picked up the tray, and headed downstairs to return the tray, half-eaten cake, and coffee cup. Then she slowly exited the cafe.
A cool breeze blew in.
It carried a hint of warmth, announcing that summer was near.
"Unnie."
"...Ah."
Seo-ha walked toward Ha-rin So, who was already at the meeting spot, a small smile on her face.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"N-nope. I just got here."
"Hmm."
Seo-ha strolled up slowly.
Ha-rin had dressed cute today. Traces of her agonizing over whether to cover her dark circles were plain to see.
Reaching Ha-rin, Seo-ha gently touched under her eyes and said,
"You didn't cover them?"
"...Is it that bad?"
"Not at all."
Seo-ha answered firmly.
It was her personal opinion, but Ha-rin looked better with a hint of dark circles anyway.
"...Shall we go?"
"Ah, y-yeah. We should."
Ha-rin's face flushed as she turned her head away.
Seo-ha let out a soft chuckle at the sight. Her own cheeks were burning too, and if it weren't for the reservation time and such, she'd have gone straight in for a kiss and dragged her into the car.
Seo-ha climbed into the car Ha-rin had prepared, stretching fully and yawning softly.
"Sleepy?"
"Mmm... yeah, a little?"
"Then catch some shut-eye. It's a 3- or 4-hour drive."
"...Yeah, okay."
Seo-ha accepted the sleep mask Ha-rin handed her.
"...The ranch, right? That's our date spot today."
"...Huh? Y-yeah, it is."
"You mean that ranch? The one that supplies the milk you drink, unnie?"
"Yeah. That one."
"...Heh."
Seo-ha peered at Ha-rin through sleepy eyes as she "drove."
Or rather, sat behind the wheel— that was more accurate.
After all, the steering wheel was handling itself.
"It's always so amazing."
"Oh, this? Super convenient. Just punch in the nav, and it goes."
"...What's the point of a driving test, then?"
"Well, nav doesn't work everywhere. Gotta drive manually sometimes."
Ha-rin shrugged as she replied.
She cracked the window slightly, feeling the breeze.
The car fell quiet.
Only the rush of wind and the song playing from the radio connected to her phone filled the air.
"Seo-ha?"
Ha-rin glanced sideways at the woman beside her.
The sleep mask was perched on her forehead, eyes half-closed, but she was out cold. Ha-rin smiled softly.
Covering her mouth so as not to wake her, she turned down the music volume.
She raised the window to block the wind, then reached over to pull the mask down over Seo-ha's eyes.
Mwah. Her pale pink lips parted from Seo-ha's forehead with a tiny sound.
"Heehee."
Ha-rin gently brushed back Seo-ha's hair.
Such a white, slender neck.
Ha-rin buried her nose against it and inhaled deeply.
"Haaa..."
She wanted more, but... any further, and Seo-ha might wake up grumpy.
"Sleep well."
Ha-rin murmured softly in a tiny voice.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
A ranch tucked away in Gangwon-do, in a spot that didn't even show up on nav.
As the car pulled to a stop, Ha-rin stretched and gently woke the soundly sleeping Seo-ha beside her.
"...Mmm. Unnie..."
"Ah, Seo-ha."
"Unnie..."
"Yeah, time to get up... Huh?"
Seo-ha clung tightly to Ha-rin like a koala.
A pleasant milky scent tickled her nose, and Seo-ha smiled.
"Haaa..."
"S-Seo-ha? Y-you gotta wake up."
"Mmmph. Just a bit more... Yawwwn."
"Wha...?"
Ha-rin hesitated, Seo-ha nestled in her arms.
We need to get out now...
"Mmm..."
Seo-ha nuzzled deeper into her neck, black hair brushing her face.
...Does it matter?
A little late wouldn't hurt, right?
She's a VVIP, after all.
J-just a little...
As she thought just a little longer and moved to hug her—
"Ah. I'm good."
—Seo-ha suddenly snapped awake, sitting up and stretching.
"Aaaahhh. Hng. Let's head down, unnie."
"Ah, uh, y-yeah."
Ha-rin forced an awkward smile as she opened the door and stepped out. Watching her, Seo-ha whispered softly into her slightly downcast ear.
"I'll do it again later."
"...F-for real?"
"Of course."
Seo-ha took her hand with a naughty smile.
Ha-rin beamed back.
"Hee hee."
Her uplifted mood lightened her steps, carrying them quickly to the ranch entrance.
"Welcome. Ms. Ha-rin So, Ms. Seo-ha Yoon."
"Hi...!"
"Hello, nice to meet you."
Was it the excitement of the ranch? Ha-rin's energy was sky-high as she greeted brightly and approached the guide.
"I'm Yeon-woo Kim, and I'll be your ranch guide for the day."
"Hng. Kinda sounds like a guy's name?"
"Yes. I'm TS."
"Ah. Figures?"
Guide Yeon-woo Kim led Seo-ha and Ha-rin around the ranch after that.
True to its name, vast pastures stretched out.
Women in cow bikinis frolicked inside wooden fences.
"Those are our ranch staff."
"...Ah."
Seo-ha had half-expected it.
The names on the milk cartons sold at the ranch screamed "that kind of thing," no matter how you sliced it.
And she'd heard as much.
"Seeing it for real is kinda dizzying."
"Right?"
Ha-rin sidled closer with a wry smile.
"But don't pity them too much."
She gazed at the women rolling in the grass.
"Believe it or not, the competition to work here is fierce. Or... maybe not fierce?"
"What do you mean?"
"Minimum requirement is a four-year college degree. Then they measure looks, bust, hips, everything."
"...So applicants are usually..."
Ha-rin nodded, picking up the thread.
"Yeah. Folks from our company—y'know, the adult industry side. Or their kids."
"Heh."
"At least in our world, it's a big corp."
Ha-rin took Seo-ha's hand and led her along.
"Looks like human rights abuse to normals, but reality's different."
"I feel pretty far from normal myself..."
"Pfft, we still see you as normal. Anyway."
Ha-rin giggled.
"They're on break right now, so the staff are resting."
Yeon-woo Kim approached with a smile.
"Work time's soon. Let's take a quick look around."
The two followed her.
Crossing the fields, they entered a building.
Inside, the "cows" who had arrived early were warming up.
Yeon-woo showed them a nearby milking machine.
"This is the standard milking machine we use."
"Looks pretty different..."
"You've seen one before?"
"Yeah, a few times."
Ha-rin said it looked different from regular ones.
To Seo-ha, they seemed similar enough. Not that she'd ever paid close attention to milking machines anyway.
"Then, let me explain how to use it."