Midnight Walk (2)
"You've been talking back to your sister non-stop. What a brat!"
"Do I have to obey every word just because someone's older? They have to say something worth respecting first."
"……."
How many times had he rewatched this scene? Min Ari fuming, Min Deulle grumbling. No matter how many replays, it never got old—instead, his heart raced and fluttered as he watched in silence.
Too bad. Really too bad….
He raised both hands and stared down at his palms. These hands had etched the feel of his first love deep into them. Dozens of times over her clothes, hundreds beneath. The look on her face when he'd suddenly grabbed her breasts. The moan that escaped when he'd pinched her nipple between his fingers. The way her eyes trembled mercilessly when their lips had brushed briefly.
At least I've touched her way more than her boyfriend has.
He deliberately avoided thinking about Ari's boyfriend. Platonic love or whatever—he didn't buy it. When someone likes another person, dirty thoughts naturally bubble up. You want to hold their hand, kiss them, lay them on the bed and thrust your cock inside. Suppressing that with religion? With a girlfriend this hot right there?
They've at least kissed and groped her tits, even if they haven't gone all the way.
He clenched his fist tight and vowed. No way. He couldn't hand over something this thrilling… this arousing… to another guy.
Even if I have to use the app more aggressively, whale on the payments, or drag other people in to farm coins. Min Ari will be mine.
Her mom had said as much. Do whatever he wanted. Just use protection properly. The moment he looked up with that resolve, time rewound again. He'd stayed still too long, apparently.
"You've been talking back to your sister non-stop. What a brat!"
"Do I have to obey every word just because someone's older? They have to say something worth respecting first."
"……."
He stepped forward. He halted the hand that had been groping Ari's breasts and opened his mouth.
"Hey, both of you, cut it out. I needed to cool my head anyway. And I wanna hang with Min Deulle."
"Uju-mong, you're late. If it's about talking, sort your thoughts and do it tomorrow…. Eut…!"
Ari cautiously grabbed his arm. He shook it off, roughly shoving her away. He'd confirmed countless times this was a dream. After ravaging Ari's breasts and lips endlessly, his arousal had peaked. And thinking of her boyfriend had soured his mood in that instant. That's why he could brush her off so naturally, he figured.
"Wha… what?"
Min Ari clutched her chest with both hands, her face disbelieving. Her fingertips trembled faintly, her eyes fixed on him brimming with unease. It felt weird. He'd never shown her this side before. Like most guys crushing on a girl, he'd always gone along with whatever she wanted.
"Ari, I said I'm fine. I wanna talk with Min Deulle."
"No… I just…."
Ari trailed off, avoiding his gaze. A mix of guilt and an indescribable thrill surged up. He almost never refused Ari's requests. Just knowing she relied on him made him happy; one thank-you was enough to fill him with joy.
"Just what? Spit it out properly if you have something to say."
"……."
He'd never pushed her this hard. Never hardened his expression into a cold glare or threatened in an emotionless voice. Even when pissed or hurt, he'd swallowed it down alone. Deep down, he just wanted the girl he liked not to hate him.
If this weren't a dream, I'd never pull this off.
Her fear edging past confusion stirred a tangle of thoughts. He wanted to apologize right away, soothe her. He wanted to bully her harder, watch her tremble. What would she look like in bed? Would she lie under him with that face if he forced himself on her?
"Forget it, oppa. Leave unnie alone and let's go, just us."
Then Min Deulle tugged his arm.
"Ah…."
Ari looked up as they walked away, but when her eyes met his, she averted them again.
…
They walked the path hand in hand. The stroll near the cafe, along the well-kept trail by the apartment complex where Ari and Deulle lived. Like lovers, they strolled slowly, fingers intertwined.
"That scared me."
"Hm? What did?"
"You brushed off unnie's hand like that. Don't ignore me. You always spoil me, so do I look like a pushover? You think I'll do whatever you ask?"
"……."
She mimicked his voice, scrunching her brows. The meaning was similar, but without "Min Deulle," not a single sentence matched.
"Did I say it like that?"
"Pretty much. Why? Don't you like unnie?"
He pondered how to reply.
"I told you before. Not Ari—you."
"Wha… what?"
"Just keeping my word."
"Whoa…."
Min Deulle ducked her head, covering her mouth lightly. Then she mumbled so softly it was barely audible.
"The dream keeps going like this? Bes… best. My prayers worked."
He held back a laugh and shifted their grip—from light palms together to fingers laced tight. In last night's dream, he'd lied to Deulle like that. That he liked her, not Ari. So hug her now. He wanted her virginity first, more than anyone.
Deulle thinks this is her dream. Another naughty one.
So he could ignore a little inconsistency. Dreams worked like that anyway.
"Was I too harsh?"
"No? You did great. I've wanted to see that."
Min Deulle hugged his arm. With hands clasped and arms linked, they slowed their pace.
"Otherwise she'd keep crawling all over you forever. She wouldn't even know what's wrong if you didn't tell her. What is it—needing a boyfriend and a friend who only likes her?"
Her grumbling was light, laced with delight.
Yeah… I'd love it too if someone did this for me.
Deulle's situation mirrored his. The person she liked was into someone else. He liked Min Ari, who had a boyfriend. Deulle liked him, who liked Min Ari. If he argued with Ari's boyfriend and she shoved the guy aside to take his side? Thrilling just imagining it.
"Ahem! S-so… you really like me more than unnie now? Since when?"
"Since when…? Lemme think."
He feigned pondering. Talk too much, and you'd trip up. Silence was strategy sometimes.
"When did I… start liking you instead of Ari…? Huh? Was I ever into Ari…?"
"O-oppa! No! It doesn't matter when. If you can't remember, no need to force it."
Deulle urgently stopped him. Scared the dream might derail, he'd notice something off and go back to unnie.
"Oh, right! Oppa, can I ask one favor?"
"Favor?"
Min Deulle stopped, letting go of his hand. She swung her backpack around, unzipped it, and plunged her hand in.
"A walk means a collar, right? This one's auto-adjusting leash length—super trendy."
A bright red collar fit for a dog's neck. And the long leash that attached to it. Deulle pulled them out and handed them over.
"You… into this kinda thing?"
"Huh? Wha… what? No! I don't… Why's my body moving on its own…?"
Because he'd set it that way in the Dream Manipulation App. He casually unclasped the collar.
"Got it. If the girl I like asks, how can I say no?"
"Oppa, no. I don't know how to explain, but this isn't my will…."
"Come closer?"
"……."
Deulle hesitated, hand at her throat. The path was dim, but her flushed-red face stood out vividly.
"Not too tight… okay?"
"Sure."
As he fastened the collar, he gently stroked her neck.
"Ah… ♥"
Like a switch flipping, anticipation lit her face. He naturally closed the distance between their lips. Unlike stealing Ari's kiss by force, Deulle tilted her head up, responding. On the quiet apartment trail, with cicadas chirping as backdrop, they kissed long and deep.
*Chuuup—.*
Their lips parted, a thin string of saliva stretching between.
"Time for the leash."
"Yeah…."
He snapped the string and clipped the leash to the red collar. With the click,
"Wha… what? Huh!?"
Min Deulle's clothes began vanishing. Top, bottom—bag, underwear, all gone. Only socks, shoes, collar, and leash remained as everything else melted into the air.