I'll Crash at Your Place Tonight (1)
The next morning.
After finishing the opening preparations at the cafe, I stood behind the counter, staring at the entrance. The only sound was the low hum of the espresso machine warming up in the quiet space. But my mind was noisier than ever.
I glanced at my phone. No missed calls. No text messages. It was calm like the eye of a storm. Still, the fact that there was no word from Mom—even after yesterday's chaos—meant the secret had been kept. Min Jangmi must have handled things perfectly in the middle of it all.
Worth the effort I put in during the dream.
For a moment, last night's dream flashed through my head. Min Jangmi was getting more sensitive and responsive as time went on. If I pushed her any further, something might happen in reality too. That's what I thought, which is why I finished inside her.
Now the only variable left is Min Ari...
I imagined the door opening and Min Ari walking in. What kind of face would she make? She wouldn't greet me with her usual smile and "Mong-ah!" She'd probably look at me with contempt and ignore me. Or maybe she'd rush straight to the counter, demanding my phone.
*Ding-a-ling.*
Right then, a cheerful bell rang, and a familiar face appeared.
"Oppa, I'm here."
It was Min Deulle. Thankfully, her expression was bright as ever.
"Give me something super sweet today too."
"Got it."
I punched in the order on the POS machine absentmindedly, scanning behind her. No sign of Ari.
"Where's Ari?"
"Oh, she's on her way. I couldn't wait to see you, so I came ahead."
"No big trouble, then. Good. How's your body? Feeling okay?"
She wasn't as intense as Min Jangmi, but I worried about Min Deulle too. I'd gone at her relentlessly from lunch until night.
"Honestly, it's a bit hard to walk... but it's not a bad feeling. If anything, it makes me want to... do it again. Like your trace is still lingering inside me—it's this naughty thrill."
Min Deulle cautiously stroked her lower belly.
"That... thing we planned for this Sunday at your place to study... that's still on, right?"
Suddenly, yesterday's memory hit me hard. The girl who had been whimpering beneath me, lost in pleasure, shaking her hips desperately—she was right in front of me now. And she was slyly suggesting we do it again this Sunday.
"...You're coming to study, right?"
"Of course! Though it'll be a subject not on the SAT."
*Ding-a-ling.*
The cafe door opened again. But this time, the air that came in was much colder than when Min Deulle arrived.
The person who entered was Min Ari.
"......"
Ari alternated glances between me at the counter and Min Deulle.
"We didn't talk about anything weird."
Min Deulle waved lightly at Ari, then winked at me.
"I'll be in that back corner. Teach me some later?"
She scurried off like she was fleeing. Thanks to her, only Ari and I were left at the counter.
Silence.
In the stillness where even the sound of grinding beans had stopped, Ari stared straight at me without a word.
"You're here? Ice Americano like usual?"
Then Ari abruptly thrust her hand across the counter. Her pale, slender palm opened right in front of me.
"Phone."
"Huh?"
"Unlock it and hand it over."
Her voice was firm. No room for refusal.
I pretended to hesitate for a moment. Even for close friends—or lovers—a smartphone is sacred ground not casually shared. Demanding it so boldly meant she was dead serious.
"Here."
I unlocked the pattern and handed it over without a fight.
Ari stood there, flicking between the phone and my face. Tap, tap, tap. Her brow furrowed a little more with each touch.
Nothing to worry about. Photos and videos were backed up and logged out. The Dream Manipulation App was perfectly disguised among the dozens of game apps I'd hastily downloaded yesterday. And I hadn't deleted the everyday messages with Min Deulle—wiping those would make it look like I was hiding even more.
"Eek...!"
Then Ari's shoulders jerked sharply. Panic broke through her poker face. Her eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
"You... deleted the photos? You have to empty the trash too. Did you leave them on purpose? Planning to restore them later?"
"Oh, I didn't? Thought I had."
"......I'll delete them."
Ari touched the screen with trembling fingers. Truth was, I'd deliberately left a few in "Recently Deleted"—the photo album trash. Naturally, they included the explicit shots of Min Deulle that Ari had glimpsed yesterday.
But that wasn't all. I'd slipped in some of my own body pics. Close-ups of my cock, veins bulging, fully erect and standing proud—raw and unfiltered.
"You... sent her pics of yourself too?"
"Felt bad just receiving."
"You two are total trash. I'm so disappointed. Won't study what she should, ignores what she asks to see..."
Ari glared daggers at me. But despite the venom, her face and neck flushed red like a ripe apple.
This feels so weird...
I'd shown Min Ari my dick—through photos, at least. Not that I showed her; she snatched my phone and peeked. That's how I'd set it up.
When she finds out I actually slept with Deulle... what reaction will she have then?
I agonized a lot digging this trap. Ten years of one-sided love. To Ari, I had to be the kind, reliable, harmless friend. Hiding my desires, respecting her boundaries.
But getting caught with those lewd pics of Deulle—and peeking at the cafe—meant the "pure guy friend" costume was done. Image shattered.
So better to burn it in deep. Trash, but valuable trash. The kind she knows is trash but can't throw away, has to keep close.
"I'll check periodically. No more weird stuff with Deulle. If she tries anything strange, stop her."
Ari shoved the phone back at me. She tried to sound forceful, but her voice quivered faintly. She couldn't meet my eyes, gaze dropping low.
"Got it. I'll try."
"And... um..."
Ari's lips twitched like she had more to say. But she swallowed it, clenching and unclenching her fists.
"And? Why stop mid-sentence?"
"Ice Americano. Make it an ice Americano."
"......"
There was definitely something else she wanted to say. What was it? I couldn't pry further and turned to make the coffee. Even then, she just stood there, watching me.
...
The day slipped by somehow, and closing time arrived before I knew it. Looking back, it was surprisingly ordinary.
Ari hammered at her keyboard with a troubled face. Deulle focused hard on studying, and I worked while occasionally tutoring her. No fights between Ari and Deulle, no naughty teasing from Deulle.
Deulle's change was especially striking. No excessive clinging, no rubbing my arm against her chest, no stroking my hand. To not burden me? To avoid giving Ari ammo? Or confidence that we could get even dirtier anytime?
Whatever the case, she poured everything into studying.
"I'm heading out first."
As I locked the cafe door outside, Ari said it out of nowhere.
"Not going together?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, be safe."
She didn't reply to my farewell, just turned and vanished into the dark.
Then Min Deulle, who'd been waiting beside me, hugged my arm tight.
"Bothered?"
"......"
"Oh yeah, Unnie said she's staying out tonight."
"...Huh?"
"This morning. Said she won't be home. Jangmi Unnie grilled her on where, but no answer."
Staying out? Ari? First thought: her boyfriend. Forcing her way to that bastard's place? Or crashing at that fellow writer's house she mentioned before?
"Wanna tail her?"
I snapped to and chuckled.
"That's a crime. Let's go home. I'll walk you."
"Includes a stroll, right?"
"One lap, sure."
"Hehe, yay! Oh, right."
Min Deulle let go of my arm briefly, looked around, confirmed no one, then slipped her hand into her hoodie and rummaged.
"Uh... Deulle?"
"Done."
In her hand: underwear. A massive bra matching her huge chest. She stuffed it quickly into her bag and clung back to me. Instantly, her soft breasts enveloped my forearm, squishing against me as she pressed close.
"A gift. For my tired oppa who walks me home and strolls."
"......"
"What? Don't want it?"
Min Deulle asked cutely. I couldn't lie and just shook my head.