Chapter 176: Little by Little, Slowly (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: Little by Little, Slowly (11)
When we stepped inside Yura’s home, Eunha—who was trailing behind me—seemed to be feeling the tension of entering an unfamiliar place. Even though she had known Yura for several years, this was her first time visiting her house.
Yura knew I was coming, but she had no idea Eunha would be with me. At first, she looked quite surprised to see her, but she quickly broke into a smile and welcomed Eunha inside.
Since Yura was in favor of the harem and Eunha felt the same way, I hadn't thought to mention it beforehand, but seeing them now, I wondered if I should have.
Even though Yura smiled despite the sudden visit, the reason I felt this way was simply because I worried it might have been rude to bring Eunha along without a word, especially since she had never been here before.
I followed Eunha inside and took off my shoes. Looking at the drinks already set out on the living room table, I thought to myself that it was a familiar sight. Eunha, on the other hand, widened her eyes at the sight of the full-blown drinking spread.
“Just sit and wait a moment.”
Yura guided us to the living room sofa and headed toward the kitchen. There were only glasses and plates for the two of us on the table; it seemed she had gone to the kitchen to prepare a set for Eunha since her visit was unplanned.
“So, you two came together?”
“Yeah. Well, you see…”
I heard the sound of her rummaging through the cupboard for tableware. Rather than having Eunha explain in response to Yura's question, I thought it would be better if I did, so I spoke up first.
The story went back a few hours, to when the sun was still up.
Just as I received a text and was about to check it, I got a call from Yura. After a brief conversation about coming over to her place in the evening, I hung up and checked the message.
The sender was none other than Eunha. She was asking if we could possibly have lunch together.
I figured it would be better to call her back rather than text. More than anything, I thought it would be better to spend time with one of my girlfriends rather than just idling at home alone before meeting Yura.
“Hello?”
「Yes.」
I started the call, listening to Eunha’s plain, clear voice over the smartphone, and we picked a place to meet.
The new headquarters was located quite far on the outskirts of Seoul. Since Eunha lived closer to the headquarters than anyone else, it didn't take long to go meet her.
Even before the move—both hers and the headquarters'—she had lived the closest to the base. Seeing that she was still the closest even after the move, I couldn't help but think it was a rather interesting twist of fate.
“Eunha.”
“Oppa. Hello.”
As winter set in and clothes grew thicker, people began wearing a variety of styles. I used to think I didn't have much of a problem with fashion, but after I started dating Yubin, I realized I had absolutely no sense for it. Consequently, my attire didn't change much even as the seasons shifted.
I wasn't the only one whose style remained consistent. Eunha’s clothes had certainly gotten thicker, but her overall vibe remained the same. She had always been fond of long dresses, and now that it was cold, the only change was that she wore a coat over them.
I don't usually pay much attention to other people's fashion, and it’s not like I’d mind whatever Eunha chose to wear, but the reason I was thinking about this was simple.
When you meet your girlfriend and see what she’s wearing, you’re bound to have some sort of impression.
“You look pretty today, too.”
This didn't mean that any outfit was fine as long as she wore something. It meant that because she was my girlfriend, she looked pretty in whatever she wore, and because I liked everything about her, I liked whatever she wore.
“No, I’m not…”
Eunha had a style that only she could pull off, and because I liked it, I complimented her. Blushing, Eunha lightly denied the compliment, but she didn't look like she disliked hearing it.
It was toward the end of our meal at the restaurant that the plan to go to Yura’s house was decided.
“So, where are you going this evening?”
While we ate, I gave Eunha a rough summary of what had happened that morning. I told her I’d gone to headquarters and given a detailed report to Luche, since I’d already mentioned that Luche knew about my current situation.
Of course, I didn't bother mentioning that Luche turned out to be A.T. It wasn't that I couldn't tell her, but it felt awkward to explain when she hadn't asked.
Previously, I had disguised things happening at headquarters as "company work" when explaining them to her, but now that there was nothing to hide, I told her the truth.
It was much easier to explain, and Eunha was listening more intently than before. However, since she only knew my relationship with Luche as one between a superior and a subordinate, she seemed a bit uneasy about me reporting my personal situation, listening with a hint of tension on her face.
In the end, Eunha’s expression brightened when she realized nothing bad had happened at headquarters, and she asked about my evening plans.
“Yura asked to see me this evening. I’m going to her place.”
I saw Eunha’s eyes tremble slightly at the mention of going to Yura’s house. She shared the same pro-harem stance as Yura, so was there something bothering her?
“Oh, you’re going to Pink’s place.”
“Yeah. She wants to have a drink.”
“Is Pink a good drinker?”
“Yeah. She’s pretty good.”
Was Eunha interested in alcohol too? I drank heavily with Yura every time, but surprisingly, I had never had a drink with any of my other girlfriends yet.
It wasn't that I disliked alcohol, but I didn't prefer it enough to go out of my way to ask others to drink with me. The reason I drank so much with Yura wasn't that I loved the alcohol itself, but because I enjoyed drinking with her.
Anyway, my other girlfriends never brought up the subject of drinking, and since I didn't either, a non-drinking atmosphere had naturally formed.
Eunha, who had never had a drink with Yura, seemed curious about her tolerance. She looked at me with a metaphorical question mark over her head, and I told her exactly what I’d felt while drinking with Yura all this time.
“I’ve never actually had alcohol before.”
“Not even once?”
“No. Never.”
This was the first time I’d learned that Eunha had never touched alcohol. The reason the topic had never come up wasn't a matter of liking or disliking it; she simply hadn't ever tried it, so the thought of talking about it never occurred to her.
Even if that weren't the case, it was hard to imagine Eunha being the type to suggest going out for drinks.
“It might be nice for you to have a drink with us, Eunha.”
I’m not the type to pressure people to drink, but I do enjoy drinking with my girlfriend. Eunha felt the same way, and thinking it wouldn't be bad to try it at least once rather than knowing nothing at all, I made the suggestion. Eunha fell into thought for a moment before looking at me intently, as if she had made up her mind.
“Can I come along too?”
“Huh?”
And that was how Eunha ended up coming to Yura’s house with me. After hearing the brief explanation, Yura smiled as she set the plates and cups down on the table.
“Is that so? Green, you were interested in drinking too?”
“No, it’s not that I’m interested, exactly…”
Yura didn't hide her happy expression, seemingly delighted at the thought of having a new drinking buddy.
“Still, you never know. It might suit your palate once you try it.”
“Yes.”
Eunha gave a short reply to Yura’s comment and sat quietly beside me in a demure posture. Yura, who had been sitting on the sofa opposite us, stared at the two of us for a moment before suddenly standing up and coming over to sit next to me.
Yura’s sofa was a two-seater. It was spacious enough for two, but not quite enough for three to sit comfortably. With Eunha, me, and Yura all sitting there, there wasn't a single gap between us.
“Isn't it too cramped?”
“I like being pressed together like this. What’s the problem?”
Pressed against me, Yura habitually leaned in and pouted her lips as if asking for a kiss. I also habitually leaned in and met her lips with mine.
“Mnh, ah.”
We shared a kiss, our tongues intertwining as suggestive sighs escaped us. Eunha, sitting right there, stared blankly at the sight of Yura and me kissing.
“Haa, ngh. Mm, yes. Hmph.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing her body against mine, Yura didn't stop her persistent kissing—just like how she used to kiss me the moment I arrived for my part-time job.
Even while kissing Yura, I was mindful of Eunha watching us, but I didn't turn my gaze away from Yura. I held her tight as she kissed me, our tongues mixing deeply.
“Mmm, haa. Mmm…”
With our lips pressed together, we tangled our tongues as if devouring one another. When our lips finally parted after the deep kiss, Yura looked at me with a sultry smile.
“I really can't stop kissing you, A.”
I wrapped my arm around Yura’s waist as she voiced her desire.
And the moment I looked toward Eunha, who must have been watching the whole thing, she suddenly bolted upright from her seat.
“I-I’ll be right back! I need to use the bathroom!”
Declaring this in a voice thick with tension, Eunha headed straight for the bathroom. Yura and I, still pressed against each other, stared at the closed bathroom door.
“Green is more than I expected, too.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
I looked at Yura, puzzled by her muttered comment as she stared at the door.
“She came here to keep an eye on us because she didn't want the two of us to be alone.”
“There’s no way.”
Knowing Eunha’s personality, I couldn't imagine her doing that. But it seemed Yura thought differently.
“I thought so too. But I can see it, you know? She wants to see what’s going on, but she doesn't know what to do yet.”
“Eunha agreed to the harem too. Is there really a need for her to be on guard?”
I wondered if there was any need to scout the situation when she was meeting Yura, who shared the same pro-harem stance. Hearing that, Yura clicked her tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. Agreeing to a harem doesn't mean giving up on competition.”
It seemed that even if their opinions were aligned, the intentions women carried weren't as simple as I thought.
“Even after we all had sex together?”
“Even after we all had sex together.”
Even if it was a six-way encounter.
Sex was merely a step toward the next level; it didn't mean everyone’s opinions had fully merged.
Come to think of it, that was obvious. Even while my girlfriends and I were having sex together, they were still divided between pro-harem and anti-harem stances.
That group session had simply been arranged to break through the stiff atmosphere we were in.
Attributing too much meaning to it might devalue the aspect of sex as a confirmation of affection, but that didn't mean it was entirely meaningless either.
“It’s much more complicated than I thought.”
“Of course it is. Did you think understanding five women at once would be easy?”
“I didn't think it would be easy. But I thought it would get a little smoother since we all did it together.”
Yura smiled as if she knew I’d think that way. She stroked my cheek and then suddenly pointed to the floor across from the sofa.
“Go sit over there. I’ll show you that I’m right.”
“Huh? Uh, okay.”
I didn't know what she was up to, but for now, I did as she said, got up from the sofa, and sat on the floor opposite it. Yura sat on the sofa alone, and soon enough, Eunha opened the bathroom door and stepped out.
Unlike when she had gone in, I was now sitting on the floor. Seeing this, Eunha looked back and forth between Yura and me, then walked over and sat down on the floor right next to me.
“See?”
To me, it just looked like Eunha had sat next to me after coming out of the bathroom, but apparently, there was something here that only women could perceive.
Yura sat down next to me with a triumphant air, glancing at Eunha. Eunha, who had no way of knowing what had happened while she was in the bathroom, couldn't hide her flustered state.
“Huh?”
She looked back and forth between us with a bewildered voice. Yura looked at Eunha and spoke with a suppressed giggle.
“I knew it. You don't want to lose A either, do you, Green?”
“What?”
Unable to find the words, Eunha listened to Yura and began to process her intention. Soon, as if she had realized what Yura meant, she shook her head.
“N-No, that’s not it.”
“It’s not?”
“I mean, it’s true I don't want to lose Oppa, but…”
“Then what?”
Wondering if there was something different from what she had imagined, Yura waited quietly for Eunha to speak.
“You didn't come to my house because of A?”
“…No.”
The words didn't come out immediately, so Yura asked first. Eunha, having answered, hesitated to speak further. She looked back and forth between us again before fixing her gaze on Yura.
Yura actually felt a bit intimidated by Eunha’s trembling eyes staring intently at her, and she waited for what Eunha would say next.
“The reason I came to Pink’s house is…”
I also watched her, wondering what she was about to say.
“Because I like Pink!”
“Wait, what?”
“Huh?”
At Eunha’s loud exclamation, both Yura and I froze, our minds going blank for a moment.
I quietly tried to process the current situation in my head.
So, these two are both my girlfriends… but does my girlfriend’s girlfriend become my girlfriend? And from their perspective, does their boyfriend’s girlfriend become their own girlfriend?
More importantly, is it even right for me to be caught between these two right now?
Just as that thought occurred to me, Eunha seemed to realize she had misspoken and her face turned bright red.
“N-No! I didn't mean it like that!”
Watching Eunha wave her arms with a crimson face, Yura and I locked eyes, then looked back at Eunha.
For now, I figured the priority was to listen to what Eunha had to say, slowly.
Phew… I almost lost my girlfriend to my girlfriend.