Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Han Soo-ah (1)
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It's been almost ten years now.
I...
Back when I was still in my prime, I scored way higher on the college entrance exam than I'd ever dreamed.
At everyone's urging, I enrolled in medical school as if it were the obvious choice—even though it had never crossed my mind.
But sudden decisions like that always come with side effects.
Less than half a year in, I dropped out.
It just wasn't for me.
After a year off, I re-enrolled in engineering the following year.
Back then, I guess I was the type who had to try everything I wanted just to feel satisfied.
That's how I was.
March.
The first opening party of the semester.
It was total chaos.
Soju boxes were piled up like mountains in the bar, and the air reeked of booze.
They were all around my age or younger underclassmen.
I hit it off quickly with the guys from my year.
Chatting with them was a blast.
But as the drinking games heated up, the female seniors swarmed around me like they were laying siege.
When I came to, I'd lost a game.
"No backing out for a freshman~!"
I was in a real bind.
It wasn't hazing or malicious bullying—just the vibe turning semi-coercive.
In the end, some mystery punishment shot appeared in front of me.
No escaping this one.
'...I wanna bail.'
I couldn't hold my liquor.
It was daunting, but to live up to their expectations, I held my breath and chugged it down.
- Gulp, gulp.
My throat burned like fire.
My stomach churned violently.
"Wooo! Yoo Seon-woo! Yoo Seon-woo!"
The cheers erupted as I set down the empty glass.
My vision spun.
With my sight whirling and words barely coming out, could I win the next game?
Eh, who knows.
Of course not.
Before long, another punishment shot was staring me down.
"Ha..."
I couldn't drink anymore. If I kept going, I'd hurl for sure.
While I was out of it from the booze, someone had apparently joined the group midway.
My vision was blurry, but across from me—in a seat that had been empty moments ago—a unfamiliar face caught my eye.
"Cut it out. The kid's suffering."
A languid voice sliced through the noise.
"S-Senior..."
All the seniors' eyes snapped to her.
Long, wavy hair with gray ombre highlights.
Stunningly beautiful face, but her outfit stood out.
A tight white blouse hugging her figure and a black H-line skirt.
She looked like an office worker who'd just clocked out—mature and polished.
A second-year senior nearby hesitantly asked,
"Sis, how'd the interview go today?"
"I was the interviewer."
The seniors surrounding me shut up completely.
She—
Han Soo-ah—stood up.
She glanced at my white-knuckled grip on the glass, then naturally overlapped her hand with mine, gently prying it free.
Warm, soft touch. She eased the glass away.
"Drink this, and you'll puke."
She brought the stolen shot to her lips.
"Sis saved you, got it?"
She curled the corner of her red lips upward and lightly flashed a V-sign with her other hand.
- Gulp.
A faint white foam clung to her red lips after draining it.
I stared blankly, my gaze locked on those lips.
- Thud.
I collapsed into her arms.
"Oh my..."
In that instant, even as the film cut to black in my darkening vision,
her image burned itself vividly into my mind.
Her name was Han Soo-ah.
I opened my eyes.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
A splitting headache hit me, and I bolted upright on reflex.
"Huh...?"
After blacking out at the bar, the place I woke up was
a spacious living room.
Morning sunlight poured in through floor-to-ceiling windows.
I'd slept on a plush sofa.
As my still-boozy brain tried to process it,
- Click.
"You're up?"
The master bedroom door opened, and a woman stepped out.
She wore flowing silk pajamas.
Truth be told, last night was a blur.
Who I talked to, what we said, how I got here—
my mind was a blank slate, like the film had snapped.
But
"Here, water. Stomach burning?"
this woman in front of me? Crystal clear.
"Th-Thank you."
I bowed my head.
My head was a mess, from what I recalled.
'Why am I here?'
'Did I make a drunken fool of myself?'
Or
'No way... nothing happened, right?'
My eyes shook.
She watched my panic with evident delight, then plopped down not across from me, but right next to me.
The soft sofa dipped, bringing our shoulders dangerously close.
A faint shampoo scent wafted over.
"You don't even remember how you got here last night, do you?"
She propped her chin on her hand, asking languidly.
"Yeah... sorry."
"No need to apologize."
She flashed a meaningful smile and leaned in close to my ear.
Hot breath tickled my skin.
"I... brought you here."
"...!"
My face burned crimson.
She giggled at my flustered reaction.
"Kidding. Look at you blush."
She poked my cheek with her finger.
"So cute."
"Oh, and... um, thank you."
I changed the subject, suddenly remembering and bowing again.
"For drinking that for me. My dark knight."
She rested her chin, staring intently at me.
"Hm... Nah, you just looked pitiful."
Her languid gaze roamed every inch of my face.
"So, gonna grant my wish?"
"Ah..."
As I pondered seriously, she burst out laughing again.
"Hahaha! Forget it."
She ruffled my hair.
"You're seriously cute."
With that, she stood.
Stretching lazily, she headed to the bathroom without a backward glance.
"I'm gonna shower. Let yourself out?"
I sat there dazed for a long while, watching her wave casually over her shoulder.
That's how our relationship began.
A couple weeks later.
Major lecture hall.
- Screech.
Someone flung open the front door roughly.
"...It's Han Soo-ah senior."
My classmate next to me muttered.
"..."
I kept my head down, no big reaction.
'Curious? Call me.'
She'd slipped me a note with her number right before we parted.
But I never opened it.
I was curious...
Honestly, dying to know. About that night, why she saved me.
But yeah, a bit scared too.
She seemed from a different world than mine.
I didn't think we matched.
"They say she doesn't even glance at guys... She's gorgeous."
My classmate gawked, mumbling.
"But she never takes this lecture. Why's she here?"
From what I glimpsed based on his info, her expression wasn't great.
Arms crossed, brows furrowed, scanning the room irritably.
Like she was searching for something.
Then.
Our eyes met.
"...!"
The moment she spotted me, one corner of her mouth curved smoothly upward.
- Click-clack, click-clack.
She started walking my way.
"Sh-She's coming...! Wait, not to me? Dude, is she heading for me?!"
My classmate freaked out, squirming, but I held her gaze.
She stopped at my desk.
Leaned in close to my face.
That faint shampoo scent lingered, just like before.
"Yoo Seon-woo."
With every eye in the lecture hall on us,
she whispered languidly.
"Why no call?"
"..."
"I've been going crazy for two weeks. First time ever. In my whole life."
Her eyes blazed.
I swallowed hard.
"Well..."
As I started some excuse,
"So, I was, like, super flustered too. This whole thing..."
Han Soo-ah stammered.
She added in a trembling voice,
"So... yeah."
She was rambling incoherently.
"I just... came to see you."
"..."
"No wish? Canceled."
She gently clutched my sleeve.
"Let's eat."
Her flushed face was right there.
Ears red to the tips.
"Right now."
I hadn't expected her to come on this strong.
My heart pounded like mad.
Excitement outweighed any pressure.
No reason to say no.
Didn't want to.
"Sure."
I grabbed my bag quick.
Class? Skip it.
I shot to my feet.
"Let's go. You said it was my wish."
Han Soo-ah's face lit up.
What followed was predictable.
A guy and girl who clicked sharing an intimate meal.
Staring like they wanted to devour each other.
Becoming lovers was only a matter of time.
We were spilling beans left and right every day.
After we started dating, I learned she was a fourth-year senior prepping for graduation.
But not just any grad.
She'd founded a promising IT startup in her third year and gotten it on track. A real CEO.
Way more impressive and capable than I'd imagined.
Yet around me, she was different.
One lazy afternoon, in a secluded corner booth at a cafe near campus.
Out of most people's sight.
"Seon-woo."
"...?"
She slammed shut the textbook I was reading and boldly straddled my lap.
Face-to-face.
Her soft thigh pressed against mine.
As I panicked and glanced around,
- Mwah.
Han Soo-ah ambushed me with a kiss.
"No one's looking. It's a corner."
She wrapped her arms around my neck, whispering in a nasal tone.
"No studying. Look at me."
"..."
"I'll be more fun."
Han Soo-ah pecked my dazed lips lightly again, then burrowed into my chest.
Pressing her face there, inhaling deeply.
Always like this.
And as night deepened,
she'd seek me out even more blatantly.
"Seon-woo, let's drink."
"Sorry, sis, exam week..."
"Hng."
Once.
"Seon-woo, weekend getaway? Sleepover."
"Sorry... assignments due this week..."
Twice.
Our vibe was skyrocketing.
Touching more, tension building—but no real progress.
I wasn't avoiding it.
Just swamped.
"..."
I remember her face filling with dissatisfaction each rejection.
"Assignments done, then what."
"Group project..."
"Ughhh!!"
Three times.
Then one day.
'Study at my place tonight.'
Han Soo-ah was beyond top of the class.
A working pro already, so her help was a golden opportunity.
Exam week anyway—I had no excuse and headed to her place.
Not a dorm, a full apartment.
10 p.m. I stepped off the elevator to her door.
"..."
That's when it hit me.
I'd been to her place a few times, but never this late, just the two of us on purpose.
No turning back now, though.
- Beep-beep...
She'd given me the code, so I cautiously opened the door and entered.
"Sis...? I'm here."
No answer.
Living room, kitchen—lights all off.
Just one spot.
A sliver of lamplight leaked from the master bedroom door.
I drifted toward it like a moth to flame and pushed it open.
"..."
Dead quiet inside.
Bedside lamp illuminated the room.
At the foot of the bed, she sat.
Tight short-sleeved crop top and denim shorts.
She looked up at me slowly.
"Lock the door."
Languid, sultry voice.
As I startled back, she pressed a finger to her red lips.
"...Shh."
Her hand slid to her waist.
A thin strap dangled over her denim shorts.
Staring straight into my eyes, she slowly
tugged the knot.
- Slither...
The knot unraveled limply.
In that moment,
time froze.
The loose strap slid down her thigh.
My mind blazed.
Then.
"Today's lesson..."
She smiled seductively.
"Will be hands-on."
As if remembering something, she pursed her lips.
"Oh... but..."
Han Soo-ah shyly looked down.
"Truth is, teacher's a first-timer too."
My heart thundered.
Like a man possessed, I stepped forward.
One step.
Another.
Distance vanished.
"Yeah... sis..."
With trembling hands, I wrapped around her waist.
Holding her quivering shoulders, I knew.
No greater happiness than this.
Her clumsy moves and shy expressions that night were enough to make me give her everything.
But
after that blissful night,
her obsession began.