Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Cuddles and Jealous Sparks
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"......"
I hurriedly whipped my head around.
My nape burned hot.
"Ah, the valve must be switched to the shower... Hang on. I'll grab you a towel."
"Ah... sorry. Our Dojin's still so innocent—this is way too much for him."
Even now, her mouth wouldn't quit.
"Shut up and stay put."
I squeezed my eyes shut and groped blindly for a towel on the rack.
Then I bolted to the closet and yanked out my baggiest t-shirt and a pair of training pants.
I shoved them through the crack in the door, keeping my voice as flat as possible.
"These are mine. Put 'em on."
A moment later.
Sea stepped out of the bathroom, shaking out her wet hair roughly.
My t-shirt hung on her like a dress again.
The way she'd rolled up the sleeves twice looked oddly endearing.
"Water's dripping everywhere. Hate mopping the floor—c'mere."
I dug a hairdryer out of the drawer and plugged it in.
I perched on the edge of the bed and jerked my chin at the floor.
Without a word, Sea settled right between my legs.
Whirr—.
Warm air blasted out as my fingers threaded through her hair.
The damp strands clung to them.
"......Hot."
"Ah, sorry."
"No. Just saying."
Every time my rough fingers grazed her scalp, Sea's shoulders twitched ever so slightly.
"You're surprisingly good at this. Feels like a salon."
"Quiet. Hair's getting in my mouth."
The room filled with the dryer's hum.
A warm haze—shampoo or her scent, hard to tell—suffused my cramped studio.
It felt drowsy, like we'd been a married couple forever.
I was lost in that quiet comfort, drying her hair, when something caught my eye.
A single loose thread from my t-shirt poked up from her shoulder.
A cheap market tee—ten thousand won for three, three thousand three hundred each.
'Others are climbing ladders, but you've got a helicopter on standby...'
The professor's voice echoed in my head.
My grip tightened on the dryer.
My hand, buried in her soft hair,
suddenly felt heavy, like I was touching her enormous 'background' instead.
I could feel the distance—touching, yet impossible to close.
Guess it still bugged me after all.
I shook out the damp ends and flicked the switch off.
"All dry."
"......"
No answer.
I leaned down to check her face.
"......Hey, you asleep?"
Twitch.
Her eyelids fluttered.
Definitely faking it.
Swoosh.
As I started to stand, her arm snaked around my waist.
I was like a cicada clinging to an old tree trunk.
"Don't go."
"Not going anywhere. Just thirsty."
"Don't drink."
Her arm tightened.
"You ghosted me for three days. That's seventy-two hours. Four thousand three hundred twenty minutes."
"......Why count down to the minute?"
"Yeah. So stick close—no wandering. Pay back the interest."
Sea was throwing a fit in the corner of my room, holding my time hostage.
Like not a single minute could be spared.
Ridiculous math, but I didn't feel like arguing.
Like it or not, her absence had dragged on for me too.
I gave up on getting up.
"Fine. Staying."
"Then pillow duty."
Suddenly, Sea yanked my shoulder and toppled me flat.
"Hey, what the—why lie down?!"
"Barely slept. Stay still."
I got dragged down in one lump and wound up lying next to her by accident.
As if she'd been waiting, she slid my arm under her head and buried her face against my chest.
Her fresh-out-of-the-shower scent stabbed my nose.
No clue where to look—I just glared at the ceiling light.
I'm losing it.
Her underwear was drying somewhere from earlier—she wasn't wearing any.
Crazy. Every nerve screamed.
Her full weight poured onto me.
Through the thin t-shirt, her soft curves pressed clear as torture.
The weight of her bare chest crushed down.
Warm, plush mass molded to my skin, jiggling faintly with each breath.
My mouth went bone-dry as I swallowed.
"......Feels good."
With that, she really conked out.
Her fingers, clenched in my shirt hem, went limp with a pop.
Tense shoulders and legs draped over me sagged like wet cotton.
Like a robot with the power yanked.
Her steady breaths warmed my chest.
That hot, heavy coziness seemed to soothe my hammering heart.
I found myself staring hard at her sleeping face.
Her sharp, upturned cat eyes had gone soft.
Han Sea of all people—mouth slack, on the verge of drooling.
No fancy makeup, no designer threads—just my ratty old t-shirt.
'Who the hell knows...'
The girl lying next to me was just that: one girl,
Han Sea, my one and only friend—before Hanul's princess.
The next day at school, lunch hour.
Too lazy for a real meal, I was grabbing bread when my phone buzzed.
"Come out. Front gate."
"Ugh, hassle. Can't you just bounce?"
"Wanna die? Heels today—feet are wrecked. One minute. Haul ass."
Click.
She hung up.
I swallowed a curse, slipped on my flip-flops, and shuffled to the gate.
An out-of-place silhouette from afar.
No usual slouchy sweats—a woman in a beige dress and jacket.
Full glam makeup, wavy hair.
Anyone'd think she was off to see the cherry blossoms.
"Why the stare-down? First time seeing a pretty 'sis'?"
"Whoa, who're you? Makeup's a total disguise—can't even recognize."
"Shut it. Here."
Sis shoved her shopping bag into my chest.
Heavy.
"What's this?"
"Wedding favor. Wine from it—I don't drink. Yours."
"Oh, sweet. Whose wedding?"
"High school buddy. Whatever. Food sucked, feet ache."
Sis was mid-frown, about to plop on the bench.
Clack. Her high heel snagged in a sidewalk crack—body wobbled.
"Whoa, hey!"
I snagged her waist on reflex.
To keep from falling, she threw her arms around my neck.
Our bodies slammed together in a flash.
"Ugh, heavy. Diet."
"Shut up. Heel busted? Help me walk."
Sis groaned into my chest, half-draped on me.
I finally propped her upright.
That's when.
Click-clack, click-clack.
Sharp heels drummed the asphalt, closing in.
"Darling."
Voice chilled my spine.
Sea stood there, arms crossed, glaring daggers.
Eyes feral.
"Funny. Blink and some bitch is glued to my man?"
"......Popping up outta nowhere—why the attitude? Bad lunch?"
"Why? Your girlfriend's eyes bulging, and you're hugging her like a show?"
"No show. Just dropping wine."
I played it casual, no big deal.
"Quiet. You stay out. Wine? Ha, real schemer. Drunk for what?"
"......Think there's a mix-up."
Sis blinked, baffled, and chimed in.
"Mix-up? Looks like you're the one working him. Dressed to kill for 'one drink'?"
Sea's gaze raked Sis up and down.
Sis had dolled up today, sure.
"Hey, Han Sea. Enough."
I grabbed her shoulder.
"Oho, already tight with this one?"
Sea snatched my collar and yanked me close.
"What?"
"Hold still—gotta make it crystal."
"Mmph...!"
Smooch.
A wet smack as her lips hit mine and pulled away.
"Ah, crazy! What the hell...!"
"Saw that? This is us. Business done? Scram. Kinda urgent—
this wine's screaming motel."
"Hey!!!"
"......Pfft."
Sis cracked up, couldn't hold it.
"Laughing? Not getting it?"
"Sorry, too hilarious. Yo, Yoon Dojin—your girl's a riot? Total beast mode."
"Sis, sorry. She got the wrong idea."
"Sis?"
One of Sea's brows shot up.
"Yeah. Blood sis. Fam."
"......"
"......"
"......B-blood... sis?"
"Yep. Yoon Seo-yeon here. Same womb as Dojin. Not flirting—just dumping leftover booze on my lil bro."
The blood drained from Sea's face.
Her expression froze like her brain shorted out.
"......"
"Ah...! I had no clue...! Uh, h-hello! N-nice to meet you!"
Sea bowed like a glitchy robot.
"Uh? Oh, hi. Nice to meet you."
Sis blinked at the random bow, flustered,
but caught on quick and smirked.
"S-sorry! Lost my mind for a sec...!
Forget my lunatic ramble, please!"
Sea clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes pleading. She'd burrow into a rat hole if one appeared.
"Nah, all good. Cute girlfriend looking out for Dojin? Heartwarming. Solid."
Sis waved it off with a warm smile.
Sea lit up like she'd won the lottery.
"N-no! Thanks for calling me cute! I'm not usually like that. Sis is just so gorgeous. Hehe..."
"Who dis? Tone shift much?"
I poked fun at her instant switch-up.
Still beaming, Sea pinched my side.
"Dojin—no, Oppa—hush."
Ventriloquism through gritted teeth.
"Weird as hell. Goosebumps—back to normal, yeah?"
Her brow twitched. Push it more, and I'd be toast.
"Ah! Class starting soon. You two chat! See ya!"
Sea bolted, face ashen.
She vanished into the crowd in seconds.
Desperate enough to fly in those heels.
Sis propped her chin, cackling at the retreating figure.
"Eesh... that spitfire. How's she gonna survive later?"
I muttered with a worried click of my tongue.
Sis shot me a sly grin and elbowed my ribs.
"Why jab?"
"Damn, player? Bagging a stunner like that?"
"Nah."
I shook my head.
Sis narrowed her eyes, skeptical.
"Nah? Street smooch and you say nah?"
"......"
'Actually went further.'
Deep kisses, spooning in bed, bathroom...
"It's... whatever. Nah."
Couldn't spill the 'fake dating' to Sis without clearing it with Sea first.
I trailed off vaguely and looked away.