Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Stamina Supplements
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"Hurry up. If your head gets too heavy, I'll just toss it anyway."
I hesitated for a moment before lying down on the sofa.
Smoothly...
My head settled onto Sea's thigh.
"Oh... it's more comfortable than I thought?"
The flesh of her thigh yielded softly under me.
It was plush, like sinking into a high-end latex pillow.
"Of course it is. You think anyone can just lie here? Feel honored."
My view flipped upside down, and I saw Sea's face inverted.
Well, actually, I couldn't really see her face properly.
Because the thin T-shirt barely concealed the curves that filled my entire field of vision.
I quickly squeezed my eyes shut.
That's when Sea's slender fingers gently pressed into my temples.
"Oh... that's cool."
"Your brow bones are all knotted up. Don't walk around frowning like that all the time."
"Ah, that hurts. Go easy."
"Quit whining. Now relax your neck too. Loosen up."
Sea’s fingers trailed from behind my ears down to the nape of my neck.
Goosebumps prickled every time her cool fingertips touched my skin.
Each time she leaned in, a soft sensation brushed my nose tip.
No, honestly, it felt like I'd buried my face in it a few times already.
"...Hey, aren't you a bit too close?"
"What? Massages are supposed to use your body weight."
Sea ignored me and leaned her upper body even deeper over my back.
A heavy, soft pressure settled over my face, cutting off my breath.
"Ugh! Hey, you're heavy."
"Stop complaining. You're thinking something weird right now, aren't you? Your ears are burning."
"No, I'm not. It's just hot, that's all. Hot."
"Hot? What's hot?"
"I said it's not that! Just give me a proper massage."
"But why's your skin so dry? This won't do. Let's put on a sheet mask too."
Sea lifted my head and carefully moved it onto a fluffy cushion.
"Wait here a sec."
She left me lying there and dashed into the master bedroom.
A moment later, she returned triumphantly with a sheet mask in hand.
Tsss.
The sound of the packaging tearing rang in my ears.
A cool, dripping sheet plopped right onto my face.
The chilly sensation made my body shrink involuntarily.
"Hold still. I need to line up your eyes and nose."
Sea leaned right over my face to position the sheet.
Her fingertips pressed from my forehead to my chin, sealing the sheet tightly without any gaps.
"Can't breathe. Just do it roughly."
"Tsk. Customer, I'm making you pretty, okay?"
Sea meticulously pressed down on my face to squeeze out the air bubbles from the mask.
Her index finger trailed down my nose bridge and slowly brushed over my lips.
The body heat transmitted through the damp sheet felt unusually hot.
"...Hey."
"Hold still. Your lips are dry too."
Sea’s gaze lingered on my lips.
Her thumb pressed gently into my lower lip.
The way she rubbed it, checking the rough texture, was strangely persistent.
Just that one finger moving sent my nerves on edge all over my body.
"Relax your lips a bit? I'm not trying to do anything bad."
She smirked, as if savoring my flustered reaction, the corner of her mouth twitching up.
Before I knew it, her face had drawn even closer.
Her hot breath poured over the cold mask onto my skin.
We were so close that I could clearly see each other's reflections in our eyes.
"Hey, you're... way too close right now."
Instead of answering, Sea slowly tilted her head.
Her breath scattered even thicker over my lips, as if they might touch any second.
That was when it happened.
Ding-dong—
The cheerful doorbell echoed through the living room.
"Argh! What the—? At this timing?"
Sea jolted back in surprise, shoving my chest roughly,
and bolted to the front door, her ears red as could be.
"Did you order something?"
I cleared my throat awkwardly and pressed down on the cold mask with my hand.
I tensed my stomach to keep my voice from trembling.
Sea checked the intercom screen and tilted her head.
"Who is it? Oh, sure. Just leave it at the door."
Her voice came from beyond the entryway.
"No? Looks like it's from Dad. Courier service?"
A moment later, Sea staggered into the living room hugging a styrofoam box half her size.
I got up and took the box from her, setting it on the dining table.
Cold air seeped from the seams.
I ripped off the tape, and with a rustle, the lid popped open.
"...What's all this?"
Sea peered inside at my question and her eyes went wide.
"Eel?"
The box was packed tight with vacuum-sealed packs of dressed eels.
The eels in neat black containers looked like works of art.
Edible gold dust sprinkled over their glossy skins, soaked in special sauce.
Next to them was a glass bottle filled with dark red liquid.
Not the kind you get at a convenience store.
A ceramic bottle like a craftsman's work, labeled only with brush-script "Special."
"And this next to it is bokbunja wine?"
"There's a note. From the Secretary Chief."
Sea picked up the card from the corner of the box.
[The Chairman said... 'Stamina is crucial when you're young.' Enjoy.]
Sea’s voice trailed off smaller and smaller.
"......"
"......"
A heavy silence settled over the living room.
Eel and bokbunja.
And stamina.
Anyone could see the blatant implication.
The mask on my face suddenly felt scorching hot.
We coughed awkwardly and averted our eyes.
"Uh, well... we must've looked tired back then."
"Yeah. I was pulling all-nighters on assignments."
We avoided each other's gazes, spouting nonsense.
But with the bright daylight outside, devouring this lavish tonic right now felt wrong.
"For now... should we stick the bokbunja in the fridge?"
We handled the bottle like a live bomb and tucked it deep in the fridge.
We agreed to eat the eel for dinner.
'Ugh, Dad's lost his mind. Sending his daughter eel and bokbunja in broad daylight.'
My face burned so hot I thought I'd go insane.
And on top of the mood turning weird while applying the mask...
I forced a casual act as I walked back to the living room.
But Dojin's presence behind me felt a thousand times more intense than usual.
An awkward silence drifted through the living room again.
Dojin scratched the back of his head and spoke up.
"Hey, we seem kinda short on drinks at home."
"Huh? We've got plenty of water."
"No, like soda. We'll need some with the eel later, right?"
"Ah... yeah, true."
He was looking for an excuse to get some air.
I needed to break this weird atmosphere too.
"Sure. Let's go. I want ice cream anyway."
We slipped on our slippers and headed to the shops in the apartment complex.
Dojin's expression in the elevator mirror looked unusually serious.
At the convenience store, he spoke first.
"I'll check that side."
Dojin strode not to the drink fridge, but the opposite aisle with daily necessities.
'Wasn't he here for drinks?'
I tilted my head and stood in front of the ice cream freezer.
He hates mint choco, so vanilla's safe.
Wonder what Dojin likes. I sneaked toward where he was standing.
"Hey, Yoon Dojin. What do you wanna—"
I froze solid when I saw what he was staring at so intently.
The farthest corner of the shelf, a display of colorful boxes lined up by type.
Palm-sized little boxes stood in neat rows, boasting different thicknesses and features.
It was the 'condom display.'
Dojin was stroking his chin, staring holes into it.
'What, what? Crazy. Staring at that so seriously here?'
I hid behind the shelf and strained to hear his mutterings.
"Hmm... this one's too thin. No, adhesion matters more than safety."
"Adhesion...!!"
Heat exploded across my face.
"This one's too short. Needs more length... No perfect size, huh."
'Length?! How long does it need to be?!'
"For bed use, this seems best? Might as well get the most expensive one."
'Bed?! You crazy bastard! Why say that here!'
"Hate if it slips out midway. Gotta pick one that lasts full throttle till morning."
'Aaaah! Can't listen anymore!!'
I bolted out of the store like I was fleeing.
"He's insane, really! That pervert Yoon Dojin, saying stuff like that anywhere!"
The cold wind whipped my cheeks,
but the heat rising from my face showed no sign of fading.
My mind went blank white.
He's coming on this bold?
'Does he plan to do it tonight?'
'Because of the eel and bokbunja we just got?'
'Wait, what underwear did I put on today?'
I'd thrown them on in a rush that morning, mismatched top and bottom probably.
Damn it.
Should've grabbed the lacy ones if I'd known.
My heart pounded like it would burst.
"Oh, you were out here? What about the ice cream?"
Dojin came out swinging a plastic bag.
The rattling boxes inside grated on my nerves.
I faked nonchalance with a cough.
"Uh, uh. Ice cream didn't appeal after all, so I came out. Got everything?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
Dojin walked ahead.
I trailed hesitantly behind.
"What're you doing? Hurry up. We gotta get back quick."
"...Quick?"
"Yeah. Hurry. It's getting late."
'You maniac! Late my ass. The sun's not even down!'
The plastic bag in his hand looked especially heavy.
Through the translucent plastic, angular silhouettes peeked out.
Definitely 'that' stuff inside.
My mouth went bone-dry the whole elevator ride up.
In the cramped space, Dojin's low breaths sounded deafening.
I snuck a glance at him.
"Dojin. The eel... you wanna eat it now?"
"It's from your dad. Gotta eat it. Looked expensive—let's have it fresh."
'Knew it, this guy's planning it for tonight.'