Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Eel Tails and Misread Signals
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I frantically racked my brain.
Maybe while pretending to eat and shower, I could find a moment to change my underwear.
Or if I turned off the lights, it might be less visible.
The moment we got home, I kicked off my shoes haphazardly and yelled,
"Hey, stay put in your room while I set the table! I'll call you when it's ready!"
"No, let me help a bit..."
"Forget it. Just grab the soda from the bag and put it on the table, then go!"
Dojin, caught off guard, pulled the soda out of the bag and set it down,
and I shoved his back like I'd been waiting for it, pushing him into his room.
I slammed the door shut to keep him from coming out and bolted to the kitchen.
My heart felt like it was going to explode, but since things had come to this, I wanted to prepare perfectly.
I opened the eel barbecue packaging and saw a note saying to warm it up in the microwave for a bit.
With trembling hands, I transferred the eel onto a plate and set the cooking time.
A whirring sound rang out, filling the kitchen with the savory aroma of seasoned eel.
While waiting for it to heat, I set the bokbunja wine and glasses on the table.
As the dark red liquid filled the glasses, the mood heated up strangely.
Finally, the perfectly warmed eel took center stage.
"All done. Come sit."
The door opened, and Dojin emerged, eyes sparkling as he grabbed his chopsticks.
"Whoa, you set it up so nicely. Thanks, looks delicious."
He wrapped a piece of eel in lettuce and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Damn, this is so good. It just melts in your mouth."
I picked up the tail piece and placed it on Dojin's rice bowl.
"Uh, yeah. Eat the tail. It's the best part."
I slyly set the tail on his rice bowl.
He tried a bite of the tail,
then his eyes widened as he looked at me.
"Whoa, what? The tail is seriously delicious. You gotta try it."
"Nah, you eat it all. I'm not big on tails."
"Really? Then I'll take it all."
Dojin scarfed it down without hesitation.
He eats it so eagerly.
Wonder where he'll put all that energy.
"Man, this eel is so good I can't go without a drink."
Dojin downed a full glass of bokbunja wine.
A red droplet clung to his lips.
The way he licked it off looked oddly erotic.
I swallowed hard.
As dinner wound down, Dojin set down his water glass and said,
"I'm stuffed. We're doing a round right after this, right?"
"Pfft!"
At the word "round" from Dojin's mouth, I nearly spat out my bokbunja wine.
"Hey, you okay? Choked?"
Dojin handed me a tissue and patted my back.
"N-no, it's nothing."
I wiped my flushed face and cleared my throat awkwardly.
Dojin shoved the remaining bokbunja wine back into the fridge bottle-first.
"Gonna stop with the booze here. Can't perform properly if I'm too drunk."
"...Huh?"
"Gotta stay sharp and focused."
I swallowed dryly at his determined tone.
How intense was he planning to get that he'd even ration his drinking?
He demolished the rest of his rice in seconds and stood up.
"Hurry and finish so we can clean up quick. I'm full and getting sleepy."
"O-okay."
"Feeling sticky, so I gotta shower right away. You going first?"
Dojin headed straight to the bathroom without looking back.
His retreating figure seemed unusually hurried tonight.
After dinner, we each headed to the bathroom.
Under the shower spray, I steeled my resolve.
I shook out my wet hair in front of the mirror.
Tonight, my lips looked especially red.
I picked out my prettiest lingerie, the one I'd been saving.
Over it, to avoid seeming too forward, I threw on some loose, flowing pajamas.
Prepared, I stepped into the living room—but no Dojin.
Only one door was open.
The game room.
'Huh? Not the bedroom, the game room?'
No way.
I cautiously opened the game room door.
Dojin was already at the computer, headset on.
"You're here? Sit. Gotta let dinner settle."
"...Here?"
I hesitantly sat next to him.
He pointed at the monitor with a serious face.
"Gotta do 'a round,' right?"
"...Y-yeah."
I'd suspected as much from all his 'round' talk earlier.
It was actually a game round?
Even for oblivious Dojin, this didn't make sense.
We'd eaten eel, drunk bokbunja,
showered clean—and this was his idea of 'a round'?
As my mind tangled in confusion, a realization flashed through.
'This... is buildup.'
Too embarrassing to dive straight in sober,
so a clever ploy to set the mood naturally with gaming as an excuse.
Obviously, he'd suggest a 'wish-granting' bet,
and when I lost, use it as pretext to pounce.
I decided to play along with his cute scheme and gripped the mouse tight.
"Fine. Sounds good. But plain play's boring—wanna bet?"
My taunt made Dojin's eyes gleam.
"Bet? Can't resist. Deal."
He eagerly grabbed his mouse.
I had to lose anyway for things to flow naturally after.
I feigned seriousness and placed my hands on the keyboard.
The cheerful startup chime echoed.
My character advanced with gun raised on screen, but my eyes wandered elsewhere.
The veins bulging on the back of Dojin's mouse-gripping hand caught my gaze.
My crosshair sliced empty air, missing spike placement entirely.
"Hey? Behind you! Behind!"
Dojin shouted urgently, but it sounded like sweet whispers to me.
Bang!
I didn't even hear the enemy footsteps and flopped dead on the floor pathetically.
"Gotcha! Clean win."
Dojin spun his chair in victory.
"...Yeah, I lost. Use your wish."
I closed my eyes, pretending resignation.
Now he'd scoop me up and carry me to the bedroom.
Imagining him kicking the door open rough sent tingles through my limbs.
"Okay. Using the wish."
Dojin's voice came.
I swallowed nervously, tense.
"Do 100 sit-to-stands."
"...What?"
I snapped my eyes open.
No beastly hunk ready to carry me—instead, a stern personal trainer sat there.
"100 sit-to-stands. Now."
"Sudden workout out of nowhere?"
"Hey, you haven't been exercising lately. Felt it during that massage—too soft."
Dojin tapped my thigh.
"No muscle mass means you age fast. Gotta stay healthy."
"Y-you mean actual exercise?"
"What, you think there's fake exercise? 100 reps now. I'll count. One."
"...Fuck."
I scooted my butt back, swallowing bitter tears.
"One! Two! Deeper! Posture straight!"
"Five... six... huff... huff..."
This was humiliating—I let out a hollow laugh.
No romance, just boot camp.
"Ninety-nine, one hundred! Done!"
I collapsed spread-eagled on the floor.
My thighs felt like they might burst.
The ceiling spun.
"Good job. Feels refreshing, right? Exercise is key."
I snatched the water bottle he offered and chugged.
Frustration boiled over.
"Hey, then what was that convenience store buy? Wasn't that...?"
"This?"
Dojin ripped open the black bag on the desk.
Thud—a bundle of white cable fell out.
"Phone charger cable. The old one's loose and keeps popping out."
"..."
"Gotta be two meters for bed use. Short ones yank out every time you shift—annoying."
I stared blankly at the white cord, speechless.
"Hate waking to a dead phone. This grips tight—stays plugged all night."
Dojin proudly pressed the connector ends.
All tension drained from me.
Emptiness and embarrassment crashed like a tsunami.
I'd made a total fool of myself over that damn charger cord.
'This sucks.'
I shot up and stormed to the living room.
"Hey! Where you going!"
"Drinking! I'm pissed!"
We sat on the living room floor and polished off the remaining bokbunja.
The side dish was cold, stale leftover eel.
The dark red wine Dojin poured sloshed into my glass.
I downed it without looking at his face.
The sweet-bitter liquid slid down my throat.
The warmth spreading inside finally made me feel alive.
"Drink slower. Your face is red."
"Shut up! Gonna get wasted tonight!"
Dojin refilled my empty glass and said,
"Hey, why you yelling all of a sudden? Mad about the workout?"
He topped off his glass, puzzled.
"No idea! Just moods swinging tonight."
I slammed back another shot in anger.
Burning throat, sweet aftertaste rising.
"Your moods are a mystery. Here, drink up."
Dojin shrugged and raised his glass.
Clink—the clear chime rang in the air.
He tossed back the dark red liquid without pause.
His firm Adam's apple bobbed prominently in my view.
"Ahh, sweet. Pairs perfect with eel—goes down easy."
Dojin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grinned.
"Yeah, drink and drop dead. Not sleeping anyway."
I glanced down at my outfit.
Pity about the new lingerie hidden under this flowing silk pajama.
"Ugh, seriously... all that careful showering for nothing."
"Don't you always shower carefully? You smell nice and clean."
Dojin playfully flicked the end of my hair.
His innocent, clueless smile drove me insane.
"Just stay that pure forever. Living the minimalist life."
"Minimalist out of nowhere? Sea, you're acting weird tonight."
"No clue why. So shut up and drink."
I poured Dojin a hefty glass.
The dark red liquid nearly overflowed onto the table.
We downed glasses competitively, one after another.
The sweet, heavy alcohol scorched down my esophagus, heating my stomach.
Sore thighs throbbed from squats, face flushing hot.
Empty stomach plus workout made the buzz hit fast.
The world spun gently.
Dojin's face glowed redder than usual.
He snatched the bottle from my hand, swaying, and said,
"Enough drinking. Bedtime. Your eyes are glazing over."