The Slippery Back Scrub
"Hey. I got an email earlier."
"What email?"
"They want to put an ad on our channel. From Hanul."
Sea stared intently at the monitor as she continued. "To be precise, it seems like it's from a Hanul subcontractor ad agency."
"Hanul? That's your dad's company. Is it okay to accept it?"
I asked cautiously, and Sea shrugged indifferently. "I thought about it a bit, but I figured I'd take it for now."
"We're gonna have to take ads eventually anyway," I nodded in agreement. "And since it's not some total stranger, it'll probably be easier."
The item for the ad request was something pretty familiar. It was the new smart watch from Hanul that I'd gotten during that Jeju Island gig last time—and I was still wearing it now.
"When are we making the ad video?"
"Dunno. It'll take some time after we sign the contract and get the documents."
Sea stretched her arms out wide, then leaned her head on my shoulder. Her soft hair brushed against my nape. A warm body heat and solid weight settled onto my shoulder at the same time.
"Ah, I'm tired."
"We upload one video and suddenly YouTube revenue plus ads—it's a lot."
"Yeah. No wonder you're wiped."
I relaxed my shoulder slightly so she could lean more comfortably. "Ah. I need to soak in the tub."
"Yeah? Alright, I'll go fill it up."
I stood and headed toward the bathroom. "Our tub here's kinda small. Might as well wash up quick while I'm filling it."
At my words, Sea leaned back against the chair and looked up at me. "If you're washing up, don't waste the water— you use the tub first, Dojin."
"Nah, I don't need the tub. Just a quick rinse."
"Okay."
I grabbed a towel from the closet and stepped into the bathroom. I turned on the shower, and warm water poured down, quickly filling the air with steam.
I reached for the soap to lather my back, but my hand came up empty. "What the hell. Where'd it go?"
I rummaged through the shelf, but my usual washcloth was nowhere. Over the sound of the water came her voice from beyond the closed door. "What's up?"
"The shower cloth's gone?"
"Oh! Hold on a sec."
Rustling footsteps faded away, then quickly returned. Click. Without warning, the bathroom door flew open.
"Sh, shit. What the—?"
Through the white steam strode Sea, bold as brass, wrapped precariously in nothing but a thin white towel. Her slender shoulders and bare legs filled my vision unfiltered.
I freaked, slapping both hands down to cover myself. "No shower cloth, right?"
"You give me the shower cloth, not barge in naked."
"Naked? I've got everything covered."
"That's not the point—get out, now. Why the hell did you come in?!"
Despite my frantic yell, she sauntered calmly to the showerhead. Her bare feet slapping the wet tile rang out deafeningly.
"Hey, you said no shower cloth. Came to wash your back for you."
"So say it's gone and leave it—why barge in?!"
"A person's thorough back scrub beats some dumb cloth any day."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"Arguing like this just hurts our mouths. Better to just get it over with quick, right?"
"What? Get out, now."
"I'm not going."
Sea took another step toward me. Hot spray splashed the floor, grazing her bare skin. The stifling steam dried my mouth parched.
"Grab me and shove me out, then."
"……."
"Go on."
She spread her arms slightly in challenge. Her collarbone stood out sharply above the white towel. If I reached to push her away, that precarious knot looked ready to unravel.
I seriously considered grabbing her by the hair and dragging her out, but that was impossible. There was no way to force out a girl wrapped in just a towel.
In the end, I let out a deep sigh and hung my head. "Whatever. Just hurry up and wash it, then."
I dragged over a small plastic bath stool in the corner and sat, hunching forward with knees together, back exposed to her.
"Leave it to me. I'll get you spotless."
A chipper reply came from behind. Water sloshed into a basin. Splash. She poured warm tub water over my back. Lukewarm streams cascaded over my tensed muscles.
Honestly, it felt pretty damn good.
"Hold up, let's try this. It's my oil scrub."
A pop of a lid opening. Then something thick and cool splattered onto my bare back. Her small hands touched near my shoulder blades, spreading the slick oil in slow circles.
"It's for dead skin care."
Her body heat seeped through the slippery oil, sticky and warm. "Your back's wider than I thought, Dojin?"
As she pressed down, sweeping along my back, heat bloomed along my spine. The wet, squelching friction tickled my ears over the water.
I bit my lower lip hard, suppressing the rising, illicit sensation. Her soft touch didn't stay on my back. Her hands slid up my spine, then damp fingers gently gripped my shoulders, tracing the curve of my collarbone slowly.
"Hey. How far are you going?"
I tried to stop her urgently, but her hands kept going, slipping around my sides toward the front. The ends of her wet hair brushed my nape. Hot breath ghosted over my shoulder, heating my skin.
Her slick palms swept past my ribs to my chest without hesitation. "Ah, I'll wash the front myself."
Tension cracked my voice pathetically. A short laugh echoed from behind.
"Shh, stay still. This makes your skin all soft and fresh."
She reached both arms deep over my shoulders to rub my chest. Naturally, her upper body pressed flush against my broad back, thin towel the only barrier. Soft sensation trailed down my spine.
"Hey. You're touching everywhere. Back off a bit."
I shrugged to pull away, but she stretched her arms to follow. In that instant, the towel knot strained taut over her chest. Snick. With a tiny friction sound, the towel binding her body loosened and fell away.
The rough cotton texture vanished. Instead, hot, soft flesh pressed seamlessly against my oiled back. The raw sensation of her breasts molding to me stiffened my spine rigid.
"Huh?"
Her flustered voice came from behind. "Th-that's why I said back off."
My voice shook from the scorching contact. My mind blanked white.
"Wait. This feels like something from porn."
"No, seriously. What the hell? Just get out already."
"Hold on. I'll grab the towel and tie it back."
She grunted behind me, reaching for the fallen towel on the floor. But the soft mass glued to my back showed no sign of peeling away.
"I won't turn around, so pull back and pick up the towel."
She paused mid-reach, letting out a deflating sound by my ear. Her voice dripped with amusement. "That? What's 'that'?"
"That. The thing stuck to me right now."
"Oh. This?"
Her hand slipped from my arm. "You messing with me?"
"What else?"
Sea rubbed her upper body up and down against my back teasingly. The yielding softness spread vividly along my spine. My breath caught tight.
I gripped the slippery stool edge with both hands. I wanted to bolt up, but my legs were jelly.
"You gonna say it properly?"
Her lazy whisper by my ear broke my restraint. "Tits! Your goddamn tits, you bitch!"
My near-scream echoed off the cramped bathroom walls.
"Whoa! Okay, calm down, calm."
Sea stepped back giggling. The hot body heat finally lifted from my back. I heard her towel flapping as she rewrapped her wet body.
I covered my flushed face with both hands, panting raggedly. I stared blankly at the steaming tile floor.
"I'll wash myself now, so get out."
I jabbed a finger toward the door without turning. I just wanted this blood-boiling mess over.
But no obedient footsteps sounded. Instead, heavy water sloshing filled the room. Splash.
"While you wash, I'll soak in the tub."
"What?"
I whipped around in shock, and an unbelievable sight hit me. Sea was already settled in the tub, warm water I'd drawn lapping below her collarbone. Perched there with the white towel over her chest, she looked absurd.
Wet hair clung messily to her white shoulders. "Hey. Is your head okay?"
"We're engaged, right? What's the big deal."
She draped an arm over the tub rim, replying nonchalantly. "It's a fake engagement."
"You kissed me last time."
Her bold retort clogged my throat. The memory of our lips crashing in that cramped, dark room surged up. The tangle of hot breaths revived vividly on my mouth.
I clamped my lips shut in panic. "……."
Unable to retort, I just gaped dumbly. She propped her chin, gazing at me leisurely through the steam-choked bathroom. No room left to retreat, my back prickled with sweat.
"So what now? Gonna sit there gawking at my dick?"
I spat sharply, brazen to hide my shame. "Sure. Can I?"
Her instant reply held zero hesitation. Black eyes sparkled with mischief through the white steam—no trace of embarrassment, pure audacity.
"Like hell you can!"
I recoiled, clutching the showerhead hard. Heat flooded my face unrelentingly. "At least look away."
I finally backed down first, snapping gruffly. At my bark, Sea turned her head to the wall obediently.
But her humming tune grated through the tight space. Under the pouring water, I frantically rinsed off the suds.