Chapter 118: Autumn (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118: Autumn (7)
“…….”
I fell into a heavy silence, looking back at Shin A-young as she pressed her body against my back.
With the sensation of her touch lingering, I couldn't focus on my workout at all. The girls were being especially bold today. Ji Nuri had been the same way earlier, but…
‘No, is this a bit different?’
Nuri usually did things without realizing it, but Shin A-young was a completely different story. The fact that she was doing this consciously made it feel much more significant.
Furthermore…
— “Haah….”
The breathing of Shin A-young’s Mini-Me had grown heavy. Its eyes were unfocused, and a silent, flickering desire burned within them.
— “Hold back, just hold back….”
Contrary to its words, the Mini-Me was kneading my forearm with both hands. I couldn't physically feel the Mini-Me’s touch, but the problem was that its actions were vividly displayed right in front of me.
‘…This is driving me crazy.’
Heat flushed my ears. Anyone who could maintain their composure in a situation like this would have to be made of stone.
“Whew…….”
I exhaled sharply and forced my attention elsewhere.
One… two… three… four….
I finished the set as quickly as possible and stood up abruptly. I was a man, after all; staying like that any longer was dangerous in more ways than one.
“Here, sit down.”
Realizing I couldn't continue like this, I decided to switch places.
“Huh?” Shin A-young sent me a puzzled look.
“I’ll check your form, so take a seat. I’m finished, so it’s your turn now.”
At those words, Shin A-young waved her hands dismissively. “I’m fine. I’ve done enough for today. I’d rather help you with your workout, Seung-ho.”
“You did less than usual. It’s fine, just sit down already.”
My tone was half-commanding, but surprisingly, this direct approach worked better on her.
“O-okay….”
Shin A-young hesitated for a moment before finally sitting in the chair.
— “Th-this isn't how it was supposed to go…!”
The Mini-Me broke into a cold sweat. It looked completely flustered now that its plan had gone awry.
“Here.”
I handed the handles to Shin A-young. “Grip them properly.”
“…….”
Shin A-young did as she was told without a word.
Click—
After adjusting the weight, she pulled the handles slowly. Watching her movement, I gently grasped her arms to adjust the position of her elbows.
— “Hieek!”
The Mini-Me trembled all over, startled by the sudden contact.
Even though she was the one who had initiated the contact earlier, she was just as easily rattled when the tables were turned. Being on the receiving end clearly felt different for her.
“Good. Pull like that.”
“O-okay.”
I didn't stop at just one correction. I placed my hands on her shoulders to fix her posture. Naturally, my palms brushed against her back.
“…….”
Now that I was the one doing it, I realized something. I was acting bold by guiding her movements, but this was much more intense for the other person than I had imagined. Even if I tried to keep my thoughts professional, I couldn't help the awareness.
Nevertheless, I didn't stop.
— “Th-this is……”
This was my response to Shin A-young’s assertiveness—a minimal expression to show that I wasn't uninterested, either. At this level, I hoped she wouldn't be too overwhelmed.
— “---------”
Static began to bleed into the Mini-Me’s words as it reached its limit. I didn't know how she could have been so aggressive just a moment ago when she was this embarrassed now.
“Ugh….”
Shin A-young furrowed her brows. Her posture began to slip, a clear sign that she couldn't concentrate at all.
“Focus. Feel the muscles in your back and pull slowly.”
I placed my hands on her arms and leaned in close behind her. I spoke softly, my voice a low murmur near her ear.
— “Huaaa…!”
In an instant, the mental noise cleared, and the Mini-Me let out a sharp, ragged breath.
Slide….
The strength in her grip gave way.
“!”
Clang——!
I quickly lunged for the handles. Because I was already a step ahead, I managed to catch them before the weights crashed down.
“Ah…!” Shin A-young’s eyes widened as she watched.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“…Yeah, I was just a little startled.” She gave an awkward smile, insisting she was fine.
She didn't seem to have any physical issues, but…
“…Should we stop here?”
“…Yeah.”
The atmosphere was no longer right for a workout.
“Wh-what? What happened?”
Lee Seung-ah rushed over, looking surprised. I narrowed my eyes slightly at the sight of her. Not for any particular reason, but…
“Hey. Wipe… wipe that off.” I pointed to her chin.
She must have been dozing off somewhere out of sheer exhaustion, because there was a trail of drool running down the corner of her mouth. It wasn't a look she should be showing in public.
“Ah. Sluuurp.”
Lee Seung-ah looked mortified and wiped her mouth vigorously.
“…….”
“…….”
At the sight, Shin A-young and I let out faint laughs simultaneously. My lips curled up at the sheer absurdity of the moment. It wasn't intentional, but the awkward tension had finally been broken.
*
“See you tomorrow—”
Shin A-young raised her hand slightly toward the two walking in the opposite direction.
Lee Seung-ho waved back. “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
“See ya tomorrow, Unnie~!”
“Okay.”
Shin A-young watched Lee Seung-ho’s retreating figure until he was nothing more than a small speck in the distance.
Step, step.
Even as she walked home, she kept turning back to check on him.
‘……The muscle pain tomorrow is going to be insane.’
Shin A-young stroked her own forearm. As she walked down the street, the fatigue in her muscles finally began to set in.
“…….”
Naturally, her mind replayed what had just happened.
— Focus. Feel the muscles in your back and pull slowly.
That low, whispering voice. The soft tone had sent a literal shiver down her spine. That was why she had lost her grip without even realizing it.
“…….”
Shin A-young tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a bright red earlobe. Her slender fingers toyed with the skin; it was still burning with heat.
‘I didn't know.’
She hadn't known her ears were so sensitive. It was an unexpected side of herself she hadn't realized existed.
Besides, this wasn't the plan. She had wanted to see him flustered by her touch—that had been her intention—but it hadn't gone well. In fact, the exact opposite had happened.
“……This isn't so bad, either.”
The thought briefly crossed her mind that being on the receiving end for once wasn't a bad feeling at all.
*
“…….”
Lee Sol rolled around on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She was someone who usually enjoyed lounging around, but right now, she was doing it for a very different reason.
“Nuri…….”
She had another thing to worry about.
“……Nuri likes Seung-ho.”
In short, there was one more rival. Lee Sol’s finger pressed firmly into the mattress.
“…….”
Surprisingly, she hadn't thought much of it at school. Perhaps it was because she had expected it for a long time, so she had accepted it naturally. Or so she thought.
‘I thought I was okay with it.’
But as soon as she got home and was alone, her heart felt restless for reasons she couldn't explain. With Shin A-young, she had been overflowing with the will to win. Now, she just felt stifled.
‘Is it because it’s Nuri……? This feels a bit off.’
She had received so much help from Ji Nuri over the years. She couldn't deny that her decision to attend school instead of just modeling had been influenced by her. Until she started hanging out with Lee Seung-ho, Nuri was the person she was closest to.
The thought of Ji Nuri being heartbroken after a rejection left a bitter taste in her mouth.
‘Not that I have any intention of stepping aside, though.’
In fact, because it was Ji Nuri… because it was her, Sol intended to take this even more seriously.
“Sigh.”
She wouldn't win if she didn't give it her all, anyway.
“…….”
Lee Sol looked at herself in the mirror with cold, critical eyes. Specifically, she looked at the area below her face.
‘…Small.’
Relatively speaking, of course. She had to admit that her physical "assets" were at a disadvantage compared to the other two. If it were just a slight difference, maybe she could ignore it, but with a gap this large, she had no choice but to accept reality.
“It’s so unfair…….”
Had she ever felt this much regret before?
However, knowing that complaining wouldn't change anything, Lee Sol sprang up from the bed. It wasn't like she was out of options. While lying there, she had come up with two distinct strategies.
The first method:
Lee Sol took a glass of cold milk out of the refrigerator.
“…….”
She looked down at it with a complicated expression. To be honest, she didn't like milk. She actually detested it.
“Whew…….”
Lee Sol took a breath to steady herself and downed it in one go. The milk gulped down her throat.
“Ugh…….”
Lee Sol clutched her churning stomach. The characteristic, lingering taste of the milk coated her tongue.
“…….”
Her hands trembled. Endure it. I can endure it. Yes, she was still in her growth phase. Furthermore, it wasn't genetically impossible.
‘The possibility isn't zero, right?’
Lee Sol thought of her mother. Even if she didn't reach the level of Ji Nuri or Shin A-young, the potential for growth was what mattered.
‘Next.’
The second method was to get help from someone else. After much agonizing and deliberation, she finally decided to seek advice on her current situation. Out of everyone she knew, this person likely knew the most about romance.
“…….”
Lee Sol poked her head out of the kitchen and spotted her mother sitting on the sofa.
Gulp—
She swallowed hard out of nervousness.
“…Blegh.”
The raw taste of the milk was still there.
Splash, splash.
Lee Sol rinsed her mouth with water and returned to the living room.
‘…I was going to have to tell her eventually anyway.’
No matter how much she thought about it, now was the perfect time to talk about her feelings for Seung-ho. Maybe not in the past, but they had recently shared a meal with him, after all.
‘…Yeah, this is right. Since we’ll be seeing a lot of him from now on.’
It wouldn't be a bad idea to mention it in advance. It’s okay. I can say it properly.
Lee Sol walked into the living room with stiff, mechanical steps. Her hands were clenched into fists and showed no sign of relaxing, but her feet didn't stop.
“…Do you have something to say?”
Sensing the restless energy, her mother spoke first.
“Um…….” Lee Sol carefully began to speak. “……Mom. Do you have a moment?”
Her mother’s gaze, which had been fixed on her book, turned toward Lee Sol.
“What is it—”
Her words cut off. Her dark eyes noticed Lee Sol’s stiff expression.
“…….”
Her eyelashes lowered. Her gaze swept across the floor aimlessly. She turned her head as if avoiding her daughter, then continued.
“Sol, I’m sorry, but right now…….”
Her lips tried to voice a refusal, but her words trailed off again.
“…….”
Whew—
A deep breath escaped her. She finally nodded and met Sol’s eyes once more.
“……Alright, what is it?”
Kim Bo-young looked straight at her daughter, who had grown so much before she even realized it.
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