Blessed Pheromone Bath (4)
Seeing Seo Joo-hwan's dejected eyes, Jeong Ha-yeon panicked and spoke up.
"No, I mean... who said I was scared? I've never been scared of you."
"...Your hand was shaking just like back then. You okay?"
"My hand? Oh."
Only then did Jeong Ha-yeon realize what was going on. Her left hand was trembling faintly.
The "back then" Seo Joo-hwan was referring to was during the MT when Baek Jeong-gi had caused a scene.
'So that's what it was.'
He must have thought she was doing something similar to what Baek Jeong-gi had done. But she just hadn't been mentally prepared, that was all.
...Wait. Couldn't I just use this as an excuse?
The thought flashed through Jeong Ha-yeon's mind, but she quickly shook her head. Using that as an excuse against someone who was genuinely worried felt too cruel. She wasn't hiding an injury or anything, and she didn't hate Seo Joo-hwan enough to push him away that hard.
With a deep sigh, Jeong Ha-yeon called out to him.
"Joo-hwan, I've never been scared of you."
He was still staring at her left hand.
"Still, your hand..."
"This is just from an old injury."
"An injury?"
"Yeah. I told you I used to do judo, right? I got hurt pretty bad during training back then, and this is the aftereffect."
Relief washed over Seo Joo-hwan's face. So she wasn't scared. But that relief was short-lived. The word "aftereffect" snapped him back to attention. Didn't that mean he'd made her use her sore hand anyway?
"Is it bad?"
"No problem for daily life. It just trembles a bit when I use a lot of strength. You hardly notice it normally."
Sure enough, aside from the MT and now, he'd never seen her hand shake.
Seo Joo-hwan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Um, can I see your hand?"
"Huh?"
"I won't do anything weird."
"Oh? Uh, sure. But you probably won't notice much. I had surgery from a really good doctor."
Seo Joo-hwan carefully took Jeong Ha-yeon's hand. Looking closely, there was a faint surgical scar on her wrist. He'd been too busy thinking about groping her chest to notice something like this. A twinge of self-loathing hit him.
"Ha-yeon, you know I'm good at massages, right?"
"Yeah. You did Deok-hoon too."
"Let me give you one."
"Suddenly?"
"I feel bad."
"It's fine now..."
He activated Holy Touch. Of course, only the healing effect, excluding the arousal amplification.
Holy Touch (Healing Mode)
A faint glow only he could see gathered in his eyes. Cupping her pale hand with both of his, he gently kneaded it.
"Ahaha. That tickles."
"Where on your wrist was the injury?"
"Ligament. It should have been surgery right away when it tore, but... circumstances delayed it."
"And the aftereffect is from the late surgery?"
"Yeah. It shouldn't have left any aftereffects..."
Jeong Ha-yeon's face looked bitterly regretful as she said it. Was that why she quit judo? Her expression was so sad that Seo Joo-hwan couldn't bring himself to ask more and focused on treating her wrist.
I can't fix it perfectly.
The skill grade was too low for that. With mere "minor healing," his options were limited. Still, calming the tremors was doable. As the massage continued, he felt the faint shaking subside. Once it fully settled, Jeong Ha-yeon looked at him in surprise.
"You're really good at this. It just looked like random kneading."
"Better now?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"It was my fault..."
His words trailed off in embarrassment. Jeong Ha-yeon let out a small laugh and tentatively took his hand.
"Hey, Joo-hwan."
"Yeah?"
"You know, it's not like I hate it or anything. It was just too sudden, too rushed..."
"...?"
"...Stop pretending to be oblivious only when it suits you. It's not like I don't want to. If anything, a little..."
"Wha-what? You want to?"
After refusing so hard just moments ago? Well, it was good news anyway. As Seo Joo-hwan brightened, Jeong Ha-yeon hurriedly added,
"N-not now!"
"Ah..."
A long sigh escaped him. Jeong Ha-yeon averted her gaze, embarrassed.
"Don't look so disappointed."
"Well... sigh."
"We haven't even been on a proper date yet. Okay? Just a little more time..."
"Okay, then let's."
Jeong Ha-yeon furrowed her brow, clear irritation flashing across her face.
"No, not today."
"Not that—let's go on a date."
"...Huh?"
"Tomorrow's the weekend. Let's go on a date."
Surprised, Jeong Ha-yeon blinked and asked again.
"For real?"
"For real. What's so hard about a date? Let's do it tomorrow. Cool?"
"Uh, uh yeah..."
She nodded in a daze, but her face soon lit up. Seeing that, Seo Joo-hwan chuckled.
I've gotta set the mood right.
From the sound of it, Jeong Ha-yeon wasn't completely against the idea. She just needed time to prepare mentally. A relaxed date might change things. Women were weak to atmosphere, after all. And even without that, just hanging out alone would be fun.
Glancing at the darkening sky outside, Seo Joo-hwan said, "It's gotten late. Ha-yeon."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna stay over?"
"......"
"Just holding hands while we sleep. For real."
Jeong Ha-yeon let out a hollow laugh. "I'll go alone, so don't follow."
"I was kidding."
"Bullshit."
Seo Joo-hwan gave a wry smile as she grabbed her bag. It had been a while since he'd heard her curse.
I really meant just holding hands...
That was the plan. Though whether he could stick to it was another matter.
*
Though Jeong Ha-yeon insisted on going alone, he followed her home anyway. People would be disappointed if he really let her go by herself. On the way back, a familiar voice came through his phone.
- Joo-hwan, whatcha doing!
"Su-hee noona, what's up?"
"What's up? It's company dinner today, remember? We're meeting in thirty minutes and you haven't said a word, so I called. You're coming, right?"
"Ah."
Ribbon Fitness's monthly dinner. He'd gotten the heads-up a week ago but completely forgot.
Hearing his reaction, Im Su-hee feigned hurt.
- What? You forgot? You haven't been training much lately. Don't wanna see noona?
"Haha. Sorry. College has been busy."
- Hmm. College life must be fun. But skip training too long and you'll lose muscle fast. You'll regret it big time rebuilding later.
"Ugh. I feel like I've gained some weight anyway..."
- Pfft. See? Hurry to dinner then. Gotta trim that belly fat.
Belly fat trimmer that involved pounding drinks. Seo Joo-hwan let out a hollow laugh.
"To lose belly fat, shouldn't I skip the dinner?"
- Just drink a little and work out.
"Drink and work out?"
Im Su-hee laughed slyly.
- Workout alone with noona and the fat'll melt. Burns a ton of calories, you know.
"...What kind of workout?"
- Oh come on, do I have to spell it out? Oh, and noona's been hitting hip workouts hard lately.
Her firm, bouncy hips flashed in his mind. His dick sprang up instantly. Already pent-up, and her teasing probe made it throb. He swallowed hard, torn.
Should I go? Ha-yeon won't find out...
As long as he didn't get caught, it'd be fine, right?
You crazy bastard!
Smack!
Seo Joo-hwan slapped his own cheek hard. Caught or not—that wasn't the point! How long had they been dating, and he was already thinking like this? And he'd just made a date for tomorrow!
- Joo-hwan? Everything okay? Heard a loud smack.
"...Nothing."
He grabbed his stinging cheek—he'd hit too hard trying to snap out of it.
"Noona, sorry, I don't think I can make it."
- Huh... really? Her voice sounded flustered, like she hadn't expected a no.
"Yeah. Sorry..."
- Okay. Disappointing, but can't be helped.
"See you next time."
- Yeah. Next time. Oh, two members just arrived. Gotta go!
"Wait, noona. I have a girlfriend n—" Click. The call ended.
Seo Joo-hwan stared at the disconnected phone, then ruffled his hair. Guess he'd jerk off at home.
*
Lee Seok-chan was lying in bed, KakaoTalking with a girl from Publishing Content and Class B. The more the chat went, the more he frowned.
"Tch. One bailed, gonna be awkward."
Of the three girls for the pension trip, one backed out. Apparently, one guy to three girls was a no-go.
"Fine, bail."
She was the one he cared least about anyway. He'd fucked her, but it was recent—no attachment, no loose ends.
The problem was the domino effect—one out, others might follow.
"Tsk. Deok-hoon's a lost cause, Kyung-jun hates this stuff. Need Joo-hwan."
But Seo Joo-hwan was dating Jeong Ha-yeon. No way he'd sneak off with a girlfriend. Seok-chan would've beaten him if he tried.
Or would I get beat? Dude hits hard.
He hadn't seen much lately, but he'd witnessed him toy with Baek Jeong-gi one-sidedly. A former outcast virgin being that guy? Hilarious.
Bzzzt. Message from that hilarious friend.
Lee Seok-chan burst out laughing. "Puhaha! Flowers would be hilarious."
Jeong Ha-yeon would probably die of embarrassment getting flowers on the street. But she'd like it—maybe for the thought.
He resisted urging an expensive bouquet. Virgin vibes were real. Too lazy for details, he replied casually.
Lee Seok-chan closed the chat. "Tsk. Maybe I should get a girlfriend."
Watching happy couples made his side ache—not for sex, but that heart-fluttery dating stuff. But he shook his head.
"Ugh. Too much hassle just thinking about it."
The early thrill of crushes and new relationships faded into annoyances. For him, dating wasn't urgent yet.
His phone buzzed again. Thinking it was Seo Joo-hwan, he opened KakaoTalk to see Jeong Ha-yeon.
Lee Seok-chan scowled. She occasionally pulled the "noona" card. One year older, big deal.
"Fuck. Maybe learn boxing."
Why'd a monster like her learn judo? If casual, fine—but she was once Olympic prospect material. Win and it's even; lose and total humiliation.
"Puhahahak!"
Lee Seok-chan cackled. He knew the gist from the first message. She'd heard about tomorrow's date with Seo Joo-hwan. For saving his pitiful ass, he'd give advice.
No reply after. Then thudding—then an angry shout outside.
Bang bang bang!
- Open the door! When'd you change the passcode? Open up! I know you're in there!
Lee Seok-chan turned off the lights and pulled the blanket over his head.
"Ugh. Crazy bitch. What's Joo-hwan see in her."
Time to sleep. Whatever they got up to, none of his business.
- Hey!
The furious voice was the perfect lullaby.