You Fucking Bitch!
"F-fuck…"
"…?"
A curse slipped out of nowhere. Han Sein tilted his head in confusion. Kang Hyeona hurriedly looked away, her face flushing so red it looked ready to burst. She didn't even have time to register her pounding heart before she started thrashing about in the middle of that fluttering excitement. When those deeply buried feelings rose to the surface, they spilled over her in a wave of pure bliss.
One hand still supporting Han Sein's body, she turned her face elsewhere—not toward the ground, but the sky. She lifted her chin to drink in even a little of the cold wind, like a diver breaking the surface for air, inhaling and exhaling over and over.
"Huu…"
"Sorry."
"D-don't apologize. Ah, shiiit… Why am I like this."
She muttered to herself. It felt like her brain had short-circuited. Words came out stuttered without her meaning to, and the man beside her occupied far too much of her attention—maybe even more than usual. Her racing heart had no chance to settle; it just kept flooding thrills through her entire body. More than ever before, she felt awkward and strange to herself. Still, she couldn't freeze up. Kang Hyeona couldn't calm her heart, but she forced herself to face reality.
"Let's go inside."
"Yeah…"
Kang Hyeona started walking slowly. Yet Han Sein, who should have been right beside her, was nowhere in sight. Even knowing it was impossible, her heart dropped and she clutched her chest as she turned. Relief washed over her. Maybe it was the difference in stride. Even though she had deliberately matched her pace, he was trailing a little behind. Kang Hyeona let out a short breath and began walking even more slowly—like a grandmother, or some middle-aged guy ambling along to take in the scenery.
"Thanks."
"What do you keep thanking me for."
"Just."
A shy little curve. It wasn't a bright smile—just the faintest lift of her lips—yet her heart refused to listen. And then—
"…What are you doing?"
Kang Hyeona stared at Han Sein as if she couldn't believe it. But that look was just another struggle, a way to hide the thrills, to bury the feelings. She hid her heart behind an exasperated expression. Han Sein's right hand was holding onto her—more precisely, timidly pinching the very tip of her clothes. The situation was ridiculous, yet in Kang Hyeona's eyes it looked unbearably cute. That shy little action with just his fingers stirred up a fierce urge to protect him.
"I thought it might feel like a burden if I asked you to keep supporting me."
"……"
She knew perfectly well how absurd that sounded. Even so, Kang Hyeona said nothing. She didn't spit out anything sharp. She didn't roughly shake his hand off either. The reason was lame, but she didn't dislike the timid connection of that hand.
"Hurry up."
"Yeah."
Kang Hyeona strode ahead without hesitation. Han Sein followed right behind, still clutching her clothes, trailing along. Before long the two of them reached the lodging. When she opened the door, the lit interior came into view. Time to take responsibility now. Kang Hyeona swallowed a short breath. Blinded by emotion, she hadn't listened to her master. Time to get beaten for it. But the living room only held the aftermath of a drinking party. Kim Hyeongmin was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Hyeongmin?"
"Uh… I heard he's sleeping?"
The only woman still awake, Park Hyorin, answered while stretching out a hand. She was clearly dead drunk, which made her even more instinctive. She answered quietly without talking back to Hyeona's question, then slumped down. It was late into the night; holding out this long was impressive. A short silence settled. Cleaning could wait. Han Sein looked over at Jeong Ayeong, then carefully poked Kang Hyeona. A cautious expression. Kang Hyeona looked down at him, and his mouth opened.
"Hyeona…"
"What."
"Could you… take Ayeong to a room for me?"
"Me…"
Why me. A sharp retort was about to fly. Kang Hyeona actually reacted with a voice close to a growl. If it hadn't been Han Sein, a string of curses would already have poured out. Especially when the target was Jeong Ayeong. Not someone Kang Hyeona particularly liked. The jealous face that had clawed its way up kept flashing through her mind. But Han Sein's soft, swaying voice started melting her. It wasn't the same clingy coquetry Kim Hyeongmin used. He wasn't drunk and regressing into baby talk while leaning on her. He appealed purely to reality—gave a solid reason, and that careful tone fit the request perfectly.
"Please… You drank the alcohol for me instead. I know it's shameless, but…"
"……"
Kang Hyeona fell silent. That silence wasn't refusal. Han Sein's explanation continued, and she listened quietly. Two bottles of soju. The amount he should have drunk during that short game, she had taken for him. Her stiff expression loosened. Acting as his black knight? Yeah, right. Kang Hyeona let out a hollow laugh.
"Well… fine. You go in first."
"Thanks, Hyeona."
"Hurry up and sleep. That empty room over there."
"Yeah…"
She waved him off dismissively. Kang Hyeona turned her head and flicked her hand as if annoyed—more precisely, to hide the corners of her mouth that kept lifting. Why did the word "thanks" sound so good coming from him? That ticklish feeling was still so unfamiliar. Han Sein slowly headed for the empty room. Since Kim Hyeongmin had rented the place, there were plenty of empty rooms relative to the number of people—night and day compared to other spots where two or three had to cram into one room. Once she confirmed he had gone in, Kang Hyeona let out a short sigh.
"Huu… Fuck."
What the hell was she supposed to do with this bitch. Jeong Ayeong lay sprawled on the floor, snoring. Gotta move her. It was his request, after all. Thinking about earlier, punching her somewhere still wouldn't have been enough. Kang Hyeona wasn't the type who enjoyed violence, but the thought of how close this girl was to Han Sein made her fists ache.
"Still…"
Well done. Two bottles of soju? In twenty minutes… Kang Hyeona muttered inwardly as she hoisted Jeong Ayeong up. An unconscious person was seriously heavy. She managed it without strain, but it wasn't easy. Dragging the limp, swaying body, she opened the door to an empty room.
"Ugh…"
"Wh-what! Fuck! Hey!"
Maybe from being suddenly lifted, Jeong Ayeong started dry-heaving. The reek of alcohol hit. Kang Hyeona panicked and cursed.
"Wh-what?! F-fucking bitch! Hey!"
"Gueeek…"
"Ha…"
Vomit soaked the floor. At least it wasn't the middle of the living room, but the fact that she'd made a mess inside the room didn't change. Kang Hyeona's mind went blank.
Please…
"Should I just dump her…"
Thanks…
A short moment of hesitation. She considered leaving her like this and walking away, but a certain man's words of gratitude kept echoing through her head.
"Fuck…"
She wasn't usually the type to swear constantly, but this was a situation where curses simply couldn't be held back. Rag, plastic bag, tissues, wet wipes—Kang Hyeona brought every tool she could find and started cleaning up the vomit. And then—
"Aargh…"
Ayeong's clothes, stained with vomit, came into view. Kang Hyeona clenched her fist, then forced it to relax. She's drunk. You don't hit a drunk person. She began stripping Jeong Ayeong's clothes. Layer by layer, the fabric came off.
"Ha…"
Bare skin was revealed. The soft, undulating flesh entered Kang Hyeona's eyes. She furrowed her brows; someone else's breasts were hardly a pleasant sight. But there was a fact that dirtied her mood.
"Fucking bitch…"
I'm jealous. Staring at those limp, swaying curves, Kang Hyeona finished stripping her. She still had to wash off the vomit. A mountain of work remained.
"Uung…"
Jeong Ayeong woke up. Her mind was clearer than it had ever been. The sense of dissonance was huge—partly because she realized she was half-naked.
C-could it be—!
Her expression hardened. She had been drunk; she remembered nothing. A presence beside her. H-Han Sein… right? No way. Her memories were hazy. She remembered volunteering as the black knight and drinking in his place. Beyond that, why she was naked wouldn't come back. Jeong Ayeong's delusion circuit spun into overdrive. In exchange for being the black knight, she got a wish. W-what wish did I make that left me naked…? Then with Han Sein… no way?
Jeong Ayeong slowly sat up. What would Han Sein look like next to her? Honestly, if they had spent a hot night together and she couldn't even remember it, that would be pretty unfair. Her head turned slowly. And the person beside her was not Han Sein, but—
"Aaaah!!!"
"Wh-what! Fuck!"
It was Kang Hyeona! Why was Hyeona here? Why, why were they sleeping together? Unable to accept the reality, Jeong Ayeong screamed. Startled awake, Kang Hyeona couldn't hold back her anger and started hitting her.
"Aaak! Ah! It hurts! Ah! It hurts! Hyeonaaa!"
"Y-you! Fuck! You fucking bitch! If you're drunk, sleep quietly!"
Fists landing not anywhere else but right on soft breasts. It hurt more than anything ever had. As she threw the punches, Kang Hyeona thought: first time in her life. Using violence because she sincerely wanted to hit someone. Not revenge. Not hatred. Not submission. Literally hitting because she felt like hitting.
"Aaak!!!"
Jeong Ayeong's cries filled the room. It was a peaceful morning of the MT.