Repayment Delivered
I wondered just how far this whole "repayment" thing was supposed to go. Thinking about Han Choyeun made it even harder to pin down.
Even at yesterday's drinking party, she'd been clearly embarrassed, but by the end, her attitude had subtly shifted. Now she was teasing me in this sly, serpentine way. I really had no clue what had caused it.
"Ha..." A hollow laugh escaped me for no reason.
My phone screen still displayed the chat window with Han Choyeun. The last message.
I was still mulling over how to reply. We both knew the "repayer" was me, but in this awkward role-play she'd set up, it felt weird for me to demand anything.
After a short deliberation, I decided it was best to deflect to the "friend" angle and tapped out a response on the on-screen keyboard.
The moment I hit send, a brief silence.
'...Did that come off too much like a rejection?'
And then. Beep.
A reply shot back like she'd been waiting.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"..."
This woman was 100% enjoying herself. She'd deliberately steered it back to the "friend" talk just to toy with me.
Thanks to my lingering rebellious streak, a pointless competitive fire ignited.
'...Fuck it, whatever.'
After a moment's thought, I fired off a slightly provocative reply.
I sent it and waited. 3 seconds. 5 seconds.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Then silence, like she was pondering something. Finally.
Beep.
Beep.
"...What?"
I blinked, thinking I'd misread. Won't hold back? What the hell was she not holding back on all of a sudden?
My fingers froze over the keyboard. I'd even forgotten I was about to reply, just staring at the screen.
Beep. Another message popped up.
"...?"
Wait for what? I stared at the cryptic message in confusion—
Click. A familiar sound echoed from the hallway.
"..."
The sound of a door opening. And then.
Click. The door closing.
I slowly lifted my head. The last message was still there, unchanged.
"...No way."
The realization hit me the second that thought crossed my mind.
Knock knock.
"..."
A brief silence. Then a voice from beyond the door.
"...You home?"
A slightly different tone from yesterday. Not the shy, creeping whisper.
...Well, she still sounded a bit embarrassed, but there was this weird leisure to it.
"...Could you open the door?"
I glanced up at the ceiling for a moment.
She actually came.
...And I'm in my pajamas.
Knock knock. Another knock.
"...Not home?"
She had to know I was here. Even knowing that, I was holding my breath for no reason.
'Why the hell am I hiding?'
It was so ridiculous I let out a chuckle. I hadn't done anything wrong.
...Well, breaking and entering was wrong, but I'd gotten tacit permission anyway.
After a moment's hesitation, I finally walked to the door.
Click.
I opened it, and there she was—Han Choyeun.
"..."
"..."
Under the hallway fluorescent lights. Casual slippers, comfy clothes. My eyes tried to drop uncontrollably toward that enormous "heart" of hers, but I held them back with superhuman willpower.
"...I came to repay you."
Out of the corner of my eye, her hands were empty.
...So what exactly was the repayment gonna be?
"Oh, you're the friend?"
But now that she was actually here, she looked even more nervous than me, so I pulled out the now-useless role-play setup one more time.
"...Pfft, yeah. I'm that friend."
Her light laugh at my brazen line seemed to ease her tension, and she fired back playfully.
"You... what the hell are you?"
Han Choyeun stared at me as she asked. It wasn't so much a real question as a half-whiny tone.
"What am I?"
"Yeah."
"Like last time... and today too."
She paused to choose her words, then continued.
"Sneaking into someone else's place to clean."
"..."
"Cook for them."
"..."
"And then act like it's no big deal."
I was at a loss for words. It was true—I'd tried to gloss over the inexplicable situation.
As I offered no defense, Han Choyeun took a step closer.
"You know what?"
What?
"That's the kind of thing that drives people crazy."
"..."
"And then."
She paused.
"Acting like nothing happened makes it even worse."
I awkwardly looked away.
"...It's not like I did anything that amazing."
"It's special."
Her immediate reply.
"At least to me."
A brief silence fell. The fluorescent light hummed softly.
"So."
She looked at me again.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"..."
"'Cause we're neighbors?"
"...Well, yeah, that's part of it."
"Part of it?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"So you break into neighbors' places and play househusband?"
"No, that's not—"
I started to speak but stopped. Anything I said would sound weird.
For a split second, I debated explaining the quests, but Han Choyeun, who'd been watching me, suddenly giggled.
"See?"
"...See what."
"You're doing it right now."
She said.
"Confusing people."
She dipped her head briefly, then looked up.
"...Me."
"Yeah?"
"I don't think I can hold back on stuff like this."
"...Like what."
"The butterflies."
With that, she took another step closer. Now she was right there. Arm's reach.
"I was scared."
"...Yeah?"
"Came home exhausted from work, and everything was... different. Thought a burglar had hit or something."
...Guilty as charged.
"But for a burglar or thief... it was too clean. Like I'd called a cleaning service. Which I hadn't, of course."
"..."
"So I used a bit of power... checked the footage."
"...Footage?"
"Saw you seriously cleaning, meticulously watering the plants—everything."
She saw it all. No wonder she knew it was me, even without direct evidence.
"At first, it was curiosity. Who the hell is this guy jumping walls just to clean?"
"...Yeah."
"Then I realized... I'd never been taken care of like this in my life."
"..."
"Abandoned by my parents young, no close friends after. Even after landing a C-Rank hunter researcher gig, everyone seemed fake, out for something—disgusting. But."
Her breath, spilling a lifetime of grievances in a small whine, brushed close.
"...A total stranger suddenly taking care of me? Sneaking in like, 'You've had a hard day out there, rest easy at home...'"
"...No."
"Today, even giving me a buff that's rare as hell."
"..."
"Without asking for anything."
If I explained it was to protect my dick and that insane buff came from one skill click, would she believe me?
...Her growth was part of the reward too, so it was a good deed—no need.
"So."
She took a breath and whispered softly.
"Take responsibility."
"...Yeah?"
That instant.
Grab.
My wrist was caught.
"...Huh?"
Before I could react, she pushed me inside like she owned the place.
Click.
The door shut behind her.
"Wha—"
Before I could speak, thud. My back hit the wall.
"..."
"..."
Our breaths mingled, so close. Her face was right there. Ears red, but those lime-green eyes didn't waver oddly.
"Why."
She steadied her breath and said.
"Scared now?"
"...Not really..."
"Good."
Han Choyeun murmured.
And then.
"...I said it earlier."
She dipped her head slightly.
"I'm not holding back anymore."
Her hand lightly gripped my shirt collar.
"You keep making my heart race."
"..."
"Then act like it's nothing."
Her breath hitched briefly.
And then.
"...This is what happens♡"
She whispered from inches away.
The next moment—my body lurched forward, my face drawn to her lips, and finally, they collided.
Smooch—!
"...Mmph?!"
No time to think. Her lips were softer, hotter than expected. A strangely sweet scent—not booze or perfume—tickled my nose.
I froze, unable to move. Seizing the chance, her hand tugged my shirt harder.
No room to breathe, the kiss felt like an hour. Actually, about a minute passed before—
"...Ha."
Her lips pulled back with a short exhale. Our eyes met. Hard to believe this was the same shy girl—her gaze didn't retreat at all.
Instead—
"Why."
From breath's distance, Han Choyeun whispered low.
"You didn't think."
Her finger brushed my pajama button.
"I'd stop here, did you?"
"..."
My brain short-circuited at the sudden casual speech.
In that gap.
Pop.
One button undone.
"...Repayment."
Han Choyeun smiled faintly.
"Starts now."