Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Love Jenga (3)
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I have no idea how things ended up like this.
At first, it was just a battle of pride.
The same kind of playful game Jinwoo and I always did.
The one where I'd poke at him until he got all riled up and charged in, refusing to back down.
Even when I saw it was Love Jenga, I started it with a light heart.
The spice level of Love Jenga at a board game cafe where even teens hang out is pretty predictable, after all.
But...
"Haa, haa."
Why the hell is there a game this steamy?
Things got weird right from when I stripped off my top and bared my back to Kim Jinwoo.
From exposing my strapless bra for the off-shoulder top, to Jinwoo sitting there shirtless in front of me.
The mood kept heating up.
At first, I was mortified.
How could I do something like this?
But the longer it went on, the better it felt.
Leaning into Jinwoo's solid chest felt amazing.
His scent was intoxicating.
And watching him get worked up staring at me? That was the best part.
Seeing the guy who always grumbled at me turned on like that made me realize I still had some femininity left in me.
I'd even thought from his attitude that he didn't see me as a woman at all.
'So you do notice me.'
Confidence surged through me.
Knowing Jinwoo was aware of me too made my heart soar.
I was excited. A little? No, a lot.
My chest pounded, my breaths coming faster.
Those crude words he'd thrown at me earlier were burned into my brain.
If we went any further, would he actually do the stuff he talked about?
Spank my ass and grab it like a handle to take me from behind?
That would mean crossing the line between friends.
Was that really okay?
'If that's what Jinwoo wants...'
I might not hate it.
She moved quicker than Jinwoo, who seemed ready to call it quits.
The next round was even more blatant.
Two half-dressed guy and girl, told to get within a single centimeter of each other.
To the hesitant Jinwoo, she spoke first.
"Open your mouth."
"......"
Jinwoo stared at her in silence.
Defiant, she parted her lips and stuck out her tongue.
"Hurry up."
"You really..."
"Or are you forfeiting? Hand over that wish ticket then?"
Talking with her tongue out was embarrassing, but she had to prod him like this or he'd never budge.
He had his impulsive moments, sure, but day-to-day, he was the cautious type.
"Fine. Let's do it."
Jinwoo leaned in, eyes fierce.
That was what she loved about him.
That intense, resolute gaze once he committed.
When he got like that, no one could stop him.
Jinwoo's face drew closer.
Close enough to feel his body heat.
Their noses nearly brushed.
Nowhere to look.
Meet his eyes, and that scorching stare hit her. Glance at his mouth, and his tongue peeking through those parted lips looked way too erotic.
She felt his breath.
Hot breath.
Haa, haa.
His breathing was ragged.
Jinwoo was excited too.
A topless guy and girl facing off like they were seconds from locking lips.
"K-Kissing means you lose."
"......"
No response from Jinwoo.
Was he actually going for it?
A kiss.
No way, right?
Suddenly, she wondered what her face looked like.
Makeup had gone on great today, but had sweat smeared it?
No bad breath from lunch, right? She'd chewed gum in the bathroom.
How did she look to Jinwoo?
Hoped she didn't seem weird.
Thoughts flooded in.
'Jinwoo's breath is so hot.'
"Haa, haa."
The more she thought, the rougher her breaths grew.
Her heart hammered.
It felt like she could hear Jinwoo's heartbeat echoing in her too.
Their eyes locked.
She met his gaze.
Jinwoo stared right through her.
Desire churned inside.
What would those lips feel like?
Did Jinwoo kiss rough, or gentle and considerate?
She'd prefer rough over overly soft consideration.
Grabbing her ass tight mid-kiss? Pure bliss.
Her mind swirled with fantasies as she gazed at Jinwoo.
She wanted it right now.
But that would mean losing the game.
The wish ticket?
Not even important anymore.
It was the sting of defeat.
She didn't want to show him handing over a win without a fight after all her bravado.
That felt even more humiliating.
Her fierce competitive streak had gotten her this far, after all.
Her eyes drifted to Jinwoo's bare torso.
Muscles everywhere.
She wanted to grab it.
Hug it.
The body was fair game, right?
'This is just strategy. To make Kim Jinwoo tap out first.'
Absolutely no ulterior motives.
She reached out tentatively.
And stroked his chest.
'So firm.'
She'd felt it burying her face there earlier, but damn, the insane workouts showed.
Firm, perfectly shaped pecs.
Ideal for a fitness nut like her.
"Haa, haa."
"What are you doing?"
Jinwoo eyed her at the sudden move.
"Got the urge to kiss?"
"......"
Jinwoo's expression froze for a split second.
Bet he couldn't hold back now.
Just surrender already.
She'd forgive him generously, once...
"Hup!"
Jinwoo's hand clamped onto her breast.
"Y-You..."
"Don't yell. Staff'll come."
"......"
"And you started it."
Shocked as he gripped her bra-clad breast, she stared, but he was grinning.
She couldn't lose.
Not like this...
No way in hell.
"All the way to the end, huh?"
"Yeah."
His sly eye-smile hit like a gut punch to the heart.
Did this guy always have faces like that?
Thump-thump.
Her heart went wild.
The sensation of her captured breast being kneaded at his whim was bizarrely thrilling.
A totally alien feeling she'd never experienced, leaving her head spinning.
She'd touched herself plenty, but this was the first time someone else had—Jinwoo.
'Why's he so damn good at this?'
Did he have experience?
All her thoughts and sensations zeroed in on her breast.
Her mind blanked.
Her body twitched with every squeeze of his fingers.
Like she was his toy.
She groped his chest and bare skin right back.
The air grew hotter by the second.
She couldn't take much more.
A little further wouldn't hurt, right?
They'd already groped each other's chests.
A kiss now...
She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing one step more.
"......"
"......"
But neither Kim Jinwoo nor Choi Ye-won let go of each other's chests.
They didn't pull away either.
She wanted to savor this pounding, tingling vibe just a bit longer.
Jinwoo must've felt the same.
He wasn't backing down.
She looked at him.
She caught the raw hunger in his eyes.
It told her exactly how close he was to his breaking point.
She was right there with him.
She ached to grab those thick fingers clutching her breast.
Love?
Who knew.
But right now, her only desire was to spend deeper time with this man.
She felt the scorching passion.
So she did it.
Mwah.
She tilted her face up and pressed her lips to Kim Jinwoo's.
The time was up anyway.
They hadn't moved to the next game, so it was fine.
"......"
"Haa, haa."
Jinwoo stared at her blankly, speechless.
And here she was, facing him.
What if they went further in a place like this?
If the staff caught them, they'd get dragged out.
Probably banned for life.
But it felt like that'd be okay.
Experiences like this didn't come easy.
"Ye-won."
Jinwoo finally spoke.
What would he say?
What would Jinwoo do right now...?
"You started it."
"...Yeah."
Jinwoo's hand slipped inside her bra.
His thick fingers gripped her bare breast.
She'd picked a padded bra hoping it'd look bigger, but her size wasn't small—it fit perfectly in his palm.
The sensation of it being mashed was intensely lewd.
Worlds apart from over the bra.
Her waist trembled.
Her breath hitched.
The feeling spread from her breast, down her waist, through her whole body.
This felt good?
Just from her breast being touched?
What now?
I don't think I can stand.
My waist feels like jelly.
Couldn't breathe right.
A scream was building.
But if she screamed here, they'd get busted for sure.
Doing something sketchy inside.
She had to hold it in.
Maybe block it with her mouth...
That's when it happened.
"Excuse me."
A staff voice came from outside the tent.
The unfamiliar sound chilled her to the bone.
Her overheated mind snapped awake.
If that tent flap opened now and the staff saw her and Jinwoo like this...
Chills raced down her spine.
"Wh-What is it?"
Jinwoo asked, reacting to the sudden voice.
"Your rental time's almost up. We've got a backlog of customers, so for anyone who didn't request an extension ahead, please exit in five minutes. Just giving a heads-up."
Jinwoo's face stayed pressed to hers, full of regret.
"...Got it."
Fading footsteps.
She and Jinwoo looked at each other.
Their gazes still burned, but that intoxicating, sultry vibe was gone.
The intrusion had killed the mood.
Regret lingered.
If the staff had come just a little later. Or if they'd extended the time midway.
They could've gone further.
Jinwoo pulled his hand away from her breast and handed over her clothes.
"Let's head out."
"Ah, yeah..."
Choi Ye-won dressed amid the awkward air.
The electric tension from before had vanished.
An even more strained awkwardness settled between them than when they'd first reunited after so long.
"Thanks. Come again."
They didn't exchange a single word on the way out of the shop and back to campus.
Finally, after walking her to the lab door, Jinwoo spoke up.
"Hey, Choi Ye-won."
"Yeah?"
A confession?
After that mood earlier...
Had to be, right?
She wasn't ready.
He was a great friend, someone she wanted to stick with long-term, but she'd never thought beyond that.
She'd seen too many platonic friendships shatter into ex-friends during her uni years.
But if Jinwoo came on strong without hesitation, she didn't think she'd refuse.
Ye-won held her breath at his serious face.
"I win."
"...Huh?"
"Wish ticket's mine."
"What're you...?"
"You broke the rules first. Kissed my lips."
"Hey, th-that was after time was up..."
"Didn't even draw the next Jenga block, and you went for it. Your loss."
"Th-That's bullshit!"
"I'll cash it in later. Get ready."
"Hey, Kim Jinwoo! Where you going?!"
"Home. Unlike some people, no afternoon classes."
"Hey! Kim Jinwoo!"
She felt stupid for that brief flutter of excitement.
I thought I was gonna die.
'Insane.'
The feel of Choi Ye-won's breast was still vivid.
So soft.
Smooth and supple.
Nothing like groping over the bra—that mushy give was incomparable.
And the firm little point his fingertips had brushed.
That had to be...
'It was hard.'
So she was turned on too, huh?
Makes sense. Otherwise, no way she'd go for the kiss first.
If the staff hadn't shown up, they'd have crossed that friend line and gone all the way.
A little disappointing.
It was straight out of his fantasies.
'Still, got to grab her tit. Can't complain.'
He'd tossed out that joke at the end so she wouldn't feel too awkward.
'Nailed it, right?'
Part of him wanted to say screw it, drag her to a motel for "just once."
But the vibe was all wrong.
The board game cafe atmosphere had gone ice-cold, making it impossible to push.
"Only bummer is..."
Not stripping off her underwear to see it bare.
He'd slid his hand inside on the heat of the moment, so her naked breast was the one thing he hadn't gotten a look at.
Sounded like tonight's jerk-off material was set.
"......"
He could guess what wild thoughts she was having.
Based on Sexgram's usual recommendations, she was probably fantasizing about today.
'Gotta respect her privacy here.'
Last courtesy as a friend.
But first things first.
'Quest done. Cough up the reward.'
About time.
What've you got for me?
Hashtag #ErogenousZone?
The hell is this?