Chapter 73
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Nostalgic Gukbap Reunion
"You've worked hard!"
It had been a long business trip.
A full four days.
The Jeju schedule for the professor's academic survey.
They'd started in Jeju to re-investigate oral literature, and ended up surrendering the weekend too.
"Ye-won, you worked hard too. Rest until the day after tomorrow. No need to come to the lab if you don't want to. No classes, right?"
"No classes, but TA duties can't be skipped."
"Tch, so busy. Can't even properly rest as a grad student."
"I was prepared for that."
"Alright. Go home and get some good rest."
"You too, Professor."
Choi Ye-won dragged her heavy body toward home.
Her body was exhausted, but strangely, she felt energized.
Being in Jeju had actually been more grueling and miserable.
There was one reason.
She hadn't seen Kim Jinwoo.
Not even once during the entire trip.
That was why she'd felt so drained and weary.
"He's too much. He could've at least reached out first."
She felt a little resentful.
Of course, she knew Jinwoo was busy every day.
She knew he couldn't even rest on weekends and had to work part-time.
'Still, no contact at all is too much.'
She recalled what had happened before the trip.
The intimate moment in the lecture hall.
Exploring each other's bodies, going right up to the edge of sex in that heated passion.
After something like that, just a "good luck on the trip" and then radio silence?
"I'm a bit hurt."
Of course, she hadn't messaged first either.
She'd been dragged around by the professor almost every day for the survey, and what little personal time she had was spent reviewing necessary papers—hardly free time.
By the time work wrapped up, it was dawn.
Messaging first then would've felt rude.
"Guess we're even."
Jinwoo must feel resentful too.
He probably had a lot on his mind.
About what they'd done together.
Honestly, they'd done some pretty lewd stuff that left them both a little embarrassed.
"Still... I should message first, right?"
Jinwoo knew she was busy and had held back out of consideration.
Once she let him know she was free now, he'd reply right away.
That's what she thought.
-ye.0_health: Ddaengchili, trip's over and I'm back in Incheon!
-ye.0_health: Lunch together tomorrow?
No reply for a while.
"Ugh... what's up? Is something wrong?"
Classes were ending soon too.
It was nagging at her unnecessarily.
She wished he'd reply right away.
The lack of response was making her worry.
"He'll reply soon."
Why did waiting for a message feel so endless?
Her lips felt parched for no reason.
-J_Woo_0811: Good work. No airsickness on the flight?
-J_Woo_0811: Anything you wanna eat?
A straightforward reply.
Classic Jinwoo.
Despite the casual tone, Choi Ye-won felt her heart race.
Her lips curved up, and a deflating giggle escaped.
"Hehe, what do I wanna eat."
She typed: Anything's good if it's with you.
Then deleted it.
"Th-that's too obvious."
Hmm.
What should she say?
Something that didn't show too much excitement.
But still conveyed she was fine with anything.
-ye.0_health: You pick what you want. Last time we had what I wanted.
-ye.0_health: I'll like anything you wanna eat.
Seemed decent—not too embarrassing, just right.
-J_Woo_0811: Wanna hit up Cheongyu House after so long? You loved their gukbap.
Cheongyu House.
The famous gukbap joint near campus.
If you didn't go super early, there was always a wait.
A gukbap place with a line.
That popular.
It was also a nostalgic spot she and Jinwoo had frequented back in their first and second years.
No mood to speak of.
But that wasn't bad.
She preferred a hearty gukbap anyway.
Nothing beat it for recharging energy.
And Cheongyu's tasted great.
Plus, if you thought about it, it was a place full of memories from time spent together with Jinwoo.
"Going after so long doesn't sound bad."
She sent a quick "okay."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Who knew ending a trip could feel this good.
Choi Ye-won steadied her fluttering heart.
What to wear tomorrow?
Maybe check the closet in advance.
The sex with Han Chae-ah lingered in my mind all day.
Our sticky, intense session.
Her vulgar plea to be raped, and me facing that desire head-on.
It had been a hot, depraved time.
"Whew."
-Sunbae, do it quick.
Han Chae-ah seducing me naked—she'd haunt my dreams.
"Thinking back, it was my first time too."
Just like it was hers, it was mine as well.
First experience: rape sex.
Worried it'd give me weird habits.
Though honestly, we'd done near-sex acts multiple times, so technically I wasn't a total newbie.
"Managed to wrap it up okay somehow."
The impulsive romp in the seminar room.
The location made the finish a bit awkward.
We'd laughed it off awkwardly out of embarrassment.
Honestly, no idea how I got home.
I walked her home just in case.
-I'll wash and return your clothes, sunbae. Better than them smelling...
She insisted on laundering them herself.
As I told her, my body could handle getting wet, so it was fine.
Truth be told.
To be a little honest.
I wanted to barge into her place right then.
Release the desire that hadn't fully dissipated.
But the mood wasn't there, so I held back.
There'd be a next time.
I'd seen that lingering hunger in her eyes too.
So it ended on a slightly regretful note.
I eyed Han Chae-ah's white panties from yesterday, which I hadn't washed in my regret.
Her scent clung heavily to them.
Sniff sniff.
I inhaled deeply.
Same smell as yesterday.
Han Chae-ah's lewd aroma.
Damn slut.
Should've fucked her once more.
Just the smell got me hard.
"Whew, screaming 'lost my V-card' way too loud."
Replaying yesterday over and over.
"Time to wash them."
I tossed her underwear in the washer, pushing aside the regret.
After classes later.
"Get ready now."
Changed clothes and prepped for school.
Act normal.
Just like always.
But.
Likes, huh.
Stargram's most basic feature.
Now with added pleasure stimulation.
"Hm."
Damn powerful ability.
Basically, remote foreplay.
Like using a rotor from afar.
Getting this power kept reminding me that yesterday with Han Chae-ah was real—kinda embarrassing.
"Wonder when I'll use it."
That thought carried me through morning classes.
Nothing special happened.
No separate messages from Han Chae-ah.
Half-expected her to show up suddenly.
Honestly, kinda hoped for it.
Felt like some weird vibe was in the air.
Made sense, maybe.
She took my first; I took hers.
Got awkwardly embarrassed for no reason.
'Was I always this clingy?'
First time feeling like this.
Lunchtime rolled around.
The time I'd agreed to eat with Ye-won.
"Hey, Jinwoo!"
Choi Ye-won, emerging from the lecture building instead of the lab, waved as she approached.
"Not coming from the lab today?"
"Professor gave me a bit of leave after the trip."
"Any good findings?"
"Eh, same as always. Interview elders, compile data, organize."
"Business as usual."
"Ever since deciding on grad school, it's been repeating senior year fieldwork. Used to it now."
She shrugged.
I looked at Choi Ye-won.
Dressed up more than usual, in a pretty outfit I hadn't seen before.
Pure yet healthy vibe, a bit revealing.
Wore this to class?
Maybe 'cause it was almost a week since I'd seen her.
Her aura felt different from usual.
More suited to pasta than gukbap.
Not that outfit matters at a restaurant, but the vibe was off.
Back when we went to Cheongyu together, it was more casual.
As I stared openly.
"Let's go. There'll be a line."
She smoothly dodged my gaze.
"Dressed up nice today."
"Uh, yeah?"
"'Cause of what happened last time?"
Our private time in the lecture hall.
"...N-no, not that."
She denied it firmly, but her face said otherwise.
"Really?"
"O-of course! Just felt like dressing up a bit since it's been a while back on campus."
"Got it. I'll take it that way."
"Wh-what do you mean 'take it that way'..."
"Hehe, c'mon. Line's forming like you said."
I headed to Cheongyu House with her.
Luckily.
Still seats available.
Relief at no wait.
"Been a while. Here, of all places."
Choi Ye-won smiled at my words.
"Yeah. Feels like years since we came."
Huh?
"But you still go to school, right? I was on leave, but you weren't."
"Ah."
She laughed and continued.
"Truth is, I haven't come here once since you went on leave."
"What?"
Not even once?
"It's good, but eating alone and waiting feels weird. Kinda awkward solo at a lined-up spot."
"What about classmates or juniors?"
"Girls in our dept don't like it here. And no desire to come with other guys for a meal."
"I see."
She naturally poured water and handed it over.
"Then why come with me?"
"Huh?"
"You said it's weird with guys. Am I okay?"
"W-well, of course. We've been friends since your repeater days."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
That was when.
"Oh my, a couple's here. Both having beef gukbap, right?"
The owner grinned at us.
"Yes—wait, what?"
Choi Ye-won startled, face full of panic, words failing her.
"Such a handsome pair. You suit each other. Weren't you the couple who came all the time before?"
"Ah, th-that's... haha."
I turned to the owner while she floundered in embarrassment.
"We came a lot. You remember."
"Of course! The lady here's so pretty, stuck in my mind."
"Any service then?"
"Extra meat piled high. Gotta treat returning regulars."
"Thanks, boss!"
As the smiling owner left, I glanced at Choi Ye-won, still failing to hide her fluster.
"Why so panicked?"
"Wh-what? I mean..."
"Hate hearing it that much? Us as a couple."
"N-not that..."
Her face beet red, she clamped her mouth shut.
"I dunno."
So damn cute when she's embarrassed.
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