Quiet Night
“Mmm…♪”
I could feel the buzz starting to settle in. It was the same for Cecilia, and for me as well. Heat rose through my body, making my head spin lightly. A pleasant, moderate high spread through my veins. It felt good. That was exactly the right way to put it.
“All done?”
“Yeah~!”
With empty rice bowls and side-dish plates in front of her, Cecilia nodded vigorously. Leaning back against the bed and rubbing her belly, satisfaction radiated from her posture. There was still a little kimchi stew left, but both of us were full now. It would be better to reheat it tomorrow.
“Eunyuk~.”
“Hm?”
As I stood to carry the pot to the kitchen, a voice suddenly called out to me. Turning around, I saw Cecilia fidgeting her hands in a suggestive little way.
“That, that♪”
“…That?”
At first I wondered what she meant. But then her gaze drifted toward the soju bottle, and I realized what she wanted.
“Ah, the orange soju?”
“Yeah!”
She nodded brightly. The homemade cocktail of orange juice mixed with soju—too long to say every time, so just orange soju. The one she’d said she wanted at the café today.
“Okay. Just a sec.”
I set the pot down with a clank and headed for the fridge. Pulling out the chilled orange juice, I turned back toward the table. Glasses… taking out too many would only be a hassle. We could just top up the ones we were already using.
“Here we go…. Let’s get started!”
“I’ve been waiting~!”
I shook the juice bottle theatrically and got an equally theatrical response. Her lively reaction was truly delightful.
“Let’s see….”
I pulled the two glasses closer and filled them. Plenty of orange juice, just a little soju. A quick stir, and the simple citrus-colored liquid sparkled prettily under the room lights.
“Here.”
I carefully handed her a glass filled to the brim, surface trembling. She took it just as carefully and offered me a sweet smile with her eyes.
“Thanks~.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I expected her to drink right away, but instead she clutched the glass tightly and kept glancing at me.
“What?”
“Cheers?”
She tilted her head cutely as she asked. At that adorable gesture I laughed and nodded.
“Cheers.”
“Cheeeers~!”
A clear clink rang out lightly. Both glasses being full, a little spilled, but that much was just charm.
“Aah….”
I watched Cecilia tip her glass back. Against the soft gulping sounds I took a sip of my own drink.
“Mmm…. Gulp.”
“Pwah—…! It’s delicious!”
Letting out a happy voice, Cecilia wore a goofy smile. Then, instead of drinking more right away, she savored the aroma. Swirling the contents once with a grin, she slowly brought the glass back to her lips.
“Aah….”
With every little sip her expression softened. Her tail swayed lazily behind her, and her ears had long since gone limp and droopy. In a posture that openly radiated comfort, she enjoyed her drink.
“Pwah~….”
“So cute. Did you want it that badly?”
“Yeah~!”
Raising her glass high, Cecilia answered in a voice laced with aegyo. Watching her fondly, I took another long pull of my own.
“Pwah….”
“Eunyuk, is it good~?”
“Yeah. Sweet and tasty.”
“Hehe♪ Mmm….”
Smiling brightly like that, Cecilia suddenly seemed to remember something, set down her glass, and came over to me. Creeping closer little by little, she rested a hand lightly on my leg and leaned in.
“Eunyuk~….”
“Mmm, what is it?”
From about two handspans away, Cecilia gazed at me with a hazy expression. Quite close. Her cheeks were flushed red, her eyes moist. A faint scent of alcohol rode her breath and tickled my mind. Normally she gave off such an innocent impression, but at times like this she was truly alluring.
“I have a question….”
“What kind?”
I felt her small, soft hand fidgeting on my thigh. It didn’t seem deliberate—more like an unconscious action…. Mmm, it was ticklish.
“That….”
Her gaze flicked toward the side of the table. There sat several bottles of the liquor we’d been drinking.
“Wasn’t it expensive…?”
So that was what had been bothering her earlier; she must have been worried about the price. I answered lightly to put her at ease.
“Not really? They’re all cheap stuff from the supermarket—”
“Then what about that?”
Before I could finish she turned her head again. Following her gaze….
“…Wasn’t it expensive?”
In front of the wardrobe sat the shopping bag of clothes. The ones we’d bought while shopping around lunchtime.
“Uh….”
This time I couldn’t answer lightly and trailed off. Honestly, even as a white lie I couldn’t call them cheap. Good clothes, good materials. And good designs and brands. Maybe because I’d been picky about so many things, the amount I paid at checkout had easily exceeded my expectations—more than the underwear I’d bought last time, even. Of course, like the underwear, this was also a necessary expense….
“…Ugh.”
Apparently Cecilia’s thoughts were different. Her expression suddenly turned dejected as she hung her head low. Her ears and tail drooped. The tail aside, her ears weren’t actually any different from before, but I could somehow sense the change in atmosphere.
“I’m happy, but….”
Murmuring, she fidgeted her fingers. Fidgeting, she gently brushed the fabric of her clothes near her chest with one hand.
“Mmm….”
“You don’t have to worry so much. I’m buying them because I want to. The clothes, and the food and drinks too.”
“…I’ll pay you back someday.”
A soft murmur reached me. Since I couldn’t hear well I leaned my head closer, and right then Cecilia lifted her head and raised her voice.
“I’ll pay you back someday, for sure!”
“Whoa.”
Content aside, the distance was completely close—closer than before. Our noses almost touched; no, they brushed lightly. A soft sensation touched for an instant and then fell away.
“Ah, s-sorry.”
“U-uh.”
As I pulled my head back, Cecilia also hurriedly drew hers away. That close a distance hadn’t been intentional on her part either, it seemed.
“…Ugh.”
Slightly apart, Cecilia fiddled with her hair. Her cheeks were a little red. Mine were probably red too, nine times out of ten. Whether from the alcohol or not, a restless sensation made my head spin.
“…You don’t have to worry so much about debts or anything.”
“I can’t just not….”
In a somewhat awkward atmosphere we continued the conversation. The sky-blue eyes looking at me wavered with a strange light.
“Just receiving a place to stay is more than enough… I can’t just keep taking. I want to repay little by little, pay it back. So…!”
Suddenly grinning on her red face, Cecilia sprang up from her seat.
“Dishes are my job!”
In a lively voice she started clearing the dishes one by one. Her movements were remarkably quick—just as quick as she was at shifting the mood.
“…Don’t overdo it, take it easy. You’re drunk.”
“Got it~. Ah, yum♪”
Gulping down the remaining orange soju in her cup as well, she moved about cheerfully. I felt a complicated mix of apology and gratitude. I too picked up my glass, sipped, and quietly watched her.
“You sure you don’t want any more?”
“Mmm~, it’s enough! I drank quite a bit with the meal too. Ehehe….”
Putting two people’s worth of rice bowls and utensils into the sink, Cecilia said. Then, as she continued clearing the side dishes, she started humming.
“Repaying the favor~♪ First the dishes, and then other ways I can pay back even a little, …ah…….”
Turning on the water at the sink, she suddenly froze. Looking at me questioningly, she slowly turned around.
“Eunhyuk, do you maybe, um…. No, I have a little question….”
“Hm?”
What was she trying to say that she was hesitating like that again? Her tail and ears stiffened, and she fidgeted, unable to keep her hands still. Sipping the remaining drink, I quietly waited for the rest.
“…Aren’t you interested in my body?”
“Pff.”
I sprayed. Looking at Cecilia’s face anew—it was very red. Her skin was pink. Alcohol or whatever, that red face was pure one-hundred-percent embarrassment.
“I-I’m not saying I’ll pay with my body or anything!?”
“Ah, u-uh.”
Startled by her own words, Cecilia raised her voice in surprise. A deep breath followed—huu…. Fiddling with the ends of her hair with her fingers, she continued in a small voice.
“Just… curious. Why you didn’t touch me back then….”
“Back then….”
“…You know.”
‘Back then.’ Of course I knew. In this context, how could I not? Why didn’t you take me during my heat—the one who had gone through heat was asking me now.
I thought for a moment. Wondering how not to hurt her, I settled on suitable words.
“…Well? I don’t know what you mean. From where I stand, back then and your current drunk state aren’t all that differ—”
“I’m an adult too.”
Cecilia cut off my attempt to dodge. Looking down and fidgeting her fingers, that figure carried a seriousness and doubt different from usual.
“…I’m an adult too. I know what I did. I remember it clearly, of course….”
Unable to finish, she covered her face with both hands. An “Ugh…” that didn’t quite become words leaked through the gaps of her fingers.
“….”
I didn’t know what answer to give back. The words “I’m an adult too” sank deep into my mind. I fretted and conflicted—a little more than before. After a bit of time passed, at last, borrowing the power of alcohol, I spilled the most honest single sentence.
“…Just. I thought that’s what I should do.”
That was all. Back then, it just seemed like the right thing.
“Because it seemed like you didn’t want it. Just… that was it.”
This might not count as an answer. But with my current drunk head, that was the limit.
“…Eunyuk.”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
Suddenly saying it bluntly, Cecilia walked over to me with heavy steps. Then she gave my body a short, firm hug. A sweet scent tickled my nose, and a soft sensation pressed against my chest.
“Ce-Ceci—”
“I’m glad the first person I met was you.”
The words whispered in my ear carried relief. After a momentary embrace, Cecilia pulled away from me. On her face was the same playfulness and liveliness as always when she was drunk.
“I’ll clean up quick. Wait a little?”
“…Yeah. When you’re done, let’s drink a bit more juice without the soju.”
“Yeah♪”
Smiling sweetly, she answered. I too gently smiled back, quietly watching her back that looked so lighthearted.
Something big seemed to have progressed. What that something was, at least for now, I didn’t think I could know.