Chapter 191
Seriously, during a call? Truth be told, Yoo Seol-ah's outfits usually hide it so well with her styling skills, but in pajamas, that overwhelming size naturally draws the eyes straight to her chest. She's even mentioned before that she can't find the right size at regular stores and has to order overseas. I never asked outright, but I was curious about the exact size. Who knew I'd find out like this, out of nowhere.
"Baek Sion, where are you...!"
Yoo Seol-ah's voice was getting closer. I didn't think I'd done anything that wrong, but with her searching for me like this, I felt like I had to hide anyway. I quietly erased my presence and shrouded the area in darkness. No basic detection spell would find me now. No one beats an assassin at hide-and-seek.
"...Shabu, haven't seen Baek Sion?"
She'd finally made it up to the attic and approached Shabu, who was baking bread on the rug. I held my breath for a second, but Shabu just let out a casual nyaoong. We could send our will to Shabu through mana, but the reverse wasn't possible. Even if Shabu tried to answer, its meows didn't carry mana.
Luckily, Seol-ah didn't change her approach.
"...If he's not here, where else could he be...?"
Maybe because the attic was her own favorite hideout, she tilted her head, pondering. But since she was already up, she sat down in front of Shabu to play a bit.
"...Shabu, don't you think they've gotten bigger even to you?"
Nyaong.
This time, Shabu's reply sounded affirmative. Seol-ah let out a small chuckle, picked up Shabu, and started petting it gently.
"...Yeah, it makes sense they'd grow again once my cycle restarts..."
"Gasp."
...What the hell did she just say?
Staying silent was rule one of hiding, but that wasn't the issue anymore. I'd heard something that shattered my composure, and even the darkness cloaking me had dissipated. But Seol-ah didn't seem startled at all—she just walked right toward me.
"Hey."
"......"
Wait, did she get me?
I'd seen her fake acting so often that I never suspected she'd fool me with it, but the way she was glaring said she knew all along. I'd fallen right into her trap. Her acting explodes out of nowhere sometimes...
"So, how much did you hear?"
"...That they seem a bit bigger...?"
For some reason, Seol-ah sighed in relief. She stepped closer, gazing up at me intently before speaking.
"Honestly, I don't know exactly either, but I think it's the succubus influence."
"...Yeah?"
"You've seen Karote, right? Succubus figures are no joke."
Seol-ah's was no joke either, but the succubus queen Karote took it to another level. Noticing my awkward reaction, Seol-ah smirked and added,
"That was a joke just now, so relax. I have zero periods and it's so convenient—I'm never giving that up."
I'd half-guessed she made it up to flush me out, but hearing it from her eased my mind. If it were true, she could've shown up with a two-line pregnancy test any day now.
"...Hey, do I look like the type to do that without saying anything?"
"Nah."
Seol-ah teased a lot, but she absolutely avoided anything that could crack our trust. My quick reply made her smile, satisfied.
...She was hunting me down so fiercely earlier, and now she looks all happy.
"...But seriously, do they really grow if you touch them?"
"......"
Seol-ah gave me that I knew you'd ask look, but she always answered my curiosities anyway.
"Doubt it, but I don't know for sure. And no one touches them that often anyway."
Her tone grew a bit resentful toward the end... It didn't sound like my imagination, so I stared at her. She suddenly snapped to attention, Hah!, adjusted her posture, and stepped back.
"...No, don't get the wrong idea...? It's not like I'm complaining or anything..."
Am I losing my mind...? The second I saw Baek Sion's weird expression, I realized I'd failed at controlling my emotions.
I've heard guys who live together want to grope all day or even sleep while touching. But Sion wasn't like that. He treated touching as sexual, so he never did it casually.
Of course, I felt his gaze drifting there plenty, but his restraint was his signature consideration. Sure, I sometimes wanted the unrestrained version, but after last night's disaster, wanting more was just greed.
But Sion wouldn't look away, his voice dropping a notch as he spoke.
"Wanna experiment?"
"Huh? No, wait... Eek!?"
While I panicked, he raised one hand and casually grabbed my left breast—no permission asked.
...Is this a dream? But the pressure on my chest felt real. Sion wasn't this type...
"...Eut!?"
I stared up at him in a daze, but he played with it like a toy, reshaping it without a change in expression. And slowly, a tightness started building deep in my lower abdomen.
...I always thought atmosphere was key for women. So why does my body react to just his touch...?
"...I said I'd be right back... Eut!?"
He was only kneading gently, and with my bra and tee on, I could still think straight. But dragging this out would make me late for Jia-unnie and Seo-yeon...
Is Sion seriously about to pounce right now...?
"Then we should hurry."
Whether misfortune or luck, he pulled his hand away. But seeing that same glint in his eyes, anxiety flooded me more than relief.
...Nah, right? They're both on the call— he wouldn't try anything during it...
"Not going down?"
"...R-right, going..."
At his gesture toward the stairs, I bolted down. My legs wobbled mid-step, and he steadied my shoulder from behind.
"...Th-thanks... Whoa."
He gave the bottle and meds, but skipping thanks would've been weird. Ignoring my quickening breath, I entered the studio, donned my headset, and took deep breaths. A shaky voice would tip off Seo-yeon.
But as I calmed, Sion followed—not to his seat, but behind me.
No way, for real...?
"Wh-what...?"
"Mic on?"
I'd muted it going upstairs, but him blatantly telling me to unmute? Only one reason came to mind.
My deep breaths were long gone. A chill now prickled from my lower abdomen.
...Sudden call play like this...?
I'd fantasized, sure, but it was just fantasy...
But staying muted was suspicious. Trembling, I hit the mic button in dread.
"...Back."
"......"
...Feels like I got scolded. And his presence behind me wouldn't fade—my whole body stayed tense.
They giggled excitedly, but I couldn't respond like usual. All focus on muting if he touched me again. No way I'd let them hear anything weird...
But even thinking that amped the chills. Then, his hand slowly reached over my shoulder. I went to mute—but froze as it happened.
But it didn't go for my chest. He just grabbed the stray tablet stylus and lightly scribbled before sauntering back to his seat.
......Ha. I wasn't expecting anything, but I wanted to smack him right now. Relief mixed with bubbling rage. Did he do this because I tricked him earlier? It pissed me off more since he'd pulled similar before.
And brazenly, he rejoined our group call.
"No!!"
...After that, he says 'draw quick'? Deep breaths didn't kill the anger, so I gripped the stylus hard, fury fueling me.
Like Jia-unnie said, my hand moved way faster than usual—not imagination.