12. Hug Me.
Episode 12. Hold Me.
Na-eun finished her preparations for going out in a flurry. As she slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped into the living room, Eun-ju, who was sitting on the sofa, looked up.
"Where are you going?"
"A date."
Her excited voice slipped out naturally. Na-eun didn't bother hiding the smile spreading across her lips.
Eun-ju's eyes slowly scanned Na-eun.
"......With whom?"
"Who else but Oppa?"
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her answer. To Na-eun, there was only one "Oppa"—Jin-hyeok.
"I see."
Eun-ju gave a short nod. She studied her daughter's face for a moment before speaking.
"Do you want me to drop you off?"
"No, we're meeting at Oppa's university today."
Eun-ju's fingers froze slightly on her lap. Soon, she forced a faint smile.
"......Be careful on your way."
"Okay, I'll be back!"
The front door closed with a cheerful click. The smile on Eun-ju's face as she stared at the closed door slowly faded.
Na-eun's steps felt light as air the entire way to the campus.
She wore a tennis skirt that ended just above her knees, a loose-fit shirt, and a jacket draped over it—an outfit that didn't look overly dressed up but still made her look her prettiest. She had spent the entire morning picking out the perfect combination.
As she neared the main gate, she felt eyes on her.
Male students passing by frequently turned their heads. She could tell when glances lingered even after they had walked past. Normally, such attention would have made her shoulders tense. But right now, Na-eun's mind was occupied solely by Jin-hyeok. She didn't care who was looking. Their gazes meant nothing to her.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message.
[Oppa, I'm here.]
A reply came shortly after.
[Wait a bit.]
Na-eun hugged her phone to her chest and looked up.
The towering buildings of the College of Medicine stretched before her. People walked by with thick textbooks in their hands, and the white hems of lab coats occasionally brushed past. This was the space Jin-hyeok passed through every day. Na-eun slowly took in the sight.
Next year, I'll walk these halls with him.
She imagined strolling the same campus, sitting in the same lecture halls, and naturally running into each other during lunch. Just the thought made the corners of her lips curl up uncontrollably.
"Na-eun."
At the sound of her name, she turned.
Jin-hyeok was walking toward her.
"Oppa."
Without hesitation, Na-eun rushed into his arms. Jin-hyeok stiffened slightly in surprise but still caught her small frame in his embrace.
They were in full view of everyone. Na-eun actually preferred it that way. She wanted everyone passing by to know—Jin-hyeok was hers. She wanted to flaunt their relationship as much as possible.
Jin-hyeok didn't seem to mind. He smiled faintly and gently stroked her hair.
"Did you wait long?"
"No."
Still nestled in his arms, she looked up and shook her head.
"Jin-hyeok, is this your girlfriend?"
"Wow, she's cute."
Voices chimed in from behind Jin-hyeok. When she turned, she saw a few male and female classmates snickering.
"Jin-hyeok had someone all along... sob sob."
"Wake up. You think you stand a chance—"
"Shut up."
Playful banter flew back and forth. Seizing the moment, Na-eun quickly bowed.
"Hello. Please take good care of Jin-hyeok Oppa."
Her bright, clear greeting left his classmates stunned.
"I wish I had a little sister like that."
"If my crazy dog at home was even half as cute..."
Na-eun giggled at their words and clung tightly to Jin-hyeok's arm.
"Then I'll be borrowing Oppa."
Without waiting for a response, she quickly pulled Jin-hyeok away from the group.
"Na-eun."
Jin-hyeok spoke awkwardly, looking slightly flustered by how openly she was displaying affection in front of others.
"What?"
Na-eun blinked innocently, as if she couldn't fathom what was wrong. Jin-hyeok eventually laughed at her shameless expression.
Since turning twenty, Na-eun had become much more assertive in expressing her feelings. Jin-hyeok had decided to accept them—for now.
"Nothing. I was just... grateful."
Her heart fluttered as she looked up at his smiling face. Every time Jin-hyeok smiled, her gaze was drawn to his lips—softly curved, the same lips that had captured hers just days ago.
I want to kiss him.
'Ugh...'
She barely swallowed the words rising in her throat. Instead, she tugged at his arm and changed the subject.
"I already booked the movie tickets, so let's go."
Na-eun dragged Jin-hyeok toward the theater.
At the entrance, Jin-hyeok froze when he saw the poster.
"Uh... this."
It was an R-rated romance film. The poster, drenched in dark hues, featured the unmistakable silhouette of two entangled figures.
Jin-hyeok turned to Na-eun with a troubled expression. She met his gaze with wide, sparkling eyes.
"We're adults now."
Her tone was casual, as if it were no big deal. Jin-hyeok exhaled shortly and, as if pushed by her expectant look, followed her inside.
They took seats in the very back row—couple seats without armrests in the middle, allowing them to lean against each other.
"Are these tickets expensive?"
Jin-hyeok asked, glancing around.
"Oppa, come on. We don't go out often, so we should splurge a little."
"You think?"
"If we watch today, I won't have time to come back until the next mock exam."
"That's true."
Jin-hyeok nodded seriously, as if he really planned to make her study nonstop until then. Na-eun narrowed her eyes.
"......Seriously?"
At her whispered retort, Jin-hyeok burst out laughing.
"Fine. Let's come more often."
"Okay!"
Satisfied, she nodded and naturally leaned against his arm.
The lights dimmed, and the movie began. Jin-hyeok fixed his eyes on the screen.
Na-eun's chest brushed against his arm repeatedly—soft yet firm, the sensation seeping through his shirt. His attention kept drifting toward it. In the past, his whole body would have stiffened. But now, perhaps because of his experience with women, he felt less sensitive.
She's a little smaller than her mother.
The thought flashed through his mind. The memory of Eun-ju's weight filling his palms resurfaced.
Will Na-eun's chest keep growing?
Curiosity flickered before Jin-hyeok quickly erased the thought, feeling like a pervert.
Meanwhile, on screen, the two protagonists began a love scene—entwined bodies, ragged breaths. Explicit moans echoed through the dark theater.
In Jin-hyeok's vision, the images overlapped with memories of himself and Eun-ju—that night in the car, tangled together in the cramped seat. His Adam's apple bobbed.
"Eek."
Beside him, Na-eun let out a small gasp.
She had heard about it from friends, but the scenes were far more graphic than she'd imagined. Her face burned. Sneaking a glance at Jin-hyeok, she saw him intently watching the screen, seemingly oblivious to her reaction. Relieved, she turned back.
When the protagonists' lips met on screen, Na-eun unconsciously licked her dry lips.
......With Oppa.
What would it feel like? The thought sent a hot tightness coiling in her lower belly. She pulled Jin-hyeok's arm closer to her chest.
The sensation of her soft flesh pressing against his arm made Jin-hyeok glance down.
Embarrassed that he might notice her excitement but unable to look away, Na-eun stared at his face. In the darkness, his eyes were so close.
"Are you okay?"
Jin-hyeok leaned in and whispered, his warm breath brushing her ear.
"O-Oppa."
Without thinking, she tilted her face up and pressed her lips to his.
A fleeting touch before she pulled away.
Her face burned as if it might explode. Even in the dark, she could feel her cheeks blazing.
Jin-hyeok looked momentarily stunned before smiling faintly. Then, this time, he leaned in and captured her lips.
Mwah.
His tongue slipped between her parted lips. They began sucking on each other's mouths.
Slurp. Smack.
Their kiss deepened, synchronized with the passionate sounds from the screen. Tangled tongues, low breaths escaping in the dark. Na-eun clutched Jin-hyeok's clothes, clinging to him.
"Hah... eek."
She couldn't even remember how the movie ended. Her mind had gone blank from the endless kissing. She just held onto Jin-hyeok's clothes, exchanging saliva, sucking his tongue, lost in the moment.
Her body kept trembling. A tingling sensation crawled up her spine.
Jin-hyeok's hand gripped her shoulder. Even that simple touch sent shivers down her back. Every time his fingers brushed her cheek or traced her nape, heat pooled in her lower belly.
His touch was light. But Na-eun's imagination ran wild—his hand slipping under her shirt, his fingers grasping her chest. As the sounds of the entangled protagonists filled her ears, she imagined herself as the woman on screen. Places Jin-hyeok hadn't even touched burned with desire.
"Hng...!"
She tightened her grip on his clothes.
"Are you okay?"
After the movie ended, Jin-hyeok helped Na-eun, whose legs had gone weak, out of the theater. He sat her on a bench in the lobby and pressed a cold bottle of water to her face.
The cool touch brought her back to her senses. Her dazed vision slowly cleared.
But every time she looked at Jin-hyeok, the scenes from the movie flashed in her mind. Unbidden, she imagined his body filling hers.
"Eek."
Na-eun lowered her gaze and shivered slightly. Her fingers fidgeted on her lap. The heat inside her refused to subside.
"Should we go home?"
At Jin-hyeok's question, Na-eun grabbed his clothes urgently. Without lifting her head, she whispered in a pleading voice.
"Um... I want to go to your place."
Jin-hyeok looked down at her for a moment before nodding slowly.
They hailed a taxi and headed to his officetel.
"This is Oppa's place?"
"Yeah."
It was a standard studio—a bed against one wall, a desk, and a small fridge. Na-eun took off her shoes and stepped inside, slowly scanning the room. The thought that this space was filled with Jin-hyeok's scent made her chest tingle.
Perching on the edge of the bed, Na-eun grinned.
"It reminds me of when I visited your house before."
"Yeah."
"Your room back then was full of books."
As Na-eun recalled the memory, Jin-hyeok smiled faintly.
"You threw a tantrum because you wanted to go."
"I didn't cry."
"You did."
"No, I didn't!"
Laughing together over their shared past, the awkwardness melted away. Having known each other since childhood made moments like this feel natural.
"Your bed is nice."
Na-eun flopped onto the mattress.
"It's cheap."
She buried her face in the pillow, inhaling Jin-hyeok's scent deeply. The familiar yet foreign smell filled her lungs. As she did, her skirt rode up slightly, revealing smooth thighs.
Jin-hyeok's face reddened. He averted his gaze and pulled the blanket over her legs.
Na-eun watched him quietly.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"I really like you."
Jin-hyeok met her eyes.
"I know."
"If you knew, why didn't you accept me sooner?"
He gave an awkward smile, unable to find the right words.
Na-eun slowly sat up and then leaned into his embrace. Through his shirt, she could feel the firmness of his chest. She looked up at him.
"Kiss me."
She whispered it like a plea.
Jin-hyeok obliged, pressing his lips to hers slowly. Their tongues intertwined gently—unlike the rushed kisses in the theater, this was slow and deep.
Slurp. Smack.
Their heated breaths filled the small room. Jin-hyeok's hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. The warmth of his palms seeped through her shirt, making her hips twitch.
She didn't want this to end. The heat from the theater still lingered inside her. Na-eun gripped his clothes and clung tighter.
"A... a little more."
Breathless, she barely managed to speak after pulling away. She wanted to take their relationship one step further. The words she had kept locked in her heart spilled out, fueled by her heated body.
"Oppa... I'm an adult now."
Na-eun met Jin-hyeok's gaze directly. With flushed cheeks and a trembling voice, she mustered all her courage.
"Hold me."