Business Trip - 29
Although it was peak dinner time, the restaurant was quieter than expected.
About half the tables were occupied. While it wasn't exactly a place one would boast about as a hidden gem, the atmosphere wasn't bad.
The kids were busy eating, and the adults were clinking glasses and laughing. There were even couples eating, saying, "This is delicious! Not bad!" despite the noise that would usually be distracting.
Above all, a delicious, appetizing aroma filled the shop.
This is a good place.
Ji-wook was certain of it.
"Though, it's a shame the interior feels so dated. That embarrassing calendar, for one..."
It was an adult pin-up calendar distributed by a liquor company. It was hung prominently in a spot visible from anywhere in the shop. It felt malicious that they’d even hung a TV right above it, making it impossible to suggest they put the TV there instead.
He felt uncomfortable, but Jia, seemingly uninterested in his thoughts, headed deeper into the shop to find a seat.
"Two orders of clams, no—make that three."
"...Ah, yes! Three orders of clams...!"
The male server who came to take their order flinched in surprise. His pupils shook as he scanned her from head to toe, as if asking, "Really?" Once he took the order, his face turned bright red to the tips of his ears, and he ran off as if fleeing.
I knew that reaction would happen!
It was a predictable outcome, but Ji-wook furrowed his brows at her, ready to launch his umpteenth protest.
"Noona! I told you they’d notice!"
"Hmm~, I wonder if it was a bit too stimulating~?"
As she said that, she deliberately tugged at her T-shirt to show him. It was a white T-shirt that clung to her skin like a second layer. Because of that, the shape of her breasts, which should have been hidden, was revealed in all its raw detail. The firm, natural shape of her breasts, unencumbered by a bra. Especially her nipples, which stood erect at the tips, flaunting their presence. Because of the thin fabric, even the pink hue of her nipples was faintly visible.
"Noona!!"
"Ahahahaha~!"
Ji-wook couldn't help but let out a shriek at her sudden, reckless behavior. The only saving grace was that his desperate, rational self had kept him from raising his voice too loudly.
The person who should have been embarrassed was laughing nonchalantly, watching him as he frantically scanned the surroundings.
"If anything, it’s because of Ji-wook that people are looking~."
"Kugh! This is all because of you, Noona! If someone were to see—"
"It's fine~. No one will notice from this seat."
It was the corner-most table. It was an angle where it was difficult for people's gazes to wander, and even harder to see through the window. Above all, the seat she chose faced away from the other customers, so unless someone leaned out to look, they would never see her front.
She offered a bright smile, telling him to relax. Ji-wook massaged his temples, complaining of a headache.
"You still never know!"
"You did something even riskier just a moment ago~."
"That's why I'm reflecting on it! All the blood that should have gone to my brain went straight down, so I couldn't think rationally!"
They had even come close to being caught. It was a near miss; if anyone had turned around, both of them would have been finished. Just thinking about that moment made him shudder, and Ji-wook trembled, saying he had no desire for such nerve-wracking situations anymore.
"Even now—"
"No."
"Noona!"
"Fufu, Ji-wook, you keep them well for me~."
Her bra, her panties, and her hot pants. They were all in his possession. Perhaps it was because she had just taken them off, and her scent was deeply embedded in them? He was restless because of the scent wafting from his pockets. Furthermore, every time he realized those items were in his pocket, he was reminded that she was wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt. He could vividly picture her body, which he had felt with his eyes, hands, and his entire being the night before. To his eyes, she looked practically naked.
"Is it lewd?"
"...It's lewd!"
Perhaps sensing his gaze, she flashed a playful, mischievous smile. He grunted roughly to let her know he was angry, but it didn't leave even a scratch on her smile. Just how much does this person need to tease me to be satisfied? No matter how much she does it for her beloved husband, it isn't good to be this stimulating to other men! Ji-wook thought that he wasn't safe either, wondering if he might just forget all their promises and relationships and pounce on her in a fit of excitement.
But would Noona even be careful if he told her that?!
"Oh? You were thinking things like that~? Pouncing on Ji-wook after he turned into a beast from excitement, kyaa~! How~! Ahaha~! Ji-wook is really cute~! Worrying about all that, too... It's because it's Ji-wook that this is possible~."
...It would be a miracle if he didn't get teased like that. The "because it's Ji-wook" part was his own personal wish, but he was certain the rest was a foregone conclusion.
"......Still, I have to warn you. At least promise me you'll only do this indoors! If a problem arises, I won't be able to face Hyung-nim!"
"Oh my~? You still have a face to show him~?"
"*Ahem!*"
"Ahaha~! I'm joking~! Don't be angry~!"
"...You know it yourself, even if I don't say it! That and this are completely different things! What you and Hyung-nim have, while hard to understand, is at least based on mutual agreement. But I cannot accept you engaging in such dangerous behavior. To me, who was entrusted with you by Hyung-nim, even for a short while, I have a duty to protect you. Therefore, I cannot just stand by and watch you put yourself in a dangerous situation."
"......"
So please, just put some clothes on! He couldn't say it out loud for fear of others hearing, but his eyes were pleading with her. If you want to excite Hyung-nim, there are plenty of other ways! He's a man who loves anything you do! There's no reason to take such dangerous risks!
He was lost in those thoughts when she, who had been silent, suddenly stood up. She approached him, leaned her body against him as if to embrace him, and sat on his lap. It looked like a couple cuddling face-to-face. Some customers saw them and were whispering, "Oh my, oh my! How shameless! Are they a couple? Are they not dying of embarrassment?" but Ji-wook was frozen in shock at her sudden action.
"No, Noona...?!"
"Fufu,"
Was it because the light was behind her, casting shadows on her face? It was the same seductive smile she always gave, but the light shining in her half-lidded eyes was a deeper, darker pink than usual. A pink that was richer and more vivid than red...
She leaned in close, as if to bite his earlobe, and whispered in a sweet voice.
"It's because it's Ji-wook that this is possible~."
"......?!"
"I can trust you, Ji-wook."
She whispered that it was fine. "Oh, and you seem to have forgotten, but unless we take photos or videos, Seung-hyun-ssi won't know what we do outside. Whatever we do from now on becomes a 'secret' that only Ji-wook and I know~!"
Fufu~! As her laughter flowed directly into his ear, he felt a chill so intense his mind went blank. The scent of her, caught right in front of his nose. The heat and heartbeat radiating from her body pressed against his. Even the sensation of her bare, firm flesh rubbing against his thighs. There was no reason for him not to be aroused.
His arms, trembling with the urge to hold her right then and there, lifted as if to wrap around her. If he just hugged her like this...—
"Fufu, what a good boy~."
"...This is bad for my heart."
His hands, which had been about to pull her into an embrace, fell limp as if the strings had been cut. Because the promise with her still remained. No contact. Even if what she did was a different matter, him touching her of his own volition would be breaking the promise.
As if to praise his firm decision, she ruffled his hair until it was a mess, then returned to her seat.
"Ji-wook is really cute~! You're so fun to tease~!"
"Ugh...?!"
"Just a little temptation and your ears turn bright red, and you're all flustered~!"
"If you tease that cute boy too much, he'll cry. I'll show you how I cry my eyes out."
"Ahaha~! Really~? I want to see you cry~! Show me~!"
"No."
"You said you'd show me~!"
"No."
While the two were bickering, the food arrived. Clams and knife-cut noodles filled a large bowl that looked like a washbasin. Even the cloudy broth looked refreshing just by looking at it. As soon as it was placed in the center of the table, the steaming aroma made both of them lick their lips, saying it looked delicious.
"Then, I'll enjoy the clam kalguksu you bought me, Noona!"
"Eat up~."
The visual and aroma were a pass, but how would it taste? He picked up a mouthful of noodles, blew on them to cool them down, and slurped them up almost as if drinking them. The noodles were perfectly cooked and firm. There was no floury taste, and the broth had soaked in well, spreading the spicy and salty flavor of the kalguksu throughout his mouth. It was a taste that went down his throat refreshingly without being cloying. The unique bitter taste and muddy smell of the clams were almost non-existent, and the refreshing taste of the seafood combined with the crisp spiciness of the peppers was so well-preserved that he began his second mouthful in a daze.
"It's delicious! Mmm!"
He was sweating profusely from the heat and spice, and his palate was burned, but he couldn't stop his chopsticks! With a happy face, head bowed, he slurped up the noodles and had already refilled his small plate three times. He looked like he was about to eat all three servings by himself, but Jia, far from being annoyed, watched him eat with a warm smile.
"Fufu~. You eat well~."
The sixth time! As he emptied his plate with a storm of eating, he stood up to get more noodles. Thinking, "If it goes down like this, I should order two more servings," he suddenly stiffened like a broken doll.
Huh?
His pupils shook. He doubted his own eyes, wondering if he had seen wrong, but he had to admit that the sight unfolding before him was neither an illusion nor anything else.
"Ha~ah! I guess the peppers are a bit spicy today~, the sweat is just pouring down~!"
She tried to cool her sweat with her hands. But as if to mock her efforts, the beads of sweat on her forehead flowed down, gathered at the tip of her chin, and dropped.
Plop!
Her T-shirt absorbed the sweat that fell onto her breasts. The T-shirt, now soaked with a large amount of sweat, clung to her body, revealing her flesh—her naked body without a single piece of underwear—and even her pink nipples, all in raw detail.
"Still, it's delicious~!"
"Nooooona!!!"
"Too loud~."