Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Beachside Anticipation and Confession
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#117
After arriving at our travel destination, Jun-woo's demeanor was back to the usual Jun-woo I knew—no trace remained of the tense guy who'd been wandering lost at the station.
Idiot. There was no need to be nervous.
Thinking how fortunate that was, just as we climbed into a taxi headed for the salmon sashimi restaurant, the driver asked if we were a couple.
"We're going to be."
When I subtly tested the waters, Jun-woo blushed but affirmed my words.
The sight of you not fleeing when I took a step closer, but instead stepping toward me in return...
Naturally, I found myself looking forward to the changes in store for us today.
#118
From the taste of the salmon sashimi to Jun-woo feeding me with an "ahh~."
After a thoroughly satisfying meal, just as I stood to pay the bill, Jun-woo insisted on covering it.
The accommodation had cost a pretty penny this time, so I was about to raise a firm objection—tail held high in protest—when he mentioned it was money his dad had given him specifically for times like this. My tail deflated instantly.
—That's cheating.
I couldn't very well start off as a daughter-in-law who argued with her father-in-law right from the get-go...
Jun-woo grinned smugly, as if daring me to object, and for a moment, I felt like digging in my heels.
But oh well, there'd be next time. As I examined the wallet he'd handed me, I noticed it was a bit worn from use.
What if I got him a new wallet for his next birthday? While peeking inside, I spotted two square, vitamin-like packets tucked in the corner.
Why carry vitamins in your wallet? Curious, I pulled them out—and felt their squishy texture. Printed on them: 0.01mm conX.
...So Jun-woo had plans all along?
My first time seeing a real condom up close, I fiddled with it out of curiosity. Suddenly, my heart raced at the thought of what might happen tonight, heat rising to my cheeks.
That's when Jun-woo burst out of the bathroom, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Han Seo-ah!!!! Wait a sec!!!!!!!!!!"
But seeing me already peering into his wallet, his face drained of color like his soul had fled. I couldn't help but laugh.
I'd half-expected something like this ever since booking the room with just one bed. It wasn't that I hadn't anticipated... well, that kind of night.
—Actually, maybe I'd been a little hopeful?
Still, since it was our first time, I wanted to feel each other completely, without any barriers—so I hadn't prepared. If Jun-woo had, well, that was a shame but unavoidable.
Anything was fine as long as it was with Jun-woo. We still had a lot of catching up to do, after all.
—Though, aren't two a bit short?
The day I showed him my swimsuit and saw him like a tiger eyeing prey, realizing I needed to study up...
That YouTube video I'd watched before bed, "69 Ways to Spend Your First Night with Your Childhood Friend—Revealed!", made it sound like you could go all night...
More the merrier, right? No—condom-merrier? When I asked Jun-woo, he panicked at first, insisting two would be plenty. But after looking at me and pondering, he corrected himself—and I couldn't stop my lips from curving up.
Because.
This conversation we were having—accepting each other so naturally, even shyly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world...
It felt so right. I could only smile.
#119
After Jun-woo headed into the shower, I started changing into my swimsuit, peeling off my clothes one by one. Suddenly, I recalled the fitting room that day—showing him my swimsuit, his excitement plain as day, impossible to hide.
...Will we even make it to the beach?
There's a bed right here next to me. If I just give in...
I realized we might not make it out at all. My mind raced with what might happen next, heart pounding.
Snapping out of my fantasies, I called out that he could come out now. The door creaked open, and there was Jun-woo in his swimsuit.
...That's hot.
Do I like this kind of thing...?
Muscles? Nice if he has them, whatever if not—right?
Just about this much.
Jun-woo looks good no matter what.
It just made me happy that he'd worked so hard for me.
I'd never really fantasized about muscles anyway. As long as it was Jun-woo, that was enough.
My 19 years of vague thoughts on muscles were about to get rewritten.
I'd watched him work out plenty of times from the sidelines, but seeing him like this up close was a first.
Honestly, the Jun-woo before me right now? Perfect. My heart was thumping hard.
—100 points.
Jun-woo had always been tall with great proportions, and now with those subtle, defined muscles... it suited him way better than I'd imagined.
Gulp.
I swallowed without thinking.
Jun-woo was just as turned on by me—that much was obvious from how he was pointing right at me like a compass needle.
...Way too big, no matter how you look at it.
When I asked if I could touch, he eagerly said go ahead. I gently stroked him part by part, and sure enough.
Even that one taste of chicken breast had shocked me so much I'd never mentioned it again—but he'd kept at it steadily. In this short time, I could tell just how hard he'd trained.
Seeing how much effort he'd put in for me, gratitude and guilt welled up. Looking at him, his eyes gleamed with barely contained desire, probably from my hands on him.
Have I been enjoying this too much by myself?
Any longer in here, and we'd never make it to the beach. As we finished getting ready to head out, feeling sorry, I hooked my arm through his, letting him feel my body against his firm arm in a tight embrace.
And then, without a doubt.
The happiest expression I'd ever seen on Jun-woo's face in 13 years. It was absurd, but seeing him so thrilled over just this much of me filled me with joy—and anticipation.
How happy would he be with all of me?
#120
After a satisfying time at the beach, the weather turned chilly, and we returned to the accommodation. At some point, Jun-woo started creaking like a rusty robot.
Or more precisely... ever since seeing the sunset over the sea?
He felt like a robot under some overriding command. Wondering what was up, he asked if we could hit the promenade before dinner. That's when it hit me—"Ah!"—what that command was.
The time has come.
Realizing his creaking was from nerves, my own tension kicked in.
Whatever lay ahead would surely change our relationship.
I steadied my trembling heart, hid my nerves, and walked step by step along the promenade with him.
Then Jun-woo looked at me, his eyes saying he was ready.
...I'm nervous.
I had no idea what he might say, so I braced myself.
Suddenly, in the corner of my vision, I saw his hand trembling.
No.
Looking closer, it wasn't just his hand.
He was shaking all over—like he was terribly nervous, or scared.
—Jun-woo, you're...
Right now, you're gathering every ounce of courage for me.
I couldn't just watch. Gently, I took his large, shaking hand in mine.
You'd always met my step forward with one of your own.
I hoped my step would give you the courage to take yours.
"We'll always be by each other's side, just like we always have."
I still had no idea why I'd returned to the past.
But if I had to guess at the miracle's purpose...
It was to be by your side, right here.
Overwhelmed, unable to hold back his emotions, Jun-woo teared up and confessed his love to me.
His voice, promising me forever, rang with such depth and sincerity.
—Don't cry.
I just wanted to smile brightly and accept his heart.
But his tearful truth struck me so deeply that my own eyes burned.
One tear, then two.
I felt droplets roll down my cheeks, but I didn't care. I smiled.
Today was a good day.
Our 13 years as childhood friends were precious, yes.
We could've ended up worse than strangers with one wrong choice, or drifted into something else.
But there'd be no regrets with the choice we made now.
From the moment I returned to the past until this one...
I'd been nothing but a fool obsessed with you.
Even if time looped hundreds, thousands of times...
I'd only have eyes for you.
"You idiot."
"It's all yours already..."
You hugged me tight, like you'd never let go. And I confessed my truth.
"I love you, Jun-woo."
From the moment I returned to the past, I'd been a fool who knew nothing else.