Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: A Warm Night Together
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"...Aren't you cold?"
Honestly speaking.
The sensation transmitted directly without any underwear in between felt several times—no, dozens of times better.
But still, blurting out insincere words because outright enjoying it felt a bit off.
At that, Seo-ah smiled with an expression that seemed to see right through my ridiculous feigned concern.
"Jun-woo can just keep me warm~?"
—Hm, she's right.
There was no room for rebuttal, so I nodded instinctively.
Watching her giggle and wriggle deeper into my arms, I hugged her even tighter to warm her up.
Soft and squishy.
The addictive, pudding-like texture that jiggled with the slightest movement against my body was great, but so was.
Her soft hair, still slightly damp even after blow-drying, as if proving she'd just showered.
So smooth it made me wonder if she used the same shampoo as me.
This feeling, where stroking it with my fingertips released a faint strawberry scent that tickled my nose, was wonderful.
I wonder if Seo-ah feels this way when she hugs me.
I wasn't sure, but in the space between us that had been lively with chatter just moments ago.
A quiet silence had settled in before I knew it, making me think she was savoring me just as I was her in my arms.
As I basked in the perfect, full sensation that felt even more vivid in the stillness, drowsiness hit me all at once, and my eyes began to droop.
That's when I sensed Seo-ah's breathing trembling with anxiety.
Whether it was our first night together or when she fell asleep in my room.
She might hate me for saying this, but I'd watched her sleeping face without looking away.
I clearly remembered that dazzling sight of her sleeping soundly with steady, soft breaths.
But now, it felt uneasy somehow.
Her breaths, smaller than usual as if she didn't want me to notice, came irregularly and shaky right by my ear, stirring my instincts.
"Seo-ah."
Maybe because I suddenly spoke when she thought I was asleep, or perhaps from my whisper in the quiet darkness.
I felt her startle and tremble in my arms.
"Mm...?"
"Can't sleep?"
"No, I'm just about to... "
Her drawn-out words seemed to say she was fine and urging me to sleep quickly.
A lie.
Seo-ah can't look me in the face when she lies to me.
That's why.
"I can't sleep."
"Huh?"
"Let's stay up a bit longer?"
In truth, I'd barely woken up a precarious second before stepping over the threshold of sweet sleep.
I didn't care if she knew how I looked on the verge of sleep, but she probably thought I was already asleep or nearly there.
I never wanted to lie to Seo-ah in my life.
But just this once, since we were both fibbing, maybe she'd let it slide—as I consoled myself.
"...You okay?"
Finally, she peeked her head out from my chest, our eyes meeting.
In her eyes, shining brightly even in the dark, I was reflected.
Just as I'd seen through her lie, would she not see through mine?
But if the goal of a lie is to hide the truth without getting caught.
My lie right now was meant to be discovered by her, so I'd already succeeded.
If she found it hard to ask me to stay with her, then I just had to say it—simple as that.
"Yeah. Let's talk a little and then sleep."
"But..."
"Up you go."
Cutting off her worried gaze—afraid I might be tired—I sat up against the headboard.
I patted between my legs invitingly and spread my arms, and she slowly leaned back against me with an apologetic wriggle.
"Kyaa...!"
Unable to wait, I grabbed her slender body from behind, and she let out a small squeal. Smiling at the sight, I spoke.
"Who's taking so long moving this slow?"
"You startled me...!"
"Your fault, this is."
As I teased playfully, the apologetic look vanished; she scolded me verbally, but her eyes curved into crescents, putting my mind at ease.
"Snuuuff..."
Hugging her from behind intensified the strawberry scent I'd already found fragrant.
"...Jun-woo, aren't you sniffing a bit too obviously?"
—Huh, what?
Snapping to at her embarrassed words, I realized my nose had sought the source and reached her snowy white neck.
"...You sniff too."
"That's cheating...."
Embarrassing.
Since I was holding her from behind, it felt a tad unfair that only I got to enjoy her freely, pricking my conscience slightly.
But like a drug, I couldn't pull away from this scent tickling my nose.
"Hyaat..."
Even in the dark, clearly visible—starting from her pale shoulder where her pajamas had slipped, I kissed up to her neck slowly, as if staking my claim.
"Juuun-woo..."
Midway through marking the white snowfield with my footprints, her pleading whisper by my ear jolted me hotly aware.
"Ahem, got carried away without realizing...."
"Is this why you said let's not sleep?"
—No, not that.
But my glistening saliva on her pale shoulder and neck made denial impossible.
"...Still your fault anyway."
"Wow, now you're shameless about it?"
We both chuckled softly, the sound filling the room.
In the relaxed atmosphere as we chatted quietly.
I realized my hands rested on Seo-ah's soft belly.
Squish squish.
Fondle fondle.
Got to do what I've gotta do....
Lee Jun-woo, the man who doesn't miss opportunities.
Who knows when I'd get another chance? Though less jiggly than her chest pressed against me.
The addictive slim waist, vividly felt through her thin pajamas with its own unique flavor, I toyed with it.
"Jun-woo...?"
Gasp.
Caught(?)
"Sor..."
"Can't you touch somewhere other than my stomach...?"
Just as I was about to apologize like a guilty thief, her words made me doubt my ears.
"Somewhere else...?"
"Yeah... my stomach's kinda embarrassing...."
She seemed okay with being touched but shy about her belly.
Watching her shyly twist her body, I couldn't help naughty thoughts.
"Don't wanna."
Of course, if she really said no, I'd stop immediately.
But such moments with her were rare, so I teased stubbornly, fondling more until her hands captured mine.
Is this the end of my journey...? As regret welled up.
"Touch here instead..."
Following her captured hands upward from there, what they reached was.
"Whoa, boobs."
Check out this weight.
Strictly speaking, I'd touched them once before in that accident, but with underwear then.
Even if just the underboob, her bare skin for the first time.
I knew they were big just from sight and feel, but touching the tip of the iceberg overwhelmed with sheer presence and violent softness.
I couldn't think of anything but insane.
"Seo-ah."
"Mm...?"
"I think I'm gonna get a nosebleed."
Maybe more.
"You say that but your hands aren't moving, Jun-woo."
"Must be glitched. Can't move them...."
"What even is that... "
Seeing me frozen like time had stopped, she laughed helplessly.
"Jun-woo."
"..."
"Jun-woo?"
"Huh? Yeah."
I'd focused all nerves on my hands and missed her words, answering hurriedly.
"Thanks... for today."
"..."
No, now I felt more grateful, but thankfully I didn't say it aloud.
#146
It started with her suddenly telling me to sleep over at her house.
I'd worried her by skipping meals due to anxiety-induced loss of appetite.
Grabbing Jun-woo who wanted to shower at home and making him shower here.
Even sensing my state as I tried to sleep and staying by my side.
I felt sorry yet grateful for how much I'd troubled him today.
He had every reason to feel annoyed or irritated, but without a hint, he just smiled and cared for me, naturally dissolving fire memories like mist.
The nightmares of the fire occupying part of my mind seemed replaced by feelings for Jun-woo.
Late at night, yawning endlessly from drowsiness, but seeing him ready to watch over me sleeplessly unless I said to sleep.
I thought I'd be okay now.
Not fully forgotten, but with Jun-woo, it'd be fine—the feeling grew stronger.
The anxiety from before had turned into cozy warmth in his arms.
Now, May 8th wouldn't just be the day horror struck home, but overlaid with the happy day spent with Jun-woo here.
"Jun-woo, shall we sleep now?"
In his gaze checking if I was okay shone endless affection for me.
"Yeah, let's sleep, Jun-woo. I'm sleepy."
Saying I was fine, I grabbed his large hand still on my underboob and lay down; he lay facing me.
"Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
Naturally, we hugged tightly, foreheads touching.
"I love you, so much."
"Stating the obvious...."
"Yeah, I am...."
Hearing his gruff yet loving response to my confession, I drifted to happy sleep.
#147
"Juuun-woo... wake up... "
Already morning?
Feels like I slept only 10 seconds.
Sunlight seeped through my closed eyelids.
No idea how many hours, but after late night with Seo-ah, exhaustion like death hit as I opened my eyes.
"Sleep well, Jun-woo?"
In the warm sunlight, her beaming smile greeting me swept away all fatigue.
"Slept great."
Seo-ah dazzled so much in the light I barely opened one eye.
10 minutes sleep, waking to this view? I'd say slept great.
"You sleep okay?"
Her vibe so different from yesterday, I asked cautiously.
"Yeah, slept great too. Thanks to you."
"...Glad to hear."
I didn't know details, but if I helped her feel better.
That was enough.
"Jun-woo, but this... is it normally like this...?"
".........Yeah, that's normal."
Wondering what embarrassed her, there was my junior pitching a tent through the blanket first thing in the morning.