Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Kindergarten Kisses
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Bubble bubble.
Hiss hiss.
If you had to put the sound effects coming from both sides into words, it would feel something like this.
Kim Seung-hyun was bubbling like a potato on fire right in front of me, while Han Seo-ah, who had stuck right next to me, had bluntly told him she knew he was backup and just got attitude from him, plus she'd ended up paying for everything (she calculated the bill in the end), so she was trembling with anger.
...Cute.
Han Seo-ah doesn't usually show her emotions in front of others.
Maybe because she's known Kim Seung-hyun for a while, or perhaps because I'm next to her.
She was snorting cutely from her dainty nose, looking ready to puff out steam, but to me, she just looked adorable.
—Maybe because she's not mad at me?
Anyway.
I couldn't hold back from her cuteness, so I sneaked my hand under the table and grabbed her soft hand, squeezing it as I pleased.
I fondled each slender finger one by one. Slipped my fingers between her narrow gaps. And subtly... started caressing her squishy thigh, capturing her flinching reaction.
Suddenly, she primly pressed her knees together. Slowly tracing a ♡ on her thigh over her jeans with my hand, I felt her body shudder through my fingertips.
We enjoyed this secret moment under the table for a bit, and the hissing from moments ago vanished without a trace.
A single drop of sweat rolling down her pristine white skin, tinged with a pink flush.
Her moist eyes gazing at me helplessly in the cafe, embarrassed by my actions but with no option to stop me.
Her cherry-red lips, parted slightly from the straw, letting out a hot haa—all reflected in my eyes.
—...This is bad.
Perfectly satisfied yet lewd, her sight made my pants swell to bursting.
And anticipating the dizzying yet exciting aftermath once we got home, held back by her all this time.
We were here because Kim Seung-hyun called, but now his presence felt like a nuisance.
Realizing this wouldn't do, I clapped the table to change the mood. A small chiik sounded from beside me as their gazes turned to me.
"Both of you, calm down. So, Kim Seung-hyun, how far have you two gone with skinship? Hands? Lips? Or... more?"
Come to think of it, this was supposed to be relationship advice about skinship. I realized I didn't even know how far they'd gone and asked.
It's been almost a month since they started dating, so they must've at least held hands, I thought carelessly, glancing at Kim Seung-hyun.
Then,
Without a doubt.
The worst since I met him—no, the most nauseating sight I'd ever seen, making me want to vomit.
Kim Seung-hyun, twisting his body bashfully with a flushed face—
"Urghhh, fuuuck...!"
"Kyaa, Jun-woo...! A-Are you okay?!"
"I-I'm fi-urghhh...!"
Seeing that filthy, abyssal expression made me gag uncontrollably, spewing curses. Han Seo-ah's saintly hand patted my back in surprise, calming me briefly.
But lifting my head to see his still-blushing mug made me dry-heave again.
"Ahem, Lee Jun-woo, you're overreacting."
"Hey, Kim Seung-hyun... never, ever make that face again. I'll kill you, for real."
For the record, the one who'd die... was me.
His shameful face—no, that repulsive thing—had that much destructive power.
Closing my eyes briefly, I savored Han Seo-ah whispering if I was okay while stroking my back. I sighed in relief.
"...So, how far have you gone?"
"I wasn't sure if I should say, but..."
"Oh, if it's like that, maybe don't..."
"Peck."
?
"...Kiss?"
"...Peck."
"So... kiss?"
"...No, peck."
Her hesitant look made me wonder if they'd left marks in the snow or something.
But his unexpected answer had Han Seo-ah and me tilting our heads simultaneously, asking again. Kim Seung-hyun squeezed his eyes shut like it was too hard to say.
"So... not on the lips, somewhere else?"
"...Cheek and forehead."
Kindergartener? rose to the tip of my tongue, but I held back for friendship's sake.
"Kindergartener?"
Couldn't hold it.
"...It's been almost a month. Isn't this decent progress?"
"And you're asking us for advice?"
"...Fuck."
I led the factual smackdown, then Han Seo-ah cautiously chimed in.
"Hmm... a month and that's decent, I think...?"
"...?"
WHAT?
I swallowed We did it on the first day, staring at her in shock without thinking.
She caught on, glaring sharply and pinching my side, so I hurriedly turned away.
"Han Seo-ah, finally someone gets it...!"
"Finally...?"
Kim Seung-hyun brightened with an unexpected ally amid the beating, but Han Seo-ah darkened mulling finally. I couldn't help a hollow laugh.
"Well, Han Seo-ah and I are longtime childhood friends. Everyone has their own pace, right?"
"So, what was your pace?"
"...We're childhood friends."
Fast if fast, slow if slow—our pace.
But when it came to becoming lovers and expressing love.
We previewed and studied slowly, taking time, but as long as we learned.
We were geniuses at review.
Euphemizing our relationship, Kim Seung-hyun's envious gaze made Han Seo-ah's and my faces flush slightly.
Ignoring it with a fake cough, I spoke.
"...Honestly, a month or whatever, who cares how far you've gone? Han Seo-ah and I found new sides in our familiar bond, but you're discovering each other's specialness in a new relationship."
I paused, sipping my cooled Americano to wet my throat before continuing.
"Those special moments will stack up bit by bit... and even without thinking about it, one day you'll desperately want each other."
Like we did.
Without adding that, Han Seo-ah nodded knowingly, gripping my hand tightly.
"So... progress isn't the goal, it follows?"
"Sharp today. Say you sing 'I wanna fu—er, kiss!' everywhere, but if Lee Soo-jin isn't into it, what's the point? You build up gradually till you both feel it."
Got too immersed and nearly said the usual guy talk I wanna fuck! with three dudes, but her hand's warmth snapped me back.
She already knew, pinching lightly. Anyway.
"Ugh... feels gross getting advice from you, Lee Jun-woo."
"Want it from Han Seo-ah then?"
"...My bad."
"Jun-woo, what do you mean?"
Remembering her Jun-woo favoritism, he tucked tail and apologized. I chuckled, but her sharp glare and chilly voice shut me up quick.
"Anyway, take care. You and Lee Soo-jin looked like Beauty and the Beast back then."
"She's out of my league. That's why I treasure her."
Seeing him grin back happily eased my mind—he was enjoying his first romance.
We laughed together when Kim Seung-hyun suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, Han Seo-ah. Know what's in Lee Jun-woo's wallet?"
"Huh? What?"
"The gift me and Jae-hwan put in."
—This bastard?
After my sincere senior advice, he grinned at me like he wanted revenge.
I wanted to hurl my Americano at his face.
"Oh~ That was from you guys?"
"What? You knew? Lame."
He leaned back, deflated.
"Lee Jun-woo, thank your caring hyungs."
"...? Jun-woo hasn't used it?"
"...? You guys haven't yet?"
Han Seo-ah snaked her arm around mine like a vine, smiling brightly.
"No need."
"...?"
"...?"
About 5 seconds.
In suffocating silence, we all imagined countless things, opening and closing mouths repeatedly.
"Wait, Han Seo-ah. Hold on."
"No need... to use it...?"
—Did I hear wrong?
I wanted to believe it was a hallucination.
But seeing Kim Seung-hyun dazedly replay her words in shock confirmed it was real.
Petty revenge for treating him like a loser?
Seeing her satisfied smile at his soul-crushed look made me chuckle too.
Yeah, whatever. Not our first day. If she wanted, fine.
I decided not to care if Kim Seung-hyun was shocked.
Soon, Han Seo-ah yanked my arm into her softest flesh, whispering drowsily in my ear.
"Jun-wooo..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm getting tired nowww..."
Like I did earlier.
Just a bit deeper.
Her finger drawing ♡ on my body under the table, smiling radiantly.
"...Head home?"
"...♡"
Early bedtime's off again today, I thought.
Along with needing to find a place soon.