Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Morning Aftermath
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...
I woke up suddenly without any warning.
Was it the faint light of dawn filtering through the window tickling my eyes, or was it because Jun-woo's arms were wrapped so tightly around me that my chest could barely hold its shape?
In my hazy mind, still heavy with sleep, silly thoughts swirled as I tried to open my eyes, but they wouldn't budge easily.
My heavy eyelids finally lifted with effort, revealing the room bathed in the bluish glow unique to early dawn, softly shimmering.
And right in the center of my vision, Jun-woo's sleeping face, drooling slightly, filled my eyes.
Last night—or rather, since it dragged on a bit, should I call it this morning?
A little... just a little, right? I gently stroked the area around Jun-woo's eyes, where traces of fatigue lingered from pushing him too hard before bed, and he flinched at the sudden warmth.
...So cute.
Sorry to say it to Jun-woo, but...
One of my guilty pleasures was sneaking touches or little teases on him every time I woke up early like this, just to watch his reactions.
Of course, he'd woken up plenty of times because of it... but he never got annoyed. Instead, he'd smile like he couldn't help himself, tell me to go back to sleep quickly, and pull me into a tight hug. I just couldn't stop because of that.
Leaving a lip mark on Jun-woo's still-chilly cheek in the winter morning air, fiddling with his large hands...
...or stroking that spot of his.
Surprisingly, even while he slept, that... thing of Jun-woo's was poking insistently at my lower body, making its presence known without issue.
...You're really asleep, right, Jun-woo?
I knew it was just an unavoidable physiological reaction even in sleep, but...
Every time, it amazed me so much that I'd end up staring intently at Jun-woo's face.
I gazed at his face like that for a moment. Wrapped in the warm blankets in his arms, I desperately wanted to slip back into the land of dreams where Jun-woo was.
But I had to clean up the traces of our love from last night—or this morning—before Mom woke up, so I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed.
It hadn't even been a week since Mom caught on that we were doing it often even at home, so Jun-woo had said to hold off until he moved out for his place.
...But after getting me all worked up at the café yesterday.
Mom would understand this, right?
Imagining Mom nodding in my mind with an 'I approve,' I slipped out from under the warm blankets, only to have Jun-woo flinch and curl up at the sudden cold air.
Worried he'd wake, I quickly tucked the blanket back over him, and seeing him relax comfortably again made me chuckle softly.
After savoring that adorable sight enough, I turned around and naturally opened the wardrobe in Jun-woo's room to pull out my underwear and pajamas.
A space that once held Jun-woo's underwear and clothes.
But as I lived with him, I gradually brought my own things over one by one, pushing his out until...
At some point, it had become my space entirely. The sight satisfied me so much that my lips curved up without realizing.
I'd been embarrassed at first that Jun-woo could see my underwear... but if he wanted to see, I'd show him anytime anyway, and it didn't matter.
No, actually, I'd only brought the ones I'd love for him to see, yeah.
The bed sheets and blankets were in no state to sleep on come morning, so I'd swapped them out beforehand. I groaned as I picked up the neatly folded ones from the corner of the room and opened the door.
Creeeak—
In the dead silent dawn, the door's creak sounded louder than usual, making my heart drop for a second.
Thump thump. I calmed my racing heart as best I could.
Peeking out and scanning the living room, I saw no sign of Mom being up yet—thank goodness—so I tiptoed quietly out of the room toward the laundry.
Phew...
Only after stuffing the blankets and sheets into the washer did I relax, hand on my chest, letting out a sigh of relief.
At that moment—Creeeak—
The laundry room door opened with a sound that dwarfed the previous one, and my eyes met Mom's as she walked in.
"..."
"..."
A suffocating silence settled between us, nothing like the quiet calm of the living room moments ago.
Chug chug.
The washer droned on obliviously, and I finally forced my mouth open.
"...Good morning, Mom...?"
"Y-Yeah, Seo-ah. Up early, huh...?"
Unable to lift my head with the washer still running as proof of why I was up so early, my face burned red. Mom soon sighed and spoke.
"Good grief... what is our son doing, leaving you to handle this?"
"No, it's just, um..."
I couldn't exactly tell her I'd drained all the energy from her son...
As I fidgeted with my hands, desperately searching for words, Mom seemed to misunderstand even more and grabbed my hands sympathetically.
"Seo-ah, if you're ever feeling tired or worn out, you have to know how to say no. And don't hide away doing this stuff alone."
"Mom, it's not..."
I appreciated her stroking my hands and giving advice, but...
It felt like her misunderstandings about Jun-woo were snowballing, so I opened my mouth to correct her when—
"Th-That first guy's lust is like a monkey's for a while. Got it?"
"...Pardon?"
I couldn't bring myself to say that monkey was me yesterday...
"If you keep giving in every time, you won't last. You have to regulate it properly."
"..."
I couldn't say Jun-woo was the one who couldn't last after giving in every time...
Mom's words, meant to help me, instead stabbed sharply one by one.
Was she doing this knowing everything? Cold sweat broke out as the thought hit.
"Seo-ah—no, our daughter-in-law is suffering so much because of our son."
— ...Sorry, Jun-woo.
I couldn't bring myself to tell her the cold truth while she spoke in that warm, sympathetic tone.
Apologizing inwardly to Jun-woo, who was probably sleeping peacefully unaware he'd become a monkey in his sleep, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"It's no hardship, Mom... I do it because I love Jun-woo too, so..."
As I twisted my body and managed to voice the one truth I could share, Mom looked at me proudly with an 'aww.'
All I could do was force my trembling lips into a smile.
"Ow ow..."
I'd originally planned to look for an apartment with Seo-ah next weekend.
But the moment I stepped out of my room that morning, Mom smacked my back for no reason I could fathom and kicked me out of the house first thing Monday, telling me to find a place quick.
...Did she find out about last night?
Rubbing my still-stinging back and mulling it over, Seo-ah stroked my back with sorry eyes and asked.
"You okay, Jun-woo?"
"Yeah, just a bit stingy? No idea why she went off like that first thing."
"..."
Seo-ah flinched and clamped her mouth shut. When I looked at her questioningly, she shook her head frantically in panic, making me wonder what was up.
No way?
"...Did you do something, Seo-ah?"
".........No?"
"What was that silence just now?"
— ...Something's definitely up.
Her eyes trembled, avoiding mine—anyone could see she was hiding something. I was sure of it.
I stared at her intently, urging her to spill the truth, but she dodged my gaze and backed away step by step.
I closed the distance one step at a time until I could wrap my arm around her waist, trapping her in my arms so she couldn't escape.
Eeeeng... She let out a tiny whine, rubbing against me like she wanted release, and for a moment, I nearly let go without thinking.
But I held firm and pressed my forehead gently against hers with a tok.
"Tell me quick."
"Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"...Wanna touch my chest?"
Ignoring me completely, her sudden offer.
Whispering it up at me, her face flushing from cheeks to ears with embarrassment.
"...Trying to weasel out, huh."
"Jun-woo, let go of your hands first and I'll tell you...?"
"Whoa, what's this."
Was this the legendary cure-all for couples(?) you only hear about...
Squish squish. Soft soft.
My head said interrogate Seo-ah, but like it was telling me to shove it, my hands had stretched out on their own, kneading with all their might. I had to admire them. Good job...
It was a shame compared to summer's thinner clothes, but this texture through the sweater had its own charm, I thought—
"Eek, will you let it go if I let you...?"
"...You know this is cheating, right?"
"That's why it's good, hyah, ah, Jun-woo?"
Her face rosy, breathing hot breaths.
Whether from my relentless hands hurting or some other reason, one delicate eyebrow furrowed slightly.
But in contrast, her lips curved softly upward, and those loving eyes holding only me...
I couldn't even jokingly say no.
"...Love it too much."
"Hee, right?"
"Just this once."
"For real~?"
Her mischievous question dripped with implication that this trick wouldn't fail next time either.
"...Probably."
I couldn't be sure.