Chapter 18
Eventually, the door opened, and she left the room entirely. Han Yaseong opened his eyes and breathed quietly, without making a sound. He hadn't done anything wrong, yet his heart pounded for no reason. Everyone else was asleep, breathing evenly. Han Yaseong tried to go back to sleep himself.
But sleep had completely fled; his eyes were wide awake. For a while, it seemed like sleep wouldn't come at all. He lay there trying anyway, but still, nothing. His eyes felt gritty from fatigue, but his mind was crystal clear.
"Haa..."
With his brain so sharply awake, sleeping now seemed impossible. Han Yaseong let out a small sigh and got up from his spot. No point forcing it when sleep wouldn't come. He figured he'd head to the guys' room, wait a bit, and return if drowsiness hit. So he slipped out of the room.
The hallway bustled with people wandering leisurely, but Senior Choi Yujin was nowhere in sight. She must have gone somewhere else. Han Yaseong punched in the password on the guys' room door, flicked on the light, grabbed a drink from the fridge, and headed to the balcony.
The mountain ahead was pitch black like the night before, but the water park inside still glowed with lights. Plenty of guys and girls roamed around even in the dead of night. Han Yaseong pulled up a chair, sat down, and sipped his drink while stargazing.
Tomorrow, they'd head back. The MT had been a blast. He'd never tasted fun like this before. Good call coming, he thought. It'd probably be fun even in winter. Han Yaseong mulled over various thoughts as he finished his drink and stood.
Time to try sleeping back in the girls' room. He tossed the empty can in the trash and opened the door to hit the bathroom first.
"Huh?"
Han Yaseong startled. Amid the steamy haze in the bathroom stood Senior Choi Yujin. Stark naked, submerged in the tub. At the same moment, her full, voluptuous breasts came into view.
Choi Yujin, eyes closed as if asleep, lay motionless in the tub without reacting. Han Yaseong, shocked, quickly backed away and tried to shut the door. Fearing noise, he moved his hand ever so carefully, easing it closed just a crack.
Seeing Senior Choi Yujin naked in the tub made his heart race wildly. It felt like he'd peeped. No bubbles or anything—just clear water where her nude form shimmered faintly. Even the dark triangle of her lower abdomen was visible. He'd seen the hair down there through the water.
It was his first time. Seeing a woman like that.
It surged fiercely, hardening into an erection. Han Yaseong tried to retreat from the spot. But suddenly, the bathroom door swung open.
"Who's there?"
Senior Choi Yujin, white towel clutched over her chest, cracked the door and peeked out. Spotting Han Yaseong, her face registered surprise.
"Yaseong? Was that you opening the bathroom door?"
"N-no, I mean..."
Han Yaseong panicked. She must have sensed him while he was closing the door. He'd tried to be silent, but couldn't hide his presence.
As Han Yaseong floundered for words, Choi Yujin spoke up.
"I dozed off inside and felt like someone opened the door. Got curious and checked."
He was on the verge of being branded a pervert who'd spied on his senior bathing. Han Yaseong scrambled for an excuse.
"I-I was just heading to the bathroom and didn't know you were in there, Yujin-sunbae."
"Oh? Then why are you shaking like that? It's not like you did it on purpose. Unless... you knew I was here and opened it anyway?"
"N-no, not at all."
Choi Yujin didn't seem mad— she was even joking around. Only then did Han Yaseong relax. He'd been tense from that cold phone voice earlier, fearing she'd snap. Her lack of anger eased him greatly.
But she didn't let it slide.
"Stay here and keep watch while I finish my bath. Got it?"
"Pardon?"
"Penalty for seeing me bathe. Don't go anywhere—keep guard. It was fine earlier, but now that I'm alone, it's kinda scary."
Even bold Choi Yujin seemed a bit spooked realizing a guy had come by while she dozed naked in the tub. Han Yaseong figured he could handle that much, so he nodded reluctantly.
"Yeah. I'll stay."
"Thanks."
Choi Yujin shut the bathroom door again and vanished. Han Yaseong exhaled deeply. He'd nearly been marked a creep for peeping on a female senior. She was so nonchalant; any other girl would've snapped in embarrassment. Lucky it was Choi Yujin.
He settled in the corner by the bathroom and sat on the floor. Her submerged nude still flickered in his mind. That alone was a huge score. Experiences like this didn't come easy.
Leaning against the wall, he chuckled a bit when the bathroom door suddenly opened again. Thinking she was done, Han Yaseong stood— but her voice came from inside.
"I'll leave the door open. Let's chat. I'm bored."
"Ah..."
She wasn't finished bathing—just cracking the door for talk. Soon, the shower roared to life.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"Sad 'cause we're heading back tomorrow?"
"Nah, not that... just insomnia."
The rushing water echoed through the open door as Choi Yujin showered.
"Sigh, I got pissed off, so I'm bathing under the moonlight. Feels refreshing though. Washed away the bad mood."
He wanted to ask what happened but held back. Probably tied to that phone call. Her voice had been icy. They weren't close enough for prying.
The shower cut off, replaced by sounds of her rubbing her body down. Lathering up with soap, most likely. Hearing it all through the crack sparked vivid images of her soaping her naked body—making it throb harder. As painful as yesterday.
What do I do with this? he wondered. Then her voice called from inside again.
"Yaseong."
"Yes?"
"Got a girlfriend?"
"No."
"Why not? You look like you could."
"Haha... nope."
Han Yaseong chuckled wryly. He'd never even glimpsed a girlfriend. Barely talked to girls...
Choi Yujin and Eun-ah-sunbae were pretty much it. No chats with department seniors or peers either—just faces he knew.
"You kick ass with those kicks and look athletic. No girlfriend?"
"Yeah."
Sounds of skin being scrubbed kept coming—who knew where. It swelled bigger. Felt like she was soaping her ass. The image tormented him.
Aware or not, Choi Yujin kept talking.
"Want me to hook you up with a girl? She likes athletic types."
"I suck at sports."
"What? Landing those mid-air kicks nonstop? You'd kill it as an action star. No action school or anything?"
"Just practiced alone quietly. Nothing special..."
"Nah, your kicks were insane. Bulk up with some weights, and your physique would pop. You don't lift, right?"
"No."
"Figured from your upper body—kinda skinny. But two months of chicken breast and gym, and you'd transform. Want me to recommend a gym? Trainers there are solid."
"No thanks. I like solo workouts."
"Solo's tough for body management..."
She trailed off, sounding disappointed at his refusals. But Han Yaseong had no interest in gyms. He preferred his quiet forest routine. It was prep for deep woods exploration—not pure bodybuilding. This suited him fine.
Herbivore guy or not, he stood his ground. After that, she went quiet, just showering. Water pattered down her body to the floor. Time passed; finally, the shower stopped.
Girls really took forever showering. Han Yaseong finally stood. Still erect, his lower body ached. If Choi Yujin spotted it, disaster. He'd tucked it upward in his shorts like a space shuttle.