Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Tail?
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Tail?
I'll definitely achieve that happy ending... and get my morning wood blown.
"Finding a café this empty at this hour probably wasn't easy."
"Had to, though. My girlfriend hates crowded places."
Her cheeks flushed a deeper pink than the sunset glow on them. Guess hearing me call her my girlfriend straight from my mouth had her thrilled.
"If I'm with you, Sanghyeon-kun... crowds wouldn't bother me..."
"Still, isn't it better just the two of us like this?"
"...Yeah."
"Then let's spend the whole day together today."
Ren smiled with her eyes and shyly nodded. I'd been craving something sweet since earlier. Probably from racking my brain so much yesterday.
"I'll go order more, Ren. Anything you want?"
"Oh, me... um... chocolate slice cake..."
Ren must've been craving it too—her tongue flicked out and back in.
Then I gotta get it for her. It's our official first date, after all—a milestone.
As I headed down to the first floor toward the counter, something suddenly ducked behind the café's sidewalk sign at the entrance.
"What the...?"
A hood pulled low over the head poked out from beside the sign. Didn't feel like a guy, but what the hell?
Weirdos everywhere these days.
I wanted to focus on Ren right now, so I ignored it and ordered the cake.
"Here's your chocolate slice cake~ Enjoy!"
"Thanks."
Glancing back as I took the cake, the shady figure was gone. Kinda creepy, but it's not like I have a stalker tailing me... Right? No need to worry.
Heading back up, Ren was fixing her makeup when our eyes met.
"Ah, ahaha."
She gave an awkward laugh and hurriedly stuffed her powder compact into her purse. Knowing Ren—who's already gorgeous bare-faced—was putting in extra effort just to look better for me nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Hmm... I snuck a quick adjustment on the stairs earlier, so she shouldn't notice.
We started sharing the cake.
"Ah~ Wonder if there's anyone who could feed me some cake?"
It was obvious I meant for Ren to hear. Tease her like this, and her ears always turn beet red—she'll do whatever I ask.
"Ugh... Here."
Ren silently cut a piece with the fork and held it out to me.
"That's too stiff. Can't you do it more like... you know, lover-like? We're dating now, after all."
"...Eat."
Averting her gaze, she brought the forkful to my lips.
"Aw, c'mon. Do the whole 'ahh~' thing. I've seen it in Japanese movies all the time. I wanna hear it for real."
"Hey! Why do you like such childish stuff?!"
"It's not the childish part I like—it's my girlfriend doing it."
At a loss for words, Ren's lips quivered as she glanced around frantically. Like she was terrified someone might see her doing this.
After checking the surroundings several times, she finally squeezed her eyes shut and gave me the sound I'd been dying to hear.
"Ughhh... A-ah... ahh~."
"Ahh~"
The cake slipped right in.
Kya~ Sweetness overload!
This was it. Even I, who usually hates overly sweet stuff, found this thrillingly delicious.
"Tastes even better when my girlfriend feeds it to me."
"D-don't just say stuff like that!"
Straight talk like this—stuff herbivorous Japanese guys almost never say. Ren couldn't get used to it at all.
"Oh, right—one fork. Indirect kiss, huh?"
Ren suddenly realized and yanked the fork from her own mouth in surprise.
"...It's not like that."
"Wanna switch to a direct one, then?"
Ren froze with the fork midway and stared at me.
"Ugh... Seriously, Sanghyeon-kun. Why are you so sly? Do they teach that in Korea?"
Just sitting in a café with ordinary coffee and a slice of cake, and it was this much fun. Time flew by as Ren and I chatted away.
I'd mapped out date plans from A to D before bed last night: street stalls, amusement park, movies, clothes shopping, etc.
But none of that was needed.
Sitting by the café window in the sunlight, just talking naturally, an hour or two passed like nothing.
"Wow, time's flown already. Ready for dinner?"
"Sure."
.
.
.
Dinner was great.
The walk after was nice too, and the cocktails at the bar were delicious. As we stepped out, cool night air brushed our cheeks. I naturally took her hand.
Firmly, but not rushed.
Ren looked down at our clasped hands and beamed.
"Where are we headed now?"
"Dunno. We'll see as we walk."
Time to head to the finale of this date.
Neon signs grew denser in the alley. The glowing signs painted her cheeks red. Then, suddenly, she realized every building around us was a love hotel.
"S-Sanghyeon-kun... This is, um... that kind of place..."
"Yeah. I know."
A bit scared, Ren slowed her steps. I gripped her hand tighter and led her to one side.
"If you don't want to, say so now. We can turn back."
"..."
Instead of words, strength entered her fingertips, gripping mine back.
Ren followed my lead.
That was enough.
We walked on, a mix of awkwardness and thick anticipation hanging between us.
But as we strolled, that weird feeling from earlier returned. The same creepy sensation from the café—like someone was staring at the back of my head. Like someone was standing right there, eyes boring in.
Whip!
"What's wrong?"
I whipped around instantly, but nothing. Too many distractions here: motorcycles zipping between alleys, flashy neon lights, sidewalk signs, drunken revelers.
"Tch... Something's off."
Someone's definitely tailing me.
This won't do.
Sex in this uneasy mood? No way it'd be good.
Better grab a room quick first.
"Ren, c'mere."
"H-hyah!"
I yanked her interlocked hand hard, pulling her straight into the love hotel beside us. Unmanned—empty counter. I hit the kiosk for a stay, paid, grabbed the key, and hopped straight into the elevator.
-Doors closing.
"U-uhh... Y-you've... been to places like this a lot...?"
Guess my quick moves made her misunderstand.
"Nah? First time with you. Never done this before in my life."
Ren jolted in shock.
"Wha—huh!? No way!"
"For real. What kinda guy did you think I was?"
"N-not bad or anything, but I figured... you'd at least had a few girlfriends..."
"Building a body like this leaves no room for girlfriends."
True story. Daily workouts and strict dieting, plus college or work? Tough enough. An athlete-level schedule like mine? Impossible.
"...S-so... I'm your... f-first...?"
Under her hands cradling her burning cheeks, her lips trembled. She could barely contain her joy. Women might care less about first times than guys, but she knew sharing it with your boyfriend wasn't easy.
-Doors opening.
"Room 304. 304... Here."
Beep!
Card key unlocked it. I pushed Ren straight inside.
"Eek!?"
"Ren, wait here a sec? Remembered an urgent call—be right back."
"Oh? Y-yeah."
"Go ahead and shower first."
"Ah, a-ah! R-right, gotta shower, yeah. Sh-should shower... I'll wash up quick and be out! Go ahead!"
Ren blanked on the shower part at first, then caught on fast and nodded wildly.
Thud.
I double-, triple-checked the door locked, then bolted down the stairs to the lobby.
Outside, the love hotel's sign flashed on-off in the night.
And right on cue, someone darted into the shadows between the opposite building's walls.
"Gotcha."
They could've tailed me all night, but following into a love hotel? Tough call.
I crept silently toward the wall. There, crouched and holding her breath, was our intruder—facing away, totally oblivious.
But she smelled familiar somehow.
"Hey."
"Kyaaaaah!!"
Like a cat zapped by thunder, she leaped straight up and flopped over. The recoil knocked off her clumsy hood, revealing the face I'd suspected all along.