Sexual Guidance

Yeah, fuck. If things actually went the way I wanted, it wouldn't be my life.

I let out a long sigh, pulled my transit card from my wallet, and fell in line behind her.

From up front came the bus driver's voice, thick with irritation.

"Miss. You getting on or not?"

Huh?

Chio's shout snapped my eyes wide open, and only then did the scene in front of me actually register. Kim Yuna stood frozen with one foot already up on the bus step, her transit card halfway out of her sling bag.

A blue screen rose in front of my eyes.

I forced my hammering heart to settle as best I could and tapped Kim Yuna on the shoulder. She turned, face blank.

"Um..."

"Oh."

She shot me a glance, brow creasing, then hurried up to the driver's seat.

"I'm not getting on. You can just go ahead and leave."

"Tch. Then you should've said so earlier. What the hell is this."

"Sorry. I'm getting off."

Behind me the bus doors hissed shut. The engine faded down the street, and the rush of passing cars took its place. Kim Yuna told me to follow and set off in front, and I didn't have the nerve to ask what state she was in, so I just walked.

Asking right here would look weird, okay? Honestly, I don't even know how the hypnosis took.

If it had landed, this woman taking my virginity was a foregone conclusion, so there was nothing to worry about. The thing was called First Experience Helper. She'd obey an order like this. At least that much.

She cut away between the buildings, and only once we'd reached a tucked-away corner did she turn and run her eyes slowly over my face.

"Ha... so it's you?"

"Huh?"

"I asked if it's you. Today's assignment. You're the virgin, right?"

The strength went out of my legs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and I dropped into a crouch.

I know. But my legs won't hold me.

Still crouched, I let my gaze travel up Kim Yuna from her shoes. A moment ago this woman and I had been nothing to each other. That was over. From here on, I was going to feast on Kim Yuna. My eyes reached her face, and they met hers.

"You going to answer me?"

I turned my head away without thinking.

"What. You're not the virgin?"

"No, I mean, I am a virgin. It's just... I'm not used to talking to women."

"Great. I got stuck with someone even worse than I thought."

Ahem. That's humiliating.

Old habit, looking away the second a pretty face showed up, and I'd just made a fool of myself in front of Chio. About time that changed.

Kim Yuna crossed her arms, looking thoroughly pissed.

"Even so. Can you not see I'm on my way to class?"

"...What?"

Her irritation made no sense at all, but the confusion only lasted a second before it clicked. This was part of the hypnosis the First Experience Helper had planted in her. I cleared my throat.

"C-could you tell me what you're angry about? Whisper it. It'd be bad if someone else overheard."

I worked up the nerve and leaned in beside her ear. A dizzying scent of skin rose off her rigid body.

"You're the one I'm supposed to give sexual guidance to today, aren't you?"

"S-sexual guidance?"

Her voice caught. The answer came out with a slight stammer. Exactly as I'd imagined.

She was frowning like something felt wrong, sunk in thought, and I flicked the tip of her nose.

"Don't think about it too hard. That's right, I'm a virgin, and I'm the man receiving Kim Yuna's sexual guidance today."

"You're giving me the creeps. How do you know my name?"

"Th-that was... when you took out your transit card earlier, your ID was in your wallet..."

"Even creepier. Don't stand so close to me."

Kim Yuna turned her head slightly aside.

A woman like this, giving me sexual guidance. I was already dying to know what was about to happen. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I studied the face hidden behind her mask from up close and swallowed hard.

"Is there anything we need to get ready for the sexual guidance?"

"Obviously. Go buy condoms. You've got money for a motel, right?"

"Yeah. I set it aside. For today."

I barely choked my instincts down, ducked into the nearest convenience store, and came back with soju, beer, and two boxes of regular-size condoms. Kim Yuna, who'd been standing there with her arms crossed, peeked into the bag.

"Why'd you buy alcohol? I'm not drinking it anyway."

"Well..."

It was for the aftermath. Insurance, in case of whatever might happen once the twelve hours were up. When I couldn't explain, Kim Yuna shook her head like she didn't want to hear it.

"Forget it. Stop wasting so much time and let's go."

"Ah. Yes."

She searched up the nearest motel and started walking, following a navigation app. I drew a deep breath, then hurried after her a beat too late.

Not gonna deny it. I never imagined that after the hypnosis she'd just walk around outside this bold. Isn't this effect way too good? She's a completely different person.

How was I supposed to keep a clear head with that girlish scent pouring off her right in front of me? It suddenly didn't feel real, so I pinched my cheek. This isn't a dream, right? That prickly part-timer who was a total stranger as of yesterday is walking right in front of me?

My heart thudded.

Can you tell from the outside that I'm nervous?

That only wound me tighter, because I could already picture what was about to happen.

Been a while since I'd set foot in a motel. How many months had it been?

A motel isn't only for that. Soldiers can't leave their duty area, so if you get an overnight pass on your own, a motel's about the only place to sleep.

I walked along turning it all over, and before I knew it we were there. The door creaked as I opened it. Behind the front desk, walled off in glass, someone was visible: a man in a beanie and a mask, chair tipped all the way back, sprawled like he was lying down.

Anyone could tell that's a motel clerk, right?

It's morning. Figures.

I went up quietly and spoke to him.

"Excuse me."

"Ah, oh, one second~"

Only now seeming to notice a customer had come in, the man yanked his chair up to the computer in a hurry.

"Ahem. Ah, sorry about that. Do you have a reservation?"

"No. Any rooms left?"

"No, that's not it... did you happen to bring anything with you?"

"Bought it at the convenience store just up the street..."

I held up the black bag, and the bottles knocked together with a clink. Buying the alcohol had been a key part of the plan. The clerk's eyes traveled up and down the bag.

"What's in there?"

"Beer and soju. And condoms."

"Condoms?"

He lifted himself off the chair and craned his neck to look past me. Kim Yuna had followed us in, mask on, and his eyes locked onto her face.

...What are you staring at like that. Even a mask can't hide the aura, is that it?

I shifted forward and cut off his line of sight. Helper or not, Kim Yuna wasn't entirely past caring what people thought. She tugged her mask up higher. Once we quit reacting, the clerk went back to tapping at his keyboard.

"Two of you, correct?"

"Yes."

"Our standard rooms and the semi-deluxe are all taken. Only a deluxe suite is left right now. Would that be all right?"

"Deluxe? How much?"

"Are you staying the night?"

"No, today... three o'clock? I think we'll be out before then."

"Shall I put it through as a short stay?"

"Yes. How much is it?"

"Ninety thousand won."

"N-ninety thousand?"

I unloaded a string of curses at him from inside my mask and opened the banking app on my phone.

Pisses me off, but the rate's probably listed on their site, so it's not a scam. It's just expensive because it's the deluxe room. Ha, shit. Money I bled for.

Think. Cash, or card?

I turned my head and met Kim Yuna's eyes. Black hair with a faint brown sheen, cut short enough to cover the backs of her ears.

She is pretty. The looks definitely stand out, and so do the clothes.

The university she went to was less than five stops from here. Was there really not a single person in this neighborhood who knew Kim Yuna?

I watched the timer shrink and let out a long sigh. It stung, but money was something I could always make later.

I looked back at Kim Yuna.

"You're going to take proper care of me today, right?"

"Take care of you?"

"Ah, never mind. I was just worried. About wasting the money."

"What are you even saying. I don't want to do this right now either, but it's an obligation, so I'm doing it. Shall we go?"

"No, no."

Sexual guidance for a virgin, and she calls it an obligation.

I laughed at her inwardly and pulled from my inner pocket the cash I'd gotten from the cafe owner. I'd already decided to pay in cash if I could. No record that way.

"Here."

"Yes, ninety thousand won in cash. I'll get you the room key. One moment."

He rummaged through the drawer under the computer, pulled out a room card, and handed it over.

"When you leave, you have to return the room key and finish checkout. Only the two of you go in that room. If anyone else is joining, you tell us. And you can't get caught throwing some secret party in there, understood?"

"Yes."

"Confirmation received."

I checked the key card and headed for the elevator. Behind me I heard Kim Yuna following.

This is really happening...

It didn't feel real. I'd imagined today hard and prepared for it, but imagination and reality are never the same thing.

That's a lot of pressure, so maybe don't go all the way to everything.

Huh. Once you're actually gone, I think it's gonna feel weird. Bittersweet.

The display ticked down. Fourth floor. Third. Second.

"Just in case, stand behind me."

I caught the arm of Kim Yuna, who had let out a long sigh, and set her behind me. I said my goodbyes to Chio while I watched the floors climb. My first time was right in front of me. A complication was the last thing I wanted.

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The lock clacked shut. Luckily, I hadn't had the rotten luck of running into anyone I knew on the way. Only after the door was fully closed did I finally breathe out in relief. I slotted the key card into the terminal on the wall. A beep, and the dim room flooded with light.

From the entryway I swept my eyes over the inside and drew in a long breath, then let it out.

"They did say deluxe, right? Worth the money."

"Facilities are nice, too. Oh, Netflix."

I came in, turned the TV on, and spent a good while looking the place over.

Hm?

Only then did I notice Kim Yuna still standing in the entryway, arms crossed. It had just been so long since I'd been in a motel, that's all.

"Ah, sorry. I got carried away talking to myself, didn't I."

"No. It's fine."

"Then from here... what should I do?"

"That... ugh, I really don't want to do this."

She came over on stiff, creaking steps, perched on the edge of the bed, and closed her eyes.