chapter 4
chapter 4
Translated by POWERPUFF
After the Storm
“Kang Sora…”
“Kim Jihoon…”
I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
“Ah…♡”
Was it the alcohol? I couldn’t think rationally.
Our lips met again.
The distance between us closed, and so did the distance between our hearts.
“Haah… haah…”
The scent of alcohol mixed with her breath only made me more intoxicated.
“Are you nervous?”
“Yeah.”
With trembling hands, I stroked her hair.
She smiled playfully at that and replied, “Me too.”
We held each other close, our lips meeting again.
The night grew deeper, and no sound could be heard.
The only things echoing were her breath and mine.
…
“Haah…”
I woke up and looked at Kim Jihoon lying next to me, completely naked.
“Kang Sora, you crazy idiot!!”
My whole body felt hot, like it was burning.
“No matter how drunk I was…”
I actually did something like that with him.
How am I supposed to face him now?
“This is driving me insane…”
My head throbbed. Was it the hangover, or because my mind was so tangled from what happened last night?
Maybe both.
“First… I need a hangover cure.”
I picked up my scattered clothes and put them on, then walked out to the living room.
“Where did I put it…”
“Ah.”
A familiar voice came from behind me.
“… Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah.”
“……”
An awkward silence filled the space. What am I supposed to do about this atmosphere?
“Hey, Kang Sora.”
He scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
“About last night…”
I quickly walked up to him and covered his mouth.
“That’s enough.”
I forced a bright smile and looked into his eyes.
“Nothing happened last night. Got it?”
“… Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“… Never mind. I’m going.”
He turned and headed for the door.
“Do you want to at least eat before you go?”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
The door opened, and he left.
Thud!
My legs gave out. I couldn’t stand anymore.
“Hoo…”
My face was burning. Maybe I was still a bit drunk.
“What do I do…”
I collapsed onto the floor, covering my face with both hands.
“What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…”
I’m so embarrassed I could die.
I tried calming myself with deep breaths, but my heart was still racing.
“… It wasn’t bad, though.”
“Ah.”
Am I insane?! Seriously!!
Kang Sora, what is wrong with you?!
I clutched my face and rolled around on the floor.
“But thinking about it…”
Kim Jihoon didn’t reject me either.
Which means…
He has feelings for me?
Thump thump
My face heated up again and my heart started pounding like it would burst.
“Calm down, heart, calm down.”
I must’ve drunk too much. I can’t think straight.
I should sleep first. Maybe that’ll help.
After posting a notice about taking a break from streaming, I threw myself onto the bed.
Holding onto the faint hope that everything would feel okay after I woke up, I closed my eyes.
…
Creak…
“I messed up.”
Sigh…
My head hurt. I barely even drank.
This is all Kang Sora’s fault. With a face and body like that, what man wouldn’t fall for it?
I can’t get last night out of my head. The way she pulled me in for a kiss keeps replaying vividly, like a live broadcast.
I feel like I’m going crazy. My mind is a mess.
Ding—
A notification from the streaming site popped up. I checked my phone and saw that Kang Sora had posted a notice.
“I don’t think I can stream today either since I’m still organizing my things.
That’s a lie. Everything was already organized when I saw it. She must be just as confused as I am.
I typed a comment under her post.
“Too bad See you tomorrow!”
As naturally as possible, hoping it would cheer her up.
After posting a notice that my novel would be on hiatus, I went into my room, tossed my phone aside, and lay down.
I need to sleep. Maybe then I’ll calm down.
After several deep breaths to steady my pounding heart, I closed my eyes.
…
“Mm…”
“What time is it…”
I fumbled around on the bed, found my phone, and checked the time. It was already 8.
I got up, went to the kitchen, and opened the fridge. I thought about cooking something, but I had no appetite, so I just grabbed an apple.
After washing it, I stepped out onto the balcony.
Whoosh—
The cold night air hit me, and as I looked at the moon shining in the sky, I felt myself calming down.
“Ah.”
A familiar voice came from beside me. I turned and saw a familiar face.
“… Hi.”
“Hi.”
She put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it. The smell of smoke mixed with her scent, brushing my nose.
I took a bite of the apple and looked at her. She turned toward me, and our eyes met.
“… What?”
She exhaled smoke.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
“I didn’t tell you.”
She took another drag. The tip of the cigarette glowed red.
“Want one?”
She held out the pack toward me.
“I don’t like cigarette smoke.”
“… Okay.”
A deep silence surrounded us. Unlike yesterday, when all we heard was each other’s breathing, today there was only the sound of the wind.
“Hey…”
I spoke while looking at the moon.
“What?”
“About last night…”
I heard her exhale smoke again.
“Let’s pretend it never happened.”
“……”
Silence fell again. It was so quiet I could hear the ash falling from her cigarette.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Huh?”
An unexpected answer.
I turned to look at her. Her face was expressionless, but somehow lonely.
“I don’t want to forget.”
She gave a crooked smile and turned toward me.
“I thought about it…”
She took another drag and exhaled.
“It was too intense to just forget.”
Now she was smiling like she always did.
“So let’s just keep it as a memory. Honestly, you liked it too, didn’t you?”
“……”
What am I supposed to say? Nothing comes to mind.
She placed a hand on her chest and smiled proudly.
“You should be proud, you know? You took the virginity of someone as pretty as me.”
Heh,
A bitter laugh slipped out.
“What are you talking about? No one took it for 27 years.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
She puffed her cheeks and glared at me. Normally I’d avoid her gaze playfully, but today I felt like looking right back.
“……”
“……”
Pfft—
“Puhahaha!!”
We both burst out laughing at the same time.
“What’s with that greasy look?”
“You’re the one making that childish face.”
“Whatever. Let’s go have a drink.”
“I’m sleepy. I’m going to bed.”
“Aaaah!”
“If you drink again, you’ll just make me carry you.”
“I’ll only drink a little today~.”
“Yeah right.”
“I’m serious. Just come out.”
“Alright, alright.”
I went inside, put on a jacket, and stepped out. She was waiting by the door.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
“What are we eating today?”
“Hmm… how about gopchang and soju?”
“Sounds good.”
“Then it’s decided! Let’s go!”
“Don’t run, you’ll trip.”
“Don’t treat me like a kid!”
“You’re not a kid?”
“I’m a 27-year-old adult~.”
“… Didn’t we have this exact conversation yesterday?”
“Did we? I don’t know. Just lead the way, I’m starving.”
“Yes, princess. Follow me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Oh, and quit smoking. You smell like cigarettes.”
“Really?”
She sniffed herself.
“I don’t smell!”
“I was joking.”
“You…”
She started hitting my arm with her fist. She looked so cute that I unconsciously reached out and patted her head.
“Seriously… stop treating me like a kid.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
I pulled my hand back and kept walking.
“Even if you don’t smell, quit smoking. I don’t like girls who smoke.”
“… Then I’ll quit.”
She muttered quietly.
“What did you say?”
“I said I’ll smoke even more!”
She blushed and ran ahead.
“Hey, wait!”
“She’s really something.”
In the dark night, it was just the two of us on the street.
Us, who had been together since childhood, and would continue to be together.