Frantic Morning Wake-Up
I woke up in a hurried morning. Honestly, I don't even feel like I slept properly.
It wasn't proper sleep anyway—I kept waking up in between. It's not like the bed was uncomfortable. We were doing that until 3 a.m. last night, so of course this would happen.
How should I put it? That pounding in my chest is still lingering.
Rubbing my eyes, I checked the clock.
...Contrary to my expectations, it was already 10 a.m. Looks like I kept dozing off and on before finally crashing hard.
But that wasn't the important part.
"Hey, Na-eun. Na-eun."
I grabbed the shoulder of Na-eun, who was sleeping soundly next to me, and shook her.
She suddenly hugged my arm and started rubbing her cheek against it.
"Hehe... Oppa smell..."
Ah, my scent, huh. But that's not what's important right now.
"Na-eun? Wake up. We're late."
"Mmm...?"
The moment Na-eun heard "late," she finally sat up, all disheveled.
I showed her the clock...
"O... Oppa!? What time's checkout!?"
She bolted upright and dashed to the bathroom.
"11."
"Aaaah! We're late, late, late!!"
"Just wash up quick and go."
"No way! Absolutely not!!"
"Then hurry up and wash."
"Yeees!!"
I gave the frantic Na-eun a time-saving idea.
"Wanna shower together?"
"Uh, uh, u-uh, uwaa, uu...! ...Yes, please."
"'Please' even?"
I took Na-eun into the bathroom with me and showed her a guy's shower routine.
Her meticulously scrubbing every inch versus my quick rinse. Who knew I'd learn the difference between men and women here? Oh well.
After that slow-yet-fast shower with Na-eun, we got dressed, and it was 10:50.
"We'll make it just in time."
"Yeah... But Oppa, what happens if we're late?"
"Wanna know?"
"Yes."
I told the nodding Na-eun a truly terrifying story.
"They report you to the cops."
"......Huh?"
"Pfft... Kidding. You just pay an extra 10,000 won."
"Eek...?"
Na-eun blinked like her brain had short-circuited, then realized I'd pranked her and started pounding my chest.
"You iiiidiot...! You said it so urgently...! I thought something bad was gonna happen!!"
Her pronunciation all mushy as she blamed me—how is she this cute?
"Sorry, sorry~"
"Bad boy! Bad!! You pervert!! Horndog!!"
"That's you."
"Nooo!!"
Na-eun drops her polite speech naturally when she's mad—why is this so adorable? I might get addicted to teasing her. Her reactions are cute, and yeah, I probably will keep doing it.
But I gotta stop before she gets actually upset. If she pouts for real, I won't be able to handle it.
I pulled Na-eun into a side hug and planted a kiss on her cheek.
*Mwah.*
"Hnnng... Bad... For real..."
Just seconds ago, she'd been huffing and fuming, but now she was calming down bit by bit.
One cheek kiss and she's pacified—too cute, seriously.
I gently rubbed her adorable cheek and said,
"Alright, shall we go?"
"Yeah... Let's..."
Na-eun nodded and toddled after me. I led her down to the motel lobby.
We returned the keycard, checked out, and stepped outside.
The crisp morning air woke me up as I gave Na-eun some options for the day.
"Na-eun, pick one."
"Which ones?"
"Eat here and head home, or go to our neighborhood and eat there."
"Hmm~ Eating here sounds easier, right? And..."
"And?"
"I wanna stay in the trip spot with you a bit longer... Can't we?"
Na-eun hit me with some light aegyo as she asked.
She was too cute, and honestly, I wanted more time here with her too, so I nodded right away.
"Yeah, let's eat here before we go."
"Yes!"
Na-eun nodded vigorously and stuck right to my side. We wandered around, looking for something good to eat.
Then I spotted a decent place.
"Na-eun, wanna eat that?"
"That?"
"Yeah, that."
My finger pointed to a hamburger joint.
Hamburgers, but not your average fast food— it was a handmade burger place. I wouldn't have picked a regular one.
Na-eun seemed into it too and nodded.
"Sounds good, let's go there."
We went in, ordered via kiosk, and grabbed a seat.
Na-eun sat staring out the window with a deep sigh.
"Haaaa..."
"Na-eun, everything okay?"
"No, it's just..."
She looked up at me with affectionate eyes and said something anyone could relate to.
"The trip with Oppa was so fun it felt unreal, but it's already over."
"......Same here."
It really was. The trip with Na-eun was pure joy and happiness—like, too happy, almost suspicious.
But it flew by. The regret hit hard.
So I made a promise.
"Na-eun."
"Yes...?"
"After first semester ends, let's take a longer summer trip."
"Longer?"
"Yeah, our summer break—just us. Two nights three days, or three nights four days."
"For real?"
If Na-eun had a tail, it'd be wagging like crazy. That's how excited her eyes were.
"For real."
"Hehehe, then I'll pay next time too?"
"Gotta line up a part-time job quick? Nah, I'll cover it again."
"I'll apply for jobs the second we get back!"
"Course registration first, before job apps."
"Oh, right."
Na-eun nodded like she'd just remembered.
Course registration... As a third-year, I'm just taking majors, so no big worries.
But missing it would be trouble for sure.
As long as I'm not too late, I can grab them all. Definitely.
"Oppa, how do you do course registration?"
"How? I'll show you when we get back."
"You have to! I heard it's super important."
"Yeah, yeah."
I nodded lightly at her words and stood up.
Our burgers were ready.
The burgers Oppa and I ordered were delicious. I get why people eat handmade ones now.
Pricey for burgers, sure, but totally worth it.
That didn't matter anyway. What mattered was doing that with Oppa.
I'm so happy. Beyond satisfied. And...
...I want more.
We crashed from exhaustion last night, but I still want to do it again.
I feel like a perv, but oh well. This is all Oppa's fault.
Oppa made me this way. He's too cool, too sweet—that's why.
The only issue? My thighs and hips ache like hell.
We overdid it yesterday.
Oppa said he was holding back for my sake, but what if he really let loose without restraint?
...Scary, but kinda exciting.
I'm going crazy.
To shake off the thought, I asked Oppa,
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"What part-time job would suit me?"
He answered without hesitation.
"Well... Cafe work fits you best."
Cafe—yeah, I thought so too.
I'd even been thinking about where to apply.
"But a bakery sounds good too."
"Bakery?"
"Yeah, bakery."
Bakery... Yeah, that works.
I like baking more than making coffee anyway.
"I'll check those out."
"Yeah, honestly, cafes aren't my thing."
"Why?"
He answered without missing a beat.
"Too many guys would confess to you."
"Ah...?"
Such a cute, unexpected answer.
"Pfft... Hehehe..."
"Na-eun? Why're you laughing?"
"...Oppa's too cute."
"Huh?"
Oppa looked adorable. Hating other guys confessing to me? Too cute.
This jealous Oppa is the cutest.
At the same time, I felt a little bad for him.
"Don't worry. No matter who comes, I'll only like Oppa."
"...I know. Thanks."
Listening to Oppa, I made a vow.
I'll give him even more certainty, trust, and love.
Heal all the scars that that bitch left by abandoning this sweet Oppa.
Comfort this cute, anxious Oppa.