Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Won't You Do It...?
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♪♬♪♬
“Ughhh...”
A serene morning. The alarm blared through the room as if it couldn't care less about any of that, barely jolting my consciousness awake from sleep.
...It feels like I just closed my eyes. This can't be a scam, right?
I couldn't believe it was already 6 o'clock, so with one eye cracked open, I glanced at my phone screen. Indifferently, the [6:00] glowed in sky blue against the display.
Part of me wanted to hit snooze for just five more minutes, but I knew better. If I did, I'd never crawl out of the warm blankets.
I wriggled free like a worm, then drew back the curtains to shake off the sleep.
“Ow, my eyes.”
The sunlight flooded in as if to say, “Took you long enough, punk.”
Once I was somewhat awake, I did some lazy stretches to loosen up, threw on my matching tracksuit, jammed in my earphones, downed a glass of water, and headed out.
Nothing done right. I still wasn't fully used to the routine.
“Phew...”
Nearly two months had slipped by since Yerim left Korea.
Back when she first departed, her absence hit hard—the girl who'd always called me “Oppa” by my side. Days felt endlessly long.
But now, two months in, I was conning myself: This is manageable; three years would be a breeze. Just pretend I'd gone through basic training twice. Wait, crap—that'd make three for me?
Grumbling to myself, I broke into a slow jog.
Jogging had become one of my little hobbies after Yerim left.
The immediate aftermath was brutal—peak summer heat.
Global warming making all the headlines, huh?
Nearly October now, and the weather lingered in that sweet spot between cool and crisp. Perfect for a run.
I'd stuck to home workouts before, so my first jogs left me gasping and disoriented.
But nearly two months of this pattern, and I finally had bandwidth to take in the scenery. Hooked me fast.
Ah, this is where I first met Yerim.Oh, that's the ice cream spot we hit.Right, this place too...
A year's worth of wandering together had filled the neighborhood with memories. Every corner sparked an “Ah...”
It was just... good.
Gotta swing by again. Next time, check out that place.
Missing her now fueled visions of our future together someday.
What she left behind wasn't regret—it was expectation.
As I mentally mapped a route tweak for tomorrow, my pocket buzzed.
Already that time?
Familiar slot, familiar double-tap on the earphones. Connected.
“Hello?”
“Ung... Oppa... exercising...?”
Yerim's voice was drowsy and languid—not her usual silky tone. Probably still in bed.
Secret I hadn't shared: I loved her like this. Post-first-call, I upgraded to premium earphones just for it.
“Yeah. Earth Online service ending for real, I guess. Not cold—perfect out.”
“Still... don't skimp on layers... Catch cold...”
“Hoo, careful.”
“Yeah... don't get sick...”
The jogging trigger? Simple.
Time zones.
Vast gap to America meant my sleep was her day, her sleep my day.
Had to pin call windows.
Enter jogging.
Win for my fitness, win for her post-routine chats.
I pitched it hyped as pure win-win. She looked guilty:
“But that's too tough on you, Oppa... You sleep in enough as is...”
...How'd she clock that? Flustered, but I insisted.
Stubborn as ever, she skipped calls at first—too sorry during my run.
I'd ring her instead, chew her out. She'd snatch it mid-first ring. Classic Yerim.
A few lectures later, she synced up—ending her day right on my jog cue.
And with that sleepy, coquettish purr:
“Uung, Oppa... just woke up...”
Video calls on groggy wake-up, tousled and craving me.
Day starts with bedtime Yerim's voice.
Day ends gazing at fresh-awake Yerim.
Our rhythm locked in.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Oh yeah. Oppa, birthday gift arrive safe...?”
“Ah, right. Weren't the doggy PJs I sent the gift? Why another? Nearly jumped outta my skin.”
No gripes on the price tag—she wasn't fishing for that.
But.
—Gasp.
Cute packaging hid a watch whose tag screamed anything but.
Coughed up:
“PJs were my whim... Watch? Fits? Like it...?”
Brushing off my nag like “Skip it—review, now,” I huffed a laugh.
“Perfect fit, spot-on love. Thanks heaps—gonna rock it.”
“Eung... phew... Think of me every glance...?”
“Yup. Wearing nonstop. Now, sleep, shower—you name it.”
“Ack, no showers... Wait, wear it in. I-I gotta watch...”
“Pfft. What? Watch got a cam or something?”
“…………”
“………Why quiet?”
“……Oppa, want anything next...?”
“...Dodging?”
Pressed her; awkward pivot.
...Nah. Trust my Yerim.
“Seriously, cheaper next round's fine. Overseas shipping bloats it.”
“……My one splurge with my cash...”
Familiar scold; she mumbled pouty, miffed.
Sigh.
Old timer, held this back...
Her bullheadedness demanded the nuke.
God-tier on her, self-damage kept it trump-card status.
“...Not your money.”
“...?”
“Pr-Precisely... our money...”
“...Ah......”
“So, y'know. Kinda gives me say...”
“...Yup, right. Watch it next time, Oppa...”
She'd no doubt splurge again come next b-day—but now? Enchanted glee.
“...Promise?”
“Yeesss...”
Could see it: cheeks flushed, pink eyes twinkling. Too adorable; caved.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Not some three-month couple cringe (touch-base: zero meets, two months).
Taking over her handed-off marriage fund nuked my allowance to pinhead—sudden pauper vibes.
Fine by me.
Bigger urge: dazzle her on return with a grand reveal.
Just baffled how she cooked up such a dutiful account.
One video call, sly probe:
“Won't you do it...?”
“...Huh?”
“......?”
“...Duh. Gotta. Haha, dumb ask...”
Tilted head, pink eyes rock-solid, tone casual—like obvious.
I blanked instead.
Weird... Dating-to-marriage pipeline lost?
No guts to prod the courtship skip.
Sank me then; spun positive later. Tease fodder.
...If she clocks it as tease.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Chat winding down near home, her voice faded; articulation adorable (or fuzzy).
Dozing off.
Bed-bound, nodding out.
Ran hushed for easy sleep; long quiet—she was out.
—Slept, huh. Hanging up—
“Oppa... miss you...”
Tiny whisper, ear-straining.
Sodden, hiccuping sleep-mumble.
Quietly.
Ended soft, no wake-up.
“......Me too.”
Thought crisp weather; wrong.
Nose tip stung.
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