Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Can't Study - 1
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Around the time Yerim went to America.
Someday, if she came back, it felt like I could do anything.
Stars from the night sky or whatever—I wanted it so badly.
However.
Now that Yerim had actually returned, there was one thing I couldn't do.
No, it was something that had worked just fine before, so this failure was even more bewildering.
— ...I can't study.
Emergency. Super emergency———!
Whether before or now, I hated studying with a passion all the same.
Back then, with the single goal of going to the same university as Yerim, who was drifting farther and farther away, I'd cursed under my breath and forced myself to study anyway.
But now...
"...Yerim."
Yerim, who was studying across the table, looked up at my call.
I reached out and stroked her cheek.
Even with my sudden touch, Yerim didn't seem annoyed or bothered by the interruption—instead, she smiled happily and rubbed her cheek against my hand.
...This was the problem.
Someone might say what kind of nonsense I'm spouting after touching her myself.
But having Yerim right there, within arm's reach...
Being able to enjoy her anytime...
It was tremendous happiness—and a tremendous penalty.
I could see it. I could see my future as a second-year examinee because I couldn't focus on studying...
Is this why they use corporal punishment?
You get scolded for slacking off while studying, but every time I slacked, Yerim would smile like she'd been waiting for it and welcome me, so the frequency of my hand abandoning the pen wasn't decreasing—it was only increasing.
Of course, I wasn't some horny Yoon Do-hyun. I was a rational person capable of endurance.
So on the day I resolved firmly to go at least one full day without touching her and study together with Yerim...
I doubted my own eyes.
"......Yerim."
"Hm...?"
"Isn't that... dangerous?"
During a break from studying.
Yerim's astonishing feat of placing the bubble tea she'd bought on the way home on her chest and slurping it up with a sip left my mouth agape.
"What's dangerous...?"
When I silently pointed at the bubble tea on her chest, she went "Ah~" and smiled brightly.
"I've never dropped it or spilled it even once, so don't worry...."
"...You drink it like that normally too?"
"Not always, but sometimes when my hands are full...? It's really convenient...."
Convenient? That?
...What is this, a Simmons bed?
It was amazing that it stayed put at all, but calling it convenient? How much leeway did she have...?
As I stared in disbelief, Yerim's face gradually flushed the same pink as her eyes, though she didn't cover up or complain despite her embarrassment. That was so very Yerim.
"Oppa, aren't you staring too much...?"
Ah, she was saying something.
It seemed the inequality in her heart had shifted from Han Woojin > embarrassment to Han Woojin < embarrassment.
"...I was looking at the bubble tea. It was just so fascinating."
"...Liar."
"...The bubble tea just happened to be there. I had no choice."
"...Pervert."
I couldn't deny it outright, but this time I felt a little wronged.
No, how could I not look?
Even when I watched intently to see if it would really stay steady, it didn't budge at all—it was beyond fascinating, practically miraculous.
I couldn't tear my eyes away for even a second.
In the end, that day, every time I glanced at the bubble tea on the table during study breaks.
Every time I looked at Yerim.
Even just looking at the workbook.
That scene kept flashing in my mind, and before I knew it, I was constantly seeking Yerim out with my eyes.
I couldn't focus on studying at all.
The problem was.
That day could be excused because of the chest bubble tea incident.
But the next day, and the day after that, I still couldn't concentrate,
So now I had to admit it.
It wasn't about touching or not touching Yerim.
Yerim was, well...
Just being in the same room with her was enough to enlighten me—no, to make it impossible to focus on studying.
She was Mara Papiyas himself, no different from the Heavenly Demon.
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...What should I do?
I ran countless simulations in my head all night, but every scenario ended with Yerim getting upset.
How do you even say, "I can't study because you're here"?
And she hadn't done anything wrong.
If I suggested studying separately, she'd be so hurt...?
If it were just a little hurt, that'd be fine, but I knew she'd be devastated.
I didn't even need to see it to know.
...No answer.
In the end, after agonizing for so long, the only conclusion I reached was the pathetic one to just endure harder.
Han Woojin, you can do this.
You're not some horny monkey who can't hold out even during short study sessions?
I swore today would be different.
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Ugh! Ukki! Ukkik! Ukkiiik————!
...Failure.
I realized my true identity after 19 years.
I wasn't an Australopithecus—I was a horny Homo sapiens.
My brain, already pickled in Yerim dopamine, couldn't hold out and had long fled the detox of studying. The moment a gap appeared, my eyes chased after Yerim.
It was beyond salvation.
The next day after school, on the way home with Yerim.
Finally, after much deliberation, I cautiously broached the subject.
"Yerim."
"Yes...?"
On a street dyed entirely red by the sunset.
Pink eyes that not even the sunset could hide gazed at me.
"Um..."
As I hesitated, Yerim tilted her head with wide eyes.
"What do you think about... studying separately sometimes?"
"Separately...?"
"...Yeah."
I nodded, and Yerim looked shocked, as if she'd heard something unbelievable.
Soon, purple paint slowly seeped into her pink eyes.
"F-For a few days! Not always, just a few days a week!"
I'd originally planned full separation,
But seeing Yerim react with more hurt than expected—like a kitten with separation anxiety—I hurriedly added conditions.
Still, her drooping eyebrows showed no sign of lifting.
"Am I bothering you...?"
"No? Not at all? Never? Zenzen?"
"Liar...."
Uh oh. Uh oh oh?
She thought I was saying this because she was distracting my studies.
As her violet eyes grew moist, I knew I couldn't let this continue and carefully pulled Yerim into a hug.
"It's really not because of you. It's just that I'm pathetic."
"What about you...?"
A small sniffle came from within my arms.
"Don't laugh when you hear this?"
"I'm not in the mood to laugh right nowoo...."
—You sure look it.
"Then, don't despise me after hearing it?"
"......I'll decide after I hear it...."
"Then I won't say it."
"I'll try not to...."
I couldn't help chuckling at Yerim, who wouldn't commit even then.
"The first reason is..."
Yerim looked up at me from my arms with worried eyes.
"...you're too pretty."
".........Huh?"
"The second reason is,"
"W-Wait a sec. Don't joke...."
"I'm completely serious right now. Not joking at all."
"...Eek."
"The second reason—you're too sexy."
"..............Pardon?"
"I'm going crazy, Yerim. When we're together, my eyes keep drifting to you like shrimp crackers—I can't look at the workbook. Think about it. If you were me, and you and a workbook were in the same space, would you look at the workbook or at you? And when I just reach out, you smile like you've been waiting and come to me. You think I'd ignore that and stare at a workbook crammed with black text, calculating the author's feelings or geometric angles? I don't care about any of that! Common sense—why wouldn't I want to be with you? I really want to spend all day together! But I'm an examinee. A busy one with no time to spare. I've tried and tried to hold back over and over, but I can't. Because I like you too much. It's impossible. If you're at fault for anything, it's those two things I just said. But blaming you for that is ridiculous—it's insane. So, it's not that you're bothering me or doing anything wrong. It's just that humanity hasn't evolved enough in me yet, so could you just bear with me for a few days a week..."
"W-Wait. Wait, Oppa...!"
Huff, huff.
The chance to pour out my pent-up feelings from days of buildup made me rant without even breathing.
Yerim listened silently at first, growing more shocked until she urgently pounded my chest to cut me off.
Her violet eyes, which had been moist moments ago, were now overlaid with an even deeper pink.
Her snow-white cheeks burned red, unmasked even by the sunset.
"O-Oppa. The first reason, fine..."
So you accept that one.
"But the second one—what do you mean I'm se...sexy...? No matter how I think about it, I haven't worn anything like that or acted that way while studying with you..."
Confused by her boyfriend's sudden outburst of lust, Yerim stammered excuses.
"Yerim."
But hearing that, I couldn't help but chuckle.
As if you haven't.
Anyway.
Yerim was clueless about herself. Way too clueless.
"It's not your clothes or your actions."
At my serious expression paired with those words,
Yerim blinked in confusion, a question mark floating over her head,
Then, realizing what I meant, she bowed her head deeply.
...It's hot.
It definitely hadn't been this hot when we first hugged.
I could feel both our body temperatures rising higher than before where we touched.
"So, sorry. For being such a pathetic boyfriend. Can you understand just a little?"
Yerim nuzzled my chest like she was sulking.
"...You're not pathetic."
"Even showing you this side?"
"Yeah... Even if you showed me worse, I'd never think you're pathetic. I know why you're trying so hard to focus on studying...."
Like she never wanted to let go, Yerim hugged me tightly.
"But what kind of boyfriend calls his girlfriend sexy...?"
"...It was time to show my sincerity. Just don't hate me."
"What's there to hate...."
"No, those two reasons I gave as excuses are just too..."
"Oppa."
Yerim stood on tiptoes and lightly kissed my right cheek,
Then beamed, her pink eyes reflecting me.
"You're not the only one thinking that, so don't worry...."
"......Huh?"
Hic!
A hiccup escaped me before I knew it.
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