#64. Exchange
#64. Exchange
[Hello. It feels like it's been a while since I last greeted you all. Readers. This is Han Gyeo-ul!]
[The weather's getting chilly now, so I hope everyone takes care not to catch a cold.]
[Today, I'm here to share some great news!]
[The eighth work from HNE Author-nim, who always impresses me and all you readers with her outstanding pieces. The completion of the Heroine 'Han Na-eun' is right around the corner!]
[As expected from HNE Author-nim. She's shocked me once again with her ridiculously high quality.]
[I can't wait to receive the final version and share it with all of you!]
[Thanks as always for the fun read today, and I'll be back tomorrow with even hotter and more exciting episodes!]
"Minho-ya. Isn't it warm with the heater on?"
"Ah. I'm just feeling a bit cold."
"Caught a cold or something?"
"Uh... yeah... something like that. Professor-nim."
Sweat was pouring down my forehead, but there was no way I could take off the scarf.
Even after about three days, my neck still felt like a canvas stained with blotches.
I looked it up online, and in bad cases, it could last up to a week...
At least the weekend was in between, so that was a relief.
"Yeah... take care of yourself. Speed up the work on the floor plan a bit more, and by next week, get the walls, windows, and doors all properly detailed."
...That's basically finished already, though?
But I couldn't say that.
"So, can we fix the core as it is right now?"
"Draw it properly up to where the ducts go, and if it's good, proceed like that."
Nodding and leaving a thank-you behind, I packed my stuff and left the lecture hall.
After the Critique, I headed up to the Design Room.
"Hey. Scarf Guy."
Hwi-min waved at me, all wrapped up tight in my scarf.
"You fuck. I told you not to call me that."
I'd already half-lied to Hwi-min, who was worried about me.
That we were a couple, and the cafe videos were just us messing around that some anonymous creep had secretly filmed.
"Ah. Then take off the scarf and prove it."
Typical close friend—no holding back. Hwi-min roasted me without mercy.
"...Don't do that to my girlfriend."
When I turned around, there was Na-eun, arms crossed, wearing the exact same red scarf as me, glaring at Hwi-min like she wasn't pleased.
"Huh? Scarf Girl. Hi?"
Well... at least he's softening it to Scarf Guy and Girl.
On the school community, we were rumored as Kiss-mark Guy and Kiss-mark Girl.
"Hello, Oppa."
"Hey. Wouldn't it be better if you two just skipped school? Why come all the way here instead of staying home."
I really wanted to do that too...
To shake off our Eat and Dump guy and obsessive girl titles, we'd decided to intentionally act all lovey-dovey at school like a couple.
Na-eun had sighed even while explaining the plan herself, but I actually thought it was great.
Because this was the perfect chance for a normal date with Na-eun.
When we're alone in an empty space, we'd obviously be busy sucking each other's genitals, but on a campus date, that wouldn't happen.
Could I finally feel what it's like to be a Campus Couple? I swelled with a strange sense of anticipation.
"Let's go, babe."
I grinned and placed my hand on Na-eun's shoulder.
Hwi-min grimaced at my natural gesture.
"Minho-ya. Hate to say it, but that's fucking gross."
Yes...! That was exactly the reaction I wanted.
Couples have different tendencies based on personal tastes.
Some don't want to flaunt their relationship to outsiders, while others spread it around to every relative under the sun.
And right now, we needed the latter.
"Yeah~ Get yourself a cute girlfriend like Na-eun~"
Hwi-min pretending to puke.
...But Na-eun-ah. You can't make that face too.
It makes us look like a forced couple.
"Babe~ Smile~"
I beamed brightly and pulled up the corners of Na-eun's mouth like the Joker with both hands.
"S... Smaaaile..."
Na-eun smiling with an annoyed expression.
I could tell exactly what she was thinking, but what could she do.
It was all agreed on beforehand.
"We're off to eat now."
"Get out already. Just."
Hwi-min shooed us away like he couldn't stand the sight.
"We're going now, Oppa~"
Hand in hand—fingers interlocked—we left the Design Room and headed to grab some cafeteria food.
"How's this, babe? Feels great walking around like this, right?"
I asked Na-eun with a big grin.
"Oppa. When no one's around, just call me by name."
"No, babe. What if someone passes by? Why say such harsh things."
"Ah... geez."
The moment Na-eun tapped her forehead like it was a hassle.
Girls from our department poured out of the elevator.
Na-eun suddenly turned her body toward me.
"Babe~ You look extra well-dressed today?"
...In these jeans and this windbreaker I've had for over five years?
Na-eun wrapped her arm around my waist like she was showing off to them and started with the weird compliments.
"Oppa, you're the best! You're great at design, dress well—what can't you do~"
Na-eun-ah. Is that a compliment?
I mean, putting effort into the act is good, but why go so over the top.
It sounds like teasing.
I ended up checking the other girls' reactions more than Na-eun's.
The ones chattering among themselves looked at us with subtle glances as they passed.
...Did we overdo it?
Na-eun buried deep in my arms.
Once the girls were gone, I tapped her crown with my index finger.
"Hey. The kids are gone."
I'd been tempted to just call her 'babe' straight-up, but her lame compliment killed the vibe.
"Whew~ Not easy, huh."
Yeah. It's really not easy.
You, girl.
"Alright! Let's go eat."
Na-eun held out her small palm to me.
Like, hurry up and grab it already.
"Yeah. Let's go."
We clasped hands.
It felt kinda off, but my girlfriend's hand was incredibly soft.
"Aah~"
Oppa held the fork with a wicked grin.
This guy.
He's totally enjoying this.
"Babe. I'll eat it all by myself later. Hehe."
He already knew people around us were glancing our way.
I forced a smile and leaned slightly away from Oppa's fork.
"Ah~ My arm's gonna fall off~"
Ah! Just eat, Lee Min-ho!
Huh? Wouldn't it be fine if we just looked like a sweet couple eating peacefully?
Gotta go to verse three now? Huh?
It was driving me insane, but I couldn't grimace.
That would be too painful.
Oppa shoved the shrimp tempura even closer with the fork.
Reluctantly, I opened my mouth wide and took a big bite.
"Tasty, right?"
Oppa grinned happily, propping his chin.
"It is tasty."
...Even in this mess, it really is.
Oppa had shrimp tempura udon.
I had chicken pilaf.
Not a bad cafeteria meal.
I stared at Oppa slurping it down noisily.
Did Oppa really want to try feeding each other like this?
In [I Imprisoned Her], there were scenes of passing food mouth-to-mouth sometimes...
But never a scene where Lee Jin-seong kindly cut food with a fork and fed it to the Heroines.
If Oppa put those udon noodles in his mouth and fed them to me straight, I'd eat them tastier than anyone...
Udon soaked in Oppa's saliva would be tastier than any udon.
Suddenly, I recalled the Training Oppa gave me yesterday.
Oppa's attitude was different from usual.
For a moment, I thought maybe he'd done it because I looked truly appetizing, but that wasn't my conclusion.
Even when I was in sluttier clothes before, he'd held back fine.
Which means.
Oppa did that Training for my sake.
Once my thoughts reached there...
"Ah."
"...What're you doing?"
Oppa tilted his head, like he really didn't get my intent.
"Ah. Say ahh."
I should've said it more naturally and softly...
I was too embarrassed to speak properly.
"Aah?"
Oppa parted his lips slightly.
I scooped a big spoonful of fried rice and quickly shoved the spoon into his mouth.
Oppa accepted the food without resistance, but looked a bit surprised, like he hadn't expected it.
Ah. Hate it.
This vibe.
My face heated up a little.
I looked down and mumbled to Oppa in a crawling voice.
"If you make that face, people will misunderstand..."
...This is the last time. For real.