Typhoon in the Teacup (Branch Point 03)

Da-bin warmed up with some running before starting her weight training. The one checking her form, oblivious to everything, was gym owner Kang Ji-ho.

"Da-bin, relax a bit more..."

"Hey! Ji-ho! I'll take care of Da-bin."

Choi Hyun-woo cut off Kang Ji-ho, who was instructing Da-bin on weights.

"Ah! Oppa, come on!!"

"Im-tta! When checking form, you gotta demonstrate like this properly. This guy's not even touching you."

Choi Hyun-woo smirked as he placed a hand on Da-bin's waist.

"Ah! Seriously! Hyun-woo oppa!"

"To learn workouts right, you gotta endure this much contact, yeah?"

"Gym owner... do something about this oppa..."

Da-bin whined pleadingly to Ji-ho.

"Haha! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠You two go way back; how could I...?"

"Right, right! Me and Da-bin..."

Da-bin, lifting a dumbbell, couldn't hold back and threw a kitty punch at Choi Hyun-woo.

Crack!

But the impact sound in Da-bin's ears wasn't her usual soft kitty punch.

Choi Hyun-woo let out a scream.

"Aaaagh!"

Startled, Da-bin finally realized she'd dropped the dumbbell she'd been holding onto Choi Hyun-woo's toe.

"Hey! Hyun-woo! You okay?"

"O... Oppa!"

A call from Da-bin. Her voice was subdued, unlike usual. I sensed something had happened.

"What happened?! Da-bin?"

"I dropped a dumbbell on Hyun-woo oppas foot..."

"You're not hurt, right?!"

"Uuung... I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine... but Hyun-woo oppa hurt his foot..."

"Da-bin, calm down. Is it bad?"

"I don't know... Oppa, sorry, but I'll take Hyun-woo oppa to the ER and head home after. I feel so bad..."

"Okay. You're good. Car?"

"Taxi's fine."

"Got it. Call when you're done at the hospital; I'll pick you up."

"Ung!"

After hanging up, I sighed in relief that Da-bin wasn't hurt. I worried about Choi Hyun-woo, but Da-bin was my priority.

Still, Da-bin's not the clumsy type—why the mistake? I pictured Choi Hyun-woo teasing her by her side.

Da-bin had never hurt anyone in her life. So she shrank even more knowing she'd harmed Choi Hyun-woo.

In the ER with him, she anxiously awaited the results.

'What if Hyun-woo oppa's seriously hurt... I have no idea...'

Da-bin's face was shadowed with worry. Choi Hyun-woo looked at her and spoke.

"Hey, Im-tta! It's nothing. Don't worry!"

"Hyun-woo oppa..."

"I teased you first, so it's my fault you slipped. Why so down?"

"Sorry... oppa..."

"Hey! I'm the hurt one—why're you crying? Oppa’s really fine!"

Da-bin choked back sobs, her voice thick.

"I'm just worried..."

"Hey..."

As he couldn't calm her, the doctor approached.

"Results are in, patient."

"Nothing serious, right?"

"Slight fracture in the toe bone; needs a cast."

"Aha—so not too bad?"

"Yes. Still, take care for a while."

Thump! Thump!Choi Hyun-woo limped with his toe cast. A slender hand gripped his waist—Da-bin's.

"Oppa, really not hurting now?"

"Yup! Good as new!"

He exaggerated to reassure her. His usual sleazy tone and antics felt comforting now.

She'd hurt him, yet he never blamed her, staying cheerful. Da-bin reflected on her past reactions to his teasing.

'Have I been too harsh to Hyun-woo oppa all this time...?'

'He's so considerate, not wanting me to worry...'

'I was too cold just 'cause his jokes went too far...'

She parted her reluctant lips.

"Hyun-woo oppa... sorry."

"Hey! Stop that!"

"Still..."

"Im-tta... you're too sweet. Keep acting all guilty, and I'll do whatever."

"..."

"She's still like this. Fine. As payback for hurting oppa, grant a wish."

"What wish?"

"From tomorrow, I'm your personal weight training coach."

Da-bin thought it modest. Did he want it that badly? But considering, it seemed like genuine affection—burdensome, creepy even.

'Hyun-woo oppa's always been weird... but seems like a good guy deep down...'

A harmless request. She agreed readily.

"Sure, oppa."

"One more while we're at it!"

"Huh?"

"Take me home."

"Obviously, oppa."

"No—don't call Do-yoon. Take me alone."

"Why?"

"Wanna be alone with Da-bin."

"This oppa, seriously..."

"What? If it's weird, call Do-yoon for permission?"

"You're such a weird oppa!"

Da-bin reflexively raised her palm for a kitty punch. But the trauma from hours ago made her hand drop.

"I'll take you! Ugh!!"

"Heh... Im-tta's the best."

A call from Da-bin. She'd escort the injured guy home. Even when I said I'd drive, she said he'd begged her to do it alone.

A bit dazed, I asked her to pass the phone to Choi Hyun-woo. But he brushed me off with his usual smarm.

"Hey! Da-bin's cute, wanna hang with her a bit! She hurt me, so lending her for a sec's fine, right?"

"You crazy bastard?"

"She's soft; gotta make it up big to feel better. You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know, Do-yoon."

True enough. Though he was exploiting it.

"Fine. Put Da-bin back."

"Okay. Thanks!"

I told Da-bin to call when she got him home; I'd pick her up. Then hung up.

What scheme to drag my girlfriend to his place alone...? Absurd, but since it's Choi Hyun-woo, I could buy it.

I sat on the sofa, checking the clock. Tick-tock. Quiet living room, only the clock echoing.

In the familiar silence, past loops' netorase scenes surfaced. Similar vibe. Feel. My dick reacted first, hardening.

I was already imagining Choi Hyun-woo doing lewd things to Da-bin.

If netorase is fate... better a longtime friend than a stranger, right?

And if it's Choi Hyun-woo not Park Jun-seo... honestly, hotter.

Supporting Choi Hyun-woo, Da-bin felt her body heating up. Her hand on his waist. To steady his limp, their bodies pressed close.

Most sensitive: her chest. It kept brushing him unavoidably.

First couple times, fine. But with irregular steps, her nipples grew hypersensitive.

'Keeps rubbing there... Hyun-woo oppa must notice... what do I do...'

If it were boyfriend Do-yoon, less issue. But Choi Hyun-woo made her chest react sharper.

'Lower belly's getting hot... hiiing... shouldn't feel this...'

Da-bin forced down her flushed face, escorting him home.

......

"Thanks, Da-bin."

"No, oppa. I'm sorry..."

"Im-tta! Still guilty? Oppa'll ask more favors?"

"Ah... no! Oppa!"

"Have tea till Do-yoon picks you up."

"Okay..."

First time in Choi Hyun-woo's place. His room defied expectations.

Neatly tidy. Faint men's cologne scent. Book open like freshly read.

Nothing like his usual laid-back sleaze.

Da-bin stood dazed like a rice sack. Choi Hyun-woo brought warm tea.

"Im-tta, drink this."

"Uh... sure."

Peppermint-scented warmth. Smelling it soothed her mind.

She sipped, waiting for Do-yoon.