Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Outsider Falls into a Trap
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yoo So-mi's Perspective
Fusion Cafe. Excluding the sleazy joints, this place offers the most secluded private space in all of Sinchon.
I first discovered it back when my parents dragged my sister and me through the packed streets of Sinchon until we were exhausted, and we ducked in just to catch our breath.
And honestly, when I called Yi-an out to Sinchon, I'd already been planning to bring him here.
Yi-an's such a shy guy that he even gets embarrassed by skinship with his best friend—me.
Especially last time we took a taxi together. I could tell he was too self-conscious about the driver's eyes to focus on me.
And today, too—after my sister headed home, I tried a little skinship with Yi-an, but he seemed tense, hyper-aware of the people around us.
So I figured, if there are no prying eyes, maybe Yi-an won't be so shy? That's why I decided to bring him here.
My little sister had started giving me these suspicious looks while watching Yi-an, so I sent her packing with some excuse about studying for her exams.
Now I could finally cling to Yi-an in secret, away from everyone's gaze!
.
.
.
That was the plan, at least...
"Yi-an-ah, you asleep?"
"..."
"Hehe... Fell asleep, huh?"
Yi-an ended up falling into a deeper sleep than I'd expected.
And now, right in front of me, my best friend Jeong Yi-an—who's always too shy for enough skinship—was lying completely defenseless in this cramped, private space where no one could see us.
I could hear his steady, soft breathing.
Maybe because of the sudden June heat, the fabric of Yi-an's shirt was so thin that the outline of his firm chest muscles faintly showed through.
The prominent veins on his large hands. The defined muscles splitting his forearms. And...
...
My gaze drifted lower toward his lower half before snapping back up to his face.
That area's not mine to ogle freely just yet.
No matter how close best friends are, there are some spots that absolutely need permission.
Instead, I lightly brushed my fingertip against his forearm.
Yi-an was out cold—no reaction at all.
For a split second, guilt welled up at the thought of touching my best friend's body without permission while he slept.
But...
"It's Yi-an's fault."
I think things like kissing, or anything further, are for lovers or spouses. So I don't expect that from him.
But conversely, doesn't that mean best friends can do anything else without issue?
Best friends aren't some lesser bond than family or lovers—they're an equal, complementary relationship. Yet Yi-an, my best friend, is way too averse to skinship.
Of course, I'd never do it with anyone who wasn't my best friend. But with Yi-an? I'm always game...
I climbed up over Yi-an as he slept staring at the ceiling.
Supporting myself carefully on my hands and knees so our bodies wouldn't touch yet.
"Yi-an's my best friend, but lately he hasn't shown much possessiveness toward me."
'Friendship' is this abstract concept that doesn't exist as any tangible thing.
You can't peer into someone's heart, and if one side wants out, it just ends. I think that's worthless and meaningless.
In other words, a truly meaningful bond only forms when two people bind and chain each other so tightly they can't drift apart.
That's why best friends need skinship.
If it were 'love,' there could be an absolute proof like a child born between them, so skinship might matter less.
But best friends leave no material mark on the world, so they naturally get anxious without constantly reaffirming their bond through touch—tying each other down.
Yi-an hasn't done much of that lately... like telling me, "Don't meet that Ji-su unnie alone," or gripping both my shoulders in the taxi to make it clear I couldn't escape...
Staring down at Yi-an's sleeping face from atop him, his slightly parted lips caught my eye.
"Hoo... No. Lips are for lovers."
My gaze shifted back to his cheek, then his nape.
...
In this position, if I bring my lips close to there, my chest will inevitably press against him.
But I think Yi-an's tolerance for skinship is way too low. If he freezes up just from my chest brushing his arm on the street, it makes securing enough contact to confirm our friendship a real hassle.
Best friends should hug tight enough to show they can't let go, chest or no chest.
Having rationalized it to myself, I leaned in carefully—mindful not to crush his chest and hinder his breathing—and brought my lips close to his nape.
.
.
.
"Uuuh... Cold..."
But the instant my lips touched his nape, Yi-an pulled my body into a hug and rolled over onto his side.
"...!??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The room's AC was blasting, so he'd probably felt chilly in his sleep.
Feeling decent warmth at his nape and chest, he'd instinctively hugged me tight in his sleep.
Seemingly pleased with my body heat, Yi-an pressed me against him like a dakimakura body pillow before drifting off again.
I can't get out...!!
Startled, I tried to slip free without waking him, but it was tough—my body was half-pinned under his.
Plus, his arms were still locked around me. Our bodies were pressed together with zero space between.
To escape this, I'd have to speak up and wake him.
I debated whether to wake Yi-an just to get out of here.
But soon enough, any desire to escape this situation vanished entirely.
Being pinned and squirmy like this gave me—already anxious from our lack of skinship—more than enough reassurance.
"This is really unavoidable. I never planned to go this far, but you crushed me, Yi-an."
So you can understand this much, right?
I nuzzled my face into his chest for a moment, breathing him in.
Then I pressed my lips to his nape.
Gently, so it wouldn't hurt. But firm enough to leave a mark.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd dozed off pretty deeply in that short time, so waking up left me a bit groggy.
On top of that, I felt stuffy and heavy all over, making me worry I'd caught a cold or something.
To check how much time had passed, I opened my eyes.
...
But right in front of me was Yoo So-mi, sleeping while hugged up against me.
Eh? Now that my body's gotten younger, am I dreaming something naughty about a high school girl?
Even if it was a dream, it didn't feel right to do that to one of my few friends... so I closed my eyes again. Hoping the dream would shift to something else.
"Yi-an-ah, you awake?"
Her voice came from right in front of my nose, so apparently this wasn't a dream after all.
Then the heaviness and stuffiness must be because I'm hugging Yoo So-mi?
In this extreme situation, as a defense mechanism to protect my sanity, I decided to shove the major problem to later.
"How'd you know I woke up?"
"Your heartbeat sped up."
"..."
"Wanna know why things ended up like this?"
Well... I do wanna know, but maybe I don't? I just wanna escape reality a bit longer.
As I froze with a stiff expression, So-mi kindly explained what had happened.
.
.
.
"Ah... So you were sleeping next to me, and I rolled over in my sleep and it became like this? Sorry. I wasn't paying attention 'cause I was asleep..."
"Yeah. It's fine. We're best friends, right? Best friends cuddling up to sleep together isn't weird at all. Isn't it?"
At that moment, I had a faint but instinctive feeling. That I was standing right at the edge of a cliff.
Like one wrong step and there'd be no coming back.
But did I even have any real choices?
1. Even best friends, cuddling to sleep is a bit... -> You crushed me while sleeping. Trash!
2. But we're not best friends? -> Oh? Guess that was just my illusion... I thought we were close, but whatever... Sorry? I won't contact you again...
3. Best friends, so no problem cuddling! -> A little weird, but no immediate disaster.
Hmm. Anyone could see 3's the answer.
To dodge immediate tragedy, I agreed with So-mi.
I didn't realize I'd already tumbled off that cliff until a few hours later.