Jealousy 1
"Haa… haa… haa…"
The only sound filling the silence of the martial arts gym was Harina's ragged breathing as she collapsed onto the ring floor. I couldn't help but be a little surprised that she had the traits of a tank. That meant Harina was an extreme masochist.
"That's enough now."
I tried to carefully remove her headgear, but she suddenly grabbed my hand.
"I-It's… fine."
Her face was pale from sweat, but her cheeks were abnormally flushed. Her half-lidded eyes wandered unfocused through the air.
The saintess's breast milk. That single sip Harina had taken yesterday had awakened something deep inside her. But this wasn't just because of the saintess's milk. A hidden tendency she herself hadn't known about was rearing its head from the depths of her being.
The inclination to find pleasure in humiliation or pain. Harina's secret masochistic side had been revealed. It was incredibly dangerous, but perfect for a tank.
Realizing that, I fell into thought. The urge to approach her now, dominate her, and make her submit was surging strongly. But I held onto my reason. No matter how masochistic Harina was, rushing in could ruin everything.
She was still confused. Unable to accept the changes happening in her own body, she was scared.
Yeah… What Lina needs right now isn't forceful domination. I have to make her face her own desires and accept them herself.
I knelt down to meet her eyes.
"Lina, you okay?"
At my voice, her shoulders trembled. Instead of answering, she just looked up at me with wet eyes. In that gaze were shame, confusion, and… something she couldn't suppress.
"Want me to take off the headgear and get you some water?"
I gently removed her headgear. Sweat-soaked strands of hair clung to her forehead and cheeks. It looked precarious somehow, yet irresistibly erotic at the same time.
"Can you stand?"
When I offered my hand, Harina flinched and shrank back. Like someone whose dirty secret had been exposed.
D-Don't… come closer!"
She struggled to get up, staggering. But her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed again. I quickly grabbed her arm to support her.
"Careful."
The moment my hand touched her, her body stiffened. She kept her head bowed, avoiding my eyes. She was clearly terrified I'd notice her leggings were soaked.
"Sorry. I must've gone too hard."
I apologized sincerely. I'd meant to break her pride, but it had hit her harder than expected.
"No… It's because… I'm weak…"
Harina's voice was barely a whisper. She still couldn't lift her head.
I helped her down from the ring and sat her on the bench.
"Rest here a bit. I'll get some water."
I headed to the water cooler. Left alone, Harina finally let out her ragged breaths. With trembling hands, she touched her soaked leggings. Sticky, lukewarm fluid.
Am I… really a pervert…? I felt it… from getting hit…
Tears welled up in her eyes. She felt so dirty and weird. She remembered scorning her mom yesterday. Her mom, calling herself a cumdump and lost in pleasure. Maybe Mom had felt… like this? That irresistible pleasure blooming from pain. The moment she vaguely understood it, Harina plunged into deep confusion.
"Here, drink."
Harina took the cup I offered and downed the water silently. The cold liquid slid down her throat, but the heat inside her didn't cool. If anything, sitting next to me, my scent and presence only made her burn hotter.
"Does it hurt a lot? Should we go to the hospital?"
I asked worriedly, and she shook her head.
"No… I'm fine. Just… startled, that's all."
"Still… your face looks awful."
I reached out and touched her forehead. It was burning hot.
"You've got a fever. Let's call it a day and head home."
"……."
Harina said nothing. She just felt my touch, her heart racing again. The strong, overwhelming oppa who'd subdued her in an instant. And now, this endlessly gentle man worrying about her. That gap was shaking her to the core.
Harina's cheeks flushed bright red from the unfamiliar emotion. It was completely different from before. Was this admiration? Fear? Or…
No. No way. We're family.
She shook her head, trying to shake off the thought. But once a sprout of emotion takes root, it doesn't wither easily.
As we left the gym after cleaning up, an awkward silence hung between us. Walking beside me, Harina stole glances at me. Broad shoulders, solid arms. The body that had brought her down now felt like the sturdiest shield in the world.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Earlier… you were really cool."
She said it softly. I turned to her in surprise.
"What was?"
"Boxing… you're really strong. Totally different from the old oppa."
"Yeah?"
I scratched my head with a shy grin. She gave a faint smile in return.
"Yeah. So… keep teaching me boxing from now on. I wanna get strong like you."
Her eyes were sincere. Not just to become a hunter. The egeneam she'd dismissed as a joke was far stronger than she'd thought. Had he been hiding his power all this time?
"Sure. If that's what you want."
I gently stroked her head. This time, she didn't pull away. Instead, she narrowed her eyes like a cat enjoying it.
Back home, An Hyeonmi greeted us. Seeing Harina's exhausted state, she looked worried.
"Oh my, Lina. You okay? Did Dojin go too hard on you?"
"No, it's because I'm weak."
Harina couldn't meet her mom's eyes. The guilt from scorning her yesterday mixed with what happened today.
"Mom, I'm sorry!"
Harina hugged An Hyeonmi tightly. An Hyeonmi held her close, patting her back.
"Still, you have to keep up with training. Stamina is key."
An Hyeonmi's warm cocoa. Harina sipped it with a cute smile, and An Hyeonmi lit up like the Pietà Madonna. The perfect caring mom. I thought the cumdump was damn good at playing human. Her crotch was dripping love juices even now.
I slipped an arm around An Hyeonmi's waist and whispered in her ear.
"Our cumdump's gotten better at acting."
"Eek…♥"
She pinched my side and smiled shyly. Her eyes brimmed with affection and submission toward me. This little interaction alone had her aroused. Her thoughts of the cult leader must've faded a lot by now. But it was too early to relax.
Then Harina's phone rang. Seeing 'U Jeong' on the screen, her expression subtly hardened.
"Hello? Oh, Yujeong."
Harina moved to the living room sofa as she answered. I didn't strain to listen, but her voice carried clearly.
"What? Coming today? Oh… Uncle's okay? Good… Yeah, got it. See you later."
After hanging up, Harina's face looked complicated. She glanced at me, then reluctantly spoke.
"Oppa, Yujeong's coming over today."
"Cool. Was getting bored anyway."
U Jeong. Harina's best friend and the character from Egenam, Surviving a Cult Academy I'd been most curious about.
"What do you mean bored? You just train all the time."
Harina snapped curtly. I could already feel the jealousy starting.
"Still, a pretty friend coming over? Of course I'm happy."
Her brows furrowed slightly at my words. She just fiddled with her cocoa mug, saying nothing more.
Around lunchtime, U Jeong arrived right on time. She burst in the door with a cheerful greeting.
"Helllooo! Ppuing! U Jeong has arrived!"
Spotting me, her eyes went wide.
"Daaang! Lina! This your oppa? He's totally different!"
U Jeong circled me, gushing. The quirky character from the novel who spouted nonsense and had a bit of a screw loose. But in the later parts, she had presence rivaling the heroine.
"……"
The moment I saw her, I knew: this girl. A beauty that hit you like that. Eyes huge enough to cover with one hand, head small like a palmful—like a living fairy.
"Whoa, oppa. You must've trained like crazy. Your body's… insane."
"Just a bit."
"Psh, humble much? But seriously, you got so handsome. Thought you were cute before, but now you're all man."
I just smiled at U Jeong's frank, bold compliments. Meanwhile, Harina's face was stiffening. Arms crossed, she watched us with clear displeasure.
"Hey, Yujeong. Enough already. Oppa looks uncomfortable."
"Why? I think it's great? Right, oppa?"
U Jeong winked at me. I shrugged.
"Hey, pretty friend's praising me? Feels good."
"Kyaa! Hear that, Harina? Oppa says I'm pretty!"
U Jeong poked Harina's side excitedly. Harina glared at her, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, must be nice."
Time to drive it home.
"Perfect timing for lunch. What do you wanna eat? I'll make it. Yujeong, what do you like?"
I deliberately asked U Jeong, not Harina. In that instant, the smile vanished from Harina's face. Hurt and clear jealousy flickered in her eyes.
"Me? I love pasta! Can you make cream pasta?"
"Yup. One of my specialties. Wanna go buy ingredients together?"
"Yes! Awesome!"
U Jeong jumped up excitedly. I smiled at her, then turned to rigid Harina.
"Lina, wanna come too?"
"……Nah. You two go."
Harina turned away. Pure jealousy radiating off her.
Oho, this is fun.
Now I just had to watch how this little spark would blaze.