Jealousy 2
I recalled the description of U Jeong from the novel. "U Jeong was the last royal of the kingdom before the Republic of Korea fell into the cult leader's hands." The daughter of the king slaughtered by the cult leader during the revolution. U Jeong was a princess, and her mother, Kim Minjeong, had been the queen. The evil cult leader had stripped mother and daughter of all their memories. The memoryless queen, Kim Minjeong, was now one of the cult leader's cumdumps—and a teacher at the academy, instructing in Diane de Poitiers mouth arts. Those were the oral pussy techniques Harina would learn later on. The kind that turned a man's balls to raisins the moment his cock slipped between her lips. There had to be some behind-the-scenes story that her bestie U Jeong had picked up from her mom, right?
"I'm heading to the mart!"
Leaving pouty, sulking Harina behind, I stepped out with U Jeong. Just before the front door clicked shut, I felt An Hyeonmi's gaze stabbing into my back from the living room sofa. Her eyes were smiling, sure—but laced with jealousy and a chilling warning that said, Do a good job out there. We'll talk tonight.
"!!"
An unintended wide-area taunt!
"Oppa doesn't have a girlfriend?"
"Nah. Don't."
She hooked her arm through mine as naturally as breathing. Her flat chest meant no real breast feel, but her slender arm and body heat came through crystal clear.
"What about me, then?"
"For what?"
"As your girlfriend."
Hold up... The novel's plot was veering way off course. U Jeong flirting with me from the early game? My head spun. Getting her right here, right now... could shatter things with Harina for good. They were besties, after all. Plus, this little devil U Jeong might just be testing me slyly.
"I'd be grateful, but I'm not looking to date right now."
U Jeong burst out laughing with a puh. Her laugh was bright and bubbly.
"Oppa, no interest in girls... you gay or something? I heard you're prepping for the saintess class."
Ah... word had reached even U Jeong. What to say? As I pondered,
"Kekekeke. Kidding! Look at your face—hilarious!"
U Jeong cracked up cheerfully and started chattering away. Before I knew it, we'd hit the neighborhood mart.
"What pasta does oppa like? I love rosé pasta too! But are your muscles for real? Can I poke 'em?"
She peppered me with random questions nonstop, hopping around me like a curious kitten.
"Go ahead and touch."
"For real? Yay!"
Thrilled, U Jeong poked my bicep with her fingers. They were slim and soft.
"Whoa, like a rock. Granite! Amazing. Harina said you used to be a total skinny egenam—how'd you change like this? Do you turn into a werewolf under the moon at night? Or... alien body mods?"
"Just... worked out hard. Every day."
"Hard worker, huh."
U Jeong clasped her hands, eyes sparkling. Her flirting didn't stop at the mart. She stuck right by my side as I pushed the cart, yapping endlessly.
"Oppa, this sauce? Looks yummy. Oh, your hands are big and pretty. Long fingers... pianist in a past life? Surgeon? Wait, blacksmith? From swinging hammers?"
"Nah, just shoveled dirt on construction sites."
"Pfft, liar. But seriously, a boyfriend like you would be so reassuring. Good cook, strong, handsome. Total cheat character. Needs a nerf—other guys'll starve."
Her compliments had no end. I tossed ingredients in the cart, nodding along.
That's when it happened.
"Hey, missy. Cute face, but kid's body? C'mere."
A sleazy voice—three thug-looking guys blocked our path. Stale booze stench hit my nose. Day-drinking local punks.
"What's the problem?"
I stepped forward, shielding U Jeong.
The boss punk eyed me up and down, spat, and sneered.
"Who the fuck are you? Her boyfriend? Pretty face, flat as a board front and back. Come play with the big boys—we'll make it fun."
Their filthy gazes raked U Jeong openly. Her face went white. She grabbed my shirt tight, terrified.
"We're in a rush. Move."
I kept my voice flat, emotionless. Cold rage simmered inside.
But the punks just laughed, not budging.
"Short-tempered fucker, huh? You look tough—beat it while we're nice. Or your leg snaps here."
Boss shrugged, flexing his fist. I sighed lightly. Prison had these clowns more often than meals. Not threats—just noise.
"Last warning. Walk away nice. Won't say it twice."
"This motherfucking—"
Boss swung wild, sloppy, off-balance. I dipped my head, surged in. Boxing basics—in-fighting entry.
Thwack!
My right straight nailed his solar plexus. He oinked like a pig in slaughter, body folding shrimp-style.
The other two froze mid-panic. No hesitation—I shin-kicked one's leg, toppling him. As he staggered, my left hook—his weight plus mine—crunched his jaw. Crack. Head snapped, sprawled starfish on the floor.
Last guy lost the will, pissing himself backward.
"S-s-spare me! Sorry!"
"Scram."
My icy word sent him bolting, ditching his knocked-out pals. All in under ten seconds.
Murmurs rose around us, but I casually picked up the dropped pasta, pushed the cart to checkout.
"O-oppa..."
A trembling voice from behind. I turned. U Jeong still pale, but her eyes blazed with awe and wild excitement.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah! Totally! Oppa, that was... so cool! Like a movie! Action star—eat your heart out!"
She couldn't hide her hype, bouncing in place. She latched onto my arm harder than before, hugging tight.
"Oppa, I'm totally falling for you. What now? My heart's EDM festival—boom boom!"
On the walk home, U Jeong never left my side. Hearts practically poured from her eyes.
"Oppa, date me?"
Resting on a park bench, she lobbed the straight ball. Sat naturally on my lap, staring into my eyes. Maybe started as a joke—but her face was dead serious now.
But...
"Not now."
"Then... later?"
"Yeah. Later."
U Jeong pinky-promised. Light pinky lock, then thumb stamp. Stamps sealed,
"Kyaaa!!"
She stomped in joy.
"Yay!! Love your lame jokes, but beating bad guys? Even hotter! When you protected me, my heart rocketed! I'll be your girlfriend later—promise! I'll be perfect. Make you happy every day—guaranteed!"
She gazed up, pleading, pure sincerity in her eyes.
Anyway, her words would reach Harina—and stoke that jealousy fire plenty. To survive this novel, protect my family... I needed every edge. U Jeong as an ally? Huge boon for our future family.
Winning her over would help. Yeah... I saved An Hyeonmi too. The plot could change.
"Whew..."
"Oppa? Something wrong?"
"Nah..."
I smiled brightly at U Jeong. In the future, she'd die by Hadojin's hand. One of the four demon kings, Rust U Jeong—tormenting Hadojin to the end. She'd regain her memories, learn her mom was the cult leader's cumdump... and go full villain. Naturally, flames would scorch his son, Hadojin.
Future's changeable. Yeah... saved An Hyeonmi. And honestly? I liked U Jeong. She was cute, lovable.
Heading home with bags, U Jeong arm-in-arm, beaming.
Door opens—bam, eye contact with Harina on the living room sofa. She froze seeing U Jeong hooked on me. Time stopped.
An Hyeonmi beside her, shocked too. But her eyes held deeper, icy jealousy flickering. I caught her lip twitch.
"Getting cozy, huh?"
Harina pouted.
U Jeong dashed to hug her.
"Rinaaa... waaah... I hit on oppa... he didn't bite. No girlfriend mood now..."
"Really??"
An Hyeonmi brightened; a smirk tugged Harina's lips.
"But! When he's ready to date, he promised me the spot! Right, oppa?"
U Jeong tackled me in a hug, one leg kicked high. An Hyeonmi's dark circles dropped to her jaw; Harina's eyes bugged.
