Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Motel Night
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Maybe it was because of her overly confident reaction. Or perhaps the game itself had been satisfying enough.
Lee Sun-hwa didn't seem all that upset either. Sure, they'd bickered back and forth, but that's what made the game so tense and evenly matched.
Neither side held back during their turns—they were dead serious.
Jo Ki-hang went without saying.
"Thank you."
"Thank you. Good work."
The guy even looked relieved that I was covering the bill. Watching him like that, I felt both grateful and a bit sorry.
And then.
"Ki-hang."
"Yeah?"
"Once I land a job, I'll hit you up again. Let's grab a meal together."
I said it boldly, without shrinking back even in a situation like this.
"Uh... yeah! Sounds good to me!"
Jo Ki-hang seemed more at ease now accepting my goodwill. Come to think of it, maybe he'd been tiptoeing around me not just because he was perceptive, but because I'd subtly let on that I wasn't well-off—or shown signs of shrinking back from it.
Just showing the kind of confidence Han Aebom had seemed to change his attitude, which was proof enough.
"Heh, if I get that job, you'll owe me for the beef I'll treat you to. Get ready."
"Beef sounds great. Eat your fill. Bring your girlfriend too."
"Oh, right. Cool. So it'll be the four of us again then?"
"Obviously, man."
I said all that, but honestly, I wasn't so sure.
With Jo Ki-hang, you could tell he really liked Lee Sun-hwa and wouldn't let her go. She had her wild side, but it was obvious she liked him a lot too.
Compared to that, Han Aebom and I weren't even really dating.
"Hey, Hyun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"My sister acted pretty rude today, I know. But she's not like that normally."
"I know. Me too."
"Thanks for understanding."
Jo Ki-hang said it with a pleased smile, giving me a light hug.
"Aebom seems like a really great person from what I can tell. Don't let her slip away. Treat her right, got it? She seems to like you a lot too. Don't get cocky just because she's being nice. You know what they say—ripe barley bows its head."
"Got it, man. Thanks for the advice. I think about that all the time."
For some reason, everyone I introduced them to couldn't stop praising Oh Hana and Han Aebom. But they weren't wrong.
To me, Han Aebom and Oh Hana were still unreal women. Even now, months after living under the same roof, I could hardly believe they were by my side.
With that, we parted ways naturally after leaving the bowling alley. Right at the end, Lee Sun-hwa whispered something to me.
"Aebom really likes you, huh."
"...Pardon?"
"I said some pretty uncomfortable things to you today, right?"
Did she know?
"Every time, Aebom shot back at me so sharply."
"...!"
"Make it work."
She patted my shoulder lightly, then linked arms with Jo Ki-hang and headed off toward a tanghulu stand in the distance.
Meanwhile, her words stuck in my head, leaving me frozen for a moment.
"......"
Looking back, even when they'd asked if she was my girlfriend.
And when the job talk came up—it seemed like whenever something uncomfortable about me came up, Han Aebom's voice had gotten a bit colder.
'Yes, that's right. Hyun-woo's girlfriend.'
Her voice replayed in my mind, and my head went thud. It felt like a critical hit I hadn't seen coming. The impact was no joke.
"Hyun-woo?"
Still reeling from the shock, Han Aebom's sudden ambush only tore the wound wider.
My face burned with embarrassment.
"Where to now?"
Her hand slipped into mine as if it were the most natural thing, and I worried she could hear my heartbeat through it.
"Dunno."
I tried to play it cool, but my head and heart were more flustered than ever. I'd felt something like this when I'd gone to that wedding with Oh Hana, hadn't I?
Which meant, in the end, I was feeling the same pounding thrill for both Han Aebom and Oh Hana. You trash!
One was already more than I deserved— what was I supposed to do with two?
'Fuck.'
But I couldn't help it. Hearts don't work the way you want them to. If anyone was at fault, maybe it was Han Aebom and Oh Hana for being so ridiculously attractive.
[8:23 PM]
I glanced at the time and said,
"We've been out since this morning. How about we chill at a motel now? Grab some snacks and booze."
"Sounds good. I was thinking we've walked too much anyway. Plus, all these people are making me uncomfortable."
True enough. Even I, stuck to her side like a tag-along, was exhausted from the stares—imagine how she felt. Being Han Aebom, she didn't show it and just powered through. Anyone else might've collapsed from fatigue.
"Let's go then."
"Okay."
Hand-holding had become second nature now. Not holding hands while moving actually felt awkward—we'd done it all day.
We slipped out of the crowded streets into the area with hotels and motels... and the foot traffic dropped off sharply. Looking back, people were swarming everywhere, but just one alley over, it was dead quiet. Felt like magic.
And in the quiet spots—or maybe just this motel district—shady-looking guys popped up now and then. They didn't hassle us or anything, but their piercing stares felt threatening and gross.
'If I were alone, they might've called out "hey, bro" or something.'
Not a suspicion—certainty.
We stopped by the convenience store before heading to the reserved motel.
[Novel24]
"Welc...ome..."
I ignored the part-timer who was dazed by Han Aebom's beauty and asked,
"Beer or soju?"
"Soju. Beer fills me up too much."
"Got it."
Honestly, if it meant drinking alone with Han Aebom in a motel, I could've chugged whiskey straight. I loaded a plastic basket with five bottles of soju, some dried squid and snacks, chips, and ice cream.
I paused when I spotted condoms by chance, but Han Aebom grabbed my arm and pulled me to the counter.
"We don't use those, right?"
"......"
That sounded lewder than outright dirty talk. Was this normal?
I glanced at the counter, wondering if he'd heard. The male part-timer was staring at me with pure envy and jealousy. That jerk was definitely gonna message his friends or group chat the second I left: 'Some total nerd just bought booze with a celebrity-level girl and headed to a motel.'
Obvious. Totally obvious.
And probably 'Money really is king in life, huh?' I'd gotten that vibe plenty working convenience store shifts.
New Year's Eve, same deal.
Watching couples come in at dawn for soju and condoms, I'd felt inferior alone...
'And now here I am on the other side. Wild.'
Han Aebom looked at the bag in my hand and asked,
"Not too heavy? That's five bottles of soju."
"Nah, not at all."
Even with my original stamina, five bottles were easy. Now? Nothing.
I took her hand with my free one and headed to the reserved motel.
[Happy Motel]
It was the motel Oh Hana had booked herself. Great vibe, space for eating, even a spa tub—and just 45,000 won even on a weekend.
Plus, the reviews and ratings were the best, she'd said.
Clink. The soju bottles bumped as we entered, spotting a female part-timer yawning and fiddling with her phone.
Ding-a-ling!
The bell rang the moment we stepped in, and she set her phone down, looking up.
"Wel...come?"
This was new. The woman glanced back and forth between Han Aebom and me, eyes going wide. She even blinked repeatedly, like checking if it was real.
"I'll cover this. You paid at the store too. You've spent a lot."
I nodded slightly, still watching her reaction. Now her mouth was hanging open.
Han Aebom paying for the motel room herself? Her eyes screamed disbelief. Like, a woman that gorgeous insisting on paying?
That face.
"H-here's your disposable toiletries. You can order delivery food... and, uh, room 404."
"Thanks. But this says 405?"
"Gah! Sorry! Here's the 404 key. Sorry."
She was seriously flustered.
Was it that big a deal? I'd dressed decently enough today, right? Well, considering the beauties I live with, unavoidable maybe.
We rode the elevator, ignoring the stares trailing us, and both let out soft sighs at the same time, like we'd planned it.
"Heh. Running around all day like this has me pretty tired too."
"Yeah."
Maybe I should've just slept during that 'Countryside' movie.
[Floor 4.]
We opened the door to room 404. Soft lighting and cozy decor greeted us from the entryway.
Narrow at the entrance, but inside there was a table set up.
Best of all, a spacious spa tub big enough for four—perfect. Couldn't do this in the studio.
"Since we're here, shower and eat?"
I stashed the soju in the fridge and asked. Han Aebom replied in all seriousness.
"Just feet. Only feet."
"......"
Who'd believe this was the most earnest tone I'd heard all day?
"Al...right. Just feet it is."
She smiled contentedly at that. That woman... her foot fetish was undeniable.
And not even hiding it much? Impressive.
Shhhh!
I washed my feet first.
While Han Aebom did hers, I set the table and mulled things over.
Had I given Han Aebom a fun date today?
Did I properly comfort her like the quest demanded?
And finally, could I use this chance to learn more about her inner thoughts?
'Honestly, no clue.'
No clear answers. Life's like that, though.
Tsk. I smacked my lips. Then Ji Sun-hye's words popped into my head.
'Why not show a little weakness?'
A weak side. Weakness...
My eyes landed on the soju bottles.
Why not give it a shot?