Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: One-Room Apartment (2)
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Nothing hurt anymore.
Even if I jumped in place—hop, hop. Even if I tried a light jog. It was the same.
My ankle, which had been twisted and swollen, had returned to a perfectly fine state.
Normally, an injury like that would've kept me bedridden for weeks, unable to work my part-time jobs.
And yet, in less than three minutes.
...Thanks to Woo-jin.
Hmm, hmph.
Yep. He's definitely into me.
A healing-type Transcendent like him? You call, they charge—but he keeps fixing me up for free?
What other reason could there be besides him having feelings for me?
Yeah. When I casually tested him in front of the convenience store, he said anything goes if you're pretty.
And that was even after I brought up Ji-yoon, who's way more popular than me.
"...Yoon."
"......"
"Lee Ha-yoon."
"...Y-yes, sir."
"Shall we call it a day? You don't look so good."
"No, I'm fine. I'll focus."
I mean, he swooped in all cool and saved me from that near car accident. No wonder he fell at first sight.
Ji-yoon aside, I'm no slouch in the looks department either.
Sometimes you see those internet stories like "Dating a Hero.txt," and they all start pretty much the same way, right?
But what now, Woo-jin?
Your big sis isn't that easy.
He made me gulp with that weird kiss.
...And fiddled with my thigh until down there was soaked.
Everything he did while Ji-yoon was in the bathroom.
It didn't faze me at all.
I was just curious because it was my first time.
...A guy friend? Sure. But a boyfriend? Never had one.
No one to teach me, that's all.
Best I had was overhearing friends chat about what feels good, what doesn't, and mentally noting it down.
...Huh...?
But my thigh? Felt amazing, even though I'd never heard about that one. Like, really amazing?
Why? Did the girls skip thighs? Nah, no way.
Or maybe it felt good because it was Woo-jin touching me...?
......
...Ugh. Why do I keep thinking like that...?
"Let's see. Setting the location back to the busy district..."
As Woo-jin tapped his treated right foot on the ground, the floor beneath me swiftly turned into asphalt road.
The murmur of the city followed. Horns blaring, footsteps hurrying along, all mixed with exhaust fumes.
Probably some random spot in Seoul.
Whatever. It's always random images pulled and recreated perfectly to match reality.
"Let's try subduing the villain with minimal injury again. Got it?"
"...S-sorry about earlier..."
"No worries. Happens all the time on the job. Just caught me off guard since it's been a while."
...Alright.
Focus this time. No mistakes.
If I get hurt again, I'll have to see Woo-jin's face.
Which means stopping by the main building's infirmary.
Which means getting treated alone with him.
Which means things get weird again.
...A kiss.
What if he does it again?
"Starting now. Lee Ha-yoon. Time limit, about five minutes."
"Y-yes, sir..."
Of course, as the unnie?
I could take the lead if I wanted?
But there's always an if.
"Alarm in 30 seconds. Then go."
...Yeah.
Even if I get hurt, I'll play it off like I'm fine...
"Ten minutes already?"
"......"
Failed.
"Here you are again, sis."
"......"
Seo Woo-jin.
Sitting in the infirmary chair, tapping away at his laptop, he grinned like it was all a joke.
Why'd random thoughts creep in at the very last second...?
If not for that, I wouldn't be seeing Woo-jin again after just ten minutes.
"Where's the teacher? Looked like you clocked him good—big bruise on his shoulder."
"This time I hit a building wall..."
"Building wall?"
"Yeah..."
"Maybe use a weapon? Hardly any pure martial heroes out there anyway."
"...That costs money too."
"Oh."
How's he gonna whip up millions like it's nothing?
Doesn't know weapon prices as a healing-type, huh?
I closed the infirmary door with my good hand and stepped in carefully.
"Wrist this time?"
"...Yeah..."
"Not too bad. Not super swollen."
"......"
But Woo-jin didn't try anything shady.
Calling it shady sounds weird, but anyway—he was quiet.
Walking toward me, I flinched thinking bed's right there, what if he pounces? But he just sat beside me calmly.
When he gently reached out, I squeezed my eyes shut expecting a boob grab, but he only took my arm and lightly gripped the swollen wrist.
...Feels like I'm the only one on edge.
Like I'm the only one dwelling on last night.
I cleared my throat—ahem, ahem.
No way he forgot last night?
Nope. This morning in the infirmary, I asked if he remembered nothing from yesterday.
...Ah! Maybe not the kiss and thigh stuff—the robber incident?
But calling the robbery "no big deal" seems off.
...Ah! With his memory blank, maybe he's pretending no robbery happened to ease my mind?
But I already answered weirdly.
Overthinking like rock-paper-scissors in my head—feels like it'll explode.
Save me.
"Hold still a sec. Not that bad, right?"
"...It hurts a lot...?"
"If you can talk smack, it's not that bad."
"......"
"Starting now, sis."
"...Okay."
No moves when I entered.
No moves sitting on the bed.
So now he'll try something for real.
Grab my chest, kiss like yesterday, whatever! Guys love that stuff...!
As unnie, yeah. Fan service.
If he wants it, I can indulge a little.
Unless he goes full beast mode—then I'll stop him.
Quiet infirmary, just us two. Mentally prepped.
Even figured unnie-like responses if he lunges.
I nodded warily.
"......"
"......"
But.
Same as always.
Nothing happened.
Atmosphere screamed last-night vibes, like he'd try something.
But nada.
My sprained, swollen wrist just shrank back to normal.
Why no moves?
Not begging for any, but after kissing yesterday, light skinship's fair game, right?
If he groped my chest, I'd say, "Academy grounds—this later, when we meet up alone," all mature unnie-like...!
If kissed again, I'd tease, "You like this?" then briefly lead, tongues and all...!
I had it all planned...!
"All done."
"......"
"Sis. Done."
"...Yeah, I heard."
Training center had other teachers, fine.
But now, door shut, alone... and nothing?
"......"
Wait...
Am I the only one changing...?
Only me thinking dirty...?
Woo-jin's like, academy rules, no funny business...?
"Heading out. ...Thanks for the heal."
"No prob. It's my job. Come anytime, even if you get hurt again."
...I wanna die.
Me. Total delusional case.
Time guarding the infirmary.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Number of times treating Lee Ha-yoon.
Including the cast removal, four.
Not one for humming, but today I whistled a light tune without thinking.
Not great, but whatever—who's here but me?
First time she came on her own.
Tense like last night might repeat—I saw it all, so I held back completely.
Full 100% guard? Touching then would just get boring reactions.
After treatment, her baffled face turned beet red as she fled. Priceless.
Second time on her own.
Ankles sprained again, limped in borrowing the combat teacher's shoulder.
Another guy's scent annoyed me, but I brushed it off.
Teacher there, fresh off no-touch, she was lax—then froze like a glitchy robot when I neared. Teased the edge and let go.
Post-treatment.
Ditched the waiting teacher and bolted, but results satisfied, so fine.
Third time, I sought her out.
Four broken fingers already—gently squeezed and healed.
Twice burned, face screamed "no thoughts now," but.
Her fingers wriggling in a guy's grip? It tickled—ears pinked now and then.
And I.
Got a promise from fidgety Lee Ha-yoon.
Nothing big, but her answer lagged with imaginations...
Still, yes.
A reluctant nod yes.
"Hmm... hmph..."
Coffee needs roasting.
Raw beans rough, simple scent—fishy taste. Roasted for complex flavors.
Simply: fun step to make coffee tasty.
What flavor?
What aroma?
Tweak fire, method, time.
People too.
"L-let's go, Woo-jin."
"Sure."
"So, pick daily stuff together?"
"Yeah. Don't know that stuff. Got dryer, computer, water, TP... Can't delivery forever."
"Parents?"
"Living solo nearby. 10-pyeong one-room."
"...S-solo living, huh. Hm..."
Lee Ha-yoon.
When'll she break solo?
"Big budget—pick anything."
"Cheap spots anyway. Daiso, Emart... Homeplus farther."
"Daiso... Wait, carry stuff again today?"
"Want me to?"
"Kidding. My stuff, I carry."
"...F-fine, a little help. Deal?"
"A little?"
"That's enough..."
Click. Infirmary door shut.