Chapter 47
Yuri checked her phone one last time, scanning her inbox to the end as she pondered the woman's situation. Is that it for today...? But then she glanced at the candy bag in her hand and smiled. Staring at the candies, she stepped off the elevator when it arrived, punched in the door code with practiced ease, and opened the entrance.
"......"
Before taking off her shoes, Yuri silently gazed at the neatly aligned pairs in front of her. Her sandals for casual outings. And her dad's dress shoes.
...As expected.
Hearing the door, her dad emerged from the living room, smiling at her.
"Just got home? Were you at the library this whole time? Studying too hard isn't good for your health—rest when you need to, and have fun when it's time."
A faint shadow lingered on her dad's bright smile.
"Where's Mom?"
"Ah... Your mom's out with friends and running late. She'll be home soon, so don't worry. Go wash up and grab a snack. You've gotten so thin lately."
"I'm heading in."
It felt awkward hearing her daughter worry about her mom. Or maybe she'd grown used to it. But Yuri already knew where her mom was and what she was doing.
Dad might know too and just pretends not to.
The moment she entered her room, Yuri turned on her phone and started searching SNS.
InnocentFlowerRose
Clicking in and scrolling down, she spotted a freshly uploaded post. It showed a woman in a deeply plunging blouse exposing her cleavage, holding a whiskey glass at a Cheongdam-dong bar with friends she hadn't seen in ages.
The woman bore an uncanny resemblance to Yuri.
...Just as I thought.
She didn't know who these "long-lost friends" were, but her mom's peers were likely raising kids her age or just a few years younger. Did they really have the leisure to sip pricey drinks at a fancy Cheongdam spot? Her mom looked thirties thanks to her youthful features and diligent skincare, but did the others?
Dad must have squeezed in housework after work, cleaning up before she got home. He'd neatly arranged even the slippers, and he'd surely wait up for Mom without sleeping.
Like Dad, Yuri believed—at least—that Mom hadn't sunk so low as to flail around infatuated with some man. She was just addicted to flaunting herself and drawing men's attention. That brazenness let her face her family without shame. It was also why that confidence twisted into shamelessness, ignoring the family for lavish trips.
Sometimes Yuri wondered if that cursed blood had skipped her. Her own blood heated up at men's gazes too. But she'd fiercely suppressed and denied that nature.
And now, she thirsted desperately for one man's attention, waiting eagerly.
In those moments, she couldn't deny she was her dad's daughter.
Yuri suddenly looked at the candies in her hand.
Pretty.
Unlike her admiration, they were just plain candy sticks and wrapped sweets bundled in unremarkable packaging.
Seonghwan had secretly left them on her library seat before slipping away.
Seonghwan had only sent a single photo of the candy bag he'd left on her library seat via DM. She'd checked inside for a note, but nothing.
No words exchanged, but that was enough to make Yuri happy. He'd known her spot, come by, and shown he was thinking of her this way.
Even before Seonghwan, plenty of guys had given her gift icons and candies, earning glares and envy from other girls. Yuri ignored it. She'd only brought home the ones from Seonghwan.
That guy on orientation day, frantically calling someone while lining up at the wrong bus with the name tag mix-up. Yuri had known he couldn't line up right but pretended not to notice.
Even when that "coincidence" put him in front of her again, she dismissed him as unrelated.
Despite the seniors' prankish group assignments, she'd booted the other guys in a huff using her reluctant group leader authority, but when their eyes met "by chance," she ignored him.
During group formation and training camp, that "coincidence" human ended up in her group under some incomprehensible name, but she thought that was it.
Unlike the others, he scowled and shot back at her words, briefly catching her attention, but she just found this irritating guy distasteful.
Even when forced to link arms and run.
Even seeing the sincerity in his eyes as he pointed and yelled at her.
Even when seniors targeted her for the talent show.
That guy never crossed Yuri's mind.
Not even at the end of orientation as they parted ways. Not even back home, recalling his flushed face rapping poorly on stage.
She'd brushed it off as mere overlapping "coincidences" oddly stimulating her.
Or tried to ignore her feelings that way.
But one day, seeing him at the library, she drifted to the seat beside him like mesmerized.
Unable to understand why.
Staring holes into his back, she peeked at his phone screen.
And felt a chilling thrill down her spine.
A man ogling a woman's naked body.
Ignoring her right beside him, lost in the woman's figure.
What if that were me...?
Would he react like the others sneaking peeks and sidling up? How would he respond to her private photos?
And... under that gaze, how would she feel...?
That inexplicable excitement made Yuri start engineering "coincidences."
And those secret meetings disguised as "coincidences" began changing her.
Like now.
Lost in thought, Yuri habitually refreshed her gallery DMs. A new one from him in her inbox.
She hurriedly checked the photo.
Incheon Prestige24 Pool Villa
It was a screenshot of a pool villa homepage.
.......What's this?
The image showed a reservation page with April 13th selected, marked as available.
Oh!
Yuri instantly grasped Seonghwan's intent.
Hnnng...
She tossed her phone on the bed and frantically stripped off her clothes.
Eager to signal him back fast, impatience surged.
****
Hmm. What the hell is this situation?
"Ow, fuck, don't hog the blanket. Ask the owner for more if you have to."
"White Day was bad enough sandwiched between you two lovebirds—why should I bother? And why are you trying to cuddle up to me? Where's Yesul?"
"You blind? Didn't you see Yesul sleeping fine and closing the door? You think I want to sleep next to a guy?"
"This lucky bastard."
"Cut the bullshit. Who wants this? And on a day like today, you got a girl to meet or what? Gonna confess to that crush sis of yours?"
"................"
Seonghwan had once told Yunsu about Yeon. Vowing he'd confess someday.
His dad had all but locked in Yeon and his brother's relationship, but Seonghwan knew they weren't officially dating yet. His brother was serious, and with everyone watching, he'd hesitated.
Got the necklace ready, but here I am on this day.
At least he'd planned to let go of lingering regrets. Come what may.
Whether it soured things with Yeon or his brother.
He couldn't stay stuck in the ambiguous past forever. Time to step forward boldly.
But why am I stuck lying here with this ungrateful punk?
This pool villa was two-story: ground floor with indoor pool and large bedroom, upstairs a small one.
Just now, Yesul had cheerfully waved goodnight in pajamas and headed up, leaving the guys.
Seonghwan smirked wryly at Yunsu heading to the ground-floor bedroom—not entirely pitying him.
"You asshole, I'd have hit a nearby motel if you'd said. Give a heads-up at least. Not leave me in this mess."
"Shut up. Even if you went, Yesul would've stopped you. Quit whining and sleep."
"Fuck......"
Yunsu turned his back, done talking. Grinding his teeth at him, Seonghwan pulled out his phone and searched.
Hmm. About two hours since I sent that DM—wonder if she got it?
With a subtle signal loaded, he'd messaged Yuri.
He'd vented at Yunsu, but Seonghwan had gains too.
Secluded, great views. Private villa perfect for two, soundproofed. Heh. Hope Yuri bites.
With Yumi sunbae, it'd been dingy motels, club room, her place—impromptu hookups.
For Yuri, he wanted a genuine first memory.
Oh! Response!
No text from Yuri, just a photo.
Glancing at Yunsu, Seonghwan turned away and cautiously opened it.
In the pic, Yuri sat on a chair, full-body from below the face. In her presumed bedroom, perched on the bed with legs spread wide. A hastily scribbled memo between her navel and thighs.
The issue: her outfit.
Oh! Is it okay to send something this raw?
Bra, panties. Nothing else on pristine pale skin. Temptingly, discarded outer clothes strewn around the bed like she'd just stripped.
As if stripping for her lover, posing in lingerie begging to be held.
And the memo on her slim belly:
April 13, 2024 ♡
Incheon Pool Villa
Kugh!
Seonghwan clenched his fist, cheering inwardly. She'd flung open her arms to his signal.
No stronger yes than this. Sending such a private, explicit pic just to him. The heart on the memo.
Plus, spotting late in her full-body shot: the candies he'd secretly left today, placed on her bed to the right.
Fuck yeah. See that, Yunsu? Nah, just sleep, Yunsu. Don't peek or you'll burst in your pants.
No outlet for the surging joy, he glanced at sleeping Yunsu, then grinned back at the screen.
Damn... Back then her hostility clouded it, but Yuri's fucking gorgeous.
His heart pounded.
A woman openly craving his gaze.
One who could bare her body to him anytime.
One who'd give herself without hesitation.
Dunno where it'll end, but fuck it...
Seonghwan decided to follow his desires.