Bristling... (2)
Bristling... 'Why are they acting up today of all days?'
'Well, well?'
'What the...?'
'Gasp.' Amid all the group chat frenzy screaming for lunch, Yu-mi's message was the one that sparked some thrilling imagination at the very end.
By the time my shift ended and I got to Yu-mi's place, it'd be pushing 10:30 at the earliest. Last week, I'd forced some time and had an ecstatic night at her place, but the more I did, the heavier my dad's piercing glare weighed on me.
'Lately, Mincheol sunbae's been getting more suspicious, hanging around Yu-mi sunbae constantly...'
Yu-mi was treating him colder the more she pushed him away, but his obsession only grew.
'One wrong slip, and we're toast.'
But that just ramped up the thrill to no end.
I had no idea what excuse she used, but our first time at her place went off without a hitch. Still, Yu-mi acted like she didn't give a damn about Mincheol's eyes anymore when we hooked up.
'Heh. Don't worry about him—just enjoy yourself.'
That was what Yu-mi said mid-makeout, phone buzzing from Mincheol's call. She'd answered half-assed, shut it off, climbed on top of me, and gone right back to it.
I was already revved up, so I wouldn't have stopped anyway, but her open mindset always let me dive into sex without any hang-ups.
'Though... he's been getting a bit clingy lately.'
It started casual—just occasional post-shift stress relief at her place, like proper fuckbuddies. But somewhere along the line, she'd started calling me during free periods, throwing herself at me boldly.
'And she won't use protection.'
She said her cycle was regular, and we always finished outside, but still—scary shit for a woman. Yu-mi didn't bat an eye. If anything, her intense hunger to feel my bare skin had her grinding against me until I snapped, then riding me without a second thought.
Thanks to that, I was picking up tricks on how to get a girl off, bit by bit. She raved about my size hitting deep no matter the position, but I was learning the nuances of her moans in every angle we tried.
'Heh. Hang tight, Yuri. I'm studying hard for you.'
Feeling smug inside, I glanced at Yuri next to me—and flinched.
My phone had been buzzing nonstop, and it was clearly bugging her. She was glaring holes right through it.
'She didn't see, right? Wait, shit—did she?'
Anything else would've been fine, but those messages with Yu-mi sunbae? Easy to misread the wrong way.
Back then, I didn't care what Yuri thought of me. But now? She wasn't someone I could brush off lightly.
She caught my stare, looked up, met my eyes, stared a beat—then turned away.
'No clue what she's thinking.'
Yuri weighed on my mind, but I forced myself to focus on class. The sunbaes behind us were distraction enough—any slip, and misunderstandings could snowball.
The shock hit after class ended.
As we packed up, Yuri suddenly pitched to the guys behind us.
"How about we grab lunch, just us?"
"Huh?"
"Whoa."
Yeonghwan and Hanjin—who'd only ever asked her out—were stunned by the ice princess's offer. Same for me.
'Outta nowhere?'
Sure, as group mates, it made sense. We'd had quick cafe tea times, but no full meals. With a semester of projects ahead, it wasn't weird to bond.
But the proposer looked awkward, and the timing? Off.
'Right after bumping into Yesul. She noticed?'
Whatever my tangled feelings, the other two guys were hyped, slinging bags already.
"What holiday is it? Free coffee from Yuri, now lunch invites...?"
"Shut up, simp. Anyone'd think it's a date. Heh heh. C'mon, let's go. My treat today."
"Hell yeah. Place'll pack soon. Man, if I had time, I'd join."
"Same. Seonghwan, you in? Got time?"
"Uh... me?"
My group chat was blowing up already. Ji-a and the crew hammering where I was.
"No time? Prior plans? Can't help that."
"Yeah, plenty of next times."
'These assholes...'
Treating me like a disposable side dish pissed me off, especially with Yuri's eyes on me, expectant.
"Nah, I've got time. Let's head out together."
"Oh? Cool, then. Let's roll."
"Haha, wonder what's on the menu."
I chased after the sunbaes, now chatting Yuri up ahead—then remembered and turned back.
"Huh?"
"........."
Yesul had snuck up quietly, staring at me.
"Oh... Yesul-ah."
"Mm... Those guys who just left—your group mates?"
"Yeah. Sudden lunch invite from the team. Sorry, gotta eat with them today. Yun-su said he'd hurry, so hang tight?"
"I'm good. Don't worry."
Her face screamed hurt, despite the words.
"Or... walk to the cafeteria with me at least? No spot to wait anyway."
"Nah, really fine. I'll read here till Yun-su texts. Go on ahead. No sweat."
"Agh... this is awkward. Wasn't planning this."
"Told you, it's cool. Just wait for Yun-su. We'll eat together next time anyway. Hurry—they're waiting."
"O-okay. I'll text Yun-su myself. See ya later."
"Yeah."
She forced a smile at the end, easing my worry. Always starting and ending with that grin—refreshing as ever. I turned to go.
Yesul watched my back, smile fading, then slipped back into the classroom.
'Mountains beyond mountains.'
At the cafeteria entrance, I stood dumbfounded. Ji-a marched up, pouty-faced.
"Traitor!"
"Urk."
She smirked as I clutched my chest dramatically—then hardened up, laying into me.
"We've only known each other two days—how could you betray us so easily?"
I panicked, grabbing her arm. "Hey! Wrong vibes if someone hears. Think before you speak?"
Heads turned from the entrance. Including my class group—and Yuri's gaze.
"We had plans to eat together."
"Never replied? This got thrown together last sec. Group lunch after class—what'm I supposed to do?"
"Hmph."
Ji-a turned away snootily, unimpressed.
'She's a vixen too. That pitiful newbie act was fake.'
No reason for a freshman to obsess over eating with a different-dept sunbae. Maybe she liked me? But no personal texts or extra attention.
'What's her deal?'
Then Hyo-seok strolled up beaming, with Lee Hyun beside him.
"Oh? Sunbae already here?"
Ever since I bought him that Pickup Artist's Guide to Women at the bookstore, he'd been buttering me up.
"Yeah. Take her and go eat."
"Eh? Not joining, sunbae?"
I nodded toward my group, whispering.
"Sudden prior commitment. Classmates wanna do lunch."
"Ah... got it? Wait—huh?!"
Hyo-seok spotted Yuri late, gaping in awe at her looks and outfit, eyes flicking between us.
'You're done for.'
Staring like that with Hyun right there. I shook my head, slung an arm over his shoulder, whispered.
"Go eat. Ladies await."
Snapping to his gaffe, he bolted to Hyun, fixing his face.
"Ha ha ha. Sunbae's got plans. Just us?"
"......Who's that?"
"Huh?"
Ignoring him, Hyun eyed my group past my back. I followed her gaze, then met her eyes.
"Advertising Techniques in Modern Culture. Liberal arts elective group. You'll take it too—group work's half-mandatory. Cut me slack this once. Next month, paycheck hits—big feast on me."
"You knew them before?"
"Huh?"
Her probing tone threw me, but I nodded.
"Same high school cohort. Different majors now. Prof assigns groups randomly. No idea if same college on purpose, but first names after assignment. Pure coincidence."
No clue why I was justifying, but her sharp glare had me spilling.
"Plus, they're all econ majors. You know—Minhwan hyung's department. His juniors. Hard to piss 'em off in group work. Get it?"
"Econ? Oh!"
As I explained to Hyun, Ji-a cut in.
"Yeah?"
"What's that girl sunbae's name?"
"Huh?"
She nodded slyly at Yuri, away from the group. I answered without thinking.
"Min Yu-ri, '23 intake. Same year as me. Why?"
Pointing her out specifically felt off. Sure, Yuri's hot, but a girl singling out another girl curiously? Weird.
"Aaaah!!!"
"Yeah?"
Ji-a lit up like Eureka.
"That's the famous...!!"
"Yuri's famous?"
I blinked; Hyun's face sharpened at me dropping her surname casually.
"Heard of her."
"Whatever."
Hyun grabbed Ji-a's shoulder, who'd clocked something about Yuri.
"Let's go."
"B-but Hyun-ah, that's her—the..."
"Drop it. C'mon. Who cares who he eats with."
"What? That jerk really ate shit."
Ignoring my point, Hyun dragged her inside. Midway, she halted, whipped back, glared.
"What now?"
I met her eyes, guilty.
"......When's your payday?"
"Why my pay?"
"......"
Her silent stare forced it out.
"April 5th? Why?"
"......You said big feast."
"Huh?"
"Just you wait. Gonna bleed you dry."
"Bleed me wha—?"
Dumbfounded expression left behind, Ji-a chimed in, hands clasped loud—for my group to hear.
"Heard that too, oppa. Feast on payday. Can't wait. Let's have fun that day. Enjoy your meal!"