Others' Gazes (5)
The kiss before and during sex was the intense, carnal writhing of a man and woman driven wild by lust, clinging desperately to each other. But the kiss after sex was a warm, serene affirmation of affection, shared in the peaceful afterglow.
Churp. Churp.
"Haah... Mmgh. Smooch."
They'd already gone through several sticky rounds of intense sex, gotten fully dressed, but lingering reluctance kept Seonghwan and Yuri wrapped in each other's arms for one final kiss.
"Haa... haa... Wait, already? Has that much time passed...? Damn it. I planned to actually study today after messing around all yesterday, but morning's already flying by. Let's head in for now, Yuri."
Seonghwan hurriedly pried Yuri away, urging her to get up like they couldn't afford another second.
But Yuri just narrowed her eyes at him, ignoring his words.
"...Played all day?"
"Ah..."
Seonghwan flinched inwardly at Yuri's glare zeroing in on his careless slip, and scrambled to explain.
"No, no. I just met up with a friend after forever—ate, hung out. You know my childhood buddy? Balls-to-the-wall friend? Like that? Can you ease up on that look?"
He didn't think he'd done anything wrong, but something made him feel guilty anyway, forcing the excuses out. Beyond her axe-eyed glare, instinct warned that dragging Lee Hyun into this could blow up big time.
Oh shit. Hyun's not even the issue—if I slip up about Yumi sunbae or Yesul, I'm dead meat.
As Yuri's upturned eyes gradually softened, reclaiming her composure, Seonghwan grabbed her hand and bolted before he could blurt something else stupid.
Yuri's pouty expression melted into a faint smile when he took her hand; she gripped back and followed his lead.
A man and woman's intertwined hands. Body heat flowed through their fingers—the same hands that had just conversed so deeply in flesh—and without a word, a warm emotion enveloped them both.
Yuri, shy but not pulling away, suddenly looked up at Seonghwan like something had just occurred to her.
"What're you doing next week?"
"Huh? Next week?"
"Yeah. Next week."
Her eyes held a strangely expectant glint. Seonghwan racked his brain under the pressure, but nothing specific came to mind.
What was next week? Class schedule? Group project meetup? But that's regular anyway... What was it... Ah! Could it be?
Seonghwan turned to her, realization dawning.
"The pool villa trip next weekend?"
"Yeah! Obviously that's it."
"Ah... Yeah, guess that's the big one. Haha... But what to do there? Shopping first when we arrive—there's a huge mart right below the villa, so we can grab meat, drinks, booze on the spot. Oh, and ramen for the next day—we could stock up, but there's a convenience store next door anyway, no worries. I'll bring rice for us ahead of time, so don't sweat it."
Seonghwan rattled off his plans proudly, excitedly, but Yuri shook her head, not buying it.
"Not that. Eating out's fine anywhere."
"Then what? Oh, right! Forgot, haha. Here I go yapping about food like an idiot without a clue. The spot's between Gimpo and Incheon, so a quick taxi ride gets us hopping between Daemyeong Port and Ganghwa Island. Head out early, check the port and marine park, lunch on clams and shellfish—prime season for them right now. Shit, back to food. Or loop down to Yongjongdo, ferry to Wolmido, tour the island, back to the amusement park. More to do than I thought. Ah... If I could drive, I'd rent a car and cruise."
Seonghwan enthused, but he knew cramming it all into one day was impossible. Public transit along the west coast wasted time; taxis could burn villa-rental cash just on fares.
Maybe get my license now? Way easier renting and driving solo with a girl around.
But Yuri shook her head again, displeased.
"Huh? Not that...? Ah, duh, I'm dense. Booked the pool villa and blanked on its features. Perfect for two—water depth hits my chest at waist level for me, ideal for swimming. Lunch at Daemyeong for sea breeze, back for swimming till dinner? Sound good?"
"......"
Yuri just stared, unamused.
What? Not that either? Then what? Anniversary thing? Gift? Event? Damn, guessing women's minds is harder than quizzes—who knew it'd hit me?
Seonghwan wracked his brain in frustration. Watching silently, Yuri whispered softly.
"...With me..."
"Huh?"
Her voice was salvation; Seonghwan whipped around.
"What?"
"What're we doing..."
"Doing? Like I said—port, swimming, shopping..."
Her lips bit tight in disappointment, deflated.
No, fuck. She wants an event? But spoiling it kills the surprise... Wait?
Heat hid behind her letdown—the prior excitement. Seonghwan caught conflicting emotions on her face.
No way?
That morning's thigh-caressing temptress expression resurfaced. Seonghwan gaped unwittingly.
"......Sex?"
"For real? What kind?"
"....."
Her eyes sparkled, shoving disappointment aside, face inches from his. Seonghwan was floored.
Fuck, seriously? Is this the Ice Princess Yuri? People flip like this?
Yuri's eyes glittered at "sex." Seonghwan finally got her expectations.
"Uh, pool first..."
"Pool?"
She echoed intently; he backed off, burdened.
This focus? She's ready to take notes.
Gulping dryly at her eager eyes, he continued.
"Uh... Bring swimsuits, get steamy in the water?"
"What swimsuit?"
"...Dunno women's suits well. Your pick."
"Okay, okay."
Her nod screamed pre-planning.
Why ask then? Classic answer-you-want?
But her questions rolled on. Women's gates don't end at one—and grow trickier with time. Yuri was no exception.
"And then?"
"Then?"
Seonghwan grimaced at the follow-up.
She's not thinking food—just sex all day? No way, right?
Anxiety hit, but he shook it off.
"Second floor has a view-bed room—head up post-swim? First floor's got a master, but upstairs wins on scenery, romance. And, uh... then..."
"Then?"
"Gotta change—well, we'll strip anyway, but... Or go sexy..."
"Sexy clothes? Like what?"
"Uh..."
Her eyes gleamed brighter.
Fuck, she's hyped. My input? Irrelevant.
Women's transformations were innocent—but this was shedding skin. Her gaze turned serpentine.
"Ah... Guys have fantasies. Nurse outfit, stewardess, cosplay, event costumes—girls in those drive dudes wild."
"Girlfriend? Heh!"
"......."
From scenic second-floor sex to cosplay, then blushing at "girlfriend"—Seonghwan was speechless. They'd fucked plenty; labels seemed trivial. But unlike Yumi sunbae, Yuri fixated on definitions, weighing on him.
He'd planned the trip confessing his need time to sort another girl in his heart. This pace choked him.
Progressing this fast? No confession yet? Next month, she'll want 'honey'? But cosplay for real? Bondage maybe?
Not his kink, but curiosity nagged—what would she allow?
"Handcuffs sound fun. Not my main thing—just curious."
"Handcuffs? Hmm... Can we get some?"
"Not real ones... Nah, skip. Pretend you didn't hear."
"But seriously, no other wants besides sex? First trip with a guy—what've you dreamed of? Chances like this don't come often."
Both sophomores stepping into majors—the crucial foundation phase. Basics mattered; no prof reviewed past classes like lost time.
Seonghwan juggled studies and work, desperate not to lag. He squeezed study time, but to others, it was baseline. Yuri? Double-major rarity at Korea University—way more credits, less time.
That's why meetings stayed campus-bound. Best for her, he thought. Rare chances were real.
Finances, status—neither easy.
"Doesn't matter. Same anywhere. Don't sweat it next time."
Damn, killer line. Pure romance mindset.
How many guys poured time and cash into romance? Yun-su booked a villa and ring for one night with Yesul.
Seonghwan melted at her sincere words.
Jeong Yun-su, you watching? Sex-first-love-later ain't myth.
"Hey, question?"
"Yeah? Ask anything. Haha."
Still glowing from her line, he beamed at her innocent face, vowing answers for this heart-melter.
"Ever been to our next-week pool villa? You know the facilities, layout—details beyond reviews or pics. Been with someone?"
"............."
Her eyes flashed with suspicion as she grilled him—his sense of being deeply moved shattered.
****
"Hyung, no dinner? Hit something outside dorm cafeteria?"
"You guys go. Heading to Yumi's."
"Yumi? Thought she went home—weekend, right?"
"Hit her gym near home early, waited—no show. Definitely at her place."
"Hyung... Ease up? She's sick of it. Met her dad last week too. And drama with her study-abroad friend? Department's buzzing."
"What'd you say, punk?"
Mincheol's gym-honed bulk tensed, eyes bulging; the junior flinched but glared back defiantly.
"It's true, right? Yumi's our peer before your girlfriend. You're our senior, but her ex. She wants to break up. We get chasing, but you're overkill."
"Overkill? You seen it? What's over? You think you punks judge me?"
"Hyung, club kids avoid the room 'cause of you. Weeks since Yumi cut ties, you storm in raging. We had to speak up."
"You punks? Who else badmouthed me behind my back?"
"No, that's not—argh."
Eunhyeok had mustered courage; confronting a flipped senior wasn't easy. Worry for Yumi drove it—honestly, disappointment in a once-cool hyung as a guy.
Too far. If I were Yumi, cops ages ago. She's graduating—hates reporting alumni.
Newbies glimpsed his hysterics, ghosted after. Eunhyeok spied their fights at library/lecture halls—Yumi firm, whispers deflating Mincheol—but he'd unload on the club room.
Like wrecking Yumi's beloved club to vent.
Pathetic. Doesn't he see it pushes her away?
Mincheol had excuses.
"Fuck, think about it. Steady girlfriend cheats outta nowhere—no excuse, just dumps. Cheater's from our school. You'd stay sane?"
"No one said she cheated—your guess. School guy evidence?"
"You think I'm dumb? Just guessing?"
"Then explain. I'll decide if it convinces."
"Haa..."
Mincheol sighed deeply, frustrated. Eunhyeok's disbelieving mirror-sigh stung—months of trust shattered in one.
His actions screamed nuisance. Still, he couldn't stop. Pride. Yumi's lingering ghost. Reason shredded; without this, he'd suffocate forever.
Humiliating, but he spilled to the junior.
"That Yumi friend you mentioned—Yuyeon. You've seen her. Yumi's BFF, hung with us."
"Yeah, vaguely. Why her?"
"She's study-abroading, handed her place to Yumi. Details fuzzy, but from her move-out to Yumi's move-in, Yuyeon helped carry stuff."
"You didn't know then?"
"Fuck, I'd have been there. Planned behind my back. Yuyeon stopped by last week for realtor fees—saw it. Two toothbrushes, cups, razor. Man's traces everywhere. Joked it to me—thought it was mine, didn't know the breakup."
"...Holy."
"Fuck, yeah I flipped on Yuyeon—but hearing your girl's banging some dude in her place? You'd stay cool?"
"........."
Mincheol's rage was justified if true. Eunhyeok held back.
"Assuming... proof he's from school?"
"What'd you hear? Planned without me—why near campus? Starts living alone, guy moves in day one—not some rando far off. My guess wrong?"
"...Uh, well."
Unverified, but Mincheol's conviction rang true—not baseless.
"Fuck!"
Eunhyeok couldn't stop Mincheol kicking a chair, grinding teeth.
"Yuyeon clammed up mid-chat—something harsh. More there... That's why I lost it. Rumors my fault? Victim's me—why treat me like perp?"
"Haa..."
Breakups hit young lovers hard. Cheating? Explosive, especially among alumni—rumors wildfire.
Mincheol overstepped, but if true, Yumi sparked it.
"Any suspects? Too random even for cheating."
Mincheol rummaged memories.
"Yeah... too sudden. Weird."
A dopey face flashed: older repeater, late to uni, grinning at his girl, oblivious to glares, hugging like a clingy bug.
Mincheol's eyes narrowed, then relaxed.
Not sure yet. And fuck, Yumi for that punk?
He shoved the image away.