Repayment (2)
The day before, after the unexpected mishap where Baek Seol-ah and I nearly tumbled into bed together.
The reason this frustrating, tangled mess of emotions wouldn't settle down no matter what.
'Obvious, isn't it.'
I knew it deep down. I might've been desperately ignoring it under the vague excuse of feeling dazed, but how could I not know my own heart?
It had been a year already since my soul entered Han Taeyang's body. I'd become aware that my personality had shifted a bit during that time. Probably because of the possession into Han Taeyang's body and the fact that his memories remained intact within me.
In other words, the Han Taeyang from the NTR novel and my possessing soul had blended to some degree, birthing a new self.
'Not that it's anything grandiose...'
At most, maybe 10-20% of Han Taeyang's essence had mixed into 'me'. Whether personalities merged or not, the point was my core self hadn't fundamentally changed.
Just that my behavior patterns and thought processes had come to resemble his to a certain extent.
And what thought would such a changed me harbor after last night's incident with Baek Seol-ah?
As I said, it was pretty predictable.
I silently stared at Baek Seol-ah, who was fiddling with her reddened earlobe, looking slightly embarrassed.
...There had been a line I'd once firmly decided on.
A line I, as the NTR novel's Golden Boy and the soul possessing that body, had resolved to uphold.
It was simple.
-I won't live like that.
I didn't particularly see myself as a good person, nor was my sense of morality exceptionally strong.
Still, I wasn't the type of scumbag to gratuitously torment couples who were happily dating.
Even after becoming Han Taeyang, I'd vowed to live a different life from his. Up until now, it hadn't been hard at all.
Just act like a moderate delinquent, avoid unnecessary entanglements with the original heroines, and get through academy life.
Right up until yesterday, I'd kept that vow perfectly.
-T-Tae, Taeyang. Can you sleep with my girlfriend?
Whether it was some karmic twist of fate, it started with Lee Hyun-seong suddenly offering up his lover to me.
-Is there... anything you want from me?
Even Baek Seol-ah, whom I'd considered relatively normal, spat out words that left me stunned.
Sure, knowing the original story, I was aware she harbored some serious perversion deep inside.
'Something I want...?'
But I never imagined she'd hand me a free wish like atonement for our usual snarling rivalry.
Truly unexpected.
I let out a reluctant chuckle but still looked at Baek Seol-ah.
"...Ahem, ahem."
She'd sat next to me so casually earlier, but now that I was staring silently, she cleared her throat awkwardly.
I fell into brief contemplation watching her like that.
More precisely, I examined my true feelings.
Me, who'd decided stealing someone else's girl was wrong and chosen a different path from the original.
And me, who'd bitten without much hesitation when she offered first.
I decided to squarely face my true heart, unbound by Han Taeyang's instincts.
The conclusion?
'Hmm.'
It came quicker than expected.
To be honest.
I looked at Baek Seol-ah with a subtle gaze.
Gazing at the her right in front of me now, and also the her sprawled on my bed last night.
The plain fact was, this girl—Baek Seol-ah, heroine of the novel and my real-life nemesis—was better than any woman I'd ever held.
Simply put, she was irresistibly attractive.
Whether as a bed partner...
Or as the object of romantic feelings.
It might be a bad thought.
But 'I want her.'
Wanting to steal this Baek Seol-ah from Lee Hyun-seong's arms and make her completely mine—didn't that feel utterly natural?
Reaching that final conclusion, just as I was about to break my short—or long—silence.
"N-No, it's not anything else."
Seemingly interpreting my silent stare, Baek Seol-ah hurriedly added details.
"Like, for example? Y-Your theory grades aren't great, right? Ahem, if it's okay, maybe I could tutor you separately this weekend..."
"...".
"Or, y'know, you could ask for something material. I could specially treat you to meals up to three times. What do you think? Pretty good, right?"
"...".
"...Han Taeyang?"
And of course, every example she gave was completely off from what I'd imagined.
I felt a complex mix of emotions and had to close my half-open mouth.
Baek Seol-ah trying to repay the debt in such an unexpectedly wholesome way(?), and me, who'd immediately fantasized about all sorts of indecent things at her 'anything you want?' question.
Well, since we'd already done sexual stuff yesterday, it wasn't that weird.
"...Th-Three times too few? Four? I can't buy anything too pricey..."
"...".
Watching her panic, thinking she'd said something wrong, something hit me.
'Self-loathing.'
I felt like such a filthy person that I squeezed my eyes shut.
After a moment with my lips pressed thin in deep thought, I made my decision and spoke.
"Fine, you want to repay me."
"Y-Yeah? Ah, yes. Repayment. Since I'm sorry..."
"With just that?"
"...Huh?"
Of course, that was that.
"Isn't it common sense to make up for a bedroom blunder in the bedroom? Baek Seol-gi."
"Wh-What...? What does that mean."
Separate from the thick self-loathing, I still had to do what needed doing.
I quickly brushed aside the complicated feeling that had surfaced and tilted my head toward Baek Seol-ah.
Then, leaning into the ear of the wide-eyed, incredulous her, I whispered something pretty petty.
"No meals. Five handjobs. Whenever I want, you meet up and do it."
"...?!"
"Oh, obviously, without Lee Hyun-seong knowing."
I'd whispered small enough not to reach others, but this was a classroom.
Lots of other students around.
I wondered how my shameless words landed on Baek Seol-ah.
"Y-You, you crazy...?! What the hell!"
Baek Seol-ah was so transparent.
Instant intense reaction bursting out. Stunned for a split second at my words, then jumping in shock, face turning beet red, recoiling in horror.
Conscious of others' gazes, she desperately lowered her volume but still yelped a feeble 'Eek!'
Of course, zero intimidating.
I smirked and reached out, lightly brushing her cheek with a 'tap'.
"What, suddenly shy? After doing all sorts in my room yesterday?"
"Hey! Lower your voice! What if the others hear...!"
"Always so cute."
"...?!?"
Even if she yelled fiercely, to me it was like a kitten puffing up its tail in threat.
Not scary at all.
So when I tossed back a nonchalant chuckle, her face flushed even deeper on top of the previous red.
"...Wh-What did you say."
A different shade of red from before.
Nuanced differently?
For some reason, I liked this red better.
I pulled my hand from her cheek with a satisfied smile.
"Anyway, deal's a deal. Back out later and you're getting smacked."
"Hey...! When did I ever agree..."
At my one-sided wish-granting, Baek Seol-ah glared daggers with fury boiling in her eyes, but bad timing.
Bang!
Just as she was about to snap at me in a bubbling rage, the classroom front door flew open.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late, right? Let's start class now."
The teacher had arrived.
A cute little figure in a conical hat, with bright blonde hair. A loli-looking girl.
Looks young, but inside was a veteran mage who'd rolled through battlefields for years.
Jung Ha-yul, S-rank awakener, magic and liberal arts teacher.
This class was the latter.
"...Ah."
At her entrance, model student Baek Seol-ah naturally clamped her mouth shut with a flinch, and I openly snickered, mocking her.
Face beet red, fists clenched, trembling madly—that sight.
'Ah.'
Shouldn't think this normally.
But as I said before, so damn cute.
*****
Ding! Ding!
After class ended, as I left the classroom without looking back, my smartphone went nuts.
Glancing at the screen, the messenger app notifications were piling up.
I typed a reply with a light chuckle.
'Hmm.'
Felt like the protagonist yelling for the neutral nation at Panmunjom.
No room for compromise in my consistent replies—had she finally given up?
No reply from Baek Seol-ah for a while.
As I went to pocket my phone again.
Ding!
"Pfft."
Laughter burst out loud involuntarily.
Couldn't get cuter than that message.
I stopped mid-corridor, shoulders shaking, but of course, no reply.
Teasing Baek Seol-ah was endlessly fun—I'd known that—but I'd subtly avoided her until now.
Exchanging like this openly, seeing her more honest reactions like that last message—maybe a first.
I wore a deeply satisfied smile.
And then.
"Hey! Han Taeyang."
"...?"
Not Baek Seol-ah, but a voice just as familiar rang out.
I blinked once and turned around.