Playing in Deep Waters (2)
Yu-bin laughed it off like it was no big deal.
"Still, she hasn't thrown any hysterical fits or smashed things like she used to. Not once. Ever since you counseled her, Teacher, she's been a completely different person. It's really... like magic."
"Magic? Nah, it's because you stuck by your mom's side so well, Yu-bin."
"Aw, no way. I just stayed next to her. It was you who read her heart so perfectly back then."
Yu-bin giggled, beaming as she sniffled cutely.
"You must've had it rough, though. All that emotional strain."
"It's just my duty as her daughter. Besides, manual labor suits me anyway."
She shyly slipped her hands under the table. Probably embarrassed about the scrapes and calluses from her construction gig.
"Now that Mom's getting back to work... I gotta hustle harder too and escape this damn basement apartment ASAP!"
Her voice brimmed with hope. But I planned to nudge that hope in a slightly different direction.
I set my teacup down slowly.
As my expression turned serious, Yu-bin straightened up tensely, mirroring me.
"Yu-bin."
"Y-yes?!"
"I did come to check on your mom, but honestly, there's another reason."
"A-another reason?"
Her eyes went wide. Her gaze darted frantically between my face, lips, and hands on the table.
"M-me...?"
"Yeah. I have a proposal for you, Chae Yu-bin."
"A p-proposal...?"
She swallowed hard. Her face flushed red again. Fingers fidgeting, eyes dropping down—what the hell was she imagining?
"Like... um... are you free this weekend... or something...?"
Her voice trailed off into a whisper. I played dumb and answered firmly.
"No."
"Huh...?"
A deflated little sound. Her shoulders slumped visibly. Cute reaction, but now was the time for business.
"It's a job offer."
"A job? For me? Not for Mom?"
"Right. You're working construction now, yeah?"
"Y-yeah... The daily pay's good."
"It'll take years to pay off that debt hauling materials forever. You gotta think about your future—and your body."
"I-I know, but... this is all I know how to do. Hehe..."
"You have talent."
"Talent? Me?"
Yu-bin tilted her head, puzzled. I locked eyes with her and said it clearly, word by word.
"Magical girl."
Her face froze at the word. Not excitement—disappointment, a touch of shrinking back.
"I heard you got a C-grade rating. Right?"
"Yeah, but..."
She fidgeted, twirling her hair.
"I'm... not that useful. My magic isn't flashy or anything. I'm just kinda strong... I bombed guild interviews every time. They all want attack spells or healing. Nobody wants enhancement types like mine..."
"That's because they have no eye for talent."
I cut her off sharply. Her self-esteem was rock-bottom, but that made her all the more appealing to me.
Raw and unpolished—so I can shape her however I want.
"We're launching a new management company. I want to scout you for it."
"Management...? You, Teacher?"
"Mm."
Honesty wouldn't hurt here.
"To be precise, I'm not running it directly. My mom and sisters will. They're all magical girls."
Yu-bin's ears perked up.
"F-fam... family...?"
Her teacup rattled precariously.
"Your... mom and... sisters... are running the... company...?"
"Yeah. Mom as CEO, sisters as affiliated magical girls and directors. Family business, basically."
I explained matter-of-factly.
"Not incorporated yet, but we have plenty of capital. Sisters are active B-grades, so they've saved up. Plus, family means quick decisions, no red tape. We can snag talents like you on the spot."
Pitching the startup perks. But the longer I talked, the weirder Yu-bin's reaction got. Her eyes lost focus, a faint smile creeping onto her lips.
"Family... family together..."
Her face turned tomato-red in an instant. The flush spread down her neck to her collarbone.
Lips mumbling, gaze bouncing from space to floor and back.
"S-so... if I join..."
"Yeah."
"I'd see... your mom and sisters... every day...?"
"Probably. Office is near the family home."
Yu-bin clutched her cheeks with both hands.
"Oh no... oh no...!"
"......"
Acting like a bride meeting her in-laws...
Does this girl really like me that much?
For real? Me?
With how few guys around her, maybe. But it made sense. The young teacher who saved her only family. Rough looks aside, to her, I'm probably more than Stockholm syndrome—a straight-up savior.
A bit burdensome...
But I didn't hate it. The feeling of someone liking me. Unfamiliar, but oddly reassuring.
Of course, loathing myself for weaponizing it too.
Sigh. Business, business.
I set my cup down and leaned forward. The table between us felt smaller. I heard Yu-bin gasp.
"Yu-bin."
"Y-yes?!"
"Your face is too red. You got a fever?"
I reached out casually, resting my palm lightly on her forehead.
"Eep...!"
Her shoulders jumped. Eyes wide like a startled bunny.
But she didn't pull away. If anything, she leaned into my hand, savoring the warmth.
Soft hair. No construction dust today—just a faint shampoo scent.
I stroked her head slowly, very slowly.
Shhh...
"Ahh..."
A needy whimper escaped her. Eyes fluttering shut, melting like a pup under its owner's touch.
The silky strands slipping through my fingers felt good.
No resistance. She was rubbing her crown against my palm, begging for more.
Blind trust and affection, not a speck of wariness.
My gut tingled.
"I told you I want to recommend you, right?"
"Y-yes... mm..."
"No one else even crossed my mind."
Lie. Any C-grade or above would've done. But right now, she needed to feel special.
"I want you as my first partner, Yu-bin."
"Wha...!"
Her eyes snapped wide.
"But... I'm useless... and I have so much debt..."
"Doesn't matter. I need you, Yu-bin herself."
I nailed it home, staring straight into her eyes.
"You'll help me, right?"
Her eyes welled up, glistening.
"Of course...!"
She grabbed my hand—the one that had been petting her—and pressed it to her cheek with both of hers.
I smiled faintly.
"Looking forward to working with you, Chae Yu-bin."
"Th-then... I'll wait for your call, Teacher...!"
Even as the front door clicked shut, Chae Yu-bin couldn't tear her eyes off me. Like a dog seeing off its owner. If she had a tail, it'd be helicopter-spinning.
Click.
Door closed, sensor light out. Alone in the dark hallway, I finally exhaled long and hard.
"Hoo..."
It worked.
Acting like some handsome guy made my stomach churn.
Of course it does—I'm out of my league trying to seduce anyone.
I didn't regret it, though. No way a cute kid like her sticks around a guy like me forever. Use the crush while it lasts.
But a twisted sadism bubbled up too.
Not romance.
Not dates, hugs, kisses. I wanted to make her cry, cling, writhe under me— that base urge filled the void.
Just like with my stepmom.
The more she likes me, the more I crave turning her into my woman, my fucktoy...
Psycho.
I shook my head roughly, clearing the thoughts.
Fine. No touching minors anyway.
Chae Yu-bin is just a business partner. Nothing more, nothing less.
I hailed a cab. Destination: Sector 4. My neighborhood.
Gazing at the blurring scenery, I sorted my plans.
Join Nebula officially. Set up family management company. Train Mom, tap her connections. Manage Jin Se-hee the witch. Secure counseling spot...
Mountain of shit to do.
Who knew my life would spin this fast? A month ago, I was a jobless lump rolling around watching porn in my room.
Totally different life now.
Once in at Nebula and managing girls, I'll tangle with more magical girls, shake more hips. No reason to stay in that shoebox room.
Save up and move?
The deeper I embed in the magical girl scene, the riskier my info leaks get. Plus, for counseling cred, I need a fancier pad.
Move back home... Or once cash flows, snag something nice in Sector 2 or 3.
Good security, solid soundproofing in a luxury officetel.
Just imagining it felt good.
My space. Spacious living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows with city views.
Not some distant dream.
First, call the sisters.
I hit call. Recipient: Jeong Yu-na.
The tone dragged on.
***
My head felt like it was splitting.
Or rather, I wished someone would axe my skull, scoop out my brain, and wash it clean.
"Ugh..."
Park Min-jeong groaned, yanking the blanket over her head.
Bzzz, bzzzz— Her smartphone vibrated on the bedside table like a jackhammer drilling her eardrums.
"Fuck... shut... up..."
She snatched it irritably and chucked it.
Thud.
Luckily, it landed on the carpet—no shatter.
Day two. She'd called in sick to city hall and been lying here like a corpse.
At first, she thought it was just a cold. Magical beast outbreaks had her pulling overtime like meals lately.
A day or two of solid sleep would fix it, she figured.
But symptoms worsened. Hands trembling like Parkinson's. Worst was the hollow ache in her chest.
Thirst. A vicious thirst no water could quench.
"Hah, hah..."
Park Min-jeong licked her dry lips with shaky fingers. She craved something to suck on. Back in the day, it'd be a cigarette.
But not anymore.
Instead, what surfaced was.
Jeong Ji-un.
That nerdy bastard's face. The arrogant prick. And...
The masochistic, filthy urge to curse him out, get teased, crushed under him.