43. Yerin's Decision
- 2003-04-21 Monday 06:30 -
I woke up feeling heavy all over.
"Ah... Even good things have to be in moderation. Three of them is too much for me to handle."
I'm only managing because I'm twenty. Without Eun-joo's healing or if Hyun-sook hadn't taken it easy with me, it might've been even worse.
As I muttered to myself while getting up, Eun-joo finally stirred awake beside me.
"Mmm... From today, I'll make sure to prepare some nourishing food."
"Yeah, we should. I'm beat...?"
"I'll have Ga-young stock up on supplements too."
"Good idea. Better start taking care of ourselves young."
Only Eun-joo and I were in the bed. Hyun-sook and Ga-young had slept separately in the living room.
This was the power of my first slave. Eun-joo decided who shared my bed and who slept where. I'd given her tremendous authority.
Hyun-sook especially had grown even more deferential to Eun-joo once she learned about this power dynamic.
We four headed to school together. Hyun-sook and I got out first and walked to campus side by side.
As we approached the school gate, someone greeted me.
"Hey? Get some good rest? Oh?!"
It was Ye-rin.
"Ye-rin. You're here."
"Hyun-su. Why are you two coming to school together?"
I was at a loss for words. Should I lie my way out again? But I couldn't keep deceiving Ye-rin forever.
"Ah... I'll explain later. Let's go. See you next, Senior Hyun-sook."
"Yeah... Go on in."
I deliberately used her formal title instead of our usual intimate one.
After parting with Hyun-sook, Ye-rin and I headed to the lecture hall. Her expression stayed dark the whole way.
From her perspective, Hyun-sook's presence wasn't welcome, and seeing us so chummy must've irked her. But she was holding back, waiting for my explanation.
Heerin was already in the lecture hall and welcomed us. But she quickly noticed our sour moods and quietly took the seat next to me.
After two morning classes, I excused myself from Heerin and said I'd talk privately with Ye-rin. I'd felt Ye-rin's bad mood all lecture, so Heerin nodded right away.
We grabbed a spot at a restaurant near school.
"Can you tell me now?"
Ye-rin finally let out what she'd been holding back.
I explained everything about Hyun-sook, leaving out only the time loop. I told her how I'd discovered Hyun-sook working as an assistant instructor at an SM club in Itaewon, how I'd learned she was plotting to kidnap me, Ye-rin, and Soo-min, and how I'd preemptively hired her to capture her instead.
My story had a few tweaks, but I stuck as close to the truth as possible without lying outright. Training Hyun-sook had skirted illegality, but that was on me to bear.
Even after hearing it all, Ye-rin stayed silent. After a bit, once she'd sorted her thoughts, she asked,
"So... Senior Hyun-sook has nothing to worry about anymore?"
"Yeah. Her training's complete—she'll follow any order I give."
"I... don't know much about that world... But I'm still a little worried."
"If you're that concerned, want me to call Hyun-sook over and show you?"
She waved her hands frantically.
"Ah... No... I don't need to see that far. But then... you're living with her?"
Here, I hesitated again. Should I tell her about Eun-joo and Ga-young too?
From her confession, I trusted she'd understand, but revealing it wasn't easy. Once trust breaks, it's hard to mend.
Hyun-sook's story had come out eventually; sooner or later, she'd learn about the others too. In the end, I told her about Eun-joo and Ga-young as well.
"Whoa... So much happened while I wasn't looking..."
Ye-rin seemed a bit shocked.
"I don't want to lie to you, so I'm telling you everything."
"The women I know about are Senior Hyun-sook, Professor Lee Eun-joo, Professor Kim Ga-young... and probably Senior Soo-min, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. No more."
"That makes five including me?"
"Pretty much."
"It might grow from here?"
"Yeah... Probably. You know Heerin seems interested in me too..."
"Yeah... Heerin's super attractive, after all. Hyun-su... Can I ask you one favor?"
"Sure, what?"
"More women will come to you. When that happens, can you just tell me? That'd be enough for me."
Her confession felt genuine.
"You mean let you know who I get involved with?"
I needed to clarify exactly what she meant. Did she want a heads-up before sex, or after? What precisely?
"Ah... No, not before getting involved. Not like reporting to me—just let me know afterward. Okay?"
"Yeah, of course... Sure."
"Good. Thanks, Hyun-su."
"No, thank you for understanding."
Ye-rin had no flaws. A genius at Korea University, stunning looks and figure, chaebol family. A perfect woman bending over backward for me—it touched me deeply.
I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Ah~ I feel so relieved. I was really curious, you know? Wondering if there was anyone else besides me."
"Haha... Now that you know, how's it feel? Disappointed?"
"No, really not. Sure, it's not ideal, but I never thought I could have you all to myself."
I stroked her hair while holding her close, charmed by her cuteness.
We finished eating and headed back for "Understanding Stocks."
Mondays were our usual class with Ye-rin and Heerin.
As we entered, Heerin greeted us warmly.
"Looks like you two talked it out? You seem better."
"Yeah. Heerin, eat well?"
"Eh, just cafeteria food. Hehe."
"Let's eat dinner together tonight."
I suddenly invited Heerin out.
"D-Dinner? Just us?"
She glanced at Ye-rin, self-conscious.
"Yeah, dinner just us two tonight."
"I'm fine with it. I need to head home early today."
Ye-rin tactfully bowed out, sensing I wanted time with Heerin.
"Thanks, Ye-rin."
I sincerely thanked her. Her understanding meant the world, especially after such a tough decision.
Soon Eun-joo entered and, as usual, bowed ninety degrees to me before starting the lecture.
Ye-rin hadn't noticed before, but now knowing she was my slave, it suddenly clicked as odd. She whispered,
"For real???"
I nodded. She covered her mouth in shock.
I just grinned.
After class, Heerin and I headed to a nearby bar. No stock trading today thanks to the Ye-rin talk, so straight to drinks.
Early hour meant we had the place to ourselves.
"First time drinking this early, huh?"
Sitting across from me, Heerin fiddled with her hair awkwardly, glancing around restlessly. She sensed the different vibe too.
"Yeah? Never even eaten alone with you before."
We were married once. Ate together, did everything together. But that's the past now. Like she said, that was another Heerin from a parallel world.
"That's 'cause you're always glued to Ye-rin. I've wanted to hang out with you from the start."
She was right. Heerin had always approached first. Why a beauty like her chased me was a mystery.
"True... Guess I did."
"With my looks and body, guys lined up. But you avoided me for some reason—drove me nuts."
We drank and spilled our hearts. Mostly Heerin's grievances, since I'd deliberately dodged her.
That avoidance became a thrill for her. Unlike others, I kept my distance, piquing her interest. Seeing me with equally gorgeous Ye-rin bruised her pride, so she watched me closely... and feelings grew. Saving her from Yoo Young-hoon's clutches sealed it.
"I... really thought my life was over then. That creep had my weakness... Hic... Sniff..."
Tipsy, she broke down recalling it.
I slid next to her, patting her back. She clung and sobbed.
The place had filled up; people stared.
"Heerin, let's switch seats."
I barely calmed her and got us out.
The street bustled with college kids.
"Where to?"
She looked up at me.
I cut straight: "You really want to be my woman?"
Her answer was simple.
"Yes. I want to be with you."