The Most Difficult Person in the World
Leehyun stepped out to make a quick trip to the convenience store.
I took off my soaked clothes, neatly setting them aside just outside the bathroom door, and stepped inside. I stripped down completely until I wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing.
The bathroom's spotless too.
I opened the cabinet, retrieved a brand-new toothbrush, popped it into my mouth, and took a leisurely look around. Towels were folded neatly by color, and feminine hygiene products were stacked in tidy rows to one side. Just glancing into this single cabinet told me everything about how meticulous she normally was.
What's this? Sugar wax?
A few products in Leehyun's bathroom had purposes I couldn't quite place. Putting my curiosity aside for now, I hurried up and started washing; since she was drenched too, I wanted to free up the bathroom as quickly as possible.
Knock, knock.
"Jeongseo, I'm leaving some fresh clothes by the door! I'll be waiting in my bedroom!"
"Okay, thank you!"
Her voice called out from the living room midway through my shower. I quickly finished up and cracked the bathroom door open.
She really did go inside.
I had half-expected her to linger in the living room pretending it was an accident, but that wasn't the case at all. The living room was quiet, and she seemed to have already cleared away the wet clothes I'd left behind. After glancing toward the firmly shut bedroom door, I picked up the change of clothes she had laid out.
A button-down shirt? Is she trying to...?
There was a pack of white underwear, evidently bought from the convenience store, alongside an oversized white dress shirt and a pair of black shorts that appeared to be her own.
I mulled it over for a second before deciding to put on only the briefs and the shirt. The white tank top bundled with the briefs felt far too much like an old middle-aged man's undershirt, and the black shorts she gave me were undeniably women's cut. The sizing was fine, but I wasn't keen on the design.
I could wear them, but...
Instead, I resolved to wear nothing but the briefs and the oversized shirt to actively indulge her fantasies. It seemed women in this world harbored that exact kind of trope as well.
The shirt is long enough, so that's fine, but... does it highlight it too much?
Dressed, I checked my reflection in the mirror. The white shirt was a loose, standard cut that draped down past my buttocks when standing still.
The real issue was the underwear.
Tight, white triangular briefs.
When I nudged the hem of the shirt up slightly, the outline of my junk was glaringly distinct. Chuckling inwardly with the thought of giving Leehyun a proper nosebleed, I stepped into the living room.
"Noona, I'm done."
"Mm, can I come out?"
"Yes. You should hurry up and wash too."
Presently, the bedroom door swung open and Leehyun emerged, having changed into fresh clothes.
"I put your coat in the styler. As for the rest, I'm washing your clothes separately—"
Mid-sentence, she froze dead in her tracks the moment she took me in. Her eyes flicked frantically up and down before lingering the longest on my bare feet.
Her tastes were nothing if not consistent.
"Noona. Noona!"
"Ah? Right... It'll take about two hours, I think."
"You started the wash, right? You could have tossed yours in together with mine."
I calmly observed her dazed state. She was wearing a relaxed, sleeveless lounge dress—evidently her go-to loungewear at home. Because it hung so loosely, her bra peeked out slightly at the armholes.
"Ah, as for skincare... I only have the stuff I use..."
"That's completely fine."
"Okay, it's in the bedroom... Want to come in?"
"Sure."
The master bedroom was just as tidy as the rest of the place. With minimal furniture, it felt almost slightly barren.
"The hairdryer is right here... In that case, I'll hurry up and take a quick shower." After pointing out a few things, Leehyun made to leave. "Oh, feel free to check the fridge too. Um... I'll be quick!"
"Take your time. I'll just rest for a bit."
"Mm. You can lie on the bed if you want... Make yourself at home with anything."
"Understood. Even your computer? Do you have a PC here?"
"A computer... Yeah, in the room over there."
I half-expected her to say no to the computer, but she gave unconditional permission. As I sat down at her vanity, she lingered, casting one last reluctant, longing glance my way before finally tearing herself away.
"Phew. Now then..."
Once she slipped into the bathroom, I stood up. Beside the vanity stood a full-length mirror. Looking into the glass, I unbuttoned one more button on my shirt. Grasping my phone, I recalled various memes and male thirst-trap photos I had encountered online. Reluctantly exposed to them though I had been, I now mirrored those poses in front of the mirror.
To think those would actually come in handy like this.
I raised my phone and began snapping photos of my reflection.
Leehyun returned having finished her shower at record speed. Her damp hair glistening, she gave me a brief tour of the apartment before we settled down at the small dining table in the kitchen.
"The aroma is wonderful."
"Isn't it? Want me to pack some for you when you head home?"
"No, it's alright."
Her place actually had a proper tea set. When I showed interest after being reminded of the tea the Monk used to brew for me back at the temple, she had gladly steeped a pot.
"By the way, is this really an officetel? At this size, isn't it basically an apartment?"
"It is an officetel. Why?"
"It just seems so spacious and nice. Easily enough room for two or three people to live comfortably."
"Yeah. A fair number of newlywed couples and three-person families live in the building."
Sipping the tea, I suddenly remembered the gift inside my bag.
"If you ever need a personal space of your own, Jeongseo..."
"Ah, that reminds me, noona."
"Hm?"
"Just a second."
I rose from my seat and headed over to my bag, which rested in a corner of the living room, worried that the box inside might have gotten damp. Fortunately, the gift box was completely unharmed. As I picked it up and prepared to stand, an instinct told me she was burning holes into my back with her gaze.
Would she like this sort of thing too?
From my crouching position, I slowly straightened my legs first. Keeping my legs straight and bending solely at the waist, I zipped my bag shut. Striking this pose left my buttocks fully exposed beneath the hem of the shirt. And with my legs parted ever so slightly, the contour of my testicles was bound to show between my thighs—snugly wrapped in tight briefs.
Women in this world doted on such views, referring to them as the Walnut Contour. Photos snapped from behind of men bending over circulated constantly across online forums—mostly taken when they wore thin, skin-tight pants or swim trunks. Or, just as often, thirst traps men deliberately posted of themselves.
Mine are far bigger than walnuts, though...
Unconventional as Leehyun's specific fetishes were, she was hardly immune to ordinary visual stimulation. After lingering long enough to give her ample time to ogle, I straightened my posture. When I turned back around, her face was, right on cue, utterly crimson.
"Slurp... Ah! Hot..."
"Careful! Why are you chugging hot tea all of a sudden?"
The moment I returned to the table, she had frantically started gulping down her scalding cup. Stifling a chuckle, I set the gift box down on the table.
"What's this?"
"A present for you, noona."
"Huh? A present? But you already gave me one earlier."
"Yes, but this one is for you too. Go ahead and open it."
Puzzled, Leehyun carefully unwrapped the parcel. Inside lay the handmade chocolates I had crafted on stream.
"Jeongseo... Is this... really for me?"
"Yes, I made them myself. I made sure to save a batch just for you."
"Really? Oh my goodness... Thank you so much! Truly..."
Back on the day of the chocolate-making stream, Leehyun had failed to win the giveaway raffle and was adamant about buying a box with cash. At the time, I had flatly declined, telling her that selling them went against the stream's purpose.
"I feel like I'm always on the receiving end..." she murmured bashfully.
"Not at all. You do so much for me. Would you like to try one?"
"Yes! Let's eat together."
With a deeply moved expression, she delicately picked up a piece. I took one as well.
"It's delicious! I'm going to savor every single bite. Thank you so much, Jeongseo."
"Eat as much as you like whenever your sugar levels drop. I can always make more next time."
"No, don't fuss over it. It looked like so much work."
She popped the chocolate into her mouth with bliss radiating from every feature, even while her eyes continuously drifted toward the nape of my neck and collarbone.
"Noona."
"Yeah?"
"Just look. It's fine."
"Ah... No, it's just... I'm sorry. Instinct sort of took over."
She looked completely flustered and embarrassed. I hadn't rebuttoned the extra shirt button from earlier, and I wasn't wearing anything underneath. Throughout our tea, she had strained desperately to keep her eyes in check, though to little avail. Mid-conversation, whenever she looked me in the eyes, her gaze would inevitably plunge downward.
By now, I was thoroughly accustomed to how women in this world struggled with their roving eyes.
"That was delicious. Shall we clear up?"
"..."
Having chatted like that for a while, the teapot was soon empty. Rising from my seat, I leaned forward slightly. Leehyun stiffened her back, craning her neck in a desperate bid to peer down the gaping collar at my chest, utterly mesmerized.
"Noona? You're finished, right?"
"Huh? Ah! Yeah. Just leave it. I'll clean up."
"Pfft. Okay."
After finishing our tea, we migrated back to the living room, sitting side by side on the sofa to browse through the photos we took this morning.
"By the way, are these all earpicks?"
"Yeah. I clean my ears pretty often. I know it's not great for you, but still..."
On the coffee table sat what looked like a pen holder, but instead of pens, it was filled with an assortment of earpicks.
"What's this one?"
"That one has a tiny camera attached. You connect it to your phone so you can see inside your ear while scooping."
"You have quite the collection."
Beside the earpick stand sat a container of alcohol prep pads. She mentioned she often cleaned her ears while watching TV.
"Would you like me to clean your ears for you?"
"Huh? No, it's fine. I can manage on my own."
Seeing her politely decline, I patted my bare thighs twice and pressed again.
"Lie down right here. I'll clean them for you."
"Gulp... Really? Lie down... there?"
"Yes."
She stared at my lap as if hypnotized, the blush on her face showing no signs of fading. Her expression cycled through sheer delight, euphoria, and breathless embarrassment in rapid succession.
"Then... I'll leave myself in your hands. Heehee... Ah." A silly, giddy giggle escaped her lips before she hastily clamped a hand over her mouth.
Watching her, a grin tugged at my own lips.
Of course, I hadn't made the offer solely to clean her ears. Judging by her reaction, her mind was already running wild with all sorts of improper thoughts.
And indeed, cleaning her ears wasn't the only thing I intended to explore.