Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Your Sweat Smells Good
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Day 2 of my period.
Unlike the first day, which had felt nothing but unfamiliar and unpleasant, today was quite tolerable.
Thanks to my cold symptoms vanishing completely, I headed back to school. Dragging out the absences any longer might lead to a parent-teacher conference, which would spell trouble in all sorts of ways.
Enduring the boring classes, dismissal time arrived before I knew it.
Normally, I'd head straight to the agency, but today there was somewhere else I wanted to drop by.
A plain commercial building—neither upscale nor rundown. I stepped into the elevator and firmly pressed the button for the second floor.
As soon as the doors opened, the scent of oil and the nutty aroma of bread wafted over me. When I pushed open the door and walked in, a cozy interior greeted me.
"Welcome!"
The woman seated at the desk flashed me a bright smile. I approached her with somewhat awkward steps.
"You're a new face. How can I help you?"
"Ah, I just wanted to check it out."
"Hehe, you've taken an interest in cooking. You've come to the right place."
The place I'd come to was a cooking academy.
It had started as a sudden whim at Han Sea-ah's house—I wanted to learn how to cook. That single thought had brought me here.
The receptionist gave me a quick once-over, then stood up and gestured for me to follow. She began showing me around the academy step by step.
Against the low hum of the exhaust fans, the rhythmic sound of knives chopping on cutting boards echoed steadily.
In the large kitchen, students wearing aprons bustled about busily. I glanced at their faces. Amid the faint tension, the emotion mixed in was unmistakably joy.
Is cooking fun?
They must enjoy it, enough to come here and pay to learn.
"So, that's the setup here."
After a full tour, the staff member led me back to the desk.
"Do you have any particular type of food you'd like to learn?"
"Just... simple stuff I can make at home."
"Got it. You mean dishes using everyday ingredients? We have just the class for that."
The staff member pulled out some academy materials and spread them open with practiced ease.
"We have professional classes and hobby classes. The hobby one seems perfect for you—it focuses more on variety than depth of flavor."
"Hobby class..."
"Yes. After one session, you'll be able to whip up all sorts of tasty dishes at home."
"What about the class schedule?"
"Two hours per session. Options for twice or four times a week."
Twice a week came to 400,000 won a month. Four times was 600,000 won.
Purely in terms of efficiency, four times made sense, but unfortunately, I didn't have that kind of time with my idol activities.
Truth be told... I wasn't even sure I could manage twice a week properly.
"Shall I help you sign up?"
The staff member's gaze, brimming with expectation, fixed right on me.
"...I just came to look around for now. I'll come back once I've made up my mind."
"Ah, sure. Feel free to drop by anytime."
Considering the money I had on hand, a month or two of fees was no issue at all. The real obstacle was time.
School, trainee life, and now academy classes. It was clear I'd end up living the busy life I hated so much. I'd had enough of that inefficiency once already.
In that sense, the academy just didn't suit me. Letting out a hollow chuckle, I left the building and headed to the agency.
[It felt really nice having someone cook for me.]
Han Sea-ah's words echoed in my mind, and my footsteps halted abruptly.
A brief silence.
When I came to, I was already retracing my steps.
Did I really need to sign up?
I'd returned to the cooking academy as if entranced, but after paying, regret started to creep in.
My schedule was already packed five days a week with practice, and now two more days for the academy on top.
"Sarang."
In the underground practice room at BlueNMI Entertainment, Lee Seo-yoon approached me with a smile.
"I heard you were sick. You feeling okay now?"
"Yeah. It was just a cold... I'm all better."
"Good to hear. The end-of-month evaluation is right around the corner, so let's do our best."
Oh. Right, it's end-of-month evaluation time. With everything going on lately, I'd completely forgotten.
Hm. This might be a bit of a problem. Not the time to be casually checking out cooking academies.
"How's it going for you, Unnie?"
"Pretty good. I've got the choreography down, just need to polish the details now."
I hadn't even memorized half the choreography yet.
I didn't have grand ambitions, but I wasn't planning to slack off completely either.
During the entire personal practice time, I stuck to the stage videos, trying my best to mimic the moves.
My period cramps were nagging at my lower body a bit, but it wasn't bad enough to distract me much. Using the tampons Han Sea-ah recommended had definitely reduced the discomfort.
'That said...'
Even while watching the video, I couldn't help but notice—Han Sea-ah is really pretty.
Beauty is subjective, but when it came to Han Sea-ah, everyone agreed she was stunning without fail.
Plus, whether she lived on dew alone or what, her face hadn't changed much from ten years ago. The youthful freshness had simply faded, replaced by a woman's alluring charm.
It was hard to believe the girl on screen was the same person who'd gently stroked my belly just yesterday.
[I thought it'd be nice to have a daughter like you.]
The girl in the stage video seemed to smile right at me as she spoke. The performance brimmed with such vivid energy and vitality, like she might leap right out of the phone screen.
I gently lifted a lock of hair hanging below my shoulders and brought it to my nose.
Sniff sniff. It still carried the scent of the shampoo from Han Sea-ah's house. Strangely, that smell made it feel like she was right there beside me.
"Sarang, let's go grab dinner."
Lee Seo-yoon, soaked in sweat just like me, stuck close with a clap.
The old Lee Seo-yoon would have recoiled, but now she didn't seem to mind our sweaty bodies touching.
Come to think of it, her vibe had been a little different lately. She was the one initiating arm links first... and her gaze had this oddly honeyed sweetness to it.
"Sarang, there's something I've been wanting to say."
We were on our way to the restaurant, arms linked, when Lee Seo-yoon lightly rested the tip of her nose against the nape of my neck.
"Your sweat smells good too."
Her breath tickling my neck made my body twitch several times.
Ugh. That sent a little shiver down my spine.
She actually let me do this, huh.
"How do you take care of yourself?"
"I don't do any special care."
"Huh? Really?"
Lee Seo-yoon's eyes widened in surprise. She pressed her face close to my shoulder and sniffed again.
"No care, and you smell like this?"
"Mm... what does it smell like?"
"Fresh and sweet, kind of draws you in."
Sweat that attracts people? What, like pheromones or something?
Sniff sniff— sniff sniff—
Lee Seo-yoon kept sniffing my neck, and it was getting pretty overwhelming.
Fine. Counterattack.
She kept being annoying, so I decided to get revenge this time.
I glanced around, then quickly buried my face in Lee Seo-yoon's nape. Instead of just brushing my nose against her like usual, my lips touched first.
Normally, I'd blow air to tickle her big time, but this time I wanted to try something different. Instead of blowing, I sucked in a breath toward me.
Slurp—
A somewhat embarrassing sound escaped.
"Hyah?!"
Lee Seo-yoon's body jolted, and a high-pitched noise like a moan leaked out. Her voice sounded suspiciously sensual, making me glance around nervously. Luckily, no one was nearby.
The startled Lee Seo-yoon pulled away from me like she was fleeing and pressed her back against the wall. Her face was flushed beet red, her breathing ragged.
She looked pretty thrown off—mission accomplished.
"Revenge."
I grinned teasingly and giggled. At least I'd succeeded in prying her off me.
But Lee Seo-yoon's reaction was subtle.
For some reason, she gazed at me with melting eyes, then traced the spot on her neck where my lips had touched with her fingertips.
She even pulled out her phone and shone it on her neck.
"...Sarang, was that on purpose?"
Her low voice made me tilt my head.
"Huh?"
"This."
Lee Seo-yoon pointed to her nape. Wondering what she meant, I leaned in for a closer look.
There, amid a reddish trace, a blue bruise had formed. Right where my lips had touched, making it look like I'd left it there.
And the shape of the mark looked oddly familiar. Like the so-called hickey people talk about.
"...This isn't from me, right?"
Lee Seo-yoon caressed the small bruise on her neck with her fingertips, looking at me with damp eyes.
"You made it, Sarang."
My heart sank.
No way—does this happen from that? I’d only sucked in a tiny breath. Does that leave a mark like this? That doesn't make sense.
But the trace on Lee Seo-yoon's nape asserted its presence all too clearly. Her pale skin made it stand out even more.
"I'm sorry, Unnie. I didn't know it would leave a mark like this... I was just playing around."
I apologized right away. Even if it was a mistake, it was clearly my fault.
It was so obvious that even I, who'd never dated, could tell at a glance.
If I noticed, how much more would the people at the agency? Misunderstandings were bound to swirl around Lee Seo-yoon.
Even ordinary high schoolers dealt with rumors. And she was an idol trainee.
The company wouldn't look kindly on it either. The instructors might even view her poorly.
"I'm really sorry, Unnie. Wait here just a sec... I'll grab a bandage or something."
The thought that this could ruin Lee Seo-yoon's trainee life because of me made my heart pound.
Desperate to cover it somehow, I turned toward the practice room.
"It's fine, Sarang. No need to worry about it."
Lee Seo-yoon grabbed my hand.
"Huh? But..."
"Like this, it won't show."
Lee Seo-yoon zipped her tracksuit all the way up. The collar rose, naturally concealing the red mark on her neck.
"See? You can't tell, right?"
"...Yeah, you're right."
Only then could I let out a sigh of relief.
It looked a bit stuffy, but no trace showed. It'd definitely fool others.
"I'm really sorry, Unnie. I won't do it again."
"Mm. It's okay."
Lee Seo-yoon still didn't let go of my hand. For some reason, a smile played on her lips.
"I'll cherish it as long as I can."
"Huh? No, why would you..."
"Seeing you flustered is just too cute."
Lee Seo-yoon giggled playfully, which bruised my pride a bit.
This was usually my role.
"Guess I'll have to wear it zipped up like this for a while. Kinda hot, though."
Lee Seo-yoon muttered to herself—or so it seemed, but loud enough for me to hear clearly.
"You said that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Hehe. I do feel a little wronged. I hate being hot."
"If you're that upset, then do it to me too, Unnie."
"Huh?"
Lee Seo-yoon grabbed my hand again. Her blue eyes, gazing down at me, glistened with moisture.
"You sure... that's okay?"
I'd only half been joking, but I hadn't expected this.
"If that'll make you forgive me."
"Mm! Of course. I forgive you, obviously."
Was it my imagination?
For some reason, her energy seemed even higher than usual.