Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: In the Infirmary (3)
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Rustling sounds made Ha Yoon open her heavy eyes. She couldn't even remember when she had fallen asleep. She had curled up under the blanket, keeping her eyes closed for a long time, and must have dozed off.
Lost in a daze with those thoughts, she lay still, feeling light taps on the blanket covering her body. It wasn't like someone roughly trying to wake her—it was more like the habitual patting of a sleeping child. She immediately knew who it was from that touch.
There was only one person in a place like this who would treat her that way. Straightening her curled-up body and pulling back the blanket, she saw Kim Seon-ah staring at her with wide, surprised eyes.
"...Kim Seon-ah."
"Ah, sorry. Did I wake you?"
"No, it's not like that."
Of course, she had woken up to the sound of Kim Seon-ah coming in, but Ha Yoon shook her head in a subdued voice. After a brief pause, she slowly spoke.
"...Looks like duty's over."
"Yeah. Dawn's already breaking. More importantly, Ha Yoon."
"What?"
"...Were you crying, by any chance?"
"W-what?"
At those words, Ha Yoon quickly wiped around her eyes with her hand. But there was no moisture left, no trace of tears.
Confirming that, Ha Yoon let out a quiet sigh of relief inside and said,
"N-no way. And why would I cry? I never cried even when I was a guy."
"But you always cry and wail during punishments or afternoon drills—"
"Sh-shut up! That's unavoidable!"
Tears came out because punishments hurt, and during afternoon drills—mostly Teacher Choi's classes involving sexual activities—it was inevitable. Pleasure made her tear glands go haywire, dripping endlessly. What was she supposed to do about it?
Her face flushing bright red as she yelled, Kim Seon-ah chuckled and said,
"Just kidding. Anyway, how's your back?"
"...The pain eased up a bit after taking the medicine."
"Good to hear. At least getting that medicine wasn't completely pointless."
At those words, Ha Yoon recalled Kim Seon-ah kissing Teacher Gan. The deep, intense lip-lock. And what followed... the passionate sex. Thinking about it soured her mood again.
"Your face looks pale. You okay?"
Seeing Ha Yoon's dark expression, Kim Seon-ah asked with concern. Normally, Ha Yoon would brush it off, but not this time.
Pressing her aching chest with her hand, Ha Yoon slowly opened her mouth.
"Hey, Kim Seon-ah."
"Yes, Ha Yoon."
"Stop calling me 'Ha Yoon-ssi' or using formal speech."
"...Why all of a sudden?"
As for "all of a sudden," Ha Yoon had asked her before to speak casually.
She'd let it slide as habit back then, but not anymore. And it wasn't impossible—Kim Seon-ah spoke casually just fine to Hong Ryeon or Jin Si-won.
More than anything, the formal tone felt distant, and it rubbed Ha Yoon the wrong way. If Kim Seon-ah only used casual speech with Hong Ryeon, Ha Yoon might not have said anything.
But speaking casually to Jin Si-won meant their distance had closed compared to before. Ha Yoon didn't like that.
Too embarrassed to say it outright, Ha Yoon snapped in an angry tone,
"Just don't do it!"
Kim Seon-ah stared at her with wide eyes, no reply. Then, pouting her lips, she said,
"Fine, then stop calling me 'Kim Seon-ah' so stiffly with my full name. Just use my first name."
"W-what?"
"Come on. Say 'Seon-ah'."
"Why should I?!"
"Then I'll keep doing it my way."
Crossing her arms, Kim Seon-ah said firmly—an uncharacteristically tough attitude. Ha Yoon looked at her in flustered surprise.
'This can't be...'
Recalling Kim Seon-ah's usual self, this reaction was completely unexpected.
Ha Yoon had thought she'd comply after a little fluster, but now she was making demands?
Ha Yoon's lips twitched as if to speak, but seeing Kim Seon-ah's expression, she closed her mouth again. No matter what she said, it looked like Kim Seon-ah wouldn't budge without getting her way.
In the end, Ha Yoon raised the white flag first. Clenching and unclenching her fists to hide her tension, she finally spoke.
"S-Seon... ah..."
Her voice trembled faintly, barely louder than an ant's whisper. Kim Seon-ah nearly burst out laughing but held it back with superhuman effort, tilting her head.
"Too quiet. I couldn't hear it."
"Th-there's no such thing! I definitely said it!"
"Even if you say so, I really didn't hear. Can you say it again, clearly enunciating?"
"Ugh...!"
Ha Yoon's face turned beet red as she trembled, then opened her mouth.
"S-Seon-ah...!"
"Haha!"
Her voice cracked from nerves, and Kim Seon-ah couldn't hold back her laughter. Stunned for a moment, Ha Yoon scowled and trembled as she said,
"Y-you laughed! Do you know how hard that was for me?!"
"But you looked so funny and cute."
"C-cute?!"
"And it's just calling me by my first name. Why make such a big deal?"
"Of course it's embarrassing!"
Ha Yoon had never called anyone by their first name alone in her life. She always used full names formally, so this felt incredibly awkward and shameful.
Of course, it was a sentiment Kim Seon-ah couldn't understand. As she giggled, Ha Yoon punched the innocent pillow.
"Anyway! I did it, so you do it too!"
"Got it, Ha Yoon. Like this?"
"...Annoying!"
Unlike Ha Yoon's shaky attempt, Kim Seon-ah said it naturally. Ha Yoon punched the pillow again. Feathers flew as she thumped it, and Kim Seon-ah grinned before asking,
"But seriously, why the sudden change? You never said anything before."
"I did before. I told you to speak casually then too."
"Did you? Well, you never pushed it."
That was true. Even after saying it, Ha Yoon had let the "habit" excuse slide. But she didn't want to admit the full truth. As she stopped punching the pillow and fell silent, Kim Seon-ah sat on the edge of the bed.
"Tell me. Why did you suddenly feel that way?"
"...Were you always this sly?"
"I'm the same as always."
Just switching from formal to casual made her seem slyer. As Ha Yoon thought that, Kim Seon-ah pressed closer, urging,
"Don't dodge. What happened?"
"I just didn't like how you speak casually to Jin Si-won but formal to me."
"You do it to Hong Ryeon too."
"That's not because we're close."
"Sure, but is that all?"
Ha Yoon gave Kim Seon-ah a puzzled look.
"What do you mean 'all'? What else would there be?"
"I saw you. Peeking through the curtain."
Whispering like sharing a secret, Ha Yoon's body jolted. Staring at Kim Seon-ah in panic, she saw her smirking.
"Why so surprised? Our eyes met. Of course I knew."
"Th-that's true, but...!"
She hadn't expected her to say it outright. Swallowing her words, Ha Yoon heard Kim Seon-ah sigh and grumble,
"Seriously. I told you to sleep early because I didn't want you seeing that, but you peeked anyway... I'm disappointed in you, Ha Yoon."
"Who could sleep in that situation?!"
"Fair, but you could've pretended not to know."
It wasn't like she wanted to watch. Kim Seon-ah whispered slyly,
"Or did you want to watch?"
"Ugh...! No way!"
"They say strong denial is strong affirmation~"
Giggling teasingly, Ha Yoon clenched her fists, trembling.
She couldn't just punch her. And her words weren't entirely wrong, so Ha Yoon sighed deeply, unclenched her fists, and said,
"Enough of that! Teacher Gan's gone, so let's head back to the dorm—"
"You really wanna end it here?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You haven't explained properly. Why you suddenly wanted me to speak casually."
"I did. It's because of Jin Si-won—"
"Ha Yoon."
Grabbing Ha Yoon's clenched hand and leaning in close, Ha Yoon flinched.
"Wh-what...? Suddenly changing the mood."
"Let's be honest."
"I am being honest. There's nothing else..."
"Really? That's all?"
Pressing with questions, Ha Yoon's eyes darted around.
Then, squeezing them shut, she muttered,
"...No."
"No?"
"I-I was jealous... of you doing that with Teacher Gan...!"
What kind of question was that?! Still, Ha Yoon continued,
"It felt like that damn guy was taking you from me. Jin Si-won was just an excuse... I just hated seeing it right in front of me."
"So... you like me?"
"Like..."
No. Ha Yoon almost said it, but took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Probably."
Whether it was affection or romance, she wasn't sure. They'd only known each other for about ten days. Emotions might need time, but they weren't nothing.
Still, it was too big to call mere affection. As Ha Yoon clamped her mouth shut after answering, Kim Seon-ah pressed even closer.
Shoulders touching, breasts nearly brushing. Heads down, their faces would meet. In that distance, Kim Seon-ah whispered,
"Then, wanna kiss me?"
"K-kiss...?"
"Like with Teacher Gan."
Like with Teacher Gan. Ha Yoon's face burned as she muttered,
"L-like lovers..."
"...Hearing it now, it's kinda embarrassing. How does he say it so straight-faced?"
"Ugh...!"
Ha Yoon shot her a glare. Wasn't that calling her own words embarrassing? But Kim Seon-ah ignored it, placing a hand on Ha Yoon's cheek, turning her head to meet eyes, and said,
"So, will you or not?"
"..."
Instead of answering, Ha Yoon slowly nodded. Looking extremely embarrassed.