Chapter 92
Chapter 92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Good Timing
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"As you can see, I'm just coming back from grabbing some food at the convenience store."
I held out the bag as I spoke.
Yoon Hye-yoon glanced at my hand, but since it was a black bag, she couldn't see inside and kept peeking curiously.
Even though I'd said it was food, she seemed really suspicious about what was in there.
"Nothing much. Just some instant rice and drinks."
"You didn't buy anything else?"
"There wasn't really anything worth getting. And I don't need anything right now anyway."
"Right now... You must have a ton stocked up, huh. Makes sense since you work at a convenience store..."
She looked surprised for a second at my words, then her expression turned knowing.
She trailed off, her lips twitching like she had something to say.
"Got it. I'll be going then. Have a fun time."
Her tone was icy, like there were bones rattling in it.
In the end, she didn't say whatever was on her mind and just brushed past me.
Her sudden change caught me off guard.
I'd thought she'd be happier to see me after a week.
Plus, things had felt good the last time we met. What was the problem?
She looked too prickly to poke at right now, so I didn't ask and just watched her go.
With those heavy dark circles, she must have had something bad going on or hadn't slept.
She could be sensitive like that, so I'd talk to her slowly later. I pressed the elevator button and headed up.
Clunk.
Back in the room, Shin Ayoung was hanging laundry on the drying rack.
Still in her bottomless fashion, her two holes were fully visible every time she bent over.
She finished hanging what was in her hands and turned to look at me.
"You're back? Hurry up and make food. I'm hungry."
"I'll do it right now. Just wait a bit."
I popped the instant rice in the microwave and cracked some eggs for frying.
As the sizzle of oil filled the air, Shin Ayoung came over.
She eyed the frying pan with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"You can actually cook? You can flip these, right?"
"I've lived alone a long time, so I'm pretty confident. Don't be too shocked later."
"Saying it like that always means it turns out bad."
A moment later, I mixed the instant rice, eggs, and some seasonings in a bowl.
It smelled decent and looked edible enough, so I handed it to Shin Ayoung.
She peered at the contents, then scooped a spoonful into her mouth.
She chewed with her cute little mouth, then swallowed.
"Oh! It's good. The seasoning's perfect for something so simple."
"Glad you like it. First time cooking for someone else, so I put in some effort."
"I'm the first? That makes me kinda happy."
It was a relief she seemed genuinely into it, not just lip service.
We sat side by side on the bed eating. Midway, Shin Ayoung glanced at the wall behind us.
"Just occurred to me. Is the soundproofing here good?"
"It's... decent. Best place I've lived in so far, anyway."
"Really? Then all my loud moaning last night... Did that carry?"
Hearing that clicked the nagging anxiety in the back of my mind into place.
Something had felt off the whole time. This was it.
No wonder Yoon Hye-yoon had been so cold, with those dark circles.
Her "have fun" comment—was that sarcastic?
Thinking back, I'd faintly heard her masturbating in her room before.
But we'd been way louder, moaning till morning.
I could imagine what Yoon Hye-yoon thought.
Too caught up in my first real sex with Shin Ayoung to even consider it.
My mind went blank on how to fix this.
"Why aren't you saying anything? It's not that bad, is it?"
"Hard to say... Apartments are one thing, but studio apartments like this..."
"...You're saying my moans carried to the neighbor?"
"Probably?"
She looked flustered at my uncertain answer.
But she quickly reverted to her usual playful expression.
"Well, nothing to be done. It's already happened."
"She didn't come knocking midway... so maybe it didn't?"
"Doesn't matter if it did. It'll happen sometimes anyway. Consider this a heads-up for our steamy nights."
Steel mentality, as expected of Shin Ayoung.
We finished eating, I did the dishes, and as we relaxed...
I noticed the laundry by the window.
"You just gonna leave that out? It's gonna take forever."
"Means you get to have me around longer, right? You want me gone quick?"
"No, but air-drying takes at least a day, I think."
"True. No dryer here?"
"Not at home, but there's a coin laundry in the shops downstairs. Want me to go?"
"Sounds good. Let's go together."
"Nah, rest. You got no clothes anyway."
Walking around outside with naked Shin Ayoung would draw stares for sure.
Still too much for me, so I politely declined.
"It's only five minutes away. I'll be quick."
"Thanks. I'll chill here."
I stuffed the laundry into a bag and headed out.
Worried I'd run into Yoon Hye-yoon again, but I made it to the coin laundry without seeing a soul I knew.
Relaxed, I found an empty dryer, loaded it, and paid.
About 40 minutes. Too long to wait here.
I could pick it up later without issue, so I headed home to rest.
Opening the door, Shin Ayoung was lying on the bed.
No reaction to me coming in, so I went closer.
Snooze...
She'd covered herself with the blanket and fallen asleep.
Must've been the fatigue from waking up early catching up.
Seeing her sleep so soundly made my own eyelids heavy, chain reaction.
Climbing into bed might wake her, so I rested my arms on the desk and dozed off.
Not planning a long nap anyway.
Should be fine.
Looking out the window, the sunset was fading.
Meant to sleep 30 minutes, but my body said no.
"Ugh..."
I lay there still until my strength returned.
Steady breathing from the bed—she was still out.
A bit later, I quietly got up to head out.
All it took was rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
At the coin laundry, the dryer had warm, perfectly dry clothes.
Time had dragged, so I rushed back with them.
Keying in the code, I heard movement inside.
Shin Ayoung was peeking out from the back, looking at me.
"Ah... Thanks for the trouble. I just slept the whole time..."
"No big deal. Call it payback for cleaning earlier."
"That makes me feel better about it."
"Got your clothes here. Feel 'em—they're bone dry, good to wear right away."
I set the clothes on the drying rack, handing her just the skirt separately.
She felt it all over, then handed it back.
"Nice and fluffy. But... took longer than expected?"
"Yeah, I dozed off too, so I was late."
"Gotcha... Hey, mind if I crash on the bed a bit longer? Just woke up and I'm wiped."
"Go for it. Don't worry about it."
With my okay, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
It was 5:30 now... Felt like she'd stay for dinner. Wonder how that'd go.
I quietly pulled out my phone at the desk, not wanting to disturb.
A perfectly peaceful Sunday.
Hard to believe just hours ago, this place had hosted a night of madness.
Sitting like this, we felt like a live-in couple.
...Speaking of couples, what even were Shin Ayoung and I?
Yesterday, when I'd ghost-visited her place, she'd definitely said:
She liked me.
And she'd known it was me, even as a ghost.
Did she really like me?
Her actions so far suggested yes.
But it was hard to believe a girl like her liked me.
Plus, she hadn't said it face-to-face in reality, so it wasn't solid.
No matter how much sex we'd had, to a former virgin like me, this was tricky territory.
My head suddenly felt cluttered.
To clear it, I got up and headed to the fridge.
As I spaced out drinking cold water, Shin Ayoung asked softly.
"Hey, dorm head. Quick question. Who's next door?"
"Desk side room seems empty. Bed side wall—someone from school."
"Same school? You know her?"
"We hit the gym together, chat sometimes. Pretty friendly."
"Close with your neighbor, huh... Gym buddies too. Nice friend you got there."
"Uh... yeah?"
She was totally assuming it was a guy.
Should I correct the misunderstanding?
I opened my mouth, then shut it.
No need to stir up trouble.
The conversation lulled.
Shin Ayoung stared out the window for a while, then got up from the bed.
She headed straight to the drying rack and picked up her panties.
"Heading out now?"
"Yeah. Dinner time, so I should go. Feels bad mooching another meal."
"You could eat here."
"I know when to read the room. Get some alone time and rest. I saw you napping at the desk earlier."
She'd noticed me dozing.
I kinda wanted some solo time too, so I didn't push.
Soon, fully dressed, Shin Ayoung went to the shoe rack.
Before opening the door, she turned.
"I'm off. No need to see me out."
"I'll take you up on that. Get home safe."
"Yeah. Thanks. See you later."
People say that, but they'd be bummed if you actually didn't.
I followed her out and waited for the elevator together.
Ding. Fifth floor.
The doors opened with the chime, revealing a familiar face inside.
She looked back and forth between me and Shin Ayoung, eyes widening as she made weird noises.
"Huh? Eh...? Ehh!?"
I sighed inwardly.
She hadn't been around when I kept going back and forth earlier.
Why'd she have to show up at the perfect moment now?