Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Inner Thoughts
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Thud, thud...
While walking down the street, I glanced sideways at Yoon Hye-yoon beside me.
Her breasts bulging out from the bag strap over her shoulder, her snow-white, slender neckline.
And the faint scent of her body wafting from her side.
I wasn't sweaty myself, so it was fine, but Yoon Hye-yoon was drenched in sweat all over.
Before leaving the gym, we'd taken a quick shower.
Thanks to that, every step she took tickled my nose with her aroma.
I always thought the same thing—why do women always smell so good?
Shin Ayoung was like that, and so was Yoon Hye-yoon.
It was like their skin was made of a completely different structure.
We walked in sync for about five minutes.
As we entered an area lined with restaurants, I spoke up first.
"Anything you're craving? My treat today."
"I'm good with whatever. Pick what you want."
"You know that's the hardest option, right?"
"I do... but really, I'm fine. I don't have any picky tastes."
Her face said she'd eat anything I chose.
I scanned the signs for something suitable.
We'd just worked out, so... there it was, perfect.
"How about cold noodles? You were sweating a ton earlier. A cool bowl would hit the spot."
"Cold noodles? Yeah, sounds good. Any around here?"
"There's one on the second floor over there. See the red sign?"
"Oh, right there. Something cool sounds perfect. Let's go."
I'd worried she might say no.
But she nodded eagerly, so menu choice: nailed it.
The restaurant was packed.
I got the dinner rush, but this crowd meant it was a real hotspot.
"Welcome! Party of how many?"
"Two."
"Right over to that table."
"Thanks."
I set my bag down and waited; a young part-timer came over with menus.
I turned it so we could both see, scanning from top to bottom.
Obviously, you order cold noodles at a cold noodle place.
But checking out the options was fun anyway.
"Water cold noodles for me. You, Hye-yoon?"
"Same for me."
"Two water cold noodles, then. Hey!"
I ordered from the part-timer and handed back the menu.
Then the awkward silence returned.
In the bustling restaurant, it felt like we were on a deserted island, just the two of us.
I'd lured her here with dinner to talk, but even here, no easy topics.
I poured her water and tossed out a light opener.
"What'd you do today?"
"Oh, thanks! Same old. Classes, reviewing for finals... yeah."
"Lots of studying? Only about two weeks left."
"Think I can wrap up two more subjects. But no matter how much I study, stuff I don't know keeps popping up."
"Everyone's like that, unless you're the prof."
"True... Would be nice if it all stuck first try."
As we chatted, two bowls arrived.
Only five minutes since ordering—super fast, loved it.
I stirred with chopsticks; the noodles were chewier than expected.
Yoon Hye-yoon seemed to notice too; she was doing the same.
"Want me to cut them?"
"Oh, yeah! Twice, please."
I grabbed scissors and asked; she slid her bowl my way.
Two snips as requested, then we both dug in.
She was hungry, mouth working nonstop.
Just watching her eat made me feel full—seeing someone devour it like that was satisfying.
"Haa... so good. Thanks for treating."
"No big deal. You were starving, huh? Ate like a champ."
"Guess so... probably from pushing hard at the gym."
"Yeah?"
After paying, we stepped out to a darkened sky.
Brilliant lights lit the streets in contrast.
Timing felt right for the talk, so I pointed toward the park.
"Wanna walk a bit?"
"Sure..."
The vibe was worlds apart from earlier.
I pondered how to broach it while walking.
Seemed trivial, but nerves had my heart racing.
Soon we passed the noisy, flashy area into cricket-chirping quiet.
We wandered inside, found a spot.
A bench under dim streetlight glow.
I tapped my leg, gauging her a moment.
Then quietly started.
"You had something to ask, right?"
"Yeah... What your deal is with Shin Ayoung. And that moaning that night..."
"First one: I can't really define it myself."
"Huh? What does that mean..."
"We've hooked up, but she's not my girlfriend. The how was complicated."
"Hooked up meaning..."
"Yeah. You didn't mishear those sounds."
"Figured..."
I expected some reaction, but her face stayed calm, not matching my guess.
Our thing was casual sex without dating, so maybe she got it.
"So, TL;DR: not girlfriend, but we had sex. That it?"
"Pretty much."
"And the all-night noises? You guys really went nonstop?"
"Pretty much."
"Haa..."
She paused, sighed deeply at me.
Not disappointment or pity—more relief.
"Well, as long as not girlfriend. Kinda anticlimactic hearing it."
"You dodging me made me think it was serious."
"Was kinda... That obvious?"
"Yeah. You went pale seeing me and Shin Ayoung in the elevator. Anyone would've thought the same."
"Haha... That noticeable?"
Yoon Hye-yoon turned away sheepishly, scratching her head.
She smoothed wind-tossed hair, quietly watching passersby.
She seemed about to say something, so I stared the same way, waiting.
Moments later, words trickled from lips I'd thought sealed.
"My face shows everything. Funny to you, right, Woojin?"
"No. Not at all."
"No need to lie. Back in school, friends teased me nonstop about my expressive face."
"Been like that since then?"
"Yeah. Hated it. Felt like a toy. Tried practicing a poker face."
She took a deep breath.
Calmed her quickened speech, continued steadily.
"Lived that way so long, couldn't stick. Trauma? Flaw? Gotta fix it. Got too focused on acting serious, missed little things often."
First time hearing her inner world.
The reason behind her bright, lively vibe dipping 2% oddly at times.
"I like that side. Don't think bad of it."
"You don't know 'cause you haven't lived it. Everyone teases at least once—subtle stress. Hard to laugh it off every time."
"That's 'cause you're cute. They react well, so it invites it."
Honestly, she was fun to tease.
Even acting serious, it showed; intentions clear, so playful jabs.
No malice, I figured.
My experiences said so.
Buzzing doorbell for drinking buddy.
Grabbing me for yoga.
Asking to watch movies in her room.
Clumsy tactics, obvious motives.
That ditzy charm was cute; I played along knowingly.
"Not serious teasing. Don't overthink."
She stared long at my last words.
A falling leaf between us like a cue.
Serious tone.
"Woojin."
"Yeah."
"You asked why I avoided you. Curious?"
"Obviously."
Just me with Shin Ayoung wouldn't make her dodge openly.
"Surface reason: thought you got a girlfriend. If so... better end clean. Back to normal neighbors."
"Real reason?"
"Remember what I said last week... when we were together?"
I racked my brain.
Too much chaos since, question too vague.
Nothing specific.
Better honest than fake.
"Sorry. Can't recall exactly."
"It's fine. Happens. Said I'd vanish suddenly, or do it when I say? Ring a bell?"
"Ah! Yeah, got it."
"One week later, moans from next door—not mine. What would you think?"
"..."
"I know we're not exclusive. Can't force anything. But... wondered if you did it to push me away."
"I never..."
"Saw you approach today, knew no bad intent. Still, back then... wondered if I annoyed you, if you were done, getting tossed aside. Worried tons."
Her words stabbed my conscience.
My casual words and actions had hurt deep.
"Even if... you keep going with Shin Ayoung. Could we... keep our thing? I know I can't compare to her. Looks, body..."
Yoon Hye-yoon trailed off, gauging me.
I should've apologized for neglecting her.
But it flipped; now she was asking the opposite.