Chapter 31: In the End, I Lose
The next day, I stepped into the store bright and early in the morning.
I'd planned to drop by before closing time if I had the chance, but things wrapped up later than expected, and exhaustion hit me like a truck. I crashed right away.
Chae-ah must've been wiped out yesterday too.
After I texted her that I'd bought some clothes and sent a photo, she went on a one-hour rant of drunken nonsense, then radio silence.
It was her first time handling everything solo, so I figured she'd collapsed from fatigue just like me.
As I scanned the store to check its condition, a faint sound of breathing slipped through the crack in the staff room door.
That could only mean Chae-ah was inside, so I slowly pushed the door open.
Sure enough, there she was.
"Why're you sleeping here?"
The obvious question bubbled up first—why on earth was she sleeping in a place like this?
Did she pass out right after closing up?
She was still in her going-out clothes, sprawled out messily without even a blanket. Nothing ordinary about that.
"Chae-ah. Chae-ah?"
"Mmmgh…"
"Chae-ah, wake up."
"Mmm…? B-Boss…?"
"Why're you sleeping here? Didn't you go home?"
"Home…? Oh?!"
Chae-ah blinked her sleepy eyes, then bolted upright. She frantically looked around before checking the time on her phone.
"N-No way… Did I seriously just crash like this…?"
"You closed up yesterday and just took a quick nap here?"
"Yeah, I was so beat I thought I'd rest a bit and head home…"
"And you ended up sleeping straight through."
Realizing my suspicions were spot-on made a hollow laugh escape me.
How hard must she have worked to turn a quick shut-eye into sleeping all the way till morning?
"You did great."
"Hehe… It's kinda embarrassing, but hearing you praise me feels nice."
"I'll handle opening prep. Go home, shower, and come back."
"You sure that's okay?"
"Of course."
As I stroked her hair and praised her, I noticed the smudged makeup lingering on her face.
"You slept without washing it off. You really were exhausted, huh?"
"Oh yeah… Didn't remove my makeup or contacts…"
"Let's get those contacts out first thing."
"Okay, Boss."
While she headed to the bathroom to remove her lenses, I tidied up the staff room.
At a glance, it might seem like she was showing off how hard she'd worked.
Even if that was her intent, I wouldn't scold her—not even a little. She more than deserved it.
I really nailed hiring this one employee, at least.
After straightening the staff room, I moved to clean the store—and that's when I encountered something astonishing.
Not a speck of dust anywhere. The place was immaculate.
No matter how much you clean in the morning, by the next day, dust settles, and foot traffic dirties the floors.
For it to be this pristine come morning meant Chae-ah had deep-cleaned after closing.
"Impressive."
I'd never cleaned more than twice a day myself, so her diligence was nothing short of miraculous.
Running the store solo all day and squeezing in a full clean? No wonder she passed out.
"Boss."
"Chae-ah, wanna take the day off?"
"Huh?"
Someone who'd worked this hard deserved a proper reward.
"W-Why all of a sudden…?"
I figured she'd be thrilled, but instead, she eyed me with unease and confusion.
"No hidden meaning—just wanna give you a break for all your hard work."
I explained clearly in case she'd taken it the wrong way.
"Boss, working with you is my reward."
"How's that a reward? That's straight-up labor."
"I've never once thought of it as labor."
"What about yesterday? That wasn't labor?"
I assumed working without me might've felt different—like actual work.
"Nope. Not even yesterday."
She shattered my expectations again.
"Why not?"
"Because I get to see your face the next day. Because I get to laugh and have fun working with you again."
Chae-ah smiled brightly, her words flowing smoothly.
"So yesterday didn't feel like labor either. I like you, Boss."
Her words stirred up a whirlwind of thoughts.
Why did she like me this much?
Was constantly pushing her away really the right call?
And if I stopped… what should I do next?
"Unni?"
Dozens of questions swirled, but I had no solid answers for any.
"So, what do you want as a reward?"
"Huh? Well… there is something."
"Don't hold back. Whatever it is, I'll make it happen."
Before speaking, Chae-ah fidgeted, thumbs bumping together.
She kept meeting my eyes, then looking away.
"Um… that is…"
"It's fine. Just say it."
I'd grant anything—even closing early for sex.
Her reactions screamed that kind of wish.
"So… a k-kiss…"
"Huh? A kiss?"
"Yeah… Could you… kiss me…?"
My guess missed the mark completely.
After all that buildup, her wish was a kiss?
What was this?
It felt like a bat to the back of the head.
"Why a kiss? Mind if I ask?"
"It feels like… you're telling me I did good. Like praise."
"Wasn't saying it enough?"
"That's nice too, but I always love it when you initiate a kiss."
Her shift from "Boss" to "Unni" wasn't just a casual change.
She knew I kept work and personal separate, so she'd respected that.
Calling me "Unni" here showed how deep her feelings ran in this moment.
"God, I can't win against you. Who asks for a kiss that shyly?"
"Right? It was kinda embarrassing… Hehe…"
Watching her grin like an idiot, scratching her head, my legs started moving on their own.
"Unni…?"
I approached without a word, leaving her flustered as she backed away slowly.
"Wh-What's… up…?"
I ignored her question.
Soon, her back hit the wall—no more room to retreat.
"You always find a way to make me lose it."
"Huh?"
"Close your eyes."
My tone was firm, so she stared in confusion.
But moments later, she tilted her head up and slowly shut her eyes.
I gently covered her soft lips with mine.
"Churp…"
The instant our lips met, I slipped my tongue into her mouth.
She stiffened in surprise, so I slowly wrapped around her, coaxing her to relax.
"Chuuup…"
Soon, her tongue began mirroring mine.
"Hnn… Chup…"
Her eyes squeezed shut, she surrendered fully to my lips, her face flushing crimson like it might burst.
Every tangle of tongues and mix of saliva made her lashes quiver.
Her arms wrapped cautiously yet firmly around my waist, transmitting her blind affection and trembling raw.
I kept my eyes open, drinking in every shift of emotion.
"Haht… Chuup…"
Until now, I'd pushed Chae-ah away with ruthless persistence.
After that past wound, I'd locked my heart shut—no opening up, not even casual fondness.
So when she poured out her sunflower-like devotion, I'd feigned ignorance, drew lines, hid behind the boss-employee wall.
But lately, I couldn't sever it cleanly; I'd hover in ambiguity, and doubts gnawed uncontrollably.
Why couldn't I push this girl away completely?
Why did I watch her approach with secret delight?
Now, sticky rupture sounds filled the cramped staff room, sweet entwining sensations and faint moans tickling my ears. Finally, I had to admit it.
The ironclad vow I'd built had crumbled like a sandcastle before her pure sincerity long ago.
I'd just been too scared to face reality, fleeing instead.
Her image filled my view—panting softly yet striving to match my rhythm, tongue dancing with mine.
Someone who wanted me this much, gazed at me so blindly.
Before such vast, clear emotion, using old scars as an excuse to keep retreating wasn't self-protection anymore.
It was deception toward someone giving her all—and downright rude.
Even if she brushed it off now, it'd wound her deeply someday.
When that hit, I doubted I'd stay numb or endure it.
"Puhah…"
As I slowly pulled away, our mingled saliva stretched thin like silver thread before snapping.
Chae-ah's wet eyes fluttered open, locking straight on mine amid ragged breaths.
Meeting that hazy gaze brimming with joy and deep affection unleashed a heavy afterwave crashing over me.
"Yeah… I surrender completely."
"Huh? What do you mean, Unni?"
My compass-broken heart, adrift and lost, finally dropped anchor at Chae-ah—the warmest, clearest destination.
No more pushing away.
Cradling her flushed cheeks gently, I quietly affirmed our new beginning.
Now it was my turn to return an answer worthy of her overflowing heart.
"Let's date, Chae-ah."