Paradise Lost (3)

Our brains have something called neuroplasticity.

The nervous system of the brain isn’t always fixed, but is constantly reorganized in response to surrounding stimuli or environment.

So I’ve heard that human nerves flexibly modify their roles according to the situation.

For example, when we lie face down and close our eyes, our body feels that vision is blocked.

The alternative to replace the lost sense is to elevate senses that can compensate.

Senses like smell, hearing, or touch.

That’s exactly how I was right now.

I was lying face down on the bed – essentially with my vision blocked.

My sense of smell and touch were now sharper than at any other moment.

A subtle fragrance arose from the herbs spread on the massage bed.

‘I’m not sure what scent it is, but it’s really nice.’

The scent isn’t too stimulating – it calms the mind.

It’s comfortable. So much so that I felt I made the right choice following Elderin here.

Whatever it was, it was much better than sobbing alone in an empty room.

Is this what they call aroma? Or herbs?

I’m not sure. I would need to have had some connection to know.

I feel like Elderin would know if I asked, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

Moreover, at first, the massage stimulation wasn’t that intense either.

Even though I was lying on the bed, it started gently from the palms.

While I felt quite good, there was no particular reason for my body to react.

Rather, I was getting drowsy to the point of almost falling asleep.

I thought I’d have to talk about various things with Yu-serin while lying down.

But it felt like speaking would break this comfort.

Perhaps we both felt the same way, as the room was quiet, and with my eyes closed, it felt like I was alone.

‘Should I just fall asleep like this? But that seems a bit of a waste.’

In a place like this, you should pursue your satisfaction to the fullest.

So I know it’s stupid to hold back because ‘it’s a waste’.

Still, maybe because I’ve lived without money for too long.

I didn’t feel like just sleeping in this expensive place.

It didn’t take long to realize I was worrying unnecessarily.

A warm towel was placed over my left leg.

And on the opposite side. On my right leg…

“Hnngh.”

It’s probably oil.

It might have a fancy name, but it’s still some kind of oil anyway.

Oil with a subtle and pleasant scent was applied to my body.

My heightened sense of touch shivered.

It started from the tip of my big toe.

Hands that wove between my toes like interlocking fingers caressed my sole and instep.

There was no hesitation in the flow that climbed from my ankle up my calf.

Why is a woman’s body so sensitive in all sorts of places?

Among them, I was especially developed in sensitivity.

When oil was applied to the intimate area of my thigh below my buttocks, I had to grip the mat tightly to endure.

The problem was that applying oil was just the preparation stage for the massage.

Mountain after mountain. As my skin was smoothly coated, it was ready to receive someone else’s touch.

“Ugh. Huu…”

There was a subtle sweet scent in my breath.

I clearly remember feeling quite cool until I lay on the bed, but now it felt like there was a subtle heat.

Ah, it’s coming to my back.

That’s… really troublesome.

From below the shoulder blade to the bottom of the shoulder.

The places that even my own hands couldn’t reach well were especially problematic.

Just the touch of fingers gave me goosebumps.

As my eyes kept losing focus, I chose to squeeze them shut tightly.

Even that relaxed and reopened repeatedly.

My mouth opened foolishly, and at some point, transparent saliva dripped from the corner of my lips.

Only when my cheek became wet did I realize this fact.

“Heu, ugh- hagheuut…”

Indeed, this kind of sensation isn’t in the realm of what can be endured.

The muscles in my body moved on their own, twitching.

My lower back escaped my control, contracting and then barely relaxing back.

Maybe my appearance looked like I was in pain?

The masseuse with a kind expression held out a paper card.

– Are you in a lot of pain?

– If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll be gentler.

No. That doesn’t seem to be the problem.

The consideration was appreciated, but it left a huge scar on my dignity.

Now with my face completely red, I answered “I’m fine” and buried my face again.

A hellish paradise.

The time of the massage didn’t end easily.

* * *

When I was first guided, it said 120 minutes.

Time passed that felt like an eternity and a moment at the same time.

The masseuse who finished the job went out saying they would bring tea.

I hear the sound of Serin, who was lying next to me, slowly rising.

If I maintain this posture, my back will be fully visible to her eyes.

Somehow that felt a bit embarrassing, so I decided to get up too.

“How was it? Good, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

A voice with a hint of sleepiness.

As I sat up, wrapping a large towel around me instead of clothes.

I noticed marks that looked like the contours of my body remained.

It’s probably oil stains.

There were some places where the marks remained particularly dark, here is…

No, it was nothing.

I fidgeted and moved to cover the marks with my body.

Fortunately, Elderin wasn’t looking my way as she was searching for a towel.

“This is a place I visit often. There’s nothing better for relieving stress.”

“That’s true. It felt much better than I thought.”

My head definitely feels clearer.

Maybe because the tense muscles relaxed, I even felt like my body became lighter.

I haven’t done any intense activities since my leg was damaged.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the rehabilitation exercises I did every weekend were all.

Even that, I thought the burden on my body wouldn’t be great as I moved in water.

Moreover, my body just felt soft no matter where it was touched.

Muscles being tense, or fatigue building up.

I hadn’t even properly thought about such things.

If I had known it would be like this, I would have tried it earlier.

Maybe I should have paid more attention to myself.

If I have some leeway, I might come here occasionally.

“How good must it have felt for your voice to…”

“Eek! Stop. You don’t need to say anymore.”

“Pfft. Alright, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”

All the thoughts I just had are canceled.

I have no intention of ever getting a massage again.

Maybe there’s a reason why the image of massage is strange in Korea.

It’s definitely not that I’m strange. I should be disappointed in Elderin for bringing me to such a place- No, that’s not right either.

It wasn’t easy to deceive myself.

It’s just because it’s my first time.

Originally, stimulation becomes duller the more you receive it.

It’s natural to have an oversensitive reaction when experiencing this for the first time.

“From now on, you just need to think carefully.”

“Pardon?”

“First of all, when you feel good, bad feelings tend to disappear. Isn’t it better to start brightly when planning for the future?”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

There were many embarrassing things, but anyway, the gloom that filled my head had disappeared.

Now, it seemed like I could envision the future in a much more positive direction.

But isn’t this approach too extreme?

It’s like saying that because I might have gloomy thoughts, you forcibly reset my brain first.

The problem is that this worked much better than expected.

My heart, which felt empty as if there was a hole in my chest, got a bit better.

If I try to recall, it’s still complicated, but… it didn’t feel like I was abandoned in the world.

“Do you think it’s better for me to start streaming, sister?”

“Hmm? Well. When you ask like that, it’s not quite that I really want you to do it~”

“Oh. It wasn’t?”

Elderin was the person who most strongly led me towards streaming.

Attracted by her brilliantly shining appearance, I threw myself in recklessly.

Thinking about it, I seem to have shown many embarrassing sides back then too.

I wonder if Elderin might be the generator of my dark history.

“I just wanted to let you know that this path exists. I didn’t know you’d go that far from the start.”

“……”

“Still, I think you’ll do well if you start streaming. You’ll definitely make it big. Da-eun, you’re not only pretty, but you have a unique charm.”

“Even if you praise me like that. Ahem. I’m not such an easy person, you know.”

“That’s exactly why I think you’ll do well.”

While Elderin giggled, the masseuse returned.

On the tray was tea emitting a strong fragrance.

Ginger tea that seemed a bit spicy, with a bittersweet taste.

It wasn’t a taste I particularly disliked, so I slowly wet my tongue.

“Um, I still want to play the game.”

“Yeah, I see. I’d like you to continue too.”

“I don’t want to miss anything. I want to be a pro, and sometimes I want to turn on the stream and receive love too.”

Without thinking about ‘how’.

Purely, that’s what I wanted.

Using a normal connection pod is still impossible.

It’s like moving with a huge piece of iron chained to my foot.

It’s not a problem that can be solved simply by getting used to it or increasing proficiency.

Still, I should fight.

Since when have I only fought easy opponents?