episode_0063

“The ghost has been sticking around me for so long that it affects my condition, right…?”

Soyeong asked while awkwardly sipping her tea.

“That’s right.”

I just wanted to get a little closer, but Soyeong seemed to take what I said at face value back then. Well, thanks to that, we even held hands and hugged.

“…Has anything changed today? Like the ghost speaking or something…”

What was the intention behind her question? I was slightly taken aback.

“I wonder?”

“Really? Hmm… If it truly affects my condition, there shouldn’t be any changes…”

Muttering quietly to herself. What answer was she looking for? I quickly racked my brain trying to think of what she wanted to hear.

“What’s going on? How did my condition change? Hmm… I had a nightmare, my face turned red, and… Ah, damn it. Rossby, help me out here!”

If only Rossby were here at a time like this…!

-“Just go for it, you idiot.”

Rossby’s nonexistent response echoed in my mind. Hmm… even if he were here, he probably wouldn’t be much help. I should try to continue the conversation for now.

“So, does intimacy mean physical contact is necessary…?”

I needed to find hints from her absentminded muttering! But how…

“Huh?”

She suddenly grabbed my hand, which was resting on the table.

“…Like this?”

While there had been many times when our hands touched, this was the first time she initiated holding hands, making my heart flutter slightly.

“Well, I don’t know? Usually, ghosts don’t speak first.”

“So, the ghost is here, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then ask. More detailed than before.”

How far did we get when we last met? I mentioned Ricky as Beasley Ricky. Did she look into Beasley Ricky? If she did, it would be important to elaborate more here to gain trust.

“Got it. I’ll ask once. But it’s not dawn now, and the energy here isn’t that strong, so I can’t guarantee what will happen.”

“The energy isn’t strong here? I thought about moving elsewhere because of the nightmares, but that’s fortunate. Anyway, go ahead and ask.”

“Yes. Um… I want to know more about you, Mr. Ricky.”

“What did you say?”

“Wait, wait, you haven’t answered yet.”

“So holding hands won’t work after all? I thought today might be different…”

As she muttered, she suddenly got up behind me. And then,

“Ugh…?”

“How about this?”

She suddenly embraced me from behind. Something soft was felt on my shoulder. It was her chest.

Beyond the fabric of her clothes, a warmth was transmitted. In a situation I hadn’t anticipated, my body began to react involuntarily.

“Mr. Ricky? Are you listening to me?”

Of course, it was past the time to stammer about feeling her chest against me, so I maintained composure and called for Ricky again, starting the act.

“How is it? Are we having a conversation? Or was the presence of energy more important regardless of the emotions I feel?”

Ugh, is she testing me? I need to think carefully before answering!

“Wait, let me focus for a moment.”

“Oh… Sorry. Did I talk too much?”

At least I bought some time under the pretext of focusing. So, it seems Soyeong’s emotional state is changing… Think carefully, Jimaengho! Getting caught lying here could be disastrous!

…Especially getting caught with an erection, that’s unforgivable, right?

I quickly pondered. Trying to use parts of my brain that I usually didn’t employ made my head ache, but compared to the sensation of a chest against my back, that was trivial. Not being able to feel that touch again, that couldn’t happen.

First, her emotional state changed. How did it change? Why is she asking me such a question? She said that getting closer would make communication with spirits smoother, using that as an excuse to hold hands and even hug.

Hmm… It was gentle.

“No, now is not the time to think about that! So, I said that communication improves when we get closer, right?”

Then why did she ask what hasn’t changed today? Could it be that she realized we’ve become a bit closer during the two weeks I was absent?

Hmm…, so she called me at home, blushing… Blushing? I didn’t have a fever, but did her face turn red when she saw me?

A sudden unfamiliar realization struck me. It felt like the moment in elementary school when I realized I was more comfortable walking alone, even though no one had taught me, similar to that feeling, hitting my head.

“Could it be that she likes me?”

To confirm this hypothesis, I turned around to look at Soyeong’s expression.

“Why…?”

Soyeong’s gaze as she looked at me… It resembled the way Jo-eun used to look at me before we got involved. Though hesitant to speak first, there was a subtle desire in her eyes…

“You were a major league manager, right?”

The identity of Wesley Ricky, still undisclosed. As I mentioned this, Soyeong’s expression gradually changed.

“I see…”

However, there wasn’t an atmosphere of surprise upon discovering Wesley Ricky’s identity. Did she figure it out while I was away? Soyeong’s expression seemed more like confirming her own thoughts rather than being surprised.

“Hmm…, strange, right? You never responded like this without hesitation or any hesitation during dinner time…”

“I-I did?”

Soyeong, who wasn’t flustered upon finding out Wesley Ricky’s identity, seemed taken aback by my words now. This is…

‘She thinks she’s right?’

This is the green light! I decided to press on further.

“Well, just hugging like this doesn’t give me much insight. It’s also difficult to converse.”

I released myself from Soyeong’s embrace and stood up.

“Uh, huh?”

“Is it okay if I don’t hug you? After all, it was something we always did.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Soyeong’s face flushed. The sentimental lighting in the kitchen, seemingly her taste, made her face even more beautiful.

“She’s beautiful, damn beautiful. Definitely my type.”

“Mang-ho…?”

Without a word, I tightly embraced Soyeong, even tighter than usual. I could feel my erect penis touching her body, but I didn’t want to think about that right now.

“Ugh, Mang-ho?”

It seemed like she also felt me there. Well, being this close, it’s hard not to notice. But I continued the act, ignoring it.

“Miss Ricky, which team were you the manager of? Dodgers, and Cardinals… Cardinals? Is that where you first saw a ghost?”

“Huh? …Yeah.”

“Miss Ricky, why are you sticking to this woman? Did you pick up some object?”

Just like how I started picking up trash with a bat and began to see Rosie, maybe Soyeong did the same?

“How did you know that? I didn’t mention that… Well, since I can talk to ghosts, I naturally knew. Yeah, after picking up what seemed like trash, I started seeing that ghost.”

That was the correct answer. And Soyeong murmured softly.

“As expected, the emotions I feel…”

But even if it’s a small voice, being this close makes it inevitable to hear. Her voice gives me the strength to move forward.

“Miss Ricky, why are you still sticking to this woman? Ugh, you’re not answering?”

“Really…? But I shouldn’t…”

I let go of the hug, put on the jacket I had brought, and took it off.

“Now…?”

“If we get a little closer, will you answer? Soyeong, would you like to take that off too?”

“Huh? Do we really have to do that?”

“Are you just wearing a hoodie inside? It’s not enough for this weather, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“But it’s necessary.”

“…Okay.”

Reluctantly, she began to take off her hoodie. As she removed it, the clothes underneath clung slightly to the hoodie, revealing her fair midriff. Soft yet seemingly toned, perhaps from consistent exercise—such a midriff.

And as the hoodie came off, her black bra peeked through beneath the white cotton tee, catching my eye.

“Lace…! I can’t resist, damn it!”

Unable to contain my impulse, I embraced her tightly once more.

“Ugh, Maeng-ho…”

“Ricky, why are you sticking so close to Soyoung?”

“Wait, too tight…!”

“Do you have a dream you want Soyoung to fulfill?”

Before Soyoung could respond, I quickly changed the subject and continued the act.

“What? What’s going on?”

Perhaps it had an effect, as Soyoung’s voice tone rose.

“I still don’t know. Maybe it’s the timing? It’s hard to figure out more…”

“Yeah, maybe? But it seems like there’s an effect when we take off our outerwear and hug…”

“It seems so…”

Even after all the questions, Soyoung didn’t make a move to leave my embrace. A nervous silence filled the room, with the sound of either my heartbeat or hers echoing in the stillness.

After holding her for about 5 minutes, I gathered more courage.

“Ricky, can I kiss Soyoung?”

“…Idiot, you should ask her directly.”

Looking up at me as she held onto me, she replied.

“Soyoung, can I kiss you then?”

Her eyes fluttered shut.

“…Yes.”

Upon hearing her answer, I leaned in and kissed her lips that were closed in anticipation. As our lips met, her heartbeat seemed to quicken. …It might have been my own heartbeat.

“Mmm.”

Passing beyond her soft lips, as I tried to slip my tongue into her mouth, her tightly closed teeth obstructed its path. Could it be her first kiss?

Licking her lips gently, as I slowly opened her barrier, her soft tongue eagerly awaited mine. With practiced skill, I wrapped her tongue with mine.

“Ah.”

Her excited moan tickled my ear. Opening my eyes to look, her fair skin was already tinged with a deepening red.

So we kissed for a few minutes. Though it felt long, it was a brief moment, and our lips eventually parted. Saliva stretched between our mouths, creating a sensual atmosphere. Looking into Soyoung’s eyes, it seemed like the pleasure of the first kiss had completely captivated her.

“I think if I want to ask Soyoung more, we need to get closer.”

“…Yeah.”

I shared three rules of the ghost with Soyoung.

First, the ghost is influenced by Soyoung’s state.

Second, the more skin-to-skin contact, the more effective.

Third, it is affected by time and space. For example, late nights and places full of Yin energy.

But since the third rule is currently beyond our control,

“To find out more, we probably need to…”

I subtly hinted at my intentions. And she, being clever, caught onto my discreet metaphor.

“…Got it. It’s for exorcism.”

Permission granted. However, I didn’t want to engage in a false relationship after all; now, I wanted to express my true feelings.

If Rossby were watching, he would surely say something like ‘adding insult to injury,’ but right now, that’s what I wanted.

“In truth, whether it’s for exorcism or anything else, I want to hold Soyoung.”

Grasping her delicate shoulders, I laid bare my sincerity.

“…Huh?”

Her bewildered expression. Did I say something wrong? But as we kissed, I felt our hearts were in sync. The sound of our heartbeats was too loud for just one person to create.

“I love you.”

A cliché phrase that has been said countless times. Yet, that’s why it’s the perfect phrase to express my current emotions.

“…Me too.”

Having confirmed each other’s feelings, we locked lips once again.