episode_0119

I was sure I only had one ring… Why is there another identical ring?

No matter how I touched it, I couldn’t find an answer. I guess I didn’t know, I thought, then opened the door and left the room.

I simply washed my face in the bathroom and checked how messy my hair was. But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t remember how I fell asleep last night.

To say I just slept because I was tired is too… Ugh, I don’t know. I should at least leave a message.

I went back to my room and first left a message for Jiyeon.

“Sorry for falling asleep first. Please tell Auntie too.”

“……Awwwooooh…”

I tossed my phone carelessly onto the bed, then stretched vigorously. As I shuffled towards the kitchen, the beer cans and snacks scattered haphazardly on the table caught my eye.

Mom, seriously… Isn’t it her first drink in a while? As a good son, I should clean up… Hmm…?

As I was quickly putting the empty cans into a bag, I suddenly felt a sticky liquid on the sole of my foot. It seems I’ll have to wipe the floor and the sofa thoroughly.

How exactly did these aunties party last night?

Anyway, has Mom woken up yet…? Let’s see… *Gasp*…!?

The moment I opened the master bedroom door and peeked my head in, I covered my nose and closed the door. The unidentified fishy smell was making my head spin.

“When Mom wakes up, it’d be good to ventilate first…”

Still, it’s strange. What’s with this sudden smell…? This room usually only had a subtle diffuser scent.

—No. Wait a minute.

Maybe it’s not like that at all———.

“Hey~ Doyunaa!! I’m hungry. Make me some ramen.”

“Huh…? Ugh, Nuna, what ramen? Go eat some chicken breast instead.”

“No!! Make me spicy ones, pleeaase~~~~~.”

Suddenly, Doha Nuna opened her door and our eyes met. She blinked at me with unfocused eyes, then grinned vacantly.

…Something’s off with her. Why is she running at me—?

“Huh, huh huh… Argh, seriously! Why are you suddenly clinging to me! Nuna, are you drunk? It’s morning now!”

“My mouth feels so gross. *Ugh*… Hehehe… I’m going to wash up, so prepare really, really spicy ramen. Got it~?”

“Alright. Alright, just calm down. Nuna, you reek of alcohol, it’s no joke.”

Nuna swiftly tossed off her pajamas and headed to the bathroom. As I was taking ramen out of the pantry, I inadvertently looked at her body.

On Nuna’s back, which seemed to shimmer, there were red marks etched in. No, they weren’t just marks; they looked like injuries.

D-Did I see wrong because of the lighting…? But the injury-like marks extending from her back to her buttocks and thighs bothered me too much.

…………

A little time passed, and Doha Nuna came out, her hair wrapped in a towel. Sitting at the dining table, wearing only a loose robe, her expression subtly changed.

She slightly twisted her posture as if uncomfortable, blowing on her ramen.

“Doyuna, thanks~. By the way, are there ice packs in the freezer? Could you get two out?”

“I’ll get them. Just a moment…”

Nuna took the packs, placed one on her abdomen, and sat completely on the other.

“Ugh… It’s cold. *Phew*… *Phew*. *Slurp slurp*—. Want a bite?”

“Huh? Oh, no. You eat plenty.”

She looked at me for a moment with a puzzled expression. Then she lifted the ice pack she had on her stomach.

“This? You’ve seen me use it sometimes, haven’t you? Even I, who am invincible, get hit sometimes. But I’ll definitely get my revenge next time.”

Watching her suddenly growl at thin air and strike an exaggerated pose, I simply returned to my room. She’s completely like the Nuna of old.

I picked up my phone and checked if Jiyeon had replied, but it seemed she hadn’t even checked the message yet. Well… given how much beer is scattered around, it would be strange if she were already awake.

Since it’s a rare occasion, should I go see a movie by myself today? I have to write a report on filming techniques anyway… Ah… Will Jiyeon get angry later about why I didn’t take her?

…Then I’ll just see another movie with her later.

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The cinema lobby at 11 AM.

It was the weekend, but perhaps because there weren’t any eye-catching films, it was quite quiet. It seemed to be just people who came alone wearing masks, young children with their parents, and a few middle-aged couples.

Thanks to the quietness inside the screening room, I could fully concentrate on the movie. While watching the film and lost in various thoughts, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I wondered if it was Jiyeon, but I didn’t immediately take out my phone to check. In the meantime, I became engrossed in the scenario once again, and finally, the end credits rolled.

“It’s okay~ Can you call me if you’re able to?”

As expected, her reply had arrived. I immediately called her.

*Ring ring ring*… *Ring ring ring*… *Click*.

“Oh, Jiyeona. I’m at the movies right now… No, I came alone.”

-Alone? Oh… Then let’s go together later! By the way, yesterday… it was a bit noisy, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. I left without even properly cleaning up the house…

“No… it wasn’t particularly noisy. And I just fell asleep anyway.”

-You must have been tired. Wasn’t it noisy while you were sleeping? Like, was it disturbing…?

“Hmm… I have no idea. I slept so soundly that I didn’t hear a thing.”

-I see. Auntie drank quite a lot yesterday. She might have been a bit… dishevelled, but is she sleeping well?

“Probably…? I couldn’t properly check. But when I saw her this morning, Nuna was also drunk. Did she drink with them after coming back from her workout?”

-Doha Unnie? …Unnie didn’t drink with us. Why?

“Really? Then she must’ve had a drink with people from the gym. She was asking for ramen first thing in the morning, so I made it for her before coming out.”

-*Pffft*, Unnie really hasn’t changed. Oh, Doyuna. I think I left something at your house yesterday… Is there anything you haven’t seen before?

“Something I haven’t seen…? Hmm… Was there anything like that…? Did you perhaps leave it somewhere? You don’t remember what it was?”

-It’s a ring. A pretty, silvery ring. It has no decoration.

“Are you talking about our couple ring…? —Ah.”

-But I can’t remember where I put it. Did you find anything…?

A ring…?

A ring, you mean… just now… No… but that must have been my mistake…

It’s just my imagination. I must have had two of them from the start.

But even as I thought that, just in case—

“There was something I… hadn’t seen. A ring… it is, but…”

-Really? ………Then can you bring it when we meet next time?

“Th-that? But that’s…”

I’m not sure if it’s really that ring. It is a plain silver ring, just like you said… But I hope it’s not that one.

Because that’s… that’s the ring you gave me to train me as your slave.

A ‘Beta male’ who acknowledges you as his mistress…

-What’s wrong? *Ahahaha*, you can just give me the ring later. *Yawwn*~. But I’m still tired, probably because I didn’t get much sleep. I think I need to go back to sleep.

“O-okay. See you later, Jiyeona.”

-See you Monday~ *Kiss*♡

When the call ended, I was standing alone on the roadside. I stood still for a moment, thinking about the path I had taken.

The time I had walked after leaving the cinema. The time I had leisurely sat in my seat watching the movie. The moment I had casually put on clothes and entered the multiplex building.

My path was gradually leading back to the past, but my memories were clear.

But why am I recalling these past events so deeply? What am I trying to find?

Even as I searched for a reason, my consciousness melted into the flow of time.

…………

“I’m going to watch a movie.”

“Alone? …Okay, go ahead~!”

Nuna’s robe, as she waved her hand, slid down, revealing her untanned skin beneath. The dark blue marks, contrasting with her fair skin, kept catching my eye.

Is she really okay with it? I hope it heals quickly…

…………

“Oh, right. Keep eating. I’m going to ventilate the master bedroom.”

At my words, Nuna, who was eating ramen while applying an ice pack, looked at me. I looked back at her as if asking if she had anything to say.

“………Why?”

“Why do you ask? There’s a strange smell, so I was just going to open the window.”

“Ah, ah… I thought it was something else. Sometimes my unwashed panties somehow end up in the master bedroom. It’s really chilling to think about Mom’s face.”

“Why are you talking about that while eating ramen…? Anyway, just eat and clean up.”

“Wait, Doyuna. Ah~ Let’s talk a bit, Nuna~. I started binge-watching that drama yesterday~.”

“That? You mean that justice drama, right? It’s satisfying. It helps with digestion.”

“It is, but the historical accuracy is lacking. Hey, do you think someone who learned deadly martial arts would get beaten by mere high school bullies?”

“Hmm…? No, the protagonist was just setting up his concept, so… *Gasp*. That was a spoiler, wasn’t it?”

“What the heck! Get over here! I won’t let you get away with this—!!”

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“…………*Snore*. *Snoooore*… *Mmm*…”

My… throat is dry. Should I drink water… and go back to sleep?

………What time is it now…? Why are my eyes closing like this………

My eyes won’t open properly. Was I really this tired…? Anyway, I’ll just drink some water and then…

“Ugh… Mmm.”

The living room clock… dawn… 2 AM…?

Is that… the master bedroom? The light is still faintly on… Oh… oh… Ah, right… Jiyeon was here. With Hyeyeon Auntie…

Oh, shoot… Jiyeon definitely said something about playing a game together earlier… I think so, anyway… I don’t know. I just want to drink some water first…

“…Yun… Doyuna. Can you hear me?”

Oh… The master bedroom door is open… It’s Jiyeon.

Why is she only peeking her head out?

“Jiyeona… You haven’t left yet…?”

“Uh, yeah. Well, there’s still… a lot to talk about. *Mmm… mmmph—♡*!? *Ahahaha*… But how did you wake up?”

“Ah… I don’t know. Just thirsty…”

“Oh my… I see. Just… *hnnngh*—. C-can you wait a moment? I’ll g-get you some water.”

“Uh… yeah. But… you look a bit hot… Where did I put the air conditioner remote?”

“Oh— no, it’s fine. Really. Our chat just ended up getting long… *Guhhh—♥* I-I’ll get you the water… Wait for me.”

Oh… She closed the door… Ah… My throat feels like it’s burning. Why is it so far… the water dispenser…

My eyes are closing again… Should I just sleep like this…? No, I should at least quench my thirst first…

“Doyuna, here. Drink this.”

“Uh… uh… thanks. *Gulp* *gulp*. But… what are you doing inside? Can I join…?”

“Curious…♡? It’s just girl talk. Go inside and sleep first. I’m planning to leave after chatting a little more. Oh, they’re calling me from inside. Just a moment~♡”

I only drank water, but sleepiness is washing over me again… I can barely even speak… Yeah… I should just go in and sleep.

It’s dawn now… Don’t leave too late… No… you can just sleep over.

…*Yaaaawn*. …But.

…………smack ……smack smack ……smack smack smack smack smack smack smack wet squelch———.

Wet smack♡ wet smack♡ wet smack wet suck deep suck— wet smack♥ wet slap♥ wet gush♥

…not yet… please♡ ………Owner-nim♥ …♥ …♥ —!!!! —♥♥♥!!!

…But, what about Jiyeon’s clothes earlier…? I think I’d never seen them before…

Or maybe not… it was too dark…

For it to be like that, it was too———.

……………

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Doyuna. Are you sleeping…♡? It’s already 5 AM. My boyfriend’s sleeping face… how can it be so lovely?

You know… I have something to confess to you. Please listen without being too disappointed.

*Ahem*… You know… I finally got permission.

Owner-nim said I can marry you………♥

How is it? Aren’t you happy? I barely got permission… Finally, I can marry the person I truly love.

Mom, Auntie, and Unnie will all bless us. Ah… I’m so happy♡

I hope you realize my true feelings as soon as possible…♥

Today is the first step, so… I’ll leave one more hint. This… is something you used to wear often. Now that it’s cuter, it’ll be easier to wear. Where should I hide it…?

The day you collect all the hints… I’ll give you a big present. You can look forward to it…♡

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