episode_0021

Humans are creatures that are much more influenced by atmosphere than one might think. Even in unremarkable situations, if a specific atmosphere is caught or a mood begins to form, feelings that weren’t there before can arise. Especially concerning romance, it was easy to think of atmosphere as a kind of cheat key. To the point where there’s a saying that getting the atmosphere right means you’re halfway there.

“Oppa… should we… that, do it?” And now, that atmosphere began to find me as well. Ai, whose face was flushed bright red like a beet. Perhaps befitting the somewhat revealing clothes, Ai’s cleavage and pristine white stomach captured my gaze. Furthermore, the two people in the movie visible before my eyes were also sharing physical contact. Looking beside us, the couples in other couple seats seemed to have caught the atmosphere, holding hands or sharing physical contact like kissing.

‘He, here…?’ Along with them, perhaps I also began to be influenced by the atmosphere, as my throat felt dry. My body constantly feeling thirsty and the heat I felt on my face sometime ago. And.

-Tuk. A pristine white touch gently resting on my right hand, which was supporting me on the floor.

“Oppa….” I couldn’t push away Ai’s face that was gradually approaching. Instead, my gaze was only focused on her cherry-like lips. They say you get drunk on the atmosphere. Ai’s appearance felt even more attractive than usual. Well, anyway… it’s just a kiss…. Perhaps it was due to the physical contact we had already shared to some extent. I, too, let myself be swept away by the atmosphere.

-Tuk. It was warm. No, it was hot. It was hotter and sweeter than any time I had felt before. And I enjoyed the peach scent that was now familiar. It felt like a desire I didn’t know was flowing from within. More, more… I want to enjoy this sweetness longer.

-Kkwaak. Clutching Ai’s delicate jade-like hand tightly, I slowly opened my eyes. Meanwhile, Ai also seemed to have the same thought as me and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze soon drew a curve as if captivating me and closed her eyes again. A signal as if entrusting everything to me.

‘Just a little… shall I try more?’ Without needing to worry about anyone’s eyes. I just decided to enjoy this moment as Ai’s boyfriend. Without even stopping the heavy breathing from lack of air. More. More. Only our tongues rolled around as if impatient to explore each other more. How much time had passed? When my breath was full up to my throat, I came to my senses and put some distance between us.

“Oppa….” Ai’s moist voice. Showing her glossy lips as if to show off, she narrowed her gaze towards me again.

“Should, should we go outside?” The movie was still playing, but I couldn’t help but nod at Ai’s words. Right now, at this moment, I might have been captivated by the atmosphere and by Ai. Holding hands tightly, we left the movie theater. Neither of us said anything. Perhaps we just wanted to carry the lingering feeling from moments ago and this atmosphere with us, even just for a little while. We arrived at an emergency stairwell where people didn’t frequent. The light from the lamp wasn’t very bright, but it was enough for us to see each other. And without needing to say anything to each other, we continued, recalling what had just happened. The peach scent wafted over once more.

-Tuk. -Tak! ‘Huh?’ The moment I tried to wrap my arms around Ai’s waist, my hand was pushed away. Why suddenly? Just as I was about to say something, filled with questions.

-Teop. Ai’s hand grabbed my wrist and began guiding me somewhere. The end of that guidance was nothing short of surprising. My first sensation was incredibly plush. Should I say it felt like touching raindrop cake? It was a texture I couldn’t describe. For a moment, I lost my mind and simply enjoyed that plush texture.

“Heung…?!” Only after hearing the moan that pierced my ears could I regain my senses. ‘Why is my hand on her chest….’ I couldn’t take my eyes off Ai’s moderately full chest. I touched this myself…? Even for a moment, the texture that was deeply imprinted in my brain made me have to regain my senses. But instead of answering, Ai only rolled her tongue and put strength into her wrist. As if asking me to touch her more. No, even more boldly, she guided my hand under her crop top to touch her bare skin. Now, even the softness unique to the female body welcomed me.

‘You want me to touch more?’ Ai’s eyes said it. Touch more. As Ai’s actions gradually wore down the thread of my reason, my instinct finally began to emerge. The atmosphere and Ai’s captivating female body. And even Ai’s actions that were gradually wearing down my reason. Now, without even time to think of anything else, I just enjoyed the texture I felt in my hand. The peach scent lingering in my mouth and the overwhelming softness felt at my fingertips.

How much time had passed? When only the peach scent remained in my mouth, I could slowly pull away.

‘What did I do….’ It felt like so much data had been hammered into my brain that the memory of the moment was flying away. But Ai, before my eyes, simply whispered quietly, with hearts floating in her eyes.

“I love you, Oppa.” Ai’s words that she loved me. Like an imprinted instinct, I hugged her tightly and whispered, as if responding to her words.

“I love you too, Ai.”

***

The date after enjoying that moment was very uneventful. Since I couldn’t remember the movie’s content, we walked down the street talking about what happened in the morning, or. Being hungry, we just ate at a restaurant? I tried to pay for the meal, but I remember not being able to as Ai stopped me. What did she say?

“I already paid, Oppa?” Something about her having done it while I was in the restroom. It felt like the masculine image within me was dying somehow. Is this what gender reversal is like? After that, well, we simply walked around again, and then…….

“Oppa, should we stay here for a bit before leaving?” “Huh? Where is ‘here’ exactly… No.” “Why~? Your cute girlfriend wants to go, can you really refuse so coldly?” “A, absolutely not…….”

-Kkwaak. I had to strongly oppose going where Ai wanted to go. Because.

[MOTEL]

If I followed her there, it was obvious I’d be done for without mercy, who would follow? “Why, Oppa, you even touched my chest, what reason is there not to go here!” “Still, there’s a procedure for everything… Ah, Ai don’t pull! Uh oh!!?” Aside from the incident where I was really almost dragged into a motel, the date ended safely. I was able to return home, escorted by Ai who insisted on taking me home.

“Today was really fun.” “Me too, Ai….” “Isn’t there another word besides ‘Ai’?” *Chuckle*. I unknowingly laughed at Ai’s words. She’s usually so cute. I decided to call her by the name she wanted.

“It was fun today, Jagiya.” “Yes, that’s it! It was fun for me too, Oppa.” Ai’s face was filled with satisfaction. Before going home, Ai began to say one last thing.

“The clothes I bought you today… you definitely have to wear them next time you come out. Okay?” “Okay… I’ll wear exactly what Ai bought me… Then.” “Yes, see you on our next date.” “Next… date?” Next date? Wait, this isn’t the end? Ai noticed my reaction and whispered with a gentle smile.

“We have to make good use of the next week, so of course we have to go again.” “Ah….” Actually, maybe it wasn’t a week of romance, but a week of dates.

“Well then, I’m really going now. Dream of me, Oppa!” Watching Ai leave, I reflected on today’s date.

‘This is also… quite happy.’ Romance with a client is forbidden, but I felt incredibly happy today. I understood the cases of counselors who occasionally married their clients. Someday, will I… become like those people too? If the end for counselors is generally either dying at the hands of their client or getting married, held hostage by their client. I think a marriage ending is better than death. If the object of that is Ai……. Assuming days like today repeat every day, wouldn’t that be one of the happy futures?

‘Let’s go home first.’ I still have things to do, don’t I, instead of being lost in the lingering feeling of the date. Thinking of Fraype waiting at home, I went up to my officetel.

-Click. Click. Click. Click! Ding-dong-ding! -Fingerprint recognition complete. It was the moment I entered the house, bypassing the same door lock and fingerprint recognition as always.

“Why is it so dark.” The house was probably dark because the blackout curtains were drawn and the lights were off, making it almost impossible to see ahead. ‘Did Fraype go out for a bit?’ I couldn’t even sense a presence in the dark house. The moment I entered the house to turn on the light, as the house was so dark.

-Tuk. “Huh?” -Kung. Something pushed my back and made me fall over. What is it? Is someone in the house… but? And the weight felt on my stomach. My body began to freeze at the deep-sea-like eyes dimly reflecting in the darkness. Fray… pe? Why? I couldn’t say anything at the action that surpassed understanding. And even the action that followed went beyond all my predictions.

“Haha… Tsk, I should have just done this from the start.” “Fraype…?” Fraype’s eyes were not normal. No, there was no reason left in them.

“Counselor-ssi… you met a girl, didn’t you? I, I, I know it all. Holding hands and walking around… I saw it all!” Words that seemed filled with resentment and Fraype’s grip that gradually pressed down on my shoulder. Cold sweat gradually began to break out all over my body.