Ch.109Chapter 109. End of Term Ceremony (2)

“I’ll miss you, Cuss…!”

“Waaah!”

The classroom had turned into a sea of tears.

Jane hugged her tablet and smiled sympathetically.

At first, Cuss had been such a peculiar and large child that she wasn’t sure if she would blend in, but somehow she had become the center of the class.

It would be a painful farewell for the children, but even that would become a stepping stone for their growth.

With that thought in mind, Jane was looking at the children, but now…

‘What was that just now? That bulge in his pants…’

She was confused, recalling what she had seen earlier in the parking lot.

It should have been a heartwarming scene of Cuss running back to hug her father goodbye…

That’s what it should have been.

Except for the fact that when Cuss had clung to him and then let go, her father’s pants had been noticeably bulging.

‘It must have been a coincidence, right? That must be it.’

Men can’t control those things consciously.

Sometimes it doesn’t rise when it should, and sometimes it rises when it shouldn’t.

That must be what happened.

Jane tried to rationalize it, but something still felt off no matter how she thought about it.

‘Are those two really okay…?’

He had said she was his adopted daughter.

At first, she thought they were just a father and daughter who bickered a bit.

He seemed to have a pretty girlfriend too.

But lately, something seemed off about their dynamic.

Strictly speaking, there was no problem with the father.

If there was a problem, it would be with Cuss.

At a glance, she might look like a daughter seeking affection from her father.

But as someone who prided herself on observing different types of children, Jane felt that Cuss’s demands seemed different.

It was as if she was demanding something more than a father’s affection…

Was this what they called an Electra complex?

‘Forget it. This is just speculation.’

Jane quickly shook her head.

It wasn’t an issue for the school to interfere with.

It was a matter to be resolved at home.

Besides, there was a good chance it was all a misunderstanding.

But what if? What if what she was imagining was true? What would happen to those two?

Would he ignore her demands, or would he accept them and lead their family to ruin?

“Ugh…”

So this is why Korean dramas are so popular.

Jane knew she shouldn’t be spinning such fantasies about a student’s family affairs, but she couldn’t help finding it intriguing.

“Alright, everyone, take your seats. The closing ceremony won’t take long.”

“Yes!”

When she came to her senses, it was already time.

Jane quickly had the children sit down and proceeded with the closing ceremony.

There wasn’t anything particularly important.

Just assigning vacation homework and reciting safety precautions.

All standard procedures.

“As you all know, Cuss will be skipping a grade to 7th grade from next semester. Though you’ll only be separated by one building, you won’t be studying together in this classroom anymore. Let’s all give Cuss a round of applause to encourage her as she adapts to her new class.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Amidst the applause, Cuss shrank back shyly.

“Cuss, remember that your friends are always cheering for you when things get tough. Congratulations on your grade acceleration.”

“…”

Even as adults, change is frightening and something humans instinctively avoid.

Overcoming that requires personal effort, but a little help wouldn’t hurt.

Jane clapped her hands together, deciding to watch over Cuss’s new beginning.

“Now, back to the safety precautions…”

After the celebration, the formal closing ceremony continued.

In the now-calm classroom, Tom kept glancing back.

‘What happened with my brother?’

He was going crazy with curiosity.

It was practically a given that his brother liked Cuss.

With his brother’s personality, he would have boldly expressed his feelings to Cuss.

Tom was itching to know how Cuss had responded.

It was awkward to ask his brother, and even more awkward to ask Cuss.

‘But why am I even concerned about this?’

It has nothing to do with me.

Cuss isn’t even in my class anymore.

So whether my brother dates Cuss or not shouldn’t matter to me at all.

That should be the case, but…

‘Damn. This is driving me crazy.’

For some reason, it bothered him.

He had thought only immature girls were interested in others’ love lives.

He never imagined he would be this restless about it.

“Tom. Are you okay? Your cheeks are red.”

“Shut up, Tom.”

“…”

Tom snapped at the other Tom’s comment and rested his chin on his hand.

He was irritated.

Irritated at himself for acting so unlike his usual self.

“Alice.”

“Hmm?”

Meanwhile, Alice flinched at Cuss’s sweet whisper.

A shiver ran down her spine as the breath tickled her ear.

“Let’s meet a lot during the break.”

“Y-yeah. Let’s do that.”

“I’ll call you before bed. There’s a video call feature… I think that would be nice.”

“Yeah… Y-yeah… That’s right…”

It was an utterly ordinary statement.

There was nothing strange about it at all.

Just lying down before bed and having a video call with a same-sex friend, what’s wrong with that?

But then, remembering the look in Cuss’s eyes when she had pushed her against the wall…

‘Ah. What am I going to do, really?’

Alice couldn’t help but feel strange.

***

“Yaaawn…”

I couldn’t help but yawn.

With warm sunlight coming through the car window, it was the perfect time for a nap.

Didn’t people in some lazy country have a designated time for napping?

Suddenly, I wanted to immigrate there.

Just as I was about to close my eyes and drift off to sleep…

Bang bang bang!

“Jinsoo! Jinsooo! Open the door!”

“…”

An unwelcome visitor had arrived.

I unlocked the passenger seat and gestured for her to get in.

Soon the door opened with a thud.

“Nngh… Car!”

“Hey. Hey. Hey.”

This girl was making a fuss trying to push her backpack into the back seat, and I had to endure the torture of having my face buried in it.

Just when I was trying to get some sleep, she’s being completely uncooperative.

I roughly pushed the backpack to the back and lay down again, using my hand as a pillow.

“Jinsoo.”

“Don’t talk to me. Let me sleep a bit.”

“…”

What’s with her?

She immediately shut her mouth at my words.

It’s actually a bit unsettling how quiet she’s being…

But I decided to be grateful and try to sleep.

Even if she acted up in the car, the worst she could do was break the rearview mirror.

“I’m going to sleep too. I’m sleepy.”

“Go ahead. Let’s take a nap before we leave.”

“Okay.”

That worked out well.

Just as I was about to fall asleep with peace of mind…

“Mmm. Mm. Nngh…”

“What are you doing?”

Cuss was grunting and pressing her body against the driver’s seat.

Then she took off her shoes, climbed onto my lap, and rested her chin on my shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to sleep like this.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“It is uncomfortable.”

“Then get down and sleep in the passenger seat.”

“Even though it’s uncomfortable, it’s more comfortable being like this.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know either.”

“…”

After fidgeting for a while, Cuss seemed to find a comfortable position and hugged my waist tightly with a giggle.

She kept poking me, trying to make space for her arms, and I eventually had to lift my waist slightly off the backrest.

Damn. This is so uncomfortable.

How am I supposed to sleep like this?

“Mmm… Snore…”

After creating a position perfect for giving me a herniated disc, she was already fast asleep, making soft breathing sounds.

I wanted to push her off immediately, but I decided to let it slide because she’s cute. Damn girl.

I wonder if she knows how lucky she is to be in that body.

With such a cute and pretty body, she’s living life on easy mode by clinging to a sucker like me. The thought made me a bit emotional.

Cheeky girl.

“Mmmmm…”

“My, how carefree.”

When I was your age, you know.

As soon as school ended, I’d run straight to the apple orchard to help my father.

And when the sun set, I’d go home and help my mother with dinner.

Do you know how happy you are right now?

You’d only realize it if you hit rock bottom.

“Tsk…”

But I didn’t want her to experience a childhood like mine.

A person’s life doesn’t need to be that harsh.

I just hoped she wouldn’t be like a flower in a greenhouse.

As long as she wasn’t so immature that people would criticize her.

“Haah…”

I sighed as I patted Cuss’s back.

It was uncomfortable but somehow comfortable.

A compromise of discomfort, you could say.

I think I understood what Cuss meant earlier.

“Hmm.”

As I stroked her back, the bra strap was getting in the way.

I quickly slipped my hand under her clothes and undid the strap.

Only then could I comfortably stroke her smooth back.

I often teased Cuss about her small chest, asking if it was her back or her chest, but touching her like this, her back felt completely different.

It seemed flat but had slight curves due to her shoulder blades.

It seemed hard but had soft parts here and there.

It wasn’t exactly soft, but there was a certain pleasure in stroking or rubbing it.

It was a different kind of enjoyment from touching her chest.

“Mmm…”

I moved my hand to her armpit area and felt it.

The hollow area was smooth.

No hair yet, I guess.

She doesn’t have pubic hair either.

By the way, I wonder if her pubic hair and armpit hair would be silver too.

Originally, she would have black hair, but did only her head hair turn silver, or did all her hair change?

If her pubic hair and armpit hair are black, should she dye her head hair black or dye her pubic hair and armpit hair white?

It was quite a difficult question.

“Yaaawn…”

I was getting used to this uncomfortable position, and sleep was washing over me.

Maybe I should get some sleep too.

Just as I closed my eyes…

Cuss suddenly sat up.

“Ah! I’m done sleeping! Let’s go now, Jinsoo!”

“Damn girl…”

Damn it.

Let me sleep a bit.