Ch.171Episode 34. Christmas Eve (4)

Sizzle!

The sound of meat grilling is exquisite. Besides meat, I’ve also placed sausages and vegetables on the barbecue grill provided by the owner. Though it was a bit disappointing not to have charcoal, I could live with that.

While I was grilling the meat, Yeon Muhui was setting the table to make the meat easier to eat.

Perhaps because it was winter, they had created a vinyl tent around the outdoor table to block the wind, so it wasn’t cold.

“…My heart is pounding a bit.”

“Because you’re with me?”

“What? N-no, that’s not it! Why are you suddenly saying such s-strange things?”

When I spoke with feigned innocence, Muhui quickly denied it as if she’d been caught.

“Really? My heart is pounding, though.”

“…I-is that so?”

Muhui answered primly while fidgeting with her wooden chopsticks. She might think she wasn’t showing her emotions outwardly, but it was already obvious.

“No need to act so prim, right? It’s just the two of us here anyway. How about being a bit more honest?”

Being near the beach in midwinter and at a pension, plus it being Christmas Eve but also a weekday, there was nobody around.

Despite coming all this way, she refused attention as an S-class hero.

“…I don’t know.”

“Sure, sure. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

She probably had never been alone with a man in a place like this. I decided to be as considerate as possible from my end.

I placed the grilled meat and sausages in front of her.

“Eat plenty. If it gets cold, I’ll warm it up for you.”

“Aren’t you going to eat, Yujin?”

“I’ll eat too. You can start first.”

“…”

As I put new meat on the grill, I turned my head to see if Muhui was eating well. To my surprise, she had approached me and was holding out a wrapped bite of food.

“Open… your mouth.”

Muhui averted her gaze as if trying to hide her flushed face.

I opened my mouth as I watched her shy demeanor. She placed the wrapped food in my mouth and quickly withdrew her hand.

The harmony of meat juices bursting from the carefully wrapped bite and the spicy heat of the pepper delighted my tongue.

“I-I’m only making this for you because you’re grilling the meat. It doesn’t mean anything else…”

“Sure, sure.”

How shy she is.

After that, Muhui continued to make wrapped bites for me instead of eating her own meat. She did eat occasionally, but it was clear she was prioritizing me over herself.

Is she happy seeing me enjoy the food?

Though she couldn’t be honest about it, it was clear she had feelings for me.

“There’s a lot of affection in these wraps, isn’t there?”

“Oh, stop it. Just eat instead of saying unnecessary things.”

A light rebuke.

Even with my admittedly cheesy comment, she didn’t show much resistance. It was a reaction that could only come from someone who had feelings.

After grilling all the meat, I filled the empty plates again. This time, I sat down and took out the bottle of alcohol I had brought. How could we eat meat without drinks?

“You’ll drink, right?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, I recalled drinking with her at the chicken feet restaurant on her birthday. We skillfully poured drinks for each other and clinked our glasses.

Clink!

Perhaps because the surroundings were quiet, the sound of our glasses meeting was quite loud. We downed our drinks almost simultaneously, enjoying the taste.

Although we weren’t getting drunk, just having Muhui as company and the atmosphere made the drinking session enjoyable.

“Muhui.”

“Yes?”

“Remember? We drank like this a few months ago too. At the chicken feet place.”

“Ah… yes. I remember. That’s when… you gave me this.”

She took out a ribbon hair tie from her pocket, showing it to me with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for treasuring the gift I gave you.”

“Of course I’d treasure something given by Yujin…”

I wonder if she realizes what she just said. If she keeps showing her feelings like this, I won’t be able to hold back.

“Back then, we also talked about your father while drinking like this.”

“…Yes. We did.”

“Now all that’s left is to give that old man a taste of his own medicine.”

Muhui chuckled at my words. Despite talking about Yeonhwaryong, her expression wasn’t bad. She even seemed relaxed.

“Right. I really want to give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Don’t you?”

“Of course… I’m not certain I can beat him… But I have Yujin with me…”

“That’s right. You have me.”

Well, that’s unexpectedly admirable of her.

I wrapped a bite and brought it to her lips. She looked back and forth between my face and the food, then eventually opened her mouth to accept it.

Not wanting to show herself chewing with puffy cheeks, she covered her mouth as she ate.

“So you don’t need to worry. Just trust me.”

Though she probably hasn’t completely shaken off her anxiety, once she fully relies on me, her uneasiness will naturally disappear.

“Okay.”

I refilled her empty glass. Once again, we clinked our glasses and gulped down our drinks.

After that, we continued making small talk while drinking. By the time we had emptied four bottles of soju, Muhui, feeling the effects of the alcohol, exhaled hot breath and smiled broadly.

“Yujin.”

“Yes?”

She brushed her hair back once, then brought a plastic chair over and placed it next to mine. Just as I was feeling confused by her sudden assertiveness, she spoke in a low voice.

“…Why are you treating me so well?”

“Huh?”

Could she be drunk?

“You and I are… instructor and student, right?”

“Well… formally, yes.”

“Formally? What do you mean by formally…? Don’t tell me! You…”

Muhui poked my arm firmly. Look at her naturally calling me “you” now. She really needs to be scolded.

“You’re trying to seduce me like Yu Ari, aren’t you?”

“…”

I have nothing to say when she walks right into the trap without me doing anything.

“What if I am?”

“What?”

“What would you do if I am?”

It’s already clear that Muhui has feelings for me. I’m confident that even if I took her to bed right now, she wouldn’t refuse.

But the reason I’m still drawing out the conversation is to give her time to prepare for what would be her first experience.

“W-what do you mean ‘what would I do’? I don’t really…”

She hesitates despite being the one who brought it up. Seems like she doesn’t want to make the first move. In that case, I need to drive the point home.

I tapped her hand that was awkwardly resting on the table. Before she could withdraw it in surprise, I caught it.

“What am I to you?”

“…W-why are you asking something like that?”

With my free hand, I tucked her hair behind her ear. Her ear, which had been hidden by her hair, was burning red. Now that I looked, her cheeks were also flushed.

“You’re the one who brought it up, aren’t you?”

I gently pressed her with my soft baritone voice. Though she flinched, her lips curled up slightly, suggesting she found my voice pleasant.

“I-I was just saying…”

“Muhui.”

“Yes?”

“If you don’t like it, move away.”

I changed my caressing hand to an interlocked one and slowly brought my face closer to hers. Muhui, realizing I was about to kiss her, opened her eyes wide before squeezing them shut. Just like a woman with no experience with men.

Still, I’m glad she at least closed her eyes.

Moving my head leisurely, I pressed my lips against her crimson ones just as the tension around her eyes began to relax.

It was just a peck, but I pressed firmly enough to feel the contours of her lips before pulling away. A soft smacking sound accompanied the motion.

“Mmm…”

A deep kiss could wait until we got to the bed. Here, it was enough just to set the mood.

“I like you.”

“No… w-why are you saying that now…!”

“If not now, then when?”

I chuckled and gently patted her back. Though there was still food and alcohol left, I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“Shall we clean up and continue the rest inside?”

“…”

She didn’t answer. She just nodded very slightly.

“Go inside and wash up first. I’ll clean up quickly and join you.”

“N-no. I want to help clean up too.”

“Really? Then let’s clean up together.”

* * *

After cleaning up, we went into the pension and washed up. I went first, followed by Muhui.

While Muhui was washing, I prepared to make our relationship more comfortable. I had brought gel in case she was too tense to get wet, and I hadn’t forgotten condoms either.

“Um… Yujin. I’m done washing…”

“If you’re done, come in. Why are you standing there?”

I beckoned to her as I dried my hair with a towel. She slowly entered the room but was startled when she saw my body.

“Wait, why… why are you shirtless?!”

“Hm? Can’t I sleep shirtless?”

“E-even so…!”

“Well, I think my body is well-trained.”

I touched my abdomen, feeling the protruding abs.

“I-I knew you had a good body… But you shouldn’t be undressed!”

What does she mean by “shouldn’t”? We’ll be naked soon anyway.

“It’s fine, just come in quickly.”

Though hesitant, perhaps afraid of what she was about to experience, she slowly entered the room.

“Come sit here, will you?”

I patted the spot next to me. She sat down, subtly keeping her distance as if protecting herself from me. She fidgeted with her toes nervously while watching my reactions.

“Muhui. Are you nervous?”

“H-how could I not be…”

“It’s okay. You can trust me and leave it to me.”

“…This isn’t your first time, is it?”

This was her roundabout way of asking if I’d been with other women.

Muhui had probably figured it out to some extent. Though she wasn’t as sharp as Jeong Iyeon due to her general lack of interest in others.

“Did you want it to be my first time?”

She shook her head.

“Just… you seem so… skilled with women…”

“I’m happy to get a compliment from Muhui.”

“It wasn’t exactly a compliment…”

I grabbed the waist of the mumbling Muhui and pulled her toward me. Looking directly at her as she flinched but didn’t resist much, I spoke clearly.

“Muhui. I like you.”

“Mmph.”

Before she could refuse, I kissed her and whispered softly.

“Open your mouth.”

Perhaps it was the effect of my confession.

She obediently opened her mouth and accepted my tongue. And so, sharing our saliva, we slowly built up the atmosphere.