Ch.345345. This Level of Intensity Should Be Fine

How much time had passed? As my senses suddenly returned, I leaned back with both hands behind my head. Perhaps because I’d been using my energy since the afternoon, drowsiness was creeping in despite it not being bedtime.

I was even starting to yawn, feeling like I might fall asleep immediately if I closed my eyes. Though I wanted to take a nap, there was someone beside me, so I probably shouldn’t.

Fighting against sleepiness, I glanced at the clock to see it wasn’t even three yet. My dinner appointment was at seven, so I still had four hours to spare. Hmm, this is why holidays are nice. It feels like I’ve done so much, yet it’s still only lunchtime.

I was seriously wondering how to best enjoy this rare leisure time when Hwa Nabi, half-leaning against me, tapped my chest muscles. She seemed to have something to say.

“Hey, hubby.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Should we take a picture like this?”

“A picture? Sure, I don’t mind, but are you okay with it?”

“What do you mean, am I okay with it?”

“This, this thing.”

I pressed firmly on the largest lip mark I’d left on her upper chest thirty minutes ago, making her giggle uncontrollably. It seemed my finger touch was ticklish, but her reaction was so good that I got excited without realizing it.

With half playful, half mischievous intent, I gently massaged Hwa Nabi’s side. Since this is a sensitive spot for anyone, she burst into uncontrollable laughter every time I tickled her with my fingers.

“Hehe…! Really now, you could just say it with words. Do you always have to satisfy yourself by touching me?”

“Why? Touching is nice. Actions speak louder than words, right?”

“Ah. So that’s why you keep grabbing my chest and butt?”

Someone might think it’s true if they heard that. Though no one was listening, I gave her butt a firm squeeze for making such a misleading comment.

I whispered “That’s for saying weird things” as a bonus, which made her laugh and seem quite pleased. No joke, she enjoyed it so much that I made sure to give her a few extra pats too.

“Hehe… Really, you’re always touching my butt. Always playing around.”

“Are you saying you want me to touch elsewhere?”

“…You’re such a pervert, a total pervert. In your past life, you must have been a ghost who died without ever touching a woman’s butt.”

“Then I’ve fulfilled that wish in this life. I must be reaching enlightenment.”

I playfully mumbled with my hand on her butt, making Hwa Nabi shiver and push my hand away. I was planning to touch her again if she’d left it alone, but too bad.

I unconsciously licked my lips and looked toward her butt. Hwa Nabi’s butt is so soft and squishy that even right after touching it, I feel the urge to touch it again. How to describe that sensation? It’s like squeezing a freshly opened pudding in your hand.

No, that softness is probably beyond even pudding’s reach. To compare Hwa Nabi’s butt with anything else, it would have to be like the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate in ancient times. When it’s right in front of you, the temptation to grab it is simply irresistible.

“Ugh, just go reach enlightenment already!”

“If I really reach enlightenment, I don’t know about anything else, but I’m taking your butt with me.”

I spoke with complete sincerity about not letting go of this butt that couldn’t even be compared to the forbidden fruit, and Hwa Nabi poked my abs in response.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Why are you taking just my butt and not me?”

“If I take you too, you won’t let me touch your butt freely.”

“Of course I wouldn’t, since my butt belongs to me, but still! Shouldn’t you at least say you’d take me with you?”

“What if it really happens that way? They say words become seeds. I don’t make empty promises.”

“…This guy, seriously!”

Hwa Nabi glared at me with wide eyes and tapped my abs with her palm. It didn’t hurt since there was no force behind it, but I should probably stop joking around now. The fact that she attempted physical intervention was essentially her final warning.

If I went any further, I’d face consequences… whatever the exact meaning behind it, the fact remains that I’d deeply regret continuing to joke around without understanding. I know this from past experience.

“Nabi, you know I love you a lot, right?”

“Hmph, I don’t know. Just take off your shirt and wait.”

“Yes, noona.”

“We’re the same age, why call me noona? You look much older than me anyway…”

Though she was grumbling outwardly, her upturned lips showed she wasn’t really angry. Realizing this, I was about to say something but closed my mouth.

…Actually, even if I wanted to respond, I had nothing to say. Both objectively and subjectively, Hwa Nabi looks much younger than me. Without any exaggeration, she could probably go around saying she’s twenty and everyone would believe her. That’s why when she goes out and says she’s someone’s mother, everyone thinks it’s a joke and nobody believes it.

Even though I don’t look old for my age, when we’re together people mistake me for being older than her. That says everything about how young she looks. Knowing this well, I silently took off my dress shirt.

“You know I get called a ‘bagel man’ when I go out, right?”

“Wow, how long are you going to go on about that bagel thing? Do you know that sometimes you give off the vibe of someone twenty years older than me? You talk like my uncle.”

“…”

Surely I’m not that bad. I stared at her while neatly folding my shirt, and she stared right back defiantly.

“Besides, how are you a bagel man? You’re neither baby-faced nor glamorous. You’re not a bagel man, you’re more like a beast man or something.”

“Are you calling me a beast as an insult?”

“No, it’s a compliment. You have a good body. Big chest, muscular, tall, and your lower body… Ah, I got it wrong. Not glamorous but gladiator.”

“That’s a compliment…?”

I felt like I’d just received a mouthful of insults for saying something strange, and though she claimed it was a compliment, I asked again because it felt off. But she didn’t answer and just fiddled with her phone.

Seeing this, it really does seem like it was an insult. This girl, really…

“Well then, Mr. Gladiator? Spread your arms and thighs wide once.”

“…Like this?”

“Yes, perfect. Stay just like that.”

Hwa Nabi slipped between my spread arms and thighs, leaning her back against my chest as if embracing me.

It feels like I’ve become some kind of amusement park seat. The position was quite uncomfortable, so I shifted my hips slightly, but she noticed immediately and tapped my thigh with her finger.

“Hey, stay still. If my seat keeps moving around, it’s uncomfortable for me.”

“Then you could just get off, right?”

“Never mind that, just hug me from behind. Safety belt on!”

“Ah, okay…”

She completely ignored my complaint and insisted on her way, so I had no choice but to do as she said.

I placed both hands on her lower abdomen, pulled her close, and held her firmly. This allowed Hwa Nabi to naturally relax in my arms, creating a more stable position where she could freely use both arms.

“Hubby, your expression is too stiff. Follow me, smile!”

“…Smile?”

-Click, click!

Photos were taken with loud sounds. One, two, three. After taking three shots from the same angle, Hwa Nabi seemed satisfied and lowered her arm. But when she checked the results, her cheeks relaxed and she started snickering.

What’s with her? I peeked at the photos over her shoulder and noticed something strange. Is it because of the camera filter? My body appeared in a dark color as if covered in chocolate. Meanwhile, Hwa Nabi in my arms had her usual bright skin tone.

“Nabi, did you use some kind of filter?”

“Yes. Since we’re indoors, I used a slightly darker filter, but strangely, only you came out in an extremely dark tone. Hehe, why is it doing this?”

“Is the camera broken…?”

Looking at it carefully, how should I put it, this is probably what I’d look like if I had deeply tanned skin.

It’s quite different from my current appearance so it feels unfamiliar, but it also seems fine in its own way.

“Are you going to post this photo on Instagram?”

“Yes, I’ve already decided on the post title.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Beauty and the Beast.”

“Who’s the beauty and who’s the beast?”

When I casually asked, she started avoiding my gaze. No, beyond avoiding it, she was completely ignoring me. She pretended not to hear my question, tapping on her phone to open Instagram and waiting for it to load.

…I was tempted to grab and pin her down to massage her butt, but I barely restrained myself. I’m an intellectual after all, and physically bullying someone is rather barbaric behavior. As an intellectual, shouldn’t I resolve conflicts verbally?

I watched intently as Hwa Nabi composed her Instagram post, and just as she was about to upload the photo, I tapped her lower abdomen with my index finger.

“…Eep!”

She must have felt guilty about something because she was extremely startled. She flinched so much that her waist jerked, so I gently stroked her lower abdomen to calm her down.

Perhaps my finger touch was ticklish, as it didn’t seem to have much meaning, but I still diligently rubbed it. I stroked her smooth belly for a long time, very diligently and passionately. Soon it had an effect. Hwa Nabi pressed firmly on my thigh as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Okay, okay! You don’t want me to post it, right? So stop, stop bullying me!”

“What are you talking about? Who said not to post it?”

“Huh…?”

“Post it if you want. But while you’re at it, let’s upload a few more photos too.”

“…More photos?”

“Yes, other photos.”

Hwa Nabi looked at me with trembling eyes. Her moist eyes seemed to be asking me silently: what do you mean by “other photos”?

I leaned close to Hwa Nabi’s ear and whispered softly.

“First, shall we change clothes?”