Ch.38Aqua Marine 1

“—.”

“—.”

“—.”

An alarm sound?

No.

More precisely, it’s the microwave beeping.

Someone must have heated food and left it there for a long time.

The microwave keeps making noise, urging someone to take the food out.

Thanks to that, I was able to wake up from my deep sleep.

I took a deep breath.

It felt nauseating, like pool water was about to pour out of my mouth.

I somehow managed to sit up and suppressed the feeling of reflux.

“Where is…”

The whole world is dark.

This isn’t my studio apartment or a motel.

It’s a place I’ve never seen before, much more spacious than my studio, with high-quality wooden floors and tiles.

And this strong soap scent.

I lowered my head, wondering if the smell was coming from me.

Then I noticed the clothes I was wearing.

Pajamas?

The soft fabric brushing against my skin feels very irritating.

Because of that sensation, I soon realized I wasn’t wearing anything underneath the pajamas.

My body instinctively curls up as I notice my chest visible through the loose sleepwear.

I wrapped my arms around myself and looked around.

All the furniture is covered with white sheets like ghosts.

Perhaps because of witnessing this bizarre scene, my body became even more tense.

I clutched the loose pajamas and got up from the bed.

Then slowly walked barefoot across the floor.

“—.”

I hear water dripping from the bathroom.

The door was slightly ajar, with white steam escaping from inside.

I peeked through the gap.

And I could see a woman taking a shower.

She was leaning her arm against the bathroom wall with her head down.

The woman’s broad back comes into view.

Well-developed shoulders and lats.

Water streams down those breathtaking curves.

Soon the water seeps into wounds on her back.

Red marks crisscross her skin as if she had been whipped.

The dark red wounds writhe.

It’s because the woman brushed her forehead.

Elegant silver hair caresses the wounds on her back.

Eventually, the round breasts hidden behind her back are revealed.

Seeing that soft skin, I could clearly tell Anna was indeed a woman.

Even though she has a firm, angular body.

I stare blankly at the harmony between that healthy physique and skin.

Then my hand slipped on the steam-covered doorknob.

The sound of the handle snapping back echoed through the quiet house.

The ear hidden by silver hair is revealed.

Following that ear, white eyes gleam drowsily.

Those eyes soon turn toward the girl who was peeking through the door crack.

I froze as if pierced by her gaze.

The filled water splashes.

Soon her legs emerge from the bathtub.

Those smooth legs were gradually approaching me.

Her damp soles stick to the bathroom tiles with a squelching sound.

As that sound gets closer, my heart begins to race.

And that pounding tells me:

Get out of here now.

I responded by somehow raising my trembling legs.

Why did she bring me to this sealed space?

It can’t be for a good reason.

The pajama top slips down my shoulder.

I pulled it back up while looking around.

I can see the front door down the right corridor.

Without hesitation, I run straight there and pull the handle.

“—.”

But despite my desperate attempt, the door didn’t budge at all.

It was firmly locked as if welded shut from the outside.

Realizing the absence of the only escape route, a chill runs down my spine.

My whole body became so sensitive that I could feel sweat trickling down my shoulder blades.

Having no other option, I returned to the living room.

And stared at the curtains visible beyond the bed.

A soft light enters through the gap in the curtains.

I lifted the drapes to rush out there.

But…

The moment I opened the window and looked outside, any glimmer of hope turned to despair.

The room I was trapped in was in a building so high that even the air felt cold.

More precisely, a high-rise officetel.

If I fell from here, I would surely die instantly.

I instinctively backed away from that dizzying height.

And collapsed weakly onto the bed.

Completely trapped.

Perhaps Anna had anticipated my escape attempt and set this up.

“Are you going to jump?”

A cold voice comes from behind me.

I swallowed hard upon hearing that voice.

I force myself to turn my stiff neck to look at her.

Anna comes into view, wrapped in a white robe over her naked body.

The towel covering her fair, soft skin is breathtaking, like a scene from a movie.

Despite my gaze, she acted naturally as if she were alone at home.

She took out a glass cup from the microwave and added powder medicine to the hot water.

“Where is this…?”

I asked, clutching my chest.

The killer, cup in hand, answered quietly.

“One of my shelters.”

The steaming cup moves toward Anna’s lips.

My face flushed involuntarily at her relaxed demeanor.

I’ve never seen another woman’s naked body in my life.

The breasts visible through the soft white robe.

Below those round curves, I could see finely divided abs.

Water droplets still cling to that smooth skin.

I stared blankly at those droplets.

A droplet flows along the contours of her abs.

Eventually, it was absorbed into the silver forest below.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.

Somehow managing to lift my fallen gaze.

It’s completely different from what I’ve seen in adult videos.

This is the first time I’ve experienced something so natural yet tense.

“Does the clothing fit you?”

She sits in a chair and slowly crosses her legs.

Thanks to that, the mysterious forest was covered, and I was able to regain my senses.

“Huh? Oh… more or less.”

By the way, what is this clothing?

I’ve never worn silk pajamas like this in my life.

The feeling of silk brushing against my bare skin is so strange.

It’s like my whole body becomes sensitive every time it touches me.

I looked around, wondering where my underwear and clothes had gone.

But all I could see were furniture covered with white sheets.

No clothes in sight.

Could she have undressed me herself?

Just imagining it makes me dizzy.

That dizziness reaches its peak when I hear Anna’s next question.

“Do you know who those clothes belonged to?”

I reflexively answered that I didn’t know.

“The owner of those clothes… was someone who, like you, enjoyed meddling and pretended to be nice all the time.”

Anna no longer stuttered.

She muttered in a calmer, more comfortable voice.

“And like you, she had many secrets.”

By now, Anna had emptied her cup.

With her hand trembling less, she takes a deep breath.

“It’s strange. Every time our bodies touch, those past memories keep coming back. Especially about that girl.”

The woman in a robe over her naked body rises from the chair.

And gradually moves closer to me.

“I, I don’t know anything about that.”

Sitting on the bed, I backed away.

Pushing the bed sheets with my feet, I gradually pressed myself against the wall.

“That girl’s secret was truly remarkable. Shocking and quite horrific.”

Anna’s shadow grows larger.

Eventually completely covering my face.

“Your secret must be just as enormous as hers?”

Her face, now right in front of me, pierces through me.

Overwhelmed by that gaze, I found it difficult even to breathe.

“I don’t… have anything like that.”

The killer approached my ear.

Her silver hair tickles my cheek.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

“A chance…?”

“Are you really powerless?”

The word “powerless” pounds in my ears.

That soft breath invades my ear, making my head spin.

“When you were in the pool water.”

“Your hand was glowing when you passed out. When that hand touched my body, memories I had forgotten came flooding back.”

She knows.

She found out.

I’ve been caught by the one person I absolutely couldn’t afford to be discovered by.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Really…”

I murmur pleadingly.

But it’s too late now for desperate voices.

Like a beast that has smelled blood, Anna just clings to me.

“We’ll find out by checking.”

The soap scent grows stronger.

Anna’s hand grabs my arm.

She seizes both my wrists and pushes me onto the bed.

I’m pressed down onto the bed by her strength.

Anna naturally mounts on top.

Her silver hair tickles my face.

My breathing becomes frantically rapid.

So rapid that my waist slightly rises.

“Use your ability.”

She commands.

I shook my head with my eyes half-closed.

“Don’t you want to live?”

Her breath covers my face.

Just smelling that tangy saliva scent makes my own mouth water.

“I don’t know, I’m powerless…”

I can’t tell the truth.

If I do, she’ll realize all my actions so far were intentional.

The killer will surely kill me if she knows that fact.

“You’re no different from Seon-ye. Pretending not to know until the very end, even facing death…”

Anna smiled faintly.

Then she gripped both my wrists with one hand.

“Do you think I haven’t killed you so far because of that cocktail?”

One of her arms presses down on my neck.

My face turns red.

It hurts like my breath is being cut off.

Due to that intense constriction, Anna’s robe comes undone.

Round breasts freed from the clothing lean toward me.

Soon, hot skin touches my chest.

Our hardened nipples rub against each other.

The pajamas soon become damp and sticky.

The stretched clothing loosens softly.

Our nipples lock together over it.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’ve only kept you alive until I confirm your ability.”

Sweat begins to form where our breasts meet.

Those droplets trace my entire body and drip onto the bed.

Her body, positioned diagonally, completely covers me.

Soon Anna’s thick thighs press against my groin.

Even in this situation, I concentrated as much as possible to prevent my ability from manifesting.

This is a battle between two people.

One trying to uncover, one trying to hide.

In that suffocating struggle, I regret.

Why did I go to the department store today of all days?

Why did I meet Anna in the food court?

Why did we reunite at the first-floor claw machine?

She was there at every moment.

At every moment…

Could it be…

Had she been watching me from the beginning?

My gripped wrists feel sticky.

But I still couldn’t escape from her grasp.

My body gradually submits to Anna as if meeting a long-lost master.

I couldn’t understand my own body’s reaction.

It’s humiliating.

As someone who was once a man, this is an unbearable disgrace.

I no longer had the strength even to shake my head.

It feels completely different from Jae-hee’s pheromones.

My whole body feels hazy, as if melting.

After the pain of near-suffocation, I could feel my groin becoming wet.

That absurd sensation made me cry out involuntarily.

Plaintive moans pour from my throat.

I’ve never made such sounds in my life.

But in front of this killer who holds my life, they came out countless times.

It’s different from Jae-hee’s clumsy caresses.

As if experienced countless times, Anna choked my neck while simultaneously imprinting her scent on every corner of my body.

Perhaps because of that touch, my body now began to obey Anna rather than me.

A faint light gradually emanates from my body.

I was inwardly surprised by the sudden manifestation of light.

I certainly didn’t activate my ability.

But…

Just by surrendering my body to Anna, something impossible happened.

Gradually, I see memories of Seon-ye and Anna in my mind.

The image of them leaning on each other’s shoulders in bed.

The image of them falling asleep together after difficult training.

And even the image of Anna secretly kissing Seon-ye while she slept.

Why are these scenes entering my mind?

I certainly have no connection to Seon-ye…

“…”

As my ability fully activated, I was pulled into Seon-ye’s memories.

And soon realized it was the research facility where Anna had been captured.

The director’s office with classical music playing.

There was a woman in uniform and the research director.

I soon learned who the woman was.

Because her name was clearly written on her uniform.

‘Han Seon-ye.’

Above Seon-ye’s name tag was a diamond rank insignia.

“Second Lieutenant Han Seon-ye.”

“Yes, Director.”

Director Tolkin has a resume in his hand.

He looks alternately at the resume and the lieutenant while asking:

“You know there are great expectations for you, right?”

“Of course, I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”

She answers her superior precisely.

Tolkin nods, seemingly satisfied with her answer.

“The subject you’re handling this time has S-class potential. Such valuable resources need special management after taking the medication.”

Seon-ye nibbled her lips with a solemn face.

“If enough intelligence remains after drug administration to be controllable… you’ll be guaranteed a large bonus and promotion.”

He seemed to have chosen Seon-ye for the project as he dropped the resume on the desk.

“Thank you, sir!”

The director interlaced his fingers and rested his chin on them.

He looks at the lieutenant with a worried expression.

It’s quite different from the madman I’ve seen in memories so far.

“You have a younger sister, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Seon-ye shouts in a military manner.

“Powerless, wasn’t she?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Seon-ye answers with her head slightly lowered.

“If you get promoted this time, I’ll get your sister into the Academy. They’ll help her find her ability there.”

Tolkin speaks to Seon-ye as if offering a precious opportunity.

“Thank you…”

Seon-ye responded with a happy expression, as if the reward was an honor.

“Yes, who knows. Maybe your sister has an enormous ability that was discovered late.”

The lieutenant nodded in agreement.

“Well, you should go now. You don’t have much time to research the subject.”

Seon-ye responded by bowing politely.

Then she left the director’s office with military dignity.

“Hmm.”

After the door closed, Tolkin sighed lightly.

Then he slowly reads the resume he had put down again.

Name: Han Seon-ye.

Ability: Full Bloom Shooter.

Education: Psychology major, Yonsei University, valedictorian.

Evaluation: As a psychology graduate, has a record of calming many anxious test subjects. However, has been reprimanded multiple times for becoming too emotionally attached to subjects.

Family: Han Seon-woo (father, deceased). Jung Mi-ae (mother, deceased). Han Si-ho (younger sister).