Ch.73Chapter 73. Bittersweet Holiday (1)

“Let’s… do it this way.”

“…?”

This was what Juliane suggested, unable to meet my eyes.

First, we sit on the bed facing each other.

Second, we both put our hands behind our backs.

Third, we kiss.

“What’s… the point of this?”

“Cuss is in the next room. If we free our hands, she’ll definitely make a loud noise.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“I’m not. You’re… too good at it, and I can’t control my voice.”

Holy shit.

My patience was already reaching its limit.

I thought I should get a gag tomorrow. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about Juliane’s moans escaping.

But honestly, I didn’t really care if Cuss peeked through the door crack.

It would make for excellent sex education.

“This is… something not even high schoolers would do.”

“Shut up. Just kissing. No touching.”

“…”

In the dark room.

Shadows fell across Juliane’s face as she slowly exhaled.

Those brilliant blue eyes gazed at me as she drew closer.

Our foreheads bumped together with a soft thud.

With our arms sealed behind our backs, we had to awkwardly tilt our heads to try to kiss.

“This is hard. Can’t we at least put our hands on the bed…”

“No. That’ll just lead to more. Arms behind your back.”

How did she know?

I was planning to start from her legs and slowly work my way up.

Faced with Juliane’s stubborn opposition, I had no choice but to continue as we were.

But the angle wasn’t quite right.

“Ah… mmm…”

Juliane squirmed and moved forward slightly while kneeling.

That’s better.

Now it almost fits.

“Hmm… mmph… hah…”

Since we couldn’t press our lips firmly together, they kept separating, causing Juliane to make obscene sounds.

Isn’t this louder than moaning would be…?

Meanwhile, the cleavage visible just below my line of sight kept distracting me.

Several times, my hands tried to move forward, but I pulled them back behind me.

Damn it. Why did I give her that outfit?

Those red mounds looked like they were begging to be freed.

But I had to endure.

Juliane’s breasts are extremely sensitive.

She’d probably wake Cuss in a second.

“Mmm… chu…”

When I leaned back a bit to control the pace, Juliane kept clinging to me.

With our lips pressed together, she gradually leaned forward until she was putting her weight on my lips.

Now I couldn’t separate no matter what I did.

Ah, damn it.

I was slowly being pushed backward.

Without using my hands, I couldn’t brace myself.

“Huh?”

“Ugh!”

I ended up falling backward.

Juliane came with me, still kissing, and we bumped noses slightly.

For a moment, we had to nurse our pain in silence, holding our noses.

“You could have used your hands when falling…”

“Who told me not to move my hands from behind my back?”

“Were you always this obedient?”

“Of course.”

“Then you should keep your word. Don’t move your hands at all…”

Juliane straddled me, keeping her hands behind her back, and slowly lowered her waist.

Wow. Is it possible to maintain balance in that position?

She must have incredible core strength.

Juliane’s lips came down and lightly touched mine…

“Chu… chu…”

She kept pulling away and coming back for light kisses.

When I glared at her in annoyance, a cute smile spread across her face.

“Impatient? Hm?”

“…”

Juliane pressed her forehead against mine and giggled.

It was incredibly annoying how her lips almost touched mine but not quite.

“No hands until you’re aroused just from kissing… Huh?”

Juliane’s face froze as she tilted her hips back slightly.

She had tried to pull her butt back but bumped into something.

Something that was standing tall.

“I’m already aroused. Can I use my hands now?”

“Ah, uh? Eh? Yes…?”

I slowly raised my upper body, supporting myself with my hands on the bed.

Then I wrapped my arms around Juliane’s waist.

The confident Juliane from earlier was gone, replaced by one whose ears had turned red as radishes, unable to speak properly.

“Or should we continue kissing? Are you not ready yet?”

“I’m ready… But…”

“But?”

“Cover my mouth. I think I’m going to scream…”

I’m not sure if just covering her mouth would be enough.

Putting a few fingers in her mouth might help, but…

There’s no choice.

Whether Cuss wakes up and watches with popcorn or not, we just have to…

Creak

“…?!”

Just then, we heard footsteps, and the door opened slightly.

Juliane was startled and quickly got off me, flopping down beside me.

In that split second, she pulled up the blanket to cover us.

She put her finger to her lips, suggesting we pretend to be asleep.

“…”

“…”

Moonlight streamed in through the wide-open door.

Along with it came a long shadow.

It was Cuss’s.

Cuss stood silently at the door for a long time.

Now that she’s seen us sleeping, maybe she’ll leave.

“…?”

There was a rustling sound from below.

I thought I felt a slight draft, and the blanket was being lifted.

Soon something was wriggling, making the mattress shake, and then…

“Mmm.”

Something popped out from under the blanket.

Opening my eyes slightly, I saw it was Cuss’s silver head, as expected.

Cuss lay sideways between Juliane and me, staring at my face for a long time.

“Hmm…”

Then she hugged me tightly.

I could feel her rubbing her face against my chest.

After finding a comfortable position, she finally let out a small laugh and pressed closer.

Soon, I could hear her breathing steadily.

“…”

“…”

I opened my eyes and looked at Juliane.

Juliane was looking down at Cuss with a warm smile, but when she turned her gaze to me, her expression became regretful.

Her eyes seemed to be screaming that she really wanted to do it.

But that wasn’t possible.

If we tried to remove Cuss while she was sleeping, she would definitely wake up.

I reached out and gently caressed Juliane’s cheek, who looked slightly pouty.

“Mmm…”

Juliane’s warm hand covered mine.

As if trying to prevent me from taking it away.

Juliane closed her eyes gently, feeling the warmth of my hand.

Time to sleep.

“…”

As I moved my fingers, I inadvertently touched Juliane’s lips with my thumb.

Soft and moist lips.

When I applied slight pressure, my thumb slipped between her lips.

I thought it would be stopped by her front teeth.

But my thumb was being sucked in deeper.

“Hmm…”

“…”

When I opened my eyes, the situation was more serious than I thought.

Juliane’s expression was concerning.

It was an expression I had seen before.

When we were kissing in front of Cuss, and she unconsciously reached for my lower body.

And when she climbed on top of me after draining me three times.

That dreamy, seemingly irrational gaze.

That lustful gaze silently stared into my eyes as she sucked on my thumb.

Damn, what are we doing with sleeping Cuss between us?

“Ah…”

Sensing danger if we continued, I pulled out my finger.

If I had rubbed the inside of her cheek, pressed her tongue, or touched her hard molars, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.

Actually, I was already at my limit of patience…

But what could I do?

The only option was to mentally sing the national anthem from start to finish.

“Good night.”

Finding Juliane’s gaze burdensome, I squeezed my eyes shut.

I whispered softly and tried to sleep.

I needed to wake up early tomorrow.

Soon, Juliane’s warm hand grasped mine as if to comfort her disappointment.

She didn’t fidget or bring my hand to her chest.

She just held it tightly.

I slowly drifted off to sleep, feeling the pleasant weight against my chest and the warmth of her hand.

***

“Hmm…”

Hearing a groan, I turned around to see Juliane walking out with disheveled hair.

She must have woken up from the sound of my chopping.

“Where’s Cuss?”

“Sound asleep. I came out after playing with her chubby cheeks, hehe.”

“…”

At this rate, she might even lift Cuss’s skirt later.

I thought it would be best not to leave sleeping Cuss alone with Juliane.

“What are you making?”

“Toast.”

Since I bought plenty of bread yesterday, I decided to make toast.

I had just washed the vegetables and was cutting them.

Carrots and green onions… and I also chopped some chives that were in the refrigerator.

I forgot to buy cabbage.

“Hmm… toast?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s the ham or bacon?”

“…”

I turned to look at Juliane in disbelief.

Good grief. Meat in toast?

This is why Americans are hopeless.

“I’m not adding any. The only animal product that goes in toast is eggs.”

“What? Are you vegetarian, Jinsoo? Why would you make such a choice…”

“This is how it’s delicious.”

“No way. How can toast without meat be delicious…”

“…”

Someone who can’t cook was being quite chatty.

I had to suppress the urge to give her a good flick on the forehead.

She’d find out once she tasted it anyway.

“Stop backseat cooking and toast the bread, will you?”

“I’ll be right back after washing my face.”

I put butter in the pan and turned on the induction stove.

As the butter sizzled and melted, Juliane appeared with her hair in a ponytail.

The short hair sticking out from her scrunchie looked cute.

But she was just standing there staring instead of toasting the bread as I’d asked.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you toasting it?”

“Don’t we need to dip it in egg batter first?”

“We’re not doing that. Just toast it plain.”

“What? Are you sure you’re making toast?”

“Sigh…”

Juliane seemed uncertain but started toasting the bread in the pan.

I cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them.

Soon, a beautiful yellow egg mixture formed.

Then I poured the chopped vegetables into it…

“Whoa? What are you doing?”

“Can you just watch quietly? Stop criticizing.”

Juliane’s eyes widened in surprise.

Her eyes seemed to ask why I was pouring vegetables into the sacred egg mixture.

This is why Americans…

I spread mayonnaise on the toasted bread.

The bread was ready.

Now it was time to cook the patty.

When I poured the egg mixture into the pan, it started to cook with a pleasant sizzling sound.

Once one side was nicely browned, almost to the point of burning, I flipped it.

After it was fully cooked, I cut it into square shapes with the spatula and placed one on each piece of bread.

“Now we add ketchup.”

“Yep!”

Finally, I generously poured ketchup on the patty and covered it with another piece of bread.

A deliciously thick toast was complete.

I took a bread knife and cut each one in half.

It was about time for Cuss to wake up.

“Cuss. Are you still sleeping?”

Cuss was still sound asleep, hugging my pillow.

My hands were a mess with bread crumbs, oil, and ketchup, so I couldn’t touch her.

I climbed onto the bed and gently rubbed Cuss’s chest with my foot.

Oh. This feels surprisingly good.

I couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling that it might become addictive.

“Hnngh…”

“Get up and eat, you.”

“Food!”

Like a dumb country mutt that only responds to its name, Cuss jumped up and ran to the kitchen.

When I followed her to the kitchen, Cuss was already seated, taking a big bite of toast, and Juliane was smiling broadly while fixing Cuss’s messy hair.

She took out her own scrunchie to tie Cuss’s hair.

Come to think of it, I never thought of buying hair ties.

It’s good to have Juliane around for things like this.

“Is it good, Cuss?”

“…”

In response to Juliane’s question, Cuss just nodded and continued devouring the toast.

It seemed too big for Cuss’s mouth, as she was getting ketchup and mayonnaise all over her face while eating.

Juliane, also curious, picked up half a toast and took a bite.

“Mmm! It has a surprisingly savory taste even without meat!”

She made a loud nasal sound.

It seemed to suit her taste.

I was a bit worried it might be too low in fat for American tastes.

“Vegetarians would really like this too, wouldn’t they?”

“I know. I don’t understand why those people only eat tasteless salads.”

Come to think of it, vegetarians might be a bit lacking.

There are countless dishes without meat, especially among Korean side dishes.

While I could understand vegans who avoid animal fats and eggs, less strict vegetarians could enjoy delicious Korean meals three times a day.

But they insist on things like soy meat and salads…

“After we finish eating, let’s go out for a…”

Ding dong

“Hm?”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Did you order more packages?”

“No, I didn’t.”

There wouldn’t be such diligent burglars this early in the morning.

Maybe it’s someone asking if I believe in God.

I went to the door with suspicion and flung it open.

“Hey, Jinsoo! Got time today?”

“Ah.”

It was the brown Cocoa Puffs and the cyberpunk youth with about half as many piercings as before.

What are you two doing here?

“The weather’s nice, so we thought we’d take the girls out…”

“Who is it, Jinsoo?”

“We were going… to suggest… going out…”

“…”

When Juliane poked her head out from the kitchen, Bob and the cyberpunk youth’s faces turned pale.

They both went beyond Asian to almost white.

This is not good.