Chapter 48 – My Childhood Friend Is In A Good Mood   

In the secluded area of the Hanok Village, we entangled our tongues for quite a while, before Hayeon pushed me lightly with her palm to indicate she was out of breath.

“Puha…! Haa… Haa…”

She momentarily let out a breath, then glared at me with resentment.

“You… You… Why are you this good?”

“Ah.”

“That’s because I practiced with Ban Hana” was something I couldn’t say, so I decided to give a rough roundabout answer.

“I must have a natural talent for kissing.”

“T-There’s…no way for someone to have that kind of talent! It’s suspicious… This isn’t your first kiss, is it?!”

Her face reddened as she cautiously probed me.

Due to the fundamental difference between how rigidly Hayeon’s tongue moved as opposed to mine, it was only natural for her to doubt me.

I’m sorry, Hayeon.

Even so, it’s a good thing that Hayeon’s first was with me.

Because I couldn’t say I’ve done it with Hana many times already, I decided to tell her a white lie instead.

“Of course, it’s my first kiss. What, was it weird?”

“Should I call it weird…? Something was weird… It felt kinda practiced… Is it not?”

Confused, Hayeon kept tilting her head.

Since this was her first time, she couldn’t compare it to any one else, being uncertain on how skilled my tongue work was.

I said to Hayeon slyly, “If you don’t know, we can do it one more time.”

“W…What did you say?! Pervert! Die!”

The mood had died down for us to do it again, and we could gradually hear people’s footsteps coming closer.

Hayeon trash-talked me as she flailed her arms in rejection.

At that moment, I felt a slight thirst.

It felt different than when I did it with Hana… I kind of want to do more though…

Did they say that the first time was hard, but the second time was easier?

Maybe I was addicted to doing it, but I kept thinking about the feeling of those lips.

“Hayeon. Let’s do it one more time.”

“I…I don’t want to! It was good, but… No! People are coming!”

Was there a saying that kissing created dopamine, putting people on a high?

My brain kept demanding it, as if it was addicted to such dopamine.

Is this also the effect of fate?

Still, if Hayeon was against it, there was nothing I could do.

My childhood friend was as red as a tomato and looked like she was about to explode.

I decided to settle on doing it next time. 

When we came out of the secret hanok that wasn’t visible to others, Hayeon immediately grabbed my hand and stuck to my side.

She looked up at me while saying with anticipation, “T-Then… I’m not your family… I am your childhood friend, but… I guess we’re officially dating?”

Officially dating…?

That won’t do.

If the truth came out that I was in a relationship with Hayeon, what kind of woman would attach themselves to me?

It was no different from a suicide act, who had a short lifespan remaining.

I expressed my intention to refuse her.

“Isn’t it too early to date?”

“What’s too early? How many years have we been seeing each other? We’ve seen everything there is to each other, what more is too much here? Han Sijoon. Do you want to die?”

“Re…Relax Hayeon… It hurts…”

When I said I didn’t want to date, Hayeon gave a logical argument as she squeezed my hand as if to crush it.

Even for me, it would be nice to date her.

But because I knew that the actions I’d have to take while dating her would hurt her, I couldn’t date her until I extended my lifespan.

It’s another story if I don’t get caught, but…

Still, weren’t there some things you could or couldn’t do as couples?

I didn’t have the twisted brain to cheat on her while dating her.

“One year. Give me one year. Let’s go out then.”

“One year…? Why one year of all things? Can’t we just date now?”

“It’s because I have some circumstances. Trust me.”

When I looked at her with sincerity in my eyes, Hayeon expressed her regret while muttering, “I thought I finally nabbed him…”

She nodded in understanding, then grabbed me by the collar, pulling me in. 

Smooch.

The feeling of Hayeon’s warm lips touching my cheek.

She lightly kissed my lips.

“In… In return. If you cheat on me within the year, you’re dead…”

“Of… Of course… How can I cheat on you…” 

I’m sorry.

Things were going to unfold  in a frightening manner.

I could feel the guilt surge up inside me, but I had to cheat so that I could live together with Hayeon longer in the future.

I shut my eyes and collected my thoughts.

Hayeon guided me, she was in a good mood after I gave her my promise.

A cafe at Hanok Village.

A hanbok rental shop.

A restaurant with a food concept from the old days.

“Sijoon, hurry up and come over here!”

As we spent time together, she pranced around Hanok Village as if she became Chunhyang1 and took pictures to upload on social media.

Right now, she looked happy without a worry in her eyes.

The gate opens tomorrow anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

I captured her image with my eyes and enjoyed the moment as well.

Hayeon had confessed, but we had a happy relationship, and nothing turned bad.

It just gotten a little bit sweeter.

We were always the same.

 ***

After free time was over, our class gathered at the hotel in Hanok Village.

Unlike the real world, it was a three-star hotel that only existed in V. AGE.

The exterior had been built in a similar style to a hanok, but the interior was no different from a modern hotel, giving a clean impression.

The students moved to their rooms as Kang Suho instructed them to.

After I told Hayeon I’d see her later, I walked toward the room.

It might be a hotel, but they couldn’t give one room to each student.

And I didn’t know if this Hanok Village hotel had separate rooms for school trips, but I got to share a room with four male students.

There were five beds inside, and fortunately, it was more than spacious enough for five people to dwell in.

But all of a sudden, I fell into yearning.

…I miss Hana.

Hana slept soundly next to me as she emitted a scent of pink cotton candy.

But what was up with these sweaty men?

They were going through their luggage with their muscular bodies, making a mess of the room floor.

I had to spend the day with them?

Seriously?

Me?

Since my everyday life had been smothered with women, I was a tad disappointed by that situation.

While I thought that, I knew it couldn’t be helped, so I unpacked my belongings and went to have dinner at the restaurant.

Then the students were given free time.

The amount of time given was enough to get some sleep, but I was looking at my phone and just cutting some time.

Bzz!

My cell phone rang at that moment.

When I checked it, there was a text message from Hayeon.

–Sijoon. Come out. I’m bored.

Hayeon was bored and was telling me to come out.

What a relief…

Had it not been for her, I probably would suffocate n this dreary space.

A space with only five men.

Plus I wasn’t close with them, so there was an awkward air.

“Guys, I’m going out, I’ll be back.”

“Uh huh… See you later…”

I addressed them before I left the room.

I walked down the hall, and after I exited the hotel lobby, Hayeon was waiting for me there.

As soon as she saw me, she wore a mischievous smile.

”You’re late. Han Sijoon!”

“I came out on time. You’re just saying I’m late all the time, aren’t you?”

“Dunno?”

Hayeon replied to me with a look of doubt that read, “Did I?”

That was definitely a look to make fun of me.

She told me to follow her and pulled my hand along.

“Since we ate and rested up, we should take a stroll, right? Let’s go. I heard there’s a nice spot.”

 “A stroll is the same here or there. What’s the difference…”

“…Idiot, who’s clueless about romance, shut it and follow me!”

What did romance have to do with going on a walk?

I had no choice but to follow Hayeon, who led me with her hand.

…There’s a lot of couples.

Outside the hotel, there were many couples on a night walk.

I wonder if we looked like a couple amongst them.

When the strange thought crossed my mind, I turned my head to Hayeon.

…So you’re the same too.

Childhood friends could understand each other’s thoughts.

Perhaps having the same thought as me, Hayeon was blushing as she looked at the couples.

“Ahem… S…Shall we go too?”

“Y…Yeah, let’s.”

Hayeon and I held hands and walked towards where she was guiding me.

Among so many people, I wonder what we looked like to them?

Not childhood friends, but couples.

We certainly would have looked like that.

 ***

After we walked and some time had passed, Hayeon shouted at me proudly, as if to announce we had arrived.

“Ta-da! This is it! The place I found!”

“Oh…” 

She had every right to be proud.

When I saw the entire view of the Hanok Village, I couldn’t help but to let out a sound of awe.

This place was a hill on the outskirts of Hanok Village.

Since there was no one there, it looked to be a place for only people who knew about it.

I don’t know how Hayeon found it, but her choice of location was worth the praise which I haven’t done in a long time.

“Are you really, Yoo Hayeon? How can you know about a place like this?”

“Hehe. Something like this, I can do easily. It came when I searched on social media.”

Did I compliment her too much?

Hayeon shrugged as if it was only natural, while looking full of herself.

Her smug expression made me want to pick on her a little.

“For you to bring me to a secluded place like this…you’re planning to ruthlessly jump me, aren’t you?

“Do… Do you think that I’m you…!? What… What I had in mind was…”

What the…did she really plan on doing it?

Hayeon panicked, as if she was caught redhanded.

“What secret motive do you have to bring me here?! Answer me, Hayeon!”

“…”

Hayeon stood there without saying anything to my playful comments.

…Did I overdo it with the teasing?

She then suddenly raised her head and revealed her hidden intention.

“…Sijoon. Do the thing you did before one more time.”

“You…really were.”

When it became evident that she had actually brought me to this secluded place to jump on me, Hayeon revealed her hidden motive.

She walked over to me with soft steps.

“There’s no one here, so… T-That thing… Do it one more time…”

Hayeon held my sleeve as she wore a smile which indicated I couldn’t escape.

Afterwards, I lent her my lips until she was satisfied.

Footnotes:

1Chunhyang is the main female lead of the Korean folk tale, “The Tale of Chunhyang.” It’s a classic love story that’s like Romeo and Juliet.