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Episode 19: Can’t we eat at home? (2)

“You messed up and act like that.”

“Ugh…”

Rolling over.

The woman rolling on the edge of the bed was none other than Jung Ah-young.

The towel was already far away.

Despite being the one who should feel uncomfortable, she was rather eager to take care of him.

Shaking with embarrassment and a trembling body.

It seemed like she wouldn’t be able to get out of this groggy state for a while.

I should make some food.

“I’ll use the kitchen.”

“Uh-huh…”

She lightly took off her coat.

It was almost lunchtime, and having leisure time was quite nice.

Leaving work early does have its perks.

Leaving Jung Ah-young still feeling embarrassed, she headed towards the kitchen.

It might be impolite to open someone else’s fridge, but since she had permission, it didn’t matter.

Is it because they live well?

It was a middle-class household if it was an apartment in Seoul.

The fridge was filled with abundant side dishes and ingredients.

Kimchi stew would be perfect for soup, right?

There’s mackerel too, so grilling it and eating it with the side dishes should be good.

Shall we start cooking then?

Bubbling.

After the towel incident.

Still caught in a state of embarrassment, Jung Ah-young could regain her senses from the scent piercing her nose.

The smell coming from the kitchen.

It was the aroma of kimchi stew that makes Koreans’ DNA react and mouths water.

Jung Ah-young’s nose twitched.

Since she mostly ate instant food rather than home-cooked meals due to being stuck at home.

However.

Strangely, thinking that Han Se-in made it.

Her stomach growled incessantly at the thought.

Her body moved instinctively.

“Ah…”

Jung Ah-young’s mouth fell open.

Han Se-in wearing an apron.

It was enough to make her heart flutter.

As if dazed, she blinked as she looked at him.

“It’s almost ready. Let’s eat.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Are you hungry? The food is almost done.”

“T-Thank you.”

Her face was flushed.

His appearance, smiling as he checked the seasoning with the apron on, was provocative.

The desire to see him every day emerged.

To live with him, to see his face every day.

Eating the meal he prepared.

Playing with him.

Falling asleep.

And…

“Jung Ah-young!”

“Ah, huh? Yes!”

“Why are you just staring?”

“Ah… S-Sorry.”

She got lost in another thought.

Jung Ah-young self-blamed as she blankly stared at Han Se-in.

His narrowed eyes, though seemingly resentful, held a special emotion within their gaze.

Due to the hatred and negativity from many students.

She could sensitively perceive others’ emotions.

Of course, within the realm of hatred or negative emotions.

This kind of gaze was somewhat special.

Clearly frowning, expressing discomfort to herself.

But there was affection within it.

Thump, thump.

She couldn’t afford to be lost forever.

Reality was not warm enough to consider her feelings.

“Let me serve the rice, I’ll bring the side dishes.”

“Uh-huh…”

There was no room for distraction.

She wanted to look at his refined eyes more, but she didn’t want to receive his resentment.

Scooping the rice and placing it on the table.

“I’ll do it.”

“Oh, thank you.”

It was a pot that looked heavy at first glance.

Of course, it was heavy from Han Se-in’s perspective; Jung Ah-young didn’t think much about the weight and size.

Is it that women are women in their own way?

While transferring the stew, just as she was about to place it on the table.

“Ouch!”

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, hot…”

It wasn’t a severe burn.

It wasn’t even a first-degree burn, but a subconscious reaction.

“Where, where does it hurt?”

“Uh…? Ugh.”

Han Se-in quickly approached, carrying a side dish container.

Placing the side dishes on the table, he gently held her hand.

In an instant, Jung Ah-young’s body stiffened.

More than the pain felt in her index finger, the warmth of his touch felt even hotter.

“Ugh…”

“Look. Does it hurt a lot?”

His hand enveloped hers atop Jung Ah-young’s.

Perhaps due to the difference in hand sizes, there was a somewhat awkward nuance to the touch.

Yet, it was enough to stimulate her heart.

No, it was more than just stimulation; it was a moment that transcended mere provocation.

“…!!”

“Shh.”

Jung Ah-young’s eyes widened.

The moist and warm sensation traveled through her fingers.

As the hot finger that had touched hers entered Han Se-in’s mouth.

Normally, she would have worried about infection from touching something hot or being in cold water.

But with his finger in her mouth, it was difficult to keep a clear mind.

“W-what are you doing…”

“You’re so cute when you’re flustered…”

“Ugh…”

Was it necessary to speak while sucking on a finger?

Occasionally feeling the warm texture of his tongue, Jung Ah-young’s body trembled.

A shivering body.

Naturally, erotic fantasies began to emerge.

What if what Han Se-in was licking wasn’t her finger… but somewhere else?

“Um, I need to use the restroom for a moment!!!”

“Oh, um… go ahead.”

Ignoring Han Se-in’s voice,

Jung Ah-young hurried towards the bathroom as if fleeing.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Desperate breaths.

Her relentlessly pounding heart even conveyed a tightening sensation.

It was hard to calm down.

The finger that had just been in his mouth came into view.

Jung Ah-young’s eyes quivered.

Underneath her still-moist saliva-covered finger, her eyes shook.

Her breathing still trembling, her mouth slightly parted.

Han Se-in’s saliva.

The finger he had put in his mouth…?

It was an instinctive movement.

Driven solely by desire.

Slowly, she brought the finger he had sucked on to her own lips.

And then…

“….”

Naturally, saliva met saliva.

Nothing else happened.

However, Jung Ah-young’s body lightly trembled.

Trembling legs.

Her lowered hand fumbled over her panties.

“Ah, haah… oh my…”

She was wet.

She had become wet.

Should she change her panties? What should she do?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Jung Ah-young decided to endure the discomfort.

As long as she didn’t spread her legs and lift her skirt, there was no risk of being caught.

Only the responsibility of self-loathing remained.

She sighed, looked at her finger, then opened the door.

It was more of a surprise at the heat than a burn.

Her finger had already healed long ago.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s eat.”

Ultimately, it all came back to food.

Not a big deal, after all.

Although Han Se-in seemed unfazed,

Jung Ah-young ate her meal with her head bowed for a long time.

After that, nothing major happened.

It’s unclear where to draw the line for something significant.

There were no instances of Jung Ah-young forcibly covering him or undressing him, so perhaps everything was fine?

Though she occasionally displayed impulsive behaviors driven by desire,

Jung Ah-young surprisingly had excellent self-control.

To be precise, one could say she managed to hold onto her rationality?

Or perhaps she was just a coward, unaware of her actions.

“I won!”

“…Is that something to brag about?”

“S-sorry…”

Of course, you’d be better at it.

It’s your home console, after all.

Trying to recall memories from a past life, it was a game type she had never seen before.

It was something like a PlayStation or Xbox.

The game inside was a new kind of fighting game.

I lost.

Five times, no less.

Well, winning wasn’t the goal, so I wasn’t sad.

Rather than feeling angry, I appreciated seeing Jung Ah-young genuinely happy after winning.

I thought she was just being a pushover. But that’s not it?

Watching TV, watching movies.

Playing games made time fly by, and before I knew it, it was already heading towards 5 o’clock.

The time I should have left.

“Ah-young, I…”

“Well, what should we do now!”

Gotta go home, you fool.

It’s so blatantly obvious that laughter couldn’t help but escape.

At first, I pretended to go along with it.

But wait, it’s already 5 o’clock!

Originally, it’s time to go home or at least prepare dinner for Han Se-yeon.

I can’t lose this time.

Han Se-yeon didn’t seem too pleased in our text exchange.

Dinner had to be eaten at home.

“We should go home…”

“Ah… I see.”

Her head drooped like a dejected puppy.

Not anymore. It’s really not okay.

Even if you look at me with those sad eyes, Ah-young, it’s no use.

“We’re not going to live here forever.”

“Oh, I see… Is that so?”

Why do you like her?

Though spoken without much thought, her face turned as red as a beet.

I must leave now.

As I rose from the sofa, a sound from the front door froze me in place.

[Beep, beep, beep, beep.]

-Ring ring!

“Ah-young~”

“We’re here~”

A middle-aged couple entered through the front door.

They were Jung Ah-young’s parents.

What should I do? Conversing with older adults in a topsy-turvy world was a first.

It’s one thing with school teachers.

But conversing with a friend’s parents felt like my brain was freezing.

“Oh, hello…”

“Oh my. Who is this?”

“Oh, um?!”

It was clear whose genes Jung Ah-young inherited.

Her mother seemed sociable but her father looked curious with lively eyes.

A vibrant couple, to say the least.

“Oh, Mom. Dad.”

“She’s a classmate.”

Carefully scanning their faces, I felt their scrutinizing gaze.

Eyes full of warmth.

“Our Ah-young… has a friend?!”

“Oh, Mom…!!”

“Come on in. Have you eaten? Let’s eat together.”

“Yes, sure…?”

This is bad.

I was planning to decline.

“Aren’t your parents worried?”

“Haha…”

“Since I can take care of it, make sure to eat before you leave.”

Jung Ah-young’s parents didn’t seem inclined to let me go.

They weren’t particularly empathetic, but they seemed to understand something.

Their child, who never had a friend in her life, brings a friend home? And a boy at that?

They definitely won’t just let me go.

“I’ll… send a text…”

“Sure, sure. Make yourself comfortable!”

“Yes…”

What should I text my sister…?