episode_0126

“Phew…”

I dropped my gym bag as soon as I got home and took a deep breath.

That feeling of satisfaction, of living life to the fullest, that I always got after returning from the gym.

It was one of the reasons why I consistently made time for the gym, even amidst my busy school life and three girlfriends.

‘Three girlfriends…’

I felt a renewed sense of gratitude.

Dating three people at once was something I could never have dreamed of in normal circumstances.

When the four of us met up for a meal together for the first time a week ago, I was so proud watching my girlfriends chat happily with each other.

Thanks to them, I had a great past week, and that feeling was set to continue from now on.

It was currently one o’clock on Saturday afternoon.

Minah was supposed to come over to my place in an hour.

Seo had plans with her friends, and Yuna was on a broadcast, so I would be spending time with Minah alone.

*Ding-dong. Ding-dong.*

The sound of the doorbell broke me out of my relaxed state in my room.

I hurried out to the living room and opened the front door to find Minah waiting.

“Minah!”

“J-Jihoon.”

“Come on in. It wasn’t too hot outside, was it?”

“N-no…”

She avoided my eyes, her cheeks flushed red as she answered.

It wasn’t her first time coming to my place alone, but she seemed more shy than usual today.

That wasn’t the only thing that stood out.

The paper bag she was holding carefully in both hands.

I was about to ask what was inside when I was cut off by her voice.

“H-honey, did you wait long…?”

“…Huh?”

Did I hear that wrong?

As if answering my question, Minah spoke again.

“I wanted to see you too, so I came as quickly as I could…”

“Honey” was a term I hadn’t even heard from Seo or Yuna, who I started dating before her.

While I was still surprised, she upped the ante by linking arms with me.

“Seo said it’s okay for me to stay over tonight… Let’s have a good time together, honey!”

She spoke in a timid, hesitant voice, but when she added the word “honey” at the end, she put unnatural emphasis on it.

Seeing her act so out of character, there must be a reason for it.

Perhaps she wanted to show me a different side of herself, now that we were officially dating.

Not wanting to ruin her efforts, I decided not to ask and just go along with it.

“Shall we?”

“Yeah. D-did you eat, h-honey?”

Now that she mentioned it, I realized I was hungry since I hadn’t had a proper meal after working out.

“No, I haven’t. I just got back from the gym. Do you want to eat now if you haven’t eaten either?”

“Then I’ll prepare it. You must be tired from working out, so you can relax. Okay?”

She told me to relax, but I felt bad just sitting around, so I helped with the meal prep in my own way.

The finished menu was kimchi fried rice, made simply with the ingredients we had at home.

Of course, thanks to Minah, it tasted infinitely better than when I made it myself.

“Jihoon, no, honey, is it good?”

“Yes, it’s so delicious! It’s the same ingredients I use, but it tastes completely different.”

“Really? That’s a relief…”

Minah fell silent as soon as she answered my words.

Then, she scooped up a spoonful of the fried rice she was eating and held it out to me.

“Here, honey. Say ‘ahh’…”

“Huh? Ah! Ahh… Mmm, it’s delicious.”

I was caught off guard for a moment before belatedly accepting the rice she was offering.

Even though she was acting differently than usual, I didn’t expect her to go this far.

Wait, should I feed her too?

When the four of us ate out last week, Minah was shy and refused when I tried to feed her.

As if my worries were unfounded, she looked at me with expectant eyes.

I quickly scooped up a spoonful and held it out to her.

“Here, Minah.”

“Oh my. Th-thank you… Ahh!”

I could feel Minah’s embarrassment, which made me feel awkward too.

Still, the food was delicious, and the time we were spending together was enjoyable, and that was what mattered.

After we finished eating, chatting about various things, we sat on the sofa in the living room and watched a movie on TV.

“The movie was so much fun. R-right, honey?”

Minah said, clapping lightly.

She was still awkward in her words and expressions, trying to maintain a lively tone and the title of “honey” that she didn’t usually use.

I had been trying to pretend not to notice, but at this point, I thought I should have a talk with her.

“Minah.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re acting different today, can I ask why?”

“…”

“It’s just that it seems like you’re trying too hard.”

“Ah… Is it that obvious?”

She looked embarrassed and avoided my eyes as she continued.

“Now that we’re dating… I was worried that I’m too stiff.”

“What do you mean?”

“Unlike people your age, I’m not very affectionate or outgoing. I thought maybe I don’t seem like someone who’s in a relationship… So I thought you might be disappointed or find me boring…”

It was a completely unexpected story from my perspective, so much so that I couldn’t have imagined she would have such thoughts.

Me being disappointed because she’s not affectionate or reserved?

I wondered if there was a separate reason that led Minah to lose confidence in herself.

“Me being disappointed?”

“Last time at the restaurant, I was the only one who refused when you tried to feed me…”

“Last time? Ah.”

Now I understood the situation and her words to some extent.

She must have said she’s not affectionate because of seeing Yuna.

‘I guess she could feel that way.’

Minah was particularly conscious of the fact that she was older than me.

In that situation, it wasn’t strange for her to feel like she was too reserved when she saw Yuna’s liveliness.

But she didn’t need to lose confidence in herself.

After all, I liked Minah for who she was.

Minah, not knowing my true feelings, continued in a listless voice.

“I wish I could be more affectionate and expressive like the younger girls, but I’m sorry and anxious that I can’t…”

It seemed like it was quite a serious concern for her.

I took her hand, which was sitting next to me, so that Minah could feel at ease.

“You don’t have to be anxious.”

“Jihoon?”

“You don’t have to try to change for me. I like you the way you are.”

“Really?”

I smiled at her, letting her know that it wasn’t a serious problem at all.

“Of course. That’s why I confessed to you. Because I like the way you usually are.”

“…”

“Minah, Seo, and Yuna all have their own charms, and I like them all equally. So don’t worry and don’t try to change unnecessarily.”

“…Thank you, Jihoon. I guess I was unnecessarily anxious, thinking that something had to change now that we’re dating.”

Her expression was much lighter, thankfully, as if my sincerity had been conveyed.

“Oh, what did you bring with you? I thought you would have told me first, but you didn’t say anything.”

“Huh? Ah, there was a post online about a girlfriend surprising her boyfriend with a sexy costume. I thought maybe if I did that for you, I would seem more like a girlfriend…”

“Oh.”

“You said I don’t have to try to change, so I’m just going to return it. I’m too embarrassed to wear it anyway…”

My soaring expectations were shattered.

To think that I wouldn’t be able to see the outfit that Minah of all people had prepared.

This was a problem I couldn’t just let pass.

“Minah.”

“Yeah?”

“There are two ways to make someone angry.”

“What are they…?”

“One is to start talking and not finish, and the other is to mention a sexy outfit and not wear it.”

===

Thump-thump.

My heart raced with anticipation.

Currently, Minah was in my room, changing into the outfit she had brought.

I was waiting in the quiet living room for her to finish.

‘What kind of costume will it be? I’m so excited.’

-J-Jihoon! I’m done…

Finally, I heard the okay sign from beyond my door.

I immediately opened the door and saw Minah waiting for me with a flushed face and a different outfit.

The outfit she had chosen was a nurse’s uniform.

She even wore a nurse’s hat, but she looked very different from the nurses you would normally see in a hospital.

The short skirt barely covered her thighs and even seemed to reveal her panties.

The uniform clung tightly to her body, revealing her waistline.

Those alone were enough to please the eyes, but the main point was right above.

Her large breasts spilled out from the wide-open top, barely supported by a micro bikini.

“…”

“I-is it weird? I guess it doesn’t suit an old woman like me…?”

Her voice felt dejected, as if she had taken my silence negatively.

However, the reason I couldn’t say anything wasn’t because the nurse’s uniform didn’t suit her.

It was because the black bikini and her breasts, which contrasted with the pure white outfit, had left me speechless.

“Ah, really… I shouldn’t have done something unnecessary… Sorry, Jihoon. I’ll change back.”

“No! You look amazing right now!”

“Really…?”

She asked as if she couldn’t believe it, so I nodded my head vigorously.

“Yes. You’re so pretty and sexy, it’s the best.”

“That’s a relief… Then, should I continue with the event I prepared?”

She had more prepared, this must be happiness.

She took my expectant hand and pulled me to sit on the bed.

“T-then, I will…”

Her face was even redder than when she forced herself to call me honey.

Soon, her trembling voice was heard in my ear.

“P-patient… What seems to be the problem…?”