episode_0403

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I’m well aware of how hard Da-bin’s been trying.

Ever since that incident on my birthday, her attitude’s become oddly compliant.

I’m well aware of it.

Even though she finds it annoying, she still humors me—someone who loves going out.

I’m well aware of it.

Even when I order from my favorite restaurants or pick my favorite dishes, she doesn’t get annoyed like before and just goes along with it.

I’m well aware of it.

The meaning behind the double date… Honestly, I’m not entirely sure.

But Da-bin, who used to hate drawing male attention because of her looks, even wore a bikini for me.

I’m well aware of it.

Why else would she?

Of course, it must be to erase the awkwardness between us since that day.

Or maybe because neither of us even mentions it, as if carving the memory out of our minds.

Normally, I wouldn’t have the time to dwell on it, but one way or another, we’re both adults.

When I’m with Da-bin, it just… comes to mind. Naturally. Suddenly.

Even though Da-bin doesn’t say a word, I’m sure she feels the same.

After getting drunk, boldly pushing her down, and even undressing her—

I was so stunned by her reaction that I couldn’t even go through with it and stopped.

No matter how much I want to forget, there’s no way I could.

Honestly, since way back… no, to be blunt, fucking often—

I’d worried, What if Da-bin reacts like that when the day comes?

And then it actually happened.

There’s no way I wouldn’t notice why Da-bin, who’s always been indifferent since childhood, is suddenly so attentive.

…But what am I supposed to do about it?

“Teacher, can I have a plate? It’s almost done cooking.”

“Ah, I’ll grill it for you soon.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been eating while grilling anyway. See, I’m still chewing? Don’t suddenly make me unemployed…”

Me.

Ever since that day…

…With just the usual stuff, well…

It doesn’t really… work.

No matter how hard you try.

It doesn’t seem like it’ll get better right away.

I think I need…

Some time.

…What do I do?

403

I pour alcohol into Seo Woo-jin’s already empty glass.

“Let me pour for you—” He takes the bottle from my hand and fills my glass in return.

I silently watch Ha-yoon, already swaying, bring a new bottle of cola from the icebox.

Clink.

Our four cups meet with a pretty sound.

Half filled with a fair amount of alcohol.

Half filled with sugary drinks.

The sky, once ablaze with sunset, has now deepened into a starry navy blue.

Above us, the Milky Way flows in faint, indistinct shapes—far humbler than the dazzling images seen in photos.

If that’s the bridge from the legend, I doubt “Gyeon-woo and Jik-nyeo” could cross it. Realistically, they’d probably just stop at either end, never meeting.

Forever.

…Come to think of it, wasn’t it the crows and magpies that let them cross, not the Milky Way itself?

It’s been too long since I read it—I can’t remember.

With idle thoughts and an alcohol-laced sigh, I refill the empty glasses in front of me and Woo-jin with soju and beer.

The chilled liquor flows from the bottle, cold enough to sting my fingers.

“You’re going to keep drinking?”

“For a while, yeah.”

“…Last time too, how do you not show any signs of being drunk?”

“It’s just on the surface. I’ve made plenty of mistakes while drunk.”

“What kind of mistakes?”

“Hmm~… Like going to the wrong house?”

“Ah… Well… If it’s a corridor-style apartment, that makes sense…”

But I couldn’t imagine Woo-jin living in such an apartment.

A healing-type guy like him? More like the luxurious villas of chaebols you see on YouTube.

As I puzzled over how he could mistake his own house, Ha-yoon, sipping cola beside him, chimed in.

“When I went to Woo-jin’s place last time… It was kinda easy to get confused…”

“…What was it like?”

“He said living alone in a big house is a waste of money… So it’s in front of the academy…”

“…….”

For the record, Ha-yoon only had one soju-beer mix before switching to cola.

Yet she was already tipsy, her efficiency impressive. Clicking my tongue briefly, I turned to Woo-jin beside her—

Noticing how the drunk Ha-yoon was affectionately leaning against his shoulder.

“I just live in a studio. Right in front of the academy. A little over 30 square meters. Haven’t I mentioned it before?”

“…Frugal… of you?”

“More like lazy. Big houses are a hassle to maintain. Hiring help feels wasteful. And calling in professionals is stressful for privacy reasons.”

“Hmm…”

Privacy?

…Like, if cleaners found used condoms spilling out of the trash?

I was a little curious, but I didn’t press for details.

If I were sober, maybe—but I’d had enough alcohol that I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t slip up.

Ha-yoon still doesn’t know I’m aware of her and her sister’s relationship with Woo-jin.

Baek Ji-ho is the same.

And neither knows Woo-jin once confided in me, “I’m having too much sex and it’s a problem.”

One wrong word, and this two-day trip’s good mood could crumble.

Before drinking more, I sealed my lips and raised my glass.

Soon, the three of us (minus Ji-ho, who was grilling meat) clinked glasses lightly—

And Woo-jin, downing his in one go, tapped the table with his index finger.

“…Ah. Just in case, let me say this. Don’t get the rooms mixed up.”

Finally, a slight slur in his usually crisp speech.

His dark eyes looked hazier than usual too.

“Would I mix that up? …Unless I’m as drunk as Ha-yoon clinging to you.”

“I’m not drunk…….”

“Just saying. Since we’re all… couples and all.”

I get it.

Ha-yoon and him, me and Ji-ho.

It’d be awkward if we walked in on each other mid-sex, so don’t screw up.

Naturally, couples would do that—so he’s setting the premise.

No wonder he confessed to having too much sexual desire.

Lost in thought, I gulped down the rest of my drink and replied flatly.

“Probably won’t happen. Don’t worry.”

The barbecue ended on a high note.

All that’s left is cleanup and… …the challenge.

Luckily, today’s Baek Ji-ho wasn’t as wasted as during the last double date.

A little tipsy, but that’s it.

Not nauseous like last time—conditions are perfect.

A new location.

Just the two of us, no parents.

Alcohol.

The natural mood.

This should make up for last time’s failure.

Worried Ji-ho might shower first and fall asleep, I went ahead and washed up.

Then I sat by the bed, waiting for him to finish.

When he finally approached—

An unexpected answer came.

“No.”

“…Huh?”

“I said no. …I’m tired too.”

Well, we went to the beach and grilled a ton of meat.

It’s understandable if he’s too tired.

I had no intention of arguing.

But the tone in Ji-ho’s voice wasn’t just a simple “no.”

It wasn’t that he wanted to but had a reason not to—

It was that he just… didn’t want to.

That’s how it felt.

“Let’s do it next time. I’ll rest today… We have plans to hit up some good restaurants tomorrow, right?”

“…Yeah.”

But I couldn’t confront him just because it felt that way.

All I could do was hope time would fix it.

“….”

…Hope time would fix it.

For a moment, I found it absurd that I’d once advised Woo-jin about his sexual frustrations.

Contrary to plans, nothing happened as we lay side by side in bed.

After exchanging goodnights, about an hour passed.

“…Ghk……. …Phew…”

“…….”

…Ji-ho. You’ve got terrible sleep habits.

Not loud enough to keep me awake, but his light snoring—

“……Sigh….”

No choice.

Tonight, I’ll just…

Sleep in the living room.

Pillow in one hand, blanket in the other.

I draped the sun-fresh blanket over my head and stepped into the living room.

Unlike the bedroom, there were no mood lights—just the glow from my phone.

Treading softly to avoid disturbing the others, I headed to the sofa.

It was already past midnight.

But with strong AC, a cozy blanket, and a sofa just as good as a bed, I’d fall asleep soon.

Plugging my phone into a power bank, I closed my eyes.

“…….”

Just outside—a luxurious pension overlooking the sea.

But with the door closed, the sound of waves doesn’t reach us.

The late-night birds flying in flocks are silent too. Only visible through the window.

Even the usual chirping of insects is absent.

The sound of Ji-ho snoring in the bedroom is gone too.

So.

It should be quiet enough to sleep.

“…….”

The bedroom.

Not mine—the other one.

A faint sound seeped out, making strange thoughts flit through my mind.

…If it’s the creaking of a bed,

Obviously.

It’s that, right?

“Ugh….”

Forcing my eyes shut, I eventually pulled the blanket off my lips and sat up.

Much quieter than Ji-ho’s snoring, but still—how could I sleep with this on my mind?

At this rate, I’ll be waiting for Woo-jin to finish before I can sleep.

…Maybe I should knock and politely ask them to keep it down so I can sleep?

No need to see their faces, and the message gets across.

A text might not be read in time.

This is the most gentlemanly solution among drastic measures.

Just as I resolved to do so and approached Woo-jin and Ha-yoon’s room—

“Lee Ha-yoon. I’ll get water, so rest for now…….”

“…….”

Knock, knock— The door I was about to rap on

Was suddenly yanked open from inside.

“…….”

Ha-yoon, face buried in a pillow, breathing heavily in pleasure.

…Something white and translucent, smeared all over.

Veins bulging grotesquely.

Slightly larger than Ha-yoon’s description…, …just a bit.

A throbbing cock, nothing like my boyfriend’s, glistening with sweat.

Woo-jin, drenched, flinching at the sight of me.

His nose wrinkling as if troubled.

“…Noona, wait a sec.”

Me, whose only exposure to sex was through screens—

Filling my head with giant question marks.

Dumbfounded.

Unable to speak.

Just staring.