episode_0428

The gloomy morning atmosphere lingered well past lunchtime.

A stifling discomfort paired with crisp coolness. The damp, earthy scent unique to rain.

And cars splashing through puddled roads as they sped by.

Too busy gauging Hayoon’s mood indoors, I had momentarily forgotten—but outside the academy, all these sensations pressed against my skin.

Especially when, just moments ago, someone carelessly plowed through a puddle without a care for who stood nearby. Impossible not to notice.

…Little bastards with zero manners.

Sure, you can’t dodge every puddle while driving, but on a day like this, would it kill you to slow down? Would I feel differently if I were the driver?

Lost in thought, I trudged through the late summer downpour beneath a large umbrella and turned to ask my friends around me:

“So, what are we eating? We just gonna keep wandering around?”

“That’s for you to decide, Dabin. I’ve just been following you.”

“…Huh? That makes no sense. What about the rest of you?”

“I was following her.”

“…Jesus.”

So for the past five minutes since we left for lunch, we’d all just been aimlessly drifting without a destination.

A laugh escaped me at the absurdity before I quickly swallowed it. Deciding to go with the flow, I opted to roll with whatever felt natural.

At this point, rather than stubbornly picking a place, stumbling upon a random shop and discovering something delicious might leave a better memory.

If anything, it aligned perfectly with Baek Jiho’s mindset. Normally, I’d consider that indecisiveness, but…

Today, I chose to play along.

Mostly because gauging Hayoon’s mood all morning had drained me.

…And because this was my first meal with friends since Baek Jiho dropped out of the academy.

Not that I hadn’t eaten with them occasionally before—life just hadn’t allowed it often.

But that was all in the past.

Anyway, since things turned out this way, I had to follow their lead and find a place that “naturally caught our eye.”

In the distance—no idea why—my gaze lingered on a pasta shop.

“Oh, it’s Hayoon.”

“For real? She’s with the nurse and… who’s that?”

“Oh right, Hayoon has a sister, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, right. That’s her. I saw her last time too. At the festival, all three of them were together.”

“…….”

Following my friends’ voices, I lowered my gaze.

Far ahead, three figures huddled close.

Only two umbrellas.

One in Seo Woojin’s hand, the other in Jiyoon’s.

It had been raining since morning, so Hayoon must have had one—weird.

Unless she was deliberately sticking to Woojin’s side like some cheesy Japanese romance movie couple sharing an umbrella.

The only reason I could think of was Hayoon flaunting her closeness with Woojin—but that didn’t seem like her.

She was the type to shy away from showing off.

Even when she aced the first semester finals, her reaction was just humble embarrassment.

Then why act like this now?

…….

…Was it because of Jiyoon beside her?

Was that the reason?

A sisterly power play?

I shook my head, dismissing the melodramatic thought before trailing after my friends.

“Let’s just grab toast here, sis.”

“But wouldn’t something with rice be better for lunch? You should eat something filling—”

“My feet hurt. Fine, rock-paper-scissors. I don’t care what we eat.”

“Hayoon-ah!”

“…?”

Hearing her name, she immediately turned—followed by the other two.

But with our group of four (me included), the sidewalk was already feeling cramped.

And running into Woojin with Hayoon right there?

Awkward as hell.

So I subtly stepped aside, pretending not to notice Woojin’s lingering gaze.

“Hayoon-ah! Hi! Hi, teacher! And Hayoon’s sister!”

“She really is her sister? The more I look, the more alike they seem…”

“Is this your first time seeing her? I told you I saw her at the festival.”

“We were practically getting trampled, how was I supposed to notice anything, you psycho?”

“They stand out, okay? All three of them.”

“Were you just there to scout for hookups instead of enjoying the festival?”

“Isn’t that what festivals are for?”

“Oh, Hayoon! Wanna grab lunch together? There’s four of us over by the bus stop. With you guys, seven.”

Then it happened.

Amid their chaotic back-and-forth, one friend blurted out an invite for a group lunch.

I wanted to clamp their mouth shut, but you can’t do that on a crowded sidewalk at noon.

So I silently prayed—please decline, please just decline—until Woojin smiled warmly and answered.

“That’s kind of you, but seven might be too crowded. Plus, it’s pouring today.”

“Mm… guess you’re right.”

“When the weather’s nicer, we’ll treat you if we run into each other.”

“Wait, for real? You’re not just saying that to be polite, right?”

“Of course.”

Please learn some damn manners.

I bit my tongue, swallowing the words.

With nothing better to do, I stole a glance at Woojin—relieved to find his expression still gentle as ever.

A far cry from the pervert I’d seen, eyes lit up only for a certain woman when our bodies tangled.

In private, his expressions were honest and vivid—even if he disliked something, he’d stiffen or click his tongue.

Guess his public mask was thicker than I thought.

Either way, dodging the group lunch was a win.

Staring vacantly as the trio walked away, I nudged my friends in the opposite direction, ensuring we wouldn’t cross paths again.

“Let’s grab pasta. That place, second floor right there.”

Hearing his voice after just a few days—

…Regardless of my will—

My lower abdomen pulsed, sticky heat pooling.

I forced myself to ignore it.

So, where to even begin?

After committing a bad act while my boyfriend might have been listening—

I somehow ended up pushing the 9-inch dildo I’d bought all the way in.

…No. Not able. A different word fits better.

Preference. Taste. Liking.

In other words—

That.

My preference.

Before, when I used a dildo, I’d leave enough space at the base to grip it.

Not anymore.

All the way to the root.

Just like when Woojin fucked me—all the way to the hilt. That became my preference.

Embarrassing, but I won’t hide it.

Not like I could—Woojin would figure it out the moment he moved me however he pleased.

Hell, this mess started because he caught me buying a dildo that resembled him in the first place.

Regardless, I’d been avoiding sticking the dildo to the wall to masturbate lately.

Before, thrusting never made my ass press against the wall, but now—

I had to arch so hard my hips practically dented the wall just to take it all.

…If I dared do that knowing Jiho was on the other side?

He’d hear it. Not as some muffled thumps—

But loud, shameless skin-slapping.

So now, I had two options:

Either fix it to the floor and ride.

Or grip the suction cup and stroke like crazy.

Rotating between these was my routine.

Especially on high-libido days when doing the same position three or four times was impossible.

…Ah.

Right.

Come to think of it, my sessions had skyrocketed too.

Frequency.

Duration.

Everything.

“…Hhk…, …No…, Haa……”

After finishing the first day of the semester without incident,

I headed straight for my usual stress relief upon getting home.

Both parents were still at work. Now was my only window to indulge without worry.

So—without even showering—I retrieved the hidden dildo,

Spread a freshly laundered towel on the bed,

Brought the warmed toy over,

Locked the door just in case.

Bit down on the hem of my undershirt beneath my uniform blouse,

Hitched my white panties to the side,

And started teasing myself until I was dripping wet.

Of course, the downside was keeping quiet—but small sacrifices.

Panting as silently as possible,

Even muffling myself with a pillow when needed.

That way, Jiho next door wouldn’t hear.

“Ngh…, Khh…. Ugh……”

The dildo—warmed in the microwave to mimic human heat but slightly softer—

I plunged it in deep, over and over.

Watching the faint outline bulge against my lower belly as I took every inch.

The sticky fluids stringing obscenely when I pulled it out, dragging along my walls.

Burning the sight into my mind.

“Nhh…, Oh…, Ahk….”

And what I pictured then—

Inevitably.

“Baek… Jiho…. …Haa…”

The man who fucked me in this same position.

The man who took calls mid-thrust, who tried to cheat right under my nose.

The man who deliberately compared himself to Jiho as he pounded into me deep and hard.

Who suddenly gripped my ankle, bit down, made me clench as he kept fucking.

Whose eyes burned with hunger as he looked down at me.

The man who wanted me.

“……, …. ……Hhk, It’s so…,”

Swallowing his name—only in my head.

Calling my boyfriend’s name—hollow and empty.

Rutting the dildo against my cervix just as he taught me, chasing my peak.

Even as my trembling thighs leaked, I didn’t stop.

Only pulling out when strands of sticky arousal clung to the toy, threatening to drip.

“Haa…, Haaa……”

I shouldn’t be doing this.

I know that.

Yet here I am—with no excuses left.

…Like an addiction.

By nightfall, the daylong rain had nearly stopped.

Under the full moon’s pitch-black sky, only a fine mist remained.

Seol Dabin stepped out purely due to a message from her boyfriend.

Her destination: the pavilion next to the western playground.

A spot usually crowded with elderly men exchanging chess moves—now empty save for the occasional loitering student.

With the rain mostly gone, she shuffled out in slippers.

But dressed warmer—long sleeves for the unusually chilly August night—she headed toward the pavilion.

Baek Jiho was already there, sitting inside.

Given the earlier downpour, the floor should’ve been soaked—

But it was spotless, as if someone had cleaned it earlier. Seol Dabin took a seat beside him.

“Ugh. Why drag me out here so late? My legs hurt.”

“Oh, you came? Faster than I expected.”

“Well, it’s right nearby… Anyway, you’re leaving again tomorrow, right? Ilsan? You said it’s toward Paju this time…”

“Yeah. Figured I’d try some jobs there. Got recommended again. Good pay, decent connections—well, not really connections yet.”

“Your mom was shocked at the numbers. You’re really making that much more than others?”

“Not that much. If I were, everyone would be flocking to those sites even with slower, cheaper equipment. Just good pay.”

“Ooh…”

“Anyway, why I called you out—”

Jiho trailed off, rummaging beside him.

His silhouette had looked chunkier from afar—

And now, a small bag sat hidden next to him.

From it, he pulled out—

“…Huh? A plushie?”

A sizable teddy bear—

Not as massive as those human-sized ones, but big enough to need folding to fit in a stroller.

And heavier than expected for a plush.

“You know those clichés in dramas? ‘Pretend this bear is me’ or whatever.”

“Ah. So I’m supposed to use this while you’re gone?”

“Basically. Keep it by your bed. Your shelf’s a bit empty anyway.”

“Hmm~…”

No reason to refuse.

Plushies never bothered her—she even liked them.

After hesitating over how to carry it, she simply perched it on her lap and grinned.

“…Huh?”

She was about to speak when—

A message notification.

“Hold on… …Ah.”

“What? Spam?”

“…No. A friend. Kakaotalk.”

“…I see.”

A message laced with hidden meaning—

You can see me now, if you want.

An unbearably arrogant, ridiculous message from that pervert.

Cut short before it fully landed.

“….”

Seol Dabin locked her phone, tucked it into her dolphin shorts, and stood.

The bulge in her pocket looked ridiculous, but the bear added more to carry anyway.

“So, we done here?”

“Yeah. Gave you the bear, so… Nothing else.”

“Pfft. Wanna hug it out? ‘Come back safe~’ like last time in front of your place?”

“…Pass. That’s just embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? There’s no one around.”

“…….”

This was all part of making up for past mistakes.

And lightening the weight of guilt—even just a little.

Smiling, Seol Dabin held the bear one-handed and spread her arms.

Jiho exhaled deeply before stepping close.

…And so, they hugged—briefly.

“……Okay, done? Last time, you said it was ‘charging up on Seol Dabin energy’ or something.”

“Did it last time. Feeling indifferent now.”

“Hmph. Seems like it. You crunched me last time.”

“Was just moved then. Never expected you to wait for me.”

“Tch. Getting emotional over me just showing up? Whatever. Let’s head back. It’s chilly after the rain.”

The whole thing felt like hugging an idol at a fan sign—

An indescribable feeling lingering as they parted and walked home.

“…….”

About five minutes later—

Seol Dabin’s door opened again.

And roughly thirty seconds after it closed—

Baek Jiho’s door reopened.

“Huu…”

Now dressed entirely in dark clothes,

He checked the elevator—already nearly at the first floor—

Then quietly dashed down the stairs instead.