episode_0476

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Two days after making plans with Seol Da-bin, Wednesday. 6 PM, when the sun had already set and darkness blanketed the city.

Claiming I had personal business, I left without delay and boarded the subway.

Given the time, the train was packed with passengers, and the stress was mounting—but there wasn’t much I could do about it.

Still, I was lucky enough to find a seat quickly.

At the very edge of the long subway bench.

Settling into a spot that could easily be mistaken for first class, I swiftly pulled out my phone.

From Monday until today, Wednesday,

Seol Da-bin and I hadn’t exchanged any new messages.

At most, I’d only been notified of the meeting place following the confirmation of our appointment.

But the fact that the location was the same “adult shop” as before gave me at least a little something to mull over.

And honestly, even if Seol Da-bin detested even mentioning the place, it wasn’t exactly an unusual spot.

To borrow her words afterward, wouldn’t Baek Ji-ho like it more if there was something provocative in the video… or so she said.

Was she really convinced her boyfriend would enjoy watching his girlfriend get humiliated with all sorts of adult toys,

…or was it just that she wanted to experience it herself?

I still couldn’t gauge Seol Da-bin’s true intentions.

If I had to guess based on my own judgment, it felt like she was hesitating right on the verge of giving up. Hmm.

Well, whatever. By the time Baek Ji-ho arrives in Seoul next—before Christmas—we’ll have wrapped this up.

Not just ending with a perfunctory netorase video,

but maybe even egging Seol Da-bin on to say something shocking on camera.

Something like that.

There were about two weeks left until Christmas.

Plenty of time.

After briefly scrolling through my chat with Seol Da-bin, I turned off my phone and got off at a bustling station.

It wasn’t exactly a major downtown area, but there were still plenty of people around.

If someone recognized me while I was walking around, it’d be troublesome, so I had to take precautions.

So, pulling my gray scarf up to the tip of my nose, I blended into the crowd without a second thought.

476

…A baseball cap to cover my eyes.

Glasses I’d bought a while back—turned out they suited me pretty well.

A disposable mask to perfectly cover the lower half of my face, which the cap couldn’t hide.

A slightly different hairstyle than usual.

Casual clothes I’d never worn in front of friends.

Literally, “fully prepared.”

Compared to Seo Woo-jin, who at most just covered his lower face with a scarf, I was truly fully prepared.

But it seemed my efforts came off as a little ridiculous to Woo-jin.

Not that I looked bad or anything, but still…

“You really didn’t want to get recognized, huh? Tying your hair like this—it’s completely different from your usual image.”

“If you know, then shut up. …I’m already holding back how embarrassed I am right now.”

“Is there any reason to be embarrassed? This calm look suits you pretty well. Personally, I think so.”

“Your reaction right now is the reason I’m embarrassed, got it?”

Because of my hairstyle—tied into two loose sections draped over my shoulders. Maybe that was it.

About 50 meters left to the adult shop.

Growling lightly at Woo-jin beside me, I tugged my cap down even further and stared straight ahead.

“Twin tails… no, not quite. Should I call this low twin tails? Letting them hang down gives off this model student vibe.”

“Sh-shut up. Model student, my ass… You’re doing this on purpose because you know I’m embarrassed, aren’t you?”

“Who knows? I just think it’s pretty.”

“…You’re so fucking annoying, seriously.”

Maybe because I had no real comeback, the insults kept slipping out.

Truth be told, Woo-jin had been giving me compliments—or something close to them—from the start.

But still, comparing me to a model student? That’s a bit much.

How many misunderstandings have I dealt with just because of my sharp eyes? And now, all because of a hairstyle… Ugh…

Even glancing at a nearby shop window didn’t change my mind.

A girl who looked like a delinquent—someone you’d hesitate to approach.

Even with a calm hairstyle, she’d just be a calm delinquent.

If I were as cute as that idiot’s girlfriend, anything I did would probably look good on me…

But for someone like me…

In the end, all I could do was yank my cap down like I just did.

Glaring briefly at my own reflection, I hurried into the adult shop like I was running away from the street.

The first time I came here, I remember being endlessly embarrassed about so many things.

But now, maybe because I’m a veteran, it feels oddly… natural?

“Welcome. Could I see your ID, please?”

“…Just a second.”

Same as last time.

Asking for ID the moment I step in.

Briefly recalling a memory from a summer day, I froze for a second before rummaging through my bag for my wallet.

I remembered deliberately grabbing my ID before leaving home, so it should be buried in that corner… Ah, found it.

Now I just have to show it.

Clearing my throat pointlessly, I was about to pull my ID out of my wallet when—

Woo-jin, who seemed to have finished preparing before me, reached past me and handed his ID to the clerk.

“Here. My ID.”

“Okay…”

…Up to this point, there was no issue at all.

It was just a routine check to confirm we were adults.

But.

“…Could you lower your scarf for a moment…?”

“Done?”

“Ah, confirmed.”

Even though she was trying to keep things professional since she was working,

the clerk still checked Woo-jin’s ID and face two or three times, her subtle attitude making me feel…

Somehow,

Somehow, it just… wasn’t great.

…Not exactly bad, though.

More like a few steps below that. Just… not great.

Uncomfortable…? Maybe somewhere around that level.

I’m not sure why, exactly.

Thinking about it, it’s not like we’re actually dating.

…Ah, if Ha-yoon were in the same situation, she’d probably be upset.

Is that why?

Or maybe it’s because I’ve been on the receiving end of similar behavior from guys often enough.

Is that why?

Hmm.

Now that I think about it, something similar happened a few days ago…

“Could I see your girlfriend’s ID as well? And could you lower your mask for a second…?”

“…! Ye—… …Ah, sure…”

Still not sure. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive.

Either way, to act natural here, it’d be better to stick with “girlfriend” rather than something blatant like “sex partner.”

Suppressing the urge to clarify our relationship, I handed over my ID.

I worried the cap and glasses might cause misunderstandings, but surprisingly, that wasn’t an issue.

Even my hairstyle was slightly different from my 18-year-old ID photo, but that was fine too.

What standards are they even checking against? Maybe the clerk just thought my 18-year-old self and my current 21-year-old self looked similar enough…

Deciding to take it as a good sign, I got my ID back.

“Are you looking for anything in particular? We have a separate section for couples—”

“No, no. We’re just browsing, so we’ll look around ourselves.”

“Ah, okay.”

Getting help would’ve made things faster, but if I had to keep hearing that “couples” talk, I’d definitely develop a neurosis.

So, I refused. Then, hastily dragging Woo-jin deeper into the store,

one hand gripping the awkward spot between his wrist and forearm.

“You could’ve just asked for help. The store’s bigger than I thought.”

“You wouldn’t be embarrassed with someone explaining things right next to you? Seriously?”

Woo-jin wasn’t wrong, but I had no intention of accepting help.

Besides, this was my second time here.

Since I had a rough idea of the store’s layout, I already knew where I was heading first—no need for guidance.

Because, well,

“…Wait a sec. It was around here somewhere… …Ah. Found it.”

I was always going to come here.

The section stocked with women’s toys,

…where I’d bought the dildo resembling Woo-jin’s.

Unfortunately, another customer was already there, so I kept my voice low as I pulled Woo-jin along.

“…This. What do you think?”

“A womanizer?”

“…….”

I wanted to snap at him for saying it out loud, but I held back.

Mostly because if the other customer heard me getting mad, it’d be really embarrassing.

Instead, I just furrowed my brows for a long moment.

Glancing between the distant customer and Woo-jin beside me, I continued in a hushed voice.

“…If we film this in the video, I think he’d like it. …N-not that I want to use it or anything.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Well…”

I stopped short of blurting out the first thought that came to mind.

Then, lowering my voice further,

and carefully choosing my words,

…swallowing my embarrassment.

Unconsciously raising a hand to twist a lock of hair,

“B-because… seeing his girlfriend climaxing so easily from something like this… …Wouldn’t he like that…?”

“…Hmm.”

“…Like, if you were to torment—tease me with this… or…”

“Do you even know how to use this thing?”

“Of course, the cli—… …ugh… Whatever…”

After barely managing to stammer out a few broken words, I quickly moved on to the next items without waiting for a proper response.