episode_0539

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“So the two of you had that kind of backstory…?”

“Ugh… How many times do I have to say it doesn’t matter anymore? It was just something that happened, okay?”

“Well, if all he did was buy you meat, I wouldn’t have thought much of it… But that famous healing ability of his…”

“Mom, seriously…!”

That bastard. Acting drunk when he can hold his liquor just fine…

After stirring up all this chaos, he just runs away—what the hell am I supposed to do now?

You think this is fun or something? Huh?

No, wait. Of course he does. That’s why he did it.

It’s not like he had no reason.

But if he’s gonna pull this crap, he could at least help clean up the mess.

What the hell am I supposed to do alone…

“Hey, Seo Woo-jin. No—Teacher. Say something…”

“…Ah, we’re… We’re really just friends now…”

“See, Mom? Even Teacher says we’re just friends.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s take care of Teacher first. He looks exhausted.”

The irritation from that fabricated lie he spat out is beyond words.

But in the end, cleaning up this mess falls entirely on me.

I tried to fumble through an explanation, but my parents’ attention was already completely fixated on Woo-jin.

While Mom went to the fridge to get water, Dad approached Woo-jin, asking if he was okay, and lightly patted his shoulder.

In response, Woo-jin put on an exaggerated act, groaning about his head throbbing from the alcohol.

To me, it was just pathetic acting, but I couldn’t recklessly open my itchy mouth.

If I exposed all his secrets right now… it’d drag me down with him.

Because this whole act is just to mess with me.

The most I can do is this much.

Glancing to see if Woo-jin’s crotch, which I’d just kneaded earlier, was still swollen…

Or something like that.

“Teacher? Would you like to sit comfortably on the sofa? Or you can lie down if you prefer.”

“…This is embarrassing… I should’ve… controlled myself better…”

“Oh, come on, don’t say that…”

“…….”

…Once my parents finish fussing over Woo-jin, I’ll probably be bombarded with questions left alone.

All I can do now is think of appropriate answers.

That’s the best I’ve got.

—

539

“Da-bin.”

“…….”

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the option to refuse this judgment.

It’s here. Resigned to my fate, I straightened my posture and faced my parents across the table.

I couldn’t help but look hesitant, but I tried my best to hide it.

From now on, I’m the girl Woo-jin confessed to first.

Though in reality, it was less of a confession and more of a “I want to be your sex partner” kind of thing.

And the timing was completely different too.

Anyway.

Dad seems to be in a “So that’s what happened” mood… so I don’t have to worry about him.

The real problem is the person who just called my name.

“So Ji-ho was part of that story earlier?”

“…Yeah, obviously. Otherwise, why would Teacher and I have kept it a secret?”

“…Right. You two drank together last time, so I figured you’d know…”

Mom spoke as if she’d found something amusing, nodding ambiguously, neither fully believing nor disbelieving.

Honestly, I’d probably react the same way.

If my daughter suddenly brought up some love triangle out of nowhere, how could I just accept it at face value?

No matter what I say, she’ll be skeptical.

……But that faint sense of pride I feel from her—is it because she’s pleased her genes seem to work well on men?

Hmm…

That thought was fleeting as the clinking of cutlery was soon overtaken by her voice again.

“You used to call Ji-ho an annoying oppa when you were little, but I guess you didn’t just find him annoying? Honey, you remember, right?”

“She did it every single day~ Especially around elementary and middle school.”

“A one-year age gap, and she kept calling him an idiot. Now it’s all just memories~”

“…….”

I remember too.

When we were really little, he’d whine about forgetting his keys.

He’d constantly borrow school supplies from me because he didn’t bring his own.

And every six months, like clockwork, he’d panic and copy my book reports because he hadn’t done his summer homework.

A clueless boy who’d fall apart without my help.

That was Baek Ji-ho’s childhood impression, and it hasn’t changed much even now.

The only difference now is…

……That he’s a bigger pervert than Woo-jin,

asking me to cuckold him while getting off on it.

But of course, I can’t tell my parents that.

So I stuffed a piece of asparagus into my mouth, pushing those thoughts down my throat along with it.

And then, a question.

“But why bring up Baek Ji-ho all of a sudden?”

“Why? Because it’s fascinating, of course.”

“What’s so fascinating about it…?”

I threw it back, but got no response.

As I listlessly poked at my beef with a fork, Mom lowered her voice and continued.

“Considering how much you complained about your boyfriend being annoying, it means Teacher never even registered to you. Even though he’s such a great guy.”

“…What’s so great about him…?”

“Oh my~ Look at you. Da-bin, you’re more devoted than you seem, huh?”

“W-What’s that supposed to mean? Me?”

“You know what I mean. You were always complaining about Ji-ho.”

“……That’s because he acts like that. Sometimes complaining is unavoidable.”

“It’s less now, but back then, you did it every day…”

“…….”

Clearly trying to keep it from Woo-jin’s ears.

Her voice got quieter and quieter.

Not that it matters—that bastard’s probably eavesdropping from the living room anyway…

Ugh…

“You know, Mom didn’t believe it at first when you said you two were dating?”

“…I told you myself. Why wouldn’t you believe me?”

“You were always bickering before, and even after you started dating, nothing really changed.”

“…That’s not true. We hung out way more after that. And…, ……uh…”

“Pfft… Isn’t it more fun seeing you like this now? Earlier, every time Teacher said something, you were watching him like a startled raccoon. And that time he came over before—you never help clean the living room when I ask, but you rushed to the entrance to talk to him before I could even get there.”

“That’s just…, because he was a guest…”

“But then…, when you said Teacher confessed to you first, it finally clicked a little.”

“…….”

“Honestly, to Mom, it looked more like you were the one who confessed…”

“Th-That’d mean I was cheating…! Besides, Teacher said he did it first…”

“Well, still~…”

So it looks like I confessed to Woo-jin?

The absurdity made me raise my voice slightly, but I forced myself to stay calm.

If Woo-jin overheard this conversation, I’d die of embarrassment.

And if I kept getting louder, Mom might get the wrong idea.

…But maybe acting meek has its own problems.

“By the way, when Teacher confessed… was it in the nurse’s office?”

“…….”

Mom even asked that.

I forced down the heat rising to my face.

“Why are you asking your daughter something like that?”

“I’m just curious. Honestly.”

“…….”

…Where he confessed? It never happened.

He did say he wanted to fuck me until I got sick of it.

In his own bed, probably.

While secretly cuckolding Ji-ho.

Pounding my cervix like a stamp.

But there’s no way I can say that.

The only stories I can tell my parents are fairytale versions.

So if I have to tweak it just enough to avoid suspicion…

Thinking of Woo-jin’s image, I’ll make it fit.

Let me just… imagine something.

“I-I got hurt and went to the nurse’s office… and it was just Teacher and me… So…”

“…….”

“He said he fell for me at first sight… Just… like that…”

This should…

Work, right?

“What did he fall for? Just your looks?”

“Th-That… I don’t remember well…”

“Well, if it’s love at first sight, it’s usually looks… Still, how sweet… And it seems Teacher still has feelings for you? Even after being rejected, he’s treating you this well. Did he like your personality too?”

“…I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? It’s not like he treats everyone like this—he’s specifically doting on you.”

“……I said I don’t know.”

Did it work? Thankfully, Mom shifted the topic slightly, talking more about Woo-jin.

Right. If I had to choose, this is better… but still.

He even offered to do my parents’ health check-ups.

To me, it’s just an excuse to spend time with me, but to my parents, it must seem different.

How do I put it? It’s exactly this kind of feeling.

Like Mom said—lingering feelings making him try to impress them since he can’t have me.

Not that he planned it this far, but it’s enough for my parents to misunderstand.

“Sigh… Being hung up on someone is such a pain. Someone like Teacher could have any woman he wants, right?”

“…Yeah. Last I checked, he even has a fan club.”

“A fan club?”

“Yeah. They share… daily photos of him… and stuff.”

“…Tch. And yet here he is, foolishly chasing after you… Sigh…”

“…….”

It was more than enough reason for Mom to click her tongue pityingly at Woo-jin.

“Don’t you have any pretty, kind friends? Why not introduce him to someone?”

“Pretty and kind? These days, girls only need one of those to have a boyfriend.”

“But Teacher is both kind and handsome?”

“That just means Teacher’s weird.”

“How cruel… An unrequited love with no hope…”

“…But thanks to that, you got a health check-up. A healer’s health check-up, no less.”

“…You’re not just stringing him along, are you? Like keeping him on a hook…?”

“I’m not…! I already drew the line and said we’re just friends. So if another girl catches his eye… he’ll leave on his own.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s not like… I’m that pretty anyway…”

At least I’m grateful my parents didn’t interrogate me too thoroughly about the love triangle.

Since I was forced to clean up Woo-jin’s mess, I thought things might get complicated if our stories didn’t match.

I should be thankful it’s just this much. Yeah.

Once this is all over, I’m kicking Woo-jin’s shin as hard as I can.

Not just once.

Multiple times.

Until my anger’s gone.

On another note, Mom seems drunk enough that I can’t tell if she’s my mom or Woo-jin’s mom now…

To avoid ending up like that, I picked up my glass with a mix of exasperation and resignation.

And just as I was washing down all the wine I’d drunk with plain water—

“…Oh, right. Da-bin.”

Mom stretched and added one more thing, making me glance her way.

“Can you take the leftover meat to the neighbors? I should’ve given it to them earlier… And I probably smell like alcohol now…”

“…….”

“Might as well go see your boyfriend for a bit~ He’s going back to work tomorrow, right?”

Instead of the fairytale where Woo-jin confessed to me—

A very, very familiar reality.

One that would bring me back to earth.