episode_0554

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…What time did he say he was leaving again?

I instinctively patted my pockets to check my phone, but of course, it wasn’t there.

I left it in my room.

So, for now, all I could do was dig through my memories instead of my pockets.

First, I tried recalling what time Baek Jiho usually left—sometimes he’d be out before 9, and once, he even left close to lunchtime.

It was a frustratingly inconsistent range, impossible to pin down to one specific time.

But if I had to trust my memory a little, this time it seemed like it was a bit past 10…

Earlier, my phone had shown it was around 9:30…

“Hey, did you hear anything like someone leaving? Mom?”

“Hmm? Not really, no…”

“What about you, Dad?”

“Don’t know.”

“Sigh…”

That meant there was a good chance Baek Jiho was still home.

All I had to do was hurry back to my room and ask him directly.

Feeling a small wave of relief,

“…….”

I brushed a hand over my chest and discreetly glanced at Seo Woojin’s expression, avoiding my parents’ gaze.

After all, last night was the first time we… mixed love with sex.

And on top of that, he’s an incredibly possessive guy.

Even now, my reactions to my childhood friend might rub him the wrong way.

“…Then I’ll go wash up first. Anyone need the bathroom? I’ll take it.”

“Go ahead. You were the last one up. …Ah, what about you, Teacher? You just woke up too, right?”

“Of course, it’s fine. The one in a hurry should go first.”

“…….”

But judging by his expression, he didn’t seem to mind.

That didn’t necessarily mean he was completely unaffected, though.

He was probably just acting fine because my parents were nearby.

Unable to shake the thought, I glanced at Seo Woojin a few more times, but nothing changed.

He still wore that faint smile.

Just like back in the infirmary when he pretended to be the nice guy—another familiar mask.

Even if I kept staring at him, nothing would change.

Even if our eyes met, he’d just keep up the kind teacher act.

…Maybe it’d be better to talk about this later.

Mulling over the things I wanted to say, I awkwardly averted my gaze and headed back to my room.

554

[Baek Jiho] – I’m leaving soon. – I told you last time. – Let’s meet at 10:30.

[Seol Dabin] – Ah, right. That’s what it was.

[Baek Jiho] – It’s obvious you forgot.

[Seol Dabin] – I remember now. Yeah. – See you in a bit.

[Baek Jiho] – …Yeah.

…So it was 10:30.

A bit tight to wash up and get ready properly, but at least I wasn’t late.

“Haaah…”

I shouldn’t have overreacted like that about Baek Jiho.

For a moment, I mentally ran through every excuse, justification, blame, and even both-sides argument I could think of.

My head throbbing, I let out a deep sigh under the warm water.

If I keep this up, I’ll really start feeling like his mom.

Sure, up until now, that’s pretty much how it’s been… but he’s not my boyfriend anymore—just a childhood friend.

At the very least, I should pretend to keep my distance in front of Seo Woojin.

Especially after last night, when I…

“I get how you feel, so go ahead and try liking me,”

I even let him have things I’d be embarrassed to share with anyone else.

If Baek Jiho is still my top priority, he’d definitely be annoyed.

“Besides, even that pervert avoids talking about other girls in front of me…”

An old childhood friend is bound to be involved in some unavoidable ways.

But outside of that, it’s better not to pay him any extra attention.

Lost in thought, I squeezed out body wash, letting the white foam wash away the mess in my head.

“…Now that I think about it…”

Just now,

I asked Baek Jiho directly what time he was leaving.

Even after what happened last night, I acted out of habit like usual… Wasn’t that just stupid?

The thought hit me suddenly.

After a few seconds of silence, I lightly thumped my forehead against the bathroom wall.

Aside from the embarrassment, if I made too much noise, someone outside would notice.

So I vented my shame quietly against the innocent wall—thump, thump—but thankfully, it didn’t last long.

Not because I was short on time, but because of Baek Jiho’s attitude when we exchanged messages earlier.

Just like how I acted out of habit in my daze, he didn’t seem to react unusually either.

If he’d been upset, he might’ve just ignored my message entirely.

Meaning, either he didn’t know what happened last night through the wall—

or even if he did, he probably just took it as some realistic netorare fantasy.

“…….”

But then,

…what about ending things?

“…Haaah…”

…Do I have to say it to his face…?

Thankfully, I managed to make it on time.

I didn’t need much time to get ready—just drying my hair into a messy state was enough.

A warm outfit and a snapback to hide my hair, and I was set.

By the time I finished and stepped out, my family had already started breakfast.

…Now, it felt completely natural to see Seo Woojin helping with the preparations, while Mom scooped rice from the rice cooker.

As if she had eyes on the back of her head, she even told me not to stay out too long and come back soon.

So I half-heartedly agreed and shoved my feet into my sneakers.

The time was now 10:28. Two minutes until 10:30.

Trying not to show how rushed I was, I adjusted my cap firmly and opened the front door.

Luckily, Baek Jiho wasn’t already outside waiting.

And since my phone was silent, it seemed he was planning to stay home as long as possible, cutting it close to the bus time.

…Honestly, the thought of telling him “Let’s stop this” for the first time was nerve-wracking.

But keeping up this meaningless, uncomfortable relationship would be just as stupid.

Lost in thought, the two minutes passed in a flash.

“Ah, you came out first?”

“…Uh. Yeah.”

“Just came out on time.”

“It’s gonna get even colder in January, so…”

I wondered if the sound of our door opening could be heard from his place, but I didn’t say it out loud.

Even small talk felt oddly cautious now.

Instead, my gaze drifted to Baek Jiho’s face.

“…….”

He looked—

maybe it was just my imagination—

tired, like he hadn’t slept well.

“…Hey, Baek Jiho.”

“Yeah.”

“Um… when are you coming back next time?”

“Dunno. The guys I work with said winter slows things down, but I’m not sure yet. Feels like I’ve been getting more calls lately.”

“…Hmm.”

I was originally going to ask, “Did you sleep late last night?”

But before I knew it, I’d gone off track.

…Well, that would’ve been too direct anyway.

What if he hadn’t?

Would I just brush it off as him looking tired?

And if he had, what then?

While I was still figuring out how to ask naturally,

Baek Jiho turned the question back on me.

“Why do you wanna know?”

“…Why? Just curious.”

“So, why are you curious?”

“Why…? Do I need a reason?”

“Not really… Just feels like you didn’t ask last time.”

“…….”

“You want me to come back later this time?”

“…….”

“…That’s the vibe I’m getting.”

…Somehow,

it felt like he knew.

Or didn’t.

His expression was unreadable.

“…Hey, Baek Jiho.”

“I know. You’re doing all this for me, right? …Trying to match my tastes.”

“That’s not—”

“I know, okay?”

Cutting off my question, Baek Jiho adjusted his heavy backpack and brushed past me.

He headed for the elevator. Since talking in front of the door risked being overheard, I followed silently.

Maybe because of the time, no one else was around.

The elevator was already waiting on our floor, motionless.

Pressing the button firmly, Baek Jiho finally let out a hollow laugh and continued.

“Man, last night was… I thought my heart was gonna explode.”

“…….”

“Could barely hear your voice, just some faint moans… but the bed kept creaking nonstop, so my imagination went wild.”

“…….”

“Then at some point, I started hearing your voice—gasping the teacher’s name, over and over… So fucking hot.”

“…….”

“And later, when the teacher cursed at you while saying he liked you…”

“…Hey.”

“Squelch, squelch—between the sounds of him pounding into you, the wet noises, and… every time it slowed down, your voice confessing you liked him got mixed in…”

“Hey.”

“Then at the very end, right before he came, it sounded like he forced himself to pull out…”

“Baek Jiho.”

“…Yeah?”

But I didn’t want to hear any more.

Taking a deep breath,

“I’d rather have a guy who…”

“…….”

“…wants me so badly he’d go to any lengths…”

“…….”

“…who loves every part of me…”

“…….”

“…than one who jerks off to my voice.”

“…….”

“So with you…”

“…….”

“…I just wanna go back to being childhood friends.”

“…….”

“…Like in elementary school.”

The word rambling fit perfectly.

Unfiltered, in the order the thoughts came.

“…Sorry.”

Even apologizing.

Then I turned away.

– Now arriving at the __th floor. Doors opening.

The elevator’s announcement played, my back still turned.