episode_0574

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The cold, pouring rain continued even after sunset.

6 p.m.

As I stepped outside, I checked my messages one last time before leaving.

Four people were gathering.

Not too many, not too few—just the right number.

Of course, excluding me, Hayun, and the friend who suggested drinking, that meant only one other person had agreed… but anyway.

If I were to mimic what happened last time, the most important thing would be to get Hayun drunk enough first.

Then, I’d deliberately switch phones with her.

I’ve already told Seo Woojin what I plan to do, so he won’t say anything.

And when we run into Jiyoon later, she’ll just think it’s something that happens between drunk people—like last time.

…If things flow exactly as they did before, it’ll be fine.

It’s not particularly difficult.

Besides, Hayun has been noisy lately because of the hot spring trip she took around Christmas.

Subtly getting her to drink more won’t be a problem at all.

After that, all I have to do is…

“Accidentally” catch Jiyoon, who’s been secretly enjoying herself behind my sister’s back.

That’s it.

“……Haa…”

Please, let everything go as I’ve planned.

With a small sigh of worry, I stepped into the elevator.

574

Just as expected.

What started as complaints like, “I hate fieldwork. I just want to rest at home. They should at least pay us more,” had somehow shifted into a heated debate over “Was Hayun’s hot spring trip really that innocent?”

Of course, it’s obvious that very private things happened, but since we were bored…

And besides, Hayun’s reactions when teased have always been fun.

If anything, her only crime is being an easy target—that’s all.

If this topic hadn’t come up naturally, I would’ve subtly steered the conversation myself.

Luckily, the two friends who came along were very interested in this kind of gossip, so I was secretly relieved.

“So, this profile picture. The health teacher definitely took it, right?”

“Yeah. Hayun’s food photos are a little questionable, but they’ve never been this out of focus before.”

“W-well, what does that even matter…?”

“She clearly just got out of the bath, and all he did was take a picture? Hmm…?”

“Zoom in. Check her neck or collarbone—any hickeys or marks?”

“Hick—if there were any, do you think I’d use this as my profile picture?!”

“Oh, so you checked before setting it? Meaning…”

“It wasn’t right after the hot spring. It was right after you two went at it in there.”

“……W-well…”

Are these two twins or something?

For a moment, I watched as the two of them ganged up on Hayun, clearly enjoying themselves.

Feeling her gaze, I turned to Hayun and saw her flushed red with embarrassment, her eyes pleading for help.

I guess I’m the only one here with a boyfriend…

While the others kept digging into the secrets of the hot spring trip, I quietly sipped my drink alone.

…Little did they know, I actually knew way more about those secrets.

Honestly, at first, I planned to join in and get Hayun to drink more, but…

At this rate, she might get annoyed and refuse to drink altogether.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I grabbed a macaroni snack and took Hayun’s side.

“So what if they did? …They’re a couple who like each other.”

Thinking about it after saying it,

it wasn’t really taking her side—just a vague, neutral statement.

“Uh… well, that’s obvious, but…”

“…I guess so?”

If I wanted to defend her, I could’ve just told them to stop teasing her.

But since I—someone who wasn’t even involved—so easily admitted it, the mood cooled down like someone had poured cold water on it.

They probably wanted to see Hayun squirm and eventually admit it herself, but that scenario was completely ruined now.

At least Hayun seemed relieved, letting out a soft sigh…

But looking at the result, maybe I should’ve said something else.

Like taking her side more aggressively or something.

“Thanks, Dabin.”

“…Don’t mention it! It’s nothing.”

At least Hayun doesn’t hate me for it, so it’s not the worst outcome.

Another opportunity will come eventually.

There’s still plenty of time left.

With that small comfort, I raised my glass.

The night grew deeper.

Checking the time on my phone, it was already 10 p.m.—it didn’t feel like much time had passed.

It wasn’t too late, but it was about time to start sobering up.

And in the midst of that, I finally got a chance to be alone with Hayun.

“I’m gonna step out for a smoke.”

“Then I’ll go to the bathroom… What about you guys? Not going?”

“Nah, I’m good for now…”

“Dabin, you?”

“I’ll stay and wait with Hayun.”

The two friends we were drinking with excused themselves for their own reasons.

I’d been subtly trying to get Hayun to drink more, clinking glasses with her here and there, but I didn’t want to seem too obvious, so I hadn’t gotten her as drunk as I’d hoped.

But with the mood winding down and the late hour, this was probably my last chance.

“……”

After a brief pause, I casually spoke up, my voice cutting through the noisy bar.

“…Finally, just the two of us—no boyfriends around.”

“Ahaha…”

“They were so persistent, asking what you really did at the hot spring hotel…”

“I don’t mind. It’s natural to be curious. …And honestly, I was hiding a little.”

“Hah… What’s the big deal about having sex with your boyfriend on a trip…”

“H-hey, keep your voice down…”

Maybe because she felt guilty, Hayun didn’t argue back.

She just giggled cutely and poked at the side dishes with her chopsticks.

Glancing down, I noticed the beer glass she’d been given a while ago.

…Still more than half full, probably lukewarm by now.

Hayun’s alcohol tolerance, as far as I know, is about one can of beer.

On a good day, maybe two at most.

Meaning, I have to get her to finish what’s left in that glass…

What’s the best way to do that?

After racking my brain, I finally settled on an approach.

“It’s annoying, but what can you do? Dating the health teacher just makes you stand out more.”

“Ah, well, he is pretty close with the students… Even some first and third-years I don’t know.”

“It’s just because he’s handsome. And fit.”

“……Hmm…”

First-years? Third-years?

Naturally, Yozora and Seoyeon came to mind, but that wasn’t important right now, so I pushed the thought aside.

Then, I went with:

“…So, what were you doing when that picture was taken?”

“Huh?!”

“I mean, I’ve been on trips with Baek Jiho too. I know how these things go.”

“Hey, why are you suddenly—”

“What? We’ve been on double dates together, even stayed at a pension. We’re close, right?”

“…The pension… Well, yeah, but…”

“I won’t tell the others. Seriously.”

“……”

A secret between girls who have boyfriends.

Between girls who’ve been on double dates together.

Between girls who’ve spent a night together.

“If the others hear about it later, they’ll know it was me who spilled. Right?”

“……Ugh…”

At this point, Hayun bit her lip, clearly conflicted.

Knowing her, she wouldn’t outright refuse.

She’d either give in slowly or quickly—the only difference was time.

Maybe the memories we’ve shared helped tip the scales.

Fortunately, Hayun let out a small sigh and said,

“…You really won’t tell the others?”

“I won’t. Promise.”

“Haa…”

“……”

Taking a sip of beer to let the alcohol do its work,

she mumbled in a hesitant voice.

“Woojin and I went into the hot spring together, and then…”

“……”

“…We had sex… Just really quick… Once…”

“Once? Like, oral once and penetration once?”

“…Ah! Well, uh… Y-yeah…”

“……”

Hayun once.

And then Jiyoon once.

Meaning they took turns enjoying themselves before leaving.

Imagining Jiyoon standing just out of frame in Hayun’s profile picture, I continued.

“That’s normal for couples. I do it all the time.”

“…You and your childhood friend too…?”

“Uh… Yeah. Sure.”

I haven’t.

I’ve never even gone on a trip alone with him.

It’s always been with family—the beach trip with Hayun was the most I’ve done.

“Then, when we went to the pension together last summer…”

“W-well, I was tired then. I just slept in the living room to avoid your snoring.”

“……Ah.”

“…Did you and the teacher do it back then too?”

“……”

“…You did, huh.”

…And my first time didn’t even count, since we didn’t finish. How could I possibly do that on a trip?

Having sex like animals while my friend slept soundly beside us, muffling my moans.

Making her say dirty things,

embarrassing things,

things I wanted to hear,

then dumping loads of sticky cum

behind the couch,

enough to pool on the floor.

I could never.

“Woojin kept begging, so I couldn’t help it…”

“…Is he just really horny?”

“Well… a little, I guess? But I’ve never been with another guy, so I don’t really know…”

“How much are we talking?”

“……Wait…”

The hot spring topic, which I’d brought up as bait, had already run its course.

Shifting the focus to Seo Woojin, Hayun took another sip of beer—maybe because the alcohol wasn’t hitting hard enough.

“B-before that… What about you? How much does your boyfriend want it?”

“……Me?”

“I just shared something embarrassing! Your turn…”

“……”

…This time, I took a sip too.

Clinking my glass lightly against Hayun’s—clink—

“Last time we did it… from afternoon until the sun completely set…?”

“…Seriously?”

“W-why would I lie…”

Seo Woojin, that man.

The day we deliberately didn’t film ourselves.

“…Once, we met up at dawn and went at it quietly for about two hours… Had to make sure my parents didn’t hear.”

“…Without getting caught?”

“Yeah. …In my room.”

“……”

Seo Woojin, this pervert.

The day we mixed “I love you” and other nonsense into our sex, just to let Baek Seoyeon hear through the wall.

“And on weekends… sometimes we’d go until the weekend was over. Yeah.”

“…I see…”

Seo Woojin, this trash.

Baek Seoyeon, the surprisingly unexpected senior.

The days we filled Saturday and Sunday with nothing but sex.

Just as I was struggling to suppress the arousal bubbling up from those memories—

Hayun, who had been listening quietly, muttered under her breath.

“…Guess Woojin’s pretty normal, then.”

“……”

Her ears were just as red as mine as she took a sip of beer, her throat burning.