“I’ve told you no so many times!”
“Eek, you scared me!”
Startled, Yena flinched and shuddered her shoulders.
The sound echoed multiple times, as if someone had cranked up the karaoke reverb.
Yena clutched her ears with both hands.
She glared at me with a pouty expression.
Feeling a sharp pang of guilt somewhere inside, I apologized first.
“…Sorry for yelling.”
The bathroom acoustics already amplified sound, so raising my voice was definitely my fault.
Yena giggled softly, as if to say it was fine.
Her laughter carried a warmth that felt oddly healing.
She’s the one who’s unfairly pretty.
Even though she was the one who started it.
If she hadn’t rolled her eyes and muttered something weird, I wouldn’t have yelled.
Of course, I had no intention of pressing her further.
“Huu… Anyway. Shoulder service ends here for today. Got it?”
“Boss, I’ll pay double…”
Was she trying to bribe me after declaring the service over?
She’s not even looking at my shoulders, what’s her deal?
Her gaze wandered all over my body.
“I said no! And you never paid me in the first place.”
“Money?”
She didn’t seem particularly interested in my words.
Her eyes trailed from my outstretched legs up to my thighs.
Leaving that be, she scanned my hips, lower stomach, and chest—a full-course inspection.
I didn’t stop her.
Why? Just… instinctively?
I didn’t want to stop her.
Maybe because, unlike before, it didn’t feel threatening.
So well-behaved, it’s adorable.
I reached out and cupped her cheek.
Just because I felt like it.
As my palm touched her, Yena leaned into it without resistance.
Her skin was pleasantly soft.
Maybe because of the steam, it felt incredibly supple.
Then Yena parted those pretty lips of hers.
“If I pay, can I have everything?”
“…Why would that even work? No.”
I hated myself for briefly believing this fool.
She wasn’t disinterested—she’d been appraising my body like a product.
Yena stroked the back of my hand resting on her cheek. It tickled.
“Boss. How much for a one-month pass?”
“Ugh… I just said no. You’re not deaf, listen to me.”
I lightly squished her face with my hand.
Yena wobbled as I shook her.
A little dizzy, her pink lips parted slightly.
“Waaah… So how much do I neeeed… I’ve got loads of money…”
“…”
Zap—
I finally understood the wuxia trope of “emitting killing intent.” Of course, against her, it had no effect.
Too stunned to keep going, I stopped. She nuzzled into my hand, eyes half-lidded.
It was like kneading mochi—soft and squishy.
The way her expression melted in my palm was overwhelmingly cute.
If only she’d stay quiet, she’d be this adorable all the time.
“Just kidding… You were so fun to tease, I couldn’t help it. I’m tired too, you know.”
“Right…”
Just kidding.
I’d sensed that much from her body language earlier.
If she’d been serious, I’d have snapped back—How dare you try to buy me?
“Besides… if I pushed too hard, you might’ve refused.”
“Hey, should you really be saying that to my face?”
“Why not? We’ve already…”
“Already what?”
Yena clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence.
I pressed my other hand against her plump cheek.
Squeezing gently, I squished her face.
“Ehh—.”
“Finish what you were saying, come oooon.”
Her cheek stretched between my fingers.
With her guard down, Yena was cuter than expected. Enough to make me want to kiss her right then.
“Nooo~.”
Of course, that would put me in danger.
Better not touch the trigger.
I decided to enjoy the moment wholesomely.
“Waaah— Ehh—”
Yena kept making weak, flustered noises.
Watching her flounder like that brought a satisfied smile to my face.
“Okay, okay. Sheesh…”
“Hehe.”
I didn’t want her noticing my amusement.
Relaxing at last, I let the tension drain from my sore back.
Sliding down the tub wall, my body sank deeper into the water.
Sleep crept closer.
Blub blub blub—
Eventually, even my lips dipped below the surface.
Bubbles floated up past them.
Yena watched quietly before resting a hand on my head.
“Gwah?!”
“Relax. Not like that.”
Her reassurance made me ease the tension in my neck.
For a second, I thought she was waterboarding me…
Honestly, I got scared. Like she’d flipped a switch.
Luckily, she just wanted to pat my hair.
The top was still dry and fluffy. Her damp fingers combed through, spreading moisture.
A pleasant lethargy washed over me.
Melted. Boneless.
Even the ache in my shoulders faded.
Gathering strength, I sat up.
“Pwah. Yena.”
“Yeah?”
I’d started, but now I hesitated.
Should I really say this now?
My mouth refused to open.
“…”
“Are you listening?”
“Haaah, huuu…”
Yena waited silently as I steadied my breathing.
“Are we…”
“…”
What are we?
This question was essentially a confession.
A decisive confession that would define our relationship.
No matter the answer, it would bring a massive change for both of us.
“Starting today, Day 1.”
Maybe we’d become that sweet thing called lovers.
Officially, she’d be mine, and I’d be hers.
We could look forward to nights even stickier than today.
But on the other hand—
“We’re nothing, though?”
If, by some chance, I got rejected… could I handle it?
“What’s the big deal? We already…”
Yena’s earlier words resurfaced.
She’d stopped mid-sentence.
Why did she cut herself off?
It definitely wasn’t a good sign.
The scales tipped toward rejection.
“…Honestly, I’m scared.”
Is it okay to confess?
If I get rejected, can I still smile?
Even if the worst happens, can I willingly throw myself into it?
Rejection would hurt.
Movies, songs—they all say it feels like dying. I’ve never heard anyone argue, “Stop exaggerating.” So it must really hurt.
I looked at Yena.
The woman I fell for at first sight sat naked in front of me. I still remembered her fingers moving between my legs.
Today, we had sex. Even though we weren’t lovers. Or anything, really.
“Sex partners…”
The term popped into my head.
We were already… this kind of special.
Closer than friends, but not quite lovers.
I could’ve been satisfied with that.
“…Let’s not.”
This relationship is fine for now.
The mood isn’t right for a confession anyway.
And a naked confession? No matter how I think about it, it’s just… no.
I finished rationalizing.
“…Sorry. Never mind. Should we get out?”
In this world too, I was a cowardly, incompetent fool.
I gave up on confessing because I thought she’d reject me.
A sharp pang echoed in my chest. It shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t matter.
Hah. Pathetic. This is all I can do, even after possessing someone?
Self-loathing rolled in like storm clouds.
Possessing someone… to do this…
“Hypnosis.”
Right. I still had one last card.
We toweled off and stepped out.
Yena casually pulled two white robes from the closet.
“…What’s that?”
Just before closing the door, I noticed a suspicious locked box. I decided to ignore it for now—something else was more important.
Cool air brushed against my skin.
I slipped into the robe more smoothly than before.
Beneath it, I was naked. A breeze crept up my legs.
Yena must’ve felt the same.
The thought erased my embarrassment.
“Wait, I’ll dry my hair first.”
“Huh? Okay.”
I passed her and headed to the living room.
Picking up my phone from the floor, I tucked it into the robe’s pocket.
I didn’t forget to preset the screen:
[You are falling into hypnosis]
Whirrr—
Using the dryer’s noise as cover, I walked solemnly toward her room.
“It’s fine. Yena wouldn’t have slept with me if she hated me.”
For some reason, the living room felt unnaturally large.
“Besides, I enjoyed it too, halfway through.”
My steps kept faltering.
“Still, hypnosis is…”
At her door, I saw Yena’s back.
She stood in front of the mirror, maneuvering the dryer with one hand.
Whenever she raised her arm, glimpses of her lower curves peeked through the robe.
“Sorry. Forgive me.”
My cowardly apology vanished into the dryer’s roar.
I entered at an angle where the mirror reflected me.
Yena spotted me and her eyes lit up.
My reflection looked strange.
Troubled green eyes stared back.
I blinked and reset my expression.
She pretended not to notice, focusing on her hair again. Or maybe she genuinely didn’t.
Eeeee— Click.
“Done. Hayul, wanna sit here?”
Yena set the dryer down and approached.
Tap. My phone bumped against her hip.
“…”
It wasn’t a hard bump.
She probably didn’t notice.
Please, just let it slide, I begged silently.