Chapter 53 : I’m really sorry, but…

Yena’s hand rose above my head.

Chin.

The subtle weight on my crown.

She was stroking my hair with her hand.

“Eh. Suddenly?”

Yena messed up my hair on both sides as she spoke.

“Hmm-hmm. Just, not even a little thrilling.”

Yet why are her eyes avoiding mine?

Clearly, Yena had changed a lot since the confession.

Her cheeks, visible as she turned her head, were tinged with a faint pink.

‘Not thrilling, my ass…’

Anyone could tell it was a lie.

I smirked and replied casually.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure.”

Yena’s body, pressed against mine, trembled slightly.

She looked like she was holding something back.

‘…’

I pressed my lips shut and felt her warmth.

If I teased her any further, I might suffer unfairly.

This was a survival instinct honed through past experiences.

Luckily, I wasn’t pinned unfairly on the asphalt this time.

“I’ll text you. See you tomorrow.”

“…Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

The time to part had come.

Well, it’s not like we wouldn’t see each other again before the day even ended.

I waved at Yena as she turned to leave.

Once she was out of sight, I turned and entered my small home.

‘Tired…’

As the tension faded, the accumulated fatigue crept through my body.

I dragged myself to the bathroom.

Not that it was far—just a step away.

After a drowsy shower, I headed to bed.

“Ughhh…”

Plop.

I dove onto the bed with a towel still wrapped around my head.

The hairdryer was right beside the bed.

Even I had to admit, the layout was efficient.

I turned on the hairdryer and roughly dried my hair.

As the whirring filled my ears, I picked up my phone.

[ I’m home ]

A sharp, no-nonsense message from Yena greeted me.

‘She just sent this.’

One minute ago.

Perfect timing.

I slowly typed with one hand.

[ Me too ]

[ Showered ]

Typing one-handed was awkward.

It took forever just to write five letters.

I turned off the hairdryer.

After carelessly setting it aside, I texted comfortably with both hands.

[ Don’t you wanna see me? ]

Click, whirr—

I picked up the hairdryer again to dry my hair.

Still holding my phone in one hand.

Yena typed, then erased, leaving three dots before finally sending:

[ lol ]

[ Dummy ]

My lips trembled as I sent the message.

‘So cute…’

What expression was Yena making on the other side of the screen?

Fuming mad? Hard to imagine.

Maybe her usual blank face, eyes closed, trembling slightly.

Chuckling, I enjoyed the hairdryer’s warm breeze.

Today, the soft strands of my hair felt especially satisfying.

[ I’ll let it slide today ]

[ But if you keep pushing it— ]

“Pfft— cough Let it slide? Yeah, right… Ugh.”

Back to two-handed mode.

Mentally picturing her flustered, I teased her.

[ What’s there to let slide, you perv? ]

Well, not that it mattered anymore.

At least I got some fun out of it.

‘…Or not.’

Thinking back, whenever I tried hypnosis, things rarely went my way.

“It’s because she’s a freak…”

What kind of heroine gets hypnotized and then turns the tables?

Mid-thought, a suggestive message popped up.

[ Should I come over now? ]

Ridiculous.

She just said she got home.

Why would she come over when we’re meeting tomorrow anyway?

Way too extreme for a little teasing.

[ What? ]

[ Go shower and sleep ]

[ You said you’d pick me up tomorrow ]

After shutting her down, I grabbed the hairdryer again.

“Ah, it’s already dry… yawn.”

I stretched my arms and let out a big yawn.

My body was already ready for deep sleep.

I put the hairdryer back and picked up my phone.

[ I’m sleeping over tonight ]

[ I’m outside your door, open up ]

Her message arrived.

Slumping onto the bed, I read her reply.

“What nonsense is this, seriously…”

Obviously a lie.

She just said she got home.

Probably just messing with me again.

Normally, I’d play along, but I was too tired today.

I tapped the call button.

The ringtone sounded as the call connected to Yena.

“Yeah, why aren’t you opening up?”

Behind her voice, I could hear the distinct sound of running water from the bathroom.

‘She’s not even trying to hide it…’

My deduction was spot-on.

The sound of water suddenly made me picture her naked.

“Urk…”

I buried my face in the bedsheet to erase the thought.

“Hey, I’m… gonna sleep now…”

Slurring my words, I conveyed my intent—stop joking and go shower.

“Hehe, then I’ll just let myself in?”

“Mm… whatever…”

Annoyed by her murmuring, I replied half-heartedly.

Yena, perhaps startled by my reaction, fell silent.

“…”

Maybe she was bored now.

Should’ve teased her properly—now she knows I’m onto her.

“Alright. Sleep well. I’ll shower and go to bed too.”

“Uhh… hehe, love youuu…”

“…Tch. Yeah…”

Yena’s voice sounded watery.

Oh boy, something’s gonna happen after this call.

My thoughts melted into drowsiness.

I kept giggling stupidly.

“Ehehe, what’re you thinking… huh?”

“Hayul, be ready tomorrow morning.”

“Gyahah… Then I’ll wake up at 5 and run away, hehe.”

“…”

In my sleepy haze, words spilled out unfiltered.

Luckily, nothing too incriminating—I imagined Yena’s flustered face and reveled in it.

A few seconds of silence passed.

“Whatever, I’m sleeping… G’night…”

“Ahem, yeah. Goodnight.”

Click.

As the call ended, my consciousness slowly drifted away.

Suddenly, a loud knocking jerked my eyelids open.

“Hayul—”

“Huh, ugh…! Huh?!”

Yena’s voice.

Like a splash of cold water, my mind snapped awake.

I definitely set an alarm—did I sleep through it?

‘Shit, shit!’

No idea how long Yena had been here, but the knocking suggested she’d waited a while.

My phone was flooded with missed alarms.

I bolted to the front door and swung it open.

“What the hell were you—ugh.”

Yena was standing there, looking at something with a familiar expression.

Following her gaze, I realized my crotch was completely exposed.

‘Ah, I slept in just a T-shirt…’

Lately, I’d found it more comfortable to sleep without underwear.

When I checked my own state, heat rushed to my face.

I immediately clamped my legs shut and yanked the fabric down with both hands.

“D-Don’t look…! I-I’ll go wash up real quick. Just sit and wait, hup—wait here!”

I barely managed to deflect the situation with rapid-fire words.

Grabbing Yena’s hand, I pulled her toward the bed.

Thud.

The front door closed automatically, leaving just the two of us in the room.

I tried to turn toward the bathroom, but before I could, Yena grabbed my waist.

“Kyahk—?!”

Before I knew it, I was straddling her lap, legs spread.

She’d yanked me toward her without warning…

Probably just to avoid kneeing me. Yeah, that had to be it.

The scratchy texture of her school skirt brushed against my thighs.

“L-Let go! And I—I haven’t washed yet!”

“You tempted me first. And so what if you haven’t? I like that too.”

She buried her nose against my lower stomach and took a deep breath.

“Hyaaah—?!”

A strange, electric pleasure spread through me, even through the thin fabric.

Even though I’d just woken up, even though my mind was still foggy—that sensation burned itself into my body.

“Okay, okay, fine! Huh? L-Later, at school—hng…! Let’s do it then…!”

“…Promise?”

It was a lie to escape the situation.

Who even has sex at school? That’s ridiculous.

But I nodded frantically anyway.

Gotta survive first, think later…

What’s so great about a naked T-shirt anyway?!

The second I was free, I bolted to the bathroom.

Slam.

“Hahh… Hup… Haaah…”

Gasping for air, I tore off my clothes.

Not like there was much to remove—just one layer.

I shook my head, trying to erase the lingering shame.

Then I stepped under the showerhead and cranked the faucet up.

“Kyaaah—?! C-Cold…!”

Ice-cold water hit me like a truck.

How panicked was I to forget this dump’s awful boiler system? Maybe because I’d stayed out all night.

I stumbled back, shivering, waiting for the water to warm up—

When the bathroom door suddenly swung open.

“Something wrong?”

“Eek—?! N-No, nothing! Nothing at all! G-Get out!”

Yena stood in the doorway, unfazed.

I hunched over, arms covering my chest and between my legs.

In front of me—a perverted girlfriend.

Behind me—freezing water.

A true dilemma.

‘Aah…’

I forgot to lock the door.

Yena’s eyes trailed down my body before she pouted.

“Fine. Last chance.”

“W-What…? Just go already…!”

Thankfully, she closed the door quietly and left.

“Huuuuh…“

I exhaled shakily and reached back.

The water was lukewarm now.

Cursing the boiler in my head, I adjusted the showerhead.

‘I should just… move to the dorms…’

How much longer is left on this lease?

Creeeak—

The bathroom door opened slightly, and I peeked out with just my face.

“Yena…”

She tilted her head, silently demanding an explanation.

“U-Um, s-sorry, but… can you grab my towel? It’s on the desk…”

“Hmm…?”

“And, uh… my uniform too…”

“Ha.“

I gave her my best pleading smile, but…

It didn’t seem to work.

“Just come out and change.”

“WHAT?!”