Chapter 7 : If you don’t like it, just leave it. Who was it that secretly tempted you and didn’t leave until the end?

“Ugh…”

I let out a deep sigh, showing how tired I was.

I could barely pay attention in class.

As I spent time daydreaming, it eventually became lunchtime.

At this point, I wondered if I was in heat or something.

I occasionally looked at Yena to vent my frustration, but…

“Ugh…!”

She sent a dangerous look my way, so I quickly turned my head.

She acted like she didn’t care at all.

Every time I sent her an angry glare, I couldn’t help but notice how she slightly tilted her head while resting her chin.

Seeing that, my heart melted again.

What was that, why was she so indifferent?

“Is it just me, or am I the only one feeling this way?”

Looking at her indifferent face, my mind was filled with all kinds of thoughts.

I saw on the internet that women sometimes touch each other’s breasts as a joke.

Sometimes they even squeeze them.

Could that be it? Or maybe not?

“Hey, Hayul… wanna eat?”

There definitely wasn’t anyone like that in our class.

Even Yena didn’t do that with others.

So that means, she likes me, right…?

“Hayul!”

“Ah! Why, what’s going on?”

“I called you, but you didn’t answer. It’s lunchtime. Let’s go together.”

I was startled…

I didn’t even realize she called me. Once I calmed down a bit, I followed Yena to the cafeteria.

Of course, we ate lunch together…

No, we were about to eat, but…

“Hello. I’m here.”

Winter joined us.

You sure live without a care, don’t you?

She sat down across from me without a hint of concern.

We’d built some rapport while getting scolded together, so I didn’t mind.

“Yena, you’ve changed.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I only like Hayul now. I got dumped. Boo-hoo.”

“No, no. What are you talking about, Winter?”

Huh…?

Yena, did you have a girlfriend?

I shot Yena a look of shock.

For a moment, Yena looked confused, but then she relaxed and changed the subject.

“Well… yeah. I used to hang out with Winter a lot, but yesterday I was with you, so she got jealous.”

“She’s jealous. She’s really mad. Make it up to her.”

“Haha…”

Ugh…

I felt like I was about to snap from the frustration.

Yena, was I not your first…!?

“Y-Yena…? Don’t you think an explanation is necessary…?”

“Huh? What explanation? We’re just close friends. Nothing else.”

“R-Really? Nothing at all?” Wait, did I overreact?

“Thinking about it…”

It wasn’t like they were exchanging any affectionate looks.

More than that, Yena didn’t tease Winter the same way she teased me, like poking my chest…

“Ugh. Zero confession, second rejection. Let’s just eat.”

She didn’t look disappointed at all. Not understanding my inner turmoil, Winter started enjoying her tray of food.

“She just likes to mess around. I’ve never been in a relationship.”

“Haha… I see.”

“Hayul, your reaction is weird. Did you seriously think Winter and I were a couple?”

“No! Not at all! And, I knew that!”

Yena gave me a playful look as usual.

“What’s up? Are you jealous now?”

“Ugh, what are you saying? Jealous? No way…”

“Heh, alright. Let’s eat now?”

“Yeah…”

She didn’t notice, did she…?

I knew that to be in a relationship, one had to take control, pushing and pulling. Even though I was inexperienced, I knew that.

In my heart, I’d confessed my love countless times, but doing it for real felt… too embarrassing.

“Eek…!”

Maybe Yena felt the same way.

So she teased me like this, pretending it wasn’t serious, staying close to me, right?

I glanced to the side, and she was picking at her food.

Something was off… My danger senses were warning me.

Well, I didn’t mind eating.

Still, the teasing was getting out of hand.
I thought she was serious.

“What if we actually start dating?”

So, Winter doesn’t like me.

But when I’m away for a bit and another girl flirts with her…?

Her looks were the kind that would have guys asking for her number within minutes if she stood on the street.

I thought about the phone in my pocket.

“Hypnosis…”

Yeah. I’ve got that.

A strong backup plan, you know. If things go south, I can just…

“Eek?!”

At that moment, I felt something warm on my thigh.

Luckily, I didn’t scream or spill my food.

“This… this is…”

A finger? I could feel a hand.

If no one was sitting beside me, I would’ve been terrified.

But I knew exactly whose hand this was.

I quickly turned my head and looked at her.

“Why? Is it bad?”

“Y-You…”

“Yeah? What?”

‘Winter’s sitting there… What if she finds out?’
No matter how hard I tried to send a silent glare, Yena just laughed mischievously.

I slightly lowered my head, and her shoulder and arm were directed toward me.

This pervert… Clearly, she was touching my thigh, you idiot!

Bam-

This is wrong…!

I lowered my hand, which wasn’t holding my chopsticks, and groped her naughty hand.

I gently pinched it to signal her to stop.

It wasn’t unpleasant, but if anyone finds out, it would be a disaster…

Yena paused for a second as if thinking, lying underneath.

I had a bad feeling. Something felt off, so I tried to pull her hand away.

“Eek…!”

At that moment, Yena’s hand spun around.

Our fingers naturally touched.

I could feel her long fingers coiling around mine like a snake. I couldn’t hold back and let out a scream.

Yena’s hand was openly intertwined with mine.

It was slightly chilly, but it felt… nice.

No, wait. This… this lewd little girl…!

“…Hmm?”

“Haha, it’s so good, I can’t stop…”
Winter, hearing the noise, looked over at us.

She didn’t suspect anything and went back to eating.

Yena casually stared at me as if nothing had happened.

Grit-
I glared at the naughty girl sitting beside me.

This is real! Damn, I almost got caught!

With a mischievous look, Yena picked up her chopsticks with her other hand. Forget it, I’ll just focus on my food.

Surprisingly, her intertwined hand was quietly sharing warmth with mine. I wonder if she was satisfied.

“Phew…”

I should eat too.

I stuck my chopsticks back into my rice without dropping them.

…Actually, I didn’t know if the food was good or not.

Now, I could feel her fingers slowly warming up.

A strange feeling started to rise, and I tried to pull my hand away.

Almost simultaneously, Yena’s hand tightened around mine, and I helplessly gave in.

Yeah, go ahead. Touch it.

I relaxed my hand, and she slowly rubbed it with satisfaction.

I tried my best not to pay attention, but my face was clearly flushed, so I think I failed.

“Mm. Delicious, as expected.”

“Haha, yeah…”

“I’m done. You two enjoy your time.”
Winter left without any hesitation to clean her tray.

As her figure started disappearing, I put my chopsticks down. I wanted to throw them at Yena, but…

‘What if she gets hurt?’

Fine, I’ll let it slide just this once. A bit of mercy from the master.

I wanted to say it, but I held back.

“Hayul… Did you enjoy it?”

“Y-You…!”

“Oh, why are you acting like this?”

“If Winter sees… What will happen?”

“Heh, I’m fine with it. If you don’t like it, just take it off. Who was it that kept tempting me until the end?”

“Ugh…! Pervert! Lecherous! Just, just die already…!”

“Yeah, I like it too. Your hand was soft. Can I use it again next time?”

My face turned red.

Was I angry or excited?

Ugh, should I just hypnotize her? Isn’t this teasing too much!?

“Sigh…”

…But I couldn’t do that.

Of course, what I liked was Yena’s appearance.

Yeah, that’s how it started, but…

Now, I just like having her by my side.

I really like Yena herself!

I fell in love in just two days!
It’s incredibly fast…!
But, my feelings are sincere…
‘And actually…’

Doesn’t Yena like me even more?

After all, she was the one who grabbed my hand first.
Also, she poked my chest…
…Heh.

They say the one who loves more always loses.
Since Yena always clings to me first,
That means I’m winning.

“What are you thinking?”

“Ugh, just… just, hmm.”

“Are you thinking dirty thoughts? Your face turned completely pink after I poked your chest.”

“What?! That’s…! You, you… I can’t take it anymore!”

“Eek! The chest monster’s coming after me!”

I ran after Yena, holding my tray in both hands.

I walked a bit faster, careful not to bump into her.

When I got near the exit, she was already gone.

“Damn… She said all that and left.”

I quickly cleaned up and went outside,
‘…Nowhere to be found?’
Where did she go?

I looked around, searching.

Hmm, I can’t see her. What’s going on?

“Yena—”

“Ah!”

“Huff…!”
Suddenly, I felt a hand grab me from behind, sending a chill down my spine.

They say when you’re really scared, you can’t scream.
That’s exactly what happened.

When I turned around,
“Hehe.”

Yena was there.

“Ah, you… naughty… Huff, hehe…”
Tears welled up.
A rush of sorrow filled me.

All the things Yena had done to me that afternoon flashed before my eyes.

“Sigh, huff.”

“…Hayul, were you really that surprised?”

“Sniff, snuffle. I… I thought you were gone… But you were just playing around… Hwaaang…”

Hug-

When I opened my drowsy eyes, I found myself in Yena’s embrace.

Warm air settled on the corners of my eyes, where tears were dripping down.

Because she was taller than me, my lips ended up pressed against her chest.

I couldn’t resist.

Neither the feelings of resentment nor the feelings of sadness.

Slowly, they washed away.

Yena gently moved her steps, guiding my body toward the corner.

The sounds of students gradually faded and eventually disappeared.

Before I knew it, everything around us had gone quiet.

“Hic, sniff. Hic.”

Yena didn’t say a word,

she just held me silently.

Bit by bit, little by little, my sobbing subsided.

“Did you cry it all out?”

“…I hate you. Sniff.“

“Oh? Hayul hates me? Should I leave? Should I stop talking to you?”

“…No. Hic. Sniff.“

“Then should I stay here?”

“Stay by my side. Sniff. Yeah. Stay by my side… Don’t go…”

And just like that, we stayed in each other’s arms for a long time.

Ding-ding-ding—

The bell rang, signaling that lunchtime would end in five minutes.

Of course, I was still in her arms.

Still being held… Hmm…

‘…This is embarrassing! Oh my god, what did I even say?! Aaaah!’

It felt warm, but it was way too embarrassing.

Yena’s scent was making my head spin.

I really should move away now…

If I don’t, I might even get penalized…

But I just stayed there, frozen, not knowing what to do.

“…You heard the bell, right?”

“…Yeah. Sniff, yeah.“

“Let’s go back to the classroom.”

“Mm. Sniff.“

I had cried so much that my voice couldn’t even make it past my throat properly.

Her arms unwrapped from my shoulders, and I took a small step back to put some distance between us.

Before I knew it, the front of her school uniform was completely soaked.

Just how much had I cried…?

“It’s all wet.”

“…Sorry… Hic.“

“Hayul, you got me all wet…”

“Ugh…”

“I guess you’ll have to take responsibility… right?”

“If… if you need laundry money, let me know…”

“Not that…”

Yena paused for a moment before speaking again.

“Could you make some time for me this weekend?”

“The weekend…?”

I didn’t have any plans.

Not that I had that many friends to make plans with in the first place…

“Yeah, I can. Sniff. I’ll make time. W-When? Saturday? Sunday?”

“Saturday. Is that okay?”

“Well, actually, I don’t really have anything… I mean— No, I mean, yeah, I think I can.”

“Hmm… You think you can?”

“N-No…! I can! I have nothing going on!”

We decided to meet on Saturday.

“Let’s go watch a movie on Saturday. Just you and me. The two of us.”

…A heart-fluttering movie date, just for the two of us.