Chapter 2

‘What’s causing this?’

She realized it started after that hike.

‘Could it be because of the spring water……?’

The spring from that day flashed in her mind.

Miraculous water that grants wishes.

She had absentmindedly thought, while drinking, that she wanted to know Suhyeok’s true feelings.

But she’d wanted to know his heart, not hear these embarrassing words.

“Why aren’t you answering? Are you sick?”

Seeing her dazed, Suhyeok came closer, his large muscular body casting a shadow over her slender frame.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

She forced a wider smile, waving her hands. To cool her red face, she pretended to look through her textbook.

But Suhyeok’s suspicious gaze lingered, so she shifted her attention to her laptop. The unfinished report didn’t even register.

“……Hey, Suhyeok.”

“What?”

“Did you just say something to me?”

Was she really losing her mind from this one-sided crush? Even knowing all those lewd words were probably her imagination, In-ah couldn’t help but ask.

“What do you mean? When I asked if you were sick?”

“Ah…… no, before tat.”

“I didn’t say anything before that.”

Suhyeok reached out his big hand and placed it on her forehead. His strong, veined hand covered half her face.

He checked her forehead with the back of his hand, looking worried.

“No fever. Are you sure you’re okay?”

His hand, stroking her round forehead, naturally slid down to her cheek. Each time his hot fingers brushed her soft skin, In-ah felt her temperature rise.

Flustered by his sudden touch, In-ah could only blink.

[I want to kiss her.]

Once again, Suhyeok’s voice echoed in her head. In her confusion, she blurted out without thinking.

“You… do you want to kiss me?”

‘Oh no.’

She clapped her hand over her mouth too late.

‘This is insane!’

Even when her feelings threatened to overflow, she’d never said anything like this before.

‘Would he think I was weird? No, maybe he’d just ignore it like he always did.’

Lost in her thoughts, In-ah’s eyes snapped open. She expected him to react as usual, unaffected.

“……What?”

But to her surprise, Suhyeok’s voice trembled, and his face flushed as if on fire.

‘Was it real?’

Suhyeok’s face was red, but somehow In-ah’s cheeks grew even hotter as she looked at him.

‘I’ve never seen Suhyeok make that face before.’

Biting her lip, In-ah glanced at him.

Stern Kang Suhyeok had never cried or blushed, even in kindergarten. He was so stoic, even teachers found him difficult.

But now, with his ears red, he was clearly shaken. What should she do?

“…….”

“…….”

The two maintained a suffocating silence, unable to look at each other for a long time.

The air in the relatively spacious studio suddenly felt heavy and hot.

In-ah felt responsible to fix this awkward situation. So, determined to break the silence, she spoke first.

“Well… about that.”

Her voice cracked with embarrassment. She couldn’t even compose herself as she rushed to explain.

“Remember when we went hiking? That spring? The water was supposed to grant wishes, and after I drank it, I started hearing your inner thoughts……”

Even she knew how ridiculous it sounded, so her voice faded. Her heart pounded louder than her words as she bowed her head.

‘Wait, come to think of it, Suhyeok drank the spring water too.’

That day, Suhyeok had quickly finished the water she gave him. She distinctly remembered seeing his gaze linger on the spring’s sign.

‘Did he make a wish too?’

‘No, this isn’t the time to think about that.’

What mattered was how to deal with this awkward atmosphere.

Even now, Suhyeok didn’t respond. In-ah, at a loss, nervously twisted her hair.

Her long brown hair tumbled forward, tracing the lines of her body. Suhyeok’s subdued gaze followed the luscious hair as it flowed over her chest.

Lost in her own thoughts, In-ah didn’t notice Suhyeok’s persistent gaze. He quickly looked away from her chest and quietly asked,

“……So, you’ve been hearing my thoughts ever since the hike?”

Unlike In-ah’s face, flushed as if burning, Suhyeok had regained his composure and spoke calmly.

“I… think so.”

“……Ha.”

Suhyeok swept his face with his knuckled hand. He let out a deep sigh, as if trying to hold something back.

‘Is he going to get angry because I heard his inner thoughts without permission……?’

But it wasn’t In-ah’s will that she heard Suhyeok’s inner voice.

She glanced at Suhyeok, whose face was hidden behind his hand.

Everyone has secret, even wicked, fantasies. She herself had imagined being lovers with Suhyeok.

But if someone caught such private thoughts, they’d want to hide immediately.

Yet Suhyeok was different.

“Sorry.”

“Huh……?”

Contrary to her expectation that he’d be angry, he apologized. At his unexpected words, In-ah’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

“You must have felt uncomfortable, hearing my inner thoughts all this time.”

Suhyeok shut his slim laptop with a snap and stood up. When his large frame rose, a faint shadow fell over In-ah.

She blinked, mulling over his words.

“To think someone you don’t even like was having those thoughts about you, how disgusting must it have been.”

Usually expressionless, he now furrowed his brow and clenched his teeth. His eyes were full of self-loathing, mixed with discomfort.

“I’ll go out for a bit, so just relax before you leave.”

“Wa……wait, Suhyeok……!”

‘What does that mean!’

In-ah hurried to stop Suhyeok as he tried to leave. But instead of grabbing his sleeve, in her haste, she caught his fingers.

His long, knuckled hand was so hot and firm. Startled by the heat touching her small hand, she steadied herself and looked up at him.

“What do you mean by that……?”

‘A man I don’t even like? Is he saying I don’t like him?’

Maybe because she was flustered, but for the first time, she couldn’t hear a single one of Suhyeok’s inner thoughts.

With her faint strength, In-ah clung tightly to his hand. He could easily shake her off, but instead, he stood there as if caught in a trap.

“And why do you have those thoughts when you look at me?”

Her fingertips trembled. She realized instinctively—

Now was the chance to confirm his true feelings.

Even if he only saw her as an object of desire, In-ah wanted to know his heart.

[Because I like you.]

Through the noise swirling in her mind, a clear voice rang out.

“Because I like you.”

At the same time, Suhyeok’s low voice softly tickled In-ah’s ear. His words matched his inner voice, not a single word different.

“Do…… do you really like me?”

In-ah couldn’t tell if she was dreaming or awake. She pulled at her pale cheek, unable to look away from Suhyeok.

“Yeah. I’ve liked you since kindergarten.”

Suhyeok gently removed In-ah’s hand from her cheek, then soothed her flushed face with a soft touch.

“From the moment you reached out to me, I fell for you.”

In-ah, with her pretty looks, kind heart, and bright smile, had always had many friends, even as a child. Suhyeok, on the other hand, rarely spoke and always wore a stern face, so the other kids never approached him.

“Suhyeok, come play with us too!”

It was In-ah who first reached out to him and became his friend. Suhyeok still remembered that day vividly.

Suddenly, In-ah stood up and grabbed both of Suhyeok’s hands tightly.

“Then why didn’t you ever show it?”

“I was afraid if I confessed, you’d avoid me.”

Suhyeok entwined his fingers with hers.

In-ah, who’d always been pretty, had grown even more beautiful. During puberty, Suhyeok struggled every night with dreams of her.

Every morning, his longing surged, and he’d think of her, overwhelmed by hazy desire.

He felt guilty, imagining such things about In-ah, who didn’t return his feelings.

But the more he tried to suppress his crush, the stronger his longing for her grew.

Whenever that happened, Suhyeok drew a line for himself.

If he crossed the line beyond friendship, he feared all the pent-up desire would explode at once.

But then—

“I liked you too.”

In-ah closed her eyes and hugged Suhyeok tight.

“And I still like you!”

Her childhood friend, whom she’d loved in secret, turned out to love her too.

What could be happier than this?

Overcome with emotion, In-ah hugged Suhyeok’s waist tightly and pressed herself close. Her ample chest squashed against his body.

Only Suhyeok swallowed a dry gulp, feeling her soft body melt against him. Her sweet scent swept over him, making his face flush to its limit.

[She really likes me? Am I dreaming?]

[D*mn, don’t get hard. Don’t get hard.]

Just as she wondered what he meant by ‘don’t get hard,’ something firm pressed against her lower belly.

Realizing what it was, she gaped in shock.