I Wanna Sleep With You - 8.3
8.3
“Wow, this is crazy.”
Awakened from her sleep, Chaeyoon stuck to the window, marveling at the sight.
The snow that had fallen at dawn had turned the whole world white, and it looked completely different from yesterday.
Tree branches adorned with fresh snowflakes, roads blanketed with a white carpet—it felt like she was looking at a scene from a fairy tale.
“Is this your first time seeing snow?”
Seonho, still groggy and cocooned in the warmth of the bed, wriggled and asked with slightly slurred speech.
“In Jeju, yes. We should go out soon.”
Chaeyoon wrapped herself in the sheets and climbed out of bed.
“Going out? In this cold?”
“It’s colder in New York. Plus, it’s not this nature-friendly there. I really love it.”
“Yawn, I’m sleepy. Stay with me instead of going out.”
Seonho stretched languidly, his sexiness undiminished even upon waking.
How could his tousled, disheveled hair still look sexy? This mystery definitely needed to be added to the list of inexplicable phenomena.
“You sleep more. It’s the sweet slumber of a rest day; I can’t steal that from you. I won’t ask you to come with me, so sleep in.”
Chaeyoon gently pushed Seonho back down onto the bed, covered his naked body with the sheet, and even patted his chest a few times.
He always claims to be punctual for work, yet his habit of sleeping in remains the same.
Before heading to the bathroom, Chaeyoon took out her newly-bought camera from the suitcase. She snapped a few pictures of the beautiful winter landscape covered in snow outside the window.
“Aww, it’s so pretty.”
Capturing the scene made her even more eager to head outside.
After setting down the camera, Chaeyoon stretched fully and moved around to loosen her overworked muscles, feeling a bit stiff from using muscles she normally didn’t.
“You’re in good shape. I can’t believe you were up all night with me.”
“I have to keep up with my workouts since my job and studies demand physical endurance.”
“Yeah, exercise is important.”
Seonho yawned stretchily, causing the sheet to slip and revealing his sculpted chest and chocolate abs.
“Do you not work and just go around building your body at the gym?”
“Huh?”
Seonho blinked and looked down at his body.
“You must work out a lot to get that kind of body, don’t you think? For someone who sleeps a lot, when do you even find time to exercise?”
Unlike her, who exercised for stamina, Seonho’s physique was on another level, like that of a model. It was the kind of body that invited touches.
“Do I look good to you?”
Seonho smirked and struck a pose as if showing off his figure.
“I can’t even begin to comment. Oh! We need to hurry if we want to catch breakfast.”
When Chaeyoon emerged from washing up, Seonho was no longer in bed.
“Where did he go?”
After getting dressed in something comfortable for activity, and finishing her preparations, she walked into the living room to find Seonho casually dressed, sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee.
“Are you ready? You girls take forever to get ready. Is it because of your long hair?”
“What?”
Chaeyoon looked puzzled.
Why was the sexy sloth up and about instead of sleeping?
“Let’s go together.”
“And you think you know where I’m going?”
“Probably somewhere on Jeju Island. Wouldn’t it be more fun together than alone?”
Seonho grinned naturally, looking even more refreshed just out of the shower.
Great, now I have to compete with a man in looks.
“Really?”
Chaeyoon looked skeptical.
I admit that communication through body language in bed works pretty well. But when we talk in everyday life, half the time we end up bickering.
I don’t want to spend a pleasant trip just bickering.
“How about a bet? If it’s fun, you grant me a wish. If it’s not, I’ll grant yours.”
“Do we really need to bet? I’d rather not. Whether I win or lose, it seems like a loss to me.”
“Let’s at least start with breakfast. Breakfast time is almost over.”
At that, Chaeyoon gave up on arguing further with Seonho and headed to the dining room. Time was running out.
Once there, Chaeyoon got a fruit salad, abalone porridge, sandwiches, and citrus juice.
“There are really a lot of places to go. But it’s snowing, so I don’t know what the roads will be like.”
Chaeyoon muttered while doing a storm of searches, to which Seonho responded.
“There’s sunshine, so unless it’s a mountain road, it won’t pile up. We have snow chains, so don’t worry.”
“Right, you have a car.”
Chaeyoon had been wondering whether to rent a car or hire a taxi, but that issue was resolved by being with Seonho.
“The chauffeur is also on standby.”
Seonho pointed to himself as he said this.
“With snow chains and all, you’re well prepared.”
“Wouldn’t I be? All thanks to a competent secretary.”
“Really, Junsoo-oppa is awesome! You really picked a good assistant.”
Chaeyoon gave two thumbs up.
“Keeping capable people around is also a talent, you know?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Have you decided where to go?”
“I’d like to see the camellias covered in snow.”
Chaeyoon shows him a photo of a camellia she found on a blog, with snow on top of the red blossoms, giving them an ethereal color.
“Do the snow-covered camellias look different from regular camellias? Didn’t we see camellias at the pension yesterday?”
“Of course, it’s different. The ‘snow-covered’ part changes everything. It makes a huge difference.”
“Ah, I see. It’s different, then. You really do love flowers. It’s surprising you didn’t become a gardener like your father.”
Seonho shook his head with a smile.
“Liking plants and being a gardener are two different things. I’d rather create jewelry as beautiful as flowers.”
“I like that it doesn’t wither as quickly as flowers do.”
“Anyway, where should we go? Back to the pension?”
Chaeyoon pondered which of the several recommended places for viewing camellias would be best.
“How about Camellia Hill? It’s well maintained with walking paths and plenty to see. Those other places are mostly groves or farms focused on the trees. Camellia Hill is a famous tourist spot. It might be crowded, but it’s popular with women’s tastes.”
Seonho rattled off smoothly.
“Oh, that sounds good.”
Chaeyoon, who loves beautiful things, was immediately swayed by the mention of women’s tastes and made her decision without further debate.
“But what’s this? Looks like I really will have to go with you now.”
Chaeyoon was increasingly charmed by Seonho’s suggestions.
“It’s yellowtail season. How about yellowtail sashimi and braised cutlassfish for lunch? If you want something else, just let me know. I have a list of local hotspots ready.”
This statement was the clincher.
“You seem like a master negotiator.”
“Well, it’s just this kind of thing. Today, you’re going to be amazed by my competence.”
Seonho said with a laugh and a cocky shrug of his shoulders.
“But why do you want to go with me?”
“Because it’s fun.”
“You think it’s fun being with me?”
Chaeyoon looked surprised.
“Yes. You’re the best at banter.”
“I didn’t realize you liked banter so much.”
“Because it’s never boring. I really hate boredom because my brain is too sharp.”
“Ah, because you’re so smart? Am I supposed to listen to you brag all day?”
“Your bragging is included too, you know.”
“My bragging?”
“It means you also have a smart mind since you keep me entertained even on my cleverest days.”
Chaeyoon laughed at what seemed like nonsensical yet somehow logical reasoning.
“See? It’s fun to be with me, right?”
Seonho winked.
“Haha, yes, it’s quite a unique kind of fun, haha.”
Laughing led to more laughter, and gradually, it eased any wariness they had.
“If you’re done eating, shall we go?”
The two left the restaurant and went back to their room to put on their outerwear. Once inside, there were large boxes that hadn’t been there before they left.
“What’s this? Is it yours?”
“It snowed, remember?”
With that, Seonho pulled out a long padded coat covered with a protective bag from the box. When he removed the cover, a white long padded coat with fox fur on the hood was revealed.
“A long padded coat?”
Chaeyoon had heard that long padded coats were all the rage in Korea this winter. Foreign tourists found it interesting that Koreans appeared to be wearing blankets as fashion.
“The temperature has dropped a lot because of the snow. It’s not as mild as yesterday, so we need to bundle up because we’re not just going to be in the car.”
“Where did you get these?”
“I saw it was snowing and ordered one for myself, and got one for you too. It would look silly if only the man was dressed warmly while we were out together. I get cold easily, so I can’t offer you my coat.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to.”
“Since I can’t offer you my coat, I’m giving this to you instead. Make sure you wear it.”
Seonho urged earnestly.
“But it looks expensive…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. It doesn’t even cost as much as the erasers I used in elementary school.”
Chaeyoon knew about those designer erasers too; Seonho’s mom had given one to Joo-eun as a gift. Chaeyoon remembered how Joo-eun tried to offer it to her when she showed curiosity, making her sweat as she refused it.
“I’ll gladly accept it as payment for putting up with your showing off.”
Chaeyoon said, picking at her ear.
Even while receiving such an expensive coat, somehow, she didn’t feel particularly grateful—a skill in its own right.
“Good attitude. I really like that.”
Seonho spread the padding to make it easier for Chaeyoon to put on.
“Oh, it’s so warm.”
As soon as she put it on, a cozy and warm feeling rushed in. Despite its size, it wasn’t too heavy.
“Here, winter boots.”
“Thanks. You’re like a thoughtful staff member.”
“My staff are all capable because they take after me.”
“Whatever.”
Half the conversation with Seonho seemed to be filled with nonchalant remarks.
While Chaeyoon was putting on her boots, Seonho also wore a long padded coat, the same model but in black. She worried that someone might mistake them for wearing a couple’s outfit.
“All set.”
Chaeyoon patted down her puffy coat with her palms before slinging on her camera bag.
“You look just like a kid going on a picnic. I’ve never seen you this excited before.”
Seonho glanced at Chaeyoon, who looked excited and somewhat giddy. Her eyes were sparkling and full of life, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.
“Yep. I’m excited.”
Chaeyoon flashed a bright smile at Seonho.
Her smile shone like sunlight reflecting off the white snow, making Seonho squint his eyes.
Yeah, she was always dazzling when she smiled.
Even from a distance, whenever Chaeyoon smiled at Joo-eun, his eyes were inevitably drawn to her.
He wondered if this was the first time she had smiled at him like this. Before, he had only seen her smiles that seemed rehearsed and measured.
Unintentionally, Seonho’s hand reached towards Chaeyoon’s cheek.
“Why?”
“Hold on, something’s on your face.”
Seonho gently rubbed her soft cheek with his thumb, pretending to wipe something away.