1.2

It had been a few days since the unexpected cohabitation began.  

Surprisingly, Yebom had discovered various advantages and was getting along very well.  

She was living in a luxurious, spacious apartment she could never have dreamed of affording on her own, using a room as big as her entire previous home. Juhan, who worked at a famous furniture company run by his father, had ordered furniture like a desk, a dresser, and a bed for her, even though she had insisted she would only stay for a short while. Thanks to him, she was able to continue her daily life comfortably in a space that looked like a showroom.  

Living with two others after living alone came with small perks, such as being able to enjoy a variety of dishes during meals. Especially since both Hyunho and Juhan were tall and broad-built giants, their appetite was enormous. Whether they ordered delivery or brought food back, the dining table always looked like a feast. For someone like Yebom, who loved trying a bit of everything, it was a small happiness.  

And then there was the bath.  

Her old place had only a shower booth, making it difficult to take a proper bath. But this apartment not only had multiple bathrooms, but the largest one also featured a massive square bathtub.  

At first, she hesitated to use the bathtub, feeling it might be inappropriate given her temporary stay. However, knowing how much she loved baths, Hyunho had bought a bunch of bath bombs. Because of this, she could now fill the tub with warm water, toss in a bath bomb, and enjoy long, luxurious baths.  

Most of all, living with a dog brought pure joy.  

Even though she had met Chapssal occasionally before this unexpected cohabitation, spending entire days with him was incomparable. Wanting her to bond more with Chapssal, Hyunho entrusted her with feeding him both meals and snacks. As a result, Chapssal naturally accepted her presence. He also spent the most time with her, as she was home the longest.  

Chapssal would stay by her side while she worked, and sometimes they’d end up lying down together for a nap. Living with this soft, golden bundle of fur was pure happiness.  

There was also an unexpected benefit: living with the two of them gave her a strange sense of security. She was much less worried about the stalker, and the occasional unease she felt living alone as a woman had significantly diminished.  

It wasn’t just about being in a safe place—the presence of others in the same house provided a sense of stability.  

Though both men had to leave for work every day, they would return home after work, and the three of them would eat dinner together and spend time doing various things. It felt like being on a vacation or playing house—a series of fun and enjoyable days.  

Even now, they were hanging out late at night in the living room, watching a movie. Chapssal, who had been sitting with his rear pressed against her, eventually went into his house and fell asleep as the night deepened.  

“What are you drawing?”  

Juhan asked from beside her. Yebom showed him the sketch she had been doodling on her tablet.  

“Chapssal.”  

She couldn’t resist drawing him; he looked so adorable sleeping soundly in his pentagon-shaped cream-colored house.  

“Don’t just draw Chapssal—draw me too.”  

“Huh?”  

It was rare for him to ask for a drawing of himself, so she glanced up at him.  

Oh….  

The soft yellow light of the indirect lamp illuminated his broad, well-built chest. He was wearing gray sweatpants and nothing else, revealing his impressively toned upper body.  

Trying not to ogle like a pervert, she focused on his handsome face before quickly returning her gaze to the tablet.  

Was it the first day of their cohabitation? Juhan had come out of the shower dressed just like this.  

‘…You know Yebom’s here now. Put on some clothes.’  

‘It’s too much trouble. Why bother at home?’  

Even though Hyunho had told him to put something on, Juhan hadn’t budged. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he walked around in just sweatpants or shorts, forcing Yebom to see his muscular upper body every day.  

She thought to herself, 

I wish I could be that comfortable too.

Of course, cohabitation wasn’t without its downsides. One small drawback was that she couldn’t dress as comfortably as she used to. When she lived alone, she would wear pajamas without a bra, but now she had to wear a bra and proper loungewear. She wanted to take off the constricting bra, but her chest was so large that it was noticeable no matter what she wore. Just thinking about it made her feel suffocated.  

“I’ll draw you during the day when it’s brighter.”  

“You had no problem drawing Chapssal.”  

“I want to do a proper job. Besides, I’m sleepy now.”  

It wasn’t an excuse—her eyelids were genuinely heavy. She yawned and put the tablet aside.  

“If you’re sleepy, go to bed.”  

“Yebom, go rest.”  

“Okay. I’ll go to bed first.”  

After saying goodnight, she went to her room. The first thing she did was take off her bra and change into her pajamas. She turned on the bedside lamp and was about to lie down when she left the door slightly ajar.  

Chapssal’s morning routine involved patrolling the house, and if her door was closed, he would scratch at it, asking to be let in. Since she was a heavy sleeper who wouldn’t wake easily, she didn’t want to keep him waiting, so she left the door open a crack.  

Lying comfortably in bed, she stared at the faint light coming through the door before closing her eyes.  

“…….”  

She couldn’t sleep.  

Even though she was tired, sleep didn’t come easily.  

Did I nap too much today?

Did I drink coffee too late?

Or is it just one of those nights when I can’t fall asleep for no particular reason?

Considering how well she had been sleeping since moving into this house, it seemed like one of those rare nights. She had always been prone to this from time to time.  

Turning onto her side, she blinked blankly for a while before picking up her phone to scroll through it. After a moment, she put it back down. She lay in the dimly lit room, trying hard to fall asleep.  

“…Ugh.”  

Eventually, she gave up and slowly got out of bed. Dragging her slippers, she went to the living room to get a drink of water. To her surprise, the lights were still on, and Hyunho was there.  

“Yebom? Why aren’t you asleep?”  

He had been studying, a book open in front of him. Seeing her, he stood up and approached with a curious look.  

“I can’t sleep…. What about you? Why are you still up?”  

“I have a surgery tomorrow that I don’t perform often, so I was reviewing. Why can’t you sleep?”  

Ah….  

Hyunho was such a diligent and excellent veterinarian. For a moment, she thought that if she were an animal, she’d want to be treated by him.  

“I don’t know. I’m tired, but I just can’t fall asleep…. I came to get some water.”  

“Alright, let’s get you some warm water.”  

He adjusted the water temperature at the dispenser and handed her a glass of warm water. As she took a sip, she felt warmth spread through her body. While wiping her damp lips with her hand, she realized she was in her pajamas. Feeling a bit self-conscious, she dropped her gaze and noticed the outline of her n*pples was visible through the fabric.  

Oh….  

Flustered, she casually grasped the front of her pajamas and pulled them slightly away from her body.  

“…….”  

For some reason, she felt like Hyunho was looking at her chest.  

Was fanning my shirt to look less obvious actually drawing more attention?  

A brief, awkward silence fell, and she didn’t know what to do.  

“Did you finish your water?”  

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”  

Hyunho took the empty glass from her other hand and set it aside. With his gaze no longer on her, her tension eased.  

“If you can’t sleep, should I massage your back? It’s been a while.”  

Massage my back?

After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

“Come here.”

Hyunho guided her to the sofa, sat her down, and took a seat beside her. Turning his body to face her, he raised a hand and gently stroked her back. His large, firm hand, as solid as a pot lid, moved softly in circular motions. Through the thin fabric of her pajamas, she could feel the warmth of his touch.

“…….”

It felt nice.

She turned her body slightly more toward Hyunho, leaning into him, and quietly allowed herself to feel his touch. Although she hadn’t been particularly anxious, she somehow felt reassured. Since she wasn’t wearing any undergarments, there were no straps in the way, allowing his hand to smoothly caress her back.

The fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra made her a little self-conscious, but she liked Hyunho’s touch so much that she stayed as she was.