Side Story 2.3

‘Then when can we?’

‘Until you and I are ready….’

‘I want to do it with you.’

She had been so clear about her desires, practically pleading with him. And yet, she was shy about something as minor as this. The contrast was both baffling and endearing. He couldn’t resist kissing her cheek. Twice. Chup, chup. Junhee, like a strict old teacher, made a stern face and pushed him away.

“This is a public place.”

“Yes, dear.”

Junhee’s cheeks turned crimson in an instant. She was embarrassed by the sudden use of “dear.”

“I’m not your ‘dear.’”

Her exaggerated grimace was adorable. It reminded him of a sticker emoji he had seen on his phone.

“Stop being so cheeky.”

Junhee pretended to sound stern, but Dowook merely pressed his lips to her neck and chuckled. As if tickled by the touch, Junhee subtly twisted her body.

“Don’t even breathe.”

“You’re so demanding.”

“And don’t curse either, Young Master.”

“Oh no, what do I do? Hearing you call me ‘Young Master’ kind of turns me on.”

“Stop spouting nonsense. We’re twenty-one now. Adults. I’m seriously worried that even after graduating college and joining a company, you’ll still go around cursing like that. Especially since you’re Taesan’s rising star, the ‘shining light’ of Taesan.”

“Our Junhee sure has a mouth on her.”

He spoke as if the sun had risen in the west, though he laughed as if entertained. Words like “rising star” and “shining light” were often used by his grandfather to praise him.

Junhee shot him a sharp look. “Fine, fine,” he said, winking as if surrendering.

But he wasn’t entirely joking when he said he was turned on. The memory of Junhee begging for intimacy flashed through his mind, and he felt himself swell almost instantly.

He’d already taken care of himself twice that morning. Maybe he should’ve done it one more time.

Before meeting Junhee, he always made sure to relieve himself multiple times. Otherwise, his body’s reactions to her might make her think he was some kind of beast and gross her out. It also genuinely made his daily life more manageable.

Being around Junhee always left him like this. Since the semester started, they had been inseparable. Taking care of it beforehand was the only way to somewhat manage the situation.

“Oh, we need to get off! Driver, please stop for a moment…!”

Junhee urgently grabbed Dowook’s hand and pulled him up. Her small, delicate hand held his large one firmly. Dowook found her soft grip endearing.

As he followed Junhee off the bus, a memory from long ago at Heejeongwon resurfaced. A young, pale Junhee had once held his hand tightly, saying she would protect him, and led the way.

But as soon as they stepped off the bus, Junhee let go of his hand without hesitation. Dowook looked down at her now-empty hand with a hint of regret.

“We got off one stop too late. What should we do? You have a first-period lecture today.”

While Dowook attended his first class, Junhee planned to study her major in the central library. It was Dowook who should be worried, yet he remained calm while Junhee anxiously checked the time. Seeing her fret, Dowook wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Let’s just skip it.”

He habitually rubbed his forehead against her neck. Junhee stopped moving. Dowook lightly tickled the back of her hand with his fingers as he asked, 

“Want to hang out instead?”

“…Something weird is pressing against my back.”

At her words, Dowook quickly stepped back. His ears turned slightly red as he turned to face her. Whatever had pressed against her back must have been too noticeable, as they both avoided eye contact for a moment. The atmosphere became awkward.

How does he even… in a place like this? 

Junhee’s gaze instinctively drifted downward before she caught herself and looked away. Dowook notic

“It’s not the first time. Why are you so surprised?”

Even though his ears had turned red too, he quickly regained his composure and acted cocky.

“…Could you please be more careful in public?”

Junhee’s tone was prim, but Dowook burst out laughing again. It was hard to tell if he was mocking her or finding her adorable.

He stepped closer to her again, cupping her cheeks with one hand and squishing them like dough.

“You were fine playing with me like this yesterday.”

Though they hadn’t yet crossed the line into full intimacy, they had done plenty of other things. The previous night, they had spent over two hours in Junhee’s apartment, kissing and exploring each other’s bodies. Their hands had roamed under clothes, touching and pulling at each other’s skin.

“And the day before that, too.”

It wasn’t just a one-time thing. Whenever they were alone, whenever their eyes met, they instinctively sought each other’s lips and pulled their bodies closer together. Even when they were already close, they wanted to be closer, endlessly pulling each other in.

“And you’ll play with me like this tomorrow too.”

At first, he had been scared that touching Junhee might break her. But over time, he grew accustomed to it. Pleasure outweighed fear. He diligently learned what made her feel good, what lowered her guard, and what made her want him more.

“Should we skip class today and just hang out?”

Thinking about the previous night, his sharp eyes softened with a languid gaze. The sensation of her waist, stomach, thighs, and chest came alive under his fingertips. Last night had been the first time he had held Junhee’s soft chest in his hands.

The moment he touched her round, tender chest, his mind went blank. He had initially planned to let go after a brief touch.

‘Just let me feel it. Please? Just for a moment. I’ll let go right after. I’ve never broken a promise to you, have I?’

No. It’s embarrassing. I said I’d wait a hundred days. This is too much… too embarrassing….

He had soothed and begged her endlessly, and finally, she had let him touch her chest. But the moment he did, he lost control and latched onto her like a dog.

‘How have you been carrying something this heavy around?’

His question, asked out of genuine curiosity and concern, earned him a sharp slap on the shoulder. Ignoring her protests to stop, he shamelessly continued.

Only after holding her chest did he realize it was impossible to let go after just a brief touch. He had intended to simply knead it lightly while kissing her lips and neck, but before he knew it, he had pushed up her shirt, pulled down her bra, and buried his face in her chest.

‘They’re heavy. So big. I’m helping you… so they’re not as heavy….’

He muttered nonsense as he refused to let go. The taste and texture of her small, soft n*pple against his tongue completely obliterated his self-control. All thoughts of protecting Junhee from himself vanished.

‘Ah… ah… Dowook… h-ha….’

The sound of Junhee’s trembling moans in his ear drove him wild. For nearly an hour, he held, kneaded, and sucked on her chest. In the end, unable to contain his desire, he left Junhee behind and went to the bathroom to take care of himself. Even with Junhee just outside, he relieved himself three times in the bathroom.

As the sharp scent filled the cramped space, he felt both regret and relief. Regret for setting a hundred-day deadline in the first place, and relief that without it, he might have truly hurt Junhee.

If just touching her chest had made him lose his mind like that, he couldn’t imagine what would happen if they jumped straight into intimacy without any preparation. He’d probably lose all control and overwhelm her, driving her away again.

Even now, he had to suppress his urges multiple times a day through self-relief. If he let all that pent-up desire out on Junhee, there was no doubt she’d grow tired of him and retreat once more.

He practiced every day. So that when the time came for him and Junhee to be intimate, he could control his desires. So that he wouldn’t end up hurting Woo Junhee by focusing solely on his own needs.

“You made a promise to me.”

Woo Junhee’s innocent yet firm voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“What promise?”

Still dazed, his gaze unfocused, Junhee brought him back to reality.

“To not skip lectures. To stay on your professors’ good side. To study hard for exams.”

“Did I?”

Even as Dowook feigned ignorance with a lazy tone, Junhee remained resolute.

“You did. You promised me you’d raise your GPA by at least one point from last year.”

“Oh, right. You were so cute back then.”

He recalled Junhee’s shocked expression when she first saw his report card last year.

‘You—you’re smart! You worked so hard back in high school. Is this… is this your score? Are you sure this isn’t your eyesight? Even my eyesight is better than this!’

Her wide eyes and gaping mouth had been irresistibly adorable.

‘That’s some good eyesight, Woo Junhee.’

When Dowook replied nonchalantly, Junhee’s eyebrows formed a sharp V.

‘You can’t live like this.’

Suddenly serious, she launched into a lecture about why he couldn’t continue living so carelessly.

At the end of her long sermon, she held out her pinky finger, insisting he change his ways from that year onward and make a promise.

Her small, pouting lips, demanding promises over and over again, had been so cute that he wanted to bite them. Even the furrowed wrinkles on her forehead as she tried to draft a study schedule for him, along with her slender fingers scribbling with a pen, were so endearing that Dowook spent the time resting his chin on his hand, simply watching her. He even had a photo of that focused Junhee saved on his phone.