CHAPTER 26 – Gangneung (Part 3)

“How about this? I’ll go out and buy one.”

Up in the hotel room, Seoyeon took off her wet shoes and socks, then slipped on the disposable slippers provided in the room. Only then did she look at Dojun with worried eyes and speak.

“They’ll dry.”

“How can they dry today? I’ll just go out and buy a new pair quickly. Please wait for a moment.”

Seoyeon was about to turn around, thinking that she couldn’t wear wet shoes while driving.

“If they don’t dry, then we’ll just wait until they do.”

Dojun turned Seoyeon back towards him and spoke. To Seoyeon, who was about to protest, he lowered his head and softly spoke, their lips brushing together.

“Shoes aren’t the urgent thing right now.”

Dojun’s eyes were intense beneath his lowered eyebrows. Their breaths mingled as their lips met. Each time Dojun bit her lip and their tongues entwined, Seoyeon stood on her toes.

It felt as if she was standing precariously on a high cliff, her stomach fluttering and her soles tingling.

It was just a kiss, but why did it feel like this?

Suspended high above the ground, the only thing she could cling to was Dojun. Seoyeon closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Dojun’s neck. She had an inexplicable belief that this man would hold her firmly, no matter how bottomless the ground beneath her feet. She could feel the cool wall against her back.

As the kiss continued, her blouse was removed, and Dojun’s hand slipped under her skirt. Seoyeon sighed, not knowing if it was Dojun’s hand or her own body that was hot.

“The bed is right there.”

Dojun let out a somewhat self-deprecating laugh as he spoke. In one swift motion, her underwear and stockings came down, exposing her to the cool air. Yet Seoyeon could not take her eyes off Dojun.

Leaving only her skirt on, Dojun entwined his hand with hers and began kissing her again. Her mouth opened, releasing warm breaths. Dojun spread her legs and pushed himself into her.

Haah.

Seoyeon breathed heavily against his neck as he entered her at once and deeply. Her back was cold and her front was hot. Her toes were barely touching the floor. It felt like Dojun’s body would burst from within her.

Supporting himself with one hand against the wall, Dojun pushed in once more. Deeply buried inside her, he covered her lips with his again. Their tongues tangled and untangled wildly. A desperate sound rose from deep within. She couldn’t tell who it belonged to.

Dojun held onto Seoyeon’s legs that kept trying to fall. With one hand, he grabbed her thighs and pulled them up to wrap around his waist.

As her legs floated in the air, Seoyeon wrapped her arms tightly around Dojun’s neck and shoulders. His body delved deeper into hers. Her body rose and sank down.

“Ugh.”

Seoyeon’s eyes grew hazy. The worry that someone might hear them pass by the door, the lazy resignation of “so be it”, and the scorching heat that relentlessly pounded her body all swirled together, making her increasingly disoriented.

Opening her eyes slightly, she saw the blue ocean through the window. Gazing at the blue sea, Seoyeon buried her fingers in Dojun’s hair. He naturally lowered his lips, sharing breaths with her.

Every time Dojun thrust, it felt like her heart pounded in sync. Even though she clung tightly to his body, she wanted to hold on even more. It felt like tears, laughter, and smiles were all jumbled and ready to spill out.

Dojun licked away Seoyeon’s tears, which she hadn’t realized had fallen. They looked into each other’s eyes, deeply, deeply entwined, and it felt like their gazes were penetrating to the lowest depths of their hearts.

Perhaps you are the only one in my life, the only one who knows the real me, the not-so-kind, not-so-gentle me. The twisted, resigned me. Only you.

“Yoon Seoyeon.”

Dojun, who had stopped moving, called Seoyeon’s name. Seoyeon smiled a little. She wanted to say it now, while Dojun filled her whole body, to the point where breathing was difficult.

“You know what?”

I don’t know what to call you, but there’s something I want to say to you, something that will be the only aberration in my life.

“Thank you.”

For bringing me here. For making me forget everything. For wanting me so passionately.

Thank you.

Seoyeon closed her eyes and whispered to Dojun. It was at that moment that Dojun hugged Seoyeon so tightly that she thought she might break.

Seoyeon thought her body might explode. A low groan rumbled from his body for the briefest of moments, and then he lowered his head to bite the nape of her neck. He stood still, holding her as tightly as he could.

As she thought she might shatter, she heard the sound of someone catching their breath. She couldn’t distinguish whether it was Dojun’s heart pounding against her or her own. Perhaps the deeply connected part of them was pounding.

“Are you okay?”

Not knowing why he had suddenly stopped, Seoyeon stroked Dojun’s neck as he rested his head on her shoulder and asked. Dojun nodded. He slowly raised his head and met her gaze. After staring at her deeply for a long time, Dojun spoke.

“I forgot the condom.”

As if to signify a brief pause, Dojun lowered Seoyeon’s body. As their connection broke and Dojun slipped out, Seoyeon let out an involuntary “ahhh”. Hearing this, Dojun smiled and said.

“Should I have gone all the way?”

It was a light joke, but Seoyeon didn’t know whether to shake her head or nod.

She knew they hadn’t used a condom. She knew, but it was fine. She had even thought that maybe it would be okay to fully experience Dojun since she was on birth control.

Unable to explain all this, she just breathed softly and looked at him. Dojun patted her head as if she were a good child and said.

“Go lie on the bed.”

Turning, Seoyeon stumbled to the bed, wondering if she should take off her clothes and slip into the sheets, if she should lie flat, if it would feel weird no matter what, as Dojun walked across the room.

His steps were strangely calm. Standing in front of a long shelf-like table, Dojun lifted his wrist. He calmly removed his watch. Then, the afternoon sunlight cast over Dojun as he unbuttoned his cuffs.

His unhurried calmness made him look like someone getting ready for an important meeting. It was a scene of quiet nervousness, similar to how someone might dress for a meeting with someone very important.

After unbuttoning all the buttons, Dojun twisted his shoulders to remove his shirt. The graceful, clean lines of his movements held Seoyeon captivated, or rather, she simply couldn’t tear her eyes away.

The sunlight illuminated his bare skin. His distinct shadow was clearly cast on the orange hardwood floor. Now fully undressed, his body, more impressive without clothes, approached Seoyeon as if finally ready.

Seoyeon, sitting blankly on the edge of the bed, had her hair brushed back by Dojun, who spoke softly.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

Unconsciously, Seoyeon nodded. Dojun unhooked her bra from behind and lowered the zipper of her skirt as she lay back. His fluid movements left her n*ked on the bed before she realized it.

Looking down at her while supporting himself with his arms, Dojun’s gaze made Seoyeon’s chest tingle, sending shivers through her.

“Are you cold?”

“No. But…”

It feels strange. 

She almost said it out loud. Despite having been intimate with him in the bright sunlight, and this not being the first time seeing Dojun’s n*ked body, her heart was fluttering strangely. She felt like she was exposing herself too much.

“I want to close the curtains, it’s too bright.”  

Dojun briefly sat up to look out the window. Squinting his eyes at the blue sea and sky, he then grabbed Seoyeon’s legs and lifted her knees.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

“I like seeing you well.”

“No. Wait…”

Dojun smiled and lowered his head, ignoring Seoyeon’s request.