Chapter 40

“Seems like it.”

Seojin spoke nonchalantly, as he had expected. Much too casually compared to the blood seeping from the back of his light blue shirt.

“Who’s the one exaggerating now…?”

Haji jumped up and lifted Seojin’s shirt.

“Oh my.”

Blood was flowing from where a piece of glass was embedded and had torn his skin.

“There must have been glass in the sand.”

“Seems so.”

“What is this?”

“Why?”

Haji turned her gaze from Seojin’s back to meet his eyes, narrowing her own.

“You knew about it?”

“……”

“Did you fall knowing that?”

She asked Seojin again, realizing that he had caught her despite knowing there was glass in the sand.

“Otherwise, you would have been hurt.”

“Sunbae!”

Haji raised her voice, angry at Seojin for speaking so nonchalantly about getting hurt in her place.

“That doesn’t make me happy at all. Why do you talk as if it’s natural?”

“Got it. Don’t be mad.”

Seojin chuckled, placing his hand on Haji’s cheek, brushing her heated cheek with his fingertips.

“Don’t do this. I’m really angry.”

Haji turned her head sharply, knocking his hand away. She heard Seojin chuckling softly.

“Are you laughing right now?”

“I’m glad you’re worried about me.”

“Huh? Seriously, this person…”

She was dumbfounded by Seojin, who was smiling while blood was flowing down his back.

Sigh…

Haji sighed and grabbed Seojin’s arm.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

“It’s fine. Just need to put some medicine on it.”

“You’re the one who should be exaggerating. Then wait here. I’ll go buy some bandages.”

Haji turned her body to head to a nearby convenience store.

“Let’s go together.”

“… Do as you please.”

Haji let out a small sigh, feeling frustrated. She didn’t think Seojin would listen even if she told him to go to the hospital.

“Thanks to you, I’m completely sober now.”

“That’s a shame. I wanted to keep watching.”

“What did you say?”

Seojin lightly draped his arm over Haji’s shoulder. Just enough not to feel any weight.

“Your smiling face?”

“……”

Haji’s steps came to a halt at the face that suddenly came close. Her heart pounded so loudly that she almost forgot to breathe because of the man who said he wanted to see her smile, even though he was hurt in her stead.

This is really…

“It’s unfair.”

“What is?”

“Your face is unfair. I wanted to stay angry…”

Feeling shy, Haji turned her reddened face away and spoke in a prickly manner.

“I’m glad. I have a face that can be unfair.”

Seojin’s playful remark made Haji’s eyes drop.

“I’m sorry for getting you hurt.”

“It’s okay. Don’t get hurt.”

Even though he’s the one more hurt.

The sight of Seojin worrying about her until the end made a warm feeling swell up inside her. She wondered if anyone had ever tried to protect her this much before.

***

After midnight, Haji, who was lying in bed, quietly got up. Then she tiptoed towards the stairs.

She peeked downstairs, checking if Seojin was asleep or not.

“……”

Confirming that no sound was heard except her own breathing, Haji slowly descended the stairs. To the sofa where Seojin was.

The soft light coming through the glass window illuminated the interior, revealing Seojin lying on his side.

Haji’s fingers, in a pinching shape, lightly grabbed the blanket covering Seojin. She thought she was lucky that Seojin was facing the wall.

She pulled back the blanket and her pinching fingers grabbed the t-shirt.

Haji, glancing at Seojin’s reaction, executed her plan. When she saw the solid back muscles that remained firm even while sleeping, she swallowed hard.

“It should be around here.”

Muttering to herself, Haji stretched her neck to find Seojin’s wound. Seojin had said he put the bandage on by himself.

“Is it not here?”

“Higher.”

“Oh, higher…?”

Thud, Haji’s b*ttocks fell to the floor. Her mouth opened in a round shape.

It was the moment she understood the saying that when you’re too surprised, no sound comes out. Like someone caught stealing, Haji’s lips quivered.

“Why, why, why are you awake?”

“Because someone is undressing me.”

“Undressing……?”

Was I undressing him?

Haji briefly reflected on her actions and then sheepishly looked at Seojin.

“I was curious if you treated it well. Since you didn’t show me…”

Seojin had gone into the bathroom with the bandages and medicine she bought from the convenience store, saying he would handle it himself.

Since he got hurt because of her, and she saw the blood flowing down, she couldn’t help but worry constantly.

“So you secretly lifted my clothes like a thieving squirrel to see for yourself?”

“Since it’s on your back, I thought it might have been difficult to apply medicine…”

Haji, explaining in her own way, tilted her head.

“But why a squirrel?”

Isn’t it usually a thieving cat?

“You’re closer to a squirrel than a cat.”

“What is that? Anyway, let me see your back. Since I got caught, I might as well see it.”

Haji stood up abruptly with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude. She decided to be stubborn since she was already caught, whether a thief cat or a squirrel.

“You’ll regret it.”

“Regret what? Let me see.”

Seeing Seojin not making any move while lying down, Haji reached out without waiting. 

“I need to see it to apply medicine…!”

Her outstretched hand was caught by Seojin, and her body tilted off balance.

Just like that, she collapsed onto his firm body.

“Ah, what are you doing?”

“I told you you’d regret it.”

“Even so…!”

“It’s nice.”

In the midst of their recent cold war, Seojin let out a long breath, finally feeling the warmth of her skin. Enough to tickle Haji’s forehead.

“The wound…?”

“Do you want to see it?”

“Yes…”

Because it was a wound caused by her, she felt she had to see it. If it was severe enough to require stitches, she planned to drag him to the hospital, even by force.

“Let’s sleep like this. I’ll show you tomorrow.”

“Show me now. Wounds should be checked as soon as possible.”

“That’s why.”

Seojin ran his fingers through Haji’s hair, giving an unexpected answer. When Haji lifted her head, Seojin’s face approached as if it had been waiting.

“I should have come sooner.”

“What do you mean?”

“I regret not meeting you sooner.”

Haji looked blankly at Seojin, not understanding his words. His eyes, whose feelings she couldn’t decipher.

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Why do you think?”

Haji’s mouth shut tight at his counter-question. Seojin’s lips curled, having anticipated her reaction.

The distance between them gradually closed, his breath tickling her round forehead.

“You’re right about what you’re thinking. So don’t avoid it.”

Seojin pressed Haji’s head gently, and their lips met naturally.

Pressed lips overlapped, feeling the soft skin, savoring it as they nibbled. When her lower lip was bitten, the gap naturally opened, and he smoothly slipped inside.

“Hmph.”

As saliva surged in, Haji’s head turned. It was difficult to pull away due to the pressing hand. They only drew closer.

Seojin, who had been hovering around the gap, swept inside, plunging into the deep well. Haji’s body flinched and trembled. Seojin held her waist, keeping her from falling away.

A strange breath escaped from Haji’s mouth, a sensation she had never experienced before, as the unfamiliar feeling invaded her insides. Startled by the sound, Haji stiffened, and he prodded the tender flesh.

“Ugh!”

The tender sensation she hadn’t known was so intense that l*quid flowed. She gripped Seojin’s shirt collar tightly, gasping for breath. Seojin didn’t even allow her that time.

They had kissed before, but never so aggressively.

Haji’s fingertips trembled. She couldn’t tell if it was from excitement or fear.

Seojin, holding Haji’s trembling hand, interlocked their fingers and slowly pulled his lips away. Her eyelids fluttered open, trembling slightly.

Her breath came out excitedly, and her face was flushed as if with heat.

“Shh. It’s okay.”

Seojin brushed his lips against hers, whispering low, and Haji nodded. His voice held power. It made her feel like everything would really be okay.

Seojin, sensing Haji’s feelings, didn’t let go, tightening his arms.

“Ah!”

Haji let out a yelp. Her view flipped in an instant, and Seojin was on top of her.

Blinking in surprise, Seojin kissed the bridge of her nose and tilted his head. He swallowed her small lips, pulling them into his mouth.

He explored the space like he was searching for the spot from earlier, brushing against her teeth and palate. Soft flesh wandered around her mouth.

Her head tilted, and seductive breaths echoed in her ear. It made both of their breaths quicken. Pressing against each other’s rising and falling chests, they felt each other’s bodies.

Seojin’s lips, lingering, brushed down her cheek. Everywhere his hot lips touched felt like it was burning.

Unconsciously, Haji tilted her neck. When his lips touched her earlobe, she bit back a moan, feeling like her upper body would spring up.

“Haa.”

Experiencing such a sensation for the first time, her body twisted like a pretzel. Seojin moved his lips from her earlobe, seeking a deeper spot, thrusting in. Haji tightly gripped Seojin’s T-shirt.

“Sun… bae!”

Her toes tingled, and her lower belly felt ticklish. Not knowing what to do, she clung to him.

Seojin briefly pulled away to remove his T-shirt.

“Not Sunbae.”

As Seojin’s broad shoulders and defined muscles appeared before her, Haji bit down on her lips.

Seojin bent down and sucked on Haji’s lips.

“Don’t bite those pretty lips.”

He smiled slightly and kissed her delicate neckline.