Chapter 42: I Saw Something Incredible

"What?"

Jin-wook looked at me with an expression as if asking if he heard wrong.

Maybe because I suddenly spouted words about marriage out of nowhere.

"N-No, I'm not saying let's do it right now, I just asked what you would do if it happened."

"What on earth did you talk about with Mom for the word 'marriage' to pop out?"

"Y-You don't need to know that. Anyway, would you accept me or not?"

When I carefully gauged Jin-wook's reaction, he scratched the back of his head, let out a small sigh, and gave an answer: "I don't know."

Just as I was thinking, 'As expected, I lack charm as a woman,' and simultaneously feeling a slight relief thinking, 'Still, maybe Jin-wook still sees me as a friend,' and about to let out a hollow chuckle...

"How can I answer when I haven't experienced you as a woman yet?"

The words that followed came to me quite significantly.

He doesn't know because he hasn't experienced me as a woman?

As if seeing my expression change strangely, Jin-wook pondered for a moment, then put down the water bottle and glass on the living room table and spoke.

"Think about it. Even if we caused an accident due to overflowing vitality, that was just an accident. We haven't experienced each other as the opposite sex, have we?"

"...Is that so?"

"Then what, just because you gave your virginity like in the old days, should we get married? Or because I saw you naked, should I take responsibility?"

Hearing him, there was nothing wrong with what he said.

Looking at Jin-wook saying something more plausible than I thought, I sent him a gaze meaning, "Since when are you so logical?"

As expected.

Marriage or whatever doesn't make sense between him and me in the first place.

"If that were the case, I should be living tied to you already, but that's not the case, is it?"

"So now that you've done everything you wanted, you're going to throw me away?"

"No, what kind of..."

"Just kidding."

Smirking, I held Jin-wook's hand.

Right.

Like he and I would ever become 'that' kind of relationship?

"If there's nothing else to talk about, I'm going in."

"Hmm, wait a sec."

Jin-wook stood up to finish his work, grabbing the water and cup.

I followed Jin-wook into his room.

At his words asking, "Not leaving?" I stopped right in front of Jin-wook.

"The conversation isn't over yet."

"What."

As I took a step forward, Jin-wook took a step back.

As I approached Jin-wook like that, before we knew it, Jin-wook's calves caught on the bed, and he flopped down sitting on it.

"You didn't hear what your mother and I talked about."

"Wasn't it something about marriage?"

"Actually, that was only half of it."

I climbed on top of Jin-wook like that.

I placed one knee on the bed.

My posture became one where both my hands were placed next to the head of Jin-wook, who was now lying down.

A posture where, if he flipped me over and tried to explore me, he could do so immediately.

"She asked what happened between you and me."

"In what sense."

"Is there obviously any other meaning?"

However, rather than backing off, I bent my legs and brought my body gradually closer to him.

And whispered a single word into his ear in a suggestive voice capable of stimulating a man.

"Sex."

"Crazy, hey."

Then, perhaps there was a reaction in Jin-wook's body, as I felt something nudge near my lower body where there was no stimulation until a moment ago.

As expected, you aren't viewing me completely as just a friend anymore either, Jin-wook-ah.

But what to do.

If you ask if I still see you as a man, it's a bit of a question mark for me.

"Honestly, we did do it. Even if it was an accident while drunk."

"...You were the one who suggested doing it by accident first."

"But maybe we realized it back then."

Was I quite erotic just now?

Now climbing completely onto the bed and sitting as if straddling Jin-wook's thighs, looking down at him...

I saw Jin-wook's lower part soaring completely upward.

Honestly, as a joke, I wanted to tap it once with my fingertip.

"That you and I, in the end, are a relationship that cannot remain friends."

"Hwang Eun-ha."

"Why?"

"Do you know what you are saying right now?"

If I did that, it felt like crossing the line too much, so I suppressed it.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay now? You used to freak out and hate it if it was a man."

"Actually, I'm not okay yet."

I came down from Jin-wook's thighs and sat beside him.

As soon as I moved aside, Jin-wook sat up, let out a short sigh "Phew," and asked me what I wanted to do then.

"But, you know. You kissed me, touched my breasts, and did all that."

"...Yeah."

"Strangely, I don't feel any repulsion when you do it. Isn't it strange?"

I took his hand and brought it to my chest.

Knowing he couldn't win with strength, Jin-wook let me do whatever I wanted with his hand.

When I placed his hand on my breast, Jin-wook's hand remained motionless as if frozen.

"I get annoyed even if a man just talks to me with a gaze viewing me as a woman."

"..."

"But strangely, there's no rejection reaction when you touch me."

When I let go of Jin-wook's hand, he massaged his hand as if trying to relax it.

I smiled lightly looking at Jin-wook.

"Jin-wook-ah, tell me honestly. This is important to me."

"What."

"Am I a friend to you? Or..."

I hesitated for a moment.

Because it felt too awkward to say this to him, who shares memories of my time as a man, and the desolate times after the sexual assault.

"A woman?"

"...Friend."

"Really?"

Does Jin-wook really consider me a friend?

Or is he afraid I'll get hurt?

Is he being considerate because he fears my past wounds might grow larger again?

Usually, I pride myself on knowing him well, but just for this moment, I couldn't read any intention from his face at all.

"Yeah."

"I see."

And at Jin-wook's answer that followed, I forced a smile.

Maybe I was the only one who felt the relationship had changed due to the deflowering.

Jin-wook really thinks of me as a friend, but maybe I've been getting ahead of myself all this time.

Enough to deny my own feelings that arise now, questioning if we are friends or what.

"Jin-wook-ah, I told you before. We can be more than friends but not lovers yet."

"...Yeah."

"But I think I was too selfish. Even if I have memories of being a man like you, I am a woman now."

A woman capable of igniting a fire in your heart.

I stood up.

I felt like my mind would only get complicated if I stayed here any longer.

"There were times I thought I was toying with your feelings too much by only thinking of myself."

"No. You don't have to think that way. Because even if briefly, you let me know what it might feel like if I had a girlfriend."

"You only think of me until the end."

"Thinking of a friend isn't a bad thing."

...Foolishly kind guy.

The fact that I'm saying this right now means that if you take just one step closer...

I'm ready to accept you.

Why don't you know?

"You know, do you remember the dream you had that day?"

"Dream?"

"You said you felt intense murderous intent as if some crazy woman was trying to kill you. In the dream."

"I did."

"That wasn't a dream back then."

Jin-wook made a startled expression at my words.

I can't tell him the whole truth, so I have to mix in a little lie, but...

At least regarding the parts I can tell.

"It was reality that I ran to save you, and it was all actual events that I saved you from that woman and chased her away."

"Then why did you lie that it was a dream..."

"Because I didn't want you to be shocked."

I took the card out of my pocket to return.

Now, if I ride this back, other than meeting to watch a movie with Jin-wook tomorrow...

I probably won't have much chance to meet him while staying at my parents' house.

"You know, I had all sorts of thoughts back then. You threw a memo and disappeared from the house, but I felt terrible killing intent nearby. I knew obviously you couldn't have gone far."

"...Sorry."

"I didn't say it to make you apologize. Anyway, this thought came first. I wondered if I could live properly in the future if something happened to you."

I opened the window.

As I raised the card, the door opened, and my shoes flew from the entrance and floated in the air.

"Just saying."

The card unfolded in the air.

Now, if I go like this, we, who have become much closer to lovers, will end with this.

And go back to how it was before.

Not embarrassed to show naked bodies, hearing nagging to wear clothes properly like usual.

We will return to such a relationship.

"Then see you tomorrow, Jin-wook..."

In a way, even though it was flustering, I was about to say goodbye to the times that might have been happy and go back.

But seeing Jin-wook suddenly grab my hand and kiss me, I naturally closed my eyes and accepted his kiss.

The line connecting us.

I felt Jin-wook's grip holding my hand tightly, as if he wouldn't let go.

"...Is it a goodbye kiss?"

"No."

After our lips parted, his hand fell from my chest too.

Unlike when he was agonizing, Jin-wook's eyes had a resolute look as if he had made a firm decision.

As if trying to tell me something.

"Please-Continue Kiss."

"What is that bizarre name."

"Eun-ha-ya, we agreed to go watch a movie tomorrow."

I nodded at his words.

"Don't just watch a movie, will you go on a date with me?"

"Date?"

This time, it was Jin-wook who nodded.

Looking at my hand that he hadn't let go of yet, I could tell he had made a really big decision.

A decision to break the ceiling blocking us called trauma.

"Unlike the event last time, we will spend tomorrow fully on each other, truly as man to woman."

"Okay."

"It might be same for you, but I want to confirm my feelings for the last time too. Whether this is romantic love toward you, or friendship that can no longer be broken because of a deep relationship."

My heart pounded in an instant.

I've felt he was cool looking at Jin-wook.

I've had my heartbeat speed up a little, but it has never pounded like this.

"So, won't you go on a date with me tomorrow?"

There were many times I gave a light smile, whether out of disbelief or happiness.

Of course, most of the time I lived without expression.

So I thought a bright smile had nothing to do with me.

"Yes."

But after becoming a woman, isn't this the first time I'm smiling broadly from the bottom of my heart?

"Tomorrow, I'll look forward to it."

I answered Jin-wook with a brighter voice and a brighter smile than ever before.

Jin-wook nodded at me saying, "Look forward to it."

My heart was beating fast, as if fluctuating.

Oh my.

I came out because I was thirsty before sleeping, but I saw something incredible.

To think they would share a kiss so boldly with the door open.

"Our Eun-ha lied to Auntie."

I knew it.

Living together for almost a year, how could nothing happen?

Our Eun-ha, as a future mother-in-law, I should scold her a little, hmm?

"Hah, my husband and I had such romantic times too..."

Really, our Jin-wook and Eun-ha make this ajumma recall so many memories.

How far did they go?

If I grill my son later, will he spill the beans properly?

"Huhu."

Hah, I shouldn't be watching things like that.

My husband must be tired from playing golf today, but I have to torment him too.

Things to do have increased a bit.

"Eun-ha-ya, Auntie wants to see a granddaughter who looks just like our Eun-ha. Okay?"

Plus, things to talk about with Eun-hyang (Eun-ha's mom).

If we talk about where our cute son and daughter couple might be...

Nothing would be more fun than that.

Eun-hyang might freak out a bit.

Since that side is the daughter's side.

But the kids are hugging each other saying they like it, so what can we do?

'Even if Eun-ha is a former S-Class Hunter, it would be right for us, the groom's side, to buy the house, right?'