Chapter 73: The

 

We stepped out of the water for a moment and arrived at the food court.

 

The food court was lined with countless dishes I hadn’t eaten in the last two weeks.

 

I was still in my swimsuit, so I figured I shouldn’t eat too much, but a hotdog seemed... acceptable.

 

“I’ll have a hotdog.”

 

“Aren’t you hungry? Why not eat more?”

 

“I think this will be enough~”

 

“Alright. Grab a table and sit. I’ll go get it.”

 

“Okay, okay. Be right back.”

 

Sitting at the table, I watched Han-gyeol’s retreating figure.

 

I wanted to run up to Han-gyeol’s broad back and hug him, but with so many people around, it just wasn’t possible.

 

Han-gyeol seemed to have broad shoulders and quite a bit of muscle. I wonder if he works out separately.

 

But whenever our eyes met, Han-gyeol always greeted me with a bright smile.

 

Just seeing it lifted my spirits.

 

“Here. This is for Eun-ha.”

 

“Thanks~”

 

We ate hotdogs facing each other, having returned to the table.

 

Just moments ago, all I could think about was hotdogs, but now my gaze naturally drifted to Han-gyeol’s body.

 

“Do you work out or something, Han-gyeol?”

 

“Me? Not really. Why?”

 

“You seem to have quite a lot of muscle.”

 

“Maybe it’s just because I have big bones.”

 

I shouldn’t say I want to touch them, right?

 

But perhaps a quick poke would be okay?

 

Isn’t that a natural curiosity for a girlfriend?

 

Ah, I should have hugged Han-gyeol when I had the chance...!

 

No, that doesn’t feel right.

 

“Do you like guys with lots of muscles, Eun-ha?”

 

“Uh-oh?! No. I like your body the best.”

 

Han-gyeol looked at me with slightly surprised eyes.

 

“That sounded a bit weird...”

 

“I meant, you look best right now.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Han-gyeol smirked and was about to take a sip of his drink.

 

Wouldn’t it be okay to speak casually as if it’s nothing?

 

Without even verifying the thought that popped into my head, I blurted out.

 

“Can I touch it just once?”

 

Han-gyeol burst out laughing, spewing his drink everywhere.

 

I thought speaking plainly wouldn’t startle him, but I was mistaken.

 

“S-sorry! I didn’t mean to surprise you...!”

 

“That was quite a bold statement, don’t you think...?”

 

“No, not like a caress! Just a quick poke?!”

 

“It’s even more embarrassing to ask permission like that...”

 

I looked earnestly at Han-gyeol.

 

“J-just the arm...!”

 

Han-gyeol chuckled and then placed his arm on the table. I could see the veins slightly protruding as I poked his shoulder. Unlike the softness of Han-gyeol’s cheeks, there was a firmness to it.

 

“Fascinating...”

 

Just as I was about to explore more, Han-gyeol swiftly withdrew his arm.

 

“Ah-”

 

“Let’s eat the hotdogs now.”

 

I looked at Han-gyeol with a slightly disappointed expression.

 

“No use looking disappointed.”

 

“That’s mean... I was just getting started.”

 

I puffed my cheeks and looked at Han-gyeol. I hadn’t even properly touched him yet.

 

“No matter how much you pout, it can’t be helped.”

 

“Tsk-”

 

I sipped my drink, feeling a bit frustrated.

 

“We have to restrain ourselves since we’re still students.”

 

Pfft-!

 

This time, I was the one who spat out my drink. I coughed, and Han-gyeol handed me a tissue.

 

“I... I didn’t mean it like that!”

 

“Eun-ha, sometimes you’re like a bulldozer... just now, you were like a fierce beast. Like a rabbit in front of a lion.”

 

“No, not at all! I just wanted to feel Han-gyeol’s muscles, purely!”

 

“Your eyes and touch seemed pretty sly for ‘pure intentions.’ It’s okay. We just need to be more patient.”

 

“No! I just wanted to touch you-!”

 

Despite my vehement protests, Han-gyeol continued to enjoy his hotdog.

 

“Okay~”

 

“No! Look! I’ll let you touch my arm too...! Go ahead!”

 

“What? How did we get to this topic?!”

 

“You keep teasing me, Han-gyeol! It’s only fair if you touch my arm too...! Please...!”

 

“If you put it that way, I definitely can’t touch it-!”

 

Our voices must have been loud because people around our table started looking at us. We quickly grabbed our hotdogs and drinks and fled to a distant spot.

 

As we ran, a smile involuntarily crept onto my face. The situation was somehow amusing. It’s not like we said anything worth running away from.

 

“But why are we running away?”

 

“Exactly. But the atmosphere demanded an escape, right?”

 

“It’s because of Han-gyeol-”

 

“What?! It’s because Eun-ha told me to touch her arm-!”

 

“Hmm, let’s call it mutual fault. Let’s eat quickly and go back to swimming.”

 

“Sounds good. Ah- I want to try a bite of your hotdog.”

 

“Here-”

 

As I held out my hotdog to Han-gyeol, he opened his mouth wide. Fearing that half of my hotdog would vanish, I swiftly pulled it back to my chest. With a snap, Han-gyeol’s mouth closed.

 

“Ah-”

 

“Just a little bit! It’s a delicious meal I haven’t had in two weeks.”

 

“Okay, okay, just a little.”

 

“A little bit, right...?”

 

When I brought the hotdog to Han-gyeol’s mouth again, he took a bite. But...

 

“Hey-! What...?! Hey-! My hotdog-!”

 

Han-gyeol bit off half of my hotdog. Chewing contentedly, he swallowed and then looked at me with a satisfied expression.

 

“That was delicious~”

 

With that, Han-gyeol dashed away.

 

“You, you-! Come back here-!”

 

***

 

Han-gyeol and I spent the rest of the evening frolicking in the pool before we headed out.

 

We boarded the bus home from the swimming pool. It seemed to be the last stop because, aside from the bus driver, there was nobody else.

 

“It feels like we’ve chartered the whole bus.”

 

“Indeed. Let’s sit in the back.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Ah, my legs are sore.”

 

We sat down side by side, hugging our belongings.

 

“Han-gyeol, we really had a great time today.”

 

“Next year, let’s go to an even bigger pool.”

 

“Yeah~ Or maybe go see the ocean. I’d like that.”

 

“We could also go to a stream you like and just dip our feet in.”

 

“But if we go to a stream or the ocean, we won’t need swimsuits, right?”

 

“I think I prefer the pool.”

 

“Why? Want to see me in a bikini again?”

 

“Yes. Eun-ha, you looked incredibly pretty today.”

 

Han-gyeol’s words made me extremely happy.

 

The two weeks of diligent dieting had paid off.

 

It was a bit embarrassing, but the happiness outweighed that.

 

“I want to become even prettier.”

 

“Prettier than this? You’re quite greedy.”

 

“I want to be more beautiful for Han-gyeol.”

 

Every time Han-gyeol showed his love and admiration, my heart overflowed with joy.

 

I should be content by now, but it almost feels addictive; I keep wanting more of his love. Wait a minute... am I being too much?

 

“Han-gyeol, am I being too excessive?”

 

“Huh? What do you mean?”

 

“Like, am I being too demanding of your love? Tell me honestly.”

 

“Demanding? No, not at all. I’ve never thought that.”

 

“If I ever do, you must tell me, okay? If you do, I’ll change! But just so you know, I feel incredibly loved by you right now. What I said earlier was just my own desire. You understand, right?”

 

At my words, Han-gyeol just gazed at me, a blank expression on his face.

 

“Eun-ha is lovely, no matter how many times I look at her.”

 

“Suddenly? I didn’t mean it in that way.”

 

“It’s really lovely how honest you are. And thank you for that.”

 

Han-gyeol looked at me with a wide smile. Now I can truly explain.

 

Why I can only be this honest about my feelings with Han-gyeol.

 

“I find Han-gyeol lovely too.”

 

Every time I express my honest feelings, Han-gyeol looks at me with such love.

 

He looks at me warmly, as if saying ‘thank you’.

 

And in his gaze, I can clearly feel the love he has for me.

 

I can’t help but be honest with Han-gyeol. I want to see those eyes until the day I die.

 

“Really? But Eun-ha, if you ever find my actions or words burdensome or unpleasant, you have to tell me. Okay?”

 

“Yeah, yeah. I will...! But I don’t think that will ever happen. Whatever Han-gyeol does, I think I’ll like it.”

 

I gently placed my hands on Han-gyeol’s cheeks.

 

“Can I kiss you?”

 

“Here, in a public place?”

 

“There’s no one around. I’ve been good my whole life, so I think this is okay.”

 

“What-?!”

 

“I love you.”

 

Just as I was about to kiss Han-gyeol, a sudden thud! of footsteps was heard.

 

We both swiftly turned our heads away... but it was incredibly disappointing.

 

In the end, the bus started, and as we headed home, only the feeling of disappointment lingered in my heart.

 

“You’re staying for dinner at my place, right?”

 

After getting off the bus, we headed straight home.

 

“Yeah, I’m hungry. I wonder if Hyun-joo Noona and Eunwoo Hyung are at home?”

 

“They didn’t seem like they were going out when I saw them this morning. I think Unnie might wait for us to come.”

 

“Let’s hurry then.”

 

Even in the elevator, I couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss we missed on the bus. But by now, I half-gave up, thinking it’s better to let it go.

 

As we got off the elevator and were about to enter the door code, Han-gyeol suddenly grabbed my wrist.

 

“Eun-ha.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Can we do what we couldn’t on the bus, now?”

 

My heart fluttered at Han-gyeol’s words. It wasn’t just me feeling the loss.

 

There was no reason to refuse. I nodded slightly, and Han-gyeol slowly moved closer to me. With anticipation, I pursed my lips.

 

As Han-gyeol’s and my breaths began to intermingle, Han-gyeol set down his belongings.

 

“Hmm...”

 

It was a kiss a bit different from before, a bit... more intense than usual. I found myself wanting Han-gyeol more fiercely than ever.

 

Gently wrapping my arms around Han-gyeol’s neck, I dropped what I was holding. The thud of our belongings hitting the ground rang out, but we did not stop.

 

I pulled Han-gyeol’s face closer, wanting his lips even more, and Han-gyeol deepened the kiss, longing for me through the parting of my lips. I wished for this entwining of our love to continue unseparated.

 

Hoping this moment would last forever.

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

 

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