Episode 52. Giving Up Isn’t Just for Counting Cabbages (4)

At the time when Sodam had happily drifted off into dreamland, Juyul failed for the 99th time to concentrate on the paper he had been reading. With a frustrated sigh, he set the document down and rubbed his face. No matter how hard he tried to push the thought away, the image of Sodam kept flickering before his eyes.

Her damp hair cascading down, her small hands clutching the oversized waistband of his pajamas—it all kept leading his mind in directions he didn’t want to go.

Leaning back on the sofa, Juyul kneaded his furrowed brows and let out another deep sigh.

“When did my self-control become so weak?”

The moment he locked eyes with her awkwardly smiling face, it had taken everything in him not to lunge at her. He could say with absolute confidence that he had done his best. The crumpled pages of his paper, distorted by the pressure of his tense hands, stood as proof of his restraint.

Something told him that even if the sun rose, he still wouldn’t be able to focus. With another sigh, he pulled off his glasses, tossed them along with the paper to the side, and stretched his legs out on the sofa.

For once, he knew exactly why he wouldn’t be able to sleep. Even with his eyes closed, the images played out like a seamless panorama, refusing to let his mind rest.

“…Damn it.”

He never imagined that simply seeing Sodam, in his house, wearing his clothes, would be enough to drive him to this point. He now realized just how much of an idiot he had been for ever suggesting cohabitation.

Even standing under cold running water for an extended time did nothing to chase her away from his thoughts. Forcing himself to think about something else didn’t help either—her dark, unreadable eyes refused to leave him.

In the end, it took him a long, long time before he was finally able to fall asleep.

* * *

Tap, tap.

The faint sound of footsteps—much lighter than his own—instantly pulled Juyul from sleep. Judging by the still-dark sky outside the window, he figured he had only slept for about an hour. Normally, he would have gotten up right away and started preparing for the day, but there was no rush. After all, the person who should have been asleep was currently making a mess in the kitchen.

He decided to take his time, indulging in a rare moment of leisure.

But that composure didn’t last long—no, it completely vanished beyond his control.

Clatter.

“Ah, shit. That’s hot. Did I burn myself?”

The unmistakable scent of freshly baked bread drifted in from the kitchen, giving him a good idea of what she was up to. But this—her getting injured—was definitely not something he had anticipated.

Suppressing the urge to sigh, Juyul got up and turned his head toward the kitchen, intending to see exactly what kind of disaster Sodam had caused.

The moment his gaze landed on her, however, he froze.

“What kind of toaster is this complicated? Ugh…”

Sodam grumbled, waving her hand in the air in frustration. That much was unsurprising.

What was shocking, however, was the scene beneath that casual complaint—so much so that Juyul could have convinced himself he was still trapped in a hallucination from last night.

Clearly assuming he was still asleep, Sodam had completely abandoned the pajama pants she had complained about. She stood in the kitchen wearing only the oversized pajama top, her bare legs on full display.

Juyul’s self-control? He might as well have thrown it out the window.

“…Maeng Sodam.”

“Oh, you’re awake? Do you want toast for—hup—!”

She had been completely unaware of her predicament, remaining utterly calm until Juyul, who had silently approached, rested his chin on her shoulder.

That was when she finally froze.

Feeling like he was the only one flustered in this situation, a mischievous streak surfaced in Juyul.

Sliding his hand between the loose buttons of her pajama top, he pressed his cold fingers against her waist. A small shiver ran across her skin at the sudden chill.

Unfortunately for Sodam, the moment he had grabbed her waist, any escape routes had already vanished. She shrank her neck in response to the ticklish sensation and pushed at his chest with her elbow.

“Why are you like this first thing in the morning?”

“You’re the one being too defenseless.”

“What did I even—ah, wait, that’s not what I meant—ugh, just get off me!”

To drive the point home about how dangerous her current outfit was, he slid his leg between hers.

That was when Sodam’s ears turned bright red, burning as if they had caught fire.

Juyul knew better than anyone—even better than Sodam herself—that she hadn’t dressed this way to seduce him. She had probably intended to prepare breakfast quickly before slipping back into her pants. But acknowledging that and letting it go? That was never part of his plan.

It was already enough that she had occupied his thoughts all night. But now, standing there so carelessly exposed at dawn, she was practically asking for trouble.

Deliberately, he pressed his growing heat against her toned thigh, applying just enough pressure to make her resistance falter. The strength she had used to push him away weakened noticeably.

She leaned against his chest, exhaling a soft, damp breath—completely unaware that her every reaction only fanned the fire inside him.

To steady himself, Juyul caught the edge of her ear between his teeth, biting down just enough to distract himself from the temptation burning in his veins.

Sodam flinched at the sharp sensation, her shoulders rising as she let out a small, whimpering protest.

“Hnn… ah, wait… that hurts…”

“This much?”

“That much is… fine, ngh, but stop rubbing so much…”

As Juyul lazily moved his hand beneath her clothes, gently nibbling on the edge of her ear, Sodam instinctively placed her hand over his. Their hands, overlapping through the thin fabric, naturally drifted upward until they cupped her softness completely.

When his thumb lightly brushed over the sensitive peak, it responded immediately, tightening under his touch.

That small reaction was enough to snap the last thread of Juyul’s restraint.

With both hands gripping her waist, he exhaled a heavy breath laced with desire.

At the same time, Sodam swallowed dryly as she felt the firm, undeniable weight pressing against the curve of her thigh and lower back. The moment Juyul’s deep, rough voice reached her ear, her breath hitched.

“Guide Maeng Sodam….”

“…Yes?”

“How do you feel about taking a week off?”

The words themselves were utterly mundane, but the implication behind them was anything but.

Sodam let out a slow, deliberate breath and turned her body fully toward him, resting her hands on his shoulders. The sensation steadily building beneath her made her lips part slightly, a soft gasp escaping as she murmured, her voice teasing.

“If you promise to make me that tea from yesterday again… maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

“As many times as you want.”

Before his words even fully settled, their lips collided.

There was no hesitation—no slow exploration. It was as if even the time spent parting their lips was a waste. Their kiss was hungry, consuming, as Sodam fully turned toward him, her body pressing against his.

Juyul’s hands found their way—one tightening around her waist, the other gripping her thigh. As he deepened the kiss, Sodam felt her balance shift, her body naturally tilting backward. She instinctively reached for support, her arms wrapping around his neck.

Perhaps he didn’t like how much pressure was on her, because Juyul frowned slightly before adjusting his hold—lifting her completely into his arms. The movement was seamless, her legs naturally wrapping around his waist. With their bodies now fully aligned, Sodam pulled him closer, burying her fingers in his hair.

The warmth pressing below was now familiar, no longer shocking but still overwhelming.

But what truly made her head spin was the light, teasing sensation trailing along her chest.

It wasn’t until her pajama top had been pushed open completely that she realized what had been causing the tickling sensation all along.

As Sodam clung to him, unsettled by the unfamiliar height, Juyul slowly undid the buttons with his mouth. His lips left faint marks on her exposed chest as he shifted his hips, deliberately pressing his growing need against her.

The pressure, steadily increasing, made Sodam’s waist twitch involuntarily. She licked her dry lips and let out a shallow sigh, reaching for him again—only to freeze when she realized that doing so would press his face directly against her chest.

Clearly aware of him, she hesitated, biting down on her lower lip. She could feel the heat pooling low in her body, anticipation making her breath come unevenly. Her instincts kicked in, making her thighs press together as if to suppress the undeniable ache building between them.

If only he would touch her properly—her chest, at least—maybe she could shift her focus elsewhere. But Juyul, moving at a maddeningly slow pace, only continued to tease, rolling his hips slightly as if he had no intention of taking things further.

The frustration became unbearable.

Flushed and unable to hide her desperation any longer, Sodam finally voiced a plea, her voice barely above a whimper.

“Hnn… at least… can’t you use your mouth… on my chest…?”

With her upper body arched backward, her pajama top had slipped from her shoulders, exposing her flushed skin. The faint marks left by his mouth shimmered under the dim light, and her damp lashes trembled as her half-lidded gaze dropped downward.

It was a sight only Juyul could create.

Something possessive coiled in his gut, burning hot and uncontrollable. If anyone else ever saw Sodam like this, he had no doubt he’d lose all reason.

Grinding his teeth, he forced down the overwhelming urge to claim her completely, his voice rough as he murmured against her skin.

“If you don’t want me to take you right now… then kiss me.”