Ecstasy
“Do you… not like me?”
”…”
A short question, yet loaded with countless implications. I hesitated, feeling that a wrong answer could ruin everything. The mistake had already been made. The water had spilled, and it was still pouring.
My mind, my reason, was telling me to stop, to hold her close. But a strange emotion, unfamiliar yet persistent, held me back.
Seeing my hesitation, a bitter expression flickered across Go Yeon-ju’s face. Before I could say anything, she took a step back, her voice filled with hurt.
“I’m sorry.”
“User Go Yeon-ju…”
“I thought… I wanted to be held by you, just once. Watching you with her last night made me realize that. I was… envious.”
”…”
“But I guess I was being selfish. I must have been mistaken all this time. Of course, you wouldn’t like someone like me, someone who seems so frivolous. I understand.”
With those words, Go Yeon-ju held out the “Glory of the Sun” with both hands, as if to return it to me. As she extended it towards me, I felt a sense of urgency—this was the last chance to salvage our relationship. Reflexively, I blurted out.
“That’s not it.”
Her hand stopped mid-air at my words, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. As my breath came out in a rush, Go Yeon-ju watched me with quiet eyes, waiting for me to calm down before speaking softly.
“Then…?”
The relationship, which had been on the brink, paused. I managed to catch the falling water bottle, saving at least a little. Her words left room for hope. I wetted my dry lips, deciding to be honest with my feelings. I set aside the persona of Kim Soo-hyun, the ten-year veteran, and spoke from the perspective of the new Kim Soo-hyun, who had just entered his second round. I chose to face the unfamiliar emotions stirring within me.
Finally, I felt a modest courage rising within. I didn’t want to regret this. Even if I did, I wanted to say everything I needed to. Only then would I not be tormented by the suffocating feeling in my chest. As my breathing returned to normal, I spoke in a calm voice.
“I have feelings for you too. When I said I almost fell for you, it wasn’t a lie. Go Yeon-ju, you are an incredibly charming user, person, and woman to me.”
“Liar. Then why did you reject me?”
“It’s not a lie. It’s just…”
“Just?”
I paused, closing my mouth. Her eyes were as calm as before, but there was an anxious look in them. For her, I opened my mouth again, speaking from the perspective of Kim Soo-hyun, the zero-year user.
“When I was about to hold you, I thought of Ha-yeon.”
“User Jung Ha-yeon…?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love her?”
“I’m not sure.”
She asked quickly, and I answered just as fast. Watching her expression turn complex, I placed my right hand over my heart, feeling its strong beat against my palm as I continued.
“I don’t know what this feeling is. When I think of her, my heart races, and a corner of my chest feels warm. I can’t be sure it’s love because I don’t know what love is. But when I was about to hold you, this feeling held me back. Even now, I want to hold you, but I’m afraid. Afraid that in a moment of desire, I might deeply hurt two women.”
Seeing her eyes widen, I felt my face flush. I spoke from the perspective of a zero-year user, but I still had the experiences of a ten-year user. I understood how meaningless my words might seem from her perspective. Yet, my heart felt lighter.
At that moment.
“Heh.”
I heard a small laugh escape from Go Yeon-ju. I had expected it, but the embarrassment still washed over me. She tried to stifle her laughter, but it occasionally slipped out. However, I no longer worried. I could see her covering her mouth, laughing, having dropped the “Glory of the Sun” on the floor.
“I was mistaken about this, not that. I really got the wrong idea.”
After finishing her laughter, she sighed deeply and approached me with confident steps. The hurt on her face was fading, replaced by a sense of relief. Seeing her gentle, serene smile instead of a bitter one, I felt a bit more at ease. She reached out and cupped my face with both hands. The soft, warm touch made my eyes half-close involuntarily.
And as she caressed my face, she spoke.
“Come to think of it, you’re a zero-year user, right? Not even six months in.”
I nodded slightly in agreement, feeling her touch grow more tender, as if handling something precious.
“Your actions didn’t seem like those of a zero-year user, so I was mistaken. Haha. Well, it’s normal to think that way as a zero-year. Now, you seem more human, Kim Soo-hyun. There’s a charming innocence to it. Oh dear, so that’s what you were thinking.”
”…”
“You said you have feelings for me too, right?”
“Yes.”
It was an undeniable truth. From the first time I saw her in my first round, I didn’t have any bad feelings. And as I moved into the second round and spent time with her, those feelings grew. Confirming my sincerity, Go Yeon-ju smiled bashfully and spoke.
“I feel the same. When I see you, I feel emotions I had forgotten. My heart wavers, and I want to lean on you. Call it intuition if you like, but there’s something certain about you.”
Hearing her words, I realized I had been wrong. I had assumed she was a user like me—a five-year veteran with the secret class “Shadow Queen.” I never imagined she would want to lean on someone.
“I think I understand why you’re hesitating, Kim Soo-hyun. But we have feelings for each other, don’t we? We want each other, right? In Hall Plain, acting on those feelings isn’t something to be criticized. Didn’t she tell you that?”
“Ha-yeon didn’t say it directly, but… we talked about related things.”
Suddenly, I felt foolish. Back then, I had confidently asked her to trust me, yet here I was, hesitating.
“Even if she’s a two-year user, she would know that much. She might be hurt, but she has to understand. This isn’t the modern world; it’s Hall Plain, and you’re a capable man. Don’t avoid my gaze. Look at me.”
At her words, I couldn’t help but fix my gaze back on her. She gently lifted my chin with her hand, speaking in a soft voice.
“There’s no need to feel guilty. The one who falls first always loses. Haha. Anyway, I want to leave the choice to you, out of respect for your feelings. But there’s one thing I want you to know.”
“Yes.”
“Just as much as she does, I want to be held by you, User Kim Soo-hyun.”
With those words, she released me and sat on the bed, patting the spot beside her.
And at that moment, I decided not to hesitate any longer.
As I sat beside her, following her gesture, she gave me a gentle smile. She had brought us this far, and now it was my turn to respond. I didn’t want to show any more indecisive behavior. So, this time, I took the lead. She followed my guidance, moving to the edge of the bed.
I moved in front of her, placing my hands on her shoulders. I slid my hands deeper, over her shoulders, pulling her closer. Earlier, she had tried to embrace me, and I had rejected her. Even though I had explained later, it must have hurt her deeply at the time. Now, I wanted to heal her wounded heart by embracing her first.
As I finally held her in my arms, I realized how delicate she was. Of course, it was natural for a woman, but being the “Shadow Queen” didn’t mean she always had to be the strong one. Savoring the warmth of her body, I lowered my head slightly, aiming for the spot just below her ear.
“Ha.”
As I blew softly on that spot, her body shivered slightly. She looked up at me in surprise, then playfully glared before pulling me into her embrace. Her pull was strong, and as the distance between us closed, we fell onto the bed together.
Creak.
The bed creaked softly as I shifted, my face finding its way to her chest. In that moment, an overwhelming sense of comfort washed over me. It wasn’t about anything in particular; it was just the sheer warmth and softness that made me want to close my eyes and drift into sleep. But falling asleep like this would be quite rude, so I gently nuzzled my face to stay awake. The softness beneath the thin fabric brushed against my cheek, a sensation I had experienced a few times before. Go Yeon-joo’s chest was notably full.
A soft laugh came from above, as if amused by my childlike behavior. She began to cradle my head gently, and I found myself lost in her touch for a while.
Despite her delicate frame, Go Yeon-joo had a pleasantly soft figure, not too thin. When she loosened her top slightly, revealing her flushed skin beneath, I couldn’t help but bury my face again, this time feeling the direct, supple warmth against my skin, drawing a deep, heated breath from me.
“Oh dear, you really do love my chest. You’re like a little kid,” she teased.
“Just a moment…”
“You’re too cute,” she chuckled lazily, her voice making me feel drowsy. Was it some kind of fragrance? A sweet scent filled the air, heightening the allure of her presence.
We sat up again, knowing that if we stayed like that, sleep would surely overtake us. But as soon as we parted, the emptiness between us felt unbearable, and we quickly embraced each other again. As I held her close, her chest pressed against mine, and I felt a stirring below, a reminder of my own desires.
For a fleeting moment, Ha-yeon’s face flashed in my mind, but it quickly faded as Go Yeon-joo lifted her skirt slightly, revealing her shapely thighs. Her body was a mesmerizing blend of curves and softness, a siren’s call to any man’s desires.
Yet, I held back my urges. I wanted more than just a physical connection; I wanted to share a moment of mutual understanding, like I had with Ha-yeon. So, I gently ran my fingers through her long hair, smoothing it down. Her hair flowed like silk through my hands, settling neatly as I watched a glimmer pass through her eyes.
My gaze traveled down to her collarbone, rising above her full chest, and the elegant curve of her neck drew me in. I leaned in, pressing my lips to her skin, tasting her warmth as I inhaled deeply. My lips traced down to her collarbone and further to the valley of her chest.
I reached for her top, and she lifted her arms to help me remove it. As her upper body was revealed, I took in the sight of her, her skin glowing softly. Her breasts, full and inviting, stood proudly, their peaks prominent and enticing.
I reached out, and she leaned into my touch, encouraging me. Her soft, yielding flesh filled my hands, and I felt a thrill as her nipples pressed against my palms.
She giggled softly as I continued to explore, and I looked up to see her face. Her delicate features, her slender eyebrows, her alluring eyes, and her small, pretty lips formed a gentle smile. Go Yeon-joo enveloped me in her warmth, as if telling me to do as I pleased.
Emboldened by her gaze, I lowered my lips to her inviting peaks. As I took her breast into my mouth, I rolled my tongue over her nipple, drawing a deep breath. The sound of my lips on her skin was intimate, and I felt her arms tighten around my head, pulling me closer.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Hmm. Everyone, the next chapter will continue this scene, and I might change the style a bit. It might get more direct and provocative. I’ll try to keep it as tasteful as possible, but if anyone feels uncomfortable, you might want to skip the beginning and start from the middle. Thank you. (__)
『 Reader Comments 』
KeyStealer: Congratulations on being the first to comment in the early hours! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. :)
Incrudu: That might be the case. I wasn’t in my right mind due to an all-nighter, so I had to cut it down from ten to five. My apologies. (__)
SpoonfulOfSea: Thank you for the coupon. (__) Your nickname, SpoonfulOfSea, is quite tempting! I want to create one like SpoonfulOfCloud. It’s so appealing… +ㅁ+
DevilShrine: Haha, you could see it that way. But this kind of tension can be seen as a
Gkgngh: Hahaha, that’s a very creative thought. Haha. I hadn’t considered that. It might be possible if you could skip with zero error, but I doubt it. :)
ShiningKuma: Oh! Kuma! I used to love Kuma! I really like bears! CUMA!
Masterpiece: Masterpiece, you read the story very well. Yes, that’s exactly the message about their relationship I wanted to convey. :) Correct.
MyungBakJjang’sYangYang: Ha, that’s my concern. What should I do? Hahaha. I want to write, but I’m at a loss.
Kkoya: Hmm. Uh, since it’s you saying it, Kkoya… Hmm. Oh, never mind. Ahem!
SisyphusPrayer: Yes, understood. I’ll take good care of SisyphusPrayer’s body. Come here, please. Hehe. (?!)
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