Chapter 23: In the Dorm with Someone Else's Girlfriend
In the Dorm with Someone Else's Girlfriend
It's such a refreshing morning. From a lavish hotel shower to a snug night's sleep – this neighborhood hotel is top-notch. Its hospitality on a level I've never felt on my previous world.
"The hotel was really nice, right?" Soojin exclaimed, linking her arm with mine.
Just yesterday, she was fumbling to hold hands, and now we've upgraded to arm-locking. With the delightful sensation of her chest with every step, I had no complaints.
"Yeah, I'm thinking of moving out of the dorm and living here."
"Then maybe I should move out of the dorm and live in the hotel too?" Soojin enthusiastically nodded in harmony with my musings.
That hotel bed was like a cloud, and I spent an hour on the phone with a guy on that heavenly bed…
I explained to Minsoo that I was planning to watch the movie, and he dove into explaining the intricacies of the Thunder Hammer Man universe. He rang me up out of the blue about his relationship drama and then veered into a 30-minute monologue about Thunder Hammer Man 4.
He'd hush his voice urgently while pouring out his words at full volume. If I hadn't intervened, he'd be so lost in his own Thunder Hammer Man universe that Soojin might wake up wondering what alternate dimension she'd stepped into.
Monday afternoon…What's the big deal about meeting up after school anyway? Minsoo droned on for another half-hour, lecturing me about the importance of after-school activities. I agreed, and upon hanging up, I couldn't help but marvel at Yoomin's choice in dating such a guy.
Maybe it's for some volunteer hours? Plausible.
"It's a bummer… It would've been nice to pick out clothes together."
"But your parents are really worried, so no choice."
"Still… I wanted to pick out clothes for you…"
Imagine how shocked parents would be if their daughter went on a date and suddenly appeared in the news. If it were me, I'd bombard my daughter's phone with notifications.
But they handled this situation really well…
In this novel's world, the approach to dealing with monsters was extremely meticulous. Even in a simple incident like this, videos of regular folks could flood the internet, but they somehow managed to wipe the slate clean. And considering the unknown circumstances, they threw heaps of compensation at those on the scene, all in the name of advancing research.
"If we… were to go choose clothes ourselves, wouldn't it cause a scene?"
"Probably…"
The chairman who handed me his business card turned out to be even more impressive and influential than I initially thought. From the era of awakeners' emergence, he'd been in business, steadily climbing the ranks to his current status.
It wasn't until we left the hotel that I grasped the extent of his influence.
That was my first glimpse of a bonafide limousine.
A limousine and a red carpet were basic, with people in suits neatly lined up. In the middle was the manager, promising services to solve all home conveniences. The clothes I'm wearing were also specially selected by a famous designer.
If shopping is a hassle, they provide a monthly delivery service with outfits coordinated by date. They even mentioned a special delivery service if there are no desired clothes.
"Delivery isn't just your ordinary drop-off…"
"Yeah… They mentioned it's a service where they set up a pop-up shop right in front of your house…"
It's on a whole new level. A service that crafts the desired store in front of your house using modular buildings!
"On days when we visit the department store, won't there be a bustling crowd?"
"I guess department store dates are off the agenda now…"
It was kind of funny. Undergoing such a drastic change in just one day and enjoying treatment usually reserved for the upper class was pretty amusing.
"Well, we can always disguise ourselves…"
"Yes…!"
Screech!
While we strolled and chatted, out of nowhere, a black car zoomed in front of us. Speeding and honking loudly, it suddenly screeched to a halt right next to Soojin.
It was so intense that just as I was about to say something, Soojin let go of my arm. Her grip was so firm, as if she wouldn't release it no matter what, but now, was she conscious of the onlookers around us?
"Oh… Dad…?"
Dad? Soojin's dad? Father?
The car window smoothly rolled down, revealing a well-fed face. Even with sunglasses on, the untamed charm couldn't be concealed. The neatly combed pompadour hairstyle, paired with jeans and a denim jacket, was a perfect match. Despite driving a car, he seemed like a sheriff riding a horse in a Western drama.
"Darling, I was surprised when I saw the news. Dad came to pick you up, why…"
"Oh, no! I told you not to come! I'll head home by myself…!"
"I was worried. How could I not… and, um, your… friend…"
The moment Soojin's father and I made eye contact, I promptly bowed 90 degrees. There's nothing to lose by politely greeting the elder. The inception of image-making always commenced with a greeting.
"Hello, Father! I'm Baek Taeyang!"
A robust greeting on a lively morning, a friendly face that anyone would appreciate. There's no one who would dislike a greeting that radiates masculine energy.
"Yeah… As Soojin said, I'm her father… And you…"
Huh?
There was something odd in the gaze.While the greeting was appreciated, the downturned corners of his mouth continued to betray an uncertain expression. Clutching the steering wheel with trembling hands, he seemed to be putting on a valiant effort to contain some inner turmoil.
"Dad, don't get started! Let's just get going!"
After sharing a brief exchange of glances with me, Soojin swiftly hopped into the car. I grasped the situation but decided to maintain an innocent facade.
"Goodby—"
In a dramatic twist that would make any soap opera jealous, the parting scene concluded with the window slamming shut. Soojin's entrance into the car triggered a rapid transformation in her father's demeanor—now fixated on the road ahead, he embraced the role of the disinterested chauffeur. The car's abrupt departure ensured my farewell remained unsaid, lost in the dust kicked up by their sudden exit.
Reflecting on the circus of actions that transpired in that fleeting moment… it was clear.
"What a fool…"
Well, I must have looked like a real piece of work. His daughter emerging with a guy from a hotel, arm in arm—the epitome of decency. But, dear Father, I've already fucked her… I've nibbled, I've sucked, and the tasting is far from over.
If only I could enlighten him on the sheer pointlessness of his tardy restraint.
++++++++++++
The distance from the hotel to the dormitory isn't that far. Despite the allure of the plush luxury bed, a swift return to my own abode is the priority.
If I'm going to steal the protagonist's spot, there's a lot to ponder.
"Hmm?"
The so-called dormitory feels more like a sprawling apartment complex. Security is impeccable, and given its academy affiliation, thievery is virtually non-existent.
"The door is open…?"
But the door stood ajar.
I distinctly remember locking it when I left.
Why did the doorknob twist so effortlessly? The door lock's not broken. It's genuinely been left unlocked.
"No way, a thief…?"
An uneasy blend of suspicion and expectation. While the dormitory flaunts its security, it only extends to outsiders. Before turning the doorknob and swinging the door open, I considered the possible intruder.
Kim Minsoo, or…
Minsoo is ruled out for now. Our plan on Monday is known to him. Besides, it's 11 a.m. He wouldn't be frolicking in another person's residence at this hour.
And how on earth did he crack the personal password?
Minsoo lacks the intellectual prowess for such feats. In that case, only one person remains. There are no prohibitions on opposite-sex entry in an adult dormitory building. If it's an academy student, breezing through here is child's play.
"Taeyang~ I've been waiting for you so much, why are you so late?"
As expected, the moment I creaked open the door, Yoomin emerged. She burst forth like a jack-in-the-box, as though she had been lying in wait for an eternity.
Upon spotting me, she ensnared me in a hug, her arms encircling my neck. A white off-shoulder crop top and dolphin pants grabbed my attention. The fabric swayed at the hem of her pelvis, and the region just below her chest seized my gaze.
"How did you figure out the password?"
"Well, I assumed you wouldn't bother changing the default, which is 0000, right?"
I was taken aback. To think she would know something like that. It's high time to challenge the creed that a real man doesn't bother with passwords.
Yoomin, snug in my arms, sniffled without uttering a word and then chimed in, "My Taeyang reeks of another woman…"
So, that explains the sudden hug.
"I can even spot lipstick marks… Taeyang…"
Though her head was lowered, and her face obscured, I felt uneasy. The slow, probing fingers on my neck were unnerving, and the pink manicure seemed oddly ominous.
"Could it be the senior I saw at the cafeteria… or maybe… Hmm…"
In moments like these, it's best to swiftly change the conversation topic. I hoisted Yoomin's slender legs and shifted into a princess carry.
"My Taeyang is so popular…"
Usually, a princess carry elicits a squeal or some similar reaction. Yet, Yoomin continued sniffing and licking my neck with an indifferent expression.
"Ugh, the morning air is chilly. Let's head inside and chat."
We needed to step inside first. Even a stray dog knows to eat half its meal and then retreat to its den.
"Don't you think you should make an effort to erase traces before meeting me…?"
You showed up before I had a chance to tidy up! That sentiment twirled on my tongue. Honestly, it felt unfair. You should've given it some thought before throwing out such comments; after all, you arrived first.
"How long have you been in my house?"
"Isn't it more accurate to say it's our house now?"
"No, that's not the… important thing right now."
I made a quick judgment, but confusion flooded in. Starting with her arrival, every plan had crumbled. I was originally planning to research the conditions for creating the protagonist in solitude inside the house.
"I'll go put on something else and be right back, so sit tight."
"Yeah~ Got it."
I put Yoomin on the sofa and went into my room. Upon returning in shorts and a white tee, Yoomin was nowhere to be seen. She was lying on the sofa a moment ago—where did she disappear to?
"Gotcha!"
Suddenly materializing from behind, Yoomin nonchalantly slipped her hand into my pants.
"Hey! What the—"
"My naughty Taeyang! I want to pull it out and…"
…leave me alone and go fuck another woman! Her next words made me dizzy.
"Weren't you here to watch a movie together?"
"How could you, after taking my virginity?"
I couldn't win with words. The conversation took an oddly unfavorable turn. The sensible move now is to scold her for barging into my house and extract an apology.
Why is she acting like I cheated on her or something? If this is her true personality, how on earth did she date Kim Minsoo? Honestly, I'm so jealous!
Did something happen to make her temporarily change her character? I have my suspicions, but at the moment, there's no room for such thoughts.
"No, that's not what I'm talking about now… How the hell did you get in?"
"Why? You speak as if I'm in a place I'm not supposed to be."
It felt like dealing with an ex-girlfriend. No matter how much I tried to change the conversation, the feeling of returning to square one persisted!
A chill ran down my spine involuntarily.
I'm in the situation where my every word is interpreted negatively. If I haven't dabbled much in dating, would I have been spared from this predicament?
"Taeyang, I can hear the wheels turning in your head. I'm getting angry, you know."
She's no ordinary opponent. Her seemingly harmless words firmly gripped like a sturdy handshake. Due to her demeanor and words that seemed ready to explode, I couldn't gather my wits.
"Calm down for now, and first… Really, why did you come so quickly? I'm curios."
"I came to watch a movie, didn't I?"
Although I couldn't see her expression because she was behind me, I could deduce from her voice. Eyes glaring sharply and seemingly piercing the back of my head.
"I see… So, shall we watch the movie?"
"No, I came here to rescue you, thinking you might get surrounded by reporters. I saved you! Do you not know?!"
"What are you talking about? Reporters?"
Thinking back, there was undeniably something peculiar.
The news was such a colossal event that it grabbed headlines, yet from the hotel to the dormitory, no one bothered approaching me. Typically, chaos would ensue with everyone clamoring for an interview. It was too eerily quiet to detect the oddity, and somehow, it all traced back to Yoomin?
"I'm really grate—aah!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain surged, as if my penis was on the brink of detonation. Peering at the gap in my pants, I could see that she was squeezing it.
"But Taeyang, clueless as ever… instead, he's off fooling around with another woman…"
I had nothing to say. While appreciative to some extent, I felt this was pushing the limits. If she persisted, it would spell the demise of everything down there.
"But… in the end, since you're here in my arms, I'll forgive you."
"Uh… uh…"
Yoomin released her hold and reappeared before me with a triumphant smile.
Initially, I thought she had a carefree personality. However, now that she was undressed, she seemed assertive and somewhat intimidating. Both Soojin and her underwent a transformation in character. Why do they change gradually after undressing?
"Did I do well?"
"Ah… it's great…"
Yoomin would play a pivotal role in all future plans. An indispensable figure that I dare not mess with to completely ruin Kim Minsoo! No matter what unfolds, I shouldn't meddle with her.
"But when can I break up with Minsoo? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?"
"Can you wait a little longer…?"
"Why? Did you lose interest in me now that you've torn my hymen?"
"It's not that…"
I can't explain the quest to her. I have to use her to take Minsoo's place, but how can I express that?
She rejected the date and came to me, signifying that her feelings for Minsoo are already history. But Minsoo wouldn't be like that! He would surely assume I'd schemed something if she swiftly parted ways with him and came to me.
After all, he fits the mold of the typical childhood friend male lead, and I'm the guy who fucked a girl within a day!
The development is likely to go awry. It's easier to close one's heart if you slowly break up. However, if you break up abruptly like flipping a hand, there's a high chance of lingering feelings.
He was in unrequited love for at least five years…
Since unrequited love is still love, Minsoo must completely give up on it.
Of course, it can be uncomfortable for Yoomin to have a boyfriend while sleeping with another guy.
‘But back then, you listened when I told you to wait a little longer, Yoomin!'
It happened just two days ago. It's way too short.
"If not that, then what is it? Tell me."
I needed to find a suitable excuse. An alternative that Yoomin could accept! They say people think more clearly as the deadline approaches. But then, an incredibly idea popped into my head.
Why do I even need an excuse? Why should I bow down to her? I am Baek Taeyang, and I have plenty of ways to solve this issue in my own way.
"Hey, So Yoomin."
It's time to teach a lesson.