The path leading to the studio. Between each step, I glanced to the side. Empty meeting rooms, bathed in the setting sunlight, caught my eye here and there. Jun’s studio is at the very end of this long corridor.
Suddenly, I recalled the countless steps I had taken with excitement at the thought of meeting you. Naturally, the numerous steps you took as you approached me also came to mind. It was expected since that was the direction we both loved.
Nine years ago, those steps timidly taken towards your designated spot in front of the sunny, large window of that house. Steps that used to come to cover me with a thin blanket when sleeping on the beige affectionate sofa became a daily routine.
When your return home seemed a bit delayed, maybe due to work, and I decided to wait for you on the garden chair, those steps were taken just to wait for you.
Even though I couldn’t speak Japanese and attempted to go for a walk alone, your steps came to protect me by standing by my side, despite how tired you were, just patting my haphazardly arranged hair while keeping watch over me.
All those steps were not in vain. In the end, all those steps became us. Perhaps, it was thanks to those steps that left a sensation at the tips of our toes, allowing us to recognize each other amidst the long gap of nine years. Even after nine years, the meaning of the emotions I feel for you is felt in these excited steps.
So, I found my way again. Standing in front of the last room, I raised my hand to knock. Is there a maximum limit to the excitement that can fill your chest? If there is, my heart felt like it had reached that state.
However, at that moment, before my hand touched the door, a gap appeared between the doors. In surprise, I reflexively tried to move backward, but the gap quickly widened, and my wrist was caught. The speed at which my wrist was caught matched the speed at which I was pulled into the room as soon as the door closed with a click.
Click. As soon as the door closed, I was in Jun’s arms.
Before I could see your face, your subtle fragrance touched the tip of my nose. My chest tightened as our bodies pressed against each other, feeling like you could sense everything about me. I tried to create some space by squirming, but you, feeling that, tightened your arms around my shoulders, making our bodies even closer than before.
Being with you often made me feel awkward like this.
“…Kim Jun.”
“Yeah, Haru.”
Even after hearing my voice, your response was natural.
“You always want to hug me when you see me.”
“Yeah, I do.”
Your casual tone, as if stating the obvious, made me forget what I wanted to say.
“I’m glad you want to hug me.”
“Well, that’s true. You always hug me out of the blue even before saying hello.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Is that awkward for you?”
When I sensed a slightly suspicious reaction.
“Then, I’ll let you choose, Haru.”
“Huh?”
I raised my head slightly in response to Jun’s words.
“Would you hug just by looking, would you kiss just by looking?”
“Ha, Kim Jun. Are you seriously asking that now?”
“Oh, I shouldn’t have bothered asking. I should’ve just kissed you.”
Jun gently encircled my cheeks with both hands. I furrowed my eyebrows in a manner signaling him not to do this, but he paid no attention. Not that I disliked it, it was more like a pout, as if someone who knew it was just a one-time thing.
While gazing at my face held in his large hands, you raised the corner of your lips cheerfully.
“You fit perfectly in my hand. Cute.”
Your eyes seemed to close slightly, and you leaned in. Just before our lips, which were about to touch, met, Jun paused for a moment, looking at me, and then slightly kissed me as if in response to my impatience. In that fleeting hesitation, I lightly smiled and leaned in first.
Wrapping my arms around your neck, I quickly closed the narrow gap between us. As if you were waiting for this, your hand wrapped around my nape. Whether it was because you were happy to be the first one to come to me or because your lips felt narrower, I felt your emotions.
Your lips came in through the crack between our tightly pressed lips. Even though it came with a heat as if to engulf me, leaving behind a lingering sensation, you briefly parted our lips. Looking at my blushing face, you, unable to hide your overwhelming emotions, made it difficult for me to bear.
Even if I didn’t know the emotion called love, I could immediately tell from those innocent eyes that it was love pouring out.
The sticky lips that were left last seemed to savor the aftertaste as they slowly separated. Just as slow as that, Jun, with his warm breath reaching, said from a distance where he could touch me a little later.
“I want to keep looking at you. Your face when we kiss.”
“…You’re going to see only me from now on anyway.”
“Ha, Haru. You shouldn’t just throw around words like that without warning. My heart gets flustered, see.” Jun placed my hand on his chest. His enlarged eyes looked towards Jun.
“Ah, sorry. What should I do?”
“Pft, what’s there to apologize for.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
