* * *
If Taehwan were to suddenly get married right now, I might cry harder at his wedding than his own mother would.
Even after awakening as an S-class, getting discharged safely, and officially becoming a licensed hunter, despite finally becoming a full-fledged member of society—after all the time we spent alone together—I guess I still don’t want to be pushed down his priority list just yet.
It’s pathetic, but it’s the truth.
This time, I took the initiative and pulled Taehwan’s hand into mine.
“Stay with me a little longer. I’ll keep relying on you. Thank you.”
“…Ha.”
The breath Taehwan let out wasn’t so much a sigh as a wave of relief.
Judging by his lifted lips, it seemed like my answer made him happy.
Good. I gathered my courage and decided to say a bit more.
“I won’t say stuff that pressures you anymore. I mean, I might say something without thinking, but…”
“You can mess up as much as you want with me. That’s how we are. I mess up too, don’t I?”
His voice, lighter now, was like music to my ears.
No one else’s voice sounded as sweet to me as Taehwan’s did—I could say that without hesitation.
“Yeah.”
And just like that, my heart felt so much lighter.
I looked up and met Taehwan’s gaze.
I couldn’t help it—I was so happy I didn’t know what to do.
My whole face must’ve been lit up with a smile.
Thinking about how overjoyed I was just because Taehwan said he wanted to stay and have fun with me, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with myself for bringing up something that had clearly upset him.
Even if I’d said it out of concern for him…
Still, it didn’t seem like he resented me.
He looked me straight in the eye, smiling, and took a step closer.
“Seriously, Jung Jehee. You’re too sweet and pretty—it’s a problem.”
Just one step, but it brought him so much closer.
Maybe it was because of his long legs—or maybe it was just because our hearts were that much nearer now.
As he leaned in, I instinctively tilted my head up.
Thump—his smooth forehead bumped gently against mine.
In his clear brown eyes, unwavering and bright, I saw only myself.
Something about it felt almost magical, and I just stared, mesmerized, until his sharp gaze softened into a gentle curve.
“At this point, how could I ever think about dating anyone else?”
His tone was playful—like when he’d once joked that he brought me here because he might devour me otherwise.
‘Ah…’
But for some reason… that voice struck something deep in my chest.
He lightly brought both palms together, then intertwined his fingers with mine.
He even rubbed the tip of his nose against mine, like he found it amusing.
Through it all, he never once looked away from my eyes.
Something about it felt different from usual. It kept blanking out my mind.
…It’s probably just Taehwan’s habit, a way of expressing friendly affection through touch.
After all, during the long ten-plus years I couldn’t see, my sense of touch—especially through my hands—served in place of my eyes.
“Jehee, I’m going to take a quick shower. Don’t bother waiting—just sleep first, okay?”
“…Ah, yeah. Go ahead.”
I answered on reflex, but my head was spinning.
I stood there blankly, staring at his back as he walked into the shower, only snapping out of it once he was out of sight.
I turned around with a jolt.
I slumped down into one of the chairs by the table and covered my face with both hands.
I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was burning red.
‘…This is weird.’
I’d just managed to settle one weird feeling, only for another to take its place.
Suddenly, I felt feverish, almost unbearably hot.
The weather today was on the colder side, and the air at the campsite definitely wasn’t warm.
Still, maybe because we were trying to get into the camping mood, the tent had an electric mat inside and we could choose whether or not to use the heat.
So if it’s not the temperature… why does my body feel like it’s overheating?
Did I shower in hot water for too long?
But right after coming out, I remember feeling refreshed.
There was another weird thing. I felt itchy.
Around my chest, and in other places I couldn’t quite believe were acting up.
It’s not like I’d been thinking or doing anything erotic.
I tried to ignore it, but it kept drawing my attention, like my body was begging to be touched.
I clamped my legs together and squirmed.
If we were in a closed-off room, like a motel or hotel, I might’ve just tried what Taehwan had taught me before.
But we’re at a campsite.
Even inside the tent, people were just a thin layer of fabric away.
Even the tiniest noise would leak right through.
The people in the neighboring tent had already left, but it’s not like no one else was walking up and down the path.
‘Right… the bathroom.’
It’s a public space too, but still enclosed.
And most of the campers here today are women, so besides Taehwan and me, there probably weren’t many others using the men’s bathroom.
Taking one stall for a short while shouldn’t be a problem.
I went to the very last stall, took a deep breath, and pulled down my pants. I sat on the toilet and reached down to touch myself.
It’s just a part of my body.
Something I touch every day—when I wash, when I go to the bathroom.
But now, with a different intent, it felt like I was doing something really wrong.
‘Ah… I forgot the lotion…’
I’d come in such a hurry I didn’t bring anything.
I should’ve at least grabbed some face or body lotion, even if not the kind I used last time.
Too late now. I’d have to make do with bare hands.
“……”
But once I actually started, I just got more confused.
How was I supposed to do this again?
When Taehwan touched me, it felt good almost instantly, like even just being held was enough… but now, it didn’t even feel hard.
All I could focus on was this nagging self-awareness that I was doing something strange.
Not arousal—just uncomfortable guilt.
Was it because I wasn’t using lotion?
Still, I didn’t want to make such an obscene act even more involved by going all the way back to the tent to get it.
My body wasn’t completely soft, but not quite aroused either—somewhere in between.
I kept fidgeting for a while before I gave up, feeling pathetic.
I pulled my pants back up, washed my hands, and left the bathroom.
I was still left with a lingering, unsatisfied frustration, but there wasn’t anything I could do.
‘It’ll go away once I sleep.’
Anyway, I was wearing loose-fitting pants, so it wouldn’t show.
Even if I wore something tighter, it wouldn’t be obvious unless someone looked very closely.
With a straight face and as much nonchalance as I could muster, I crawled back into the tent.
Taehwan was still in the shower.
The bedding inside the tent was already set up for sleeping.
With the difference in our builds, it was easy to tell which side was meant for me.
Mostly because my side had that familiar banana milk waiting for me.
Like a sea otter spotting a clam, I quickly snatched it up.
I wasn’t planning to drink it now—I’d already brushed my teeth—but just knowing he’d remembered to get it for me made me happy.
But something odd caught my attention—his stuff was all piled on his side of the tent.
Since I was smaller, there was more space on my side.
Why would he crowd all the bags next to himself?
“…Idiot.”
He’s my friend, but really—he can be so dense.
I can’t even imagine how much more of a disadvantage he lived with when I couldn’t see.
But now, I can see.
I can walk around on my own.
I don’t have to wait around for Taehwan to do everything.
I can help carry the weight he used to bear alone.
Muttering that he should rest properly since he did more work than I did, I moved some of the bulkier bags to my side of the bedding.
“Ah.”
Maybe because I did a good deed, I found something nice while moving his stuff: the clothes Taehwan had worn earlier.
He’d changed into something more comfortable before grilling the meat so the smell wouldn’t stick to his shirt.
‘Wow… it’s big.’
Even at a glance, it was way bigger than anything I owned.
If I tried it on, I’d probably look ridiculous.
Still curious, I slipped one arm into the sleeve, but even before I pushed it in all the way, I felt an overwhelming sense of danger and pulled back out.
Come to think of it, even when shopping for clothes at the store, Taehwan had a hard time finding things he could fit into, let alone ones that actually fit well.
Usually, he had to get things custom-made by a tailor he knew.
If you averaged our body types, you’d probably end up with the perfect physique.
Not that Taehwan wasn’t already handsome.
No wonder people got so heartbroken when he brushed them off.
As I spread the shirt out and thought of his broad shoulders, solid chest, and strong arms, a faintly familiar scent drifted to my nose—one I could catch only because of my heightened senses.
‘It smells like Taehwan.’
I cautiously brought the shirt to my nose, and sure enough, it carried his soft scent.
Closing my eyes, it became even more vivid.
I could remember the texture of the shirt beneath my fingertips when I held him.
A smile came to my lips before I realized it.
I peeked out of the tent. Taehwan still wasn’t back.
‘Just for a bit. It’s lonely sleeping alone, so he can be my stand-in…’
If I wanted to sleep first, like he said, this was the only way.
Otherwise, I’d end up waiting for him the whole time.
I’d hold onto it just until I got sleepy, then put it back with the rest of his things.
With dreams of pulling off the perfect crime, I slipped into the blankets, hugging Taehwan’s shirt tightly.
I fell into a deep sleep in less than five minutes.
…Of course, nothing went according to plan.
* * *
