4. Mouse (mouth) to (to) Mouse (mouth)
2017.11.14.
Smooch? Muaaah? What? Is this happening right now?
His personality was utter trash, but he seemed to act like a man—while falling to the floor, Sejun had wrapped Hawon and Eojju in his embrace.
Not forgetting to cushion the back of Hawon’s head with one hand either.
But somehow, by the time Sejun and Hawon, who had crashed to the floor, figured out the situation, the two were already pressed together in a deep kiss.
Sejun’s soft, burning heat was felt fully through their lips.
What is this right now?
Did I just bump lips with the guy next door?
What is this feeling, totally awkward!!!
In this absurd situation, the two were frozen stiff, staring holes into each other, not even blinking let alone closing their eyes.
Even in the midst of this, there was something bothering Hawon.
It was her loud breathing.
‘Don’t breathe out too loudly. Keep the air from my nose weak, smooth.’
Hawon slowly exhaled, so that the other person might or might not notice.
From Sejun’s hand and arm supporting Hawon’s head, she could feel the rigid tension.
His appearance like that bothered her, so Hawon subtly tensed her neck to pretend her head was light.
Even so, neither of them tried to pull away first.
Hawon and Sejun’s kiss continued until Eojju, who was in Hawon’s arms, stretched its body long and alternately licked the two people’s chins.
Pop—.
The two, who came to their senses in an instant, quickly moved away from each other without bothering to see who did so first.
“…….”
“…….”
How to gloss over this absurd situation?
It was good, it was soft—praising it would be weird too.
What to do?
What else? The thirty-sixth stratagem: run away.
Hawon got up from her spot.
“H-ha, haha… Thanks to you, I avoided cracking the back of my head. Well then.”
With a smile that was awkward no matter who looked at it, Hawon opened the front door and said her goodbye.
Slam—.
Hawon vanished in an instant like the wind, and Sejun, who had been sitting in the entryway having only raised his upper body, stared at the firmly shut front door for a long while before soon letting out a snicker.
The next-door woman, who had been unpleasant from their very first meeting.
A woman who startled him with an incredible unsightly appearance every time they ran into each other.
A face bearing deep marks pressed by a cushion, a messy mouth area that seemed to ramble off today’s dinner menu without even needing to say a word.
The next-door woman was someone who was far, far removed from the cleanliness and tidiness that Sejun hated the most.
Sejun was someone who wouldn’t even give a glance to women like the next-door woman even if a truckload of them were brought to him.
Even so, the next-door woman’s lips, which had collided with him in an unexpected accident, were unlike his expectation…
…so sweet they seemed to melt.
An impulse arose to wedge himself between those soft lips and explore thoroughly.
He had never thought of wanting to approach first even with so many beautiful women before him.
Even when bumping lips and mixing bodies, it had merely been an act based on human physiological desire.
Like a completely empty tin can.
Like a flawlessly designed machine, Sejun had embraced women.
For him to think he wanted to explore someone’s lips even more.
And of all things, the lips of the next-door woman who would be the very first to be disqualified.
Sejun’s heart felt strangely and subtly stirred by this feeling he was experiencing for the first time.
“……She’s a strange woman.”
Perhaps his mind had been completely blown away by the heat.
The next-door woman had a youthful face, but from her occasionally visible expressions, a mature woman’s sophistication emanated.
She would be in her late twenties to early thirties.
If that were the case, a kiss and being embraced in a man’s arms wouldn’t be her first time.
To think she would turn that bright red.
Sejun let out another snicker, then went to the refrigerator to quench his parched throat.
* * *
“Haah, what the hell is this. Huh? Why didn’t I just get up right there, why am I feeling that, you idiot!”
Hawon was in the middle of berating herself in her bed.
With Sejun, somehow, and just brushing lips once in a perfect accident at that…
Unable to let it go easily, she made a tearful face as she replayed it infinitely in her head.
“Did that man notice too? That I was feeling it because I was clinging to him so much, he didn’t catch on, right?”
The kiss with him was very, no, incredibly pleasant than she thought.
“Why did my face turn red there of all places… Are you some sixteen-year-old Chunhyang!!!”
Hawon’s face was still hot.
She shoved her head under the pillow and muttered.
“My face ripe red like a tomato, he must have seen it no doubt, I’m so embarrassed what do I do. Will I have to look for another house at this rate?”
Hawon was screaming with her whole body, but soon surrendered to the drowsiness that washed over her.
* * *
“Ugh!”
Hawon opened her eyes to the noisy alarm, and the moment she stretched and tried to get up, she let out a short scream and grabbed her waist.
As the pain subsided, Hawon tried to move again, but with the returning agony, even tears welled up as she plopped back down on the bed.
“What… could this be from yesterday?”
Did I get hurt falling?
Or, from pulling the next-door man too hard?
Whatever the reason for the injury, it was certain that the next-door man was entirely responsible for her perfectly fine waist being ruined like this.
“I should have just ignored him yesterday!”
A woman’s waist is her lifeline!
She had treasured and nurtured this waist like a treasure jar, a honey jar, planning to use it vigorously later when she met a good man, with interest for all the time she couldn’t use it!!!
“Ugh…”
A groan,
“That damn trashy next-door bastard!!!”
A curse,
Hawon finished dressing up after many twists and turns and left the house.
Holding a curtain rod she had prepared as a temporary measure.
* * *
Hawon went to work, took care of some urgent approvals, then decided she absolutely couldn’t go on and went to the hospital.
“It seems you’ve strained your back. It may take some time, but if you get acupuncture and steady physical therapy, it will get better.”
The doctor diagnosed her while looking at Hawon, who couldn’t straighten her back like a hunched old grandmother.
Hawon, whose body and spirit were both drained after receiving treatment as the doctor said, called Yuna.
“It’s me, I’m going straight home today. My back hurts too much so I need to rest. I’m asking you a favor instead, friend.”
To Hawon’s words, Yuna readily agreed.
Since she had gotten a ride in Yuna’s car when Yuna was going out for external work from the company to the hospital, she had to take a taxi to get home.
“How far are you going?”
“Please take me to the Nonhyeon-dong area.”
Hawon smiled and told the destination to the taxi driver, who looked warm and kind at a glance.
And about 10 minutes later—.
“Ah, let go you slipper-wearing brat!!! Where are you cutting in?”
“Hey! You stone child bastard!!! You’ve really met with the wrong person today.”
The taxi driver sped along the road like an outlaw, accompanied by tremendous cursing.
Normally she would have been generous about the taxi shaking left and right and the foul-mouthed taxi driver, but today the situation was different.
With her body shaking from side to side without a moment’s rest, the pain in her waist gradually intensified, and curses surged up to her throat.
“Mister!!!”
Unable to bear it, Hawon snapped.
“We’re here. 7,400 won.”
At the same time, as if nothing had happened, the taxi arrived in front of her house.
The taxi driver, who had once again assumed a peaceful face, pointed to the fare on the meter and spoke.
Hawon, drained both mentally and physically, got out of the taxi looking haggard.
Holding her waist and groaning, as she barely reached her front door, she felt like she might shed tears of emotion.
“Haah, finally… finally!!!”
It was then.
With a clack— the next-door door opened, and the next-door man revealed himself.
For a moment, the memory of bumping lips with him came to mind.
But Hawon had no time to care about someone like the next-door man, so she just ignored him.
“Hey, neighbor.”
For some reason, the next-door man called out to Hawon.
But that was none of her concern right now.
“Hey. If someone calls you, you should respond, no?”
Before she knew it, Sejun had approached Hawon’s side.
Then Hawon, who was suddenly very annoyed, narrowed her eyes and glared while speaking.
“What, what!!! Why are you calling me!!!”
Then Sejun snickered.
‘Why is he laughing? My heart is still fluttering to death as it is!’
Sejun, wearing a black knit and brown pants, suddenly thrust something in front of Hawon.
“You see this?”
What Sejun thrust forward was his right arm.
“What am I supposed to do looking at your arm.”
To Hawon, who wore an expression of what on earth he was talking about, Sejun thrust his arm even closer.
“Look closely.”
Sejun’s arm was wrapped in a brace.
“A brace?”
“That’s right.”
“So what? What’s the big deal?”
“This became like this because of you.”
“What?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
I’m the one injured, why is he….
“When we fell yesterday, I cushioned your bowling ball-like head, and my ligament got stretched out.”
“What?”
So absurd was it that Hawon couldn’t continue speaking.
“I’m someone who has to use his hands, and of all things, I injured my right hand, so my life has become incredibly inconvenient. What are you going to do? I’m right-handed.”
This guy, the more I see him!
Hoo, Gu Hawon, hold it, hold it. Relax….
“Hey. I also strained my back moving you yesterday and just came back from the hospital after getting acupuncture and physical therapy.”
Hawon said, suppressing her anger.
“You still look like you have no problem with basic daily life.”
“Absolutely not?”
Sejun wrapped his bandaged arm and spoke.
“I’m in a situation where everything is difficult. Eating, dressing, washing, all of it.”
Hawon didn’t back down either and started arguing.
“I’m struggling too, you know? Having injured my waist, the center of my body, it’s killing me to sit at work and to drive.”
“You look completely fine.”
“I’m not! Do you even know how much my waist hurts when I get up from sitting? Seriously, this is all because of whom in the first place… take responsibility!”
Looking at Hawon huffing, Sejun asked expressionlessly.
“If I take responsibility?”
“Huh?”
Take responsibility, for what?
“If I take responsibility for your waist, will you take responsibility for my arm?”
Why does the conversation have to go that way again?
“Why would I take responsibility for your arm? Did anyone ask you to cushion them when they fell?”
Then Sejun didn’t back down either.
“If you hadn’t fallen asleep in my living room in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“That’s because you carried me into your house, changed my clothes because I might catch a cold, and got tired!”
Falling asleep was my fault, but the one who caused me to enter the house in the first place was the next-door man, right you!
“They say the thief turns angry first. You’re completely turning the tables.”
“Turning the tables?! You’re one to talk!”
If only my waist didn’t hurt, I would have smacked your hopeless head!
With her insides boiling, she glared at Sejun.
“Is that something to say to the person who saved you from cracking your head open? Though, it seems like I probably didn’t need to cushion you after all.”
Sejun’s words, mocking as if ridiculing Hawon.
Dealt the final blow to Hawon, who had reached her limit and was turning red and blue.
“That head you’re carrying around doesn’t look all that great either.”
“Argh, really!!!”
If only this waist of mine was fine, I would have stomped on that brace-wearing forearm until it was crushed!!!
“Don’t make your already ugly face even uglier by throwing a tantrum. Let’s just take responsibility for each other.”
“I don’t want to. I don’t like it, I won’t do it, I absolutely can’t!”
Hawon shook her head violently and shouted.
“Hey there, quiet down a bit!!! Do you live here alone?!! If you’re having a lover’s quarrel, take it somewhere else!!!”
The front door of the house at the very end of the hallway burst open, and an uncle wearing tracksuit pants and a running shirt came out and shouted.
Then Hawon, embarrassed, grabbed her hurting waist and bowed in apology.
“I’m sorry.”
No, but we were both arguing, why do I have to apologize alone?!!
Ugh, how detestable!!!
When Hawon raised her head to glare at Sejun, who had been standing next to her, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Huh?”
He was here just a moment ago, where did he go already?
“Hey, neighbor.”
To the bewildered Hawon, Sejun called out while hiding his body inside his front door and poking his head out.
Did he cowardly run away and hide alone?
“What.”
“If you stay there, you’ll be showing off your loud voice to the whole neighborhood, so come in for a moment. Let’s talk inside.”
Sejun gestured with his hand for her to come inside.
That guy whom I could chew up, gnaw on, and tear apart and it still wouldn’t be enough!
Hawon grumbled inwardly and followed Sejun inside.
“What are you standing around for? You were in deep sleep here until dawn today like it was your own house. Sit there.”
Sejun told Hawon to sit on the sofa.
The moment she stepped into the entryway, she remembered the lip accident that had happened at dawn today.
‘His lips were really soft and sweet. I really don’t know why that mouth of his has to be so detestable.’
Hawon savored the sensation of Sejun’s lips as if rummaging through her memories regretfully.
But that was brief; soon she groaned and slowly bent her waist as if in slow motion, barely sitting on the sofa.
“What more do you have to talk about that you made me come inside?”
“Look at this situation rationally, realistically.”
“I’m already looking at it that way.”
“I’m someone who needs to do computer work, so I need my right hand. I can’t exactly hunt-and-peck with only my left hand.”
“So?”
“Until your waist and my arm get better, let’s put aside growling at each other and call a truce. Instead, we’ll help each other. How about it?”
Help each other?
“Help? With what?”
“You can’t do things because of your back pain, so I’ll do them for you. Laundry, or whatever.”
He’ll do anything?
With that personality, like he’d actually do that!
“Then what do I have to do for you?”
Surely it’s not ‘be my body pillow,’ ‘serve me,’ something like that?
But Sejun’s answer was unexpected.
“You just have to type on the computer for me. Three times a week. Thirty minutes twice on weekdays, one hour on the weekend. How about it?”
“One hour on the weekend? It’s not some slave contract. I’m not someone with that much free time on weekends.”
Hawon dodged because she didn’t want to say yes easily, and Sejun snickered.
“Last time I saw, you looked incredibly free on weekends. With that kind of appearance.”
“I have a boyfriend, you know?”
“I know you don’t, so stop with the pointless jokes.”
Ha?! Did you see?
Did you see me not having a boyfriend?
With an extremely serious expression, Sejun asked.
“Shall we mutually help each other?”
At Sejun’s words, Hawon thought carefully and began calculating who would be losing out and who would benefit.
“Hmm….”
No matter how much she thought about it, she felt like she was losing out, so as she agonized, Sejun smiled a triumphant smile.
“Ah, since it’s a contract to help each other, I’ll provide meals for free. If you want, I can do all three meals a day. Starting tomorrow, a housekeeper comes to cook every two or three days.”
“Then why don’t you just ask her to do the typing too?”
“She comes solely to cook. She’s a specialist in cooking only. I have to run the dishwasher after eating too.”
Meals? So she can eat home-cooked food?
Hawon absolutely hated preparing elaborate meals at home to eat alone.
To Hawon, who was accustomed to delivery food, Sejun’s words that he would provide home-cooked meals, moreover all three meals if she wanted, eventually made her crumble.
“…Fine. Contract sealed. Deal.”
“Good.”
“But. Why do you keep speaking informally?”
When Hawon asked pointedly about the informal speech that had bothered her from their first meeting, Sejun answered concisely.
“Because it’s obvious I’m older.”
“We haven’t even revealed our ages, how do you know who’s higher?”
“Thirty-four.”
“Huh?”
“My age. I’m thirty-four.”
What. He’s older? He looks younger than his age.
“If you’re the one who said it first, there should be something in return.”
“Ugh… thirty.”
With an expression of resentment, Hawon pouted her lips and answered.
Sejun snickered and suddenly thrust out his palm.
“Then let’s start from tomorrow. Phone.”
“…? My phone?”
“Yeah.”
Hawon took her phone out of her bag and thrust it at him; Sejun pressed the numbers firmly and hit the call button.
And confirming the vibration ringing on his own phone, he spoke.
“Han Sejun.”
“Huh?”
“It’s annoying when you go ‘huh?’ ‘huh?’ at the end of every sentence. My name is Han Sejun. I can’t keep calling you ‘you’ and ‘that side’ forever. Save it. So we can contact each other when needed.”
Oh boy… yeah, you’re smart, must be nice.
But is this the right thing to do?
No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like I’ll need the next-door guy’s help…
Unless that guy calls on purpose to make me work.
For now, the two seemed to have found peace.
But that night, Hawon had to make an urgent call to Sejun.
“H-help me….”
#Private collection