Impossible Romance - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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35.

I recognized the plea in his eyes, so instead of stopping him by grabbing his wrist, I remained still.
Like butter hardening in an instant before melting away, I surrendered helplessly yet pleasantly to his touch.
As he unfastened each button of my blouse, I pondered who was responsible for this situation. Yet no matter how I reasoned, I could blame no one—not Han Seon-young, not Kwon Seok-ha, and certainly not myself.
Yes, it was all because of the sudden downpour. I blamed everything on that rude, unexpected cloudburst.
The carefully laid plans I had constructed before coming home were simply swept away by the impulsive rain. My resolve to treat Kwon Seok-ha coldly crumbled along with them.
Thump.
His hands grew bolder as he removed my blouse completely, unfastening even the last button at my chest. He stripped away the undergarments hidden beneath and tossed them outside the bathtub.
Before he could reach for my pants, I hurried to move, creating splashing sounds and commotion in the water.
Watching me, Kwon Seok-ha began removing his own pants. The fabric, soaked and clinging to his legs, seemed difficult to peel away.
No—I realized his excited hands were fumbling, making clumsy mistakes. His touch was rough and awkward now, distinctly different from the delicate way he’d unfastened my blouse buttons.
Feeling the hot steam rising from the bathtub, I gazed at him quietly. Finally, Kwon Seok-ha stepped into the tub with heavy, ragged breathing.
He settled behind me and sat as if embracing me. Though the bathtub was large, with both of us inside, it was inevitably cramped.
Each time he shifted slightly, the water rippled. My body, which had trembled from the rain outside, seemed to melt and relax. My cheeks flushed from sitting so close to Kwon Seok-ha behind me, but the steam-filled bathroom concealed it well enough.
“You’ll catch a cold.”
Kwon Seok-ha repeated what he’d said before, pouring water over my body. He seemed like a child searching for an excuse, and I found myself laughing softly without thinking.
“I can just take medicine.”
“This is better. Colds are vicious these days.”
He stretched his arms from behind and embraced me. His muscular, firm forearms pressed against me like a fence.
Then he retrieved a shower sponge, lathered it, and began washing my body. I closed my eyes and leaned quietly against him.
A delicate lavender fragrance brushed past my nose. The gentle touch of soft skin, the light caress of his large palm against my nape before releasing it—I felt as though sleep might overtake me.
My heartbeat occasionally echoed in my ears in a strange way. Whether it was mine or Kwon Seok-ha’s, we were pressed so close together that I couldn’t tell.
Water splashed between us without boundary, flowing freely. The hot water that had passed through his hands became sweet as it traced my nape and caressed my collarbone.
“Warm, isn’t it?”
Kwon Seok-ha whispered near my ear. As my soft earlobe received his whisper, it burned as though touched by flame.
A stream of water relentlessly carved through my legs, enveloping my lower body before dispersing. Under that heat, my entire body grew languid and weak.
“Ah….”
A sticky, persistent sound spread through the narrow bathroom like a veil. I couldn’t tell whose lips had produced it.
His hand caressed my thigh and touched my calf. It was only possible because I had my legs bent. It wasn’t intentional, but when Kwon Seok-ha washed my calf, a tremor ran all the way to my toes.
I curled my toes and tensed my calf. Through that heat, my lower abdomen responded warmly. Only then did I realize I had entered a somewhat dangerous state.
And at that very moment, Kwon Seok-ha tilted his head forward and bit my lips. As our moistened lips met, the passionate night began anew.

***

When Jun-hee opened her eyes, Kwon Seok-ha lay before her. More precisely, he was reclined on his side next to her on the bed, gazing down at her with an expression of quiet contentment.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains beyond the window, casting half his face in shadow. Yet his gently smiling expression suggested he was thinking of something pleasant.
“Ah…”
Somehow, today was “another” one of these mornings.
If this became a habit, what would I do?
Uncertain about how the day would unfold, I bit my lip softly, when he spoke.
“You’re really good at those morning and evening greetings. Our Jun-hee is quite the dutiful one.”
He reached over and tapped the top of Jun-hee’s head playfully.
“Pardon?”
“That’s right. This is how you do your morning and evening greetings—right here in your older brother’s bed. Got it?”
“Older brother?”
At those words, all uncertainty and drowsiness vanished in an instant.
“Now that I’ve left work, I’m not your boss anymore—I’m your neighbor. Call me older brother.”
“No, that’s a bit…”
“You did it just fine last time. It’s strange to back out now, don’t you think?”
At Kwon Seok-ha’s words, Jun-hee recalled what she herself had said the night before.

“I want to sleep with you tonight, older brother. Is that okay?”

Her face flushed with embarrassment from the very morning.
“That was… I was drunk and made a mistake.”
Jun-hee furrowed her brow. This was how the tower of gratitude she’d been building came crashing down.
“You called me older brother when you were little.”
Kwon Seok-ha sat up in bed, his exposed torso impressively sculpted with muscle.
“I also called you ‘young master.’ Because your older brother told me to.”
Jun-hee refused to back down, pouting her lips as she countered.
“Then would you prefer ‘young master’? I’m fine with either.”
His eyes sparkled with mischief, his face full of playfulness.
“Absolutely not!”
Jun-hee cried out loudly and bolted upright. Realizing she wore only a slip, she hastily pulled the blanket up while glaring at him.
“I can call you ‘Miss.’ If you want, I can even call you ‘older sister.'”
Kwon Seok-ha’s lips curved upward in amusement.
“I’ll pass. And close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just close them anyway.”
At Jun-hee’s words, Kwon Seok-ha obediently closed his eyes. She then slipped out of the bedroom. She harbored no regrets about sharing warmth with him last night. But facing him like this in the morning light filled her with unbearable embarrassment.
Click.
As the door opened and closed, Kwon Seok-ha’s eyes fluttered open. Even though she had left the room, his smile refused to fade.

***

When I stepped out of the bedroom, a freshly brewed citron tea sat waiting on the dining table. I couldn’t fathom when Seok-ha had prepared it, and I found myself genuinely impressed by his thoughtfulness.
Last night, using my cold as a pretext, we’d remained intertwined throughout the evening. Seok-ha had insisted this was the critical time—since I’d bathed in hot water, I needed to stay pressed against him to preserve the warmth and prevent the fever from returning.
And so another night had slipped away in his embrace.
“Sigh….”
I buried my face in my hands.
Yet the conclusion remained eternally the same.
‘Don’t reveal your feelings. Don’t let yourself care.’
He was naturally lighthearted and playful by nature—eventually, Seok-ha would leave my side when the time came. Just as Han Seon-young had said, I should simply endure these moments quietly, peacefully, as though nothing were happening.
That was my only defense against this—or so I believed.
It was then that Seok-ha appeared without warning, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He was so tall that simply extending his arms to drape them across my shoulders created the illusion that I was nestled entirely within his embrace.
“Why so suddenly?”
I turned to look at him, startled.
“Suddenly? We’re growing closer every single day. You can’t tell me that’s just my imagination, can you?”
“….”
A man so naturally confident and shameless—I had no words in response. Besides, there was truth in what he said that stung.
Unable to simply accept this, I pried his arms away and stepped forward. I thought I’d successfully pushed him back, but when I glanced over my shoulder, he was already beside me again.
My eyes widened as I stared at him, and Seok-ha gazed back at me with an intensity that felt almost tangible, as though he were studying every detail. I clamped my lips shut, bracing myself for whatever he might say next.
“Let’s have lunch together today.”
“You have an outside appointment, don’t you?”
“Then I’ll take you with me. It’s a great restaurant.”
Seok-ha winked playfully, a mischievous glint in his eye.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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