The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 56

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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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56.
Even as nausea roiled through her stomach, she could tell well enough that his words were aimed at her.
“I read in a magazine once that couples from different social backgrounds have a statistically three times higher divorce rate than average couples.”
While Na-hee hurled curses at her like a hex, the car rounded another curve.
Seong Do-ah pressed her lips together and bowed her head.
“Do-ah, are you all right?”
It wasn’t Su-jin who approached her side—it was Kyung-jun.
Actually, seeing your face just makes it worse.
He handed her a Black Plastic Bag without waiting for her to answer.
“If your stomach’s upset, use this.”
The self-satisfied expression on his face struck her as ridiculous.
The fact that his supposed thoughtfulness amounted to a Black Plastic Bag seemed to fit their relationship perfectly—shallow, improvised, and real only in its inadequacy.
* * *
“Do-ah, take good care of yourself!”
“See you all at the next mountain trip!”
“Get home safe!”
After two and a half hours of torment, Seong Do-ah finally arrived in Seoul.
Once the farewells were done, she climbed into a taxi and drifted into the Apartment Complex in a semi-conscious haze.
As she dragged her heavy legs through the complex, Cha Kyung stood beneath a Street Lamp’s glow.
Seeing her in an almost zombified state, he spoke with a look of mild exasperation.
“I thought you said buses didn’t make you carsick. You look absolutely dreadful. You’re practically sweating through your clothes.”
“Cha Kyung, why are you…here?”
“Why else? I came to hear your answer.”
It hadn’t even been a full day.
She’d deliberately taken a bus to buy time, yet he’d breached her defenses so effortlessly, cutting right through to her.
“Your dark circles have practically reached your knees. You’ve been wrestling with this all night, it seems. So—have you decided?”
Cha Kyung stepped closer. His shadow fell completely over her.
‘Why does he keep pushing for an answer like this?’
And I’ve already made up my mind to refuse, she thought.
The rejection speech Do-ah had rehearsed all night began spinning in her head like conveyor-belt sushi.
Yes. All I have to do is choose one of my carefully prepared lines and say it. Just one.
With that resolve, Do-ah opened her mouth.
“N—”
His hand suddenly rose to her hair. Do-ah’s body went rigid.
With his fingers tickling her scalp, she held her breath—and then felt his hand brush the hair by her ear and pluck away a small leaf.
“Was it so nice coming back that you’re covered in nature? Look at all these bits stuck in your hair.”
“Oh…”
Cha Kyung let the leaf drift away on the wind and watched her quietly, as though waiting for her response.
Now it was her turn to answer, but her lips wouldn’t obey.
‘Why, why is he made like this, really.’
Every feature was sculpted like a work of art. No matter how many times she looked, there was something thrilling about his face.
This was cheating.
Looking into those eyes, standing before that expression—could she really tell him they should never have a real relationship?
Was such a thing even possible?
“I…can’t.”
The words escaped before she could stop them. Cha Kyung’s eyes narrowed.
“I just…I can’t refuse you.”
Do-ah covered her reddening face with both hands.
‘What am I saying? It’s not a refusal, not an acceptance either. What was that supposed to be?’
Cha Kyung said nothing for a long moment. He simply stared at her, then asked, “Are you accepting, then?”
“N-not that. I mean, I can’t refuse your proposal, which is to say I can’t refuse…”
Do-ah’s lips moved rapidly. When she panicked, her words multiplied.
Cha Kyung cut through her rambling in one clean stroke. “If you can’t refuse my proposal to date, then what is it but acceptance?”
There was no way around it. He was right. She had no comeback.
Do-ah let her feelings pour out to him unfiltered.
“I don’t know. Honestly, you’re too much for me, you feel impossible to handle, and you’re so different from me that it frightens me. But if I say no here, I think I’ll regret it my whole life.”
Do-ah, who had been opening and closing her mouth, finally surrendered.
“Fine. I’ll date you.”
The moment her words ended, Cha Kyung—who had been waiting for her answer with stubborn patience—cupped her cheek in his large hand.
His thumb traced her lower lip slowly, delicately.
Do-ah’s shoulders trembled like butterfly wings.
“Even if I’m overwhelming.”
“…”
“Even if you can’t handle me.”
“…”
“You’re still saying you will?”
The instant she tried to respond, his large hand seized her waist and pulled her hard against his chest.
Then he whispered against her ear.
“You like me too, Seong Do-ah. Though I like you more.”
Through their chests pressed together with no space between them, she felt his irregular heartbeat pounding against her.
‘So his heart is racing like this too.’
It was hard to believe this was the same person who was usually so composed and coldly measured.
But before she could dwell on it, he drew her lower lip into his mouth and sucked.
“Mm…not here. Not here…”
After their first kiss, she didn’t want a second one in public.
Besides, schoolmates were seen once or twice a year, but apartment residents faced each other daily.
At her refusal, he pulled his lips away. But only his lips—nothing more.
His hands roamed from her nape down her slender waist, touching every part of her with obsessive thoroughness, as though determined to hold all of her.
By the time Do-ah regained her senses, they were already in the Apartment Lobby.
Ding—
The Elevator doors opened. As they stepped into the narrow space alone, the air grew thick and sticky like a sealed box.
Cha Kyung pushed Do-ah into the corner of the Elevator and kissed her again without even pressing a floor button.
The cold metal wall and his hot lips created a contrast that made her mind reel.
“Mm, Cha Kyung, the floor…”
Her breathless voice made his jaw tighten imperceptibly. He exhaled roughly and jabbed the button for the 12th floor.
In the Elevator’s fluorescent light, his profile looked sharp and fierce.
The set line of his mouth, the fine crease between his brows—she thought they were all because of her, and she felt both frightened and dizzy.
Before long, they stumbled tangled together toward the Entrance.
The moment the door opened, he pushed her inside. There was no time to turn on the Living Room lights.
In the darkness, only the sound of their ragged breathing and clothes brushing against each other could be heard.
“Oh—”
When his solid thigh pressed between hers, a short cry escaped her.
The weight of his body heat and the texture of hard muscle transmitted through her thin slacks felt vividly alive, overwhelming her senses.
His instincts, perfectly controlled all day, poured out like a caged beast finally freed.
“Wait, wait just…”
Overwhelmed by the intensity, Do-ah pushed against his chest with both hands.
“What.”
“Isn’t it too dark in here?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to seal her lips shut.
What did I just say? That it’s too dark? Did I just ask if he wants to do this somewhere bright?
Even in the darkness, she could see his mouth curve into a smile.
“Understood.”
His hand felt along the wall, brushing past her side. Click—the Living Room lights came on.
With the brightness, his face came into sharp focus.
Loosened Necktie, disheveled hair, sweat trailing down his forehead. And eyes darkened to near black.
‘Oh.’
She was the one who’d asked for more light, but the moment his face came into view, she found herself turning away.
“Why are you avoiding me.”
“Just…”
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“No, I mean, that’s not what I meant by—”
“You’ve got quite the daring side to you.”
“That’s not it at all!”

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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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