TL: looloo
Schedule: 4/Week Wed-Sat
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Even after taking almost ten more photos, Heena showed no sign of moving, so I subtly glanced at her. But she didn't stir at all.
After a brief awkward silence.
Our gazes, which had been looking straight ahead at the lens, were now slowly facing each other.
And the phone I had been holding in one hand had already dropped onto the bedsheet like a puppet with its strings cut.
"......"
"......"
We were looking into each other's eyes from such a close distance that we could even hear each other's breathing ringing loudly by our ears, our faces nearly touching.
With a somehow sentimental look, her eyes gazing at me seemed to be seeking something different from a kiss, as one would expect in this kind of atmosphere.
That's what it felt like.
Staring fixedly into my eyes without closing her eyes or looking away.
-Swish
Then, one of her arms wrapped around my neck folded, and her fingertips gently caressed my cheek.
At the same time, feeling that smooth skin of hers and that sentimental, somehow wistful gaze.
I also raised the hand that had been holding my smartphone and gently wrapped my arms around her slim waist, pulling her closer.
Even though I couldn't even guess what exactly she wanted from me right now.
Seeing her response of pressing her body even closer as I pulled her waist a little strongly, I thought I wasn't mistaken.
Heena also moved the hand that had been caressing my cheek to wrap both arms around my neck in an embrace.
As if yearning for affection like a needy child, I held her like that for a while as she surrendered her body to me.
Her enormous heart, care, and affection that I felt in that response.
I held her as she was for a few minutes, feeling a sense of relief mingled in that warmth.
As we slowly separated our bodies again and I met Heena's eyes, the corners of her eyes curved, seemingly satisfied.
"Yeonho."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry, am I heavy?"
After the atmosphere enveloping us just now, she blurted out something so random, it erased all that.
"Not at all. If anything, you need to gain some weight. I'm worried you might collapse while walking around."
"Pfft, it's not that bad."
"Well, I could probably lift you with one hand for a bit."
"Really?"
"...For just a short moment?"
I jokingly followed up as if it were nothing.
Thanks to that intense embrace earlier, it felt like I had leveled up mentally.
The flutter was still there, but the trembling I felt every time I had contact with Heena seemed to have subsided a little.
Seeing my reaction, Heena laughed and got up, pulling out the chair at the desk in front of me to sit there.
To be honest, I also felt a slight numbness in my legs and wanted to get up for a bit, but a minor issue stopped me, so I stayed put and kept talking.
"I'll send the photos via KakaoTalk."
"Mm-hmm. Let's get a frame for that photo at the studio when you go."
"Okay, I've been curious about how they're printed too... So, what should we do now?"
She answered my question with a bright smile.
"I'd be happy just being held like before~"
Holding back the urge to embrace her again all day at her playful words, I replied,
"Alright. Let's look at the photo albums. It's a must when visiting someone's home."
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Raei Translations
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After my suggestion to look at the album, she hesitated for a moment but soon brought out thick albums from under the desk.
As we examined the albums she brought, we leaned our heads together and shared passionate stories.
"Hold on, what's this photo? Can I take it?"
"You like the younger me? It seems like you've been picking photos from my middle school days."
"No, it's not like that. It's just that you looked cute when you were younger! Photos from last year look almost the same as now."
"No way! I'm a bit embarrassed by the old photos."
"How about trading with one of mine? When you come over to my place."
"...Okay, that works."
"Deal," I said gleefully.
Seeing her nod shyly, I felt elated inside. Trading my awkward middle school photo for a picture of her, whom it seemed God had intended to give just a spoonful of cuteness to, but ended up pouring the whole jar? Totally worth it.
She was insanely cute.
But what struck me as odd was that unlike her mature appearance now, the Heena in her middle school and even last year's photos exuded a brighter and more innocent aura.
While it seemed strange for someone's vibe to change so drastically within a year, I honestly preferred her current mature vibe.
"Ah, I remember this. From first year of middle school? Taken on a trip to the countryside."
"...? Who's this monster you're with?"
"It's a puppy from my grandma's place!"
"That's not a... Look at its chest muscles. Honestly, if I fought it, I'd lose in 5 seconds."
We reminisced as we slowly went through the photos.
"You tied your hair back here?"
"That was probably when I jogged every morning. Had a diet phase for about six months."
"But you look like you didn't need to..."
"Thanks for saying that, but women always have their concerns."
And so, I got to see a side of her I never knew.
"Yeah, I just don't want to burden my parents... I'm trying to get into a college where I can get a scholarship."
"That's why you study hard every day?"
"Yes. But I still hope we can attend the same college..."
"Whew, I'll give it my best shot."
If Heena lowers her standards for a scholarship, maybe there's a chance.
Anyway, as we continued discussing our future and looking at the photos, and as we moved on to even younger pictures, it seemed that showing her album to someone else was quite embarrassing for Heena, as she quickly began closing them one by one.
"That's it for the photos!"
"No way!! I haven't seen your elementary school pictures yet!"
"Ugh, no! Let's go to the living room! Watch a movie with me!"
"Nah, I want to see more of the album~"
"There are many weird photos from when I was younger..."
"Are you trying to tempt me? I can't resist now."
Heena, with a red face, pulling at my sleeve - it was such a precious sight that I couldn't help but be a bit mischievous.
Like an elementary school boy teasing the girl he has a crush on.
Back then, I didn't really have someone I liked, and even reflecting on it later, I wondered why I acted that way. But now, I think I understood why they did that.
Seeing Heena's face puff up in response to my teasing, I felt a mischievous urge I hadn't felt before.
I wanted to poke her puffed cheek with my finger, but wouldn't that make her really angry, even if it's Heena?
"Are you really going to do this?"
"Oh! I want to see elementary school Heena!!"
"...Yeonho."
At my continued teasing, Heena's voice suddenly dropped to a lower tone.
Startled by her reaction, I still thought she wouldn't be that angry. I strengthened my grip on the album, preventing her from taking it away.
Yes, I wanted to tease her, but I genuinely wanted to see more of the album.
I wanted to see elementary school Heena. Nothing she said could break my determination.
Taking in my intense gaze, Heena slowly opened her mouth.
"I... I want to watch a movie with Yeonho... Are you not going to watch it with me...?"
Wait, what..?!
"Bring the movie now!!!!!!!!!!"
With slightly squinted eyes and a voice dripping with charm, her face redder than before, probably embarrassed by her own behavior.
How could I resist when my girlfriend was acting so cute right in front of me?!
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Raei Translations
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In the end, we gave up on looking at more of the album and sat down on the living room sofa.
The insane softness I felt as soon as I sat down made me feel like if I had slept any less, I would have dozed off immediately.
I watched Heena, buried in the sofa, as she fiddled with the remote.
"What should we watch?"
"Um, anything?"
It's not like we really planned to focus intently on watching something.
Perhaps that's why, without much fuss, Heena chose a movie on 'Nobelix' and hit play.
After that, she leaned back a bit, almost lying down, and scooted right next to me, clinging incredibly close. She wrapped one arm around mine and rested her head on my shoulder.
"Is this... a home date?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing, never mind."
Maybe Heena would just brush off the playful comments?
We sat like that, watching the TV without any real intention. We weren’t really doing anything, but it was incredibly comfortable and nice.
The TV was merely background noise, while Heena's warmth next to me was the main event.
Of course, we weren't completely ignoring the screen.
"That actress is really pretty, isn't she?"
"Yeah... Hey, don't pinch me!"
So she didn't want agreement!
Trick questions like this came up every now and then.
For a while, we chatted casually about the actors or the story. But even that chatter soon stopped.
From time to time, I'd stroke Heena's hair, lost in thought, just staring ahead. Despite being in the early stages of the movie, a passionate kiss scene started.
I felt a mix of surprise, slight embarrassment, and awkwardness. Was this her intention?
After watching the scene for a moment, I stealthily turned to look at Heena.
"......"
"......"
Our eyes met, as she had already been gazing at me.
Whether Heena planned for this or not, it honestly didn't matter.
In front of me, my girlfriend slowly closed her eyes, waiting for 'something.'
With that, I held her chin with one hand.
Slowly.
I moved closer to the pink lips I had only ever brushed against.
With patience, wanting our first moment to be without fault.
Just as our lips were about to meet...
Ding-dong! The sudden sound of the front door unlocking made us jump.
Author's Note:
Thank you always for the immense support and love!