Gender Reversed Geum Taeyang - Chapter 85

Chapter 85 – Confession

Wait, when did she wake up again?

She seemed completely drunk earlier, but she’s already back to her senses? How does a human body even do that?

I mean, I need at least 6 bottles of soju to get slightly drunk, but Ari doesn’t even have the Geum Taeyang’s body.

Sitting on the bed wearing a bath robe, I’m reminded of that incredible awkwardness from just moments ago.

I… I was so flustered when I saw Ari because I had been humming a song in the shower.

While there were probably several reasons for Ari’s awkwardness, the biggest one was likely “that incident.”

Originally, I was planning to talk about “that incident” tomorrow morning when she woke up and got her bearings, but that plan seems to have gotten a bit twisted.

Well, whether or not she heard my singing isn’t really the important issue right now. Even though it’s embarrassing.

From the direction of the shower, I can hear the sound of Ari showering.

Hmm. Maybe it’s because of the situation, but I feel some impure thoughts rising in my heart.

When a man and woman who have feelings for each other are in a motel and even showering, you’d have to be a Buddhist monk not to have any thoughts.

I was planning to just let her lie down next to me and quietly sleep since she seemed unable to regain her senses… but what’s happening now?

Damn. Get it together. No matter what, we’re not even dating yet, so what am I thinking.

What I need to do right now isn’t this useless worrying.

Let’s think about Ari’s feelings. She was caught doing something like that to a man she was close friends with, and that same man came to pick her up when she was drunk.

Anyone would feel awkward in this situation.

I’m not sure if we should talk about that incident right away, and I’ll have to read the atmosphere, but…

Whatever happens, shouldn’t I help make sure Ari doesn’t feel too awkward?

After gathering my thoughts anew and waiting for a while, Ari came out of the shower wearing the same kind of bath robe as me.

Hmm… Maybe it’s because I’ve never had any sexual encounters with women in my life, but just that sight is making my face turn red. Damn this lifelong single self.

It’s not like this is the first time I’ve seen Ari after a shower, but for some reason, today it’s especially hard to control these feelings.

But I, Seong Yuhan, am a man who’s good at self-control! A man who knows time and place!

This isn’t the time to be having such impure thoughts.

“Want to lie down here now that you’re done showering? You must be tired.”

“U-uh? Ah… yeah…”

I pulled back the blanket and said that.

Ari awkwardly responded and nodded awkwardly before getting in and lying down.

But Ari… couldn’t hide her fidgeting movements and the way she kept glancing at me, seeming to gauge my reaction.

This is harder than expected? She’s acting like that, which is making me feel awkward too.

In my flustered state, words automatically tumbled out of my mouth.

“Ari, sh-should I turn off the light…?”

“Ah, I-I can do it…”

“Ah. But I’m closer…”

“Ah. Okay…”

A sudden onset of baseless awkwardness.

Everyone’s words are being drawn out.

No, isn’t this a bit strange from the start?

Is it right to just put her to bed right after she comes out from showering?

Who goes to sleep within 10 seconds of finishing a shower?

But it’s also weird to suddenly stop now. In that awkwardness, as I slowly moved to turn off the room’s light…

“Um, Yu-Yuhan. Are you going to sleep in that robe…?”

“Huh? Ah, isn’t that what it’s for? This is my first time wearing one.”

“Ah…, I was just asking because I didn’t know either…”

“Ah…. Hmm. Well, should be fine…?”

This is driving me crazy. Actually, I think I’ve already gone crazy.

What kind of conversation is this even supposed to be?

I turned off the light and came back to lie down under the blanket.

No matter how I think about it, something seems to have gotten seriously twisted. We exchanged good nights, but only the sound of tossing and turning echoed through the room.

We simultaneously pulled at the blanket then let go while apologizing.

I moved my arm and accidentally touched Ari and apologized, then Ari moved her foot and touched me and apologized.

Sometimes when explicit sounds could be heard from other rooms, we would toss and turn.

Hmm. From a third person’s perspective, there probably couldn’t be a better comedy than this.

We’re not going to be able to sleep anyway, so what are we even doing?

Feeling that nothing would be resolved if we stayed like this, I steeled my heart and spoke to Ari.

Of course, with a casual tone that no longer showed any trace of awkwardness.

“Ari, since we can’t sleep, want to watch some TV?”

“Huh? Ah, s-sure?”

I picked up the remote that I had seen earlier before lying down.

At least if there’s something to watch or other sounds to hear, the atmosphere should be better than it is now.

When I turned on the television, a foreign movie I hadn’t seen before started playing, and we sat up, leaning against the bed to watch it.

Fortunately, the movie was fairly interesting, and as we focused on it, the awkwardness was about to completely disappear, but…

I kept feeling glancing looks from beside me.

It seems Ari couldn’t focus on the television or anything else.

I really can’t see any way to resolve Ari’s awkwardness.

… I think.

We need to settle “that incident” right now.

As soon as I finished that thought, I opened my mouth.

“Hey, Seol Ari.”

“U-yes…!”

My sharp tone and Ari’s quick response.

Why did my words come out so harsh? That’ll just make things more awkward.

Just then, something small caught the corner of my eye. On top of the bedside drawer… a vitamin?

I put aside thoughts about why something like that would be here.

While it’s quite strange, now isn’t the time to think about such things, and having something to break the ice might help reduce the awkwardness.

“Have this.”

“Uh… huh? Th-this….”

“Ha….”

Then with a sigh, I tried to set the mood. In common terms, tried to keep my composure.

Usually when you need to have a serious talk, you need to calm the atmosphere.

Now what should I do? Should I get straight to the point? That might not be bad.

“Ari.”

I called out to Ari while opening the vitamin package.

And took out the vitamin…. Why is this slippery?

Hmm.

Ah.

No.

With a start, I threw the suspicious object in my hand… a condom… onto the floor.

Just when I thought I had set some kind of mood. Even though I’m not that innocent, this is just…

No, really. Why are you doing this to me?

Life is so frustrating.

###

Is this also meant to help lighten the mood?

Even though I don’t deserve to, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

I could feel that Yuhan had been concerned about my awkwardness since earlier.

The way he kept trying to make conversation was probably also part of his effort to break through the awkwardness.

Since I’ve sobered up enough, that much was easy to figure out.

And. Well.

Though I had thought it was too convenient thinking…

The current Yuhan seemed more bothered by the immediate awkward atmosphere than by what I had done.

Even though I did such a disgusting thing, he still hasn’t said anything about it.

From any perspective, he’s still showing consideration for me.

Of course, I don’t plan to just let this slide like this. I’m the one who feels my wrongdoing most keenly.

I steeled my resolve. When Yuhan is being this considerate, I can’t just stay like this.

Yuhan is looking up at the ceiling with a sigh, probably embarrassed about what just happened.

His usual funny and cute self.

My mouth, which wouldn’t open until just now, started to move on its own.

From my lips.

Words of apology began to flow.

###

While it might not always apply, I think when someone is apologizing this sincerely, it’s polite to listen quietly.

Ari, who had called out to me carefully, continued speaking slowly.

That the account was indeed hers, that she had done such things, that she was sorry for hurting me, that she was very wrong to get angry then.

After the long apology ended, only the sound of the television could be heard in the silence.

Actually, since I hadn’t particularly been hurt by that incident, I was going to just tell her it was okay, but.

Perhaps my desire to confirm my thoughts was stronger, as different words flowed from my mouth.

“Why did you do it?”

“…”

“I’m not saying anything about it. I’m just curious.”

“Well…”

Ari buries her face in her knees. Even with just a glance, her face is clearly very flushed.

Honestly, since I’m not an insensitive person…

As soon as that reaction came out, I could already draw a conclusion. My thoughts became certainty.

And after a moment.

After taking several deep breaths, Ari started speaking while maintaining her face-buried posture.

###

“…Because I like you.”

Barely audible. A volume that could be drowned out by the television sound.

“I know it’s selfish…”

To say I did it because I liked you after causing hurt.

Honestly, I would have nothing to say even if Yuhan slapped my cheek and left.

But somehow, it felt like I needed to say these words now.

My instincts felt that way.

“I’ve never done that with anyone else… But whenever I see you, something keeps rising up and… I couldn’t hold it back…”

It couldn’t be called an apology or a confession. The desires within me flowed out through my mouth.

Yuhan didn’t give any answer.

Why did I say such things? Even though I had resolved not to hurt him anymore, why did I say such strange things?

“Ari.”

The sound of Yuhan calling me.

If I raised my head, I would see a kiss scene playing on the television, sounds from other rooms breaking through the soundproofing.

And right next to me, Yuhan who had moved closer.

I squeezed my eyes shut again. I didn’t have the courage to properly look at Yuhan.

Would he hit me? Or would he curse at me and leave?

As that tension coursed through my whole body.

I felt a soft sensation on my lips.

“Yu-Yuhan…?”

I opened my eyes. Yuhan was smiling right in front of me.

“Me too.”

When I made a confused sound, not understanding what he meant, Yuhan spoke again.

“I like you too.”

On Yuhan’s face as he said those words.

Unlike his usual sardonic smile.

Was a pure smile full of happiness.

And that was probably.

The same for me too.

(End of Chapter)