I considered maintaining the line.
After all, there was still nothing between him and her.
Above all, Jin Dallae was well aware that her actions could be a burden to him.
She knew it for sure. But why then?
Ah.
A heated breath escaped her lips.
Desire raced ahead of reason.
-Wow!
She unknowingly blossod a flower above her head.
Startled, Jin Dallae hurriedly covered the flower with her hand.
What should I do
Then, a wave of embarrassnt flooded in. Did anyone see it?
But overwheld with happiness that made her whole body flutter, she couldnt help but be intoxicated by the sensation.
For a Tree Person to bloom a flower signified an experience of happiness that will be rembered for a lifeti.
It was slightly different from the pleasure directly linked to fruits.
Fruits and flowers. Depending on the constitution, the occurrence of Tree People blooming flowers and fruits can vary, but it usually happens only once or twice in a lifeti.
This was an experience that Jin Dallae, who might never experience such a thing again in her life, had just undergone.
Are you okay?
The mans voice, spoken softly, made her cheeks, held in his embrace, flush like ripe strawberries.
Im fine.
Her mouth was tightly shut, and words hardly escaped.
She kept swallowing dryly, her nose stinging as if she was about to cry.
What unfolded before Dallaes eyes, held in his embrace, was the scene she had always dread of.
I cant stand it
Jin Dallae tightly closed her eyes.
Another flower blood, this ti not on the left but on the right temple.
Right now, in this wide embrace closer.
The blooming flowers.
Just knowing him for a lifeti was enough to make her heart burst, but Jin Dallae resolved that all those thoughts were foolish.
For Tree People, flowers represented an overwhelming sense of happiness that they could not control.
Like a drug produced by themselves.
The brain actively worked when they blood, filling the head with a certain component. As a result, her self-control decreased, and her heart raced.
It was similar to how human judgnt blurred at the peak of joy.
A reddish emotion etched in her eyes.
She kept feeling thirsty. She knew she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didnt act now.
I shouldnt do this.
Her everyday life had recently been filled with the three syllables of one mans na.
Whether she was handling work at the company or doing assignnts at the Academy dormitory, she never shook off thoughts of him for a mont.
It was definitely not normal.
She knew. She knew all of this was wrong.
But-
It doesnt matter.
Despite this, her mind, always so negative, was transford into optimism in an instant, all because of a single flower.
Hey. Its over. We won.
Pulled back from her thoughts by Lee Shiheons words, Jin Dallaes eyes were deeper than before.
Really?
Her lips curved like a crescent moon. Her pink lips, coated with lip balm, shimred.
Jin Dallae relaxed the arms that were tightly holding him.
Then, she sneakily plucked the flower from her head and tucked it into his embrace, making sure no one else saw.
Please take this I dont have a pocket.
Lee Shiheon, with a complicated expression, took the flower and hid it.
A slight disappointnt tickled her hand, but it was okay.
Today was a very important day for her.
Patience was essential.
Cheers!
Lifting their glasses high, they opened the drinking session.
Pork belly with soju.
Though there were hotel-style options, a true Korean drinking session unanimously agreed on this nu.
The irregular sizzling sound of at cooking on the grills at each table naturally made the students shoulders bounce.
-Bunny bunny, bunny bunny, tree tree!
They were at the age where their blood alcohol concentration was likely the highest, still in their pri.
A wry smile appeared involuntarily as I saw groups already starting gas.
I cant keep up.
The tension was crazy.
There were those who could down soju after soju. I rembered my old college classmates who joked that freshn would still laugh even with a broken nose.
Since coming here, my body has been unusually tired, so I couldnt keep up with their energy.
There were also slightly older students who seed to share my thoughts. Eventually, a few of us gathered to quietly share drinks.
That professor really teaches well, but its so difficult.
Seriously, I automatically cursed during the exam. I hinted it was too much, but they said they could handle it in their ti
It was a drinking session filled with light-hearted complaints and gossip rather than intense gossip.
How was the exam for you, Sansuyu?
It was normal.
Sansuyu, holding her soju glass with a blank expression, answered the students question.
Her short and blunt reply didnt cause misunderstandings among the students here, as they roughly understood Sansuyus personality.
Right, arent the restaurants near the dormitory really good?
Agreed. Better than what my mom makes. Giggle.
The conversation seamlessly transitioned to the next topic.
Sansuyu, being kind and innocent, naturally attracted attention as students watched her talk.
Her status as one of the nobility, yet talking informally with humans, greatly lowered the barrier to entry.
Do you have any favorite foods, Sansuyu?
Yes. Spicy and chewy Tteokbokki.
Spicy and chewy? Are you talking about the place behind the shops?
Yes, yes, its really delicious.
Pffft.
Her good looks ant that once she started talking, everyone, n, and won, tended to laugh along.
Sansuyus mood was slowly lifting, too. She might not be aware, but I could see it.
When shes happy, her shoulders always rise a bit. Its subtle but noticeable.
And for so reason, her hair brightened when she was excited.
Todays Sansuyu resembled a forsythia bathed in abundant sunlight. If I had to compare, she was like the forsythias that bloom in spring.
Oh, then shall we all go eat Tteokbokki together next ti?
At a female students suggestion, Sansuyus eyes widened before she looked at .
-Is it okay to go?
Her rabbit-like expression, asking for permission, made smile.
Its like raising a high-maintenance little sister. Utterly enjoyable.
With a nod from , Sansuyu answered.
I want to go.
Our child has changed.
Now, shes even eting people outside on her own?
I felt a bittersweet pang at such significant progress.
-Chirr
As one glass emptied, another filled.
Worrying about Sansuyu now seed almost pointless.
I emptied a glass and glanced at the woman beside .
The fair and delicate hand that had been sticking close by, pouring drinks, belonged to Jin Dallae.
Your glass is empty.
She slyly kept the conversation going with those around her while stealthily focusing on pouring drinks for .
Our eyes t often, and each ti, she gave a mischievous look as if she was going to gobble up.
Jin Dallae (96/100) [Obsession]
Seeing her affection level
It was as I thought. The signs that had been showing little by little seed to have exploded today.
They say affection levels dont lie.
The completely transford Jin Dallae seed like a different person even when just observed.
Usually sharp yet sowhat naive, but now, far from naive, she was like a lioness desperate to catch her prey.
I quenched my burning throat with a glass of water, thinking.
I dont know what to do.
This ambiguous attitude is a really bad habit. But bringing it up recklessly might lead to complications. Still, being honest seems to be the right thing
Perhaps it was because I was deep in thought, but I started to feel the effects of the alcohol.
Feeling sleepy and wanting to wake myself up, I said Id get so fresh air and left the lodging.
Outside the hotel.
Breathing under a foreign sky,
Jin Dallae, thinking this was her chance, followed out.
I ca out to catch my breath too.
When I turned around after feeling a nudge on my shoulder, Jin Dallaes face lit up with a smile upon seeing .
Really?
Yes, is Shiba doing okay?
Shiba should have been having dinner with Cheondo by now, brushing her teeth, and then off to dreamland.
I continued walking, thinking about them back in the dormitory.
Firstly, since Shiba and Cheondo both slept a lot and went to bed early, they were usually the first ones to fall asleep.
Then Hwangdo would wake up, smiling goofily while looking at the sleeping Shiba.
Next would be Baekdo, staying up late and enjoying her hobbies, like playing gas on her phone.
A day in my dormitory life that I could recite in detail.
Haha.
A laugh was heard from my side.
Jin Dallae was grinning broadly.
Not the anxious laughter she used to have while glancing at , but a radiant smile.
Do you know you always smile creepily when you think about your daughter?
Really?
I think its pretty cool.
Not sure if its creepy or cool.
It was embarrassing but nice to hear a complint.
A great dad.
Not really. Ive been worried lately about not being able to pay enough attention to her.
Raising a child alone and having a lot of work Youre doing well. If I were your daughter, I would be so grateful.
Jin Dallae hadnt received much love from her parents.
That conflict continues even now. She said she was still not in contact with her mother.
A bitter family situation.
Please let know if theres anything about Shiba. Is she doing well in kindergarten?
Yeah, they said shell be able to talk soon. Apparently, she understands almost everything we say.
The praises from the kindergarten teachers about Shiba made incredibly happy.
Today, she did this and ca first.
It was comforting to hear even the trivial things. The most touching developnt was that Shiba, who initially sought only my company, now actively engaged with other children.
It felt bittersweet to think her affection for might have diminished slightly, but it was for the best.
Theres going to be a concert later. Will you co?
Ill definitely co.
Grinning, Jin Dallae clenched her fists and inquired about the timing.
Reflecting on it, Jin Dallae had been instruntal in raising Shiba.
Since our child was shy, Jin Dallae was the only person she was truly comfortable with.
This makes feel like Im the mom.
-Shiver.
Under the moonlight, the forest, alive with the sound of insects, seed almost enchanted.
As we walked along the path through such a forest, we exchanged a few words, and soon, the surroundings shifted to a darker and more secluded area.
My steps grew heavier.
The silence quickened the heartbeat. Jin Dallae, hands clasped below her belly, looked down at the ground and followed closely.
Over there.
The sound of footsteps ceased.
Yeah.
I, too, halted. With that, the ambient noise stopped, allowing us to focus on each others words.
I swallowed a bitter breath internally.
There was sothing during the ga today.
Are you talking about the flower?
Yes.
Jin Dallae shyly confird.
Flower
I couldnt grasp what this flower signified when I first saw it.
Had it been a fruit on her head, I might have felt sowhat embarrassed but not clueless about its aning.
So, to avoid any misunderstanding, I discreetly researched it.
Blossoming was a physiological phenonon that occurred when a Tree Person was happy.
Its said that many Wooden People never experienced it in their lifeti.
You know what it ans, right?
There may be so differences in constitution, but to feel such joy from a re hug
While the intensity varied from person to person, Jin Dallaes words essentially amounted to a roundabout confession.
I know.
I remained silent for a long ti before finally speaking.
What do you think?
Expressing my thoughts was challenging.
I took out the Jin Dallae flower I had been keeping.
Surprisingly resilient, the flower had maintained its color and form without a single wrinkle despite being rolled around in my pocket.
Looking at it, I forced my sealed lips apart.
I dont know.
I spoke honestly. Delaying here could lead to bigger problems.
Jin Dallaes breathing paused montarily.
After a long while, she finally spoke.
Do you find unattractive?
No.
Or, do you like soone else?
I didnt give a specific answer. Sotis, silence was the best response.
For Jin Dallae, this was as good as a rejection.
An abrupt, sowhat impolite refusal.
Yet, there was an indescribable strength in Dallaes voice.
Ive done everything to make you misunderstand
Thud, thud
Tears marked the ground.
As I reached into my pocket for a handkerchief, Jin Dallae tightly grasped my hand.
Still.
With all her might, she clutched my wrist.
Its already too late.
What?
A translucent status window engraved in my retina.
The affection level of Jin Dallae recorded there had risen even higher than before.
You said youre still unsure. Then, you dont know.
Tears mixed with a smile. Yet, it didnt seem twisted.
Ill be by your side forever.
Jin Dallae said, a statent so typical of her.
If you find disgusting, then just step on and go. Ill keep following you anyway.
The etched obsession still clung and didnt disappear.
At that mont, I instinctively realized.
It might take a very long ti for one of the labels next to her na to fall off.
Reviews
All reviews (0)