Chapter 3
Had Cha Jung-ho always been like this?
The thought came suddenly, impulsive yet strangely unfamiliar. Ha-eun was gripped by an odd mix of feelings as she faced a side of Jung-ho she had never seen before.
The embarrassed, almost desperate attempts at persuasion that had marked him before were gone. Instead, his aggressive advance felt like a silent warning—almost threatening.
A warning that resembled a threat.
As if to gauge the limits of her resolve. There was no time to resist, no room to adjust; Jung-ho’s relentless movements steadily cornered Ha-eun, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.
“W-wait, just, wait a minute.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
He hovered over her, whispering teasingly in her ear. The sudden proximity sent a warm, startling breath against her skin. Ha-eun bit her lower lip in shock.
“Still… not like this…”
“Surely this isn’t the extent of your so-called resolve.”
“…Ugh.”
Ha-eun could not speak, paralyzed by the suddenness of it all. Jung-ho did not push for an answer. Instead, he slid a knee between her legs, deliberately spreading them wider, closing the space between them.
Startled, Ha-eun trembled, clutching his arms tightly. Through the thin fabric of her blouse, she could feel the firmness of his thigh pressing insistently.
The heat rushed to her face. She tried to suppress it, biting her inner lip, and turned her head quickly.
“No running away now.”
Jung-ho grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes in midair.
“…Hah, it’s not that—”
“Ha-eun, is this all the courage you had?”
His gaze was piercing and intense, as if declaring that this was just the beginning.
Even knowing it was her first time, he gave her no chance to collect herself. When she tried to reach for the cushion, he caught her wrist and lifted it sharply, a crooked smirk forming on his lips.
This was not the usual careless, gentle smile she was used to. For the briefest instant, Ha-eun studied this unfamiliar expression as Jung-ho leaned in closer, tilting his chin ever so slightly.
“Shh, stay still.”
His lips brushed hers, warm breath mingling with hers, and then pressed against her mouth.
It was her first kiss.
Ha-eun knew almost nothing about kissing. Shocked, she parted her lips slightly, and instinctively, his tongue slid inside. His hand left her chin and moved to her nape, deepening the kiss with reckless urgency.
She barely had time to grasp her senses as he moved, his tongue exploring her mouth. The deeper the kiss, the harder it became for Ha-eun to breathe, clinging to him, head tilting in surrender.
“…Mm, uhm… uh.”
“Hah…”
Finally, Jung-ho broke the kiss just before he ran out of breath. Ha-eun gasped, lungs pulling air back in as he released her wrist overhead.
Unfamiliar with such intimate contact, Ha-eun didn’t even notice her hand was freed. Yet, without pause, Jung-ho’s hands began undoing the buttons of her blouse, deliberately and slowly.
Click… click.
Two buttons were undone in seconds, and her blouse parted. The bra beneath, and the soft swell of her chest, were revealed.
“Take it slow. This is only the beginning.”
He murmured, licking his dry lips. The implication of “the beginning” sent a shiver through Ha-eun—had the previous kiss been nothing compared to what was coming?
Silently, Ha-eun inhaled sharply, taking in the complex expression on his face as he looked down at her exposed blouse. Her fears were unfounded; Jung-ho followed her cues more readily than she expected.
“If at any point you can’t…”
“…Hah, hah…”
Whether he was testing her or simply seeing her as a challenge, it was unclear.
“At least tell me before my patience runs out.”
The words hinted at more than playfulness; he was probing her limits. Like a game where the first to yield loses.
Jung-ho’s hands swept across her exposed chest, grasping her bra tightly, pressing with a merciless insistence.
“…Ugh.”
Ha-eun let out a small, involuntary sound, biting her lower lip. A strange mix of pain and unfamiliar sensation bloomed.
“Your body’s more sensitive than I expected.”
A teasing laugh danced at the edges of his words. Ha-eun’s head twisted slightly, attempting to shield herself from the overwhelming stimulation.
“Can’t handle this?”
“…It’s embarrassing.”
As soon as she tried to avert her gaze, Jung-ho seized her chin, forcing her head back to its original position.
“You should have anticipated this.”
His hand traced from her cheek to her neck, sliding slowly over her collarbone.
“What will you do, hmm?”
Ha-eun placed his hand on her chest, letting it rest there—her answer plain without a word. Understanding, Jung-ho’s grip tightened over her bra, eliciting another startled gasp.
“Hng, aah.”
The sudden intensity left Ha-eun reeling, the mix of pain and strange pleasure disorienting her. In the chaos, Jung-ho kissed her again, tongue exploring her mouth with fervent heat. Ha-eun, unpracticed and gasping for breath, pulled away.
“…Hah, wait, just a moment.”
Her breathing was ragged, shallow, uneven.
“Hah… now… are you scared?”
“It’s not that, hah.”
Her lips still brushing his, her flushed expression betrayed every emotion she tried to contain.
The final line was thin. Cross it, and nothing would return to the way it had been. Ha-eun swallowed her fear, certain of her resolve.
Jung-ho’s teeth clenched slightly, muttering under his breath. The brief return of her wits seemed to have startled him.
“…Damn it.”
He glanced down at her, expression conflicted, then straightened her blouse, helping her fasten the buttons. Ha-eun was equally surprised. He wasn’t punishing her, just… correcting her, as though reminding her of her place.
‘Is this where it stops? Now? Is he regretting it?’
Watching quietly, Ha-eun realized—despite all the intensity, he still saw her as a sister, not a woman.
Slowly, the tide of emotions ebbed into a sense of emptiness. Years of unrequited love culminated in a clean, final separation.
“…This is enough.”
Ha-eun straightened herself, regaining composure.
“Sorry… I got carried away and startled you.”
“It was my request, so you have nothing to apologize for.”
The excuse of a “gift” had brought her here, but this was enough. She had confirmed, once and for all, that she was nothing more than his little sister.
“Forget it… it’s not like we went all the way anyway.”
A long-unrequited love had ended. Even the lingering sting would remain only as a memory. Ha-eun forced a smile at Jung-ho, light and carefree.
