This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 101

Indeed, it was as Dogun said.

Perhaps it was because the most urgent and bothersome issue had been resolved.

Interestingly, just a moment ago, it seemed I hadn’t felt concerned about anything at all, but hearing Dogun’s words about feeling uneasy suddenly made me aware of other things.

It wasn’t just one or two things, either.

As Dogun pointed out, the discomfort from sweat was bothersome, but that was only the second issue; the main issue was the tightness in my heart.

Well, the situation was understandable.

After all, I had just come back from outside and lay down directly on the bed.

And I definitely wasn’t wearing anything comfortable to begin with.

So, it was only natural to feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, I tried to eliminate the source of that discomfort.

While lying on my back with my back to Dogun, I reached my hand back there for that very purpose.

As I stretched my hand back, I wondered if it was because of body aches that I felt so weak.

I wasn’t joking or exaggerating; usually, I could accomplish this with my eyes closed, but today it just didn’t work out.

I should have felt a release with a clink, but instead, I kept fumbling around.

Having already recognized the feeling of tightness, each failed attempt made me more anxious.

After repeating failures several times—

“Hey, uh…”

“…Yeah?”

“Could you help me with this?”

In the end, I sent an SOS signal to Dogun.

“What is it? What do you need help with?”

As expected, just as I feared, Dogun eagerly indicated he would help me.

“Uh… can you just untie this?”

When I clarified what kind of help I needed—

“…Me?”

His voice sounded slightly flustered, which was different from just a moment ago when he seemed willing to help with anything.

Hearing that made me realize something.

Not only was I in pain, but with the tightness in my heart at the forefront, my request could be interpreted in many… awkward ways.

Could it be the awareness of that fact?

My already warm face felt like it was heating up even more.

Thus, I was glad I was lying on my side.

If I had been facing Dogun, the moment I spoke those words, my flushed face would have been undeniable, and the atmosphere would have become more awkward than it was before I apologized to him.

Was it because my face was heating up?

It felt as if my entire body was turning into a speaker.

I couldn’t help but think that way… the sound of my heart pounding echoed throughout my entire body.

“…Yeah, it’s not working so well when I try to do it myself.”

I tried hard to not let it show as I cautiously continued speaking.

How long had it been since I said that?

Then came a soft groan from Dogun.

“Uh… yeah.”

His voice followed as if he had struggled to muster it after thinking long and hard.

Were we both tense about this?

It was rare for Dogun to stutter, but here he was, doing just that.

Strangely enough, that made me happy.

In retrospect, it seemed like such a trivial matter filled my heart.

After all, until now, I thought Dogun didn’t view me as a woman.

When I heard the rumors about Dogun and that Baeksulhwa woman, the feeling of insecurity that he might be taken away by her was largely due to that.

It seemed Dogun didn’t see me as a woman, while Baeksulhwa had an appearance that any man would inevitably perceive as such.

Thus, I had no choice but to question Dogun as if he had done something wrong based on uncertain rumors—

‘It seems it’s not that far yet…’

Even though I had made a somewhat awkward request, seeing him that flustered and tense suggested that it wasn’t at that level yet.

If that’s the case… does that mean with a little more effort, I could make Dogun notice me?

“Uh, this is just a special favor for the time being?”

As I said that, Dogun’s hand began to stretch out, making a sound as it slid.

At that moment, I started to feel tense for a different reason.

In retrospect, it was nothing much, but an indescribably strange feeling enveloped me, and for reasons unknown, my toes started tingling.

So, as an instinct, I pushed strength into that area… I didn’t know when it had reached so far, but Dogun’s finger cautiously brushed against my back.

In that moment, strange sounds nearly escaped my lips, but I bit down hard on them to hold back.

While this happened, Dogun’s finger that touched my back began to explore and find its target.

‘This feels strange…’

The sensation was odd.

Even though Dogun’s finger gliding across my back was vividly clear, it felt even more pronounced because of that.

As if every nerve cell in my body was drawn to Dogun’s finger like iron filings to a magnet, moving along with it.

Thanks to that, the movements of what should not have been visible were as vivid as if I could see them with my own eyes.

Was that why?

The tingling I had felt in my toes intensified even more.

I believed I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Ugh…”

That’s how I let out an odd sound.

Had it reacted to that?

The movements that were clearly aimed at a certain target seemed to linger cautiously on my back.

In that tremor… I felt a strange tension.

The way it was transferred here was literally instantaneous.

Yet strangely, I didn’t dislike that feeling.

So, the moment I felt the tightness in my chest dissolve with a clink, I thought, ‘What a pity.’

I felt regret.

Regret that… I wanted to feel that just once more.

“Ugh…”

Though the tightness was resolved, I let out a groan fueled by the heightened awkwardness that had become even more intense.

“…Why? Are you uncomfortable again?”

“It’s nothing much, but… can you bring me a towel?”

“A towel? To dry off?”

“…Yeah.”

“Got it. Just lie there, and I’ll get it for you quickly.”

*

In that way, as Dogun left the room to grab a towel from the bathroom, his expression seemed a bit strange.

Not just his expression, but his whole demeanor was odd.

Despite going out to stop by the bathroom, he remained still, staring vacantly at the fingers that had touched my back as if something was on them.

“Hmm…”

That thought couldn’t help but surface; it felt strange.

It was like realizing that a niece, who had been cherished and cared for at a young age, had grown up without her awareness, all due to external factors.

‘…No, that’s not it.’

It felt a bit different from that.

If you asked me what was different, I wouldn’t be able to explain, but nonetheless, that was indeed the case.

Because of that, it left me confused.

I never expected to feel this… sensation from someone who wasn’t just anyone but Yoonseo.

After all, I had thought she was still a little kid, given she hadn’t changed much since kindergarten… so when had she grown up so much?

The fingers that had brushed against Yoonseo’s back felt strangely tingly.

That strange tingling was so distracting… and so I kept glancing that way.

I shook my head roughly for that very reason.

If I didn’t do that, I was afraid I’d be standing by the door indefinitely, let alone grabbing a towel from the bathroom.

Having shaken off that peculiar sensation wrapping around me, I stopped by the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and returned to Yoonseo’s room.

Of course, I didn’t forget to dampen the towel with warm water before leaving the bathroom.

‘Once I hand this over…’

After that, I should either stand guard by the door or something.

Yoonseo had asked me to stay until her uncle returned, but… that seemed impossible for me.

“Here, here’s the towel.”

So having resolved to hand her the towel first, and after she took it, I planned to make a suitable excuse and sneak out—

“Can you help me get up?”

But my attempt was thwarted right from the start.

“Uh, okay.”

The problem came next.

As Yoonseo accepted the towel after I helped her rise from the bed—

“…!”

She naturally shoved the towel into the clothes she was wearing.

Because of that, her blushing skin was showing through the stretch of her now loose shirt.