This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 314

Dogun’s Perspective

I was worried that we might be so busy focusing on other things that we wouldn’t hear the knock on the door, and I’d end up discovering the delivered lunchbox too late, having to eat cold food.

“Leaving it here!”

Just like that, the loud knock echoed, and at that moment, both Senior and I instinctively pulled away from each other, as if someone was watching us.

There was no one actually observing us, but we couldn’t help but react this way out of instinct.

And once we created some space between us, an awkward and heavy atmosphere began to float around us, unmistakably more uncomfortable than before.

My heart was thumping loudly in my chest like it was about to explode.

Thanks to that, neither of us could do anything but stare at the floor, feeling utterly helpless.

Honestly, just the atmosphere alone was enough to make me feel like I might die of embarrassment… but what made it even more torturous was Senior’s outfit.

Was it just bad luck that the delivery came while I was drying her back?

Had I completely forgotten the most important thing amidst that?

Senior still looked just as she did earlier.

Drops of sweat, not yet fully wiped away, glistened on her back, and the shirt she clutched in her hands barely covered her.

It was a sight that any guy would inevitably glance at, and perhaps because of that, I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander to her, even though I knew I should restrain myself.

It was driving me crazy.

“I’m, I’m gonna go get the food!”

I jumped to my feet, trying to change the subject almost instinctively.

If I just sat there doing nothing, I felt like I would be swept up in this bizarre atmosphere.

It wasn’t right not to let someone who had worked hard all day have a moment of peace, right?

“I-I’ll hurry and get it. The lunch will get cold otherwise…”

What should I say?

What could I possibly say to make Senior feel a little less awkward?

I quickly racked my brain for something, anything that might work.

“Maybe you should, um, change your clothes first…”

After much thought, that was the best I could come up with.

But as soon as the words left my mouth, I realized something.

There really was no way to escape this awkward situation.

And… that running away wouldn’t lead to any paradise.

If only I hadn’t said that, and let Senior realize her state on her own, might things have been better?

As she finally became conscious of her appearance after hearing my comment, her face turned red from embarrassment, and the already awkward vibe in the rest area just intensified during our meal.

Thanks to this, I was utterly lost, wondering if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.

Ironically, amidst the chaos, the food was still quite delicious.

“Y-You should try this.”

“Uh, y-yeah… thanks…”

It felt like the world’s most awkward dining experience, and what remained was just a little over 40 minutes of break time.

So initially?

I wanted to give Senior some space to relax for the remaining time.

After all, if I, who had been sitting in a chair all this time, felt like I wanted to lie down, how much more must Senior, who had been riding her bike around all morning, want to rest?

So I intended to let her relax while I snuck out to buy some coffee and something sweet—

“You know I don’t drink coffee that much, Dogun.”

“So maybe some juice then…?”

“No, just sit down. It’s cold outside. And… you never know.”

Just when I tried to escape, I got pulled back to my seat by Senior.

What can I say?

Even if it felt suffocatingly awkward, I had no choice but to sit.

Amidst this unbearably awkward atmosphere, I happened to witness Senior giving herself a massage, rubbing her shoulders.

Baeksulhwa’s Perspective

Honestly, I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.

How could I, with something else weighing on my mind?

‘…What a pity.’

Even now that the meal was over, I couldn’t shake off that feeling.

After all, the sensations I experienced were so addicting.

Every time Dogun’s fingers brushed against me, that peculiar thrill would blossom like a flower, and the oddly bittersweet feeling that sparked between my thighs was something I couldn’t ignore.

What would it feel like to kiss Dogun in that state?

If only I could’ve confirmed it if I’d had just a bit more time… but the lunch arriving was just plain cruel.

That made me even more curious.

If my heart raced just thinking about such a situation, wouldn’t my heart stop entirely if I were actually faced with it?

Even if it did stop, I wanted to experience it at least once.

Maybe still affected by what happened earlier, Dogun’s demeanor felt strangely stiff compared to his usual self, so I cautiously raised my hands to massage my own shoulders, starting to gently tap them.

And perhaps it was effective, given how considerate Dogun usually was.

It seemed that he was intentionally avoiding eye contact with me, believing something monumental would happen if our gazes met again, but gradually he started stealing glances at me.

The way he expressed his discomfort was unmistakable.

I wanted to give someone who had worked so hard all morning a massage, but the memory of what happened before dinner kept holding me back from getting too close.

I could just close my eyes and go for it, right?

‘Well, it’s just a matter of time anyway…’

Considering Dogun’s personality, that was inevitable.

But that didn’t mean I was simply using Dogun; I genuinely felt some tension in my shoulders and back.

Taking a step back, one could argue it’s Dogun’s fault for making me feel this way.

Even if it seemed selfish to only think of my standpoint, I couldn’t help it.

With time spent with Yoonseo and limitations set by Chae-rim, if I didn’t act, I would just be left behind.

So… I had to push forward.

“Um, hey…”

And not long after—

“Are you feeling tight?”

My opportunity had arrived.

“Uh…?”

Initially, of course, I pretended not to understand.

There was nothing dumber than jumping at an opportunity upon realizing it.

“I’m talking about your shoulders.”

“Ah…”

“I noticed you’ve been rubbing them for a while… Would you like me to get you something, like a pain patch from the infirmary, if you’re feeling really tight?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s not that big of a deal…”

As Dogun replied, his shoulders continued receiving my attention, hands leisurely massaging away.

Dogun’s eyes soon fixated on the very motion I was making.

Receiving Dogun’s concerned gaze filled with worry, I sent an unspoken message through my actions.

“I just want someone to massage them, that’s all.”

“Just a bit of a pull?”