The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 40 - Slight R19

CHAPTER 40

In one corner of the office, Go-yeo and Moo-chang sat facing each other across a worn-out table. Moo-chang looked awkward with a paper cup of instant coffee in front of him. They seemed mismatched, whoever was sitting in front of them.

Go-yeo didn’t drink from the paper cup but held it in her hand, feeling its warmth. She pondered what to say as she looked at the murky brown l*quid.

“Did you come up here through my father’s connections from Jeolla Province?”

“Oh, yes. Yes, of course. The chairman helped me settle in here.”

Go-yeo nodded slightly.

‘So, your mother was also from Jeolla Province, then, being from the same hometown.’

She asked as if she already knew everything.

“How did your mother and my grandmother know each other?”

“Oh, well…”

“Just tell me honestly. What’s there to hide now?”

Go-yeo smiled casually, trying to appear nonchalant. Though she was simply confirming facts, she felt a slight tremor in her heart, as if she were telling her first lie. Perhaps it was the tension of uncovering a big unknown truth.

“Well… My mother and your grandmother were acquainted.”

“Ah. So, my grandmother was a woman who sold her body?”

Moo-chang was taken aback by Go-yeo’s direct words, rolling his eyes in confusion. Go-yeo was convinced that Moo-chang was someone who couldn’t lie.

“Well, back then, life was extremely difficult. To survive, sometimes you had no choice.”

However difficult life might have been, some people did such things and people who didn’t. Unsure why he continued talking when there was nothing more to say, he carried on.

“But, that doesn’t mean the former madam herself did such things. Never! I can vouch for that. The chairman knows this well.”

Go-yeo shook her hands emphatically, and Moo-chang stared, confused. It was a little different from what she’d said earlier.

“I see.”

She agreed vaguely. The confirmation seemed sufficient. The past of a grandmother she had never seen was irrelevant. It just left a bitter taste.

“Was there also someone named Yun Seung-ok in your hometown?”

Moo-chang squinted, thinking, but soon shook his head. Seeing there was nothing more to dig into, Go-yeo said goodbye and left. Folding her arms, she looked up at the sky. It seemed like it was about to pour rain.

Though not certain, it seemed Yun Seung-ok had uncovered her grandmother’s past. So, she treated her like that. As if she were looking at a dirty and vile person. Was that why she cared so much about birth control, preventing her from having children? Was she afraid dirty blood would mix and come out?

Go-yeo was dumbfounded and let out a hollow laugh. Seriously, anyone listening would think she’s some extraordinary person.

“To think she treated me like that because of rumors about adultery and being a mistress. What a crazy woman.”

Was it really because of such a trivial reason that she treated her that way? It wasn’t about who was dirtier; it was truly incomprehensible. The wounds she inflicted still caused deep internal pain. The more she thought about it, the more her blood boiled, and her heart thumped heavily.

The snow began to fall. When Go-yeo held out her palm, the snowflakes melted away. She approached the camellia bushes she had passed earlier. She noticed spots of red flowers scattered here and there. White snowflakes settled on top of the red flowers.

The white snowflakes on the red flowers looked like small blemishes. Before the settled snowflakes covered the flowers completely, she picked one. Plucking the petals, she scattered them on the ground. The high heels pressed the camellias. Her hand held flower water. She smelled the fragrance and moved her footsteps.

There he was below the steep path. It looked like a first-aid kit in the right place. As she approached the Ga-eul, he came running.

“Boss, it’s snowing.”

When she looked up, the innocent face was a comfort. The snow, which had been falling rapidly, soon turned to hail. She felt the thick snowflakes fall. It was the first snow.

Snowflakes were hanging from his long eyelashes. She raised her hand and brushed it off. When he smiled softly, she smiled with him. The path was snowy, and Ga-eul turned around in front of Go-yeo as if it were natural to turn its back.

‘Don’t just kneel recklessly.’

Go-yeo sighed softly and leaned against his back. The worry was short, and the action was fast. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Go-yeo leaned her face against his broad back. When she saw the white mountain covering the world, it felt warm. She liked this time quite a bit. So, a laugh continued to escape. It was fortunate that he didn’t see such a frivolous figure.

By the time they arrived at the annex, she felt regretful. The annex was filled with the warmth of the fireplace. Sitting in front of the carpet in front of the fireplace, she took off her coat. She gathered her knees and watched the flames burning. It seemed like she could see it all day. Naturally, she lay down and watched the fire.

“Tell me a story.”

Before complex thoughts pressed on her chest, she wanted to divert her attention to something else.

“Well…”

Even with a low resonance, his deep concern seemed apparent. He was just as boring as himself.

“My father was an elementary school teacher. So I was proud and happy about that, but as I grew older, it became uncomfortable. I didn’t know why at the time, but looking back now, I think it’s because my father always felt like a teacher at home or school.”

“Weren’t you a model student regardless of that?”

Go-yeo smiled softly at his words.

“That’s true, but I had my own hardships. A child is just a child.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

“After my mother died, my father raised me alone. I think he tried to raise me better.”

And from his subsequent words, she also learned that his current mother and sibling were not his biological relatives. Since it wasn’t a particularly extraordinary story, Go-yeo simply nodded along, indifferent. His voice still sounded pleasant. It was as warm and soothing as the heat from a cozy fireplace. Her eyes slowly closed and opened repeatedly.

Being next to Yoon Ga-eul oddly brought on a strong desire to sleep. It seemed to alleviate her chronic insomnia. Perhaps it was due to his ability to comfort those around him.

“….”

Ga-eul watched Go-yeo sleep, her rhythmic breathing filling the silence. He hesitated for a moment, then gently brushed her hair. Even the soft strands that wound around his fingers felt just like hers. He gazed at Go-yeo endlessly.

Despite lying awkwardly, he fetched a pillow and blanket, anticipating discomfort. He covered her with the blanket up to her shoulders, placed his arm beside hers, and lay down. He watched her from behind, but Go-yeo stirred a little and turned around to face him.

The flickering shadows from the fireplace danced over her face, tenderly caressing it before fading away. Her symmetrical eyebrows, long eyelashes, slightly upturned nose, and plump red lips seemed more perfect than any creation – surely not just a personal opinion.

Anyone who saw this sight would surely feel the same. That’s why this moment was so precious. Only he could occupy this sight.

Suddenly, her steady breaths faltered, and she began to sob softly. What could trouble her, even in her dreams? He cautiously embraced her, hoping to offer some comfort. The small figure nestled into his arms. If only he could take away her nightmares.

He relished the warmth that burrowed into his arms. Consequently, he held her tighter.

“Ah…”

Go-yeo, tossing and turning, realized she was in his embrace. His embrace was as broad and warm as his back. So she stayed there. Now, she didn’t mind his warmth. Wide awake, she lay still, gazing only at his chest.

She continued to toss and turn but didn’t release his embracing arms. Their eyes met. It was a dazed look, just waking from a dreamy state. Despite the confusion, she smiled faintly and their lips met.

‘Feels like a dream.’

He thought so because he always sought permission before kissing her. However, Go-yeo accepted his kiss. His somewhat naive kiss was enough to dispel the coldness that had started in her heart.

His dreamlike kisses, initially rough, gradually became deep and tender. The boy who knew nothing soon became a skilled adult in kissing. Whether she should welcome his changes, she didn’t know, but his warmth erased floating thoughts.

When his tongue slowly swirled inside her mouth, it felt so good that her lower abdomen tingled. The arrogant words he used to tell Ga-eul to value himself had become a thing of the past.

‘What if we just stay like this? I’m feeling good right now.’

Lying beneath him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. As her lips became less sensitive and her breathing quickened, she finally opened her eyes to meet his gaze. The way he looked down in confusion, his lips dropping slightly, was intriguing. It was amusing to watch his eyes slowly widen as he realized his mistake. His reactions were surprisingly predictable.

“Ah, I’m sor-“

Before he could finish apologizing, she pulled him closer and kissed him again. His earlier skillfulness seemed to have vanished, replaced by a gentle touch that softened his stiffness.

His mind was a whirlwind of Go-yeo, and his chest felt tight. They exchanged saliva wordlessly; it seemed that was all that mattered.

Clothes were slowly discarded, and his body heat against her bare skin was uncomfortably warm. His gaze was as intense as the heat. There was no part of her that Ga-eul’s lips did not touch. He stroked her soft back, enjoying the sensation of their bodies pressing together. The feeling of him entering inside her was dizzying, like a ship navigating through a storm.

“Ah!”

His movements were considerate yet rough. Soft moans escaped continuously as their bodies mixed, creating obsc*ne, squelching sounds. He was expressing himself with his entire body.

He said he liked her.

When Ga-eul reached his peak and his forehead tightened in pl*asure, a sigh escaped Go-yeo’s lips. With a languid gaze, he kissed her forehead, lips, and neck repeatedly. It started like an excretion of desire but oddly ended with a reverence.

“…”

Gently, she pushed his face aside and stared at him. She accepted his sincere gaze directly. His eyes were as clear as a serene lake, showing no signs of what he was thinking. He seemed content with the situation, like a naive fawn.

“…It feels like I’m still dreaming.”

Go-yeo laughed at the uncharacteristic comment. Anyway, she was grateful to be with him today. Just the thought of how she would have spent that long time alone at home made her shudder.

Just being with Yoon Ga-eul was good enough. That was why.

“Don’t like me.”

She murmured with closed eyes.

Including this statement, everything felt perfect in this moment. The atmosphere of the day, Yoon Ga-eul’s warmth, Yoon Ga-eul’s scent. Everything is memorable enough to last a long time.