Chapter 108 – Won’t We Call It a Draw? (3)

At the base of an unnamed mountain, on its outskirts.

“Zodiac, come quickly!”
“White Peach, huff, huff. Please climb up slowly.”

White Peach, who had climbed up between the trees, flashed a bright smile at Zodiac following her.

“Goodness, how can you be so slow?”
“White Peach is too… ugh. Fast, that’s why…”
“Hehehe, your body is weak because you always look at those strange magazines.”
“They are not strange magazines!”

Zodiac’s ears turned red from White Peach’s teasing, and she whimpered as she climbed up the tree.

“Really… I truly hate White Peach.”
“I was just telling the truth.”

Zodiac pouted, puffing out her cheeks. White Peach playfully scratched the back of her neck.

“But, isn’t it refreshing to climb a mountain in the morning?”
“Not at all! I just wanted to chat with my sister-in-law…”
“What kind of chat? Something naughty again?”

When Baekdo asked innocently, Hwangdo blushed and hastily made an excuse.

“Hey, it’s not something lewd; it’s preparation for the future!”
“I can’t understand your way of thinking. What’s that Ji-ah’s husband saying…”
“Hmph, maybe you should start preparing too, Baekdo? There are many people who break up due to issues in the bedroom between men and women.”
“What?”

Baekdo snorted, unable to comprehend it at all.

‘What kind of love is broken by something like sex?’

Fifteen years had passed since the three peach sisters were born.
Aside from the precocious Hwangdo, Baekdo and Cheondo didn’t know much about such matters.

“The person I like will love me even if they don’t enjoy sex, right?”
“What’s your ideal type, Baekdo?”
“Someone who always cooks for me… shares my taste in food. Dependable, strong. Someone like me?”

Baekdo listed her desires while extending her fingers one by one.
Hwangdo, however, showed her disapproval.

“A person like White Peach…? I really can’t stand her.”

White Peach is someone who loves playing pranks on people at her residence or elsewhere.

Her carefree cheerfulness is so excessive that it leaves everyone speechless.

Zodiac recalled a past incident. On Christmas Day, she hung glitter on all the peach trees in the orchard and ended up getting spanked. She had foolishly helped White Peach and suffered the consequences as well. Her sister should have stopped her, but she didn’t.

“There’s no one like White Peach in this world.”
“Since she’s so rare, maybe it’s a match made in heaven?”

Zodiac couldn’t find a response to Do-won’s innocent remark.

“Oh, and you should like hard peaches.”
“What’s that about? That’s ridiculous.”
“Heh, having a compatible taste in peaches is the most important thing! It doesn’t matter if everything else is different as long as you both like peaches!”

He prepares meals, is dependable, strong, as playful as a White Peach, receptive to humor, and fond of firm peaches.

“…What? White Peach, you truly are a fool.”

Can such a person exist in this world?
Zodiac shook her head.

Regardless, returning to the story at hand.

“Anyway, matters of the bedroom are incredibly important, right?”
“Heh, who in the world would divorce over bedroom issues?”
“In today’s wicked world! What would a man do if someone more beautiful than White Peach tried to steal him away? A tanned, blonde-haired foreign woman just…!”
“Zodiac, your delusions are going too far.”

White Peach placed her hand on her hip.

“Someone more beautiful than me? Where would you find such a person!”

Outrageous boasting. A level of pride that could make even the most stubborn people back down.
Zodiac’s sullen gaze turned toward White Peach. Although White Peach possessed innate beauty, with skin free of blemishes, Zodiac believed her personality devoured all her charm.

“I feel so sorry for the person who will become P-brother-in-law.”

With her tongue sticking out, Zodiac spoke. At that, White Peach’s ears twitched. Even she couldn’t help but pay attention when given such a serious warning.

“Is sexual compatibility really that important?”
“Of course, it’s important! They say that a couple’s happiness is ensured as long as their sexual compatibility is good! Do you know what happens when it’s not?”

Darkness settled between Zodiac’s brows. As if gathered in a room in early summer to share a frightening tale, White Peach gulped at the gravity that seeped into Zodiac’s expression.

“Let’s say there’s a man White Peach loves.”
“Mhm.”
“But the sexual satisfaction is not quite there.”
“I see.”
“Then what will happen to that man?”

Zodiac dramatically spread her hands as if mimicking a wolf.

“Both men and women are like wolves. If they’re not satisfied, they go out to meet people who are sexually compatible.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“They seek pleasure elsewhere.”

An unintelligible sound. Yet, the serious demeanor of 황도 (Zodiac) evoked a mysterious sense of trust.

“Think about it. What do you think would happen if the person 백도 (White Peach) truly loves isn’t with her on Arbor Day, but instead is moaning♡ ahing♡ in a hotel with another tree?”

Zodiac mimicked a slightly exaggerated moan. White Peach pondered in her mind. On Arbor Day… not with me? Her chest suddenly felt heavy.

“That won’t happen. The person who likes me won’t be intimate with anyone but me. And I’d do the same.”

“Because it’s forbidden, that sense of taboo leads to infidelity! White Peach, do you know what they call me at home?”

“How are you called?”

Zodiac confidently patted her ample chest.

“Expert Hitomi!”

“Hi…tomi?”

For some reason, the name inspired confidence.

“It’s what the experts say. Intimacy is important! Do you know what will happen if White Peach doesn’t prepare from now on?”

“No, what… Okay. What else happens?”
“In just a few minutes, you’ll be overwhelmed? You can’t satisfy men. Only White Peach is satisfied. Men can do it all day! Like two hours each… You should be prepared.”

Though White Peach could feel the conversation veering off course, she couldn’t help but genuinely ponder for a moment.

“Two hours?”

And soon, she arrived at a conclusion true to her character.

“That’s nothing.”
“White Peach knows nothing.”

Zodiac, whose mind was filled with narrow-minded and provocative comics and magazines, said so. However, in truth, it didn’t matter if they weren’t a perfect match.

If it were someone she genuinely loved,
No matter what happened, she believed they would love her in return.

White Peach believed the eyes she saw through were flawless.

“Uh, Zodiac.”
“Huh? Why?”

White Peach pointed to Zodiac’s shoulder and smiled.

“Your shoulder… a bug.”
“Aaaaah!”

Hwangdo, who had risen from her seat, stumbled and accidentally stepped on a tree branch, falling down.

“Ah, what!? Eek. White Peach, you’re too much!!!!!”

The voice grew distant below. White Peach giggled as she sat on the tree branch, watching the falling Hwangdo.

“Ha ha ha! If there were really bugs, I would have been the one to panic and fall first. Did you forget how much I hate bugs? I wonder who the fool is!”

A playful, enigmatic white girl from the mountains.

It wasn’t long before she lost her parents and laughter, eventually adopting Heaven’s manner of speaking.

* * * * *

After a long time, she dreamt of the past once more.

…Now missed, the faded memories of her childhood. Innocent stories of sweeping through the tall grass with a single branch, shouting things like “I’ve transcended the realm!” and “I’m the greatest in the world!”

Rising from her seat with a throbbing headache, White Peach felt a refreshing sense of liberation, as if she had shed her constraints.

“…My head hurts.”

Had she drunk too much last night?

As she grasped the blanket, feeling a tightening sensation around her neck, she shuddered at the unfamiliar texture of the fabric.

Her eyes widened in realization. She was in a motel.

“What?”

White Peach lifted the blanket to discover a man, fast asleep and snugly wrapped within.

Her body was damp with sweat.

“…Ah.”

Lowering her gaze, she found herself staring at the exposed male genitalia.

“Eek!”

It was her first time seeing a man’s private parts.

Having received no formal education on such matters and only focused on training since she was young, the shock was doubly intense.

“Wait, wait, wait a moment.”

What on earth had happened last night?

In a state of panic, White Peach searched for her clothes.

A black tank top… Why was it torn?

The fabric was forcibly torn around the neck area. The bra was in shambles too… Her pants and underwear were embarrassingly soaked.

“…What.”

At that moment, faint memories of the previous day began to resurface in her mind.

“Ah.”

Cheap provocation. The motel they had stumbled into. The day before, when they had laid on the bed, entwining their bodies in a sleazy manner.

“Uh, uh…uh.”

She sat alone, her head wrapped in her hands, fists trembling. She felt a presence right next to her.

“Uh…”

A guy, his face scrunched up from a hangover, glanced around with bleary eyes, and their gazes met.

“Ah.”
“……”

Silence. That word alone could describe their current situation.

It was a disaster. Why did they act so foolishly at that insane moment? Why was Lee Si-heon so indiscreet…?

This was the most humiliating silence in the world.

“Uh, over there…”

Lee Si-heon, who broke the silence, cautiously asked.

“Did you enjoy that?”
“This insane fool, really.”
“Ugh!”

When I kicked his shoulder, he was pushed and tumbled under the bed. I despised myself for being drawn to his unnecessarily well-toned body.

Oh, honestly…

Calm down. As a martial arts instructor, even when something like this happens, shouldn’t I maintain my dignity as an older woman? I couldn’t let myself be flustered just because of what happened yesterday.

Especially not in front of that despicable man. I didn’t want to reveal even a hint of vulnerability.

“Crazy… crazy…”

…But it wasn’t easy. Just thinking about it made my face flush, and I became infuriated with coarse words.

“Why are you getting so angry?”

I detested that calm-looking man. He must have had quite the experience.

Well, I had no self-esteem in that particular area.

I’ve never masturbated in my entire life… I had thought it wouldn’t matter. After all, we weren’t supposed to mix our bodies, and it was a foolish thing to do.

“Who could have known things would turn out this way?”
“Please, just be quiet.”
“Or what… should we call it a tie?”
“Ugh, seriously…!”

The emotional dam bursts.

Without concern for removing the blanket and exposing herself, she got up and recklessly stomped on Lee Si-heon.

“Ouch! Wait, no, Master… Argh! I just got hit in the bone. Bone! Bone!”

She must have trampled him for about 20 minutes.

Lying on the floor, Lee Si-heon feigned shedding tears, trembling like a pitiful princess.

“Who started it, anyway…”
“Bring some clothes. Before the others wake up.”
“Alright.”

Lee Si-heon concentrated for a moment, then took out a few sets of clothes from the dormitory using his space magic. Now he could manage this type of spell with some proficiency. Was it just a feeling, or did this make her both proud and irritated?

“Leave. Let me get dressed.”

“I’ve already seen everything I need to see-“
“Do you want to see blood today?”
“Yes. I’ll go.”

Lee Si-heon left as if he were running away. He wore the clothes he had brought.

‘He’s bringing his own clothes, not mine…’

He put on the bra with the open hook again and wore a loose T-shirt. The wet underwear was unpleasant, but there was no other choice.

“Phew.”

He didn’t spill water, yet it was so wet. The memory of being held tightly by him yesterday, unable to resist, suddenly crossed his mind.

-Stop, stop, stop! That’s enough… It’s weird…
-What’s weird?
-…Third-rate disciple…Ah♡

“Argh, argh!”

He kicked the floor rug with his feet, shaking his head from side to side.

For a moment, Lee Si-heon’s face blushed at the thought that he knew all about it. He made up his mind.

‘If he brings it up… I’ll kill him by tearing his limbs apart.’

He went out fully dressed and mentally prepared.

Outside the door, Lee Si-heon stood with his eyes closed, leaning against the wall.

“Ah, you’re here?”

Just seeing his naturally innocent face ignites my anger.

“……”

“I’m incredibly awkward right now too, so please bear with me.”

“…Sigh. This is insane. They say alcohol’s the devil.”

I quietly followed Lee Si-heon, who was leading the way.

Upon completing the motel payment,
I left the building, ignoring the counter clerk’s strange gaze, and walked down the street while looking at the sky as the sun slowly began to rise.

Breathing in the early morning air, my mood lightened a bit.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“It would’ve been much better if you hadn’t spoken at all.”

While taking the lead, Lee Si-heon slowed down slightly and stuck close beside me, then asked the question. Unconsciously, I responded sharply, eliciting a bitter smile from him.

“Next time, let’s drink moderately.”

“……Alright. But…how far did we go last night?”

“We didn’t go all the way.”

If that’s the case, I’m relieved.

I truly believed that.

‘But… why on earth did I have such a dream all of a sudden?’

I turned my head and looked at Lee Si-heon. His face without the mask was, as always, irritating no matter how many times I saw it.

Is there really no decent man in my life? To think I did such things with this guy at night.

I walked absentmindedly for a while, lost in thought.

“Wait a moment.”

Then, all of a sudden, Lee Si-heon spoke.

-Paang!

My shoulder was abruptly pulled. The sound of a horn came from behind.

A car appeared out of nowhere and narrowly passed by White Peach. My tilted head landed on the annoying fellow’s shoulder.

“Be careful. Walk on my left.”

The face of Lee Si-heon, cursing as he looked at the car. A sharp gaze between his furrowed brows.

…A sight that would linger in my memory for a long time.

Suddenly irritated, I pushed his chest away.

“Why do something you shouldn’t?!”
“Huh?”
“…….”

I can’t settle down this morning.

“No, ah, sorry.”
“Ha, what’s that? Honestly, I was worried about the car. If there had been an accident, it would’ve been dented.”

The teasing words, the needless thoughtfulness, and yesterday’s events – they all make my head spin and feel hot. I don’t think I can sort out my thoughts right now.

“Let’s head back soon. We can stop by the mart on the way. I’ll make you some hangover soup.”

I didn’t say anything.
No, I couldn’t.

I slowly scrutinized Lee Si-heon’s face with my eyes.

“…Make it or don’t.”

No matter how many times I think about it, recall it, and look back – it remains the same.

It really didn’t suit me, that irritating face that wasn’t my taste.