Body Heat

As he spoke, Shin I-hyeok reached behind him and pulled something closer to his side.

It had been there the whole time, hidden by his broad frame—the first-aid kit now came into Ju Hayan’s view as well.

With the expression of an adult dutifully tending to a younger charge, he pointed at her knee with his index finger.

But even if she now understood his intention, Ju Hayan was not shameless enough to comply so easily.

Strictly speaking, she was no longer even a minor.

“It’s completely healed now. I’m fine.”

“I’ll decide that after I see it.”

“Then I’ll just roll up my pants!”

“Those pants?”

Their gazes dropped simultaneously to her jeans.

After wearing her school uniform every day until recently, Ju Hayan made an effort to dress decently for her part-time job.

Not that she had many clothes—just that she didn’t show up in gym sweats.

As a result, she was wearing tight black jeans that clung to her body.

They weren’t skin-tight, but the material was stiff enough that rolling them up past the knee would be difficult.

“I’ll only look at the wound.”

“……”

“I’m worried.”

Seeing the deliberately concerned expression on his face, Ju Hayan finally stood up unsteadily.

If he had already decided, she was supposed to follow—at least that was the excuse she gave herself.

She did not dwell on the fact that his steady gaze, claiming concern, had softened her resolve.

Even after standing, she dragged her feet, hesitating.

Shin I-hyeok did not rush her.

Instead, he turned away and idly rummaged through the first-aid kit.

At last, as if making up her mind, Ju Hayan moved her hands.

She tugged at the stiff fabric and sat back down on the sofa.

His hand reached out.

As she bent awkwardly, struggling, he gently pushed her aside and peeled the crumpled jeans fully down.

Her slender leg fell naturally across his thigh.

“Fortunately, it’s healing well.”

Sliding his hand beneath her knee, Shin I-hyeok lifted her leg and examined the faint mark left behind where the scab had fallen off.

His hand, touching the still slightly damp skin, seemed almost unconscious.

The one flustered was Ju Hayan.

It was embarrassing enough to even mention having been hurt there, and now he was stroking skin that had already healed cleanly.

She tried to pull her knee back toward herself.

“I told you it’s healed….”

“It is. That’s good.”

She attempted to withdraw her leg, but he did not loosen his grip.

Pressing the once-injured spot, he carefully traced over the slightly raised skin with his thumb.

Even a doctor would not be this meticulous.

As her leg remained lifted, her balance shifted, and she leaned back with a small groan before lying down fully on the sofa.

‘Once he’s done, he’ll let me go.’

Pulling a cushion to her chest, she lifted her head slightly to watch as he ran his hand from her thigh down to her calf.

He wrapped his hand around her calf and bent her knee upward.

His touch was careful.

Embarrassing, but she remained still.

He lowered his head as though to inspect closely.

Then something soft—almost sponge-like—touched her knee.

“……!”

Startled, Ju Hayan shot upright, bracing herself on her elbows.

His lips had touched her knee.

There was no exaggerated sound, just the faint press of dry lips brushing her skin.

But it was unmistakable.

Her sudden movement caused her leg to jerk.

Yet Shin I-hyeok did not even lift his gaze.

Instead, he lowered his head again.

“W-Wait!”

This time he was bolder.

His dry lips rubbed once more before a damp sensation followed.

Something warm and moist touched her skin, and she felt the faint scrape of teeth.

That was enough.

Panicked, Ju Hayan reached out and pushed at his shoulder.

His body, solid as stone, did not budge until he finally raised his head and leaned back slightly.

“What are you doing!”

“Maybe it’s because you’re still young. Your skin is soft.”

Her heart pounded in her ears.

She quickly pulled her leg back and wiped her knee with the sleeve of her hoodie.

There had always been things about him she couldn’t understand, but this went too far.

“What the hell… seriously.”

She scrubbed the already-clean skin again, glaring at him.

Curled in on herself, glaring fiercely, she looked less threatening than a hamster bristling after losing a sunflower seed.

Shin I-hyeok barely held back a laugh and shrugged.

He even pressed a hand to his chest as if pretending to be wounded.

“I like body warmth. Is that what they call affection deprivation?”

The lie was too ridiculous to dignify.

Ju Hayan ignored him, remaining tense as she dragged her jeans from the table and slipped her feet back in.

His eyes quietly followed the movement of her legs.

“Won’t it be uncomfortable to sleep in those?”

“……”

“You can just stay without them.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

When someone is shocked enough, fear gives way to irritation.

Ju Hayan snapped at him for the first time.

She was still wary, but annoyance outweighed it.

“Fine. Do as you like.”

He remained unfazed, not even furrowing a brow.

His composure only made her more stubborn.

As she radiated indignation, he glanced at the clock on the wall.

Then he rose leisurely.

“It’s late. You must be tired. You should sleep.”

She followed his gaze to the clock.

It was already near midnight.

Perhaps the adrenaline had kept her awake, because she hadn’t even noticed the time.

Instead of standing, she sank back into the sofa and closed her eyes.

She wasn’t sure if the exhaustion came from the day—or from him.

“Do you want to eat something first? Or just sleep?”

“I’ll just sleep.”

“You won’t be hungry? At least have some fruit.”

“……”

“I’ll bring it to you. Eat it upstairs.”

“…Okay.”

It wasn’t exactly her room.

But she swallowed the thought.

Fruit wasn’t something she bought often—it was expensive.

And at least she wouldn’t have to sit across from him while eating it.

“Stay there.”

“Can I help?”

“With cutting fruit? What help would you be?”

“I just feel bad.”

“Then come stand in front of me so I can hold you.”

“I’ll stay here.”

So much for his “liking body warmth.”

She sank back onto the sofa at once, and he laughed softly, ruffling her hair like a passing breeze.

Soon he returned from the kitchen with a plate piled high with strawberries and mangoes.

“…Good night.”

After a brief hesitation, she bowed her head slightly.

As expected, his hand reached out again, mussing her hair before she escaped upstairs.

The house was warmly heated despite its size.

Sitting on the bed with a soft microfiber blanket over her knees, she ate until she was full.

Then she placed the plate on the nightstand and lay down.

The faint glow of the bedside lamp filtered through her closed eyelids.

The mattress embraced her with each shift of her body—far more comfortable than the pile of blankets she had assembled at home.

The fatigue from staying up late the previous night, combined with the relief of having a place to rest, weighed heavily on her.

Whenever she stirred faintly awake, the warmth wrapped around her and pulled her back under.

The room remained quiet until sunlight stretched across the window.

Knocking.

A door opening and closing somewhere.

Even a voice near her ear felt like part of a dream.

“…Location— yes. Understood.”

Something brushed her cheek and hair.

The careful touch only tickled.

She frowned, groaning softly.

“No. Leave it for now… we’ll observe the situation. …Yes.”

As the voice gradually became clearer, she turned her head slightly.

Light slipped through her barely parted eyelids.

With a petulant sound, she buried her face in the blanket.

The intruding hand continued to stroke wherever it could reach.

This time it gently brushed her eyelids.

“Ju Hayan. It’s morning.”

His voice was softer now that he had finished the call.

“…Mm.”

“You can’t even wake up properly. I’ve prepared breakfast. Eat when you get up.”

“……”

“I’ll be back early. Stay here and play.”

“Mhm.”

His voice was low and close.

Too tired to respond properly, she answered in a muffled tone.

When the room fell silent, sleep began to pull her under again.

Then she felt something soft against her closed eye.

“Mmgh.”

The moment that moist sensation touched her skin, she scrunched her neck and buried herself deeper into the blanket.

Why did he keep using his lips…

She grumbled inwardly, and distant laughter followed.

“Sleep well.”

The rustle of blankets.

The sound of the door closing.

And finally alone, Ju Hayan drifted back into deep sleep.