Chapter 17

Ah… my heart is beating too fast.

At that moment, Iseong opened his eyes. His eyes were sexy and wet, like they were full of emotion.

She couldn’t breathe anymore. Her heart, which had been beating fast, suddenly dropped hard like it might explode.

Iseong’s big hand held the back of her head, and soon, his soft pink lips touched her thick lips. It was soft and ticklish, like a wave.

“Huht…”

She was kissing Iseong. Kissing her friend of 30 years while fully sober. Just like yesterday, his lips bit hers sweetly and softly.

How is this happening? How can I feel this kind of spark with you, Iseong? You’re my friend.

She used to watch kiss scenes in dramas and movies and make jokes about the angles or how they moved their tongues. That was just a few days ago.

Now, this strange and unbelievable feeling was making it hard to even breathe.

He bit and licked her lower lip. The warmth and wet feeling as he sucked on her lips made her open her mouth without even meaning to.

Iseong’s tongue slid into her mouth right away.

“Haa…”

His hot breath and wet tongue came inside and made her feel a strange desire.

Tongues wrapped together. Saliva stuck to her mouth. Every touch made her feel hot and dizzy.

She wanted him like a wild animal driven only by instinct.

This is dangerous.

How can this be happening? I’m still thinking clearly… No, maybe I’m not thinking clearly anymore.

I’m full of the desire to do it with you. I want you to take me even more.

Maybe he noticed her feelings. Iseong moved his head to the other side and started kissing her even deeper.

As if she were a delicious dessert, he bit, sucked, and licked her lips.

Ah, it feels crazy good. Your kiss, Iseong.

It’s hard to believe you’re a virgin with how skilled you are.

She couldn’t control her instincts anymore and wrapped her arms around the back of Iseong’s neck. Like he had been waiting, his hands touched her back gently, making her body melt.

His fingers touched along her shoulder blades and spine, like he wanted to feel every bone.

“Haa… Hnng…”

Right when she let out a moan, one big hand quietly moved up her waist and suddenly grabbed her breast over her T-shirt.

“Ah, w-wait…”

Her whisper full of surprise made Iseong stop. His lips pulled away slowly.

The moment their eyes met, she thought she’d go crazy. Her heart pounded like mad. The way he looked at her made it feel like he could see through all her fear and embarrassment.

She felt like her face was burning red. Her whole body was hot, and even her cheeks were on fire.

She held Iseong’s hand that was on her chest, and Iseong raised his eyebrows and said:

“I heard you moan.”

That means you were excited, right? That’s what he was clearly saying without saying it.

Yeah, she did moan without realizing it. That’s how good it felt.

But if she said that out loud, she’d sound crazy.

“Iseong…”

“Your face is red, you’re hot, your hair’s messy, and your chest is rising—”

“W-Wait.”

Her face felt like it would burn even more, so she moved Iseong’s hand off her chest. The spot he had touched now felt empty and cold.

“Don’t say anything more.”

Because I already know.

“Don’t do anything more.”

Because if you do, something huge might happen that we can’t take back.

“Why? If we go further… you’ll have to admit how you feel?”

“You… you said you’ve never even done it with a woman before… but how… how are you so good at this?”

“I said I’ve never had sex, but I didn’t say I’ve never kissed.”

“This isn’t just kissing… you’re way too good at this.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. But you know, you’re the only one reacting like this.”

Before he even finished talking, her eyes slid down to his pants. She couldn’t stop noticing it since they stopped kissing.

His pants were bulging like they were about to burst.

You’re only reacting like this to me? Why?

“Maybe you’re weak to forbidden things? We’ve been friends for 30 years… we’re almost like family. So maybe that’s what makes you excited?”

She tried to explain, her voice shaking with nervousness. But Iseong was strangely calm, just accepting it like it was no big deal.

“Maybe. That could be it. But if that’s true, then it gives me hope.”

“Hope?”

“I thought I’d live without a woman forever. But now I know—I can feel something.”

“Why… are you saying that… to me… huh?”

“So, what do you say? As a friend, will you help me out?”

She should’ve been speechless. But somehow, the way he said “as a friend” touched her heart.

“Help with… what?”

“Erectile dysfunction.”

Huh. He said he didn’t have that problem before. Why is he changing the story now? She had clearly seen the shape in his pants.

Iseong said it so casually, like he was talking about someone else’s problem, and it made her feel dizzy.

“H-How can I help?”

To her awkward question, he answered like it was obvious.

“By doing it—”

“By do—ing what?”

“You said I was pitiful because I couldn’t get it up, right? You said you’d help me. I want you to do that.”

Did I say that? I’m not even drunk now, so my memory’s clear. She tried to remember exactly what she said.

“You said you weren’t impotent. You just didn’t feel aroused… isn’t that what you said?”

“I was embarrassed, so I lied. Of course I’d make an excuse—I’m still a guy.”

Why doesn’t it feel real, even when you smile like that?

“Is that the truth?”

“You heard it yourself. My ex-girlfriend and the one before her both said I never did anything with them.”

She had learned his secret when his ex, Seoyeora, betrayed him. She had felt sorry for him when she heard.

“You’re saying… only with me, you reacted?”

Her friend Iseong smiled smoothly and nodded.

“Yeah. So what now? What do we do? We’ve been friends for 30 years. We’ve seen everything, said everything, done everything.”

“Exactly. You’ve seen all of me. Don’t you feel sorry for me? I’m begging you for help… as a friend.”

What part of this is sad? Where’s the begging? His handsome face made it hard to take seriously.

But even so, Iseong never asked for help using their friendship before. So it shook her.

“Can we still be friends after this?”

Iseong looked at her with unreadable eyes and said:

“If you don’t fall for me, it’ll be just like before.”

If I don’t fall for you… can we really stay the same? Even after we sleep together?

Why do your eyes look so sure? Why do you look at me like that? Is it because you won’t ever give me your heart?

Then maybe it’s fine.

Because I don’t want love either. I can help a friend. I want to help a friend who’s begging.

This is an answer she couldn’t say unless she made a hundred excuses first.

“…Okay. How do I help?”

“I want to have sex. Just once. I’ve never done it before.”

How can he say something so embarrassing so confidently? She expected it, but it was even more direct than she thought.

“So… you want to do it with me?”

“Yeah.”

He answered simply. She didn’t know why she couldn’t say no. Maybe it was because she could still feel his lips on hers.

That kiss they shared just now… it had been so intense it made her knees weak. Her body was burning with desire.

Fine. Let’s say that’s the reason.

She opened her trembling lips and asked,

“Here?”