Chapter 119: Retreat (6)
I considered maintaining the line.
After all, there was still nothing between him and her.
Above all, Jin Dallae was well aware that her actions could be a burden to him.
She knew it for sure. But why then?
Ah.
A heated breath escaped her lips.
Desire raced ahead of reason.
-Wow!
She unknowingly blossomed a flower above her head.
Startled, Jin Dallae hurriedly covered the flower with her hand.
What should I do
Then, a wave of embarrassment flooded in. Did anyone see it?
But overwhelmed with happiness that made her whole body flutter, she couldnt help but be intoxicated by the sensation.
For a Tree Person to bloom a flower signified an experience of happiness that will be remembered for a lifetime.
It was slightly different from the pleasure directly linked to fruits.
Fruits and flowers. Depending on the constitution, the occurrence of Tree People blooming flowers and fruits can vary, but it usually happens only once or twice in a lifetime.
This was an experience that Jin Dallae, who might never experience such a thing again in her life, had just undergone.
Are you okay?
The mans voice, spoken softly, made her cheeks, held in his embrace, flush like ripe strawberries.
Im fine.
Her mouth was tightly shut, and words hardly escaped.
She kept swallowing dryly, her nose stinging as if she was about to cry.
What unfolded before Dallaes eyes, held in his embrace, was the scene she had always dreamed of.
I cant stand it
Jin Dallae tightly closed her eyes.
Another flower bloomed, this time not on the left but on the right temple.
Right now, in this wide embrace closer.
The blooming flowers.
Just knowing him for a lifetime was enough to make her heart burst, but Jin Dallae resolved that all those thoughts were foolish.
For Tree People, flowers represented an overwhelming sense of happiness that they could not control.
Like a drug produced by themselves.
The brain actively worked when they bloomed, filling the head with a certain component. As a result, her self-control decreased, and her heart raced.
It was similar to how human judgment blurred at the peak of joy.
A reddish emotion etched in her eyes.
She kept feeling thirsty. She knew she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didnt act now.
I shouldnt do this.
Her everyday life had recently been filled with the three syllables of one mans name.
Whether she was handling work at the company or doing assignments at the Academy dormitory, she never shook off thoughts of him for a moment.
It was definitely not normal.
She knew. She knew all of this was wrong.
But-
It doesnt matter.
Despite this, her mind, always so negative, was transformed into optimism in an instant, all because of a single flower.
Hey. Its over. We won.
Pulled back from her thoughts by Lee Shiheons words, Jin Dallaes eyes were deeper than before.
Really?
Her lips curved like a crescent moon. Her pink lips, coated with lip balm, shimmered.
Jin Dallae relaxed the arms that were tightly holding him.
Then, she sneakily plucked the flower from her head and tucked it into his embrace, making sure no one else saw.
Please take this I dont have a pocket.
Lee Shiheon, with a complicated expression, took the flower and hid it.
A slight disappointment tickled her hand, but it was okay.
Today was a very important day for her.
Patience was essential.
Cheers!
Lifting their glasses high, they opened the drinking session.
Pork belly with soju.
Though there were hotel-style options, a true Korean drinking session unanimously agreed on this menu.
The irregular sizzling sound of meat cooking on the grills at each table naturally made the students shoulders bounce.
-Bunny bunny, bunny bunny, tree tree!
They were at the age where their blood alcohol concentration was likely the highest, still in their prime.
A wry smile appeared involuntarily as I saw groups already starting games.
I cant keep up.
The tension was crazy.
There were those who could down soju after soju. I remembered my old college classmates who joked that freshmen would still laugh even with a broken nose.
Since coming here, my body has been unusually tired, so I couldnt keep up with their energy.nove(l)bi(n.)com
There were also slightly older students who seemed to share my thoughts. Eventually, a few of us gathered to quietly share drinks.
That professor really teaches well, but its so difficult.
Seriously, I automatically cursed during the exam. I hinted it was too much, but they said they could handle it in their time
It was a drinking session filled with light-hearted complaints and gossip rather than intense gossip.
How was the exam for you, Sansuyu?
It was normal.
A bitter family situation.
Please let me know if theres anything about Shiba. Is she doing well in kindergarten?
Yeah, they said shell be able to talk soon. Apparently, she understands almost everything we say.
The praises from the kindergarten teachers about Shiba made me incredibly happy.
Today, she did this and came first.
It was comforting to hear even the trivial things. The most touching development was that Shiba, who initially sought only my company, now actively engaged with other children.
It felt bittersweet to think her affection for me might have diminished slightly, but it was for the best.
Theres going to be a concert later. Will you come?
Ill definitely come.
Grinning, Jin Dallae clenched her fists and inquired about the timing.
Reflecting on it, Jin Dallae had been instrumental in raising Shiba.
Since our child was shy, Jin Dallae was the only person she was truly comfortable with.
This makes me feel like Im the mom.
-Shiver.
Under the moonlight, the forest, alive with the sound of insects, seemed almost enchanted.
As we walked along the path through such a forest, we exchanged a few words, and soon, the surroundings shifted to a darker and more secluded area.
My steps grew heavier.
The silence quickened the heartbeat. Jin Dallae, hands clasped below her belly, looked down at the ground and followed closely.
Over there.
The sound of footsteps ceased.
Yeah.
I, too, halted. With that, the ambient noise stopped, allowing us to focus on each others words.
I swallowed a bitter breath internally.
There was something during the game today.
Are you talking about the flower?
Yes.
Jin Dallae shyly confirmed.
Flower
I couldnt grasp what this flower signified when I first saw it.
Had it been a fruit on her head, I might have felt somewhat embarrassed but not clueless about its meaning.
So, to avoid any misunderstanding, I discreetly researched it.
Blossoming was a physiological phenomenon that occurred when a Tree Person was happy.
Its said that many Wooden People never experienced it in their lifetime.
You know what it means, right?
There may be some differences in constitution, but to feel such joy from a mere hug
While the intensity varied from person to person, Jin Dallaes words essentially amounted to a roundabout confession.
I know.
I remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
What do you think?
Expressing my thoughts was challenging.
I took out the Jin Dallae flower I had been keeping.
Surprisingly resilient, the flower had maintained its color and form without a single wrinkle despite being rolled around in my pocket.
Looking at it, I forced my sealed lips apart.
I dont know.
I spoke honestly. Delaying here could lead to bigger problems.
Jin Dallaes breathing paused momentarily.
After a long while, she finally spoke.
Do you find me unattractive?
No.
Or, do you like someone else?
I didnt give a specific answer. Sometimes, silence was the best response.
For Jin Dallae, this was as good as a rejection.
An abrupt, somewhat impolite refusal.
Yet, there was an indescribable strength in Dallaes voice.
Ive done everything to make you misunderstand
Thud, thud
Tears marked the ground.
As I reached into my pocket for a handkerchief, Jin Dallae tightly grasped my hand.
Still.
With all her might, she clutched my wrist.
Its already too late.
What?
A translucent status window engraved in my retina.
The affection level of Jin Dallae recorded there had risen even higher than before.
You said youre still unsure. Then, you dont know.
Tears mixed with a smile. Yet, it didnt seem twisted.
Ill be by your side forever.
Jin Dallae said, a statement so typical of her.
If you find me disgusting, then just step on me and go. Ill keep following you anyway.
The etched obsession still clung and didnt disappear.
At that moment, I instinctively realized.
It might take a very long time for one of the labels next to her name to fall off.
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