Swallowed - Chapter 38
Jaeha whispered softly, his hand moving lower. Since Seyoung was only wearing a T-shirt that came down to her thighs, she had no pants on. His touch, gently tracing over her underwear, was incredibly tender. Seyoung blushed as she thought of her own hand, which had earlier traced Jaeha’s face in the air.
In the meantime, his hand grew bolder. He pressed his stiff fingers firmly against her, searching for her entrance through the fabric of her underwear. As he stimulated that spot, her underwear naturally became wet, and she could feel the damp sensation spreading. His fingers, even through the fabric, were moist, so it was clear that she was already quite wet inside.
Feeling Seyoung’s warm, heated breath, Jaeha raised his eyebrows playfully, as if to ask, “Do you really want me to stop?” That mischievous gaze made Seyoung roll her eyes, as if to say she couldn’t deal with him. Her eyes, which blinked slowly with a warm intensity, made Jaeha’s heart race.
“Don’t stop…”
Seyoung’s shy avoidance of his gaze, combined with her soft plea, made Jaeha breathe heavily. It was hard to hold back when Han Seyoung was this open and honest. Abandoning any thoughts of their plans for the day, Jaeha dove into her embrace, making Seyoung laugh in surprise as she wrapped her arms around him.
The morning heat between them intensified on the bed.
***
Thanks to waking up early, their plans weren’t completely derailed. They had a 12 o’clock reservation, so after grabbing some sandwiches, Jaeha and Seyoung headed to the tennis club.
Though the tennis club was strictly for members, guests of members could use the facilities by paying a day-use fee. A personal coach could also be hired for lessons, but with Jaeha there, Seyoung didn’t need one.
Tennis rackets were available for rent, so there was no need to purchase them. Jaeha had his own racket, but since it was back at his family home, they decided to rent together.
“Welcome, Mr. Baek Jaeha. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, I’ve made a reservation for two today.”
“Confirmed. Both of you will be renting rackets?”
“Yes.”
Since Jaeha was a regular member, the staff at the desk recognized him. They confirmed the reservation, checked their condition, and helped them rent rackets. After storing their belongings and changing into tennis shoes, they headed outdoors, where another staff member greeted them and led them to the court.
A bit nervous, Seyoung licked her dry lips. She reminded herself that she had applied lip balm, but the dryness was real. She had left her phone and speaker in the locker with the rest of their things, so she had no choice but to speak directly to Jaeha. To make herself heard across the court, she would have to speak louder than usual, which made her even more tense.
Since it was the weekend, the other courts were already busy with rallies. Watching the balls zip back and forth, they headed to their designated court.
“They’re really good,” Seyoung said.
She nodded repeatedly in agreement with Jaeha’s comment. To her, the players on the other courts looked almost professional.
“Let’s start by hitting the ball back and forth. I’ll see where your skills are at, and then I can give you some tips.”
“Okay.”
They positioned themselves across the net, and the distance felt significant. Jaeha took the first serve. He bounced the ball a few times, his expression more serious than she’d expected. As he assumed his stance, she could see how practiced and familiar he was. It was clear that if he was a regular member of this club, his skills were bound to be impressive. Nervous, Seyoung tightened her grip on the racket.
Smack!
“……”
She let out a short, incredulous laugh. She had watched him toss the ball into the air, but in the next instant, it had already flown past her. The thud as it hit the ground was heavy. Dumbfounded, she turned to see the ball rolling slowly to a stop behind her.
“Maybe you should try serving,” Jaeha said with a smile.
Biting her lip, Seyoung nodded vigorously. She grabbed the ball with determination, bouncing it a few times as she tried to recall her old muscle memory. But when she swung, the ball hit the net. Watching the ball roll back toward her, Seyoung’s initial excitement about an active date vanished. The skill gap between them was too large.
Jaeha, pulling the ball cart over, praised her belatedly, which made Seyoung glare at him. Her expression seemed to amuse him, as his smile grew even brighter.
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you. Let’s start with a basic flat serve.”
Jaeha seemed genuinely happy to be teaching her something. Since it was rare for him to get a chance to show her something like this, he was enjoying the moment. Seyoung, seeing how much fun he was having, felt that just being here with him was worth it. She listened intently to his instructions.
When Jaeha corrected her grip on the racket by placing his hand over hers, her heart skipped a beat. The way he seriously coached her, like a professional instructor, made him seem reliable.
“Jaeha!”
They were in the middle of what felt like a date-slash-tennis lesson, both sweating, when someone called out to Jaeha. Seyoung had just successfully returned the ball over the net and was feeling proud when the voice interrupted them. Jaeha’s expression brightened slightly as he turned to see who it was.
“Nuna.”
Hearing him say “nuna” (older sister), Seyoung’s ears perked up.
“I heard you were here, and I came to—oh, hello!”
The woman, who had been excitedly talking, spotted Seyoung and smiled warmly. Her tone had been casual and rough when speaking to Jaeha, but it softened when she addressed Seyoung. After Seyoung nodded in acknowledgment, the woman extended her hand.
“I’m Baek Yeong-ah, Jaeha’s cousin. You must be his girlfriend, right? Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, and I’ve been wanting to meet you!”
Seyoung hesitated for a moment before shaking Yeong-ah’s outstretched hand. When she didn’t speak, Yeong-ah tilted her head in confusion. At that moment, Jaeha wrapped an arm around Seyoung’s shoulder and introduced her on her behalf.
“This is my girlfriend, Han Seyoung. She’s a senior in my department. Did you make a reservation today too, nuna?”
“Of course, I come every week. Last week it rained, and my body’s been aching. Now that you’re here, let’s have a match!”
“I’ve already made plans. Maybe later.”
“Why not? Your girlfriend can watch us for a bit, or she could even join the game. Oh, is it okay if I call you Seyoung?”
Yeong-ah looked closely at Seyoung, who hadn’t spoken a word yet. Seyoung swallowed dryly before managing to speak briefly.
“Yes.”
It was such a short response that it took Yeong-ah by surprise, but she quickly smiled, her usual bright and friendly expression returning. She asked Seyoung to call her “Yeong-ah.”
“Maybe we could even call Yeongjun and play a doubles match.”
“Seyoung’s a beginner. It’s her first time today.”
“Yeongjun’s not that great either. We’ll just give each other handicaps.”
With a grin, Yeong-ah turned to Seyoung, her expression almost pressuring. Seyoung glanced up at Jaeha, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and he met her gaze with a firm look.
“Let’s do it. It’s fine.”
“Seyoung,” Jaeha said softly, sensing her unease.
Seyoung lightly patted Jaeha’s arm, reassuring him that she was really okay with it. Jaeha understood that she was trying to be considerate in front of Yeong-ah. Still, he hesitated for a moment, feeling conflicted.
Jaeha knew it wouldn’t be a big deal if Yeong-ah found out about Seyoung’s condition. It wasn’t something that could be easily hidden anyway, and given Yeong-ah’s personality, she would definitely want to chat more after the game, likely figuring it out quickly. In that case, it was probably better to be upfront about it. He also knew that Yeong-ah wouldn’t judge Seyoung negatively or treat her any differently because of it.
But it was ultimately Seyoung’s decision to share, and Jaeha couldn’t do it without her consent. Seyoung didn’t know Yeong-ah well and was naturally guarded, so he understood why she wouldn’t feel comfortable revealing anything.
In the end, Jaeha decided to follow Seyoung’s lead.
“Okay, but just one set,” he finally said.
“That’s too short! Should I call Yeongjun?”
Before Jaeha could answer, he glanced at Seyoung again. When he explained that Yeongjun was Yeong-ah’s younger brother, Seyoung’s expression grew slightly uneasy.
“Give me a moment to talk to her. I think she’s feeling a bit uncomfortable.”
“Sure, meeting two new people at once can be overwhelming. Talk it out.”
Jaeha asked for Yeong-ah’s understanding and gently took Seyoung’s hand, leading her to the far side of the court by the fence. Once they were alone, Jaeha spoke softly, mindful of Seyoung’s feelings.
“If you’re hiding it because you’re worried they’ll think badly of you, you don’t have to. I can vouch for them. Neither my sister nor my brother would ever judge you. It’s really okay.”
“……”
Seyoung let out a small sigh. Jaeha could tell she didn’t fully trust his reassurance, which weighed on his heart. Was it too much to ask her to trust his cousins the way she trusted him? After all, these were new people to her, so he understood her reluctance.
“I know you’re scared. But you trust me, right? Please trust them, for my sake. If… if they hurt you, even in the slightest…”
Seyoung interrupted him by gently grabbing his hand, stopping him from finishing his sentence. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. Just from looking at Yeong-ah’s smile, she could tell that she was similar to Jaeha—kind-hearted and open. It was clear that, as Jaeha had said, she wouldn’t suddenly put on rose-tinted glasses or judge her unfairly.
“……”
But Seyoung’s concern wasn’t about that.
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