A Different Wavelength

Geon-ju ran his large hands over her waist and back. Nestled in his arms, Ju-ri was struck by how small her body seemed against his. His broad frame held her like a great, solid tree, unmoving and warm.

It felt like something she could get addicted to. Ju-ri loosened his hair, then gripped his shoulders again. With her posture a little freer now, she rolled her hips in a wide arc, and Geon-ju's face contorted even as he sank back against the chair. A low moan escaped him — a sound so pleasing to the ear that Ju-ri's eyes narrowed to slits. His hands slid down to seize her hips.

"W-wait…."

He called to her urgently, voice shrinking with embarrassment, like he was about to come. Instead of slowing her, it only stoked Ju-ri further. She swung her hips faster with him still inside her. Rolling her waist and shaking her hips with her back arched burned far more energy than it looked — and after climaxing twice already, her limp, spent body made her thighs ache with fatigue. But the sight of Geon-ju, panting beneath her, was all the fuel she needed.

She flicked her tongue out without thinking and dragged it across her lower lip. His gaze snagged on her mouth.

"Ngh—!"

The hands clutching her hips and waist clenched hard enough to bruise. Ju-ri reached down and pressed her fingertip firmly against her own clit — and the instant she did, pleasure erupted like a waterlogged balloon bursting.

"Ah—!"

She trembled violently, her spine bowed backward. Geon-ju kneaded the muscles of her buttocks and thighs, which had bunched into hard knots.

Her whole body had gone taut like a glass filled to the brim. A few seconds later, the strength drained out of her as if by magic. Like a kite with its string cut, she collapsed — and Geon-ju caught her weight easily, resting his chin against her shoulder. Haah. A thin, heavy sigh mumbled out between his lips.

Ju-ri lifted both arms and pulled him into an embrace, nuzzling her face against his cheek. At the sudden intimacy, his body went rigid. Feeling the air stiffen around her, Ju-ri let out a soft, low laugh. Back-to-back orgasms had left her in such a good mood that she was feeling generous. Who knew she could climb that easily…?

We're just compatible.

Even though all he did was pound away like there was no technique involved at all.

Just as she did in bed, Ju-ri lingered a while atop him, savoring the languid afterglow. Normally, no matter how decent the sex was, the moment it ended she'd want to wash it off and head straight for the shower — but today, getting up felt like the harder option.

Was it the feel of his body, or the way his scent put her at ease?

She drew in a long, deep breath, and even though she hadn't made a sound, she could feel Geon-ju tense beneath her.

"Ha…."

Swallowing a laugh, she turned her head against him. His muscled shoulder was hard as stone, but his skin was surprisingly soft.

Her eyes landed on the shirt of his hanging on the rack.

"What do you say to never wearing that plaid shirt again?"

The moment the whisper left her mouth, a strange feeling washed over Ju-ri.

As a rule, she subscribed to the belief that it didn't matter what other people wore — whether they went around draped in a ratty old blanket or a garbage bag — so long as it didn't hurt her. Even when something bothered her to look at, she kept it to herself. She had never once said it out loud. Meddling in other people's choices wasn't her style. She didn't want it to be.

Which meant what she'd just said was completely unlike her.

"…What's wrong with the shirt?"

"It's ugly."

"In what way?"

"…You're really asking because you don't know?"

"I'm asking because I don't know."

"It's hideous. Seriously. I can barely look at it."

"…."

Geon-ju didn't answer right away, as if the remark had caught him slightly off guard.

"It's comfortable to wear. And it was cheap."

"You could just wear a plain tee instead. Comfy and cheap."

"Is it really worse than that?"

"Yes."

She couldn't see his face, but she could picture him frowning.

Is he offended?

Probably not thrilled, at least.

"Let's just pretend I never…."

"Okay."

"…Really?"

"Why are you surprised? You're the one who told me to."

"I figured you'd tell me to mind my own business."

"…I said it was ugly, didn't I? I have no intention of clinging to something ugly."

It was the same flat, expressionless voice as always, but somehow it sounded sulky.

"Where did you buy that shirt, anyway?"

Where does someone even find that thing.

"At an outlet near my place."

"How much?"

"Not exactly sure — I think it was thirty thousand won on a buy-one-get-one deal."

Figures. Not even surprising.

"You don't have any debt, do you?"

"No."

"Nothing like student loans?"

"I've been working for years. Of course not."

"Lucky you, Geon-ju."

"Does no debt make someone rich?"

"It's the bare minimum."

"Wait… do you have debt?"

"If I did, I'd have debt. What's with the 'wait'?"

"…."

It was an incredibly awkward silence, but she decided not to push it.

"Must be nice, having no desire for material things."

"…."

"You must be good at saving. Got a lot stashed away? Yeah, I suppose you would. You're certainly qualified to lecture me about my credit card bills."

"Did that bother you?"

"I got some quality time to face reality, sure."

"Then I'm glad."

"…?"

Ju-ri arched an eyebrow. That wasn't a quip tossed back for the sake of it — he actually seemed to mean it.

"I can support one person, comfortably."

"Oh."

"What's that reaction supposed to be?"

"Nothing, I'm just impressed."

"You know, you've been treating me like I'm clueless this whole time."

"Excuse me?"

Ju-ri's voice went up an octave.

How did he know?

"Haah…."

Geon-ju sighed. Ju-ri kept her cheek pressed to his shoulder and laughed without a sound. Maybe it was because their skin was touching, but she could feel a faint vibration every time he spoke. Unlike the joining of their bodies, it was a different kind of connection — a pleasant hum.

"What do you usually do on weekends?"

"…I work, or I do my hobbies."

His voice had gone slightly stiff.

Why ask about that all of a sudden?

Ju-ri wondered briefly, then bit back a smile.

"You go into work on weekends too?"

"Sometimes, but it's something else I do, more than that."

"Something else? You have a side gig?"

"…It's a secret. Don't tell anyone."

"Then shouldn't that include me?"

"I think you're all right, Ju-ri."

"And what exactly are you basing that on?"

"Just… I think you're all right."

Geon-ju's voice trailed off. I'm hardly the picture of trustworthiness. Feeling more bashful now than she had when they'd been tangled together and moving against each other, Ju-ri changed the subject.

"What kind of work? Development stuff?"

"Yes."

"And this hobby of yours? Swimming?"

"Swimming's just a routine. When I have time to spare, I write new programs and things like that."

"…That's a hobby? Isn't that just work?"

"It's a productive hobby. Time flies when I'm doing it, and every once in a while I land something good that pays decently, too."

He and I are wired completely differently.

"That's kind of alienating."

"Alienating…?"

"That's supposed to be your leisure time, is what I'm saying."

"…What about you, Ju-ri? Come do it with me sometime. I'm a good teacher, really."

"Oh yeah? Anything at all?"

"Yes."

Geon-ju answered with quiet force.

"How do you like the facilities here? Not bad, right?"

"Yes…."

Geon-ju's voice shrank.

No words, no gesture — and yet the whole air between them shifted. Ju-ri kept her cheek where it was against his shoulder and breathed quietly.

How is it that human moods are invisible, and yet I can read them this clearly?

There had to be some kind of ripple, some wave. Weren't there studies on that — the theory that humans, like animals with finely tuned instincts, sense the oscillation of each other's brainwaves?

Maybe that was why she could feel what he was feeling without reading a single expression or gesture.

"I still don't want us to be the kind of relationship where we only share our bodies."

The alcohol had clearly worn off — his voice came out low, and clearer than it had been all night. Ju-ri let her lashes fall halfway and simply listened.

"Do you, now?"

"…."

"What is it you actually want, Geon-ju?"

"Something a little more serious than… this."

He never managed to finish the sentence. He didn't seem embarrassed, exactly — more like he didn't know how to put it into words.

"Don't rush it."

"…."

"There's no need to."

If we weren't so different, I might have given it some thought, at least a little.

"Well. Can't be helped, right?"

Ju-ri lifted her head — and found his eyes already on her, so their gazes met dead-on. With only the corner of her mouth twitching upward, she climbed off him without a hint of hesitation.

She wiped between her legs with some tissue and pulled her clothes back on. She'd considered showering, but that would eat up too much time again. Better to hurry home and wash up there.

"You're leaving?"

Ju-ri glanced at him. His expression wasn't blatant, but surprise was written all over it. She nodded as she worked her pants on over her underwear.

"If I want to make it to work tomorrow, I need to go now and squeeze in whatever sleep I can."

"You could just sleep here."

"I don't have a change of clothes. You'd be fine, but."

"…And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Haha."

Laughing brightly, Ju-ri tugged her hair free from the collar of her top and looped her bag over her wrist.

She slipped her shoes on at the locker and, when she raised her head, nearly let out an awkward laugh. Geon-ju's gaze was exactly like a dog watching its owner walk out the door.

"Get some sleep, Geon-ju. There's plenty of time left — it'd be a waste not to use it."

"…."

"Oh — and at the office, act like nothing happened between us. Please and thank you."