Chapter 56: Aftercare

After breakfast, the three of them lay stretched out in bed, sunlight spilling across tangled sheets. Harin lay sprawled on her stomach, chin propped on her hand, lazily sipping the last of her latte. Ji-hye sat cross-legged with her coffee, the hem of the blanket pooled at her hips, trying not to think about how the sheets were still faintly damp from the night before. "You’re awfully quiet," Harin said, her eyes flicking to Ji-hye with a knowing smile. "I’m just... processing," Ji-hye replied, looking down into her mug. "Processing what? That you begged him to fuck you harder? That you came so hard you forgot your own name?" Harin teased. Ji-hye groaned, hiding her face in her free hand. "Can you not...?" "I’m just saying," Harin continued with a wicked grin, "it’s cute when you blush about it. It means you liked it. A lot." Ji-hye’s lips curved despite herself. "...I did." Harin leaned closer, her voice dropping. "You know what’s dangerous? Once you realize how good he is at taking care of you, you’ll want it all the time." Ji-hye tilted her head. "Taking care...?" Harin smirked and, without looking away from Ji-hye, called toward the lounge, "Joon-ho! I want your full aftercare service—for me and Ji-hye!" Ji-hye sputtered. "H-Harin!" From the other room, there was a low chuckle. "You really can’t help yourself, can you?" When he came back into the bedroom, Joon-ho’s hair was still slightly damp from a quick rinse, his boxer briefs clinging to his hips. He walked straight to Ji-hye’s side, and before she could ask what he was doing, he slid an arm under her knees and another behind her back. She gave a small yelp. "W–wait—!" But he lifted her effortlessly into a princess carry, his chest solid and warm against her cheek. Her pulse quickened. "I–I can walk..." "I know," he said with that calm steadiness that made her feel like resisting would be absurd. "But you’re sore. Let me take care of you." Her fingers curled lightly against his skin. She could hear his heartbeat, slow and sure, and for a moment she forgot to breathe. She had never been held like this—never treated like she was something to be handled gently. Harin slid off the bed, stretching languidly as she trailed behind them. "Careful, Ji-hye. Once he starts this, you’ll never go back to regular showers." The bathroom was filled with the scent of lavender and warm steam curling from the tub. Joon-ho set Ji-hye down beside the water, then pulled over a small stool. "Sit," he said softly, his palm warm at the small of her back. She obeyed without hesitation. He soaked a washcloth in the bathwater, wringing it out before pressing it against her shoulders. The heat seeped deep into her muscles, drawing a small sigh from her lips. While Harin stepped into the shower cubicle, the sound of water splashing behind frosted glass, Joon-ho poured warm water over Ji-hye’s arms, her neck, her back. His hands worked soap into her skin in slow, deliberate circles—massaging, soothing, mapping her body all over again without urgency. Her eyes drifted closed. Every glide of his palm seemed to melt another knot of tension from her muscles. His thumbs pressed into her lower back until she all but slumped forward with relief. When his hands moved to her chest, cupping her breasts in gentle passes of the washcloth, she didn’t flinch. When he soaped her legs, lifting each calf to rinse, she only watched him quietly, her heart calm and steady. The shyness from last night was gone; this was different. This was trust. From the shower, Harin’s voice floated out over the spray. "Look at her, Joon-ho. Totally fallen for you." Ji-hye didn’t even deny it. Harin finished up, stepping out with a towel wrapped snugly around her body. She gave Ji-hye a knowing grin before slipping out of the bathroom, leaving them alone. Joon-ho rinsed away the last of the suds, the warm water cascading over her skin in smooth rivulets. Then he stood, fetched a fresh towel, and draped it around her shoulders. "Stand," he murmured. She rose slowly, letting him wrap the towel fully around her, his hands rubbing her dry with steady, careful passes. He moved to her hair, blotting it first before switching on the dryer. The hum filled the room as his fingers combed through her damp strands, lifting and fluffing until they were warm and soft again. "All done," he said quietly. Ji-hye lingered there for a moment before stepping out of the bathroom, the towel snug around her body. She padded to her room, closing the door gently behind her. Inside, she leaned back against the door, closing her eyes. Her skin still carried the faint scent of lavender soap. Her muscles felt loose and light. But more than that—her chest felt strange, like something warm and alive had settled there. She let the towel fall and pulled on a loose, soft shirt, slipping into plain panties. The fabric brushed over her clean skin and made her sigh without thinking. She caught herself smiling in the mirror—soft, almost shy. Maybe Harin was right. Maybe she was ruined. And maybe... she didn’t mind. When she walked back to the lounge, Harin was lounging on the sofa, hair half-dry, her legs curled under her. Joon-ho was leaning casually against the armchair, his eyes flicking to Ji-hye briefly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So," he said, "what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" Harin yawned, then perked up. "Mall. We never went last week. Let’s shop, eat, and actually relax for once." Ji-hye hesitated for a beat, then nodded. "That sounds nice." "Settled," Joon-ho said. "We’ll head out in a bit." Ji-hye sat down next to Harin, the warmth in her chest lingering. He glanced between them, his lips curling faintly. "Take your time getting ready—no rush." Harin stretched like a cat in the sun, and Ji-hye found herself smiling, the simple thought of spending the day together warming her almost as much as last night had.