You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 109

I removed the now-cool washcloth, exposing my knee to a sudden chill. Noticing my slight flinch, Karhan slowly bent down and pressed his lips gently against my reddened knee.

How embarrassing…

I covered my mouth with one hand, trying to hide the involuntary smile tugging at my lips. It felt almost like watching a sacred ritual for healing, making me bite my lip slightly and turn my head away. My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, not knowing how to react.

The embarrassing “chu” sound tickled my skin.

“Don’t overexert yourself from now on.”

Karhan’s voice was full of amusement, clearly having noticed my embarrassed state. My face must have been bright red – how could he not notice? As I pressed my lips together and tried to act nonchalant, he took my hand away from my mouth and pulled it down.

“Are you hurting anywhere else?”

“No… My knee doesn’t even hurt that much, really.”

Karhan examined my hand, turning it this way and that before nodding slightly upon confirming there were no injuries. He carefully helped me sit up, then planted his hand on the bed and slowly leaned closer. The soft lips that had touched my knee now landed on my forehead.

“Get some rest.”

His sweet whisper was so quiet only I could hear it as it curled around my ear. I couldn’t help but smile, my eyes crinkling at his endless tenderness.

I looked up at Karhan gazing down at me. In his gentle silver-gray eyes, my reflection looked truly happy. Though it was actually his eyes catching the sunlight and sparkling, it seemed as if I was the one glowing.

His gentle fingers played with my white hair several times before finally pulling away, seemingly satisfied. He helped me lie back against the headboard and pulled the thick blanket up to my chin, then picked up the water basin.

“I’ll be going now. Sweet dreams.”

My heart was too ticklish with emotion to respond, so I just nodded vigorously. A deep smile spread across Karhan’s lips once more.

The room felt empty after Karhan left. I stared blankly at the ceiling before slowly closing my eyes. Though darkness descended, I couldn’t help but smile at the lingering warmth where he had touched me.

At some point, a secretive drowsiness crept up from the depths of darkness and carried me off to dreamland.

🐤

“Mmm…”

Something kept touching my hair. Must be Karhan again. Hehe. Did you miss me already? A smile formed on my lips at the sleepy thought. If I’m still smiling despite him disturbing my sweet sleep, I must be quite far gone. I can’t even scold him.

As I gradually woke up, I felt the chilly air on my forearms. With my eyes still closed, I reached down to pull up the blanket that had slipped to my waist, but Karhan pulled back against me, preventing me from covering myself.

“Ugh, I’m cold…”

I whined softly and reached out, frustrated by the blanket that wouldn’t budge no matter how much I pulled. I touched Karhan’s body, warm with body heat.

Just like a heater, hehe. Letting out a silly laugh, I squirmed closer and pulled him in. Though he felt somewhat less bulky than usual, I was satisfied with getting a warmer heater instead of the blanket and let out a breath. Just as I was drifting back to sleep with slowing breaths, suddenly a heavy leg draped over my body.

“Stop… that.”

The long, thick leg entwined around me, making me feel constricted. While the hair tickling had been amusing enough to make me laugh, this was almost suffocating and starting to annoy me.

I let out a deep sigh and lifted my heavy eyelids. I must have been asleep for quite a while since my eyes felt sticky and my vision was blurry. Through the hazy view, I could see Karhan’s chest.

That’s an unusual style…?

Karhan preferred solid colors with small accents rather than clothes with elaborate patterns. But the chest before me wore clothing with brilliant gold embroidery. Somehow this outfit reminded me less of Karhan and more of… someone unpleasant. The size seemed a bit different too…

I raised my hand that had been enjoying the warm temperature and rubbed my eyes. After pressing my soft palms firmly against my eyelids, I slowly raised my gaze from the chest area to discover platinum blonde hair flowing over shoulders.

Huh? My rising eyes suddenly stopped. Oh no. It couldn’t be, right? I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. After mentally preparing myself, I tilted my head up. At that moment, a beautiful face suddenly moved close and met my gaze.

“Sleeping well? Your sleeping habits are worse than I expected.”

I was too dumbfounded to speak. It felt like someone had shoved their fist down my throat. As I gaped with my mouth wide open, unable to collect myself, Asmil pulled me tightly into his embrace.

“Ah, so warm. It’s been so long.”

“You, you’re insane!”

You crazy bastard! Let go!

To think the warm heater was actually Asmil’s body. No wonder! I thought he felt smaller! I wanted to die from self-loathing as I struggled. To think I had been grinning while hugging this guy. Tears threatened to spill from the corners of my eyes.

“Let go of me!”

“No. Let’s stay like this a little longer.”

Who decided that! I pushed against Asmil’s shoulders with all my might, but his arms squeezed around my waist like a snake and wouldn’t let go. What made it even more infuriating was that Asmil was contentedly breathing near my head.

“Help!”

I shouted loudly, hoping someone would come to my room, but the firmly closed door didn’t budge.

Even after pounding Asmil’s shoulders with my fists, he remained unmoved. I finally had to drop my arms, exhausted. Noticing my surrender, Asmil hugged me tight with a satisfied sigh.

“I haven’t been able to sleep properly alone these past few days. Now I think I can sleep well. Shall we sleep like this?”

“Who decided on ‘we’? If you’re sleepy, just go home.”

“Don’t wanna…”

Though Asmil usually got excited and snapped back at my barbs, today his voice trailed off weakly like he was truly tired. What’s this? Why is he so low on energy? He didn’t feel like this last time I saw him. As I watched quietly, he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, his arms around me gradually loosening their grip.

Gauging his relaxed arms, it seemed I wouldn’t have trouble escaping now. I carefully studied Asmil’s face while holding my breath. He was sleeping so peacefully that he probably wouldn’t notice if someone punched him in the face. For the first time, his face looked pretty as I stared at it intently before letting my body go limp.

Ah, whatever.

Somehow his unusual behavior made me feel different too. Why would this guy who always stood above me just to tease show such a weak side? My mouth tasted bitter for no reason.

Hiding my conflicted feelings, I slowly closed my eyes. Though it was a shame it wasn’t Karhan, it was pretty warm and nice.

How many hours had passed like that? Suddenly, a loud BANG made me jump in surprise.

W-what! My heart pounded violently, thudding uncontrollably. Still disoriented from just waking up, I raised my upper body and looked at the door to find Karhan standing there with tremendous pressure.

“…Karhan?”

Why does he look so angry? Still not fully awake, my thoughts weren’t flowing properly. As I stared blankly at Karhan, he extended his hand toward me.

“Come here.”

“What’s wrong… Eek!”

As I was looking at Karhan, hands suddenly rose up from behind and pulled me back. What’s going on! Before I could even register whose hands they were, a sleep-laden voice spoke from behind.

“Let’s sleep more.”

But it felt nice, right? I didn’t hear the rest of what was said. I felt like someone who spent the night with another man while having a lover. Well, it was actually one night, but still, this isn’t right!

My pupils darted in every direction. I tried to say something with my gaping mouth, but I was too shocked to make my voice work.

“L-let go.”

Though I finally managed to speak, he just twitched the corner of his mouth and pretended not to hear. His closed eyes opened slightly, revealing red irises filled with amusement. His eyes curved as he observed my flustered state.

“You’re crueler than I thought. Was I just a one-night pleasure for you?”

“You, you crazy bastard!”

What nonsense are you spouting! I turned my head to look at Karhan again. This is bad. His eyes had grown even colder than before. I quickly shook my head in denial before Karhan could get angry.

“Karhan, you trust me, right?”

I think I just said something typically sleazy. The world seemed to spin. As I made a pitiful face with my lips turned downward, Karhan strode over. His large hand grabbed Asmil’s arm that was wrapped around my shoulders and twisted it upward.

“When told to let go, let go.”

“Ow― that hurts.”

A brutal cracking sound came from Asmil’s seized forearm. Something must have broken properly. Caught between the two of them, I gulped and darted my eyes around nervously.

Even faced with such fierce eyes, Asmil just smiled as if nothing was wrong before slowly removing his arm. As soon as I was free, I quickly got up and ran behind Karhan’s back. I deliberately looked away and pretended not to notice Karhan’s gaze piercing me during those brief moments of movement.

S-sorry…

The thought crossed my mind that I might get scolded. Thinking back to why I had been lying so cozily with Asmil, I remembered just closing my eyes. Idiot, why did I do that? Karhan had clearly said he could know everything that happens in the mansion.

While I was self-reproaching, Karhan, who had hidden my figure behind his back, asked Asmil:

“Why are you here?”

“Ah. Didn’t the baby bird tell you?”

Asmil gestured toward me with his chin as if I knew everything. Naturally, Karhan looked at me next. I quickly shook my head to demonstrate my ignorance, then Asmil spoke in a disappointed voice.

“We promised to do something very intimate together.”

“What nonsense!”

If he means something intimate like draining his blood, I’m all for it. I glared at Asmil with my eyes raised sharply. Because of Asmil’s strange words, Karhan’s fierce gaze had completely fixed on me, stinging my skin.