Defective Banana - Chapter 29
Kang Seohyuk had been quietly stroking his chin, deep in thought, when Donghee finished eating and stood up from the table. Snapping out of his daze, he finally got up and started clearing the dishes.
Even after that, he plopped down on the sofa again, lost in his thoughts, eyes blankly glued to the TV.
An hour passed before Donghee came out dressed to go out. She called out to Seohyuk, who was still zoning out.
“Son, I’m heading out for a bit.”
“Huh? You’re going out? Where?”
“The sauna. Some of the ladies I saw yesterday want to go together.”
While speaking, Donghee stood in front of the mirror, trying on different sunglasses.
“Wow… you ladies have serious stamina. You’ll probably all live to be a hundred.”
“You’re staying home today, right?”
“I’ll be here tomorrow too, so don’t worry. Just be careful around strange men.”
Donghee didn’t bother answering. She slung her handbag over her shoulder, and just as she was about to walk out the door, she paused.
“Open the windows to air the place out and vacuum, alright?”
Seohyuk didn’t answer, but Donghee didn’t wait for a response either. She slipped on her shoes and left.
As soon as the door shut behind her with a clack, Seohyuk stood up and casually wandered over to the balcony, though his mind was far from relaxed.
Peering out the window, he confirmed that Kim Yeosa’s car had left the apartment complex. Quietly, he slipped on his slippers and strolled next door.
Ding-dong.
Baek Ara had just stepped out of the shower when she saw Seohyuk on the intercom screen. With a raised eyebrow, she pressed the door unlock button.
The door opened—but Seohyuk didn’t come in right away. He leaned against the frame and gave her a slow, crooked smile.
He was so tall, he practically filled the entire doorway. It hit Ara again just how physically overwhelming he was.
Approaching the door, she looked up at him, clearly unimpressed.
“Pretty sure I never gave you permission to just drop by like this. What’s going on?”
“I missed you,” he said, grinning like a guilty puppy.
He looked so excited, his lips curled into a ridiculous smile. It was annoyingly cute.
“Where’s your mom?”
“She went to the sauna with some friends.”
The look on his face screamed big dog desperate to be walked. He looked like a wolf, but acted like a golden retriever.
“Wanna come in for a bit?”
“Should I?”
Stepping inside, Seohyuk tried to suppress the grin tugging at his lips and took off his slippers neatly.
Her place smelled sweet and fresh—just like her.
As Ara turned her back to head into the living room, Seohyuk walked up behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“Did you just take a shower?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Her long hair was still damp, and the floral scent surrounding her was intoxicating. He buried his face in the curve of her neck and inhaled deeply.
“You smell amazing.”
Trapped in his firm arms, Ara lightly tapped him with her hand.
“Okay, even if you’re dying of happiness, can you let go? I can’t breathe.”
“Just a little longer.”
“Fine. Ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight, sev—three, two, one, time’s up!”
Seohyuk reluctantly let go, and Ara immediately headed to the kitchen.
“I skipped lunch and ended up napping, so I was thinking of making a quick sandwich. Want one?”
“Absolutely.”
“Sit. I’ll make it.”
As Ara opened the fridge and began pulling out ingredients, Seohyuk sat at the table and glanced toward the room beyond the living room.
“Is that your bedroom?”
When Ara turned her head in his direction, rinsing some vegetables, she answered casually.
“Yeah. It’s the bedroom.”
“Can I take a quick look?”
“No.”
The answer was short and firm.
“I mean, I’ll see it later anyway, so can’t I just have a sneak peek now?”
Ara turned fully toward him, holding a long bread knife. She placed some ciabatta on the cutting board and sliced it cleanly in half, all while staring at him.
“You’re planning to go in there later anyway?”
“Yeah, you know—just to lie down, chat with you a bit, maybe give you a nice arm pillow…”
While he rambled on with a sheepish smile, Ara started layering the sandwich with vegetables, cheese, and thin tomato slices. She let out a dry little laugh, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Who said you get to lie in my bed?”
Finishing the sandwich, she looked right at him again, raising the serrated knife slightly in her hand.
Her expression turned sardonic. Seohyuk glanced away, rubbing his thighs awkwardly.
He suddenly felt a little bitter, like he was the only one desperate here. But he swallowed it down, forcing a grin as he tried to sound casual again.
“You know, after you kicked me out yesterday… I really struggled. I missed you like crazy. Wanted to hold you so bad—it was torture.”
“You struggled? Really? Then who’s responsible for all the red marks on my body from a few days ago?”
Ara glared at him, still holding the knife, then sliced the sandwich cleanly in half.
Watching the blade move made Seohyuk gulp. He forced another smile.
“I’m still learning… It’s harder than it looks. I think I need more practice.”
“Practice?” she repeated, glaring.
As Seohyuk sat frozen, Ara put the sandwiches on plates and brought them over.
“You just can’t see them now because I’m dressed, but my chest still looks like a battlefield. I’m not some pacifier.”
Ara sat down across from him, her expression blank. Seohyuk mumbled under his breath.
“How was I supposed to know… Next time, I’ll be more careful. Promise.”
If it were any other woman, she’d probably be thrilled and asking for more. But Ara? She was blunt and brutally honest—and he found that insanely attractive.
Even as it bruised his ego, it thrilled him. He was drawn to her like a moth to flame.
Completely unaware of his inner chaos, Ara spoke in her usual calm tone.
“I’ve got work to do today, so I can’t hang out. But before you go, I’ll give you a kiss. Just one on the lips. Okay?”
He hadn’t meant to push her buttons, but her reactions were too fun—so he added with a sly grin.
“Then I’ll take the kiss… and maybe a little squeeze, too.”
After he’d been cut off from his “sucky” mouth privileges, now it was the hands. Ara’s voice turned firm, her tone razor-sharp.
“Kang Seohyuk. Listen carefully. After we eat, I’m getting to work. Art work. Not s3x work. So you’re going to eat, get your kiss, and go home quietly. Got it?”
As Seohyuk lifted his sandwich, a new idea popped into his head. He asked gently.
“Then… can I just watch while you work?”
Biting into her sandwich, Ara looked at him blankly and replied through a mouthful of bread.
“It won’t be that interesting.”
“That’s okay. I’ve always wanted to see you work.”
She wiped sauce from the corner of her mouth with her thumb, then gave a small shrug.
“If you promise to be quiet as a mouse, you can stay.”
Seohyuk grinned and held up his sandwich like a pledge.
“I’m an actor. I can play dead if you need me to.”
“I’ll be watching. If you distract me, I’m kicking your butt out. No mercy.”
He gave her a thumbs-up as he took a huge bite of the sandwich, cheeks puffing up like a chipmunk.
***
Ara tied on her studio apron and sat down in front of a large canvas. From the looks of it, she was adding to a painting already in progress.
Seohyuk quietly pulled a chair close and watched her.
After a few deep breaths, she dipped her brush and slowly started layering in color. As his gaze followed her strokes, he found himself admiring her delicate profile.
Sunlight streamed through the white curtains, casting a warm glow. Her skin looked almost translucent in the afternoon light, as if tiny fairies were about to flutter around her, drawn by her quiet magic.
“Why are you so damn beautiful, Ara?”
“Shhh. That’s your warning.”
She was in shorts, with an apron over her top. The apron gapped at the sides, revealing just enough of her thighs to drive him crazy.
His eyes kept drifting there—pale, smooth, tempting.
The urge to reach out, to run his hand up and under, to feel that soft skin between his fingers—it hit him so hard it made his chest tighten and his eyes burn.