Chapter 36.1

Chapter 36.1

Wow! Jihoo! Did you get a 100 on the math test again?

In the 5th grade of elementary school, in a certain classroom after school had ended

I heard a lively voice from behind me as I put the test paper with a 100 and a large circle drawn around it in red into my bag.

Jeon Ji-Hye.

I had known her since childhood because her house was close to mine.

She was prettier and livelier than the other girls and was popular not only in our class but throughout the school.

Uh... Yes. Thats right.

Wow! Congratulations! Please help me study for the next exam!

Ji-Hye was happy about my achievements and smiled brightly.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

The slowly setting sun shone through the window.

I was speechless at the sight of her smile against the backdrop of the darkened classroom and the refracted rays of light bouncing off of the glass.

Mhm. Bye then!

When I didnt display any reaction to her praise, Jihye put on her school bag and walked out of the classroom with a light step.

As the ponytail of her hair rustled from side to side, I watched her disappearing figure intently.

.

A fellow female classmate

For a child who had just started developing my secondary sexual characteristics, my interest in the opposite sex welled up suddenly and explosively due to the trivial meeting.

Even if I had seen Jihyes smile like that of a flower from a distance or from the side before, this was the first time I had seen it up close.

To her, at the time, I was just one of those extra boys shed known for quite some time.

It was still a time when women were not that interested in relationships and boys.

There were even a few boys closer to Ji-hye than me.

Had they received her smile longer and more times than I had?

I thought I could understand why her name always came up whenever boys played the truth games.

This was strange.

An unknown feeling welled up in my chest.

It was too intense to be curiosity, but too bittersweet to be love.

It was a ferocious desire.

At the age of 12, and for the first time in my life, I stood still in the empty classroom as if I had been nailed to a cross.

***

So, sooner or later, she planned to meet with Ireina, who had become his woman before her, and ask her frankly about his tastes.

And- that thought led her back to the present moment.

She stared at him while Jihoo smiled back at her softly.

After his request was dropped like a bombshell, everyone in the room fell into silence, waiting for her answer.

Its a pity... Why was I not chosen? Of course, Anna is also a very attractive woman, but... I have a prettier face and I have bigger breasts... Does Jihoo like brown hair? Shall I dye mine? Or is it because he likes a maid uniform? I can cosplay anything he wants... Im feeling jealous, but I dont hate Anna. Anyway, as long as Im Jihoos, Anna, who is mine, is also Jihoos.

Anna was her precious friend the first friend she had made in this other world.

Although, officially, they had a master-maid relationship, Ji-hye believed that she had built a deep bond with Anna transcending such a relationship over the course of the past few months.

Now then, what is he thinking? Jihoo must be shy to have asked because hes a nice guy, right? Hes obviously blushing, but deep down he must be excited.

Jihye rolled her eyes and then glanced at the kitchen, but soon she became startled.

She spotted a pair of pathetically folded hands, trembling arms, and more than that, a pair of brown pupils shaking violently.

Anna was expressing a strong rejection with her whole being.

She hadnt noticed because she had put all of her attention toward her considerations for Jihoo.

Oh right. She would obviously react like that

Because she had a phobia of men.

It was a backstory she had heard after getting to know Anna a lot more, and how she eventually became a slave in the first place.

This process had been aggravated by her trauma of men and was rooted deep in her unconscious.

What should I do?

Anna obviously wouldnt want to do it with him.

But then Jihye wouldnt be obeying Jihoos request...

In fact, Anna was a slave, so when Jihye commanded her, she would have to be embraced by Ji-hoo.

But, as Jihye had thought, they had a strong bond, and she didnt want to do that to her.

Yes. Jihoo doesnt know about Annas trauma, so hell understand if I explain it to him properly.

But before she could say anything, he opened his mouth first.

Oh, youre hesitant. I must have made a mistake. Im sorry...

Um, no no! Im sorry I didnt listen to you... Anna is just a bit afraid of men, so please wait a little bit... Anna is yours too!

Jihoo is too nice. On the other hand, I couldnt even fulfil a simple request of his... Are you sure youre not disappointed in me, Jihoo?

She clung to him even more.

She pulled his arm between her breasts and rested her head on her shoulder.

His hand fumbled atop her skirt while stroking her thigh reassuringly.

Thats nice, Jihoo. Phew, I dont think hes too bummed out by it.