Sleeping Together

[Music Recommendation: "Tonight" by BTS - instrumental only version by Smyang Piano]

"Yes, boss," I replied, stressing the word "boss" since he really was so bossy.

Remembering my corkboard, I quickly glanced towards it, alarmed that Agent Helios would see it. To my relief, mother covered it with a cloth. Phew. Good thing she did so, or my head would burst from trying to create it all over again. Wait a minute—she covered it? That only meant that she had been planning to make us sleep together in the first place! Oh my goodness.

Sighing to myself, I went straight to the bathroom in my room to shower and change into my sleeping pajamas. When I finished, I saw Eun-Woo sitting quietly on the bed and tapping on his phone.

"Hey, if you want to freshen up, you can use the bathroom."

Not even sparing me a glance, he stood up and went to the bathroom. He just said a simple "uhm" and went on. He probably got tired of talking a lot with mom today. Oh well, it's his fault. He's the one who suggested we hang out.

While he bathed, I took some of my extra pillows and comforter from the cabinet. As I laid them out on the couch, my mom suddenly knocked on the door.

"Yes, eomma?" I asked as soon as I opened the door to my room.

"Oh, I brought you some milk and light snacks in case Eun-Woo wants some before he sleeps."

"How nice of you to your son-in-law, huh? How about me, eomma?"

"Aigoo, there are two glasses, so you're included. Such a jealous child. Tsk."

I took the tray from her hands and put it on the table. To my surprise, she followed me inside and noticed the comforter and pillows on the couch.

"Why are you putting pillows and comforter on the couch? Don't tell me you're making Eun-Woo'ya sleep there?" she complained. "What a bad daughter you are! You should let him sleep on the bed with you."

"I'm the one sleeping on the—wait, what?"

She gave me the "eye" once again. Ugh… that "scary mother" look.

While I had a staring contest with my mother, Eun-Woo went out of the bathroom, drying his hair with the towel. He wore the pajamas mom gave him, but the shirt was unbuttoned. You could see tiny droplets of water trickling from his hair, to his neck, down to his chest, and… oh wow, nice abs.

"Woah, you have a really nice body, son-in-law," mother blurted out when she saw him. She even gave him a thumbs up and nodded approvingly.

"Oh, mother, you're here. Do you need anything?"

"No, my dear. I just bought some warm milk in case you want some."

"Thank you, mother."

"Oh, and by the way, you don't have to sleep on the couch. Feel free to sleep in the bed with my daughter. I don't mind. The walls are thick, too, so you don't have to worry about—"

"EOMMA!"

"Ye-Ji'ya! You've been shouting at your mother since morning. I'm just saying it's okay. No need to be shy. You're going to be married soon. Don't tell me you haven't—"

My eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. I glanced at Eun-Woo, and he was obviously trying to force a smile.

"Oh my, don't tell me you really haven't…?" my mom pressed on. Turning to Eun-Woo, she looked pitifully at him and said, "My poor son-in-law, you've been holding back this whole time? You must be frustrated. Aigoo. Forgive this virgin daughter of mine. She knows nothing about—"

"Eomma!" I called her out again, almost crying.

WAAAAH! I want to dig a hole in the ground and hide!

In my frustration, I grabbed her shoulders and ushered her out of my room.

"Oh, come on, Ye-Ji'ya. I'm just concerned. How are you going to give me a grandchild if you don't—"

"Stop it, eomma! Just sleep, okay?"

I locked the door as soon as she got out, double and triple locked it so even her spare keys won't work.

"Even if you lock it, I have keys, my silly daughter," she teased me on the other side of the door. "But don't worry, I won't disturb you any longer, or I might sour the mood. Good night!"

She sounded so happy, embarrassing me. Soon, I heard her footsteps fade away, which probably meant she had gone to her room.

'Ugh. I will NEVER bring Eun-Woo here EVER again.'

"Pft! Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Eun-Woo laughed out loud and sat on the couch. "That was hilarious. What nice entertainment."

He took the glass of milk and drank it.

"Yeah, laugh all you want. I'll make sure to get back at you in the future."

"You probably won't."

"We'll see about that."

"Your mother is really looking forward to a grandchild, huh?"

"Ughhh… don't get me started on that."

Then, he smirked at me and said in a tone so naughty and suggestive…

"Should we sleep together?"

My eyes widened in shock.

"W-What the—NO WAY! That's the last thing I want to do with you. Let me make this clear now. I know we're bound to do sweet stuff in the future, but it stops at kissing, hugging, and some light touching!"

My voice shook as I said those in a single breath.

"And I… I will NEVER have sex with you. You got that?"

Haah… Haah… Haah… How could he even suggest such a thing? That's so absurd!

"Y-You may be used to sleeping around but not me," I continued explaining for some reason. I've never been comfortable with topics about sex.

"Pft! Ha-ha-ha-ha!"

He laughed again like a devil enjoying my misery.

"Ahhh… you make the nicest expression when you're flustered. How cute. Go on, squirm some more."

'Oh… I see. He's enjoying seeing me like this, huh?'

"You damn jerk."

"What's wrong? I didn't ask to have sex with you, though. I just said we should sleep together. You're the one who started thinking so… lewdly," he teased again.

'Damn it! It was a trap! A trap with words! Ugh! How cunning! This damn sly fox!'

"Hmrgh! Then, why are you even asking me to sleep together in the first place? It's so easily misunderstood, especially when my mother suggested—ugh, whatever. Let's just drop this. I want to rest."

"I suggested that because your mother might sneak in while we sleep to check on us. She might doubt our loving relationship if we insisted on sleeping separately."

"Huh?… Right. My mother may do that. Haaah… so we really have to sleep together?"

"Don't worry. Like you, the last thing I want to do with you is to have sex. So you're safe even if we sleep on the same bed."

I scoffed at his words. For some reason, that sounded infuriating.

'What did he mean by that? Am I so ugly that he would never think about—wait, come to think of it, it's nice that he thinks that way, right? Then, I can rest assured that my chastity will be intact until the end of the mission. Right. Wait a minute. Now that I think about it… since he mentioned he's not interested in doing such stuff with me, and I'm a beautiful woman… does that mean he's—'

I unconsciously glanced at him as I thought that.

"I know that look," he said.

Oh, shoot! He had already read my mind.

"I'm not gay, just to clarify things with your highly creative mind. I'm just not interested in sex. I find such acts rather repulsive. To think you'd hold someone while both of you reek of sweat, combine your saliva, or have your body be eaten as if you're food—isn't that disgusting? Not to mention the tons of illnesses you can come in contact with if your partner is a little careless."

'Ugh…now that he mentioned it, he's got a point. It does sound disgusting.'

"But wait, you kiss me using your tongue! You should stop doing that if you're so repulsed by it."

He sighed deeply and rolled his eyes.

"Ugh. I'm already compromising a lot. We have to do that from time to time if we want to act flawlessly. What do you think of couples nowadays? Pure people with no sex drive? French kiss is how real couples kiss, so we have no choice but to blend in, no matter how disgusting it is."

"Yeah, right."

"Now that we're on the topic, always remember to brush your teeth and keep your mouth clean. And be careful with anything you eat or drink. Lots of diseases can be passed on with kissing, so—"

"I could say the same for you. Make sure you're always clean, huh?"

Irritating. So irritating! What does he think of me? An unclean woman? I take a bath twice or thrice a day and always brush my teeth, and ugh! I'm always careful with my body. How dare he instructs me to be cleaner than I already am?

"I'm always clean, so you don't have to worry about me. Just worry about yourself."

"Tsk. Whatever."

And so, we slept together on the bed, one or two pillows apart, with my blood boiling the whole night because of all the frustrating things he said. He's truly a hateful guy—period!