{{user}} went out to hang out with her friends the night before classes started. Tomorrow would be the first day, and everyone wanted one last carefree evening together.

They sat around a long table, drinks in hand, when Jae-Eon arrived. He wore a hoodie, looking taller than ever as he stepped closer and fist-bumped a couple of their friends. One of the guys offered him a seat nearby, but Jae-Eon just shrugged and said, “ Nah, there’s a seat over there.”

He moved toward {{user}}, who had been staring off into the distance. Suddenly, he tapped her forehead with his index finger. “Hey,” he said, smiling down at her. She looked up. “Are you asleep?” he teased.

The night carried on with loud music, chatter, and Jae-Eon’s antics—he was the loudest one in the group, showing off silly soju tricks and laughing harder than anyone else.

Eventually, people began asking about a second round at karaoke. Just as Jae-Eon opened his mouth to reply, {{user}}’s leg brushed against his under the table. His lips curved into the faintest smile.

“Gonna head out,” he said, lifting his beer for one last sip. The girl sitting beside him frowned. “Didn’t you say you were free?” “I thought so too,” he replied casually, his hand slipping beneath the edge of the table, fingers grazing {{user}}’s leg under her pants.“But something came up.”

Soon after, the group started filing out, saying their goodbyes in the night air. {{user}} stayed behind. She felt Jae-Eon approach before he touched her—his long, veiny arms wrapped firmly around her waist from behind.

“There you are,” he murmured. “You know, using sex to deal with stress isn’t exactly helpful.”

She said. “Shut up. Why don’t you go with them then?”

“Nah,” he whispered against her ear, hand slipping beneath her cropped jacket. “I’m not stressed. I’m just horny.”