Chapter 85: Countdown (4)
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Asena stood outside the classroom, biting back her jealousy. Her gaze fixed on Keirsey as she approached.
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When Keirsey was close enough to speak, she asked evenly, âWhat about Oppa?â
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âDonât worry about it.â
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âSigh.â
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Frustrated, Asena flipped her hair and probed again.
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âAnd what about JudyâŠthat bi#ch?â
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âDidnât see her.â
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âHow dare sheâŠhow dareâŠâ
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Asena had certain boundaries no one could cross, and Cayden was one of them. She wouldâve found it easier to relinquish her familyâs seat of power rather than give him up.
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But the fact that someone had toppled him and stolen a kissâforcibly taking his lipsâmade her so angry that her legs nearly gave out; No one could possibly maintain their composure after their crushâs lips were forcefully stolen away.
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Yet deep down, there was also anger at the fact that Judy had done something she couldnât do herself. It felt as if Judy, who had confidently expressed her feelings despite having to use some questionable means, was rebuking Asena for tasting his tongue during the nightâlike a thief.
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Asena shook her head.
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Acknowledging that wouldnât change the facts. Judy was utterly unforgivable.
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If Judy hadnât been friends with Cayden, she wouldnât have hesitated to execute one of the hundreds of plans that came to mind. Those plans would undoubtedly have included a process to inflict maximum pain upon her.
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âSo, is there anything else Oppa told you?â
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âHe thought youâd be mad, so he said to appease you.â
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â.....â
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It seemed Cayden didnât know; But the only one who could soothe her now was Cayden himself.
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If he would only kiss her passionately - tease her tongue with his - then she might be willing to move past this incident.
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However, she knew better than anyone that such an event was unlikely to happen.
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Sometimes, Asena wished he could just know how she felt.
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If he could somehow discern the passionate feelings she hid behind her stoic mask...
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No, wouldnât he then run away?
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Ugh⊠How could she relieve this stress?
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â...â
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â...â
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At that moment, Asenaâs and Keirseyâs eyes met. They didnât speak, but it was clear what each was imagining.
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The only way to relieve the stress of having his lips stolen was to steal them back.
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As she resolved to carry out her plan, it felt as though a refreshing wind blew through her chest, and she could breathe again.
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Yes, there were only four days left to confess their feelings anyway.
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So, even if Judy did such an unforgivable act⊠she might have to bear it and move on; she couldnât make Cayden more angry. But this frustrationâŠ
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âGrind!
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Only tasting his lips!
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Only after taking back what is hers... could help her hold on for a few more days.
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âAfter class, Iâm going to see Oppa,â Asena declared, calming her emotions.
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Keirsey nodded as if it were a matter of course.
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Gripping her still-pounding heart and donning her mask once again, Asena re-entered the classroom.
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****
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I sat on the floor, wiping away sweat. Judy hadnât returned for the afternoon class.
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The woman who had kissed me in front of the class acted confident for a moment, then, as if coming to her senses, trembled and abruptly ran away.
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âI havenât seen her since.â
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In reality, this incident had effectively blocked any marriage path for Judy.
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This academy is where all the kingdomâs nobles gather⊠And sheâs the woman who kissed a noble in front of all these people.
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Of course, if it aligns with her familyâs intentions, she could find a partner... but given how easily rumors spread in the academy, that wonât be easy.
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In this worldview that places as much importance on social status as it does on a womanâs virginity, her action is revolting.
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In a world without contraceptives like condoms, a womanâs virginity is the safety measure for preserving lineage. It serves as proof that she hasnât embraced another man.
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And since virginity is so highly valued, a scandal like this brings nothing good. It invites suspicion. Even if one were to become her partner, a woman who already has someone else in her heart could easily be hated by her husband.
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...So, âit really seems Judy and I are tied together now.â
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It was not that I wanted to push Judy away.
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But being a commoner, my status was weak and it was difficult to assert my will. Hence, I decided to follow my familyâs circumstances.
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Considering this, Judy was a hundred times better than me. She gave up her future for what she wanted. Of course, itâs possible that she acted impulsively when she kissed me, without any calculative thoughts... but her choice felt remarkably brave.
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As I wiped off my sweat and stood up, I saw, from a distance, a group of students from my department returning to the dorms, hurriedly parting ways.
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I didnât have to see it to know why.
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â...Theyâre here,â I muttered to myself.
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And sure enough, the twins were approaching from far away.
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****
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âFine... Iâm sorry, okay? Stop being mad. It wonât happen again.â
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Cayden tried to soothe Asenaâs anger by gently stroking her back, cheeks, and head.
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His affectionate tone and touch were calming, but she steeled herself.
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She needed to taste his tongue today. They had to kiss like lovers.
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While it wasnât a romantic gesture, she didnât care anymore.
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She stood in front of their dormitory, still not unfurling her arms or expression, as he bid them farewell.
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âAlright, letâs stop this. Letâs see each other smiling tomorrow. As for Judy...Iâll talk to her.â
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â...What?â
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She turned her head to look up at him, breaking her hardened posture.
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â...Youâre going to see the wench who stole your lips?â
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âWatch your language, Asena.â
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â...â
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âAnyway, Iâll handle it. To be honest, I still donât understand why youâre this upset...â
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â...â
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â...â
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âNever mind. I misspoke. Go on, head inside. See you tomorrow.â
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â...Youâre just going to leave like that?â
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It had been a long time since Cayden had seen her this angry. Actually, it was a rarityâalmost a first. Theyâd had many fights, but she being mad at him was uncommon.
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Cayden scratched his head.
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â...Is there something else you want?â
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â...Ha.â
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Seemingly exasperated, she held her breath and snorted.
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Then, Asena glared sharply at Cayden for a long while.
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Not knowing why, he just stood there with a puzzled look. Finally, she lightly tapped her cheek with her finger a few times.
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â...Oh, you want a kiss?â
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â.....â
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Asena gave a short nod and opened the door to the dormitory.
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â...Come in.â
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Cayden wanted to give her a quick peck right there and then but knew that Asena preferred to minimize public displays of affection. And considering it wouldnât take much time, he followed her into the room.
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- Creeeak. Slam.
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As the twins entered and Cayden passed the door, Asena turned around and closed it abruptly.
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Stretching out both arms to shut the door, she held Cayden in the narrow gap.
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â...Asena?â
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As the door closed, Cayden felt another wave of strange emotion when he saw the smoldering look in Asenaâs eyes.
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Something had been off between them since this morning.
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As if they had become different people...
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He pondered.
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...Could it be separation anxiety? That couldnât be the case.
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...And.
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...Maybe.
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......No.
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Shaking his head, Cayden dispelled his absurd thoughts and called out to her again.
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â...Asena?â
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She met his gaze with unwavering eyes. Slowly relaxing the tension in her arms, she let him go.
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â...Iâm sorry, Oppa. Anyway...â
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With that, she offered her cheek to him.
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At the same time, she spoke to Keirsey.
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âKeirsey. Look the other way.â
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Keirsey naturally turned her head, knowing that Asena didnât like it when someone saw her receiving a kiss.
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Of course, when they had secretly kissed him, they had done so in front of each other. But in Caydenâs eyes, this was the first time Keirsey had ever seen him giving a peck to Asena. So, if she were to suddenly break the established routine now, Cayden might find it strange.
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And to begin with, it was only out of necessity that she had kissed him in front of Keirsey; Asena naturally didnât want to be seen sharing love with him by someone else.
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- Smack.
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A soft yet warm, and love-filled sound rang out, and Keirsey turned her head back to its original position and walked over to Cayden.
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Taking Asenaâs place, Keirsey offered her cheek to him.
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Cayden gently placed his hand on top of Keirseyâs head and lightly kissed her forehead.
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âAlright, Iâm going to go rest now. See you tomorrow.â
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He waved his hand.
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In the end, the twins also happily waved back at him.
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****
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â...Unnie, what about now?â
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In the depths of a quiet night, with not even a light turned on in the dormitory, Keirsey cautiously asked.
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Normally, she wouldâve been lulled to sleep by the enveloping darkness, but Keirsey couldnât have been more awake at that moment.
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Her heart raced so fast it made her limbs tingle, and her senses were sharper than ever.
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â...Not yet.â
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A seasoned, calm voice responded to Keirseyâs hopeful query.
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Asena sat quietly on the sofa, staring fixedly into the darkness.
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Keirsey still hadnât gotten used to this side of her sister.
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Asena, who always resolved matters in a calm and collected manner, had always been the more dependable and mature twinâeven in Keirseyâs eyes. She wouldnât even show affection towards Cayden in front of her. Keirsey had thought of her as someone who knew nothing but family matters, at least up until they came to the academy.
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But look at her now.
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Determined to lock lips with Cayden, she sat calmly, waiting for the night to deepen further.
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No pretense, no hesitation. Just waiting for the right moment as if it were a duty, her expression steely.
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It was impossible to get used to.
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...And yet, at the same time, Keirsey could understand her. After all, the object of their affection was their own brother.
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Getting him to respond to their love could not be followed by some chronological order based on who loved him first. Each had come to love him at different moments, and belatedly realized that the other felt the same. And as Asena had said...If only he werenât a Pryster, all problems would have been solved.
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Mulling over this unsolvable dilemma, Keirsey continued to wait in the darkness.
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The sound of her heartbeat continued to grow louder.
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How much time had passed like that?
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â...Keirsey, letâs go now.â
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Asenaâs voice resonated through the room.
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It was a time of night so deep that no other sound could be heard.
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Even the chirping of crickets seemed to have quieted, or perhaps it was drowned out by the pounding in her chest.
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â...Haa...Haa...â
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Keirsey, who had been breathing heavily at some point, started to regulate her breathing.
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Her body began to grow excited again, just like before.
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Today was the last day.
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After today, she would vie for his heart fair and square.
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In four days... no, in just three, she would confess her feelings to him.
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She knew he wouldnât easily accept her feelings, but with the possibility of his departure, she had no other choice.
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She knew moments of deep agony lay ahead.
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Therefore, today was her last deep breath before diving in.
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Of course...there was also jealousy towards Judy, who had stolen his lips.
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****
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With a spare key, she obtained through the student council, Asena unlocked the door to Caydenâs dorm room.
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-Creak...Screech...
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For some reason, the sound seemed more ominous than usual, but it didnât stop them.
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Suddenly, Keirsey realized how inappropriate her actions were.
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She couldnât even restrain herself within the academy, resorting to breaking into her own brotherâs room to share an intimate moment.
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Having always lived as the cute, affectionate sister around him, she wondered what he would think if he saw this duplicitous side of her.
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But she cast all those thoughts to the back of her mindâThe thrill of their plan succeeding was too intoxicating; Only reclaiming his lips could extinguish the fire that had ignited within her.
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They closed the dorm door behind them and tiptoed to Caydenâs room, suppressing the sound of their footsteps.
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Without hesitation, her hand reached for his door handle.
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-Screech...
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The second door swung open.
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Listening to Caydenâs gentle breaths, Keirsey exhaled her first sigh of relief.
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They entered his room and closed the door behind them.
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-Click.
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Startled by the sudden loud noise, Keirsey jumped.
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Asena skillfully locked the door behind them.
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Watching her, Keirsey couldnât gauge how many times Asena had done this.
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She was just too smooth, too natural.
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Then, as if suddenly remembering Keirseyâs presence, Asena, who was approaching him, asked,
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â...Should I go first?â
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The word âfirstâ made Keirseyâs heart race again. This was it.
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They were going to taste that âelixirâ once more.
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His lips were within her reach.
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â...You go first, Unnie,â she whispered. She still didnât have the courage.
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Acknowledging her, Asena climbed onto his bed.
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Mounting him with both her arms and legs positioned above him, she hesitated no more and leaned down to kiss him.
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â...Ah...â
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-Smack...smooch...
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The sound of moisture filled the room instantly.
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Hearing it, Keirsey rubbed her legs together and took a seat on a nearby chair.
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Her heart grew even more restless as she watched Asena, so she averted her eyes.
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Only the sounds reached her ears now.
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â...Oppa, do you think that will be enough?â
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Asenaâs voice was barely audible, even to Keirsey.
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â...Ah... Do you think a simple peck...ha...would suffice?â
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Then, whether his mouth opened or not, the distinctive sound of tongues entwining resonated.
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Asena once again transformed, as if she were a different person, revealing her true self to him as he slept.
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âOnly...Ah...only look at me...smooch...okay?â
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â.....â
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â...Someone else...hmm...not just anyone...smooch...your little sister, Asena.â
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â...Unnie.â
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Unable to hold back any longer, Keirsey called out to Asena.
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The moist sound ceased, and Asenaâs twinkling eyes met Keirseyâs. She seemed to transform back from the coquettish little sister to elder sister Asena.
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â...Why? Donât interrupt me.â
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â...I want to...I want to do it too.â
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Asena sighed deeply.
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â...I barely even started, what are you talking about?â
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âMy heartâs pounding so much... Just let me do it once... then you can continue, Unnie. We can take turns, right?â
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Asenaâs face crinkled as she looked back and forth between Keirsey and Cayden.
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Then, she sighed again and dismounted from him.
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â...Fine. Make it quick. Itâs my turn next.â
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âOkay..!â
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As Asena stepped aside, Keirsey took her place above him.
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Lowering her posture gently, she lay down atop him.
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Embracing him this way felt incredibly good.
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Calming herself as she listened to the beat of his heart, Keirsey slowly moved her lips towards his.
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â...Oppa...I love you.â
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As if rehearsing what she planned to say in three days, she whispered to him.
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Then she pressed her lips against his, thrusting her tongue deeply inside.
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Sure enough, the pleasure she had craved for days surged through her head. So ecstatic that she nearly forgot to breathe, and so happy that all guilt seemed to vanish.
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Her anger about Judy taking his lips also subsided.
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âHa... Oppa... why do you have so much fun with her?â
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Just like Asena had, she started to express the words sheâd been yearning to say to him.
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â...Iâm here, you know... Canât you only have eyes for me?â
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â...â
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â......Yes?â
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â...â
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â...Answer me.â
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With her eyes closed, embracing him, she once again naturally thrust her tongue into his mouth.
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Each time, she felt a maddening sensation.
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Eventually, Keirsey forgot to speak, pressing her lips against his and thrusting her tongue as deep as she could.
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Saliva kept transferring to him.
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Every time she probed her tongue, she felt his, which moved weakly in response.
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She began to get intoxicated with pleasure.
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Lightly straddling him, she smoothly wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.
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And with some strength in those arms, she pulled him closer. She strived to narrow the already close distance between them even more.
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The closer they got, the more satisfaction swelled in her chest.
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â.....Huh?â
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It seemed like she heard Asenaâs voice from behind, but she ignored it.
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She pulled him even closer by the neck, moving as if licking him with her tongue deep inside.
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â...Kei... Keirsey, wait a moment..!â
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Asenaâs surprised voice echoed. Keirseyâs eyes snapped open at the sound of Asenaâs voice, but...
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Just before retracting her tongue, she felt Caydenâs previously limp tongue begin to move of its own volition.
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â...Cough.â
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Energy surged back into Caydenâs relaxed body. Keirsey hastily backed away from him, a string of saliva stretching between them.
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Caydenâs eyes slowly opened, blinked as he surveyed his surroundings, and then suddenly sat up.
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â...Whatâs going on here?â
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âNo... itâs not...â
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Keirsey, who had been lying on top of him, ended up sitting on his knee as he sat up.
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â...Uh......â
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âW...wait, Oppa...â
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The now-awake Cayden wiped his lips as he looked around.
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His and Keirseyâs saliva was smeared on his arm.
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Asena and Keirsey stiffened, unable to say a word.
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Cayden looked back and forth between Asena and Keirsey, blinked, and then began to wear a confused expression.
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âI...I can explain, Oppa,â Asena managed to stammer out.
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Cayden licked his lips and uttered just one word. It was clear to anyone looking at him that he was swept up in a whirlwind of emotions.
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â......What?â
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--- Â End Of The Chapter ---
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