Daeho, a friend from the same class, has known Jinwoo since they were kids. He is the son of Gyuri, Jinwoo's mom's best friend. Their families were always close, often getting together and even traveling together before Jinwoo's dad passed away.
Daeho's hobby was photography, and he had a particular interest in photographing women, especially those close to him. He first picked up the hobby while capturing his sister Sohee's moments during a competition. He often joked that he regretted Sohee quitting sports because it meant he lost an "official" excuse to photograph her.
-What a character...-
Daeho also had a reputation for being into niche genres of media. He was known for supplying friends with some of the rarer content circulating in school. Though quirky, he was quick-witted and smart, with a solid reputation among his friends.
"You wouldn't even know what it is, but you're already criticizing it. I hate that you guys pretend to dislike it! I bet nine out of ten wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't said anything."
As Jinwoo entered the classroom, Daeho was in a heated argument. A girl's sharp voice immediately retorted.
"That's as frivolous as asking to remove onions and carrots from a finished dish! You should politely ask even if you expect to be turned down!"
The owner of the sharp voice was Seul-gi. She had a pretty face and a figure that drew attention. In school, she was known for being as quirky as Daeho, though the word "beauty" was always prefixed to her name. Daeho and Seul-gi, aware of their eccentricities, would sometimes get so defensive about them that it would cause a stir. Though they seemed like sworn enemies, their ability to engage in such trivial debates suggested they were quite compatible.
"What's all the fuss about?" Jinwoo asked, approaching them.
"Oh, you're here Jinwoo? This ungrateful brat, after all the care I've given her, stabs me in the back." Daeho immediately started complaining.
"Man, Jinwoo, I swear, if I cared about this perverted bastard twice, I wouldn't recognize my own parents!" Seul-gi grabbed Jinwoo, looking incredulous.
"Shouldn't you be thankful I picked according to your taste?"
"Who said that's my taste? Decided to go all out, have you?"
"You wouldn't know, but in this world, it's all the same."
"Ah, really? In your fantasy world in your head?"
Listening to their nonsensical conversation, Jinwoo felt his head spin.
"What the hell are both of you even talking about?"
"Really, such an ungrateful vermin!"
"Hmph!! Who are you to talk!!!"
They kept bickering until the homeroom bell rang, and they each went their separate ways. Since such arguments were a common occurrence, Jinwoo didn't pay much attention. Little did he know that their conversation was a prelude to an event that would challenge his understanding of family and relationships.
At lunchtime, Daeho came over to Jinwoo's desk.
"Everything good?"
"Huh? Yeah, nothing much."
Daeho's seemingly random question was answered by Jinwoo nonchalantly.
"Let's go to my house after school."
"To your house? Why?"
"Got something to show you."
"What is it?"
"You'll see. It's good."
So, after school, they went to Daeho's house. Daeho's mom, Gyuri, was home alone. Daeho's dad was often away on business trips. Gyuri, a friend of Jinwoo's mom, was a beautiful woman. She had smooth skin, gentle eyes, and appeared much younger than her age. Her yoga-toned body was elegant and had a lovely, natural fullness.
"Hello~" Jinwoo greeted her as they entered the house.
"Oh... Jinwoo, is that you? Come on in." Gyuri seemed a bit flustered, perhaps surprised by the sudden visit. Daeho, meanwhile, headed straight to his room.
"So what are you going to show me this time?" Jinwoo asked as they settled in Daeho's room.
"Hang on, first put your bag down and wait. I'm thirsty, I'll ask for something to drink." Taking a deep breath, Daeho yelled out to Gyuri, "Mom, got any juice or soda?"
From the kitchen, Gyuri's reply came, "Just wait, I was about to bring some snacks and drinks anyway."
"Okay, cool."
Daeho then turned to Jinwoo with an offbeat question. "What do you think of my mom?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Doesn't she seem kinda attractive?"
"What are you talking about, you weirdo?"
"Just don't be shocked later on, hehe."
While Jinwoo sat bewildered, soon Gyuri entered Daeho's room carrying a tray with juice and cake. She looked at Daeho, seeming a bit guarded, and placed the tray on the desk. "Enjoy your meal~" she smiled at Jinwoo.
"But mom, you don't usually fuss over the other kids like this, do you?" Daeho joked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, it seems like nice snacks come out when Jinwoo visits."
"Because he's Haemi's son, I tend to fuss over him more."
"Oh, is that so? I thought..."
"You really say some random things."
"But mom, you've been keeping up with your exercises, right?"
"Yes, I've been doing yoga, you see me every day, don't you?"
"Yeah, I have."
"Why ask if you already know, really~"
As this strange mother-son banter continued, Gyuri turned to leave with an exasperated expression. Then, 'smack.' A loud, sharp noise echoed as Daeho playfully smacked his mom's bottom with his palm. Jinwoo's eyes widened in shock, and Gyuri froze.
"You're putting on pounds here, mom. Isn't that a bit too tempting for the young guys?" Daeho joked. Gyuri turned and shouted at him, flustered.
"Hey! I told you not to hit my butt like that! What are you doing in front of Jinwoo?!!" She clenched her fist and pressed it gently against Daeho's temple.
"Okay, okay, I surrender! Jeez, you're ridiculously strong~ Ow, ow, that hurts!" Daeho pretended to be in pain.
Jinwoo had almost never seen Gyuri raise her voice or appear so flustered. Her reaction stirred something deep within him.
"Good grief, this kid is getting weirder." Gyuri said, embarrassed, and quickly left the room.
"So, how was it?" Daeho asked Jinwoo.
"What... what did you just do?" Jinwoo stammered, still processing the scene.
"When I hit mom's butt, didn't you find it intriguing? Don't get mad, just tell me the truth, it was intriguing, wasn't it?"
Daeho's question caught Jinwoo off guard, and he simply nodded, unsure how to respond. With a mix of worry and curiosity, Jinwoo asked, "But isn't that kind of dangerous? She seemed angry. Do you do that when it's just the two of you?"
"It's okay. When it's just us, mom doesn't really scold me like that. It's probably because you were here, so she felt embarrassed."
"What?"
"Normally, she just stands there till I do it a few times. If it gets too much, she'll change the subject instead of asking me to stop. Isn't it kind of cute how she tries to deflect the conversation when it happens?" Daeho continued, "Mom's body is so fit, and her butt's gotten so full, I just want to do it. When I do, it doesn't feel like she dislikes it, but rather like she's properly responding."
Jinwoo just listened quietly, his shocked expression unchanged.
"You seem shocked, huh? Aren't you curious about how it all started?"
Jinwoo swallowed hard and nodded. "How did this all start?"
===
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