Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 309 - Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (4) 

Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (4) 

 

‘Who would’ve thought there’d even be places that rent out school uniforms?’

 

But it was too late for regrets—Hyejin had already figured out the location.

 

“Isn’t this usually something you do in college?”

 

At an age when you’d be nostalgic for your school uniform.

 

I’m now in my late twenties, so I don’t miss school uniforms anymore.

 

But whether he knew my feelings or not, Han Woohyun sided with Hyejin.

 

“You’re pretty.”

 

Han Woohyun put a cat headband on me and even took a picture.

 

“…You seem a little excited?”

 

“….”

 

Judging by the fact that he doesn’t deny it, he really is excited.

 

Dreaming of revenge, I placed a headband with puppy ears on Han Woohyun’s head.

 

But in moments like this, Han Woohyun, who doesn’t find teasing fun, quietly accepted the headband.

 

Even though his school uniform jacket was on the verge of ripping.

 

I silently took out my phone and snapped a photo of Han Woohyun.

 

He’s cute, isn’t he?

 

“Did you do something like this in college?”

 

“I think I did.”

 

We went on a date once.

 

It was back in college, and my partner particularly enjoyed this kind of date.

 

I guess you could call it a date that’s great for taking pictures.

 

Thanks to that, we took plenty of photos, but actually going on the rides I liked wasn’t much fun since he said they made him feel nauseous.

 

“Reminds me of the old days.”

 

“Mhm?”

 

Han Woohyun slightly lowered his head and muttered right in front of my nose.

 

Uh, I got caught.

 

I slightly pulled my face back.

 

“Back then, it wasn’t fun. I couldn’t go on a single ride I wanted, and we just took a ton of photos before leaving.”

 

“Looks like he’s just the type of guy who loves to spread rumors.”

 

“That guy?”

 

I looked at Han Woohyun with a puzzled look. 

 

He was definitely the type who liked spreading rumors… but how did you know that? 

 

It seems the thought jumped from “liking to take photos” to “liking to spread rumors”—

 

‘As expected, he’s surprisingly sharp.’

 

But calling someone “that guy” when you’ve never even met them before…

 

It’s an unnecessary sense of hostility, but… it’s kind of cute.

 

I grabbed his cheek with a short moan.

 

“Are you… jealous?”

 

“Mhm.” 

 

With his face slightly turned to the side, Han Woohyun replied.

 

His brown eyes were fixed on me, unwavering.

 

‘I’m the one who asked the question, though.’

 

I felt my face grow warm and quickly let go of his cheek.

 

“Is there really any need to be jealous…? After all… the one by my side right now is you…”

 

While I was mumbling, Han Woohyun took my hand.

 

“Let’s ride everything you want today.” 

 

“Mhm.” 

 

“Without any regrets.”

 

“Mhm?” 

 

Regret?

 

While I tilted my head, confused, Han Woohyun spoke.

 

“It’s been a long time since I saw you in a school uniform.”

 

He spoke in a calm voice.

 

“I wanted to be in your time. Always.”

 

“….”

 

At that moment, loud footsteps echoed toward them.

 

It was Hyeyu, running toward Hyejin while holding a balloon. 

 

“Unnie, I want this one. I want to buy it.”

 

“Mom didn’t give me much allowance, you know?”

 

“You didn’t even buy me a hot dog!”

 

I decided to buy the balloon to stop the sisters from starting another fight.

 

* * *

 

The three days and two nights with the two kids flew by in the blink of an eye.

 

It was really fortunate that we decided to spend the time with the kids at the hotel.

 

Thanks to the laundry and room service, we didn’t have to worry about anything else and could just lounge around in the room. Since the room was spacious, Hyeyu ran around energetically and played to her heart’s content.

 

It was perfect timing that our schedule ended just as the kids started missing their mom.

 

The next night, the kids had exhausted themselves at the aquarium and fell asleep early, so Han Woohyun and I were able to enjoy the night view alone and finish a bottle of champagne.

 

“It’s relaxing.”

 

“Sometimes, it feels like we need to rest like this, doesn’t it?”

 

Han Woohyun asked, his question clearly laced with intent.

 

I guess this means I should take breaks like this from now on.

 

“…Yeah.”

 

Well, that wasn’t wrong.

 

Even while being busy with the kids, I used a pleasantly scented bath bomb to take a bath, ordered room service instead of having to clean the room, and excitedly rode the rides at an amusement park I had always wanted to visit.

 

Ah, thanks to that, I also found out that Han Woohyun is surprisingly afraid of rides.

 

It was because his face had turned pale after riding the roller coaster about three times.

 

‘Do you… want to ride more?’

 

‘If you’re scared, I can ride it alone.’

 

‘I’m not scared.’

 

‘Lies.’

 

‘It’s not scary… it’s just making me dizzy.’

 

Whatever it is, it’s relaxing.

 

It feels like spending energy on pointless things I’d never normally do, and purely doing the things I wanted to do without any goal.

 

Work can be enjoyable, but it’s hard to feel truly relaxed—but right now, I’m definitely experiencing firsthand why people love hotel vacations.

 

But—

 

“Still, the truth is, I actually enjoy working too.”

 

I didn’t say it because it sounded way too much like a workaholic thing.

 

It’s true.

 

“It’s completely different from when I was working at a company. Back then, work was just work, and even when I didn’t want to do it, there were so many things I had to endure to be a proper adult. So when I rested, I just lay on the bed to recharge for going back to work.”

 

There’s a reason they say happiness is about frequency, not intensity.

 

When I was working at a company, I’d take time off to travel to relieve stress, and I thought I had fun while I was there, but when I got back, I still felt even more exhausted.

 

Since the travel fatigue hadn’t fully worn off, I regretted going on the trip when I went back to work on Monday.

 

So in the end, on my days off, I end up choosing to completely relax at home without answering anyone’s calls.

 

But these days, it’s different.

 

Even though doing what I want doesn’t come without its own struggles, I find moments of happiness in between.

 

When people are happy eating the food I’ve made, when I see the joyful faces of guests relaxing at a hotel after a long time, or when the faces of guests in danger inside the dungeon light up as soon as they see me, as if they’ve found a glimmer of hope.

 

I’ve become happy enough at work that I’m willing to endure some hardships, and the time I spend preparing for that happiness no longer feels like it’s draining me—it feels like it’s helping me grow.

 

“So, you don’t have to worry too much.”

 

Han Woohyun seemed to pause as if thinking about my words, then soon nodded.

 

“That’s a relief, but still—”

 

Han Woohyun pulled my chair closer to him.

 

I widened my eyes as I felt my body lean toward Han Woohyun.

 

I realize it all over again, but he’s really strong.

 

Thinking of myself as an ordinary person again made the difference in strength hit me even more.

 

Han Woohyun buried his face in my shoulder and murmured.

 

“If you keep working all the time, we won’t have time to hang out like this.”

 

Han Woohyun’s hand slipped lightly under my legs and lifted me up effortlessly.

 

In an instant, I was on top of him, looking down at him.

 

“Play with me too.”

 

“…”

 

What do you mean play with me? 

 

The words are perfectly innocent, but being like this doesn’t exactly make my thoughts innocent.

 

With my face bright red, I hugged the back of Han Woohyun’s neck tightly.

 

“Yeah.” 

 

* * *

 

5 a.m.  

 

There were still thirty minutes until sunrise, so it was still dark around.

 

But after a little while, the streetlights shining through the large glass window illuminated the surroundings.

 

Did he sleep without drawing the curtains?

 

‘That’s a relief.’

 

Thinking that, Han Woohyun naturally reached out his hand.

 

Han Woohyun’s fingers, soft and neither clenched nor open like a flower bud just beginning to bloom, touched me. 

 

Han Woohyun slid his fingers between Junghyo’s.    

 

“Hmm…”

 

A moan slipped out from between Junghyo’s lips.

 

He flattened his body against the bed and stifled his breathing.

 

“…”

 

It doesn’t seem to be broken.

 

Thank goodness.

 

Since I met you, a lot of things have thankfully gotten better.

 

I’m grateful that morning came safely, that I survived that day to meet you, and that you stayed by my side despite my foolishness. 

 

Han Woohyun lay on his side like a flounder quietly curled up on the ocean floor, looking at Junghyo’s face. 

 

Normally, she looked tense, but when she slept, her face relaxed a little. 

 

I like that Junghyo only lets her guard down in front of him.

 

I like her flushed face and her reddening lips, but… 

 

Above all, he liked most how she stretched out lazily like a sleepy cat.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Although she seems to toss and turn quite often.

 

He drew a small, quick breath as he got to his feet.

 

His movements were careful, but the large size of his body made the bed shake. As soon as he got off the bed more cautiously, he crouched on the floor in his messy, crumpled pajamas.

 

After admiring Junghyo’s nose, lips, and ears, Han Woo-hyun, noticing the light gradually brightening outside, quickly got up.

 

But it was the very moment he stepped toward the bedroom, sliding the door open.

 

“…Oppa?” 

 

On the carpet sat Hyeyu, hugging a pillow tightly.

 

Han Woohyun quietly looked down at Hyeyu, her hair messy like a bird’s nest— 

 

He smoothly closed the sliding door and crouched down right in front of Hyeyu.

 

“Mhm.” 

 

He thought it was perfectly natural.

 

“You two slept together? Yesterday, too?”

 

“…”

 

“You left that room yesterday, too.”

 

Of course, the thought of it being natural was only his own delusion.

 

Han Woohyun smiled gently and stroked Hyeyu’s hair, saying,

 

“Don’t you want a hot dog today?”

 

Hyeyu nodded quickly at the word “hot dog.”

 

“…Can you not tell your Mom and sister?” 

 

“Sister? Which one?”

 

“…Both.”

 

Hyeyu nodded with a bashful smile.

 

“I woke up because I was hungry.”

 

“Should we go out now?”

 

“Aren’t we going out?”

 

Seeing Hyeyu’s lips turn downward, Han Woohyun shook his head.

 

“No. Let’s go now.”