[Sim Daejung & Perla Small]

I can't believe it's been two months. On one hand, I'm happy I managed to get back in my feet, landing a new job and getting to know Perla a little better. On the other hand, I can't help feeling guilty. I feel like I'm abusing her patience and hospitality. I love staying here, but maybe I should start looking around for my own place. I don't think she'll be too pleased to host me for more time than intended.

She seems to be noticing my interior conflict and is likely to be disappointed that I might leave soon. While she sees me as a good friend, nothing more than that, I suspect she has ulterior motives. Maybe she craves for a little more than just making cringey puns about sex.

Oh, come on! Who am I to assume what she truly feels about me? I should keep my perverse thoughts to myself.

She catches my glimpse and suddenly a devilish grim appears on her face. "Do you wanna play?" Her question leaves no room for absurd interpretations. It's so simple, yet so fiercely direct. I like it. And she'll love my answer, I swear.

"Let's play, then. I assume you make the rules." I love being in charge, but I sometimes wonder how being dominated is. Since I launched the infamous Face game back in 2021, I've had some one night stands here and there, just to test the waters and to see if I could stand a real relationship. Of course, I failed.

Perla nods. "You're right. This time, I make the rules. I hope you're okay with that. Otherwise..." She doesn't finish the sentence. It's obvious it's a threat. She can kick me out or simply give me the silent treatment if I don't accept her terms. I don't know if she has realized it yet, but I love mind games.

"Fine. Where do we start?"

She smirks. "Hehe... I have a little surprise for you. Turn back." I hesitate, wondering what she means with her request, but she throws a pointed glare at me. I don't want her to remind me the rules again. That's the annoying part.

So, I just do as she asks and turn my back at her, snickering behind her back. Is this a way for her to channel her forbidden desires, her explicit fantasies, her... craving for sex? Okay, enough!

After two minutes that seems to last forever, I hear Perla whisper, "You can turn... Or are you afraid?" This teasing game is already pissing me off but at the same time it sounds so exciting, especially when she's taking the lead. I can imagine how this day can be exciting to her.

She once told me she has had her fair share of flings, but only a few of them turned into actual relationships where true love is involved and all that shit. The rest were just one-day stands and that was it. She doesn't strike me as an evil girl, though. I think she'll show some mercy when she casts me aside, saying that we're not meant to be. The way I picture it may be gloomy, but I'm used to the worst, so I don't mind.

I notice she's barenaked. No layers on, not even her underwear. I'm still fully dressed, though. I guess it's time to take things seriously, as well as my clothes off. I'm about to turn my back again when Perla stops me. "No no no... Do you really think I can resist that?" She obviously refers to my pack.

"You're not ready to see it, Perla... You're gonna be shocked. You don't want me to leave you in a trance, right?" This time, it's my turn teasing. She knows she needs to watch her moves as much as I have to do, or we might both be toast.

"Don't test my patience, Sim. You know you're going to make a fool out of yourself if you don't do what I told you." She shakes her pointing finger and throws a glare at me again. I hate her glare game. It's only a way for her to make me cave more easily.

I'm a difficult guy, though, and I'm not going to make an exception for a girl I just met a few months ago, even if she happens to be the one who gave me a place where to live.

So, I do as told and take my clothes off under her watch. Still, I do so in a rush. I don't even let her enough time of me getting undressed slowly, one piece at the time. I like doing it quickly; if she doesn't, her loss. I don't like compromising on this.

Nonetheless, she's pleased at my body, especially at the tattoos on my left arm. I know, they're nonsense, but I don't care. After all, who would be desperate enough to hook out with a man who picked the phone prefix of South Korea and the phrase "Dead or Alive?" as his first tattoos ever?

Yes, that's it. Unlike what she tries to show me, Perla reeks of desperation. I don't know if it's good or bad; what matters is that, if not handled properly, it kills desire. I decide not to warn her to see what length she takes to get what she wants.

What happens next is not what I expected at first. Perla suddenly bursts into laughter and then snickers. "Haha. Do you really think I want to hook up now? That was just a test, you silly-"

I cut her off, my fists in the air. "What the fuck, Perla! I should've understood you're playing me!" My voice now echoes through the little room. I continue, "I mean, I've made out with people I barely knew on the first day in the past. Are you chicken or what?"

The last question doesn't sit well with her. "Don't call me chicken again, or you'll be back in the streets before you know." I don't know if that's a serious threat or just one of her jokes. That's because she has a devilish grin plastered on her face. I don't know if it's worth being kissed or punched either. I can usually recognize a puncheable face from miles. In Perla's case, it's a lot different.

"You know, I'm tired of this teasing game. Let's just stop and put our clothes back on, before this turns sour," I suggest. "You don't want this to happen, do you?"

"Hmm... No, thanks. I prefer sweet over sour. So, I'll just take your suggestion." She agrees and we both pick our clothes up from the floor. I wish things had turned out differently. Who knows, it could've been interesting... At least I've managed to avoid embarrassment. I hate that feeling. Everyone uses it against me at their own pleasure. Oh, come on, who am I to judge? I've put other people in uncomfortable situations in the past, too.

As we're done getting dressed, Perla checks the time on her phone and jumps back. "Oh my God! I'm fucking late! I need to go-" She doesn't finish her sentence and just takes her things before leaving the house. She doesn't even close the door, which means I have to.

I've already seen her in a rush a couple of times, but this time it seems serious. Maybe she's facing hard times at work. It's hard to tell because she doesn't really like talking about it, but I'm sure it's something I can't do much about.

For now, I'll just focus on watching some TV to get distracted.