Eun-tae lay in his hotel room bed, the soft, plush pillows cradling his head. He couldn't help but reminisce about the last conversation with A-ri before she had ended the call so abruptly. Her words echoed in his mind: Get in bed, and then we can talk again.
But what did she mean, exactly? Was he supposed to go to sleep? Was that what she wanted? Or did she simply want him to be in bed and then they continued their conversation? The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving a lingering question in his mind.
Unable to find a definitive answer, Eun-tae decided that the best course of action was to clear the matter up with A-ri. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and quickly typed out a message, I'm in bed now.
As he sent the message, he hoped it would be the right response among all the thoughts that had crossed his mind. He longed for the warmth of her voice, the reassurance that came with her presence, even if it was just over a phone call. The dilemma of work versus love, distance versus closeness, weighed on him as he waited for A-ri's reply.
Eun-tae's phone lit up with A-ri's message asking for proof of him being in bed. A small grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he took a quick snapshot of the blanket covering his legs. It was just a normal picture, but it was enough to convey the message. He sent it over and A-ri immediately replied with a message, Good.
A brief silence hung in the air as Eun-tae stared at his phone, contemplating the best way to continue the conversation. He decided to go with a generalized question that could hide his true query, What should we talk about now?
On the other side of the world, A-ri found herself in a similar predicament. She had asked Eun-tae to get in bed, longing for more of the sound of his voice, yet conflicted by the thought of him tiring himself out even more. She honestly didn't know what to talk about, but she couldn't bear the silence either.
Just as Eun-tae was about to suggest a topic, a notification chimed, indicating a new message from A-ri. He opened it and was met with a picture of her on the bed, posing with a 'fighting' sign. A warmth spread through him at the sight of her, but his reaction surprised even him. A wave of desire and embarrassment washed over Eun-tae, and he quickly set his phone face-down on the nightstand.
For A-ri, sending the picture had been a spontaneous decision. She felt it was only fair, given that she had asked Eun-tae to send a picture. Plus, she secretly hoped he would reciprocate with a picture of his own.
However, there was something A-ri hadn't quite considered. She had put on a one-piece pyjama dress, one that used thin strings to hold up her shoulders. The result was a picture that showcased not only her encouraging pose but also a hint of cleavage and her slender thighs. As soon as she sent it, a flush of embarrassment crept onto her cheeks.
Eun-tae had fallen silent on the other end, and A-ri wondered if she had made a mistake. Had she crossed a line? Her concern deepened as time passed without a response from him.
A-ri's realization that she had sent a rather revealing picture sent her into a sudden frenzy. She stared at her phone, unsure of what to do next. Panic welled up inside her. Should she delete the picture? But what if Eun-tae had already seen it? Should she claim it was a mistake? But how could she explain such an accident? Her cheeks burned hotter by the second, and she felt like tossing her phone away in embarrassment.
Just as A-ri was about to take some action, she heard the familiar ding of a message received. She hesitantly picked up her phone and opened the message from Eun-tae, her heart racing. What she saw made her eyes widen in surprise and her face turned several shades redder.
Eun-tae had taken off his shirt, and the picture he sent was somewhat more daring, accompanied by a suggestive message. A-ri's immediate reaction was to fling her phone onto the pillow next to her. She then used another pillow to cover her face and ears, which were undoubtedly as red as her cheeks.
Why had he responded like this? Was he trying to hint at something? Or perhaps he was just trying to level the playing field so they could share in their embarrassment? A whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swept through A-ri, making her heart pound with anticipation and uncertainty.
Eun-tae, on the other end of the virtual exchange, was now regretting his impulsive response. What had come over him in that moment? Was it the fatigue that had clouded his judgment? Or perhaps the room was too warm, and he had simply taken off his shirt without much thought? He couldn't think of any other explanation, and he mentally chided himself for letting his exhaustion get the better of him.
Just as he was mentally berating himself, his phone chimed with a new message from A-ri. His curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the message, only to find himself entirely unprepared for what he saw.
A-ri had sent a new picture, and this time, she had truly taken the conversation into explicit territory. The image showed her pulling her dress up to reveal her underboob, while her panties were on full display. Eun-tae's self-control snapped.
He hastily set his phone down on the bedside table, both hands flying to his face. He could feel the heat radiating from his body, steam escaping as his breath quickened. His lower half ached, hardening with each breath, and his thoughts were consumed by a heady mix of lust and desire.
This was the first time he had seen A-ri so vulnerable, so tempting, and if she were in front of him right now, he knew he would have devoured her without a second thought. But with only a tiny screen to connect them, he was left utterly frustrated and helpless.
Meanwhile, on A-ri's end, embarrassment and desire waged a fierce battle within her. She couldn't believe she had sent such an explicit image, but at the same time, a rush of excitement coursed through her. She bit her lip, wondering what Eun-tae's response would be, her heart pounding with anticipation and a newfound sense of boldness.
A new message notification broke the tense silence in the room, and A-ri's heart raced as she picked up her phone. This time, it wasn't a picture attachment, just a single word: "More?"
Eun-tae was feeling bold, and his question sent a shiver of anticipation through her. She couldn't believe how daring this conversation had become, but there was no denying the excitement coursing through her veins. She took a deep breath and decided to match his boldness.
As Eun-tae had removed his pants and was now in his boxers, his hand had begun to explore his body, touching and teasing. The anticipation was nearly unbearable.
Before long, another picture arrived, and Eun-tae immediately lost control. It was A-ri, her dress already taken off, her arm strategically covering her nipple but leaving everything else bare and exposed. She was stretched out on the mattress, her panties the only piece of clothing that remained.
Eun-tae eagerly zoomed in to get a better view, his boxer sliding down to his thigh, revealing a fully erect desire that demanded attention. His arousal was undeniable, and he couldn't tear his eyes away from the image.
But in his haste to examine the picture more closely, Eun-tae accidentally pressed the video call button. Both of their phones immediately rang with the incoming call, startling them both.
Blushing furiously, Eun-tae quickly ended the call, while A-ri swiftly declined it on her end. Now, they were both left in a peculiar stalemate, their feelings in disarray, half-naked on their respective beds, and the electrifying tension between them hanging heavily in the air.
Their lustful desires, ignited by their daring exchange of images and words, still smouldered intensely. Even though they were miles apart, they yearned for each other in a way that transcended distance and time.
Eun-tae couldn't help himself as he used the provocative picture A-ri had sent as a reference. His fingers danced across his skin, following the contours he could only imagine tracing on A-ri's body. The image of her half-naked form fueled his passion, and he couldn't resist the temptation.
A-ri, too, was consumed by desire. She closed her eyes and let her imagination run wild. She pictured Eun-tae with her, his hands and lips exploring her every curve, his touch setting her body on fire. As she indulged in her fantasies, her body responded, and she found herself reaching a climax that left her breathless and trembling.
It was a pivotal moment in their evolving relationship. What had started as a playful exchange had deepened into something more profound? They had crossed a boundary, moving from the realm of pretence to a new level of intimacy, one that was undeniably real and passionate.