Wendy leaned against the table, her eyes slightly unfocused as she gazed at Ren, but a mischievous smile played on her lips. Her cheeks were flushed, not just from the alcohol but from something else—something that made the atmosphere in the room feel much hotter than before.
Ren swallowed hard, sensing that something was off. Wendy had never acted before. She was always energetic, cheerful, even a little playful, but now there was something softer in her gaze.
"Hey, are you okay?" Ren asked cautiously, trying to make sure this was just the alcohol talking.
Wendy let out a small giggle, pushing herself up from her seat with one hand on the table for balance. "I’m fine, Strom~ But you know? You’re really mysterious... and that makes you interesting."
Ren raised an eyebrow, feeling increasingly uneasy. "I think you’re pretty drunk," he said, attempting to shift the conversation. But Wendy ignored him.
With light but unsteady steps, she walked closer, disregarding the fact that her balance was starting to waver. Her hand reached out, landing on Ren’s shoulder, making him tense up instantly.
"You’re going to leave, aren’t you?" she whispered, her voice softer than usual. "I know this might sound strange... but I feel like I don’t want you to go."
Ren froze. His eyes met Wendy’s, who was now standing dangerously close to him. He could feel the warmth of her body, hear the slight unevenness in her breathing.
"Wendy..." Ren exhaled, trying to find the right words.
But before he could say anything else, Wendy leaned in even closer. The hand that had been resting on his shoulder slowly slid down, her fingers brushing against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his skin.
Ren felt his heart pounding faster than usual. A battle raged inside him—this wasn’t the Wendy he was used to, but at the same time... it was still Wendy.
The girl he had always thought of as a friend... or maybe something more?
He could push her away, but something held him back. Whether it was curiosity or just a man’s instinct, he wasn’t sure.
But the moment shattered in an instant.
"Hngh..." Wendy suddenly stopped, her expression shifting to discomfort. A few seconds later—
"Urgh... I feel dizzy..."
And just like that, she collapsed forward, landing straight against Ren’s chest before completely passing out.
Ren sat frozen in place, still in his chair, while Wendy’s head now rested on his shoulder.
Silence filled the room.
"...Seriously?" Ren finally muttered, staring at the ceiling with a mix of frustration and relief.
Carefully, he adjusted Wendy’s position and laid her down on the sofa, making sure she was comfortable. Then, he let out a long sigh, running a hand down his face.
"Damn... This was really unexpected," he mumbled, watching Wendy as she now slept peacefully.
Tonight... felt longer than usual.
After making sure Wendy was comfortably asleep in her room, Ren took a deep breath and stepped out. He returned to the dining area, cleaning up the table and putting away the scattered dishes. Then, without much thought, he grabbed his coat and walked outside to the wooden storage shed behind the house.
Inside the shed was something far more than just a simple storage space.
It was where he kept one of his greatest achievements in this world—his self-made car. A sleek, modern vehicle powered by technology far beyond the standards of this world, a testament to his ingenuity.
Ren opened the door, climbed into the driver’s seat, and leaned back. He stared at the ceiling of the cabin, trying to clear his mind, but instead, his thoughts drifted back to what had just happened.
Wendy’s words. Her gaze. The way she had leaned against him.
Ren let out a deep sigh and ruffled his hair in frustration.
(Damn it... I shouldn’t be thinking about this so much.)
He had always been good at controlling his emotions. He wasn’t the type to get carried away easily, and even in the past, plenty of women had confessed to him—but it had all felt... empty.
But this time... something felt different.
(Why does this feel so real...?)
Ren closed his eyes, trying to suppress the unsettling feeling creeping into his chest.
He wasn’t naive about emotions. Since he was young, he knew that if he ever got into a relationship, it had to be based on deep understanding, not just fleeting attraction.
At the same time, he had high standards—especially when it came to women.
He disliked childish girls who depended too much on others.
He preferred women who were mature, independent, and knew what they wanted.
Ren ran a hand over his face, sighing again.
"Well... I guess mature women don’t suit me," he muttered, half-joking, half-frustrated.
Even though he tried to deny it, the reality was right in front of him.
Wendy was a mature woman. Wendy was independent.
And without realizing it, he had started seeing her differently.
That night, in the car that was supposed to be his temporary resting place, Ren found himself trapped in his own emotional turmoil.
The next morning, Wendy woke up with a slight headache. Sunlight peeked through the window, making her squint as she stretched. Her body felt a little weak, and she groaned softly as she tried to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
But the moment she realized where she was—her eyes shot wide open.
Wendy sat up abruptly, her face instantly turning red.
(Wait, this... Strom’s room? WHY AM I HERE!?)
Memories from last night flashed through her mind like lightning. Their conversation, their laughter, Ren’s homemade pizza... then the alcohol...
(I-I got drunk...! And I... What did I even say
Wendy clutched her head, feeling so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.
(Why was I so weak!? Ugh, I knew I shouldn’t have drunk that much!)
She quickly threw off the blanket and climbed out of bed, but in her rush, she lost her balance slightly. Her legs were still weak, nearly making her stumble.
A familiar voice came from the doorway. Wendy turned immediately, her eyes meeting Ren’s as he leaned casually against the frame.
He was dressed simply—a black T-shirt and loose pants—his hair slightly messy, showing that he had only recently gotten up.
But what made Wendy the most flustered was the look in Ren’s eyes—one that practically screamed, I know what happened last night.
"Morning, Wendy," he greeted smoothly, his tone light but with a hint of amusement.
Wendy instantly covered her face with both hands, feeling her blush deepen.
"Aaaaah!! Don’t look at me! Forget everything!" she yelled, desperately trying to erase her own embarrassment.
Ren chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, I can’t promise that," he said casually before adding teasingly, "But don’t worry, you didn’t do anything too weird... at least, not too weird."
Wendy’s eyes widened as she shot him a suspicious glare.
"What do you mean ’not too weird’!?"
Ren just shrugged with a mysterious expression.
"You’ll remember it eventually," he replied before turning toward the kitchen. "Anyway, I made breakfast. If you’re still feeling dizzy, you should eat before your headache gets worse."
Wendy wanted to argue more, but suddenly, her stomach growled.
(Ugh... This isn’t the time to fight my own stomach.)
With a defeated sigh, she reluctantly followed Ren out of the room, though her embarrassment still lingered.
That morning, despite starting with panic and chaos, slowly became more relaxed... with Ren enjoying every second of Wendy’s flustered state.
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m