UR Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“Hello.”

Whether it was because of stress or because he’d fallen asleep after drinking heavily, I-bom had sunk into an incredibly deep sleep.

So deep that he wouldn’t have noticed if someone had carried him away, his body and soul felt heavy, as if buried under the blankets.

Then, someone whispered sweetly in his ear.

A low voice brushed against his earlobe before pulling back, warm and gentle, like music singing him a lullaby.

Still deep in sleep, I-bom stirred faintly.

“Baby student.”

His ear tingled.

Though his mind cleared, his body still felt weighed down, as if moving separately from him.

It was a strange sensation—warm and snug, as though wrapped in a soft, furry blanket.

Blinking his lashes, he tried to open his eyes.

“Ah…”

When he finally managed to open them, everything around him was pure white.

Maybe he was still drunk?

He blinked again, but the scene didn’t change.

It felt strangely familiar.

He had been here before—covered in blankets and pillows that were as soft as cotton candy, the sweet scent tickling his nose, while rainbow-colored clouds floated gently all around him.

His lips curled upward in a small smile as the memory came back to him.

Ah, that’s right.

That pleasant dream.

The one where the cute breeze spirit, Seopung, appeared.

“Seopung…?” he murmured.

“Do I seem like Seopung to you?”

The reply was spoken gently.

Turning toward the voice, I-bom found himself staring at a dignified tiger gazing right at him.

“Ah… no.”

His denial was quick.

“Good.”

Unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar—the tiger’s fur was a blend of beige, orange, and gold, his golden eyes glinting like jewels, sharp yet radiant.

White whiskers fanned out from a strong muzzle, thick fur framed his face, and bold stripes traced his refined features.

It was an unreal sight, but not frightening at all.

In fact, it felt comforting.

“Then where’s Seopung?”

“He’s in self-reflection.”

And then, I-bom realized—this tiger was the same one from his last dream, the one who had held him as they slept.

“Why? Why is he—”

He sat up quickly, glancing at the softness beneath him, only to realize it wasn’t a blanket but the tiger’s body.

He had been lying against him again.

“Careful.”

The tiger’s thick tail swayed lazily, as if pleased.

“Ah, sorry. I fell asleep on you again…”

It must have been the rare drink earlier—he had dozed off so easily, even dreaming.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“But… I fell asleep using your body as a pillow.”

“It’s not uncomfortable.”

The tiger smiled faintly.

“It must mean my embrace was comfortable enough for you to sleep.”

“Mm… yes.”

The floating sensation was strange but pleasant—like drifting on a cloud.

“But… where is this place?”

As I-bom glanced around, trying to figure it out, the tiger tilted his head.

“My, your hair is a mess.”

Instead of letting him go, the tiger’s pink tongue appeared, and his tail drew I-bom closer by the waist.

The soft brush of fur tickled his skin.

As if to ease the tension in his shoulders, the tiger began to carefully lick his hair.

“Ah…”

The sharp mouth was close to his face, yet there was no fear—only a deep, melting drowsiness.

The steady grooming was strangely pleasant.

In real life, I-bom had little joy apart from caring for stray cats.

His life was a grind—endless work and no one to look after him.

But here, in a dream, someone was grooming him like this… it was surprisingly heartwarming.

“Ah… ah…”

The careful strokes of the tongue moved from his hair, down the length of his body.

Every so often, the sharp tips of his fangs brushed his hair.

I-bom knew tigers could kill a person in one bite, but from him, there was no sense of malice—only the gentleness of handling something precious.

Like cradling a newborn, he moved with care, drawing an involuntary sound from I-bom.

“Mm… it tickles.”

The thick tail curled snugly around his waist, pressing in with a heavy warmth that rolled into the dip of his spine.

The sensation was new and strangely stirring, making him twist unconsciously.

“Mm—”

The tiger’s polite, gentlemanly gaze swept over him, carrying a faintly suggestive air.

“Does it tickle?”

He stopped licking and gave an apologetic nod.

Then, with a gentle flick of his tail, he smoothed I-bom’s clothes—though a couple of buttons on his shirt had already come undone.

“I should have stopped sooner. I must have gotten carried away because I liked it so much. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“If you dislike it, I’ll stop.”

“Ah, no, it’s not that I dislike it…”

The sensation had been nothing like dislike.

Blinking, I-bom met the tiger’s gaze.

Those golden eyes shone so brightly they almost hurt to look at, his voice polite, his demeanor disciplined, holding back desire with restraint.

His sharp claws and lowered posture only added to the impression of grace.

“Um…”

He hesitated.

Where had he seen this tiger before?

He should have been afraid, yet instead his chest felt full with something like anticipation.

“But you’re… really handsome.”

He swallowed.

Even if it was only a dream, it was rare to have one feel this vivid.

The thought that he was feeling flustered over a tiger was strange, but beyond the unreality of the moment, the way those eyes looked at him—with reverence, even—was breathtaking.

I-bom couldn’t look away from that deep, burning gaze.

“Am I?”

The tiger’s lips curled faintly.

“You think I’m handsome?”

I-bom shyly nodded.

“Y-yeah… And, um, can I touch your tail? It’s so big. I’m just curious…”

That little spark of curiosity had snuck in. After all, it was just a dream. Since it was a dream, surely it was okay to ask if he could touch it, right?

If not, then so be it.

“Mm, as much as you like.”

Lick.

The tiger tilted his chin slightly and ran his tongue over I-bom’s fingers.

“…If you think this is big, you might be in trouble later.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Now then…”

His courteous movements contrasted oddly with the burning, smoldering look in his eyes, as if he could pounce at any second.

“Slowly… wrap your hand around it. Gently, softly.”

I-bom reminded himself again that it was just a very vivid, amazing dream, and reached out to touch the tiger’s tail.

The fluffy, full tail felt like a scarf made of soft fur—different from the stiff hair of a dog.

His eyes followed it as if hypnotized, and the tail swayed, almost as if trying to tempt him closer.

The low whisper that brushed his ear made his cheeks burn hot enough to steal his breath, his eyes widening.

What… is this?

To hide his embarrassment, I-bom simply sat quietly, fiddling with the tiger’s tail.

Something was strange. The gentle brushing sensation and the way the tail curled around his waist… it was getting closer.

“Um… you’re getting closer, aren’t you?”

The tiger smiled warmly, I-bom’s shy face reflected in those friendly eyes.

“Haa… a sweet scent.”

The tail encircling his waist brushed against his hip bone.

The texture of fur rubbing slowly against him sent a shiver racing over his skin—and along with it, a sharper, tingling sensation that made him bend his back.

“Mm—huh? Wh-what do you—”

Covering his mouth in confusion, I-bom tried to hold his breath.

“Are you scared? What, do you feel like you’re about to be eaten?”

Huh?

I-bom blinked in surprise at the question, raising his brows slightly as he looked at the tiger who had said it so casually.

“I won’t do anything you say you don’t want.”

“Hh… mm…”

“Don’t be afraid.”

The hot breath brushing his nose was intimidating.

That rough voice—rubbing against his whole body while saying, Do you feel like you’re about to be eaten?—was dangerous.

Somewhere in the swirl of confusion that made him want to let go of his senses entirely, a sharp, thrilling fear struck him: the fear that this tiger really might devour him whole.

“Instead—”

“Huh…? Uh, uhh…”

The strange sensation was rising—deeper, heavier.

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, his lower back grew more sensitive, and tension coiled tight under his navel as heat swelled there, slowly expanding.

The alien feeling made him twist his hips sharply.

“Hh…!”

“To my baby student, I’ll give my [censored].”

TL/N: “아기 학생에게 내 ■■을.”

The tiger’s cheek brushed gently against I-bom’s, his heavy forepaw sliding toward the zipper of I-bom’s pants.

“Found it.”

I-bom squeezed his eyes shut.

“I-bom, wake up.”

Gasp!

He bolted upright, breathing hard.

His back felt uncomfortably damp.

And instead of the flirting tiger, Su-hyun was staring at him with wide, blank eyes.

“Uh…?”

Letting out a dazed groan, I-bom met Su-hyun’s gaze.

A quick glance around revealed the familiar stained ceiling of his house.

It seemed he had passed out after drinking last night and slept straight through until now.

From his shoulder blades down to his spine, his back was clammy, sending an involuntary shiver through him.

He lifted a hand to wipe away the cold sweat.

“Why… are you here, hyung?”

Blinking his sweat-damp lashes, I-bom opened his mouth.

When he let out a short sigh, the chill in the air made him hunch his shoulders.

“What kind of dream were you having to shout like that? I was just gonna leave you sleeping, but then you suddenly yelled, so I thought something happened and came in.”

Here.

Su-hyun picked up a blanket lying in the corner and draped it over I-bom’s shoulders.

“Ah… thanks. But, why did you come here?”

“Well… that ‘thing you have to do for me’ I mentioned before? It’s finally come up.”

“…What is it?”

Gathering his uneasy thoughts, I-bom steadied himself and stood up.