Chapter 114
"I'll cherish it for life."
"You... seriously, every day on purpose!..."
Yoo Seol-ah paused her punches for a moment, then started swinging again as if she was still feeling wronged. Without channeling any mana, it just felt like a massage to me—and she was the one whose arms were getting sore.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb!... How many times has this happened to me? You think I don't know?"
I couldn't exactly push the idea that it was 100% her misunderstanding. But the fact that she kept falling for it after so many times made me think some people were just born with perfect comedic timing.
"Yeah, you've been getting hit with it a lot lately, huh."
"Hah, no—you set it up, and now you're all confident about it?"
"But I never actually mentioned anything about babies. Who took it that way?"
"Th-that... um!"
Truth be told, even while buying the sofa today, the cat topic had come up, so I'd tossed out a little bait thinking it might be trickier this time. But Yoo Seol-ah's mind always seemed to circle back to babies. Once we fully moved into our new place, it felt like we'd have the basics set for starting a family. And honestly, I wanted to see a kid who looked like her.
"Tch..."
With nothing more to say, Yoo Seol-ah pouted slightly and started walking ahead. We'd pretty much bought all the big essential appliances, and even though it was before dinner, grabbing a snack would probably cheer her right up.
Leaving the appliance section, we quickly entered the food area. We'd probably eat dinner here anyway, so no need for ingredients. Yoo Seol-ah wandered around just browsing, then headed to the snacks. We often munched on these with drinks or booze at home, so I grabbed a small basket, planning to pick up a few.
Yoo Seol-ah didn't discriminate when it came to junk food. I struggled with super sweet stuff like chocolate or candy, but not her. She ate pretty much everything except cucumbers.
Her sulky expression was gone now, replaced by an excited smile as she eyed the various snacks. She'd mentioned liking that onion-flavored potato chip lately. I grabbed some chocolate chip cookies and her favorite.
"You'll eat this, right?"
"Yeah, I was looking for that..."
She finally turned around. Still pouting, but the moment she saw what I was holding, her sulk act crumbled.
"...Ah, ahem. If you buy it, sure, I'll eat it..."
She noticed her lips betraying her with a big grin and cleared her throat, hardening her expression again. In all our time together, I'd never seen her truly upset. She always pulled this after my teasing. It was cute enough that I wanted to let it slide, but the fix was simple: just hold her hand or hug her from behind, and she'd melt instantly.
It basically meant she wanted some affection after the prank. Wondering what to do this time, I spotted a familiar treat in the snack tray nearby—ring candies, the kind from elementary school. They still sell these? I wasn't big on candy, but I snuck one into the basket with the others without her noticing.
Yoo Seol-ah picked just two she liked, we checked out, and headed out of the store.
"Where should we get the cat from?"
"Good question."
She wasn't planning to drag out the fake sulk anyway, back to normal now that we were outside. After a quick think, we decided to ask Lee Seo-yeon, who was already raising two cats. Yoo Seol-ah called without hesitation.
"Hello? Seo-yeon, you busy right now?"
- "Nah. What's up? Miss me?"
"Obviously."
- "Wow, zero soul in that answer. So why'd you call?"
Her voice came through clearly on speaker.
"We're moving and thinking of getting a cat... but we're kinda stuck."
- "Oh yeah! I kept forgetting something lately—that was it!"
We exchanged confused glances, not getting what Lee Seo-yeon meant. But she explained right away.
- "I know someone who runs a stray cat shelter. When you mentioned getting cats, I meant to tell you to check it out but forgot."
"Oh, so your cats too?"
- "Yeah, tons of kittens there—some left behind after typhoons, all sorts of reasons. They come in a lot."
I knew shelters often had to euthanize due to space, money, and staffing issues. Better if we adopted.
- "Where are you guys now? Not far? I can pick you up."
"How'd you know Baek Sion was here? He hasn't said a word."
- "Figured you were out, and Yoo Seol-ah never goes anywhere alone."
"......"
While she was speechless, I jumped in.
"Genius."
- "Knew you'd say that. Anyway, where?"
"At the department store. Bought a sofa and stuff."
- "Cool, wait there. Heading out now."
"'Kay."
- "See ya."
She hung up quick, and we sat on a nearby bench. Yoo Seol-ah was definitely more cutesy with girls. You could tell from her chats with Lee Seo-yeon or Park Harin. Baek Sia sometimes forwarded me their messages, and yeah—Yoo Seol-ah spammed heart emojis like the pretty-girl lover she was.
"'Kay'?"
"I-I said yeah, okay?... You're hearing what you wanna hear..."
Anyone could tell that wasn't just "yeah." I already knew she had a hidden aegyo side—it just made her more shy around me.
"Ah, whose fault is it that I suddenly crave something sweet..."
Remembering earlier, she stared right at me. Not planned, but perfect timing—I had just the sweet thing. I pulled out the ring candy from the bag. She didn't recognize it at first through the wrapper, but lit up when I unwrapped it.
"What? They still sell these? When'd you buy it?"
"Saw it earlier. Feels like 10 years for me too."
Not the tastiest, but full of nostalgia. I held it out to her. She tilted her head, confused.
"Gimme your hand."
I was on her right, so she offered her right hand naturally, but I placed it back on her knee and took her left instead, holding it steady in front of me. She looked flustered, her face slowly flushing.
"Ahh..."
The left ring finger symbolized deepening love. It was a cheap candy ring under 1,000 won, but price didn't matter. That's how you're supposed to eat them anyway—worn on the finger.
Her fingers were so slender, it slipped on easily.
"......"
Her ears red as she stared at the candy ring on her hand. The garish colors and big gem looked tacky after 10 years, but on her, it felt like cosplay—surprisingly natural. I'd put it on just for her to wear while eating, but she seemed lost in thought.
Then she raised her right hand, palm toward her left.
"...Freeze."
She'd cast magic precisely on just the candy— no chill reached me, but the mana expenditure was impressive. A tiny spell could've cooled it, but this... she meant to make it eternally unmelting.
Still gazing at it post-spell, she finally turned to me with a bright smile.
"Thanks. I'll cherish it for life."
I'd meant it as a lighthearted gag, not expecting this reaction.
"Not gonna eat it? You said you wanted sweet."
"...It's sweet enough already."
That line embarrassed her; she turned away, but kept going.
"...It's the first ring you gave me. Can't eat it."
Someone who cherishes even small gestures—that's why I'm so hooked. Rummaging the bag, she found the extra one I'd bought, unwrapped it silently, and offered her hand.
...Guess I'm wearing this all day.
Like it was obvious, she slipped it onto my left ring finger and cast the preservation spell. A tiny mana core inside kept emitting a gentle chill. We looked like goofy lovebirds, but it felt great.
Soon, Lee Seo-yeon pulled up nearby and walked over. Spotting Yoo Seol-ah from afar, she quipped,
"What? Cosplay?"
"...Nooo..."
Closer now, seeing our hands:
"...What, rubbing it in or something?"
"...No...!"
She seemed a bit embarrassed, but the smile never left Yoo Seol-ah's face.