Chapter 50
"...Don't you want to be husband and wife with me?"
The moment I heard Yoo Seol-ah's words, I froze—and from the silence on the other end of the phone, it seemed Baek Sia had too. No sound at all.
A moment later, I snapped out of it, quickly tapped my phone to mute it, and turned to Seol-ah. "...Hey, if you call us husband and wife like that..."
Sure, I figured we'd introduce ourselves that way someday, but wasn't the timing a bit rushed?
But Seol-ah's eyes were sharpening subtly. "...We're not even a couple."
"Well, no, but..."
...True, we're definitely not a couple. Seol-ah had said "husband and wife" herself, but she'd never utter "couple." We both always used full names, cringing at direct affection. Our personalities meant no clear confession even after the wedding—and I had zero complaints about the current setup. But others had conventional ideas about "husband and wife," so yeah, it threw me.
Seol-ah, still a bit pouty, asked, "Then what should I say?"
"We could go with clubmates or university classmates—plenty of options."
At my alternatives, she openly pursed her lips. Her light pink ones parted slightly, a sulky voice slipping out. "So we're just... university classmates...?"
"......"
Looking closer, it was more embarrassment than sulk. Not breaking eye contact despite her flushing cheeks, she took a deep breath—loud enough to hear—and gazed at me intently.
"......Don't you want to be husband and wife with me?"
"......"
For a split second, it felt like the world minus us two had paused. Her big eyes lifted slightly as she stared up at me—the impact was devastating, impossible to resist.
How could anyone not want to be husband and wife with this Seol-ah?
"...If you don't like it, I'll say I was joking..."
"No. We have to say it eventually anyway."
Her expression and line were straight-up foul play—no way I could react negatively. Her cuteness was lethal, suffocating.
...Did I hear that wrong or something...
Sia finally recovered, her voice resuming from the phone. I unmuted and spoke calmly. "...You heard right."
......
"You're outside right now, yeah?"
A bit of background noise, and she never stayed indoors long anyway. Parents aside, it was fine to tell Sia now.
...Yeah, outside, but... for real? Husband and wife...?
Her voice trembled unusually—she was usually chill, but this was tough to process. Heck, claiming hidden camera might be more believable; not stuttering was impressive.
By Astasia standards, we were saintess-approved spouses, but no way to mention that world. So I rephrased for Sia. "...More precisely, fiancée. It's a long story."
Best choice. We both knew marriage was imminent, so fiancée fit. Seol-ah had half-jokingly said "husband and wife" earlier, but seeing me dodge soured her mood a bit.
"......"
Her ears red, lips subtly curved—if you didn't look close, you might miss it. Nailed it.
"Fiancée" carried couple weight without saying it outright, met the tricky criteria. Not married yet, so less shock for Sia.
A somewhat steadier voice came through. ...I gotta head to cram school soon—not much time. But oppa, you're not pranking, right?
"No prank."
She rarely called me "oppa"—showed her shock. Confirmed, she shifted targets.
Um, noona—what's your name?
"Yoo Seol-ah..."
...Seol-ah noona, this isn't a joke, right?
"No."
Then, could you make time tomorrow? If it's okay, I'd appreciate it.
Polite as always for first meets, but stiff— she believed us. Asking for time meant meet-up. Homes weren't far anyway.
"Sure. Call whenever suits you..."
Okay, oppa—I'll text tomorrow. I'll come to you.
"Yeah."
Don't worry weirdly—I'll keep it to myself. Gotta go now.
"Alright, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomor, I mean, looking forward to it..."
Yes, I'll be waiting.
Call ended. Neither of us spoke; just board game chatter around us. Déjà vu hit—suddenly sweltering indoors. I grabbed my iced tea from the cupholder and chugged.
Seol-ah did the same, head down, slurping away. Straw-sucking sounds for about ten seconds—both cups now mostly ice.
She spoke first. "...Sorry, I overdid it."
"......Nah, we had to tell her sometime—early or not."
The cold drink cooled my burning face. Hers stayed red, helping me calm faster.
"You got everything you wanted."
"Wh-what...?"
"Real little sister calling you noona, instant meet-up promise."
"......"
Wishes granted when earnestly desired? Anyway, it happened.
"...Still, I didn't wanna say just classmates..."
"......"
"I really wanna get close with Sia, but starting with a lie feels off..."
Her words showed how she viewed us—and her upright nature. Strip away extras, she's straight as an arrow. Same for my sister.
"Girlfriend" might've gotten curiosity, but "fiancée" prompted Sia to arrange a meet herself. No info on Seol-ah, so some worry about me getting duped—natural.
I trusted Sia like Seol-ah trusted her cousin, so phone swap and "fiancée" drop. Her "I'll keep it secret" without prompting showed maturity. High school senior, yet so grown-up.
"Hoo..."
Seol-ah's long exhale; face back to normal. Eyes met—hers narrowed questioningly. Not some weirdo per Sia, but yeah, smitten. Especially earlier—total succubus temptation vibe.
...Wait, she is kinda succubus. Actual influence...?
"...Let's play something else. Time left."
"Yeah. I'll grab it. Stay put."
"Pick something you can beat me at. Still tough."
Back to normal us. Too many heart-stoppers like earlier—needed breather. Sia tomorrow; now, beat Seol-ah for old pics.
I'd lost prior rounds showing sis pics—can't lose. Left her, pondered winning games outside.
Head speed or multitasking? Tough. Then...
"This one."
"What's it called...? Played before."
"Indian Poker."
"Oh, right."
Two decks, 1-10; draw one, stick on forehead. Bet chips seeing opponent's only—higher number wins pot. No peeking own card: pure mind games.
Perfect against emotional Seol-ah.
"I'm good at this. Bring it."
She skimmed rules, confident. Twenty chips each. Minimum one per bet; fold option, but holding 10 loses ten if fold.
Game on.
"No way, redo!... Ugh, seriously..."
"Total noob? Show the pic already."
Ridiculously, ended in one bet. She drew 1 first; I all-in. She misread bluff (I had 10? Nope, 2), all-in'd—and lost.
Her psychology game's weak...
Grumbling, she pulled her phone, showed me—I gaped.
"...Good enough. Done."
"Hey, barely saw..."
Snatched away after five seconds. But memorized. High school her: long black hair, fresh look. Uniform strained by her figure—same as ever.
Seeing my regret, she glared. "...Like the uniform that much?"
"Reason folks do uniform dates, right?"
Not the clothes—just the vibe. Twenty now, high school three years back.
Pondering, she mumbled embarrassedly. "......If you like it so much, I'll wear one once later. Tossed mine, but similar costume exists."
"For real?"
...See uniform Seol-ah live? Thrilling news.
Imagining as she suddenly raised her voice. "Hey, just wearing it—don't get weird ideas!?"
"......"
...Can't say "you see what you wanna see" this time.
But knowing uniform Seol-ah soon? Smile wouldn't fade.