Chapter 51
My legs hurt a bit. Can't we rest here before going?
"What do you wanna eat?"
"Hmm... there's a lot I want."
The mood had gotten a little awkward midway through thanks to that call with Baek Sia, but we eventually dove back into all sorts of board games with renewed excitement and slipped out of the board game cafe around 7 PM. We paused briefly inside the building, mulling over dinner options. True to form, Yoo Seol-ah was dead serious about food, furrowing her brow in deep thought. She tilted her head this way and that, then glanced at me as if weighing her next move.
"Then tell me a few things you want."
"I'm narrowing it down right now..."
Even as she said that, she kept sneaking peeks at me, which was suspicious enough for me to take a shot. I'd asked her the same thing yesterday, and her comeback had been pure sex joke.
I pointed a finger at my chest and tossed it out lightly. "Me?"
"...D-don't say crazy shit outside, seriously!..."
I figured if she didn't catch it right away, I could play it off as a mishearing, but of course Yoo Seol-ah wouldn't miss something like that. She whipped her head around at lightning speed, scanning the area—but there was no one nearby anyway.
"Then pick quick. We'll do a ladder game if you name a few."
"...Fine. Give me one more minute."
She really loves food. One thing that always bugged me: back in the day, she was a total sports girl, but now she barely exercises, yet she packs away way more than her frame should allow without gaining a pound. Not even a hint of puffiness the morning after late-night snacks. If I had to guess, it's because she's already half-beyond human. Especially with how freely she wields magic on her body—like birth control. Her physiology must be wired differently from a normal person's.
"...Two more minutes."
"That many cravings?"
Whatever her body's like, her head's still that of your average twenty-year-old college freshman. Picking a menu's no easy feat, though. She'd been agonizing over it even before we left the cafe, and she was still at it—kinda ridiculous.
"Fine, I'll name three. You pick from those."
"Got it. Hit me."
"Sushi, steak, spicy stir-fried octopus."
...How does she pick only the best stuff? Choosing from those three was gonna take forever. Still, since I'm not that into steak, we could cross one off.
"...Steak's out. Pick between the other two."
"Sushi or spicy stir-fried octopus. The octopus one's with pork belly slices, FYI."
"...Nope. Ladder game it is."
Picking one meant betraying the other. Cruel choice like that needed an outside hand. I whipped out a portal site, jumped straight into the ladder game without hesitation, and in the end, spicy stir-fried octopus survived.
"Octopus around here? That place on the sixth floor?"
"You've been?"
"Once. It was good..."
It's a specialist spot in the department store food court. I remember the octopus coated in that perfect char—delicious. I was grinning at the thought of digging in again when Yoo Seol-ah suddenly peered across the street and asked casually,
"...But who with?"
"......"
She was playing it cool from her end, but the subtle tremor in her voice was hilarious. It was just the four of us as a family that one time, but reactions like that make it impossible to let it slide.
"Th-that was..."
"...Don't tell me it was someone you can't mention to me?"
No fish bites the bait that hard, Yoo Seol-ah... The second I hesitated, she snapped her head away at mock speed.
"With family?"
"......"
"Jealous of family now? Well, last time you were jealous of Baek Sia too..."
"Jealous my ass! Why would I be jealous of my Sia?"
Calling her "my Sia" every damn time was starting to grate, lowkey.
"Why? I still remember that face when you were blow-drying her hair."
"No? I was jealous of you blow-drying my Sia's hair?"
"......"
This was devolving into an elementary-school-level "nuh-uh, yes-huh" spat. I cut it off first and switched angles.
"But you keep calling her 'my Sia,' so why were you shaking like a leaf on that call earlier?"
"Ugh..."
Her voice had trembled so hard it carried over the phone. Honestly, given Baek Sia's personality, there was zero reason to stress that much.
"...In person, I'll act like the chill big sis and take the lead, okay?"
Yeah, no way in hell. I'm not great with new people either, but she's even worse.
"Cool, then you can go alone tomorrow?"
Her eyes went wide, and she shook her head furiously. Acting tough then crumbling like that was absurd—but that sparrow-like cuteness cracked me up.
"'Chill big sis' my ass."
"You called yourself her fiancé, so own it!..."
"I was just cleaning up your 'husband-wife' slip."
Cause and effect: her bomb dropped first. Realizing she was losing ground, Yoo Seol-ah switched tracks.
"...Who suggested marriage first anyway?"
"......"
Fine, then I'd drag out the old story too. She was digging her own grave...
"And who gleefully said yes and went all the way?"
"Wh-what 'all the way'?"
"Want me to spell it out?"
"......You're seriously blackmailing me with ancient history like that!..."
"What'd you say?"
"...Sorry. Let's drop it."
The sweet taste of making Yoo Seol-ah submit. I couldn't even recall how we'd spiraled from whatever topic, but ending this long battle victorious felt damn satisfying. I've got way more cards anyway—losing an argument's not in the cards.
We'd chattered our way into the department store by then, and with stomachs rumbling hard, we headed straight for the restaurant.
"Pork belly spicy octopus set for two?"
"Yeah. They got fried rice too."
Orders in, the cold soybean sprout soup came first. While I set the tableware, she ladled it out. No words needed—our movements synced perfectly without overlap. We mesh great like this.
"Careful, it's hot~"
"Thanks."
The half-cooked octopus and pork followed soon after. We dove in with chopsticks. Yoo Seol-ah stuffed her mouth with the spicy-sauced octopus, pork belly, and green onion salad, savoring it.
"So good..."
She chewed away, eyes squeezed shut in bliss. Watching her eat was filling in itself. But that was just a feeling—my stomach was still empty, so I got to work. The flavor hit as expected, flooding my mouth with pure joy. Next up: wraps. Perilla leaf base, radish kimchi on top, then pork, octopus, bean sprouts, and a dab of mayo-based sauce. Perfection.
As I brought the finished wrap to my mouth, her sparkling eyes tugged at me.
"Feed me?"
"......"
Not usually my thing in public, but no other customers around, and it's our first date—who cares if someone sees. She leaned in shyly, mouth open. Hers isn't huge, so I eased it in carefully. She took it like a champ, chewing happily—couldn't hide that upturned smile. If this makes her that thrilled, I'll do it daily.
Food and her reactions made for a truly satisfying meal.
"...Time to head out?"
"Yeah, we drank a fair bit."
After dinner, I dragged Baek Sion to this value spot bar. Board games were a blast, but just sitting somewhere quiet, sipping drinks and sharing stories flew by too.
...We only connected three years ago, but no one makes me as happy just being around as Baek Sion. Today had its moments, but I'm grateful he suggested the first date. When he handed the phone right over to his sister Sia, it felt like acceptance—made me inwardly thrilled. And when he didn't deny my "husband-wife" slip but straight-up declared "fiancé"? Blew my mind.
Sure, it helped it was his sister, not parents, but telling his actual little sis felt like sealing our future.
We paid quick and stepped out into the cool night air. Booze dulled the chill, though.
Riding that buzz, I naturally hooked my arm in his—smoother than sober.
"Baek Sion."
"Yeah?"
"Back then... did it hurt a lot?"
"......"
Guess I'm pretty tipsy. Nights make me sappy, but dredging up the past isn't my style. Baek Sion seemed to guess what I meant right away, though—something from today tipped him off.
"...Yeah, it hurt."
"......"
"But if it happened again, I'd take it for you. Every time."
"...Thanks."
I stopped dead at those words. He turned naturally with our linked arms, eyeing me curiously. Late night around 11 PM—dim lights, no people in sight. I grabbed his nape, pulled him in gently, rose on tiptoe, and stole a light kiss from his lips.
His startled gaze brought a flush, but the emotions surging up overpowered any shyness—I couldn't hold back. Faces both warmed, we stepped apart and walked side by side.
...Night magic, alcohol, or boiling feelings? Whatever, resisting other urges got tough too. I pulled out my phone and—for the first time—searched motel locations.
"Last bus still running?"
"......"
Did he think I was checking bus times? I shot a secret glare at this clueless guy yapping about last trains, then grabbed his arm and headed for the spot I'd memorized.
"This way's closer."
"Oh?"
This bar district was new to him, so my word was law. He followed wordlessly at first, but as we veered off the main road, suspicion crept in.
"Bus stop this way?"
Too late. The whole building next door was one giant motel. Clean exterior, no tacky sign—but definitely it. These places are hotel-level now, huh.
No effort to act natural, I just opened my mouth.
My legs hurt a bit. Can't we rest here before going?