Chapter 72
"You seem like you'd be really good with kids..."
"...Hey, if you just ask me to do it, I'll do it."
Hearing Baek Sion's voice, laced with a hint of exasperation, a wave of embarrassment crashed over me. I quickly tied the strings at the back and pulled away from him.
Was I being too obvious...? It had seemed like a solid plan at first, but now it felt kinda off. I should've pretended to struggle a bit more while tying it, or made the strings a little shorter. The moment I leaned in close, that warm feeling and his scent had me entranced, burying my face against him like I'd been hypnotized.
...Yeah, I'm totally addicted to Baek Sion. Even now, hearing him say he'd hug me if I asked made my lips curl up involuntarily.
"...You'll really do it?"
"Of course."
Come to think of it, Baek Sion always grants whatever I ask for. He just doesn't initiate as much himself.
"You even did everything I wanted last night..."
"Waaah!"
There's only one thing that comes to mind from last night, so his words made my face heat up instantly, and I cut him off. Anyone hearing this would think I'm totally consumed by lust...
...Okay, maybe just a little.
Of course, seeing him a bit tired today makes me feel slightly guilty. His stamina is practically infinite, but it's not just physical effort—must be draining in other ways.
Hugging shouldn't be too hard for him, though, so it's fine to ask, right? I usually initiate most skinship, so sometimes I just want him to take the lead.
"...Ahem. Then do it."
"Do what?"
"......"
We've both been dropping subjects this whole time, but he knows it's about a hug, so playing dumb like this... his personality is the worst.
I shot him a glare, and he innocently rummaged through the grocery bag.
"But we still gotta make that stir-fried udon. You're hungry, right?"
Sure, I really want the udon too, but that's not the point right now...
In the end, I was the one who had to concede.
"...Fine, then hug me quick and get to it."
Swallowing my embarrassment to say it, I watched Baek Sion's face flush just a little. He set himself up for this and now he's embarrassed—proof we're way too alike.
But true to form, he keeps his promises. A moment later, he spread his arms and pulled me into his embrace.
"Huuu..."
Science says skinship boosts happiness—those scientists nailed it. Especially when I'm held like this; the mood lift is overwhelming.
He's not some hulking brute, but since I'm on the smaller side, I fit perfectly in his arms. The coziness is no joke.
I wish time would stop right here... The thought flickered through my mind, but nah, can't happen. Gotta get married on Earth too.
"...Yoo Seol-ah?"
"Oh, stir-fried udon! I'm curious how it's done."
Lost in thought, I'd been clinging for over a minute. Hugging him turns me into a total junkie—human drug, that's what he is.
Pulling away reluctantly, hunger hit me all at once. Thankfully, he started prepping without commenting this time. He doesn't hate skinship either.
"Stir-fried udon is super easy. Not much different from that bean sprout stir-fry last time."
"All stir-fries like that?"
"Yeah, nail the sauce and it rarely fails."
Opening the fridge, he started to ask me something, then stopped himself.
"That gochugaru... Nah, I'll find it."
"...Smart move."
The gochugaru is in there somewhere, but I've never used it, so no clue where. Still, he found the container quick and moved to the shelf drawer for sauces and such.
You can tell he cooks often—no recipe needed. I'd be googling nonstop, hyper-focused.
"Mix these in a bowl like I say."
"Got it."
As I watched from behind, he handed me a task. Not out of laziness—he probably just didn't want me bored.
He knows he'd do it more precisely himself, but he's clearly trying to teach me.
Having a little sister must be why—he treats me like a kid sometimes. His words are casual and blunt, but his actions give it away. Like yielding fun chances to babies? He'd be a hit as a teacher.
Mixing as instructed with a spoon, a spicy-salty sauce came together fast. Wild.
"How do you memorize all this? You make it a lot?"
"Like, three or four times? That's enough to remember usually."
"......"
Right, he's pretty smart. Same Korea University, but from what I heard yesterday, his brain's on another level.
Grabbing a cutting board from the bottom drawer, he prepped veggies.
"Wanna try?"
"Sure."
Someday I wanna cook for him. Better start practicing.
Once my skills improve, we could do packed lunches. Saw that in a workplace romcom manga—my new dream. Lunchtime, eating what the other packed after work.
He stepped back, took off his apron, and draped it over me.
...Wearing it briefly, it kinda smells like him.
"You aren't sniffing it, are you?"
"What're you talking about..."
Luckily, my voice didn't waver—no suspicion.
Dunno if he's got sharp instincts or if I'm obvious. Even weirder, his scent's starting to resemble mine. Probably from sharing shampoo and body wash lately.
Dyeing him in my colors, bit by bit. Feels like a preview of married life—smile creeps up naturally.
"When it's just us, you don't really need a knife."
"True. But I'll try anyway."
"Remember that diagonal cut I showed you last time? Do that."
Diagonal slice—slanting the cuts. Thanks to his mini-lesson before, I neatly handled the peppers and green onions quick.
Meanwhile, he grabbed bean sprouts and udon noodles, stepping to the sink. Soak the noodles for better taste?
Trusting my knife skills from last time's praise, he wasn't watching, so I snuck a tiny bit of mana into tackling the garlic.
Garlic cloves are smallish—tricky. Plus, I was itching to try.
I channeled the tiniest mana Baek Sion wouldn't notice, slicing them thin.
"Fry the veggies and seafood first, then add sauce and noodles—done."
"Simpler than I thought?"
Yoo Seol-ah handled the veggies surprisingly fast and precise, speeding things up. More practice, and her cooking'll improve quick.
Swapping spots, I set the frying pan on the induction, oiled it lightly, tossed in garlic for aroma—but then noticed the shape.
Not the usual oval slices: hearts. Figured it was just how they cut 'em, but every one was a perfect heart.
...No way she could slice like that with her knife skills. Must've used mana.
She hid it well enough that I didn't notice, but perfect hearts with zero variance? That's suspicious as hell.
"Guess garlic comes in funky shapes these days."
"......"
I glanced sideways as I said it, and she turned away without a word.
Gotta hug her every chance this weekend.
"Whoa..."
First word from Yoo Seol-ah tasting the finished stir-fried udon.
The sauce was near-identical to last time's bean sprouts, so I figured she'd love it.
"You could make it too. I barely did anything—just stir-fried. You did the real work."
Veggies all her, sauce too. I just cooked.
Chopsticks flying, she paused at my words, smiled softly.
"...You seem like you'd be really good with kids."
"Yeah?"
Kids at home usually warm up to me quick, but her saying it makes me think I've got a knack.
Her smile's less bubbly, more gentle and warm.
She continued.
"Yeah. Our baby would grow up so well."
"......"
That hit harder than heart garlic. Mid-scoop, chopsticks froze.
"I-I mean, later! Way later when we have one...!"
No reply from me, she realized, face flushing as she backpedaled.
The power of "our baby"... no joke.