Chapter 73
No matter who they take after, they'll be pretty and handsome, so 'our baby will grow up nicely too.' Hearing Yoo Seol-ah say that, I sat there speechless for a good long while. Of course, Yoo Seol-ah was just as red-faced, intently shoveling stir-fried udon into her mouth.
We'd always talked about keeping our marriage just between us from the start, and since it felt closer than expected, I wasn't as shocked lately when the topic came up. Even our families—like Baek Sia or Jia-noona—were gradually coming around to the idea that marriage was on the horizon. But hearing Yoo Seol-ah talk about kids so directly? That hit different. Sure, kids are tied to marriage in most people's minds, but even so, like she said, we'd have to be at least 25 to even think about it seriously.
Five years from now, we'd already be married, and having a kid would be the natural next step, so that's probably why she said it. She was just backpedaling, adding that it was a long way off, not that she'd said anything wrong. Honestly, if you take it at face value, it was just her saying I'd make a good dad—nothing major. Without the 'our baby' part, it wouldn't have floored me like this. I actually love kids and I'm great at playing with them.
Looking at Yoo Seol-ah's tomato-red face, it must've slipped out unconsciously. But just how far does her subconscious go? Her cheeks were so flushed it was starting to worry me, so half-joking, half-serious, I tossed out a line to ease her embarrassment.
"What should we name the baby?"
"Kkh!"
"Hey, hey... hold on. I'll grab some water."
She clearly hadn't expected me to say something like that out of nowhere—she choked a bit on her food. I'd meant to let her eat in peace, but it backfired spectacularly.
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Lately, I've been feeling deep in my bones that something's seriously off with me. Even Park Harin and my sister are saying I've totally changed, and when it's just me and Baek Sion, my unfiltered thoughts keep spilling out way too often.
Honestly, just saying he'd make a good dad would've been fine, but with all the thoughts about kids with Baek Sion popping into my head lately, our baby just slipped out. Then his follow-up made the spicy udon go down the wrong pipe, and I was coughing for ages.
A bit worried, Baek Sion got me water and gently rubbed my back.
...He's too sweet when he's like this—that's why I'm turning into a mess. It's all his fault.
Once the coughing finally died down, Baek Sion headed back to his seat.
"...Aren't you hungry?"
"Not starving. Eat up."
"Got it."
Baek Sion doesn't seem like the type with a huge appetite. Sure, as a strapping adult guy, he eats more per meal than I do, but if he's not hungry, he just skips it. Knowing that, I scooped another moderate portion of stir-fried udon onto his plate.
We're not the type to go 'Whoa... aren't you eating too little? You'll collapse!' If I said that out of the blue, I know 100% his eyes would get that weird look. Still, I'm curious, so I'll try it later.
My head was so hot earlier, I can't even tell if I'm chopsticking straight or getting food in my mouth properly. But since it tastes good, I guess I'm managing.
Baek Sion kept staring, so I threw him a line.
"That pretty?"
"Yeah. But I really wanna know something."
I'd tried playing it cool with a joke, but he answered so easily that my thick skin vanished, and a bit of embarrassment crept in.
"What."
"Boy or girl?"
"......"
He's relentless... That earlier slip wasn't a mistake at all, but Baek Sion wasn't letting it go easy. Half-teasing, half-genuinely curious tone.
Of course, since we made our marriage promise, I've thought about it a little.
"...Both sound good. Whoever they take after, they'll be pretty and handsome."
Truth is, you never know who a kid will look like or how. But boy or girl, their looks will be next-level. A son like Baek Sion or a daughter like me—either way, or the reverse—I'm hyped. Especially since Baek Sion's got that pretty-boy vibe for a guy; a daughter taking after him might outshine one like me. And if they luck out and cherry-pick our best traits? Gender aside, they'll be charming everyone they meet.
...Gotta teach them about relationships right from the start. One slip, and they'll grow into a femme fatale or casanova that those words can't even cover.
"...So, names?"
"Hey, 25 is still five years away...! Can we drop it now...?"
Baek Sion chuckled this time, probably just messing around.
...Of course, I do have a few names in mind. I think the Baek surname is gorgeous, so pretty much any name would sound great—not too common, though. For a girl, Hayan or something with 'Seol' like mine would fit perfectly.
"That good?"
"...Yeah, good."
Only after Baek Sion pointed it out did I realize my lips were curved way up. The udon was delicious, sure, but that wasn't the only reason for my smile.
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"Shall we head out?"
"Yeah. What should I wear?"
"Anything comfy's fine. I like this on you too."
I remembered her telling me last time to pick what I wanted to see, but I was about to say wear what she likes when I pointed to a navy T-shirt with slightly long sleeves. Without hesitation, she pulled it and a skirt from the closet.
"...Wait outside a sec."
"Sure."
She's got this iron wall up sometimes. Maybe she's thinking we've been too loose lately—who knows, she probably has her reasons.
A moment later, the bedroom door opened, and out came neatly dressed Yoo Seol-ah, striking a model-like pose. Natural and cute.
I'd heard she was in the dance club before; she's surprisingly good at this stuff.
"How's it look?"
"Suits you."
Finding clothes that don't suit Yoo Seol-ah is harder, but this combo hit perfectly right off the bat. That black skirt especially—double-layered, super pretty.
"Haven't seen that skirt before."
"Wear it a lot. Inner fabric's different, way comfier than it looks."
Inside's that tight office-look style, outside like a tennis skirt with a front slit showing the inner layer—cute with a hint of sexy. She always nails outfits.
"Student union, right? But aren't those club rooms just for official clubs?"
"That's what I thought, but Lee Seo-yeon said just come."
If a regular person said trust me, you'd wonder why—but from Lee Seo-yeon, it lands different.
Heading to the bus stop, Yoo Seol-ah brought it up.
"Should we get a car? Used one's fine."
"You drive? I don't have a license."
"I'll get mine quick. Feels like it'd be faster than buses anyway."
"Your call."
She can drop cash on a used car without blinking. Seemed like just musing, though—no more talk.
Bus ride's short anyway; we were at school gates quick. Walking inside takes longer.
Soon, near the student union, two figures waved from afar.
"...Not even hiding it anymore?"
"What?"
"You two came together, right?"
Seeing us side-by-side, Lee Seo-yeon asked in that deadpan tone, and Yoo Seol-ah brushed it off innocently. They're both wedding guests anyway—no point hiding.
Yoo Seol-ah fired back.
"Not like you two have room to talk, right?"
"......"
I knew there was something brewing between Doyun-hyung and Lee Seo-yeon, but from her side, it didn't look easy.
"Nah, she's too good to pass up. Just chatting since I got here first."
"...Oh, yeah."
Yoo Seol-ah let out a tiny sigh at Doyun-hyung's words but let it slide. He wasn't beating around the bush rejecting her—he genuinely thought Lee Seo-yeon was a catch. She knows it too, no hurt feelings, but her frustration was obvious.
Is the hero type doomed to be oblivious? They look great together to me. Still, time'll sort it out, I figure.