[No Title Provided]
I know it's not easy making every single dish taste amazing just to make him fall for me even more. Especially since everyone has different tastes, but Baek Sion's cooking always hits mine dead-on. This budae jjigae was no exception. ...They say capturing someone's palate means you're truly soulmates. And he even responded properly when I showed him outfits while he was cooking, so it wasn't like he put extra effort into it. I can't help but wonder what he's not good at. There are so many reasons I want to marry him ASAP. And before that, live together, of course.
Of course, I was impressed by the budae jjigae, so I laid it on a bit thick with the overly dramatic tone to beg for cohabitation permission right then. But Baek Sion seemed to take it all as a joke. "...You're not just thinking about the food, are you...?" I always feel the heat rising to my head when I say stuff like that, but I'd hate for him to misunderstand even a little. For someone like me, expressing affection always takes a ton of courage to pull off... Plus, asking his parents for permission to live together today was totally sincere.
Baek Sion flashed a slight smile at my words.
"I know."
"......"
...Of course, no one understands my heart like Baek Sion does, so maybe I didn't even need to explain further. He always goes along with whatever I say, as long as it's not some ridiculous request. But he's basically a good guy, so why do we always end up bickering? It's because of stuff like this. That smirk while teasing me is seriously annoying.
"Then say it...! I thought you weren't gonna bring up living together today..."
"No, I've never said not to talk about it today."
"You were cooking..."
Truth is, I started it with that over-the-top acting like I was blown away by the stew, and he played along. Since I kicked it off, I had no ground to win the argument. But earlier, it was just playful banter, and the food is only a tiny part of why I want to live together...
"...You're too good at cooking, that's why. Cook a little less perfectly or something."
"......Is that the trendy tsundere style these days?"
"No it's not!?"
His tone sounded genuinely flustered, which only made me more embarrassed. Why does he keep treating me like a full-on tsundere character...? Those are basically extinct these days.
Our family group chat's been buzzing nonstop about today's events, and Baek Sia seems the most excited. She must really like Yoo Seol-ah a ton. They've made plans to meet separately, but haven't had time yet, so this'll be their first reunion since last time.
"They said come around 6, take it easy."
"Yeah. Let's head out so we arrive by 5:40."
We could show up right on time or even a little late and it'd be fine, but Seol-ah's tone was firm. It's not just nerves for today— she's the type who never breaks promises easily. She probably has a habit of leaving early for appointments.
"Still, we've got a lot of time left."
"Yeah. What should we do?"
After wrapping up our strategy session for the day, it was only around 2 PM. Luckily, she's in her normal state right now, so no dirty thoughts creeping in. Seol-ah tilted her head thoughtfully before making a suggestion.
"I've got some recent Lupco Yanglip episodes backed up. I keep up with the manga, but I binge the anime."
"Me too. Anime needs a dedicated block of time."
"Wanna watch together?"
She's asking formally, but those sparkling eyes say it's basically a done deal. Seol-ah's a huge Lupco Yanglip fan too. Probably for illustrator reasons, something clicks for her. And I know she adores the heroine, Haruru. No way I could refuse when she asks like that— and no need to. Our hobbies and tastes overlap a ton anyway. Haruru's personality even kinda matches Seol-ah's, so watching with her should be fun in its own way.
We settled in front of the computers and started knocking out backlog episodes. Like everyone after romcoms, Seol-ah's face turned all goofy and smiley.
"Haruru's so pretty..."
"You're prettier."
"Right... Eek!?! ...What the heck, seriously!?"
She thought I'd just agree she was pretty, nodding along before jumping in surprise. I said it partly to get that reaction, but it's totally true. As she shot me a glare while her lips curved up— advanced technique— she dove back into praising Haruru.
"...But Haruru's seriously so cute."
"She is."
"Acts all tsun all the time but slips in honest moments."
"Yeah."
"And sometimes she makes the first move."
"...That's what makes it good."
It's clearly about the story, but it sounds like she's calling herself cute. I held back a chuckle, hit play on the next ep, and this one revealed that when Seol-ah gets too sugary-sweet, she smacks the person next to her.
"...Haa, this episode's the best."
Drunk Haruru gets super honest. It was super popular in the manga too, but anime hits different.
"She worries someone else might snag the guy if she's too tsun, so she forces herself to be dere. Turning mega-dere when drunk is adorable."
"This ep shows her cutest side."
"Tsunderes need to evolve to survive... Way more cute sides. That's why Haruru's perfect."
"Yeah, among tsunderes, she's my second fave."
"Who's first?"
Seol-ah blurts out pure curiosity, so I just turned my head slightly and kept staring. After a beat, her face flushed as she smacked my thigh again.
"Why do you keep tsundere-character-ing me since earlier!?"
"Worried someone might steal me? No need."
"No!... That's not..."
She couldn't finish, so maybe I wasn't totally off. Despite being super shy, her bold moments have reasons.
"...Not worried about losing you— I just want you falling harder for me... And I know you won't get stolen anyway...?"
Seol-ah often barrels through embarrassment head-on, and she has reason to be confident. Truth is, I'm already sunk way too deep in the Seol-ah swamp to escape. The more time together, the deeper it gets.
"...Am I okay right now?"
"You look fine, but aren't you too tense? You said you were gonna ask for cohabitation permission."
Now at Baek Sion's family apartment. Overwhelming nerves make me seek stability. Watching me tremble a bit, Baek Sion suddenly took my hand.
The moment our fingers intertwined, my heart calmed instantly. ...How could I not fall for this?
"Better?"
"...Yeah."
Anxiety vanished in a flash— skinship with him has insane effects. Though it's because I value our relationship so much that I'm tense like this.
"Then let's head in? You seem better when you just shut up and follow."
"...True."
Can't stay outside forever. I steeled myself and followed him. Unlike me, he looked totally chill.
The door opened fast, and a familiar face greeted us from behind it.
"Unnie~"
"Sia, been good?"
"Yeah. Missed you, unnie."
"What about me?"
"Oh, oppa's here too."
A familiar face eases my mind. Listening to Sion and Sia's banter relaxes me more. I carefully took off my shoes, lined them up neatly, then shuffled in hesitantly. A voice came from the kitchen.
"Aigoo, you could've come later, but so early... Oh my."
The woman in her 30s froze spotting me. Must be Sion's mom— how is she so youthful? She even resembles him, which loosens me up. I delivered the greeting I'd practiced a ton inwardly.
I didn't want to look shaky meeting parents for the first time, so practicing paid off.
"Hello. Nice to meet you, I'm Yoo Seol-ah."
"I'm Sion's mom. Take care of me."
"...I thought you were his sister."
"What a sweet heart. Makes me feel good."
I'm not great at empty flattery, but she looks barely a decade older than him, so it's genuine. Anyone would buy them as eldest and late baby.
"Honey, at least say hi before going back to cooking."
Mom called, and Sion's dad emerged from the kitchen. Super youthful too, and his long hair suits him perfectly. A middle-aged guy rocking long hair says it all about his looks. No wonder Sion and Sia are stunners.
"I'm Yoo Seol-ah. Nice to meet you."
"Aigoo, nice to meet you. But Sion-ah, Seol-ah seems too good for you. Step up your game."
"Dad, I got your genes."
"You should've inherited better."
...Their vibe is so welcoming, it melts tension away. Now I get why Sion said not to worry. Family bonds as tight as ours. What a relief.
"But Sia-ya, she's way prettier than you said?"
"Feel free to speak casually...!"
"Can I call you Seol-ah then?"
"Yes, please."
After I told Mom about us last time, Sia filled them in on details. I asked both parents to drop formalities, and as they headed back to prep food, the three of us hit the sofa.
"Unnie, if Mom and Dad's energy's too much, tell me."
"Yeah, I'll tell 'em to tone it down."
"No, it's great they welcome me like this."
Way better than stiff vibes— a hundred, thousand times. They seem to vibe with my parents too; marriage would be smooth... ...No, haven't even brought up living together yet, Seol-ah. Don't get ahead.