Our First Newlywed Home
Our first newlywed home, but...
"...Baek Sion."
"Mmm..."
It was still that hour when sleep fully dominated my mind. A voice called me—not quite like a cuckoo's song, but with a slightly chic edge.
...Yoo Seol-ah's voice is really something else. Just hearing her say my name puts me in a good mood. But right now, I wanted to sleep more than anything, so I surrendered back to the fluffy blanket without any intention of waking up.
"...Why are you such a heavy sleeper."
Now even her words weren't registering properly. I distinctly remembered her saying we had no classes today. A totally unexpected day off made me want to sleep even more. Honestly, a little extra wouldn't hurt...
"...Hey, you really not getting up?"
Moments later, Seol-ah's voice came much closer. Had she been sitting before and now lay back down...? She cleared her throat a bit, then her slightly trembling voice snapped me wide awake.
"...Get uppp..."
Her words right by my ear jolted me fully alert in an instant. That mix of aegyo was impossible to resist. I'd never shaken off sleep this fast before. Way more effective than those blaring high school alarms.
"...Hey, you're awake, aren't you."
"......"
"I know. Stop pretending and get up. I won't do it anymore."
I'd stayed still figuring more pretending might coax out even stronger aegyo, but how'd she know? She'd gotten wise after a few similar incidents before. People really do evolve.
"...What time is it?"
"Nine. You sleep forever."
For three years of high school, I'd cut sleep to study, aced college entrance, then got dragged to Astasia where skipping sleep amid constant battles became routine. After nearly six years of sleep deprivation, I was finally catching up. Cut me some slack.
I waited for my eyes to adjust to the light before slowly opening them, and there was Seol-ah, staring right at me from inches away.
...She's impossibly pretty normally, but with morning sunlight streaming through the window, she looked goddess-level—I'd believe it. Starting the day with her face right there felt refreshingly perfect.
"Got anything planned today?"
I usually wake up later, and she normally lets me sleep till I stir. So her waking me like this meant something was up.
"Yeah. Thinking of checking out some houses today. Gotta visit a realtor anyway—they said they'd send more listings."
"Oh, right."
We're leaning toward something bigger than expected, and our parents specifically told us to pick our newlywed home, so we need to be thorough. Won't wrap up today, but starting early's smart. Both of us are eager to live together properly.
"Shouldn't we tell our parents too?"
"Oh... hold on."
She started tapping on her phone. I lay back for just a moment, closing my eyes briefly.
"...Lying down again already."
"When we move, we have to take this mattress and bedding. Can't compare to our place's bed..."
Buying such a huge bed for solo living meant she'd really shopped around. No wonder I wanted to stay buried.
The tapping sounds faded.
"Sent the message for now. That sleepy still?"
"...Not a ton, just a bit? What'd you say?"
"Get ready to see your grandkid."
I shot upright the second she said it, eyes flying open. Turning to meet her gaze, there she was with a triumphant smile. That smug look irked me in the best way. Lately, she seemed to be teasing me more.
"Kidding. Just said we'd call when we can."
"...If you'd really sent that, I'd be too scared to face our parents."
Not even a simple 'please approve our marriage'—dropping a premarital pregnancy bomb at our first meeting? Horror movie level.
"But you're awake now, right?"
"Thanks to you, wide awake."
She giggled at my sincere reply. Seeing her laugh so brightly after the prank naturally brought a smile to my face. I was hopelessly hooked on her.
"Roughly decided on house specs?"
"We gotta decide together now. It's our place." She put a sly emphasis on 'together.' Spotting my smile, she pouted a bit.
"...What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Nah. You're cute."
"...Eek!"
A bit self-sabotaging, but self-burns hit the target harder. Her face flushed bright red—total success. I wasn't unscathed, but landing one on her cocky vibe felt great.
She bowed her head, covering her face with one hand while extending the other.
"-------. -----."
Two pillows floated up at her compound spell. Pillow fight on this scale? I grabbed the blanket edge for defense, but the pillows drifted lazily like a wobbly Seol-ah, gently poking my body here and there.
...Massage? Embarrassing, but kinda nice inside. After a few pokes, they drifted back to the bed.
"...Anyway, I installed a bunch of apps. Let's browse those."
"Sure."
Composed now, she beckoned me closer. How to spec it...? Aiming for around 800 sq ft purchase, but prices vary wildly even at same size—gotta be cautious.
"Interiors I'll gut and redo completely, so no worries there."
"Looked pro last time."
"Yeah, trust me."
Even wallpaper herself? No sweat, and it'll save cash.
"Leaks, heating—gotta check those, but need to see in person anyway."
"Subway area good?"
"Not bad, but current spot's fine. Thinking of getting a used car too."
School's close enough for bus; not like commuting from provinces. Worst case, special methods for emergencies.
"Then mid-600 sq ft apartments only."
Gwanak's mid-size units flooded results. We narrowed chatting: skip old builds, corridor-style, tight parking. South-facing for light, and viable options emerged.
Found one looking good in pics and amenities. Seol-ah said,
"Shower first? I'll call the realtor."
"Got it."
She's not into meeting strangers usually, but proactive for our home. I showered quick, slipped on a robe, and emerged to her wrapping up a call.
"...Yes, we'll head over soon."
She hung, I dried her hair while she tapped my shoulder—ready by 11, she said, grabbing her own robe.
Our eyes kept meeting; she shot me a side-eye.
"...Why stare? Total perv?"
She always robes up before undressing to shower. Not fully naked otherwise. Last time she explained: too casual all the time might bore. I won't get bored of her ever, but her call.
Drying done, I lounged on the bed browsing listings as clothes softly dropped—stirring imagination. Time together hasn't dulled the thrill; how could it?
"Here it is?"
Following Seol-ah's lead to the realtor. A woman greeted us warmly.
"Welcome~ ...Oh, you're both so young!"
"Hi. This is Yoo Seol-ah from the call..."
"Sit comfy. I pulled the one you saw plus similars."
"Thanks."
"So, what's your relationship...?"
"Oh, we're getting married."
"......Ah~"
Stranger, so she blurted it out. Realtor's eyes flickered. Early twenties, maybe younger-looking—shocking.
"Wow... Thought no one marries young anymore, but you two are something else. Shall we start with the first one?"
"Yes. We'll see everything."
Seol-ah brushed off the sales pitch. Beforehand, she'd warned: don't fully trust realtor or owner talk. Just scouting casually, no big expectations.
At our first app pick, Seol-ah unleashed mana right away.
...Knew what for. Detection swept the whole building. Half-listening to the agent's spiel, she casually inspected, heading to the balcony.
"Ceiling here—leaks, right?"
"...Yes, was about to mention. Built over 15 years ago..."
Words aside, she wasn't visually checking—she scanned every inch. No glossing over flaws.
Off to the next. I whispered in her ear,
"Super thorough."
Her reply, cute unlike her cool scan:
"...It's our first newlywed home. Gonna check everything hard."
...Cute and reliable. Makes me wanna marry her even more.