Ch.101101. How to Tame Your Future Husband

…After some time had passed, once the commotion had settled down.

“Phew…”

Having vented her anger, Hwa Nabi seemed to have calmed down a bit as she took a deep breath and quietly sat down next to me.

It’s quite rare for her emotions to get this intense. She must have been really embarrassed about showing me her middle school yearbook.

“Ah, really… Siwoo. Why do you have to sneak peeks at other people’s albums?”

“Are we strangers to each other?”

When I uttered what sounded like a slogan you might hear in Busan, Hwa Nabi shot me a look of disbelief.

“Of course we’re not strangers. No, strictly speaking, we still are strangers, but… Ah, anyway. You know that’s not what I meant, right?”

“If we’re not strangers like you said, shouldn’t you be able to show me your graduation album?”

Since I was already caught, I might as well be brazen about it. I spoke with a straight face. Her already bewildered expression turned into one of complete astonishment.

It seems she hadn’t expected me to respond this way.

“W-what does that have to do with anything? T-then, would you show me your graduation album?”

Hwa Nabi’s lips parted slightly, and she fired back after gaping like a fish. She probably thought I’d back off in surprise if she held my graduation album hostage too, since showing her own album was embarrassing.

“Yeah, I don’t mind?”

That would actually be better. It’s not like I have anything to hide anyway.

“…W-what? You don’t mind?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind. So I’ll look at your album on the condition that I’ll show you mine later, right?”

“What? Wait a minute. Why is the conversation going like this…?”

While Hwa Nabi was hesitating, I quickly snatched the graduation album tucked between her armpit and side.

Before she could react to my surprise attack, I immediately flipped to the page I had remembered earlier. Hwa Nabi seemed to hesitate about what to do, then gave up with a deep sigh.

“…I’m definitely going to see your album later too. Got it?”

“Is it because of the middle school uniform? The design is a bit fresh.”

I pretended not to hear and changed the subject. Hwa Nabi narrowed her eyes as she glared at me, then reluctantly added an explanation.

“Baekha Middle School’s uniform is a bit unique. It’s closer to a sailor uniform than a regular school uniform.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Even though she calls it a sailor uniform, I’ve never actually seen one in person, so I’m not sure. As if reading my thoughts from my expression, Hwa Nabi looked at me and said:

“You know, like what sailors in the navy used to wear… You’ve never seen one in person, right? It’s like, you wrap a scarf-like thing around your neck and tie the ends in front to decorate it.”

“Yeah, the design around the neck area is a bit unusual.”

She waved her hand around her neck area while explaining, but there’s only so much a verbal explanation can convey. When I tilted my head, not quite getting it, Hwa Nabi, who had been sighing, stood up from her seat.

“I guess it’s hard to understand just by looking at pictures, huh?”

“Yeah, that’s true… What are you going to do?”

“Siwoo, wait just a moment.”

“Huh? Okay, sure.”

I’m not sure what she’s planning, but I’m sure Hwa Nabi has her reasons. She walked out of the bedroom with quick steps, and I, left behind on the bed, passed the time by flipping through the album.

*

About five minutes passed, though it didn’t feel like much time had gone by when the bedroom door creaked open. Hwa Nabi had returned. I reflexively looked up.

“Oh.”

And I was startled. Standing before my eyes was Hwa Nabi in a sailor uniform, which I had only seen in the album until just now.

“How is it? Does it suit me?”

A sailor uniform with rounded lines overall, featuring a red-series school skirt and scarf that caught the eye. But since the wearer was Hwa Nabi, it exuded a mature charm as well.

“…Yeah, it’s pretty.”

Is it because her arms and legs are so nicely proportioned? She really does look good in anything. They say all girls’ school uniforms look similar, but Hwa Nabi was pulling off that ordinary uniform perfectly, making it look incredibly attractive.

Genuine admiration flowed from my mouth, and Hwa Nabi nodded with satisfaction.

“But it feels… tight. Maybe because I’ve gained weight? I haven’t grown much taller, but it feels strangely constricting.”

Muttering to herself, Hwa Nabi pulled at the chest area of the sailor uniform. As a result, that particular part was pressed against the clothing and started changing shape…

“……”

Watching quietly made me feel like I was committing a sin, so I unconsciously turned my head slightly away.

“It looks fine to me. Isn’t it just your imagination?”

“Hmm, no. The chest area is definitely tight. When I took my middle school graduation photo, it didn’t feel this constricting.”

“Ah… I see.”

As Hwa Nabi said, her chest did look tight in the uniform. Without exaggeration, it was tight enough that her navel was slightly visible.

Hwa Nabi was pulling at the sailor uniform top when she suddenly looked up at me.

Then, with a slight smile, she said:

“…Maybe it’s because Siwoo keeps touching it?”

“…Hey.”

If someone heard that, they’d really think that’s what happened. Even though I knew no one else was around, I was so startled that I looked around, and Hwa Nabi, who had been staring at me, burst into laughter.

“Siwoo, it’s a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“There are other things to joke about…”

Make that joke twice and even a non-existent baby would fall out. Hwa Nabi chuckled and walked over lightly, plopping down next to me.

“Anyway, see this scarf? You wrap it around the back of your neck once, then tie a knot in front of your chest.”

“Oh, umm…”

Am I an idiot…? Even though Hwa Nabi went to the trouble of wearing the sailor uniform and explaining it to me, I was so distracted by her uniform appearance that I didn’t hear anything. Having a tutor who’s too pretty can be a problem too.

Perhaps because I was lost in such foolish thoughts, Hwa Nabi’s face suddenly turned pouty, and she poked my forehead with her index finger.

“Siwoo, you’re not listening to me at all, are you?”

“…No, I was listening carefully.”

“Then, briefly summarize what I’ve explained so far.”

Since I couldn’t remember anything, there was no way I could answer. As I remained silent, at a loss for words, Hwa Nabi looked at me with disbelief and shook her head.

“I’m going to all this trouble to explain, and you’re not even focusing.”

A pretty girlfriend wearing what amounts to a school uniform, sticking right next to me and moving her lips. It might sound like an excuse, but wouldn’t it be stranger to be able to focus in this situation?

Since I couldn’t bring myself to say such things, I asked an unrelated question instead.

“By the way, Nabi, why did you keep your middle school uniform? Usually, people donate or throw them away after graduation, right?”

“Ah… that? Actually, I was planning to donate my uniform before graduation, but the teacher in charge of uniform donations said, ‘No one will be able to wear a uniform with such large alterations in the chest area,’ and told me to take it back.”

“……”

Well… Hwa Nabi had a figure that made it almost unfair to compare her to other girls her age. It would be rare to find someone who could pull off that sailor uniform she used to wear.

“So I’ve kept it well stored in the closet until now.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just throw it away since you won’t wear it again?”

“But isn’t it a bit of a shame to just throw this away? After I graduated, they changed the design to a different uniform, so you can’t even get this anymore.”

Keeping something because it’s a shame to throw it away just increases your belongings, doesn’t it? Not understanding, I made a comment, and an outrageous statement came out of Hwa Nabi’s mouth.

“But if I throw away this uniform… I won’t be able to wear it for you later, Siwoo.”

“…What?”

It was such an incredible statement that I doubted my own ears. Not immediately understanding what she meant, I blinked stupidly.

Hwa Nabi slowly leaned in like a cat… and placed her index finger on my half-dazed chest.

And then, sliding it downward:

“Siwoo oppa, do you want me to throw away my uniform?”

She asked with a seductive smile.

“……”

So after a moment’s thought, no, actually after really deep consideration… I tried to act nonchalant, speaking as if making casual conversation.

“Ah, well. Then just keep it. You might have a use for it someday…”

My heart was pounding, my voice cracking in a clumsy performance. But Hwa Nabi just gave a meaningful smile.

Every time I see her like this, I wonder if she really doesn’t know what I’m thinking. Or if she knows too well and is just playing with me.

“Ah, really. Siwoo, you’re so cute…”

With eyebrows beautifully curved like crescent moons and a face full of smiles like a blooming flower, she spoke as if addressing an adorable younger sibling, then suddenly leaned her upper body forward.

A surprise kiss, overlapping her hand on mine that was resting on the bed, and consequently, her lips on mine.

“…!”

After a moment of surprise at the sudden warmth, I calmed my startled heart and tasted her lips.

Eyes narrowly open, catching glimpses of Hwa Nabi’s attire at the edge of my vision. The appearance of the uniform and the snow-white stockings briefly visible. These sacrilegious elements combined to ignite a fire in my heart.

I embraced Hwa Nabi’s waist and tried to turn it into a deeper kiss. Her lips were sweet enough, but I wanted more. Just as I was slowly moving my hand’s position with that in mind.

“Phew… Wait a moment, Siwoo. This isn’t the time for this, is it?”

“…Huh, what?”

“We haven’t finished organizing yet, right?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s true, but…”

This means… she wants to stop, right? Realizing Hwa Nabi’s intention, I felt my heart sink. I was just getting in the mood, and now she wants to stop?

But I couldn’t openly express my true feelings. It would make me look too desperate. So I just clenched and unclenched my fist, hesitating.

Hwa Nabi carefully got up from her seat, and while gently stroking my head, she said:

“Well, still… if we finish organizing quickly. We might continue where we left off.”

As soon as I heard those words, I unconsciously jumped to my feet. Then I silently approached the wardrobe and flung the door wide open.

“……”

This mere task of organizing… I’ll finish it within two hours, no, within one hour.

As I made such a resolute determination, I heard one more thing:

“Do you need to finish quickly? …I’ll wait without changing.”