Ch.182182. I Thought I Would Live

Nabi stopped me with a gesture as I was about to leave. Did she forget something? I asked with my eyes, and she stepped forward.

“You shouldn’t ring the doorbell at our house.”

“Huh? Why?”

“My dad hates it. Says it disturbs his concentration.”

“How do you receive packages then?”

“They’re usually left with the security guard on the first floor.”

“……”

He doesn’t look like it, but he’s surprisingly particular. I learned something new today.

I awkwardly withdrew my hand and stepped back.

“So we need to enter the door lock password?”

“It’s not a password lock. You need a key card to open it.”

“Oh… really? I didn’t know that. You brought your key card, right?”

“No, I left it at home.”

“……?”

Why would she leave that behind? I unconsciously furrowed my brow, and she avoided my gaze, seemingly aware of her mistake.

“Um, just a moment. I’ll call my mom.”

“Yeah, sure….”

I never thought I’d witness the absurd scene of someone calling someone inside while standing right in front of the entrance.

It seemed ridiculous, but I also realized that Nabi’s father might be stricter than I’d imagined.

If someone as headstrong as Nabi was being this cautious, he must be quite formidable.

I’d be making a big mistake if I just thought of him as a middle-aged man who enjoys fishing. I shouldn’t let my guard down. I can’t make any mistakes and need to show my most polite side.

I took a deep breath and composed myself. Just then, Nabi’s call connected.

“Hello, Mom? Yes. We’ve arrived. Are both you and Dad home?”

Nabi tapped my shoulder while on the phone. She gestured toward the firmly closed door, suggesting her mother would be coming out soon.

“Yes, I’m at the door with him right now. You’ll open it right away? Yes, understood.”

Click. Shortly after Nabi ended the call, there was bustling behind the door before it swung open.

“Welcome. We’ve met a few times before, right?”

Nabi’s mother greeted us, with her hair neatly tied up, elegant features, and wearing an apron. I reflexively bowed my head.

“Yes, hello. It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. You must have had a hard time getting here. Please come in.”

Though she seemed to have been doing housework before coming to greet us, she still exuded dignity.

I can’t quite explain it, but her manner of speaking, gestures, and the way she carried herself seemed different from ordinary people. Though that might just be my imagination.

“Mom, aren’t you going to greet me?”

“My dear, are you still a child?”

“At twenty, I’m still young, aren’t I?”

“At your age? Please, you sound ridiculous.”

Unlike the bubbly Nabi, her mother was extremely elegant. They’re clearly mother and daughter sharing the same blood, yet their personalities are completely different. Will Nabi become like her mother in twenty years?

With such idle thoughts, I took off my shoes. While I’d visited Nabi’s apartment many times, this was my first time at her family home, making me somewhat nervous.

“This isn’t much, but I brought some side dishes and fruit. Please share them with her father.”

“Oh my, thank you. We’ll enjoy them.”

Her mother smiled at me as she took the shopping bag. Like mother, like daughter—when she smiled, dimples formed just like Nabi’s.

Technically, Nabi resembles her mother, but that’s not important right now.

“Where’s Narin? I brought a gift for her too.”

“She’s at kindergarten. Give her the gift later when you see her; she’ll love it.”

“She goes to kindergarten on Saturdays? Is it a special field trip or something? …Phew.”

Nabi said this while struggling to unzip her tall boots. Seeing her struggle, I knelt down to help. I held her calf and pulled the zipper all the way down, gently removing the boot to reveal her dainty foot.

“Give me your other foot.”

“I can do it myself…”

“It’s fine, hurry up.”

I helped her remove the other boot the same way. Then I grabbed her waist and wrist and lifted her up in one swift motion.

“There, all done, right?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“No problem.”

After responding casually, I picked up some of the shopping bags. Her mother stared at me for a moment before turning to Nabi.

“Our daughter is lucky. Her fiancé is so kind.”

“Right? Aren’t you jealous? He treats me so well.”

“……”

I wish they’d say such things when I wasn’t around. Having this conversation right in front of me made my face burn.

“By the way, where’s Dad? He opened the door earlier.”

“He’s in his study. Probably reading. Should I call him?”

“Yes. We should greet him. But Dad gets really angry when disturbed while reading. Is it okay?”

“…Hehe.”

She just laughed without answering. With slightly narrowed eyes and a smile, she looked at Nabi as if to say, “Him, angry with me? As if.”

Hmm, so even the future head of Hwail Group can’t resist his wife? Maybe today I should focus on winning over the mother rather than the father.

“Yes, please. I have something important to discuss…”

“Alright. Nabi? I’ll go get your father, so wait in the living room with your boyfriend. Oh, should I offer you some tea first?”

“No, I’m fine. I had something to drink earlier.”

“Me too. We’ll just wait.”

Following her mother’s and Nabi’s lead, I entered the living room. Wall-mounted TV, leather sofa, wooden table in between.

Nothing special—just ordinary interior decor. If I had to point out anything unique, it would be the character stickers scattered around the house. Well, that’s common in homes with young children.

Thump. Nabi sat down on the sofa first. I followed suit.

“Siwoo, why are you so stiff?”

“What do you mean? I’m not stiff.”

“Yes, you are. Completely stiff.”

I was about to reflexively deny it again when our eyes met.

Her look said she could see right through me. I was already caught.

“Well… I can’t help being stiff. I’m nervous and anxious.”

It would be stranger if I wasn’t nervous while visiting my girlfriend’s home to ask for marriage permission. If I had to rank the important days in my life, wouldn’t today be in the top five?

No, it might even be the first. Not only do I need to get permission for marriage, but I also have to share the pregnancy news. One would be pressure enough, but both together? It’s impossible not to feel the weight.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes, extremely.”

Due to the pressure, I keep fidgeting with the sofa armrest. I shouldn’t be doing this. If I show anxiety, Nabi beside me will become anxious too. I try to sit calmly, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

“It’s okay.”

Nabi’s hand overlapped mine on the armrest. She raised her fingers to tickle the back of my hand gently, then looked at me with a quiet smile.

“You’ve done well so far, right? Just keep doing the same today.”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

A warm feeling transfers from where our skin touches. Nabi’s words and warmth give me more courage than any other comfort could. Encouraged, I smiled back at her.

Right, I shouldn’t be intimidated. With the woman I love most in the world by my side, I can’t look foolish.

As Nabi said, I’ve done well so far, so I just need to keep it up today.

—Creeeeak.

Just as I was making this resolution, a door opened in the distance. I almost jumped to my feet.

“Ah, hello, sir.”

As soon as our eyes met, I bowed at a ninety-degree angle. Nabi’s approaching father paused momentarily.

But only briefly—after clearing his throat, he continued forward and sat heavily on the sofa. Her mother sat beside him, and I stood in front of them, holding Nabi’s hand.

…Somehow, this felt like the right thing to do.

“So, I hear you have something to say?”

Nabi’s father spoke, looking at us leisurely. We hadn’t even exchanged greetings yet, and he was already getting to the point.

Well, that’s what I wanted too. The longer the introduction, the harder it becomes to get to the main point. It’s better to get it over with quickly. As they say, it’s better to take your punishment early.

“Well… you see.”

Despite my resolution, when it came time to speak, the words wouldn’t come out easily. I wasn’t sure where to begin or how to explain. If I had similar experiences to reference, it might help, but this was my first time meeting a girlfriend’s parents at their home, making it quite awkward.

“…Um, well. You see.”

As I hesitated for a while, right at that moment:

“Dad, Mom. I want to marry Siwoo.”

Nabi, standing beside me, beat me to it. Surprised, I quickly turned to look at her, but undeterred, she made an even more shocking declaration.

“And I’m pregnant. Twelve weeks now.”

“……”

Both her mother and father seemed shocked into silence. I stepped forward after a moment of quiet.

If Nabi had the courage, I needed to show mine too. Standing by silently at a time like this isn’t what a man should do.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law.”

I took a deep breath before speaking.

Then, I blurted out:

“…Please give me your daughter’s hand in marriage.”