Ch.191191. I’ll Call You Noona

After walking a bit more, we arrived at the photo studio. After a brief explanation from the staff, Hwa Nabi and I began preparing for the photoshoot.

The preparation was simple—just checking our outfits and going over facility guidelines. But the completely different surroundings made me feel nervous without even realizing it.

Reflectors, large cameras, staff bustling about. These were all things I rarely saw. I really did come to a photo studio. As I looked around with a fresh sense of wonder, a woman approached Hwa Nabi.

Looking more carefully, it was the staff member who had just guided us.

“Oh, bride. I forgot to mention, did you see the wedding photo on the exterior wall when you entered our studio?”

“Hmm… you mean that huge photo? Yes, of course I saw it. But why?”

“That wedding photo changes just once a year. It usually changes around this time, and the selection criterion is the photo of the couple who looked happiest that year.”

“The happiest couple photo…”

Hwa Nabi repeated it like a mantra, and the staff member looked at her and smiled slightly. I watched them with my arms crossed.

“In my opinion, no couple looks happier than you two. So give this wedding photoshoot your best shot. They might ask if they can put your photo on the exterior wall.”

“Is there any benefit to being featured there?”

“Yes, many. All photography fees are waived, and if you need additional shoots in the future, you get priority booking with our company plus a fifty percent discount. Also, your photo will be featured in our annual promotional booklet…”

It was a long explanation, but the point was that if they put our photo on the exterior wall, they’d give us numerous benefits in return. The main one being covering the cost of this photoshoot.

The conditions weren’t bad, but it wasn’t really relevant to us. Thinking that, I quietly observed Hwa Nabi’s reaction. I was curious how she would respond.

“Hmm…”

After the staff’s enthusiastic explanation ended, Hwa Nabi lifted her head. Then she turned her head sharply and looked straight at me. She made a small gesture with her hand, seemingly asking me to come over, so I approached slowly.

As we got closer, Hwa Nabi suddenly stood up.

“Siwoo, this is an opportunity.”

“Huh? What kind of opportunity all of a sudden?”

“This wedding photoshoot. If we do well, our photo could be displayed on the building exterior, and it could even be the cover of their promotional booklet. Isn’t this a chance to show the world our faces?”

What’s the use of becoming widely known when we’re not even celebrities? Besides, hasn’t she already made herself well-known enough through Instagram?

“Well… is that a good thing?”

I answered lukewarmly for the two reasons mentioned above. Then, Hwa Nabi grabbed my arm.

“Yes. It’s a great thing. I’ve been worried because my Instagram follower count has plateaued, but this is perfect timing. I can show off that this handsome man is mine, and increase my Instagram followers. It’s killing two birds with one stone. So please cooperate. Okay?”

“Oh, okay…”

Somehow I found myself agreeing, pushed along by Hwa Nabi’s enthusiasm. I only watched from a distance so I’m not sure what it’s all about, but I guess it’s good that she’s motivated?

“Come on, Siwoo? Let’s do our best with this wedding photoshoot. Fighting!”

“Yeah, fighting.”

*

The photoshoot began.

After final checks, Hwa Nabi and I entered the studio. Following the director’s instructions to avoid looking toward the reflectors, I alternated between looking at Hwa Nabi and the camera as directed, continuing with the shoot.

“Good. The photos came out well. Now let’s have the bride and groom take a short break before we move on to the concept shoot.”

About twenty minutes had passed. The director gave us the okay, and we took a short break. I sat on a chair in the corner of the waiting room attached to the studio and caught my breath.

“Phew…”

They said to relax and approach the shoot with a comfortable mindset, but that’s easier said than done. I’ve photographed models before, but it’s my first time being the model myself.

The unfamiliar atmosphere plus knowing these photos would last a lifetime naturally made me tense. That’s probably why I ended up looking rather stiff in the photos.

Hwa Nabi had just said we should take good photos, but at this rate, it wasn’t looking promising.

I was seriously thinking about how to completely relax when I heard the sound of a hinge. Hwa Nabi had entered the waiting room.

“Siwoo, aren’t you too nervous?”

“Umm… does it show?”

Hwa Nabi, in her wedding dress, asked carefully. So she had noticed. Seeing no point in denying it, I asked back, and she nodded and sat down next to me.

“Yes. Your fingertips were completely stiff. And the skinship was unnatural too.”

“You can tell that…?”

“Of course. We’ve spent so much time together, I can definitely tell.”

Impressive. I hadn’t noticed at all. As I looked at her in silent amazement, Hwa Nabi added playfully with a smile.

“Normally you’d be touching here and there like a sly fox, but there was none of that.”

“I won’t deny that I’ve done that before as a person with a conscience… but still, there’s a time and place.”

If I showed skinship in front of everyone, what would people think of me? Hashtags like “newlywed spirit” or “these young people nowadays…” along with my face could easily dominate social media.

“Heh, I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

I had given a thoughtful response, but Hwa Nabi giggled as if she found it funny. She doesn’t seem to have any sense of nervousness at all. Is it because she’s used to showing her face to the general public as a hobby? I wish I could learn from that iron-like mental strength.

“Siwoo, look at me.”

“What, what are you trying to do now…”

I started to speak but stopped abruptly. Hwa Nabi was leaning her upper body toward me and looking at me.

Thanks to that, I got to observe her up close. Her lightly made-up face, the pure white veil. The dress that exuded subtle sensuality without being revealing.

It might be a cliché observation, but she really is pretty. No, not just pretty—beautiful. I truly mean it, not just empty words.

“…”

So I’m going to marry a woman like this. The realization suddenly hit me, and my heart started pounding.

Hwa Nabi looked at me silently for a moment before slowly speaking.

“If you get nervous during the shoot, just look straight at my face like you are now.”

“…Just look at you?”

“Yes. Don’t let your eyes wander elsewhere. Just focus on me.”

With a quiet but firm voice, speaking in short sentences, Hwa Nabi gently took my hand.

“It’s not difficult, right? You can do it?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I will.”

Actually, it’s not even a matter of difficulty. After all, it’s what I’ve been doing all along. I nodded while looking at Hwa Nabi.

“That’s right, our Siwoo, don’t worry and just trust your noona. Okay?”

As if telling me to just follow her lead, she lightly tapped the upper part of her chest and smiled faintly. I interlaced my fingers with hers and asked abruptly.

“Everything’s fine, but why are you ‘noona’?”

“Your birthday is in September, right? Mine is in July, so strictly speaking, I am your noona.”

“Is there such a thing as a noona with only a 2-month difference, not even 2 years?”

“Why not? It’s possible. If you were born in November and I was born in January, you might have called me noona too.”

Isn’t she interpreting things too conveniently? By that logic, if it were the other way around, I could have been oppa.

I was about to say something but decided against it. There’s no point in arguing about this—it would just tire me out. With a chuckle, I gently lifted her slightly fallen veil and said:

“Alright, noona. Everything my noona says is right.”

At that moment, the facial muscles of the smiling Hwa Nabi twitched. Wondering if something was bothering her, I was about to ask when she squeezed my hand tightly.

“…Wait a minute. Siwoo, say that again.”

“Huh? Say what again?”

“What you just said.”

“What I just said? Well, that you’re right about everything?”

“No, the way you addressed me was different. Say it again properly with the right term.”

What did I say again? If my memory serves me right, I said, “Alright, noona. Everything my noona says is right.” Surely that couldn’t have bothered her? I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but maybe it came across that way.

Just to be sure, I checked her expression, but she didn’t seem upset. No, she actually seemed to like it. Did she enjoy me calling her noona?

Well, it’s not that hard to call her noona. I elaborated on what I had just done, carefully lifting her veil and fixing her bangs slightly as I said:

“Noona, why are you so pretty today? You’re good enough to marry me.”

I whispered with a faint smile and then backed away a little. I might have overdone it, but hopefully she won’t dislike it. Feeling a bit anxious, I waited for Hwa Nabi’s reaction.

But she just stared at me intently, really intently. She stared so fixedly that it almost made me uncomfortable.

“…”

After gazing at me silently like that, she suddenly brought her face close and pressed her lips against mine without saying a word. Then she quickly pulled away and smiled brightly, which startled me and made me look around.

There was no one around, so no one witnessed it. But regardless, I was very surprised. Hwa Nabi’s action was unexpected.

“Our Siwoo, shall we finish the photoshoot quickly and go somewhere together with noona?”

“…?”

Suddenly suggesting we go somewhere. Perplexed, I questioned with my eyes, and she licked her lips and placed her hand firmly on my thigh.

And then she said:

“…Somewhere nice?”