Ch.192192. The Moment I’m With You

Women, regardless of age, invariably talk about men the moment three or more of them gather.

From mundane stories like “My ex was like this,” “My current boyfriend is like that,” “My crush did this for me…” to those intimate details they’d never dare mention in front of men.

If I were to properly elaborate on this topic, we could stay up for days, but that would obviously get too long, so I’ll skip it for now.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that women talk about men literally all the time. The prime example and warm-up topic is discussing their ideal types.

I don’t need to look far—just my school friends prove this point. While watching YouTube videos on their phones, they’d share almost every break time: “I like guys with good bodies,” “I like handsome guys,” “I like guys with nice personalities,” and so on… but I could never join those conversations.

Why?

Because I didn’t have any preferences.

More precisely, I’d never had any interaction with guys, so I didn’t really know.

But I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut because I didn’t know. So I just made something up and said “guys with pretty smiles,” but…

Wait, what does “guys with pretty smiles” even mean? Does it mean their gums don’t show when they smile? Or is it just that handsome guys look pretty when they smile?

You need to know something to talk about it specifically. So I always went around stating my ideal type was guys with pretty smiles, even though I myself didn’t really understand it.

I thought someday I’d develop my own preferences, and then I could correct it when the time came.

…But one day, that belief cracked.

“Yes, noona. Everything you say is right.”

As he smiled gently and slightly lifted my veil, my heart suddenly fluttered.

“…”

W-what was that just now? Did I see something wrong? I think I just witnessed an incredibly attractive side of my man.

I quickly pressed my lips together when I noticed my mouth corners trying to dance on their own. Then I unconsciously tightened my grip on our interlocked fingers.

“Wait a moment, Siwoo? Do that again.”

“Do what again?”

“What you just said.”

“That you’re right?”

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

This definitely needed verification. After strongly expressing my intention, I waited for his response. He seemed to misunderstand something as he cautiously observed my reaction, but soon realizing what I meant, he reached out.

“Noona, why are you so pretty today? You’re definitely marriage material.”

He smiled softly as he carefully lifted my veil. Then he whispered something in my ear that made me feel like my heart stopped for a moment.

His eyes forming crescent moons, those slightly folded aegyo-sal, and his prettily upturned lips…

…I think I really do have a thing for men with pretty smiles after all.

“Um, Nabi?”

When I just stared at him without responding, he seemed to get uncomfortable and tried to avoid my gaze. To prevent that, I quickly moved my face closer and gave him a quick kiss before pulling back.

“…!”

He looked at me in surprise. I stared back as if nothing had happened. He then looked around with an expression half bewildered, half flustered.

Ah, his flustered look is really cute too. At times like this, he definitely has that younger guy vibe. Thinking of teasing him more, I spoke up.

“Siwoo, shall we go somewhere together after we finish the photoshoot quickly?”

“…”

He turned his head toward me and asked with just his eyes.

‘Where do you suddenly want to go?’

At his innocent-looking question, I unconsciously licked my lips and placed my hand on his thigh.

“…Somewhere nice?”

“…”

I’m not sure what he imagined, but seeing his Adam’s apple bob, I had a pretty good idea. He was probably thinking of something suggestive. Since I had just shown him a sexy dress, he might have let his imagination run wild in that direction.

“Heh…”

A smile formed automatically as things seemed to be going according to my plan. But I couldn’t be satisfied just yet. I leaned my upper body forward to drive the point home.

“That dress I wore earlier, I heard it’s not a display-only item.”

“You mean we can buy it?”

“Yes. But there’s one problem.”

He looked at me with eyes mixed with anticipation and tension, as if asking what the problem was. I gently massaged his firm thigh as I continued.

“That dress… it’s hard to take off by myself.”

“…”

“So, I think I’ll need someone to help me…”

I stopped right there, closing my mouth firmly—implying he should use his imagination for the rest.

In response, his eyes looking down at me began to shake violently. They vibrated so intensely that it was like an earthquake had struck.

His mouth going dry, he licked his lips. Then he glanced at my face, then at my chest area. Unable to properly manage his gaze, he looked here and there before slowly opening his mouth as if he’d made some decision.

“Then…”

—Mr. Groom, Ms. Bride! We’re ready to continue the photoshoot!

And simultaneously, the photographer’s call came from outside the waiting room. Having stopped mid-sentence because of it, he looked at me cautiously.

“The director is calling for us?”

“Yeah, I heard it too, but…”

His gaze remained fixed on my face. Despite knowing we needed to go for the wedding photoshoot, he seemed unable to take a step.

“What is it? Do you have something to say?”

“Umm, well…”

A hesitant voice flowed from his lips.

I’ve set everything up so perfectly, is he still hesitating? If he has something to say, he should just say it like a man.

There’s no choice then. I’ll have to give him a push.

“Ah, this won’t do~”

I deliberately used an exaggerated tone to catch his attention. It was obviously poor acting, but he seemed too preoccupied with his inner thoughts to notice.

“Since Siwoo can’t help me, I guess I’ll have to ask someone else~”

Acting as if this wasn’t what I wanted but had no choice, I even nodded my head before standing up.

I thought this would make him feel a sense of crisis and become more proactive. Then I could pretend to give in… that was my calculated move, but—

“…No.”

Suddenly, a low voice came, and my arm was firmly grabbed. Inwardly surprised, I stopped abruptly and turned around.

“What? What’s not…”

“I said no.”

Before I could finish my sentence, he came close and wrapped his arm around my waist. It happened so suddenly that I had no time to react.

This seems more serious than I expected—he’s not angry, is he? That thought occurred to me belatedly, and I tried to gauge his mood, but he just gazed at me intensely.

“What’s not allowed?”

“You said you were going to ask someone else. That’s not allowed.”

When I finally asked directly, he immediately answered. His tone showed no hesitation whatsoever. It sounded so resolute that I almost nodded unconsciously.

“Then, will you help me?”

“Yes. I’ll help you as much as you need, so don’t go anywhere and stay by my side.”

You should have said that from the beginning. Only then did I feel relieved. Although things went slightly off track, it seems to have worked out as I wanted. Smiling brightly, I gently rubbed his arm, signaling him to let go.

However, his reaction was strange. Despite knowing I was touching him, he didn’t move at all. Did he not notice? Puzzled, I tapped his left shoulder.

…Still no response. What’s wrong with this man? When I questioned him with my eyes, instead of releasing me, he held me even tighter. And then he said:

“I told you not to go anywhere.”

“What? What do you…”

I thought he was joking, but the eyes looking at me were serious. He was genuinely telling me to stay by his side. When he said don’t go anywhere, did he mean from this very moment?

Needless to say, I have no intention of leaving him and going elsewhere. But this isn’t right—we’re not alone, there are people outside.

“Um, Siwoo? Let’s calm down first and…”

“I’m completely calm right now.”

His eyes were steady, and his breathing was even. He did appear composed as he claimed, but why did he look so excited to me? Like a silent scream in the midst of tranquility.

It’s like looking at a clear sky without a hint of wind right before a typhoon hits. His quiet smile makes it all the more intimidating…

“Are you perhaps angry?”

“No. I’m not angry, but I want to kiss you.”

“…”

He is angry. How do I know? Because he often expresses his feelings indirectly like this.

When something bothers him, rather than saying it directly, he uses actions and skinship that put me in a difficult position to express it indirectly.

This expression method of his is scary for two reasons. First, the skinship doesn’t end until he’s satisfied, and second—

“Then, let’s finish quickly…”

“I want to take it slow.”

“…”

“Is that not okay?”

“Ah, fine. Let’s take it slow…”

…I don’t dislike it either.