Ch.245245. Destined to Kiss

I didn’t need to say anything more, so I swallowed my words and quietly waited for an answer. Then Jin-hee sighed as if she had expected this and laughed softly.

[Right, I can tell you’re next to her from the strange sounds I’m hearing. Nabi, why didn’t you say hello when you’re right there? I’m starting to feel a little hurt.]

“Ah, sorry! I didn’t mean to do that on purpose. I thought the call would end quickly…”

Jin-hee was speaking in a very playful tone, but Hwa Nabi, who was flustered, didn’t seem to notice. Thinking Jin-hee was genuinely upset, she panicked and started making excuses, which I found adorable, so I pulled her into my arms.

“Why are you making such long excuses?”

“Huh! Ah, come on. Honey, why do you have to… right now…!”

“Since we’ve been caught anyway, you might as well just admit it and say hello properly.”

I placed my phone in Hwa Nabi’s hand and gestured with my chin, meaning she should greet Jin-hee. After hesitating for a moment with the phone in her hand, Hwa Nabi carefully began to speak.

“Jin-hee, hello. Are you angry…?”

[I’m not angry, just a little hurt. You knew I was here but didn’t say hello, right?]

“That… I really didn’t intend to pretend I didn’t know. Sorry, it’s just that the situation…”

[…Pfft, ahem. Why, what kind of situation was it? Was it a difficult situation to talk about?]

Hwa Nabi froze at Jin-hee’s playful question. She couldn’t make a sound, seemingly debating whether she should be honest or not.

Well, I’d probably be conflicted too. To make the other person understand, she’d have to explain that we’re in a bathroom right now, but Hwa Nabi lacks the boldness to brazenly admit she’s in a hotel bathroom with her boyfriend. That’s just who she is—sometimes daring, sometimes surprisingly shy.

Well, that’s also part of what makes her lovable. As I watched silently, Hwa Nabi’s face turned bright red and just before she was about to burst, I took the phone back.

“Our Nabi is about to steam from her head.”

[Why would steam come from her head? Ah, I guess you’re somewhere that would cause steam?]

That was a maliciously pointed question from someone who clearly knew the answer. She wasn’t saying it for me to hear, but for Hwa Nabi.

Just as Jin-hee intended, Hwa Nabi looked guilty and took a deep breath. I gently rubbed her lower abdomen and replied leisurely.

“Yeah, I’m taking a bath with Nabi right now.”

[Taking a bath at this hour? …Ah, you said you went to Puerto Rico for your honeymoon. Considering the time difference, is it night there now?]

Unlike my wife who was completely flushed with embarrassment at the mention of “bath with Nabi,” Jin-hee showed no particular reaction and just asked what she was curious about. That was so like her. It’s a bit fascinating how different people can be, even friends having completely opposite reactions.

“Yeah, it’s almost midnight. It must be around lunchtime in Korea?”

[Yes, lunchtime. I was having lunch with Hansol, and we happened to talk about you two, so I called.]

“Really? Good timing. We were just free anyway.”

[You said you were bathing, are you really free?]

“Well, bathing just means soaking in water, so…”

I meant that we could continue the call, but Jin-hee didn’t seem to take it that way. She mumbled, “But it must be uncomfortable to talk on the phone while bathing. After your bath… ah, never mind. Maybe I should call back tomorrow?”

…Well, I’m grateful that Jin-hee is tactful enough to bow out. We came into this bathroom with certain expectations, and I was a bit disappointed that the sudden phone call seemed to be derailing things.

I was quite happy to hear her say she’d hang up soon, but I pretended otherwise and replied as if I was disappointed. Following my lead, Hwa Nabi also called out to the phone.

“Jin-hee! I’ll call you later!”

[Later when, thirty minutes? Or in an hour?]

“Huh? Well…”

[I need to know when to expect your call. Will you call right after your bath?]

Hwa Nabi didn’t answer Jin-hee’s question right away. With her hand on my thigh, she hesitated for quite a while before glancing at me. She was asking me, “What should I say?”

I wrapped my arm around Hwa Nabi’s waist, pulled her close, and tucked her into my embrace. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, I spoke into the phone.

“Don’t wait for a call today.”

[What? Hey! How much are you going to…!]

I could hear her shouting something through the phone, but I just hung up. That’s enough dealing with an unexpected intruder.

I pressed and held the button on the right side of the phone to turn it off completely, then placed it in the waterproof pouch outside the tub. Now there would be no more calls from anyone.

“Um, honey.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Is that… okay?”

Hwa Nabi, still in my arms, asked cautiously. What does she mean by “okay”? When I just looked at her questioningly, she rolled her eyes toward the waterproof pouch.

Ah, she means turning off the phone. Well, it’s fine. There’s a possibility of urgent calls, but nothing major will happen if I’m unavailable for a few hours…

“I noticed earlier that your phone screen has a crack.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes. There’s a clear line running across the top…”

My head whipped around at those words. Did it crack when I dropped it earlier? I instinctively moved to grab the waterproof pouch but suddenly stopped.

Hmm, calm down. Getting all worked up over a cracked phone screen would make me look too materialistic. The right response in this situation is to stay composed.

“I’m sorry. It must have cracked when it hit something when I almost fell earlier. Later we can go to the service center together…”

“It’s fine. Phone screens crack sometimes. What’s more important is that you didn’t get hurt.”

This was my honest feeling without any exaggeration. A phone can be repaired anytime with insurance, so it’s not comparable to a person’s well-being.

I spoke casually as if it wasn’t a big deal, and Hwa Nabi kept glancing at me. Then, leaning against me subtly, she said:

“…Really?”

There was no need to ask what she meant by “really.” She was asking about my sincerity. I answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“Really, really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Then, can you say it one more time?”

“Say it one more time?”

“Yes. I want to hear it again. …Is that okay?”

It’s not a difficult request, so why not? I tapped my index finger, which was resting on her lower abdomen. It was a gesture asking her to look at me.

Without any words, Hwa Nabi somehow understood and glanced at me. Looking directly into her eyes, I said:

“To me, you, Nabi, are the most precious thing in this world.”

“…”

“…Ah, no. Ua is just as precious to me, so the most precious things in this world are you, Nabi, and Ua. Two people.”

I added jokingly as an afterthought, and Hwa Nabi’s eyebrows shot up. Something didn’t sit right with her.

“Wait, if there are two, then it’s not ‘most,’ is it?”

“Why not? There can be two ‘most’ things.”

“Then it’s not ‘most’ but ‘second most.’ ‘Most’ means the first among many, so how can there be two?”

“You can’t quantify feelings with numbers. I love you, Nabi, tremendously, and I love our Ua just as much.”

“Then, choose just one of us. Me or Ua?”

“…”

It’s almost like being asked whether you prefer your mom or dad. I never expected to face such an impossible question at this moment.

There’s no way out. Once asked, I have to answer. But I couldn’t easily choose either one. After all, the moment I choose between Hwa Nabi and Ua, I’d be doing something terrible to the other person.

As I hesitated for a long time, Hwa Nabi’s gaze narrowed slightly. She was pressuring me with her eyes because my answer was delayed. If I were to translate that look into words, it would be something like “Why aren’t you choosing already?”

“Why can’t you speak?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Don’t tell me you were just saying that?”

…Ah, I don’t know. This is an impossible choice for me. Both Hwa Nabi and Ua are equally precious to me, so how could I possibly choose who is more precious?

With that thought, I gave up on responding verbally and just moved my lips. In other words, I pulled Hwa Nabi close and kissed her.

Suddenly pressed against my chest, Hwa Nabi flinched in surprise but soon carefully embraced me back. I was worried she might push me away and demand an answer regardless of the kiss. I’m relieved that’s not the case.

Although this kiss was a temporary measure, a somewhat forced alternative to answering, I put in the same effort as always. I firmly held Hwa Nabi’s waist, gently bit her lower lip without hurting her, and softly licked it. She seemed to find my movements stimulating, making a sensual sound as she bit her upper lip.

Our bodies naturally pressed together, with our chests firmly pressed against each other. Without realizing it, I reached toward Hwa Nabi’s chest but hesitated and stopped.

This is why a man’s instinct is so frightening. I had no such intention, but my hand moved naturally. Fortunately, I stopped my hand just before I touched her. But that wasn’t the issue.

I just realized that Hwa Nabi was watching me with narrowed eyes as I almost touched her chest but stopped. This is practically the same as if I had touched her…

“…Mmm, haa.”

The soft sensation pulled away. Hwa Nabi separated her lips to catch her breath. She looked at me while regulating her breathing, then slightly raised the corners of her mouth in a smile.

“Does my honey want to touch big sister’s chest?”

“No, well…”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t want to. But it’s also a bit awkward to readily admit it.

It’s a strange pride that men have—skinship should flow naturally with the mood, not something you ask permission for—

“You can touch if you want to.”

“…”

…I admit there was a time when I thought that way.