Ch.248248. I Am a Dog

Lightly, I said, but quite a long time had passed. The evidence was the sun high in the sky and my hungry stomach.

“…How long has it been?”

I mumbled quietly as I lay sprawled on the bed. When I first woke up, sunlight was definitely streaming through the curtains, but now it had disappeared. All that remained was the stiffness in my hips and my aching lips.

I’m not old enough to have aching joints, so the reason must be… probably because of Hwa Nabi, who was lying exhausted beside me, taking a nap.

Seeing her fall back asleep like this, she must have been really tired. Was she up since dawn? I can’t know for sure since I was asleep, but if my guess is right, it makes sense that she’d be tired.

Of course she would be. Waking up early and then doing… that sort of thing without eating would drain anyone’s energy. It’s hard enough for an average person, let alone for someone who’s pregnant—well, that goes without saying.

While thinking about this, I turned my head to the side. I could see Hwa Nabi’s bangs as she slept soundly using my arm as a pillow. I could see her pretty eyelashes, her slightly flushed cheeks, and as a bonus, her small reddish lips.

“You’re sleeping so well…”

As I’ve thought many times, Hwa Nabi looks absolutely angelic when she’s asleep. But I don’t understand why her demeanor changes completely when she opens her eyes. Not that I dislike it. A bright personality is actually nice. Maybe it’s because I’m not particularly sociable, but I like Hwa Nabi’s personality.

But that’s one thing, and this is another. The girl who gave such a quiet first impression is actually so lively that I’m still adjusting.

“…Ah.”

Wait, wasn’t she lively when we first met too? Thinking about it carefully, I remembered.

Yes, that’s right. Lively is an understatement. She was so energetic that she jumped up from her seat. Recalling the impression I had of Hwa Nabi back then, I couldn’t help but smile.

I remember thinking the world is vast and full of unique people. I never dreamed that one of those unique people would become my fiancée. If I had known beforehand, maybe I could have approached her in a kinder way? Perhaps by gently gripping her shoulder to wake her up.

“…”

Actually, thinking about it, that doesn’t seem right. If a stranger approached me while I was sleeping, grabbed my shoulder and woke me up, I’d be scared. If even I, an impassive guy, would feel that way, Hwa Nabi as a woman would feel even more uncomfortable.

Then how? Should I gently touch her back to wake her? Or whisper in her ear? I thought about it but couldn’t come up with a good solution. During my school days, when male friends were sleeping, we’d wake them up rather aggressively by hitting the back of their heads or slapping their backs.

I hadn’t had much experience touching women in the first place, let alone being in a situation where I needed to wake up a sleeping woman. Back then, and even now, I wouldn’t have had many options.

“But now…”

No, maybe I’m different now? I should have gained some experience dealing with Hwa Nabi. If I faced the same situation again, I might be able to handle it more smoothly.

I wouldn’t end up in an embarrassing situation like back then, backing away in confusion and stepping on a branch. I would have approached and woken her up before that happened.

But how? Now that Hwa Nabi is my girlfriend, I could wake her gently by touching the back of her head or rubbing her back. But in a situation where we’re strangers, I’m not sure what the right approach would be.

Maybe I should ask her. I pulled Hwa Nabi’s waist closer, embracing her, and gently rubbed her back with my palm.

It was lunchtime, and I thought I should wake her up soon or she wouldn’t be able to sleep later tonight. But instead of waking up, Hwa Nabi seemed to enjoy my touch and clung to me even more. She even showed an incredibly happy smile and slightly pursed her lips, which made me instinctively move to kiss her before stopping myself.

“Even while sleeping, she…”

She’s bewitching. I almost became a pervert who initiates skinship while someone’s sleeping. Even for a married couple, skinship without consent isn’t right. If you’re going to do it, it should be when both are awake, naturally following the mood.

“…Even while sleeping?”

Just as I was thinking “that’s right,” Hwa Nabi’s lips opened without warning. Thinking she was asleep, I was startled and unconsciously flinched backward. But Hwa Nabi, as if unwilling to let me go, wriggled forward. There was no space for me to retreat.

“You, you were awake?”

I must have been really surprised because I was stammering. I hadn’t done anything particularly guilty, but my heart was racing, perhaps because of the strange thoughts I’d been having.

Hwa Nabi looked at me quietly, then reached out and hugged my shoulders.

“Yes. But what were you going to say?”

“Huh? What?”

“You just said ‘even while sleeping.’ What were you going to say next?”

“…I didn’t say that.”

I denied it reflexively, even though it was clear Hwa Nabi had heard me. I realized my mistake too late, and Hwa Nabi’s eyes narrowed.

“Hmm, really?”

Hwa Nabi murmured meaningfully as her face drew closer. We were so close that our lips would touch with the slightest movement.

Right in front of me, Hwa Nabi looked straight into my eyes.

“Husband, do you know something?”

“What?”

“When you lie, you look at my lips.”

“…Huh?”

“And just now, you were only looking at my lips when you spoke.”

She had accurately identified a habit I wasn’t even aware of. I’m not sure if it’s true or not… but in this situation, my failure to respond quickly was as good as admitting I had lied.

“Sorry, I was wrong.”

Seeing no point in further deception, I apologized sincerely. Hwa Nabi’s crooked smile softened, and she gently stroked my head as if to say “good job.”

“That’s better. You should have done this from the start.”

“…”

“Come on, cheer up. Someone might think I’m doing something terrible to you.”

Every time she touches my head like this, I can’t help but think that my status in Hwa Nabi’s mind is becoming more like a pet. To use her own expression, am I like a big puppy to her?

Anyway, since she sees me in a positive light, there’s no need to feel bad about it. But it’s not something I should be entirely happy about either. I always want to be manly and dependable in front of Hwa Nabi.

I couldn’t simply express these complex feelings, so I was just suffering silently… when suddenly, Hwa Nabi brought her lips close.

*Smooch*

Our lips met briefly and then parted. Hwa Nabi had initiated the kiss. Belatedly realizing this, I stared at her blankly. Her luscious red lips slowly opened.

“Don’t worry.”

“…?”

“You’re always reliable, trustworthy, and very manly. There’s no need to feel down.”

It was as if she had seen right through me. I don’t know how Hwa Nabi knew what I was thinking or how she figured out what I wanted to hear, but one thing was clear.

What she just said wasn’t just empty words—they contained her sincere feelings. I could tell by her unwavering eyes.

“But, you know.”

“Huh?”

“Sometimes, when I see how much you enjoy having your head patted, you’re like a puppy. Were you perhaps a dog in your past life?”

“…”

I had been floating on cloud nine until just now. But after hearing Hwa Nabi’s “past life as a dog theory,” I crashed back to earth. The elation in my chest transformed into disbelief, and the corners of my mouth naturally twisted.

“So you’re saying I’m like a dog?”

“‘Like a dog’… that phrase sounds strange. It’s too harsh, like an insult.”

I know full well that Hwa Nabi had no such intention. As she said, she really used the puppy comparison to compliment me, to say I was cute and lovable. All of it was Hwa Nabi’s way of expressing affection.

Yes, I understand. I know she wants to treat me somewhat like a pet, and I also know she thinks I’m manly, trustworthy, and reliable.

I understand all that. But that’s one thing, and this is another.

“Well, you just used that harsh insult on me, didn’t you?”

“What? No, I didn’t! I said you were like a cute puppy, not that you were like a dog…”

“See, you just called me a dog again.”

Despite knowing everything, I pretended to misunderstand. My purpose was obviously to take control of this conversation.

“No, that’s not what I meant! You’re misunderstanding something…”

However, Hwa Nabi didn’t seem to notice my intention. She was panicking and trying to explain herself, but before she could finish, I grabbed her wrist.

“I’m a dog so I don’t understand human language, woof woof.”

“…Wait. Husband, are you deliberately doing this to me?”

Adding the “woof woof” was probably going too far. Hwa Nabi seemed to detect something strange and questioned me.

But answering questions is for amateurs. I took it a step further by pulling her close and kissing her lips.

If answering a question is difficult… just seal the lips that ask the question. This is one of the conversation techniques I’ve learned while being with Hwa Nabi.

Hwa Nabi looked surprised when her lips were suddenly captured. But she soon regained her composure, gave me a resigned smile with her eyes, and gently rubbed my head.

‘See? You are like a puppy.’

“…”

I guess I’ll just be a dog from today.