Ch.299299. Always the Same in the New Year

“……Huh?”

While organizing my thoughts, I realized belatedly. Wait, it’s 5:20 right now? That means I need to leave in just ten minutes?

As that thought spread through my mind, I jumped up from my seat. I was still holding a can of beer in one hand. Right, I just noticed, but what’s with this beer? I almost drank it without thinking because Hwa Nabi handed it to me, but I need to drive in a little while.

Fortunately, I hadn’t taken a sip yet… I almost drove after drinking. Even if it was just one sip, that wouldn’t be right. I put down the beer can I was holding and slipped my hands under Hwa Nabi’s armpits to lift her up.

“Huh? What? Husband?”

Suddenly lifted up by me, Hwa Nabi looked dumbfounded. She didn’t seem to understand why I was doing this. I also took the beer can she was holding and placed it on the table.

“Nabi, get changed and ready to go right now.”

“What? Now? But I’ve only had one sip of beer…”

“You can drink beer slowly later. We can only see the first sunrise of the new year now, or we’ll have to wait until next year. Is that okay with you?”

“Ah, no way. We have to see the sunrise. That’s why we came all the way here!”

“Right, so hurry up and shower, change your clothes, and come out. I’ll get ready quickly too.”

No matter how little time we have, we can’t go out looking like beasts. I pushed Hwa Nabi into the shower, prepared her underwear to change into, and started changing into my outdoor clothes. I haven’t showered either, but I’m a man, so it should be fine to shower when we get home.

While buttoning up the shirt I had taken off and looking for my car keys, the bathroom door suddenly flung open. Hwa Nabi came out already, even though she had just gone in. Did she finish showering that quickly?

I turned around without thinking and almost felt my heart drop. Hwa Nabi was standing there dripping wet, without anything on. I tried hard not to let my gaze drift downward and spoke while looking only at her face.

“Did you finish showering already?”

“Yes. I just quickly washed my hair since you need to shower too. Oh, is this new underwear?”

Hwa Nabi dried her hair with a towel and pointed at the black underwear. I pretended to be nonchalant as I unbuttoned my shirt again and approached the shower.

“Yeah. I took it from your bag, Nabi.”

“Mmm, I see. Thanks for getting it for me.”

Just as I was entering the shower, smooch. Something soft touched my cheek. Hwa Nabi had quickly approached me, kissed me on the lips, and run away.

“Hurry up and shower. Got it?”

“…Yeah.”

I’m already troubled enough because of her outfit… She’s not trying to seduce me, but I wish she wouldn’t wink so lovingly. My heart is pounding so much I might not be able to shower properly.

After staring intently at her swaying hips, I finally tore my gaze away and entered the shower. I kept the shower as brief as possible, just washing my hair and rinsing off with water like Hwa Nabi had done. Since we’re short on time, I’ll use body wash when we get home.

“…Should I ask her to shower together?”

I suddenly came to my senses after having an inappropriate thought. Hmm, am I still half-asleep? I can’t believe I’m having such thoughts in broad daylight, or rather, at the crack of dawn.

Feeling inwardly remorseful, I came out. Right in front of the shower, there was a set of my clothes—top, bottom, and underwear—presumably laid out by Hwa Nabi.

Bang.

“Husband, have you finished chang— Oh my.”

“…Ah, you startled me.”

I was completely naked and about to put on my shirt when the bedroom door suddenly opened. I turned around in surprise, and Hwa Nabi kept saying “Oh my, oh my” while pretending not to know what to do, covering her eyes with her palm.

“I’m sorry. It was so quiet I thought you had finished changing.”

“That’s fine, but… if you’re going to cover your eyes, could you do it properly?”

The gaps between her fingers are so wide that it’s worse than not covering at all. When I pointed this out, the gaps between her fingers narrowed slightly. But it still didn’t make much difference—she could still see everything.

“Husband.”

“What?”

“I just realized, your back view is incredibly sexy too. Your erector spinae muscles are so pretty, you could be a successful underwear model.”

Judging by her words, she has no intention of covering her eyes. Figuring it would be pointless to say anything more, I ignored Hwa Nabi’s gaze and continued getting dressed.

“…Hey, hey. What are you touching?”

“Come on, stay still. I just want to feel my man’s body.”

Something soft brushed against my erector spinae muscles, and I instinctively twisted my upper body to avoid it. When I turned around, Hwa Nabi, already changed into her outdoor clothes, was reaching out with both hands.

“Nabi, I’m changing clothes right now…?”

“Husband, do you know why the Korean War broke out?”

“Because they let their guard down, right?”

“Ding dong deng.”

Hwa Nabi exclaimed cutely and tried to feel my abs. Having anticipated this, I quickly stepped back to avoid her evil hands.

She apparently hadn’t expected this, and her brow momentarily furrowed. After glaring at me reproachfully, she shouted loudly.

“What’s this? Why are you avoiding me!”

“What do you mean why? Wouldn’t you avoid it too if you were me?”

“No, I wouldn’t. I let you freely squeeze my butt!”

“……”

When she puts it that way, I have nothing to say. After all, it’s an objective fact that I’ve thoroughly squeezed Hwa Nabi’s butt.

Hwa Nabi slowly approaches me as I’m left speechless. I carefully watch her actions while slowly buttoning up my shirt.

“Husband, unbutton those buttons you just fastened.”

“Why the buttons?”

“They’re in the way of touching.”

“Who said I’d let you touch me so easily?”

“Are you defying me right now?”

“Defying? Anyone listening would think you’re my mother or something.”

“I breastfed you, so I am your mother. You enjoyed sucking on them too.”

“…Hey, are you going to keep saying weird things?”

“Hey? Husband, did you just call your wife ‘hey’?”

I was about to explain that it was short for “Nabi-ya,” but she suddenly licked her lips. For some reason, I found that gesture creepy and gulped.

“This won’t do. I should use this opportunity to fix your speaking habits properly.”

“Why? What’s wrong with how I speak?”

“We’ve been married for over half a year now. Husband, you keep saying ‘hey’ whenever you’re in a hurry. Do you know how bad that is for a child’s education?”

“Fine. I admit I’m wrong for occasionally calling you ‘hey.’ I’m sorry, and I’ll try to be more mindful about fixing it, but… what does that have to do with a child’s education?”

“If you keep calling me ‘hey,’ our child will eventually copy you! Imagine a child calling their mom or dad ‘hey’!”

“Does that make any sense? Even so, that’s too much of a stretch…”

Just as I was about to retort in disbelief, Hwa Nabi suddenly approached and grabbed both my hands, interlocking our fingers. Normally I would have easily avoided this, but perhaps because I was so dumbfounded, or for whatever reason, my reaction was slow and I couldn’t avoid it.

“Got you.”

“…I’m caught?”

I was trying to lighten the mood with a joke, but it didn’t seem to work as Hwa Nabi smiled meaningfully. She gently pulled our clasped hands, guiding me toward the bedroom.

“Why are we going in there?”

“Then, would you rather do it out here? I don’t mind.”

“What are you trying to do…?”

“Let me ask the reverse. What do you think we’re going to do?”

“…Have a sincere conversation?”

“Half right.”

Half right, huh. Which half is right, vertically or horizontally?

…Such a useless thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I found myself staring blankly at Hwa Nabi. She seemed to read my thoughts from my expression and answered with a smile.

“A sincere bodily conversation.”

“That seems more like two-thirds right, not half.”

“There you go again, adding unnecessary comments.”

Before I could retort that calculations should be accurate, Hwa Nabi slowly leaned backward. Thinking she would fall if I left her like that, I quickly pulled her arm and moved closer.

Hwa Nabi nestled perfectly into my arms. One hand was still holding hers, while my other arm was wrapped around her waist.

Looking at me from close range, she murmured quietly.

“Hey, husband.”

“Yes, Nabi.”

“After we go see the sunrise and return home, we’ll be really busy for a while, right?”

“Well… Uhee is still young, so…”

“And we won’t have much relaxed time alone like this.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I nodded and looked at Hwa Nabi. She too, nestled in my arms, looked back at me with wavering eyes.

The emotion in her eyes was clear—a deep regret stemming from the fact that we had to return to our daily lives.

“What do you think Uhee is doing now?”

“Well, at this hour, she’s probably still sleeping.”

“Then we shouldn’t make loud noises either.”

“Why?”

“Because Uhee might hear us.”

“…Right, that’s true.”

Hwa Nabi quietly closed her eyes. I closed mine too and kissed her lips.

‘Do you think we can make it in time to see the sunrise?’

‘I don’t know… I’m not sure.’

If we could just end with this kiss, we’d have plenty of time to go. Being ten minutes late wouldn’t matter much.

But… that seems unlikely.

‘Nabi.’

‘Yes?’

‘Can I undress you?’

‘…Yes, you can.’

We’re going to be a little—no, very—late.