Ch.344344. It’s With the Body

As good food is essential to accompany fine drinks, Hwa Nabi, who had asked me to wait a moment, brought fruit and tuna canapés as snacks.

She apparently made them with crackers instead of bread since she’d run out of toast at home. They looked delicious in their bite-sized portions. Mouth watering, I waited until Hwa Nabi sat across from me before unwrapping the aluminum foil from the top of the champagne bottle.

Opening it was easy since I’d done it many times before. I placed my thumb on the capsule while holding the bottle’s neck, turned the wire exactly six times, and the cork gradually pushed out. Of course, sometimes that doesn’t work, in which case you tilt the bottle, hold the bottom, and twist gently.

“That’s really amazing.”

“What is?”

“Opening the champagne cork. I can never do it properly, but you make it look so easy, which is amazing.”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, I suppose this is difficult for beginners without experience. I remember being confused myself the first time, so I can certainly understand how she feels.

Sympathizing internally, I carefully twisted the emerging cork. With a soft “phew” sound, the cork came out of the bottle neck. Hwa Nabi, who had been watching with fascination, let out a small exclamation of admiration, which I found adorable. I smiled and poured her some champagne.

“You’ve seen me do it many times. It should be easy if you just copy me.”

“Hmm… no, I still don’t get it.”

“What don’t you get? What will you do if you need to open champagne when I’m not around?”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“How?”

“By having you stay by my side all the time.”

“…”

I paused while pouring my own champagne. There she goes again, coming at me out of nowhere. She never signals before changing lanes. I wonder if she drives like this too. That would be quite dangerous.

With such absurd thoughts, I glanced at Hwa Nabi. I was curious whether she was being sincere, and found her staring right back at me with an adorable smile.

…Maybe it’s the situation, but my heart started racing. Ignoring her shy smile, I finished pouring the champagne. Bubbles rose gently in the tulip-shaped flutes.

“Even if I stay by your side, I can’t open all your champagne bottles for you.”

“Why not? Why can’t you?”

“You won’t be drinking champagne only with me for the rest of your life.”

Life brings all sorts of situations, doesn’t it? And I can’t guarantee I’ll be by Hwa Nabi’s side every time. I’d accompany her when possible, but life is unpredictable, and unavoidable circumstances might arise.

Truly, on rare occasions, Hwa Nabi and I might have to drink champagne separately. I meant nothing by it, just making a casual joke about such a hypothetical situation. In response, Hwa Nabi picked up her champagne glass and held it out slightly.

It looked like a toast gesture, so I raised my glass and lightly clinked it against hers.

Cheers.

A pleasant chime echoed through the bedroom. With the toast complete, it was time to drink. For some reason, though, Hwa Nabi didn’t taste her champagne but just stared at me intently.

“What?”

Is there something on my face? I took a casual sip of champagne. As if she’d been waiting for me to drink first, Hwa Nabi took a sip too.

After a couple more sips, she set her glass down with a thud.

“Will you drink champagne with other women besides me?”

“Huh?”

“Answer me, will you?”

“Um… probably.”

“Really? Probably?”

Given my line of work, I can’t guarantee I’ll never drink with others, though not like this…

I was about to answer that way when I noticed something off and checked Hwa Nabi’s expression. The corners of her mouth were curiously upturned, like someone hiding their anger.

“…”

It might not be obvious to others, but having spent so much time with her, I could tell.

Hwa Nabi was on the verge of getting angry.

“—Of course not. Why would you ask something like that?”

Though I didn’t understand why, I decided to appease her first. Sensing danger instinctively, I quickly denied it. My effort seemed to work, as Hwa Nabi nodded slowly, as if satisfied with my answer.

She seemed pleased with my response, which was reassuring, but I shouldn’t let my guard down yet. Since I don’t know exactly what made her upset, I might step on a landmine if I’m not careful.

“Mmm, right? Of course you wouldn’t, because I won’t either.”

“I wouldn’t either. But you never know what might happen. What if you have to drink separately from me?”

“There’s no ‘what if.’ I won’t drink champagne with anyone but you.”

Hwa Nabi firmly denied it while looking straight at me. The meaning in her eyes was something like, “You feel the same, right? Say you do, quickly.”

Feeling like I’d get a lecture if I didn’t agree, I answered promptly.

“Right, of course. I won’t drink with anyone but you either.”

“Heh, right?”

“Yes, it’s not like it’s soju or something. How could I drink champagne with someone else? That’s absolutely out of the question.”

“I won’t drink soju with others either.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Wait, am I supposed to say the same? I hesitated, fumbling with my lips. I couldn’t promise that about soju.

Soju is usually drunk for socializing with colleagues rather than for business purposes, so if I said I wouldn’t drink it with others, it would cause a lot of problems later.

What’s the right answer here? As I was trying to figure it out, Hwa Nabi chuckled.

“Heh, I’m joking. Just joking. How could someone never have a drink of soju with others?”

“…Right? It was a joke, wasn’t it?”

What a relief it was just a joke. I sighed unconsciously, and Hwa Nabi beckoned me with her index finger. Come closer, she meant.

Normally I’d have complained about being treated like a pet, but I decided to go along with it now. Without protest, I approached, and Hwa Nabi opened her arms.

What, does she want a hug? Not understanding her intention, I just stared blankly until she patted her chest area. She seemed to want me to lean into her.

This position would be quite uncomfortable… but I’ve committed to playing along, so I’ll see it through. I bent down and let Hwa Nabi embrace me. She stroked my head gently, like comforting a child, and whispered softly.

“Three glasses.”

“…”

“No more than that, understood?”

…Well, that’s better than not being allowed to drink at all. I answered obediently.

“Yes…”

“…Heh, my husband is so good.”

Satisfied with my confirmation, Hwa Nabi released me. I straightened my back and massaged my neck where it had pressed against her chest, muttering.

“These days, being called ‘good’ isn’t really a compliment.”

“Why not? Being good is nice. What’s wrong with that?”

“At work, they see good people as pushovers. They don’t treat them kindly in return, but take advantage of them. Not that I’m saying you do that to me. You get what I mean, right?”

“I’m not stupid, you know. Of course I understand.”

Hwa Nabi pouted cutely and poked my stomach. It’s as if our previous conversation never happened. How can someone’s mood change so quickly? Is it the alcohol?

With these thoughts, I sat down. Whatever the case, let’s finish the champagne. It would be a waste not to drink it after opening it. I poured Hwa Nabi’s share, then mine, and we made eye contact.

“Here, cheers.”

“Cheers.”

It didn’t take long for two glasses to become three, and three to become four. The champagne was sweet and easy to drink, and perhaps because it had been a while since I’d enjoyed it so comfortably, it went down smoothly.

“By the way, why do you think ‘being good’ became something negative? We used to say things like ‘good figure,’ ‘good price,’ and so on.”

“When was that? That must have been at least ten years ago, right?”

“Come on, it wasn’t ten years ago! I used those expressions even in middle school.”

“If you used them in middle school, that’s exactly ten years ago. We’re both twenty-four this year.”

“Oh, you’re right. When did we turn twenty-four?”

“They say time flies when you have a child. When they’re one, you stay up all night and time flies; when they’re two, you change diapers and time flies; when they’re three, you play with them and time flies, I think?”

“Heh, that’s true. That’s similar to what I felt spending time with Woohee. But then, why does time fly when they’re four?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I don’t really know about that part.”

I vaguely remember seeing something about it, but I just glanced at it in passing, so I can’t recall clearly. There was definitely something that makes time fly when they’re four. What was it?

It’s frustratingly on the tip of my tongue. As I crossed my arms to think about it, Hwa Nabi tapped my arm as if she’d remembered something.

“Husband, could it be this?”

“What?”

“When they’re four, they keep asking for a younger sibling, so that’s why time flies. Doesn’t that make sense?”

“…Oh, you’re right. That does make sense.”

Woohee started begging for a younger sibling exactly when she turned four, which is now. Considering that, Hwa Nabi’s suggestion was quite plausible.

I nodded in agreement, impressed. In response, Hwa Nabi smiled meaningfully and tapped her lips with her index finger.

“What, you want a reward for getting it right?”

“No, I’m suggesting we make time fly.”

“…How?”

“Heh, you know exactly what I mean.”

“…”

“Don’t you want to?”