Ch.7878. My Heart Wants to Cry Out

Day 1 Festival End, Late Afternoon.

After finishing the cleanup, Hwa Nabi and I were walking along a quiet path.

“By the way, Siwoo. Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“During the couple game this afternoon, what were you talking about with the class president?”

“Oh… then? Nothing special.”

I rolled the “first prize” in my uniform pocket. Touching it like this brings back what happened earlier.

‘She likes you.’

‘…What?’

I only told him my “guess,” but Im Hansol’s face when he heard it was quite a sight. The surprised look on his face as if doubting his own ears was pretty entertaining.

Ah… well, to be honest, that wasn’t my intention. But it’s frustrating to just watch, isn’t it? When it’s obvious to everyone else that there’s attraction, why not properly convey it? So I’m innocent.

“…But why are you smiling while imagining? Was it that funny?”

Noticing that I was being evasive, Hwa Nabi’s voice suddenly became pouty. Is she jealous now? The way she’s furrowing her brow while looking at me is somehow cute.

Grinning, I took out the first prize I’d been rolling in my pocket. Curiosity settled in Hwa Nabi’s eyes as she pretended not to look but glanced over.

“What’s this?”

“This? A ring box.”

When I pressed the button on the front, it opened with a click.

The first prize for the couple game was none other than rings. According to the organizers, they were supposedly made of pure silver, but judging by the color and finish, they’re definitely not pure silver. Probably just ordinary rings from a jewelry shop.

“Oh, it really is a ring? …But who are you going to give it to?”

“Who do you think?”

“…I don’t know? How would I know?”

Is she testing me while knowing, or does she really not know?

Seeing her turn her head away primly, it seems like the former. I took out one of the rings from the box.

“Give me your hand.”

“Why my hand?”

She’s still playing hard to get. I reached out and grabbed Hwa Nabi’s wrist. She followed my lead without much resistance, moving her right hand.

I gently stroked her fourth finger, the ring finger, among her white, slender fingers. Finding it ticklish, Hwa Nabi chuckled.

“Siwoo, that tickles.”

“Just a moment, stay still.”

I slipped the ring I was holding in my left hand onto her ring finger. I was worried it might not fit, but fortunately, it went all the way to the last knuckle.

“It’s a bit big though.”

“Well, it’s not a custom-fitted ring, so that’s expected.”

Despite saying that, she seemed to like it. Hwa Nabi clenched and unclenched her right hand a few times, then smiled with the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

“…Hmm.”

Then, realizing I was watching, she belatedly tried to manage her expression. But it was already too late as I had seen everything.

“Siwoo. You have one more ring, right? Let me have it for a moment.”

“What for?”

“I have a use for it.”

“Really?”

I took out the remaining ring and handed it to Hwa Nabi. With a prim face, she took the ring, snorted once for no reason, and grabbed my right wrist.

“Hwa Nabi, what are you doing?”

“Just stay still.”

Returning the exact words I had said to her, she slipped the ring onto my right ring finger, the fourth finger.

This ring was also big, so it went all the way to the end of the finger joint.

“This one’s a bit big too.”

“It is, but what can we do? We’ll have to wear them like this for now.”

“Alright, I’ll get you a proper one later.”

“…Later?”

“Yes, later.”

“Later, when?”

Hwa Nabi, who had been stroking the surface of the ring, asked with an expectant face.

“Well…”

Answering leisurely, I reached out and fixed Hwa Nabi’s bangs. She closed her eyes and enjoyed my touch. I kissed her forehead and whispered softly.

“When would you like?”

“Oh, I get to choose?”

“Well, I can’t promise anything… but tell me and I’ll try my best to match it.”

I’ll need to find a craftsman and coordinate schedules, so it won’t be done quickly. To get it comfortably, I should allow at least a week.

Well… if it seems impossible, I could always pay extra to have it done quickly.

After thinking for a moment, Hwa Nabi answered.

“Hmm, then. Please do it on my birthday.”

“Birthday? Your birthday is… July, right?”

“Yes, July 7th.”

July 7th. In our country, we follow the lunar calendar for Chilseok, so the solar July 7th doesn’t have much significance.

“You were born on an auspicious day.”

“Auspicious day?”

“Yes, it means a good day. Do you know that?”

“…I’m not stupid, you know? Of course I know that much.”

She looked like she didn’t know-. If I said that, she’d get angry. Before she could get upset again, I quickly embraced Hwa Nabi. With her face buried in my chest, she fidgeted with her fingers and then caressed my abdomen.

“Oh, right. Siwoo, speaking of auspicious days, I just remembered.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I just realized, I was born at 7:07 in the morning. Isn’t that interesting?”

Combining with what she just said… does that mean Hwa Nabi was born on July 7th at 7:07? It’s hard for the number 7 to coincide that many times.

“Really? That is interesting.”

“Yes, so you should be grateful to me, Siwoo.”

“Why should I be grateful?”

“…Because you’re holding a rare woman in your arms?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Hwa Nabi’s words, spoken without any self-awareness.

Well, you really are a rare woman. Probably no other girl like you exists on the entire planet.

Usually a bit clumsy but precise when doing housework, gentle and sweet in front of others but secretly quick to sulk when with me, and adorably looking at me with yearning eyes when I hug her after she’s upset and she quickly melts.

How could there be another girl like this in the world?

I slightly separated our joined bodies and stared at her. I could see her cheeks gradually turning red as she looked up at me.

“Um… Siwoo.”

“Yes, what?”

“Do you remember what I said earlier?”

“Huh? What you said earlier?”

“Yes. I said if you won, I’d grant you one wish, whatever you wanted.”

Thinking about it, that was true. But wasn’t that just to motivate me?

I heard it and forgot about it, but from the way Hwa Nabi was talking, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Ah, that’s right. But why?”

“That… it wasn’t just something I said casually, so please think about it carefully.”

After saying that, Hwa Nabi closed her eyes tightly. She seemed embarrassed by her own words… I watched her quietly, then suddenly felt dumbfounded.

What kind of strange determination is she making? I tapped her forehead with my index finger. Hwa Nabi’s eyes flew open.

“Then keep your birthday free.”

“Bir-birthday? Why?”

“Why? You asked for a ring on your birthday. We need to meet for me to give it to you.”

“Ah… right.”

The tone of Hwa Nabi’s murmured “right” was clearly disappointed. I smiled and kissed her forehead again, saying:

“And let’s have a date then too.”

“…Where are we going?”

“Well, it’s your birthday. Should we go somewhere a bit far?”

“Mmm, okay. I can look forward to it, right?”

“Yes, look forward to it a lot while you wait.”

Her mood seemingly improved, Hwa Nabi smiled with the happiest expression and wrapped her arms around my neck. Not to be outdone, I quickly embraced her waist.

“Siwoo.”

“Yes?”

“I have something I want to tell you. Will you listen?”

“Sure, what is it?”

As if to indicate that what she was about to say was quite important, Hwa Nabi took a short deep breath before carefully opening her mouth. I also became tense watching her. I held my breath waiting for her words.

“You know…”

“…”

“It’s… it’s…”

But she only built up suspense without saying anything crucial.

Her delicate pink lips just opened and closed repeatedly. The sight reminded me of a malfunctioning automatic door, and I couldn’t help but snicker.

“What exactly do you want to say?”

“…Ah, never mind. You’re stupid, Siwoo.”

After hesitating for a while, her words were just light complaints. With her cheeks burning hot, Hwa Nabi lightly hit my chest and quickly burrowed into it. I laughed and indulged her childish behavior.

“Why, can’t you tell me?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then… are you just embarrassed to say it?”

When I asked that, Hwa Nabi wrapped her arms around my back and applied a little pressure. There was no separate answer, but that action alone was enough of a response.

I gently stroked her back. She turned her head from where it was buried in my chest and pressed her ear against it.

As if taking a measurement, she pressed her ear tightly and then dropped a comment.

“Siwoo, your heart is beating really fast.”

“…Of course it is.”

“Well, I guess that’s natural. Hearts are supposed to beat.”

No… that’s not the conventional reason I was going to give.

“…”

Yes. The reason why my chest, my heart is beating wildly right now.

That reason is probably…

“Hwa Nabi.”

“Yes.”

“I also have something I want to tell you, will you listen?”

Perhaps because my chest was trembling, my voice cracked slightly at the end. But Hwa Nabi didn’t point out such a minor detail. She carefully removed her ear from my chest, then slowly raised her head to look up at me.

Emerald eyes full of curiosity, expectation, and some kind of longing captured my image. I added strength to the arms embracing Hwa Nabi. I took a deep breath. Her scent was clearly perceptible.

Such a sweet body scent that it makes my head dizzy. …Cherry scent?

That was exactly what I was thinking at that moment.

From my tightly closed lips, a word escaped on its own.

“I like you.”

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

And around the 4th second, Hwa Nabi’s eyes, which had been staring at me blankly, opened wide. She was surprised, but belatedly.

But I was more surprised than Hwa Nabi. I had momentarily lost my senses, and when I suddenly came back to my senses, my mouth had blurted out words on its own.

Hwa Nabi, who had been staring with wide eyes, bit her lower lip firmly. It was definitely not an expression of being moved. This was closer to an angry expression.

Ah, maybe she’s upset because I said something ridiculous? I opened my mouth to try to salvage the situation belatedly. That’s when it happened.

“…I was going to say it first.”

From her pink lips, words that couldn’t be ignored leaked out. What did she just say? I unconsciously asked again.

That was the moment.

“…”

Right when I was slightly off guard, Hwa Nabi suddenly kissed me. Surprised, I was momentarily confused, but soon regained my composure and responded to her kiss.

“…Whew.”

And after a short time, Hwa Nabi’s kiss ended. With a quite satisfied face, she licked her lips with her tongue. Her saliva-glistening mouth looked quite seductive.

…Something’s strange. She wasn’t this kind of person. While I was unable to gather my thoughts, Hwa Nabi leaned her head against my chest.

“Siwoo, that’s unfair.”

“Huh? What is?”

“I was setting up the mood to say it first, and you stole the chance. How could you?”

“Ah… did I? Sorry.”

As I apologized, not knowing what else to say, Hwa Nabi subtly pressed closer into my arms. She mischievously poked my abdomen and said in passing:

“Me too.”

“Huh? What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? I like you too, Siwoo.”

As if talking about an ordinary everyday matter, Hwa Nabi murmured primly and nuzzled her face into my arms.

With a dazed mind, I pondered her words and then embraced her in return. A purring sound came from her mouth as she was strongly held in my arms. She seemed very pleased.

“Siwoo, you said you like me, right?”

“…Yes, I did.”

“I bet I like you more than you like me.”

“How would you know that?”

“If you’re curious, we should test it, right?”

I silently nodded at Hwa Nabi’s question. She smiled slightly and quietly closed her eyes. I also closed my eyes and kissed her.

-Smooch.

A light bird kiss where our lips barely touched and then separated.

Looking somewhat shy with slightly reddened cheeks, she touched her lips with her hand and said:

“Siwoo.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to come see my cat at my house?”

“You know… Didn’t I tell you before? If you say it like that, people will misunderstand.”

“I’m not saying it for them to misunderstand.”

“…Huh?”

“…I mean it sincerely.”

“…”

…Is this perhaps a green light?