Ch.8383. Strike While the Iron is Hot

There’s a saying that you should pull out a bull’s horn while it’s still hot.

It’s a proverb meaning you should start something right away when you’ve made up your mind, and it’s a saying I frequently use.

Once you decide to do something, dragging it out only diminishes your motivation—that’s human psychology. So I have a habit of starting things immediately when I want to do them.

However, there was someone else with surprising decisiveness that even amazed me.

That person’s identity is… needless to say, my father.

“Huh, really.”

Even thinking about it now as I’m flying to Jeju Island on a private jet, it was truly a bold decision.

Who would have imagined that the day after I mentioned wanting to go on a trip, he would immediately arrange a private jet? Who could have predicted that?

I don’t know how much money he’s spending on just a 2-night, 3-day trip. I’m afraid to even ask about anything next time.

As expected, someone who’s the heir to a conglomerate thinks on a different level than ordinary people.

“Siwoo, is something bothering you?”

While I was lost in thought, a pleasant voice came from the seat beside me. With my chin resting against the window, I responded.

“Hm? No, I’m not worried about anything.”

I casually mumbled as I turned toward her. But Hwa Nabi in the seat next to me was looking at me with a pouty expression.

Wondering why she was suddenly acting this way, I naturally reached out toward her forehead. Then, gently fixing her bangs, I asked.

“What is it? Is there something on my face?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then what are you saying isn’t there?”

“Siwoo, you were seriously contemplating something just now.”

Hmm, was it that obvious from my expression? I was indeed thinking about something, as Nabi said.

But it wasn’t anything serious—just wondering how to make the most of our 2-night, 3-day trip. Nothing that should worry Nabi.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about our schedule.”

I withdrew my hand once her bangs looked properly arranged.

Thump. As if she’d been waiting for this moment, Nabi leaned her head against my shoulder.

“What schedule?”

“Obviously, our plans for today and tomorrow.”

Today, school ended a bit later because of the graduation ceremony rehearsal, so our departure time was delayed accordingly.

The estimated flight time is about an hour and a half, so we’ll probably arrive at Jeju Airport around dinner time.

After checking in, we should eat dinner right away… but here’s where a problem arises.

All the restaurants, including those inside the hotel, operate on a reservation system, and same-day reservations are usually not accepted.

So I was wondering what to do about dinner.

“Hmm, so what you’re saying is… there’s nowhere to eat dinner. Is that right?”

“Yeah, that’s the short version.”

The moment I answered, Nabi, who had been leaning her head on my shoulder, straightened her posture. Then a confident smile spread across her face.

She looks like she has something in mind.

“Do you have a good idea?”

“Siwoo, who am I?”

What’s this? A sudden riddle? I smiled slightly. Why is she proudly puffing out her chest over something so random?

“Let me see… my fiancée?”

I didn’t mean to smirk, but I couldn’t help but grin as I spoke. A faint blush appeared on her cheek where my fingertip touched.

Even though I’ve been teasing Nabi like this for nearly three years now, she still didn’t seem used to it.

“…Ahem. That’s not wrong, but. Before that, there’s something else, right?”

“Before that? Well… your parents’ daughter?”

“Aish…! Not something so obvious!”

This time, Nabi’s cheeks turned red for a different reason. She’d get angry if I continued. I stopped joking around and gave it some serious thought.

The things that Nabi, who just turned twenty, could boast about are being a prospective freshman at a famous domestic university and her family background. But the former wouldn’t be much help in this situation.

So it must be something related to the latter… but what could it be?

As I pondered, a sigh naturally escaped. Nabi stared at me for a moment, then smiled broadly.

“Siwoo, should I give you a hint?”

“Yeah, give me a hint. What is it?”

“Hmm, I’ll give you a hint. The hint is my family and the hotel we’ve booked.”

Hwa Group, the hotel we’ve booked.

As I continued thinking about these two keywords, I soon realized what she meant.

“Ah… wait, don’t tell me.”

The hotel we’ve booked is the same one we stayed at during our high school freshman field trip. Nabi is a VVIP at that hotel, and typically VVIPs don’t need reservations to use the internal facilities.

More precisely, they’re given top priority… it’s a bit complicated to explain, but you don’t need to think too hard about it. It simply means she’s part of the hotel’s privileged class.

And that VVIP is… sitting right next to me?

Nabi, meeting my gaze, confidently nodded.

“Don’t worry, you’ll never go hungry when you’re with me.”

I’m not sure if this is an appropriate expression to use for a girlfriend who’s also my fiancée, but…

“…Alright, I’ll trust you.”

…That was quite a reassuring declaration, like a bowl of hot soup.

*

Dinner ended successfully.

As expected of a VVIP, we were treated excessively well, and afterward, an employee personally escorted us to our room.

Pulling our suitcases with one hand and holding each other’s hands with the other, we arrived at our room. As the employee had instructed, when I inserted the ID card into the slot, a soft light illuminated the previously dark room.

“Ah, finally I see a bed.”

Nabi must have been quite tired, as she collapsed onto the bed immediately after placing her suitcase in the corner. I hung my coat on the hanger and looked around the entire room.

Befitting a suite room, the interior was decorated in red throughout, and through the wide-open living room window, the darkening sea of Jeju was visible. So this is what they call an ocean view.

“Siwoo, can I shower first?”

“Sure, I’ll organize our luggage.”

“Okay. I’ll be quick.”

She scurried toward the shower before even hearing my response. I called out to her retreating back.

“Take your time, don’t slip.”

-Yes.

She answers well. Smiling, I placed the suitcase on the bed.

Since it might be hectic to do it tomorrow morning, I should organize things now while I have time.

“Let’s see…”

As soon as I opened the bag, things came tumbling out in a row.

Clothes for tomorrow, underwear, various toiletries…. I’m usually meticulous about preparation, but I couldn’t finish neatly because I packed in a hurry.

So I organized everything carefully. I hung the shirt I’d wear tomorrow on the hanger, set aside the underwear I’d wear now.

As I was sorting things according to their use, just as I pulled out a pair of pants, something fell from the pocket onto the floor with a thud.

“What’s this?”

I bent down to pick up that “something.”

And as I examined it without thinking, I suddenly realized.

“…Ah.”

This is that thing.

You know, that…

That thing only men can use.

“Uh… hmm.”

Holding it in my hand like this, I suddenly remembered what happened yesterday.

Right, while hurriedly packing, I thought that maybe, just maybe, there might be a chance to use it, so I put it in my pants pocket.

But I completely forgot about it… and only now, as I unpacked, did I remember.

“……”

Will I have a chance to use this?

-BANG.

At that moment, the bathroom door opened with a loud noise. Feeling guilty, I panicked and hid the “something” under the bed covers.

“Siwoo, you can use the shower now.”

Since I’d finished organizing, I closed the suitcase and returned it to its original position, and trying to sound casual, I responded.

“Oh, oh. Got it.”

With shuffling footsteps, Nabi stood in front of me. She was wearing just a shower robe, but it was a different type from what I’d seen before.

“Siwoo, why is your face so pale? Are you feeling sick?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Perfectly fine. …I’ll go shower now.”

“Huh? Oh… okay, go ahead. I’ll wait for you.”

Leaving behind a slightly confused Nabi, I entered the bathroom. I quickly stripped off all my clothes, turned on the cold water, and cooled my head.

“Phew…”

Perhaps because I saw that unsettling “something,” my heart was pounding. I continued to stand under the cold water, thinking.

This trip isn’t like a school field trip. Only Nabi and I are staying in this small room.

No one will disturb our time, and even if something happens, no one would know.

…After organizing my thoughts like that, my head felt even hotter.

“Ah.”

No, no. This isn’t right. Let’s calm down first. Why am I trying to move things forward when the other person hasn’t even thought about it?

“…Sigh.”

Yes, it’s a rare opportunity to be alone together. But let’s not insert my strange fantasies into it. Didn’t Nabi say it herself? This trip is for relaxation.

So instead of getting carried away with inappropriate thoughts, let’s be considerate and make sure Nabi can rest comfortably. A relationship between a man and woman doesn’t always need that kind of thing, right?

“…That’s right, get a grip.”

After organizing my thoughts like this, my head gradually cooled down.

Having made up my mind, I turned off the faucet, patted my face a few times, and left the shower.

“Get a grip, get a grip…”

Muttering as if possessed, I dried my hair and changed into the shower robe hanging in the dressing room.

-Phew.

Taking a deep breath before going out, I slowly opened the door and entered the room.

And I paused for a moment.

“…Huh.”

Nabi, who had said she would wait, was nowhere to be seen.

Hmm… did she go to the bathroom? That thought immediately crossed my mind, but the bathroom in this hotel is connected to the shower room, so I would have known.

“Did she go out to buy something?”

Most things could be handled through room service. With such idle thoughts, I carefully lifted the bed covers to look for the “something” I had hidden.

But… that “something” was gone.

What’s going on, where did my thing go? I searched thoroughly under the covers with wide eyes. But the “something” was nowhere to be found.

“…It disappeared?”

I shuddered at this astonishing development. It’s enough to make ghosts wail. It was definitely here just ten minutes ago, but where did it disappear to? Did it fly into the sky or sink into the ground?

As I was looking around the suite in confusion, I suddenly heard a rustling sound from somewhere.

From the direction of the balcony.

“What is it…?”

Could it be a thief… such a ridiculous thought showed just how flustered I was.

Even while making this cold self-assessment, I moved my feet. Sure enough, I could see her silhouette on the balcony of the suite.

“Ah, Siwoo. Finished showering?”

Nabi was still in her shower robe, sitting in a makeshift chair on the balcony.

“Yeah, but what are you doing here?”

She didn’t answer my question and crossed her legs leisurely. She appeared composed, in contrast to my internal panic.

The thigh line extending from under the shower robe was quite alluring.

“……”

As I was thinking about how pretty she had always been, Nabi picked up an empty wine glass from the balcony table and waved it at me.

“Would you like a drink?”