Ch.9898. First, Let’s Look for a Place to Live.

After finishing our conversation and enjoying a short date, I sent Hwa Nabi home.

She showed clear signs of reluctance to part ways until the moment her taxi departed. Honestly, I felt the same way as Hwa Nabi… but I still made myself send her off.

I needed some time alone to organize my thoughts.

“Phew….”

Anyway, after returning to my family home.

I was lying on the bed in my room.

“Training camp…”

I muttered while looking up at the ceiling with my fingers interlocked behind my head.

It sounds nice to call it a training camp… but this was essentially the same as a proposal to live together in the same house. What’s so special about living together anyway? You get a room, move your stuff in, and do household chores together—that’s cohabitation.

I agreed to it on the spot because it seemed like a big deal if I didn’t answer right away, but after coming home and cooling my head, I wondered if this was really okay.

Honestly, I know it’s a bit of a closed-minded way of thinking… but even in these progressive times, is it really okay for an unmarried couple to live under the same roof?

I’m saying this despite having stayed over at Hwa Nabi’s place a few times, but living together is fundamentally different from just spending the night.

Plus, since both Hwa Nabi and I have our families involved, it’s a matter that requires even more careful consideration.

“Hmm…”

As my thoughts wandered that far, I couldn’t lie comfortably anymore and sat up abruptly.

Now that I think about it belatedly, agreeing so readily without asking for others’ opinions… wasn’t that too hasty a decision?

Of course, I know that in such personal matters, the decision of those directly involved is most important, but still.

-Knock knock.

While I was continuing with these various concerns, I heard a neat knocking sound from outside my door.

“Yes, come in.”

I answered reflexively, but who could it be at this hour? There are hardly any people in this house who would come to my room.

Creeeeak.

As the door slowly opened, I made eye contact with a man.

No, not just any man…

“…Brother?”

It was my brother, changed into casual clothes.

Since we hadn’t spent much face time together lately, I’d only seen him in suits, dress shirts, or outdoor clothes. Seeing him in comfortable attire like this was refreshing in its own way.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

As I said that and tried to get up quickly, my brother lightly gestured for me to stay put.

Then he pulled over the desk chair, placed it in front of me, and carefully sat down.

“Oh, nothing special. Just wondering if you’ve thought about what I mentioned earlier.”

“Ah, about that…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

I wondered if it was appropriate to talk about this, but I also felt a bit embarrassed to bring up the topic of living with my girlfriend.

As I hesitated with these thoughts, my brother looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“What is it?”

“Ah… well.”

…Right, this is something I need to address at some point, isn’t it? There’s no use in backing down now. So I need to have courage.

After taking a deep breath, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Well, I’ve decided to try living on my own. But.”

“Yes, and?”

“When I told someone about it, they suggested living together. Since we’re at the same school, our reasons for wanting to live independently are similar. Splitting household chores and rent equally doesn’t sound bad.”

After I rambled on as if making excuses, my brother stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Then, furrowing his brows slightly, he spoke with a somewhat concerned tone.

“Yes, as you said, it’s not a bad proposal… but are you sure about this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I understand the appeal of splitting household chores and rent, but living with someone else isn’t easy. They might not keep their promise to share chores equally, and various other problems could arise… roommate arrangements aren’t all positive.”

This wasn’t just some lecture from someone who didn’t know better—it was advice from someone with years of roommate experience, so I couldn’t dismiss it easily.

Indeed, not just my brother’s advice, but common opinions found on internet portals about cohabitation often say similar things.

‘Living together isn’t all advantages. It has disadvantages too, so you need to consider it deeply and decide carefully.’ Something like that.

“Even though I’m saying this, the choice is ultimately yours, but think it through carefully. No one’s pushing you, so don’t make a hasty decision.”

“Hmm… you’re right, I should.”

“By the way, Siwoo. Who suggested this?”

“Suggested what?”

“Siwoo, you just said someone proposed sharing a room with you. If they’re at the same school as you and even suggested roomsharing first, are they a close friend?”

“Ah… that.”

There’s no point in hiding it now—they’ll find out eventually. After a moment’s hesitation, I answered straightforwardly.

“It’s my fiancée, and you probably know her?”

“Hmm, really? Your fiancée… fiancée. …Wait, fiancée?”

My brother was nodding and muttering my words as if repeating them, then gradually opened his mouth wider… and then looked at me with eyes as big as saucers.

“Hold on… the person who proposed roomsharing was your fiancée? Not some same-sex friend?”

“Huh? Yeah, why?”

“Ah… so that’s why you, hmm. Now I understand.”

After being surprised with his mouth open for a moment, my brother soon nodded repeatedly as if comprehending something. Then he smiled knowingly and patted my shoulder.

“Siwoo, you should have said so earlier. I misunderstood your intentions.”

“…What did you misunderstand?”

“You’re both adults now. You want to live together without worrying about others’ opinions, right? Wow, that youthful spirit. That boldness is enviable. I should have gotten engaged when I was young like you…”

“Ah, brother! What nonsense are you talking about? It’s not like that! I truly, purely…”

“Heh, sure. Of course. I’m sure your intentions are pure.”

The way he narrowed his eyes while muttering that showed he didn’t believe me at all. I irritably swatted away his hand that was resting on my shoulder.

“I’m telling you it’s not that kind of intention! If it really was, why would I tell you? I would have just done it quietly without anyone knowing.”

“No, Siwoo. I was just joking, why are you getting so angry? Now it really seems like that was your intention.”

“……”

As expected from someone sharing the same genes, his skill at getting under people’s skin while pretending innocence was artistic.

What’s the point of arguing further? It would only give me a headache. I sighed once and shook my head.

“Anyway… you’re against us living together, right?”

“Huh? What are you talking about, why would I be against it?”

“…What are you saying? Just now you were talking about all the problems with roomsharing.”

“Oh, that? Just forget it. What does it matter, who cares about household chores?”

“…What?”

What did this guy just say? For a moment I thought I’d misheard. Until just now he was practically telling me not to do it, and now he’s completely flipped his stance?

I was about to say something out of exasperation when suddenly my brother grabbed my shoulder.

And with a very serious face, looking straight at me, he muttered.

“Oh, right. Siwoo, listen carefully. This is advice I’m giving you as your senior in life.”

“…What is it.”

His expression looked so grave that I also became tense watching him.

I swallowed hard, waiting for my brother’s words.

Finally, his lips slowly parted.

“You’re a man too, and now you’re at an age where you can make your own judgments, so I think you know this.”

“…?”

“Always use protection. It might seem like no big deal, but if you get careless, both you and your partner could end up in serious trouble…”

“…Oh, come on!”

*

After that, things progressed incredibly quickly. It seems like it hasn’t even been a day since I started talking about living independently, but in that short time, Hwa Nabi and I living together became half-officially approved by the family.

When my brother brought up the topic during family dinner, saying he wanted to get permission, I thought he was crazy… but surprisingly, there was no opposition.

No, rather than opposition, they seemed to be encouraging cohabitation. What did they say? Something about going out and experiencing hardships together, and that occasional arguments would strengthen our relationship.

Whatever the reason, I’m newly surprised by my parents’ mindset. If I put myself in their shoes, I don’t think I could readily approve if my child asked for the same thing.

“…Am I being too old-fashioned?”

There’s no point in talking to myself when no one’s around. I typed a few words on my phone and sent them to Hwa Nabi.

The message was a bit long with various details, but to summarize briefly, it said ‘I got permission.’

-Ding.

Hwa Nabi♡ [Really? That’s great. Then Siwoo, shall we meet tomorrow morning?]

Me [Fine with me, but why meet in the morning? Is there somewhere you want to go?]

Hwa Nabi♡ [No, that’s not it]

If not that… then what?

As I was wondering, a new message arrived on my phone screen.

Hwa Nabi♡ [We need to go look for a place where you and I can live together!]