Chapter 99: Living Together (1)

 

The studio apartment where I lived with Eun-ha was a typical newly built villa with two rooms, one bathroom, and a small living room.

 

It looked tidy to the eye, but since it was a fresh start, we cleaned every nook and cranny.

 

Having my own experience living alone, I thoroughly cleaned, and Eun-ha, who usually took care of household chores, even finished cleaning the bathroom immaculately.

 

“Phew... That’s about everything. We don’t need to buy any furniture separately, right?”

 

“Yeah! Honestly, I was planning to buy the furniture gradually, but thanks to the previous tenant, we’re all set. We just need to buy a folding table.”

 

The previous tenant, a kind college student, had offered to sell us her furniture at a low price, so we took several pieces from her.

 

“Let’s go to the supermarket to buy that. Shall we go now?”

 

“Let’s eat first!”

 

“Since it’s our first day after moving in, how about ordering from the Chinese restaurant?”

 

“Yup! Let’s also order some sweet and sour pork.”

 

We quickly ordered from the Chinese restaurant and laid newspaper on the living room floor.

 

“It feels like we’ve just moved into our honeymoon home~”

 

“Right. After we eat, let’s go out and buy the necessities.”

 

“Yup! We need more bathroom and kitchen supplies. We should also shop for groceries in the evening.”

 

“You’re so thorough~”

 

“Then, should we get married soon?”

 

“At least let’s graduate college first~”

 

“As you wish~ I just need to marry you~”

 

Eun-ha smiled brightly.

 

It was a little past lunchtime, so the food arrived surprisingly fast.

 

When the doorbell rang, I hurried to the front door.

 

“They arrived incredibly fast!”

 

“I’ll go and get it.”

 

I picked up the food and placed it on the newspaper.

 

I unwrapped the plastic and mixed the black bean noodles for Eun-ha, handing them to her.

 

Then, Eun-ha mixed her noodles and handed them back to me.

 

What’s this? Isn’t it pointless to mix for each other?

 

“Thanks~”

 

“Thank you, too.”

 

“It’s funny. There’s no point in mixing for each other, is there?”

 

“It’s the thought that counts~ I love doing this with you.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yup! I love how these small things add up.”

 

“There will be plenty more of this in the future.”

 

“That’s why I love it~ Here, ah~”

 

Eun-ha picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and fed it to me.

 

After enjoying the crispy pork, I fed her as well.

 

“We could end up feeding each other like this the whole time.”

 

“Let’s eat faster now~ The noodles will get soggy.”

 

After finishing our Chinese meal, both Eun-ha and I got up without hesitation to clean up.

 

Standing side by side at the sink washing dishes, I couldn’t understand why I felt so fluttery inside.

 

Maybe it’s because it felt like we were newlyweds?

 

“Han-gyeol, what should we have for dinner?”

 

“What do you want to eat, Eun-ha?”

 

“Hmm~ I want to make something you’d like.”

 

“Then I’d love some pork kimchi stew.”

 

“Should we? We did bring kimchi from home after all!”

 

“Yeah. We can cook it together for dinner.”

 

“Great~”

 

“Should we head out now? We need to go to the supermarket to buy the meat.”

 

“Yeah. Let’s hurry~”

 

After cleaning up, we headed to a large nearby supermarket.

 

I pulled the shopping cart while Eun-ha meticulously stacked the needed items inside.

 

Eun-ha’s expression, deep in thought while choosing the meat, was incredibly cute.

 

“Han-gyeol, pork belly seems a bit expensive; how about using pork leg? It looks like we could eat generously if we use pork leg.”

 

Since we were still receiving living expenses from our parents, we had to save where we could. Any shortfall would soon be made up with part-time jobs.

 

“Let’s go with pork leg.”

 

“Yep, that sounds good. We just need to buy soy sauce now. Han-gyeol, do you want to drink tonight?”

 

“How about a simple beer?”

 

“Sure! Let’s drink it like a celebration toast.”

 

At the beer section, we added a four-pack to our cart.

 

“It feels like we’re newlyweds.”

 

“It’s not our first time at the supermarket together.”

 

“But now that we’re living together, it feels even more special.”

 

Eun-ha gently linked her arm through mine. It really did feel like we were on our honeymoon.

 

I felt incredibly happy.

 

After paying, we carried the shopping bags home.

 

“Han-gyeol, isn’t it heavy?”

 

“We didn’t buy that much.”

 

“Still~ Let me carry one side. I want to carry it together.”

 

At Eun-ha’s request, I handed her one side of the shopping bag.

 

“Let’s go shopping like this every day~”

 

“Once collage starts, we’ll have less time for this, you know?”

 

“Still~ I want to spend as much time as possible with you.”

 

“What about all the gatherings you’ll have?”

 

“If it’s not absolutely necessary, I won’t go. I get drained in crowded places...”

 

“Me too~ Then we’ll always be playing together.”

 

“Really~? I want to play with you every day. That’s when I’m happiest and most joyful.”

 

“But you need to know how to spend time alone too, in case I’m not around~”

 

Eun-ha glanced at me briefly after I spoke.

 

“Is it because of the military service? Are you worried I’ll be sad and lonely without you?”

 

“I can’t say that’s completely untrue. Eun-ha, you do like me a lot.”

 

Eun-ha stepped in front of me as we stood on a slight uphill slope, putting us eye to eye.

 

“Right. I do like you a lot, Han-gyeol. And you like me a lot too, don’t you?”

 

“Of course. How could I not? You’re so lovable.”

 

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I don’t feel lonely even when you’re not right beside me. Because I know you love me.”

 

Eun-ha was making such earnest declarations. When I looked away, she smiled and said,

 

“Han-gyeol, look at me.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I love you.”

 

“Me too.”

 

“I love you, Han-gyeol~”

 

My face began to heat up.

 

“I, I love you too...”

 

“I love even this shy side of you, Han-gyeol. So don’t worry about me. But if you’re still worried, there’s a way to feel like we’re together even when you’re not here. Curious? Should I tell you?”

 

“Is there really such a way?”

 

“Want to hear it?”

 

I nodded, and Eun-ha whispered carefully into my ear.

 

“We could just have Hanbyul and Eunbyul before you go...”

 

At Eun-ha’s provocative statement, I blushed up to my neck.

 

She looked at my expression and smiled brightly.

 

“You... you’re really something!”

 

“Hehe. Embarrassed? We’ll have to have kids someday, why not start a little early?”

 

“You’re provocative...”

 

“It’s just for you, Han-gyeol~ What about naming our fourth?”

 

“We should take it slow on that.”

 

Soon, we’ll even be naming our grandchildren.

 

Eun-ha was always dreaming about our future together. I felt so happy it was almost overwhelming.

 

***

 

Eun-ha, wearing a cute apron, was cooking in the kitchen.

 

I was merely organizing the cooking utensils beside her, not much help.

 

“Han-gyeol, come and taste this.”

 

Eun-ha scooped some broth into a small dish.

 

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

 

As soon as I tasted the broth, I gave a thumbs up.

 

“It’s incredibly delicious.”

 

“Really? Then let’s let it simmer a bit more before we eat.”

 

“You’ve worked hard. I’ll take care of the rest, so you take a break.”

 

“Should I? Then it’s your turn to wear the apron.”

 

Eun-ha took off her apron and tied it around me. Then, she hugged me tightly from behind and didn’t let go.

 

“I said to take a break.”

 

“To me, this is taking a break~ Ah, this feels good~”

 

“If that’s what Eun-ha wants.”

 

“Focus on the cooking~”

 

“Yes, yes. Just keep stirring the broth for thirty minutes, right?”

 

“Yes, exactly. So, I’ll be hugging you for the next thirty minutes~”

 

Eun-ha clung to me until the cooking was completely finished.

 

After we were done, I placed the pot on the folding table we had bought from the supermarket.

 

The delicious aroma filled the house, and Eun-ha served the food into a bowl for me.

 

“Ah, I need to grab the beer~”

 

“Are you going to have some too, Eun-ha?”

 

“Of course~”

 

Eun-ha cheerfully fetched the beer from the refrigerator.

 

“Just have a little, Eun-ha.”

 

“Okay. And I can’t finish a beer anyway; it fills me up too much. Cheers~”

 

“Cheers~”

 

We clinked our beer cans together and took a sip.

 

Then, I immediately tried the kimchi stew Eun-ha had made.

 

The meat was exceptionally tender.

 

“It’s incredibly tasty.”

 

“Really? I’m so glad you like it. I’ll cook tomorrow. What do you want to eat?”

 

“Anything you make will be great.”

 

“Don’t make it hard, just tell me.”

 

“Um—Doenjang jjigae and egg rolls!”

 

“That’s super easy.”

 

“But that’s what I want.”

 

“Got it. I’ll make it tomorrow.”

 

“I’m so happy.”

 

Eun-ha smiled broadly as she ate the kimchi stew.

 

She quietly finished her bowl, seemingly content with her own cooking.

 

Although she ate slowly, she eventually finished her meal.

 

After we were done eating, I offered to clean up, but as I started washing the dishes, Eun-ha called out from behind me.

 

“I want to help too~ I want to help~!”

 

“Just relax on the sofa. You must be tired from cooking.”

 

“Helping Han-gyeol isn’t tiring at all.”

 

“I’ll take the sentiment.”

 

“I can’t just sit.”

 

Eun-ha inevitably got up from the sofa and rushed over to me.

 

She nudged me slightly to make space at the sink and started washing the dishes.

 

“It’s faster with two of us~ Let’s finish quickly and play.”

 

“Okay. What should we do after the dishes?”

 

“Hmm… Let’s watch a movie-!”

 

“Got a movie in mind?”

 

“We can look it up once we’re done.”

 

“Sounds good~”

 

I should have saved the beer for later.

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

 

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