I opened my eyes slightly at the bright sensation coming through my eyelids.
Though I'm still tired, realizing it's morning makes my body move automatically.
Damn sad reality. I never knew sleeping in would make me this anxious.
"Mmm..."
As I lightly stretched my neck and shoulders to slowly wake my body.
My dazed mind returned and I suddenly remembered what happened last night.
No, that's not right. Precisely, what happened until this morning.
"...Ah."
You crazy bastard. How far did you run yesterday?
It's not like I was a dog in heat, and I wasn't that starved either.
Having sex that started in the evening, passed through the night until dawn.
I kept going with Suhyeon, changing positions several times along the way.
Both I and Suhyeon clung to each other like we'd lost our minds.
We got drunk on each other and rushed in as if to ravage each other's souls.
I didn't realize it while doing it, but thinking about it now, it's a bit... like that.
They say first experiences remain as intense memories for both men and women.
For me, it's unavoidably not my mental first time, but this was Suhyeon's first.
So I wanted to give her even a slightly better time, but I don't know if it went well.
...Honestly, what I remember now is mostly Suhyeon clinging to me desperately.
I don't really remember how gently and well I treated her.
Come to think of it, Suhyeon, who should be sleeping beside me, is nowhere to be seen.
Maybe she's washing? I checked the bathroom but she wasn't there either.
Where did she go? Just then, I heard signs of someone beyond the door.
Click—
"Ah, you're awake?"
While I'm just now getting up and struggling.
Suhyeon seems to have gotten up early and even showered, sparkling brightly.
"Would you like a glass of water?"
When I reflexively nodded, Suhyeon handed me a cup.
"I prepared breakfast simply for now."
When did she prepare this? On a tray, she brought simple breakfast too.
Porridge showing signs of earnest effort and a few simple side dishes.
The one who's actually tired should be Suhyeon rather than me, but I thought she's amazing.
"Thank you, Suhyeon."
"It's nothing. I just used what was in the examiner's house... Ah, if I carelessly messed up your house, I apologize. I was just thinking of preparing breakfast..."
"You're worrying about all sorts of things. Would I get angry over something like that?"
Honestly, I'm not in bad enough condition to need porridge.
But since she prepared it with care, I should empty the bowl.
...But you know, there are those settings you see sometimes.
Where this type of character turns out to be clumsy in one area.
And in cases like this, aren't they usually terrible at cooking, not just bad?
I took a spoonful of porridge and took a light breath.
Even if it tastes bad, absolutely don't show it. Try to eat it as deliciously as possible.
Irina said it, didn't she? That I unconsciously can't manage my expressions.
Poker face. You know? Don't disappoint Suhyeon here. Finish well.
"Oh."
What? It's decent? It's not undercooked, nor bland or salty.
It's not just rice either. Looking at it, she finely chopped various vegetables and added them.
At this level, rather than being bad at cooking, she should be considered good.
"How is it?"
Holding the tray, Suhyeon's lips are mysteriously turned up as she asks.
In one way, it looks like she's worried it might not taste good.
In another way, it looked like seeing a girl fully expecting praise.
Fidgeting with her fingers while waiting for my answer, that appearance is like...
'Like a puppy.'
Right, a puppy. A cute puppy wagging its tail, waiting to be loved more.
Clatter, clatter—
For someone who cooked, the most enjoyable scene is seeing someone eat deliciously what they prepared.
Knowing that fact well, I quickly emptied the bowl clean.
"The best."
When I gave her a thumbs up, a bright smile bloomed on Suhyeon's lips.
Seeing her smile like that makes me want to do something for her.
"Wait. I'll quickly wash up and make something for you too."
"Yes? No! Examiner should rest more! It's the weekend!"
"Weekend is weekend for you too. Suhyeon, you probably haven't had breakfast yet after preparing this."
Did I hit the nail on the head? She can't answer and just watches my reaction.
Anyone would think she committed some great crime!
"Don't tell me you don't want the breakfast I make?"
"What?! No, no!! Absolutely not!"
"Then wait a little. Well... it might be a bit worse than what you made, Suhyeon."
None other than that 'Crimson Witch' made breakfast that was better than expected.
Maybe this was a scene no one had ever received or seen before.
I guess my pride was hurt from eating breakfast someone else made when I pride myself on being a professional at living alone.
I unconsciously put some effort into it.
"Di, did you make all this?"
Homemade potato soup and tomato scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, milk.
Actually, I don't eat breakfast like this every day either.
I just eat with whatever side dishes are around, or otherwise some cereal.
I only paid attention because the opponent who came today was none other than Suhyeon.
"Eat a lot. You must have worked hard getting up from morning to make porridge."
Then Suhyeon burns with intense will to eat everything without leaving anything.
When I said she didn't need to because it looks like I'm forcing her to eat...
"No! The examiner prepared this for me, so leaving any would be wrong!"
She said that and really started eating earnestly.
Exaggerating a bit, like someone who starved for three days.
...Hmm. I didn't mess up the seasoning, did I?
I'm fairly confident in cooking, but seeing her eat like that makes me anxious.
If I made even a small mistake, making the cooking condition really bad.
I'd become a new type of pervert who made a bunch of weird breakfast and made her eat it all.
Even if she's eating it deliciously on the outside, thinking 'This is torture!' inside would be nothing more miserable.
Buzz— Buzz!—
The phone left in the living room vibrates, indicating an incoming call.
Looking at the screen, the saved name is Chairman Kang Minseong.
He's not someone who usually contacts first, but today he's calling from morning.
Does he know his granddaughter stayed out last night and is doing this?
Inevitable anger rising at the guy who stole his beloved granddaughter?
[ Why no answer? Do you dislike the grandson-in-law title? ]
"No. It's not that... well, isn't it a bit embarrassing?"
[ Oh no. Nothing to be embarrassed about. This is something to celebrate. It's taking a step closer to being 'family.' ]
After that, Kang Minseong kept laughing heartily while saying various things.
If it had been face-to-face conversation instead of a phone call, he would have patted my shoulder.
[ Let's have a meal with our family members soon. Coincidentally, Suhyeon's father returned home this morning after coming back to the country. Examiner Baek Seojin, you should meet him too. ]
Come to think of it, Suhyeon only lost her mother but didn't lose her father.
However, their relationship was distant, and her father's job characteristics were the reason.
Most of his work involves traveling abroad and interacting with various companies and overseas clans.
Therefore, he had less time with family compared to others.
Even when Suhyeon's mother died, he was abroad and heard the news.
'That doesn't mean the couple's relationship was bad though.'
Although it started as a political marriage, they said their relationship was good.
But from Suhyeon's position, it was sufficient situation to misunderstand that father neglected the family.
Eventually, she, brainwashed as a villain, even directly murdered her father.
But fortunately, this time such unfilial acts won't happen.
Since Suhyeon became the Crimson Witch as an ability user, not a villain.
How dare a child murder their parent in Confucian South Korea!
"Understood. As soon as possible..."
[ In that sense, how about tonight? ]
As expected of the Kang family head. Look at that decisiveness. Why is he so direct?
Is it because it's a place that wields swords? He pushes forward straightforwardly.
I suddenly recall Suhyeon's fierce charge yesterday.
[ Stay with Suhyeon until then and come slowly when it's time. ]
Then he laughs "hehehe!" again, giving off a strong teasing vibe.
Even though we're not face-to-face but just talking on the phone.
My face feels hot as if I were sitting in front of blazing flames.
'More than that, family.'
The moment I heard that word, my hand unconsciously trembled.
Probably my body, not my mind, reacted to it.
Influenced by living alone until the possession.
It's not bad. Rather, family is always a welcome word.
But what worries me isn't Suhyeon, Kang Minseong, or the Kang family members.
It was another woman who, like Suhyeon, secured another wish.
'What am I going to do about Irina?'
It would have been better if she had done only hateful things and left my heart.
She keeps saying and doing things that force me to pay attention, which is bothersome.
Above all, she's also actively appealing her feelings just as much as Suhyeon.
Buzz—
[ What are you doing, Seojin oppa? ]
Speak of the devil, she's sending messages like a ghost.
This makes me sigh even more and gives me a headache.
Why do I envy fantasy harems so much today? Damn it.