My Dream is to Get My Own House

I distinctly heard the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears.

Is it because it’s nighttime?

Or is it because this man gives off such a decadent impression that it takes my breath away?

Just from our fingertips touching, my lips dried up and my heart started pounding intensely.

I quickly opened my mouth to respond.

“This should be enough.”

Not overly close, not too far, just the right amount of favor and distance that I can offer to a passing person.

Dylan, like a machine, firmly held onto my fingertips and replied honestly.

“I’m glad.”

His indifferent tone and slight touch brought definite comfort.

I pressed my hand against his hand that was holding onto my fingertips and smiled brightly.

“Yes, I really don’t feel scared anymore. Thank you.”

At that moment, Dylan flinched noticeably.

…It became somewhat awkward.

Several minutes passed like that.

“I’ll tidy up the rattles and mobiles for a moment and come back.”

Only then did I understand why he was holding the rattles in his hands.

After completely calming my trembling breath, I responded cheerfully.

“Yes! Shall I help you tidy up the rattles?”

“No, I’m done with it.”

Dylan turned coolly with an indifferent expression.

Behind him, if you didn’t look closely, there was a small birdhouse.

It was an unexpected sight of a knight who seemed like he would sleep with his armor on.

I covered my mouth and stifled a giggle.

* * *

I slowly walked over to the sofa and plopped down.

On the table across from the sofa, there was a small tabletop mirror.

In that mirror…

“Why is the monster here?”

I saw a swollen-eyed monster.

On my first wedding night, I’m confronted with this wretched appearance.

But let’s think positively.

‘If things keep going like this, I won’t even last a year before getting a divorce.’

Wait, wasn’t that just now not a positive thought at all?

If I get divorced, I’ll end up sitting on the street.

As I was about to mess up my hair, I stopped.

In the mirror, I looked like a monster roaring.

At that moment, Dylan, who had finished organizing the rattles, baby crib, and other things in the storage room, came out.

His face turned bright red when he met my gaze.

Well, he has slanted eyes, so it’s hard to tell.

“Ah… I couldn’t sleep. Dylan, please go in and get some rest.”

‘Who knows when the thunder will start again.’

I carefully closed the blackout curtains in the living room and planned to sleep on the sofa.

However, Dylan seemed uneasy.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? It might be uncomfortable for you.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Then, until you fall asleep… maybe we can stay together and talk…”

He trailed off.

“Yes?”

“Since I couldn’t sleep either, I thought it would be… nice to be in the living room and have a conversation.”

His gaze briefly glanced outside the window.

“Is he worried about me being scared if thunder strikes again?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Oh, then we need a blanket to cover on the sofa-”

“I’ll bring it.”

Dylan went into the baby’s room and came back with a white blanket.

As he raised the cozy blanket, his stoic expression softened for a moment.

“This should be enough.”

“Yes! Come here!”

I patted the seat next to the sofa.

Dylan walked towards me with one hand lightly holding the thick blanket.

With his imposing bear-like physique, he could be perceived as intimidating.

But thanks to the connection we had just established, I wasn’t scared.

Instead, I felt grateful.

Feeling a bit excited, I cheerfully said, “Today is our first night!”

Although technically we were more like housemates than a married couple.

But right at that moment.

Dylan turned his gaze away and tightly gripped the blanket in his hand.

“So it’s our first night.”

The blanket in his hand rustled.

If I didn’t say anything, he would have stood there forever with that blanket.

Flushed cheeks like peaches.

A breath escaping through slightly parted lips.

Even his slender eyes.

I swallowed hard, taking in all of those scenes from my seat.

“Why do people look so seductive like that?”

They feel cold when they’re still, but when their cheeks turn red, it feels intriguing.

He’s definitely not an ordinary character.

After deliberately avoiding Dylan’s gaze, I swallowed my saliva and put my glasses back on, then looked straight ahead.

Dylan walked over, maintaining his expressionless face.

When he finally sat down on the sofa.

A mischievous smile crept up on my lips.

“Um, you seem to be sitting too straight.”

He cautiously approached me, leaving enough space so that our bodies wouldn’t touch.

It was a completely different attitude from the usual Dylan I knew.

People often criticized Dylan for being arrogant and rude.

“Honestly, Sir Dylan, it’s like we don’t exist to him, right?”

“What does having skills do? He can’t even be humble and socialize with others.”

“Is it reasonable for him to always be the one turning off the lights at night when no one else does? It’s like he’s asking us to suffer.”

“Is it all about being good-looking?”

“Well, being good-looking is a plus, I guess.”

So, to him, I might not hold much significance as a person.

But for now, in this moment, we’re living together.

“Let’s get along well while we live together!”

His eyes, with a subtle reddish hue, stared at me.

“…Yes.”

A small smile appeared on his lips for a moment and then disappeared without a trace.

“Did I see it wrong?”

I awkwardly shrugged my head and reached out my hand.

“Hand!”

“Yes?”

Dylan’s eyes twitched, as if they were about to fold.

Come to think of it, could I appear as if I have ulterior motives?

I lightly waved my hand as if I were clapping in the air.

“Not something else, let’s shake hands! It’s a way of saying ‘nice to meet you’!”

Finally understanding, he cautiously reached out his hand.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“Great! But I have one thing to tell you.”

After finishing the handshake, I tried to bring up the next topic.

But Dylan’s state was rather strange.

He still had his hand raised in the air.

Why?

Why is he still holding his hand up as if something is broken?

“Well, actually, I don’t get along well with my family.”

“…Ah.”

“If my family causes you any harm, don’t worry! I’ll bite them like a Chihuahua.”

“Then, really like a Chihuahua…”

“Yes! If they touch you, I’ll definitely bite them.”

I may lack morals, but luckily I have a strong jawline.

I gave him a mischievous smile.

Dylan nodded gently.

His ears seemed to blush a little.

The sight of this huge, rigid man felt like a large dog.

“Chihuahua, you look really cool.”

So I didn’t hear the murmuring words he said afterwards.

Thus, a turbulent day passed.

“Ishael, why are you afraid of thunder as an adult?”

“Don’t tremble and take a sleeping pill and sleep, quickly!”

“Tsk, what a hassle. Even if your body aches, you still have to go to work. You need to earn money.”

Memories of my troublesome family came to mind, and I closed my eyes tightly.

But as a comfort to that trauma, memories with Dylan piled up like thin snow.

Memories like the first snow that could disappear after today.

It was definitely not enough to negate my initial determination to draw a line and live separately from the person I live with.

However, it was an undeniable truth that my heart warmed a little as the time for casual conversation approached dusk.

* * *
The next morning.

I was about to get up, vigorously shaking my head, but I stopped.

“Oh.”

I quickly sat up and looked around.

“What is this?”

Corn soup and sandwiches were placed on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

I listened carefully and heard the sound of a shower from the bathroom.

Not only did he neatly tuck me in on the sofa, but he also made breakfast and went to shower first.

Is Dylan a new person?

Then, with a thump, the door of the bathroom opposite opened.

“….Oh.”

“Ah…”

Dylan and I locked eyes.

No, to be precise, our eyes didn’t meet.