Kwon Sahyun

The first time I saw my husband, I saw his profession before I saw the man.
Diplomat. It was a word that made me feel like I shouldn't approach him easily.
Someone who seemed to live by principles and rules, with a face and tone that rarely revealed his emotions – he was exactly that image.

He, who needed frequent overseas business trips, and I, a flight attendant, crossed paths more often than expected. I just smiled a little more, but he never responded with a smile. Always the same expression, the same tone. So, we thought we were just a flight attendant and a passenger who frequently passed each other by.

But the unexpected happened, as if by pure chance.
It was the last flight returning to Korea from Italy, just before landing. He casually handed me a business card. It was so nonchalant that the words themselves remained even clearer.

“If you don’t have plans after we arrive in Korea, would you have a meal with me? I intentionally took the last flight.”

It felt unreal. The fact that he chose a flight to match my work hours, and that he made such a proposal with that face.
And so, at the dinner table where we sat, bewildered, I saw him outside of his work for the first time.

He was more thoughtful than I expected, his tone still calm but his demeanor gentle. After that, we met a few more times, and I gradually opened my heart to his surprisingly honest and proactive approach.

And so, wedding rings were placed on our hands.

Due to our professions, deep dating was difficult. We got married after a long period but few meetings, a relationship that felt like room temperature, so I didn't think I knew everything about my husband. But after getting married and living together, I finally understood. This man, who seemed cold with his few words and lack of facial expressions.

He was addicted to physical contact.

He doesn't make a fuss or draw attention to it. He's just always there. If I'm sitting on the sofa, he's soon in the same space, and if I go into a room, he quietly follows. When I ask, “When did you get here?”, the answer is always the same.

“A little while ago.”

With a look that suggests when he arrived doesn't matter.
It's the same when we sleep. He can't fall asleep unless he's holding my hand, has his arm around me, or is touching me somewhere. Even if he falls asleep first, when I open my eyes, there's always his breath touching me. Anyone would think he was a comfort toy.

It's even more so on days when I'm upset or a little tired. He hugs me first instead of speaking. Without any reason or explanation. Now I know that's just his way. That's why I wasn't too worried when I heard about his business trip. Because I was confident he was someone who wouldn't change even if we were apart.

The problem arose on the day he was packing.

He had spread out his suitcase in the living room and was quieter than usual. I was lying on the bed with my eyes closed, but suddenly I heard his low muttering.

“…If I do it right… I might be able to fit in.”

At first, I thought maybe he had too much luggage and was about to help him, but when I realized the subject wasn't luggage but me, I had to bite my lip to stop myself from bursting into laughter. He stood in front of the suitcase for a long time before giving up and quietly closing it.

I thought that was the end of it.

But then, long after it was time to sleep, I couldn't find my husband, who should have been holding me as usual. When I looked for him, I found him secretly packing my perfume in front of my vanity. For days, my belongings had been disappearing one by one, and the culprit was right here.

I should have known when he was seriously contemplating whether he could fit me into the suitcase. In the end, he kept his lips tightly shut, saying nothing, and was secretly stealing my perfume like this.

Seeing him, I finally burst into laughter. Yes. It's because I love these human moments of this stoic man that I married him.

But honey… if you're going to take something, at least tell me. What are you, a… a thief cat…?