"…Yeobo."
The soft melody alerted his ears.
And his body reacted before his mind could.
His gaze snapped down—
Straight into her eyes.
His pupils dilated in surprise.
His hold loosened.
Her body slipped slightly from his arms.
He looked away instantly—
Jaw tightening—
And pulled her back up properly.
Firm this time.
A quiet swallow.
"…You're awake?"
His voice came out low.
"I'll… take you to your room."
—
Nora kept looking at him.
Confused.
Curious.
What just happened to him…?
Did he just… get shy?
—
✦ Bedroom ✦
He placed her on the bed carefully.
Avoiding her eyes.
He pulled the blanket over her—
Adjusted it.
Then again.
And again.
There was nothing wrong with it.
Still—
He kept fixing it.
"I… light—"
He was so nervous that his actions… even his voice… were betraying him.
"…I'll turn it off."
A soft hum from her.
"…Hmm."
He switched off the light.
And walked out.
Straight.
Rigid.
Almost like a machine trying too hard.
—
Silence.
A few seconds.
Then—
Nora rolled onto her side—
Pulling the blanket up to her face.
Her cheeks warm.
A quiet smile spreading.
"…I have to admit…"
She whispered softly into the pillow—
"…his reactions are really cute."
A pause.
"…and that strength… warmth."
Her smile deepened.
—
✦ Morning ✦
Sunlight slipped in.
Soft.
Warm.
Nora stood in the kitchen.
Hands on the counter.
Determined.
"…If he's acting like that because I lost my memory…"
A small thoughtful pause.
"…then I shouldn't make things awkward either."
She nodded to herself.
Serious.
"In our place… they say the way to a husband's heart is through his stomach."
A tiny spark in her eyes.
"…Let's see, Korean husband… taste the magic of Indian cuisine."
—
Soon—
The kitchen was filled with life.
Sizzling.
Chopping.
Soft chaos.
She froze.
"…Where is tamarind?"
Silence.
She checked everything.
Nothing.
A sigh.
"…I'll have to get it myself."
—
✦ Outside – Convenience Store ✦
The morning air was fresh.
Quiet streets.
Nora walked in.
Picked up tamarind paste.
Curd.
A few extra things.
She reached the counter.
"…How much?"
"9500 won," the boy replied casually.
Nora nodded.
Paid.
Simple.
Normal.
—
But just as she turned—
A voice stopped her.
"Oh—you're from apartment 1173, right?"
She turned.
Surprised.
"…Yes?"
The woman smiled, adjusting the shopping bag in her hand.
"I'm Seo Mi-yeon. I run a small salon here… second floor, 1022."
A small pause—then a knowing look.
"We've met before… that day we accidentally disturbed you and your husband."
Nora blinked—then quickly shook her head.
"No, no… it's nothing like that."
Mi-yeon laughed lightly.
"Aigo, you don't have to be shy. These things happen."
Before Nora could respond—
Mi-yeon gently hooked her arm around Nora's wrist.
"Come," she said casually. "Everyone's downstairs anyway."
Nora blinked.
"…Downstairs?"
"Mm."
—
✦ Basement Common Hall ✦
Mi-yeon pushed open the heavy basement door.
Warm noise instantly spilled out.
Voices.
Laughter.
The smell of coffee and food.
As they walked down the stairs together, Nora looked around quietly.
This place felt…
Alive.
Completely different from the silent upper floors.
The moment they entered the basement hall—
Several people turned toward them.
Mi-yeon immediately grinned.
"Look who I found."
She lightly nudged Nora forward.
"Our new neighbor. I met her at the convenience store nearby."
Curious eyes instantly landed on Nora.
Not hostile.
Just interested.
Nora gave a small bow politely.
"Annyeonghaseyo (hello)."
"Ohhh—"
Hae-in widened her eyes.
"You're the girl from upstairs!"
Min-gyu leaned forward dramatically.
"The same one who came unconscious that night?"
Nora almost choked.
"…Unconscious?"
"You were unconscious, and your husband was carrying you upstairs… honestly, I thought—"
"Enough," Miss Oh interrupted calmly.
Her sharp gaze swept across everyone.
"Stop scaring the poor girl."
Then her expression softened as she looked at Nora.
"Come sit here."
She patted the empty space beside her.
"We all live in this building. If you ever feel lonely upstairs, you can come here anytime."
Nora hesitated for a second—
Then slowly sat down.
"Gamsahamnida (thank you)."
Hae-in smiled warmly.
"You don't seem Korean."
A pause.
"But your Korean is really good."
Nora smiled shyly.
"I'm from India."
"Indo?" Mi-yeon blinked. "Ahh, so little Kang was telling the truth."
"You asked about me?" Nora asked softly.
Min-gyu laughed.
"Of course. A mysterious couple suddenly appears on the top floor? Everyone gets curious."
That earned a few agreeing nods.
Then Miss Oh noticed the packet in Nora's hand.
"Tamarind?"
Nora looked down.
"…Ah."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I'm making Indian breakfast for my husband."
"Ohooo…"
The teasing started instantly.
"Newlyweds."
Nora's ears turned slightly pink.
"What a life… Mr. Kang gets to enjoy Korean, Indian, and Russian cuisine," Min-gyu laughed.
Then he leaned back dramatically.
"Honestly, when I first saw him in the lift, I thought some mafia guy had kidnapped a girl and brought her into the building. I was fully armed."
He gestured animatedly.
"Black gloves on his hands… that terrifying aura on his face… my sixth sense was screaming."
Hae-in immediately smacked his head lightly.
"Ya! Stop it. You can't say things like that about such an innocent handsome man."
Mi-yeon snorted.
"But you are right."
"Your husband really does have a strange aura. I mean—he's handsome, obviously… but there's definitely something different about him."
She smirked.
"You know what I saw in my tarot cards that day?" she said dramatically.
Everyone looked at her.
Waiting.
She lowered her voice slightly—
"…The Devil."
Hae-in narrowed her eyebrows.
"Black gloves. Quiet face. Sharp eyes. Like a hungry lion standing silently."
Miss Oh suddenly placed her ramen bowl down on the table with a loud thud.
"Don't start believing their nonsense," she said flatly.
"She's already in her forties and still obsessed with superstitions."
Then she pointed toward Hae-in.
"And this useless woman still can't manage her own life properly. It's always office to home… home to office…"
Her sharp eyes shifted again.
"And this idiot keeps annoying his wife every chance he gets instead of taking care of her."
Nora blinked—
Then shook her head right away.
"Sorry, I think you all just misunderstood him."
A small smile appeared on Nora's face.
"He's actually very sweet… and polite. And handsome too."
"He's taken really good care of me."
Then she added honestly—
"I've never even seen him get angry before…"
Her fingers tightened slightly around the bag.
"He's simple… a good businessman."
A calm voice echoed from above the stairs.
"When wives praise their husbands like this… it usually means the husband loves them very much."
Everyone looked up.
A middle-aged woman stood there elegantly—
One hand resting lightly on the railing.
Kim Bit-na.
Former mayor.
Her sharp eyes settled on Nora immediately.
And slowly—
She started walking down toward them.
Mi-yeon suddenly looked toward the stairs.
"Oh—when did you come?"
Nora turned.
—
"I came," she said calmly,
"…while you all were talking."
Her gaze shifted.
Landing on Nora.
"…and while someone was praising her husband so much."
A pause.
"Is she our new neighbor?"
Nora stood up immediately.
A respectful bow.
"Annyeonghaseyo (hello), Miss Mayor. I'm Kang Nora."
The woman's lips curved faintly.
"Call me Miss Kim."
A soft, controlled tone.
"I'm not the mayor anymore… though these people are used to it."
She stepped closer.
Stopping right in front of Nora.
Observing her.
Then smiled slightly.
"Welcome to Nine Gate Residence, Miss Kang Nora."
But then—
Suddenly—
The basement door burst open.
"Nora—!"
No Gul's voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned instantly.
He came down the stairs quickly—
Too quickly.
And the moment he reached her—
He pulled her into his arms.
Tight.
Desperate.
His breathing was uneven.
One of his hands held her firmly against him—
Like he was afraid she might disappear the moment he let go.
To Be continued......