Her melodious whistling reverberated around the house as she busied herself with mixing her batter. They didn't have a big house—actually they were only renting on a small apartment complex that was in walking distance of the university.

It wasn't the most spacious but it was the most homely one they could find and afford. The other homes that they looked at were either big and cheap but far away or small and cozy but expensive. This house was just right with a decent-sized kitchen and living room, 2 bedrooms, and an unusual tone of closet space. Dara smiled to herself just thinking about the house's perks. 

Jiyong, who was just lazying around in front of the TV, glanced over the kitchen. He watched his wife with amusement as she swayed to the tone of her whistling. The sun was streaming down at her from the window to her front and Jiyong couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was with the sun kissing her skin.

With a determined mind, he stood up and walked up to her, sliding his arms around her waist and inhaling her scent. Dara squealed in surprise but then calmed a second later. 

Her slender fingers tickled his chin and he playfully bit it, earning him a cute glare. He smiled and kissed her neck fondly. "Did you finish your homework?" she asked with suspicion lacing her voice. 

"It's Sunday, Dara-yah." he said. "Isn't there a rule that people aren't supposed work on Sunday?" 

All he got was a snort and a shake of the head. 

Jiyong poked her cheek and she hummed, "Hmm?" she questioned.

"Do you want to go on a date?" 

The older woman instantly stopped mixing and tensed under him. Because of their predicament of being in a student-teacher relationship, they didn't have much of a freedom to go out together without risking the idea of getting caught.

There had already been rumors circulating around the campus that there was such a relationship going around. Fortunately for them, it was of a different couple but the teacher who got caught, had to leave their job because of it. The student who got involved had to move schools because they couldn't take the public pressure and backlash. Dara didn't want that for the both of them but she still wanted to have a normal relationship with her husband. 

It was just too dangerous. 

"We don't have to if you don't want to." 

Dara glanced back to see him smiling reassuringly but somehow that didn't sit well with her. She looked back ahead, now leaning back to rest on his shoulder while he trapped her in between the counter and his arms. Her eyes glazed over the bright and lively atmosphere from the outside, highly contrasting their dimly-lit and slightly cluttered home. An unintentional sigh escaped her lips and Dara could feel his hands soothe her arms. The man knew her too well. 

"It's fine, Dara." he cooed, pecking the crown of her head. "There'll be other days." 

She grimaced at that but didn't say anything more. Instead, she remained watching the view from outside. Jiyong brushed her hair worriedly and he eventually turned her around to look at him. She gave him a quick peek before looking down and holding on to the fabric of his shirt. Another smile plastered on his lips as he pulled her closer and tucked her head under his chin protectively. For an older woman she sure looks adorable and innocent. 

"Tell you what, there's a couple of months left before I graduate and I want a date to be my present. And remember, I want to be swept off my feet like a princess." He flipped his hair for effect. "I won't appreciate it if you just take me to McDonalds, you hear me? I have expensive tastes." he finished, chuckling to himself. 

It was so faint that he could barely hear it but her voice had always managed to caught his every attention. "We could go now if you still want." she mumbled. 

Jiyong leaned away from her to check her expression and all he saw was the same smile he fell in love with. But still, he couldn't help but feeling guilty. She knew she was uncomfortable about it but he still asked. The stupidly nice weather made him forget certain boundaries. "Don't push yourself, Dara. I'm totally fine—"

"I want to." she interrupted, clearing . Her eyes blinked, seemingly checking herself if she was still in charge of her own mind and body, and then she looked back at him and put a hand on his neck, lightly caressing his cheek.

"I'll go where you go." she said. 

 Jiyong continued to look at her with concern but when she kissed him, all his worries seemed to fade away. "I'll always be beside you. I promise." Like always.

Somewhat hypnotized, he dropped down to press his lips firmly against hers, trapping her against the kitchen counter and showing her how much she meant to him.

Dara yelped when the wind threatened to take her floppy hat. Her hold on his arm tightened at the sight of the numerous passersby who glanced at them. Why were they looking so much? She couldn't help but ask herself.

Jiyong peeked down at her but inwardly grunted at the sight of her blocking hat. He didn't know how but he somehow managed to get her to wear the white summer dress that he always liked, saying that it was too hot for her to be wearing pants and long sleeves. It was only now that he knew that he'd made a huge mistake.

No, Jiyong wasn't sweating from the sun's heat. The man's sweating at the fact that the wind keeps blowing her skirt and making her legs show. He knew he should've brought a hoodie... or a pair of pants... or better yet, a blanket to cover her up. 

"Wanna grab something to eat?" He asked. "We've been walking for a while now." 

He wanted to laugh at the horrified look on her face but thought nothing of it. Instead, he readjusted their hands and locked them together. "Should we just eat at home?" he smiled, mentally telling her that he was fine with the idea. 

"I-I... Where do you want to eat?" she belted out. 

"I'll eat wherever you want to." 

"Aisht, stop it. I'm asking you a serious question!" she glared. 

"Fine. Are you good for barbeque?" 

Dara made a face.

"Traditional Korean?"

"No thanks."

"McDonald's?" 

"How can you even ask me that?" 

Jiyong sighed, "Italian?" 

"We just had that yesterday." 

"What do you want then?" he chuckled incredulously. 

Dara shrugged. "I'm good with anything." 

He sighed again and just put an arm around neck while he patted her head. "Aigoo what am I gonna do with you." 

"C'mon and find a place to eat!" she whined. 

Jiyong shook his head amusedly as they continued to walk amidst the busy streets of Seoul. It seemed like everyone was too caught up with their own things to take notice on them. The sight made her feel more at ease. Her nervousness was also ebbing away with him so close to her. 

Her husband pointed to a number of restaurants and café's hoping to find something she likes. It took Jiyong 7 fingerpoints until Dara finally decided to eat at his suggestion. The two entered the restaurant happily but she felt him freeze and stop her as soon as they passed the doors. She looked at him in askance while his face became taut. 

"We should head out." he whispered. "I know someone from here." 

"Who?" Surprisingly, she didn't feel threatened at all. "Someone from our class?"

"No but we know each other... more of acquaintances, I guess." 

"Then it's fine." She tugged on his sleeve but he didn't budge. 

"Table for two?" Chimed the waiter. 

"Wait a minute—"

"Yup." she answered. "Near the window if that's alright." 

"Dara." Jiyong warned. 

"Let's go." she answered pointedly. "I have my hat on, Jiyong. Stop worrying." 

In the end, he let her do what she wants and they were eventually led to a table beside the window. There weren't many people but it was busy enough to leave servers scurrying around the place. Dara started perusing through the menu with a relaxed hum while Jiyong continued to eye his surroundings. The windows were far too big for his liking and anyone from the outside could clearly see her if they just took a glance. The hat was definitely not doing her any favors since the shape of her face could still be seen. He knew that she had very distinct features that would make anyone spot her in an instant hence why he was so on edge. 

"Jiyong." she called softly, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "Are you alright?" 

He chuckled lightly, "Are you alright?" 

"I'm perfectly fine."

When Jiyong saw her genuine smile, he knew that she didn't have anything to worry about. He nodded, smiling a little himself and squeezing her hand back as they both browsed through the menu. To say that their lunch date going well was an understatement. They didn't know how long they was it since they last dated.

As soon as Jiyong stepped into her university, the time the spent outside in public lessened dramatically. Back then he would take her out to parks and beaches. Now he would only come up with some fun or exciting things that they could do in the house... usually ending up in bed and y'know. 

"Aisht, I can't believe you just did that!" 

"What? Burping is a natural human thing, babe. I'm not god." he laughed. "It's not like it was loud."

Dara rolled her eyes, "It was loud." 

"You think it's adorable." 

She snorted, "You're ridiculous." 

"And I'm that husband that you loved so much." he smirked.  

"Oh whatever," the older woman chuckled. 

"Jiyong?"

They both instinctively stopped at the call of his name. Jiyong was the first one to turn around and he did it while he put Dara behind him and held her hand reassuringly. His muscles immediately tensed seeing his classmate... acquaintance... standing before them with a curious look to his face. He could see him trying to peek over at the woman Jiyong was trying to hide and he wanted nothing else to do but just take his wife's hand and get the hell out of there. 

"Hey, I haven't seen you in a while!" His name was Cho Yonghwa, a past sunbae from his major. "What's been going on, man?" 

He replied with a strained smile as he took his hand for a handshake. "Everything's pretty much the same." he offered a nonchalant shrug. 

"Pretty much the same huh?" Yonghwa shook his head amusedly before nodding towards the woman behind him. "Who's that then? She seems pretty new." 

Dara raised a scandalized brow and hit her husband on the arm, making him restrain a wince. Pretty new?! She almost scoffed. Was Jiyong seen with some other woman when he wasn't with her?! Oh he wasn't going to hear the end of it tonight. 

He shot an unconscious glare at the crown of her head before he looked back at Yonghwa. "She's my wife." Jiyong mumbled simply as he suddenly turned back to her and pulled her to a fast walk. Dara jolted in surprise at his sudden act that she got so disoriented to the point of forgetting what was happening. Blinking out of her reverie, she looked at the back of Jiyong's head before she unconsciously looked back to see a stunned-looking man. The next thing she knew, Jiyong was tucking her protectively to his side as he put her floppy hat on her. 

"I really don't know what I'm gonna do with you." she heard him say.

Dara looked up at him curiously, his hold on her tightening each step they took. She could feel his hand on top of her head, seemingly locking her hat in place and sheltering her from the wandering and prying eyes. 

"Are you alright, Jiyong-ah?" 

The man in question sighed and nuzzled sulkily on her hair. It's been an hours already when they got back home but his apprehension from earlier kept gnawing on him. 

"I'm just..." he smiled apologetically. "I'm good."

Dara frowned, pausing the movie they were watching to sit up straight to look at him. Jiyong has been incredibly quiet ever since they stepped inside the house. She knew that there was a possibility that the guy from earlier saw her but surprisingly, she could care less about it. Dara didn't know where this nonchalant boldness came from and honestly, she was kind of liking the feeling. If the world ostracized her from wanting to bond with her husband then screw them all.

Her fingers grazed his cheek and he instinctively leaned to her warmth. "Didn't we say 'no secrets'? Tell me what's on your mind." But she already knew what it was. 

Another sigh escaped his lips as he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "I think Yonghwa's gonna say something about us." he confessed. 

"Are you scared that you might get kicked out?"

"I don't care if I get kicked out." Jiyong muttered incredulously. "I could just go to another school if that happens. I'm more worried about you... What if they fire you?" 

It was true, Dara would get more of the backlash than Jiyong. Seeing as she was the professor, having a romantic relationship with her student was deemed as highly unprofessional and dishonorable hence a huge strain in her reputation. Jiyong could just as easily enroll in other colleges or even go to online school to finish his courses but Dara can't do the same. Her position as a teacher would forever be overshadowed by the fact that she had relations with her student. Getting another teaching job with that kind of notoriety would grow less to none. 

As the weight of the realization hit her, she just remained quiet while biting the inside of her cheek. It was going to be detrimental, to her... to both of them, actually. They had already been ostracized by their family once because of their affair and everything would only become worse once their parents find out that their son got expelled or that their daughter got laid off because of either of them. 

"We'll just tell them that we went out." Dara bargained. "Doesn't everyone know that we're childhood friends?"

"I told him that I was with my wife."

She hit and glared at him while he looked at her accusingly. "Why did you have to tell him that?! Aisht, seriously! You could've just told him that you were out with a friend!" 

"Yah, give me a break will you? I've been going after your for so long and now I've finally earned the title of calling you my wife." he sneered. "I'll say it again. You are my wife." And he looked so smug as he said it. 

Dara scoffed. "To think that I thought you would become less corny when you grow up. Aigooo, you only got worse!" She ticked her tongue and looked away.

Jiyong grinned and placed a chaste kiss on her neck. "You still love me." He added boyishly. 

"Keep acting like that and I'll love you less."

"Wow, when did you become a liar?" 

"YAH!" 

Jiyong burst out in fits of laughter when she started hitting him. He couldn't help but watch her tenderly as she made every move and said every word despite the threatening vibes that she gave right now. And seeing that familiar glint on the ring on her left hand... after all this time, he was finally hers. She made him effortlessly excited at just the thought that he would always wake up to see her face in the morning. 

What was once he thought was an impossible dream was turned into a reality because of her. Jiyong's dream girl became his real wife and it was because she let him. Dara trusted him with her heart. And most important of all, she loved him just as much as he loved her. 

Amidst her sulky tyranny, he caught her in his arms and started raining kisses all over her face. At first she was annoyed but as he continued, it eventually made her giggle and snuggle closer to him. When it looked like he was about to stop, Dara stole a kiss from him and it made them both chuckle. Lounging against the sofa in each other's arms, they cherished the moment they had. Something they can't do freely in the public's subjective eyes. 

"I love you."

Dara smiled and rested her cheek on his chest. "I love you more." 

There may come a day when they might have to come clean about their relationship but that day may also never happen. For right now they lived and not bothered to worry. All they needed was each other and from that, they'll forever be happy. 

For right now, they'll just live. 

But for forever, they'll be happy. 

I don't think anyone asked for more but I did and this chapter's been stalled for a century now so here it is. There might be one final one or two but I don't know at this point. Treat it as a surprise~ 

I hope you enjoyed!