MM 138 END

“Hey, Yu-jin. Come here quickly and look at this. Which style do you think is better, this one or that one?”

“Goodness, Mom, what have you been doing all this time, and now you’re picking out hairstyles? You’ve been with Mrs. Park the whole time, right?”

“That’s true, but I wanted to show you the final options.”

Even as she grumbled, Yu-young’s older sister helped her choose a hairstyle, while the younger sister chimed in beside them. Their mother, smiling happily, was in the middle of it all. It had been so long since they had all gathered together like this at the family home. It felt like such a rare, familiar scene.

“Do you think this one’s better? Hah… no, this one looks a bit outdated.”

“To me, they all look like the same updo. Let’s go with this one.”

“Anyone would think it’s your wedding, not Yu-young’s.”

At that comment, everyone burst into laughter again. Yu-young looked at his sisters and mother chatting and laughing while biting into an apple, feeling warm. Just as his sister had said, the one getting married tomorrow was supposed to be him, yet it still felt unreal, like a dream.

Since the proposal, everything had passed by so quickly that Yu-young hadn’t even had a moment to catch his breath. Yet, on the outside, his life hadn’t really changed much. There hadn’t been any noisy celebrations from his coworkers, full of mixed surprise and congratulations. This was because he and Do-won had decided to keep their relationship a secret for now.

As a result, their wedding was not going to be a grand affair with all their acquaintances attending. Instead, it would be a small gathering with only their closest relatives and family. Yu-young’s mother had expressed some dissatisfaction, as she had expected a grand celebration, but Yu-young calmly convinced her.

Yu-young was looking forward to starting a second life with Do-won, but he also cherished the everyday life he had lived until now. He didn’t want to lose it. The small joys, sorrows, and everything he experienced at work. The moments spent with Do-won, as both team leader and colleague.

If they held a large wedding with all their acquaintances, they would have to reveal their relationship to everyone at work. This would inevitably expose the fact that Yu-young was the son of the company’s president, and it would also reveal Do-won’s background. This would naturally create distance between him and his colleagues, and it would make it awkward for him to work in the same team as Do-won. Of course, if they used his status as the president’s son, working in the same team wouldn’t be an issue, but he didn’t want to do that.

Yu-young wanted to continue his current life. Do-won agreed with him without hesitation. So, even though they were sorry to their close team members, they both decided to keep their relationship a secret until the time was right.

When they told their parents they wanted to continue as they were, the parents surprisingly agreed. After all, it wasn’t an arranged marriage, and they both agreed that this wasn’t a wedding meant to impress anyone. So, they decided that the wedding would be only for Do-won and Yu-young, with just the closest family present.

Yu-young’s mother, though initially a bit disappointed, was soon able to let go of her reservations. She smiled and said, “Well, our youngest’s happiness is the most important.”

Once the direction of the wedding was decided, things moved along smoothly. They chose a small, private wedding hall that could hold 50-60 guests, typically used for stars and famous people. They also decided to have the event with a relaxed meal and atmosphere.

By this point, they had overcome a major hurdle, but the journey wasn’t over. Yu-young stared at his computer screen, his face full of dread, with multiple windows open.

“Team Leader… when does this end? This feels harder than most project proposals…”

“Don’t worry, let’s just take it step by step. If it gets too overwhelming, you can leave it all to me.”

“Still… I want to be involved in this. It’s our wedding, after all.”

Choosing the wedding hall was just the beginning. As they went through the preparations, there were countless small decisions to be made, from flowers and meal courses to picking out tuxedos and choosing a honeymoon destination.

Though Do-won had told him not to stress and that he could leave it all to him or a planner, Yu-young wanted to be actively involved in this process. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and he didn’t want to leave it in someone else’s hands or just rely on Do-won.

The tasks were endless. Sometimes he felt exhausted, but with Do-won by his side, the sweetness far outweighed the tiredness. He believed that every step they were taking together was for important, happy moments they would share.

The days passed like a dream, and finally, the day before the wedding arrived. He thought they’d spend the night chatting and reminiscing, but unexpectedly, Do-won sent him off to his family home as soon as work ended.

“Even though it’s the day before the wedding, go ahead and make lots of memories.”

“What about you, Team Leader?”

Even while preparing for the wedding, Yu-young knew the awkwardness between him and Mrs. Lee, so at first, he had rejected Do-won’s suggestion. Although his family was cheerful and bustling at home, Yu-young didn’t want to push him into his uncomfortable family environment.

Fortunately, it seemed that she could no longer openly show hostility toward Do-won. She had been caught by Do-won’s father for making harsh remarks to Do-won, and ever since severing ties with Sun-hyung’s family, the lady had been considerably subdued.

Still, it would be uncomfortable. Despite Yu-young’s concerns, Do-won surprisingly seemed unbothered and said nonchalantly:

“Don’t worry. I’ll just go home, talk to my father for a bit, and have a drink. I’ll be fine.”

Hearing this, Yu-young could no longer insist. He nodded and, as Do-won drove him to his family home, he repeatedly held his hand with affection, kissed him three times, and hugged him about five times before finally letting him go.

As soon as his sisters heard that Yu-young had arrived, they dropped everything and rushed over. Thanks to his second sister, who had quickly brought out colorful and childish pajamas, the three of them wore matching pajama pants and laughed. Their mother and father couldn’t stop taking photos of the siblings, marveling at how cute it was.

After a light dinner, Yu-young’s family spent the night chatting comfortably in the living room until late. It wasn’t until nearly midnight that Yu-young wished them all goodnight and finally laid down in his bed after a long time.

As soon as he flopped down onto the bed with a soft thud, one person’s face urgently came to mind.

“…I miss the team leader.”

Though it hadn’t been months yet, this was someone he had been living with, and in just a few hours, he’d meet him again. He would also be the person he’d spend his entire life with. Yet, just being apart for this little while made him miss him so much. Yu-young couldn’t help but laugh at himself for feeling this way.

He didn’t think he’d be able to sleep at all. But he had to sleep. They had agreed to handle their own hair and makeup at home and meet directly at the wedding hall, and he didn’t want to show up with a tired face from lack of sleep.

‘There’s always a way.’

Yu-young rustled around and took out the photo album he always carried with him. It was the album Do-won had made for him, a mini-album of the photos from the proposal.

Smiling fondly, he flipped through the pages one by one, reliving the beautiful memories. Before long, he found himself closing his eyes, and as he drifted off to sleep, the special day that would remain a thrilling memory for a lifetime quietly approached him.

***

“Mrs. Park. What should I do? I think I’ve gained about 300 grams since the last fitting.”

“Oh, Madam, it doesn’t show at all. Don’t worry.”

“Really? That’s a relief then.”

“Mom! Did you see my flower shoes? I brought them yesterday.”

“They’re in the shoe rack.”

The morning of the wedding day was more chaotic than expected. The whole family was bustling around, turning the spacious house upside down. Yu-young watched the scene with a tender heart. Even though they weren’t going anywhere far and would all be together soon, there was something about the family gathering after such a long time that made his heart feel tight.

Thanks to Mrs. Park, who had come early to the house, the family was able to relax and get their hair and makeup done before heading out. Everyone laughed at Mrs. Park’s joke about how she could no longer do Yu-young’s hair, as she had done in the past whenever they kidnapped him for a blind date.

“Alright, we’ll be leaving now.”

With the driver’s greeting, the whole family got into the car, all dressed up in their best outfits. Yu-young, now looking like a perfect newlywed, took a deep breath and tried to calm his nervous heart. Though it was the wedding itself, the thought of meeting Do-won soon made him even more excited. It was a face he saw every day, so why was it such a big deal? He tried to remind himself of that, but his heart kept pounding.

After driving for a while, the car stopped in the wedding hall parking lot. After parking, Yu-young’s phone rang as they entered the building. Seeing [Team Leader Choi Do-won] on the screen, Yu-young couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face.

“Hello, Team Leader?”

“Assistant Han, did you sleep well?”

Hearing his voice full of warmth, Yu-young couldn’t help but smile, even though he couldn’t see him.

“Yes, I slept well. How about you, Team Leader?”

“I couldn’t sleep at all because I was nervous.”

He chuckled softly at his playful tone and turned his head toward the sound of footsteps coming from behind. As he turned, his eyes widened in surprise when he saw the familiar figure of Do-won entering the building.

“Team Leader!”

For a brief moment, excitement filled him, but he froze on the spot, unable to look away from him. His heart pounded so fiercely, he was afraid it might skip a beat.

He had always seemed perfect to him, but seeing him now, dressed in a white tuxedo and elegantly fixing his hair as he walked toward him, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. His fiancé, soon to be his husband, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Do-won, approaching with a soft smile, briefly wrapped his arm around Yu-young’s waist, who was staring at him in a daze, before letting go.

“This is a big problem. Our Yu-young looks so amazing.”

His voice whispered into Yu-young’s ear, secretive yet endlessly sweet.

“I only want to look at my Yu-young, who is so beautifully made up like this, but I have to show him to all these people.”

“Seriously… you’re such a fool, Team Leader.”

Yu-young chuckled, trying to hold his racing heart with trembling hands, barely managing to respond. Though his feelings were just as excited, he didn’t say anything out loud, fearing his voice might betray how giddy he felt.

“I’ve only been apart for one day, but I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.”

Their gazes met, and another small laugh escaped them. Ever since the day they shared their hearts, whenever Yu-young saw Do-won, he couldn’t help but smile. Just meeting eyes or brushing fingertips made his heart flutter and a smile spread across his face.

“Shall we start getting ready to greet the guests, Team Leader?”

“Yes.”

The two of them stood in front of the hall, greeting each guest individually, their hands intertwined. The guest list had been carefully curated, filled only with close and cherished friends. The relatives who came to bless their marriage filled the space with warmth and sincere joy, making Yu-young feel so grateful.

“Groom, it’s time to go in and get ready.”

“Yes.”

As the ceremony approached, they followed the staff’s instructions and entered the hall. The hall had floor-to-ceiling windows, giving them a beautiful view of the snow-covered gardens outside, looking like a scene from a fairy tale. Inside, vibrant fresh flowers bloomed in abundance, filling the space with a fresh glow, creating the atmosphere of a secret garden where the ceremony was being held.

The round tables were already filled with people who sparkled with excitement, their eyes fixed on Do-won and Yu-young. At the right moment, a piano trio began to play, and at the designated time, the emcee took the microphone. It was Yu-young’s older sister.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Han Yu-young’s older sister, Han Yu-jin, and I will be the emcee for today’s ceremony. First of all, I would like to sincerely thank all the guests who took the time to be here.”

Her strong and lively voice filled the hall. Before the spotlight shone on him, Yu-young held his breath in the darkness, listening to his sister’s voice.

‘…This can’t be a dream, right?’

Yu-young blinked slowly and began to take in the scene around him. Everywhere he looked, there was something that tugged at his heart. The hall was beautifully decorated just for the two of them, and his dearest relatives looked at him and Do-won with affectionate gazes. He could already see his mother and sister wiping away tears, while his father beamed with a proud smile.

And then, Do-won, who was holding his hand so warmly.

“Are you nervous?”

At that moment, Do-won whispered beside him, narrowing his eyes playfully. Yu-young smiled and shook his head.

“…No. I’m just… happy. I feel like I’m the happiest person in the world right now.”

“The happiest person in the world right now is me. Because I’m the one marrying you.”

Do-won’s eyes were filled with sincere warmth as he joked. They exchanged soft, sweet words in quiet voices, and Yu-young couldn’t help but smile again. Just then, the emcee’s powerful voice rang out, and the beautiful music filled the hall.

“Now, we will begin the entrance of our two wonderful grooms. Please welcome them with a heartfelt round of applause. Groom, entrance!”

Step by step, the two of them held hands and walked down the flower-covered aisle, each holding a rose tied together in a bouquet. They walked without needing any practice, as every moment they had spent together—laughing, crying, and supporting each other—had been practice for this lifelong journey.

“One. I, Choi Do-won, will love Han Yu-young with an unchanging heart, and I will always look at him for the rest of my life.”

“Two. I, Han Yu-young, will share both joy and sorrow with Choi Do-won, and I will always rely on him and be his support…”

As they spoke in unison, they made their vows before their closest loved ones. They bowed politely to the guests who cheered and applauded, officially becoming one with each other. Choi Do-won to Han Yu-young, and Han Yu-young to Choi Do-won.

The memories of the days when he had stubbornly rejected marriage, afraid of being bound to someone, passed slowly through Yu-young’s mind. After all the struggles, Yu-young had made it here. The time spent making this promise in front of so many people, vowing to love this one man for the rest of his life, was, in itself, a source of happiness and treasure for Yu-young.

Only one person, Do-won, had the power to change his values and life so completely. Do-won had loved him for who he was, never trying to change him, and always made the time they spent together warm, kind, and full of joy. He had made him decide that this was how he wanted to live for the rest of his life.

“…Now, the grooms will take their first step together in their new life. Please stand and give them a warm round of applause and cheers, wishing them a life full of happy moments.”

The earlier ceremony procedures ended, and with lively music, Do-won and Yu-young began to walk in sync. With every step, applause and blessings poured in from the guests. As they reached the end of the aisle, beautiful fireworks exploded in the air. Do-won, gazing at Yu-young, smiled softly, his face glowing with the most beautiful smile.

“I love you, Yu-young.”

His voice, soft yet pleasant, rang out. No matter how much the crowd clapped or cheered, his voice didn’t get drowned out—it gently seeped into Yu-young’s heart. Yu-young, with a bright voice and the puppy-like face Do-won adored, answered him.

“I love you too. My dear.”

Amid the magnificent flower shower, their lips slowly met. The kiss didn’t leave any space between them, and even as it slowly ended, their hands remained tightly clasped, unwilling to part. They gazed at each other, lost in the moment. Forever.

 The End.