MPK Ch 3

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, do you prefer pink or beige?”

If I had known that simple question would determine the color of my wedding invitation, I would have answered a little more carefully.

The wedding invitation I received in a daze had the date written inside. Two weeks from today.

Every time I saw the wedding preparations approaching at a speed I couldn’t adapt to, I still wondered if it was a dream or reality. It felt like being swept away by a huge tsunami. Whenever I struggled to get my head above water, another wave would crash down.

“Groom Hankyung, Groom Baekyeon will be out soon.”

I was currently standing in front of a velvet curtain. My future spouse was about to emerge from behind it. I was left alone like a lost child in this unfamiliar space before being pulled to the center by the staff.

My third meeting with Woo Baekyeon took place at a wedding dress shop. Looking at the iridescent sheen of the curtain, I fell into thought. This was because I could see the anticipation in the eyes of the staff who surrounded me in a semicircle on both sides and behind. The name-coupled couple in everyone’s fantasies would probably be moved to tears at the sight of an angel of beauty descending the moment the curtain opened. Even if I could manage such a reaction, would Woo Baekyeon accept it? It felt like I would just be making a fuss by myself, and it would be incredibly awkward.

“I think he’s coming out.”

Just as I was told, I heard the sound of heels clicking from inside. The first thing to emerge from behind the curtain was a well-shaped finger. I could vaguely see my name on the white back of his hand. Woo Baekyeon, who had drawn back the curtain himself, stepped through the arch and revealed himself.

…Wow.

‘Crazy.’

A stunned admiration almost escaped my lips. I didn’t even have to worry about how to react. I couldn’t say anything and just followed his steps with my eyes. It was difficult to even think of anything else. The sight before me was that overwhelming.

Woo Baekyeon was wearing a pure white suit. He completely pulled off the difficult outfit of stark white top and bottom with his stunning looks. For reference, the designer had also held up white fabric against me, but immediately retracted it, saying, “Mr. Jung Hankyung, let’s go with a different color in the same design.” I wonder if it’s because white clothes visually make you look larger, but he seemed taller than usual today. His lowered eyelashes cast shadows on his eyes as he blinked.

“Ah.”

Woo Baekyeon, who had approached me unnoticed, stared at me. It had been about ten days since we last met.

Woo Baekyeon looked a little thinner than before, which intensified his unique aura. How should I put it? While everyone else was praising him and clapping, he alone wore a cool expression, reminiscent of a princess in a fairytale who wouldn’t smile even after all the clowns in the kingdom were summoned. He had that kind of stubborn melancholy about him.

“…….”

“……?”

Woo Baekyeon stood still in front of me. What’s going on? Why? In the midst of this bewildering staring contest, one of the staff members spoke to me in a slightly urgent tone.

“Groom Baekyeon, it looks so good on you! This design isn’t something just anyone can pull off…. Groom Hankyung, what do you think? He looks really handsome, right?”

The direction of the question suddenly turned to me. To be honest, rather than handsome, my impression was more of a breathtaking beauty, but…. I nodded in agreement. Woo Baekyeon bit his lip and then turned sharply to face the large mirror.

“Ah…, well, then, Groom Hankyung, would you like to try on your wedding attire? It’s prepared inside, and if you need any assistance, a male staff member can go in and help you, so please feel free to ask.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

I left the all-white Woo Baekyeon behind and passed through the arch he had emerged from, entering the changing room. It wasn’t so much a changing room as it was a small room furnished with a sofa and a table.

On the armrest of the sofa lay what seemed to be Woo Baekyeon’s original outfit. It was a rather unusual dark green for a suit. It was a color I’d mostly seen in school uniforms; I didn’t know it was used for adult suits too. There was a high school near mine that had uniforms like that.

I took off my clothes and put them down, picking up my own wedding suit. It included not only the basic shirt, jacket, tie, and pants, but also socks, shoes, and even garters to hold the clothes in place. My jacket and pants were dark navy.

Five days ago, people had barged into my studio apartment and taken my measurements. If it was for this suit, it wasn’t surprising given the speed at which everything was happening. The suit, which was supposed to be in the fitting stage, looked almost perfect to me. Although it was the same type of suit, it felt completely different from the ones I wore when I worked as a bodyguard. It fit closer to my body and had more decorative lines that accentuated my physique. It was enough for me to evaluate my reflection in the mirror with an “Oh, not bad…”

Nevertheless, I felt quite self-conscious as I approached the curtain. I nervously pulled the curtain back with my shoulders tense. Nearly ten pairs of eyes, including Woo Baekyeon’s, were focused on me.

“Wow, Groom…”

“Uh…”

“…….”

Well, I didn’t expect the same level of admiration as Woo Baekyeon received, but everyone looked so serious…. Woo Baekyeon’s face had even turned whiter. He was clutching his beautiful suit so tightly that it was wrinkling.

“Um…, Groom Hankyung.”

“Yes?”

“May I ask why you have your hands clasped behind your back?”

Only then did I realize my posture. I was standing with my hands clasped behind my back and a stern expression, as if I were at the scene of an incident. I quickly unclasped my hands.

“Ah, it’s a habit. Due to my profession, I’m used to this posture when standing….”

Of course, it was now my former profession.

“Aha…! You’re doing it now, and you were doing it when Groom Baekyeon came out, so I thought something was bothering you.”

“No, not at all. Um.”

I looked at Woo Baekyeon. Even within this ornately decorated space, the man clad in white stood out, capturing everyone’s attention. The score I had given myself in the mirror was “pretty good,” but Woo Baekyeon in white was truly…

“White suits you well. I was so surprised by how beautiful you looked earlier that I couldn’t react.”

“Oh my…”

“…….”

The white jacket, wrinkled from being tightly gripped, was released from Woo Baekyeon’s grasp. He glanced at the mirror and smoothed out the creased sleeve. I realized my inner thoughts had slipped out unintentionally, but it was too late to take it back.

To my eyes, both Woo Baekyeon’s suit and mine seemed ready for the wedding ceremony, but the designer seemed to disagree. Both of us had to undergo minor adjustments, with the waistbands being pulled and the sleeve lengths being fiddled with. The person who appeared to be the head of the shop sighed.

“It’s such a shame that we could only make one outfit each, given how great you both look as models.”

“Do you need… more than one outfit for a wedding?”

“Huh? Oh, of course. Even just for the ceremony itself, it’s common to have at least two: a more elaborate suit for the ceremony and a more casual one for greeting guests afterward. And for the wedding shoot, you need several, depending on the backdrop.”

“…There’s… such a thing?”

I didn’t know whether this was the norm or just the average for the shop Woo Baekyeon had chosen. As an ignoramus, I simply followed instructions, raising and lowering my arms, turning around, and walking back and forth. When things seemed to be wrapping up, Director Shin approached.

“We are considering omitting the wedding photoshoot due to the tight schedule before the wedding date. Director Woo is already pushing himself quite hard, so we ask for your understanding.”

As if he’d heard her mention him, Woo Baekyeon, who was also being treated like a dress-up doll, responded.

“…We haven’t definitively decided against the shoot yet; I only partially agree with the efficiency concerns Director Shin mentioned. We shouldn’t neglect the most important event, the wedding ceremony, just to do something extra.”

“Ah, yes.”

“But if Mr. Jung Hankyung wants to proceed…”

“That’s good then. There’s no need to worry about unnecessary things when you’re busy.”

It’s not like I was so invested in marriage that I would ask a busy person to do everything everyone else does.

“That’s good then? Unnecessary things?”

But the voice that came back was quite cold.

“Yes…?”

“…….”

A piercing gaze stabbed at me. I tried to recall if I had said anything rude, but I couldn’t figure it out. He chewed on his lip and asked another question.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, is there anything you want for the wedding?”

“Since this wedding is important to you, Mr. Woo Baekyeon… please do it the way you want. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon stared at me for a moment, then ripped off his tie as if tearing it apart and walked away. He was generally a prickly person, but he seemed unusually displeased now. I looked at Director Shin, hoping for some interpretation, but her lukewarm smile seemed to be blaming me for some reason.

I really can’t figure him out… What’s the problem? It seems like he’s losing weight due to overwork, so wouldn’t it be good to skip unnecessary things like the photoshoot?

Still, Woo Baekyeon’s suit looked so good on him that it seemed a shame not to take a picture.

“Um, Mr. Woo Baekyeon.”

Woo Baekyeon didn’t respond.

“Or, do you want to take some pictures here? We’re both dressed up anyway.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

The tension in his brow seemed to ease, and he wrapped the tie he was holding back around his neck.

“Alright.”

While we were making and accepting these impromptu suggestions, the staff quickly arranged for a wedding shoot. There wasn’t a hint of improvisation; it was as if it had been planned all along, perfectly executed. Woo Baekyeon seemed to think this was only natural.

A photographer was summoned in a flash, we looked over a few concepts, and then we stood side-by-side in front of a cream-colored backdrop. After a few flashes, the photographer whispered something that reached my keen ears. He looks like an important person and his bodyguard…. Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Since simply standing seemed wrong, we changed the backdrop and were led to a staircase decorated with flowers. It felt like they were trying to cover up our lack of newlywed glow with the background.

Click, click.

It didn’t make much difference. A picture taken with a stranger on the subway would look more intimate than this.

“Um, um…! Yes, that…, good. The taller of the two grooms, could you please come down one step?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay.”

Woo Baekyeon and I both moved down a step at the same time. We awkwardly gauged each other’s height.

“Mr. Woo Baekyeon, how tall are you?”

“184 centimeters.”

“…Wow, I’m 182. I lost. Please go ahead.”

As if it were the most natural outcome, Woo Baekyeon moved down to the lower step. One side of my vision was filled with his white back.

I had guessed that he was about my height, but seeing him like this, he had a pretty good physique. I hadn’t expected him to be so well-built because of his delicate features. His shoulders, which formed a straight horizontal line without tilting to one side, and his similarly straight waist looked like a carefully constructed building. Like a greenhouse made with meticulous design and high-quality materials.

“Now, the groom on the lower step, could you please lean forward and rest on the other groom’s knee?”

“…….”

Oh, can we… do that? Can Woo Baekyeon? Contrary to my doubts, Woo Baekyeon obediently followed the instructions. His back rested against my knee, and his head tilted towards me. Ah, this feels a bit strange. The point of contact twitched, and I couldn’t tell if it was his back muscles or my knee joint. Either way, we both pretended not to notice the small movements where we touched.

After a few more clicks of the shutter, the photographer looking at the monitor exclaimed,

“Hey, do we have any more props up there?”

“Yes, I’ll check!”

When the shutter stopped, Woo Baekyeon straightened up and ran a hand through his hair. How can a man’s hair rustle like that? Is it naturally brown? I couldn’t touch it, so I brought my head closer, and I could smell cologne. It was subtle but very nice. It had a cool feeling that suited him well. Especially with his slightly furrowed brow as he looked back at me…

“…What are you doing?”

“Ah, well, your cologne smells nice… What do you use?”

“I didn’t put any on.”

Woo Baekyeon pointed to his neck with his hand and turned his head away. Then it must be shampoo or body wash. I thought about asking but stopped myself. I had a feeling that even if I heard the answer, it would be something I couldn’t afford, and… perhaps embarrassed by the way I was sniffing him like a pervert, his neck was red. He was probably upset, like before, so I shouldn’t talk to him until the misunderstanding was cleared up.

“Photographer, I have a veil and three large bouquets!”

“Bring them all down!”

“Yes!”

The small assistant photographer struggled to carry all the requested items in her arms.

“Excuse me.”

It happened as I was about to get up to help. My view of the upper floor was suddenly covered in white.

“Whoa!”

The assistant’s cry of dismay followed belatedly. The veil she had dropped floated slowly towards us, carried by the warm air from the ceiling heater. It looked like a white aurora.

“Oof.”

I reached out and stopped the veil’s flight. White lace spread wide from where I grabbed it. The veil, casting a light shadow over me and Woo Baekyeon, cascaded down over our heads. My other hand, reaching out instinctively, brushed meaninglessly against Woo Baekyeon’s back.

“Ah, I tried to catch it, but I failed.”

“…….”

We were like two fish caught in a net. Woo Baekyeon’s eyes, looking up at me, were rounder than usual.

I lifted the veil that was covering Woo Baekyeon’s head. His gaze followed my hand up to my face. He looked like he’d never experienced anything like this in his life. When our eyes met, I couldn’t help but chuckle. At that, his eyelids fluttered along with the rest of his expression.

“Both of you, stay like that! Groom Hankyung, hold the veil like that, and Groom Baekyeon, please come a little closer!”

Woo Baekyeon leaned towards me, his hand braced against the step. His eyes and scent came closer.

“When I was nineteen, I had a growth spurt.”

Woo Baekyeon’s lips murmured softly.

“Ten years ago, the difference in our height would have been like this.”

Ah… I see. But why did he say that? Was it a consolation for the fact that I was revealed to be 2 centimeters shorter…? He stared at me as if expecting a reply, even though he’d made such a random comment, so I reacted awkwardly.

“Well, yeah. Maybe if we had met back then.”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon’s slightly parted lips closed again. At that moment, several shutter clicks went off.

The photographer, checking the photos, mouthed an “Oh,” then showed the screen to the staff and secretaries. It seemed like they finally got a decent picture.

“Grooms, please come and check the photos!”

Woo Baekyeon got up, removing the veil draped over his back. He went down the stairs first, then turned and looked at me.

“Let’s start over.”

“You want to take the pictures again?”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon didn’t respond to my question and walked away at a quicker pace. Fortunately, he must have liked the photo he saw, because we didn’t end up retaking everything from the beginning. Judging by the anxious expression on one of the secretaries as they mentioned the next schedule, it seemed like there wasn’t time for that anyway.

As we left the shop, Woo Baekyeon had changed back into the dark green suit that resembled a school uniform, the one I’d seen in the changing room. He stared intently at me once more before getting into the car. Our farewell was a simple nod, without much lingering.

💍

After being tossed and turned, the waves finally deposited me on shore. The final destination was a world different from any paradise I had experienced so far.

The venue was a beautiful outdoor wedding hall boasting a stunning natural landscape. A breathtaking number of flowers were in full bloom, as if they had been grown specifically for this day. Even though it was early November, when chilly weather was expected, a warm spring breeze blew as if it were late spring.

The cloudless autumn sun shone down on the endless rows of guest seating. 5,000 seats, with separate seating for the press. The tables were lavishly decorated with colorful flowers.

Most of the guests, shaking hands and greeting each other, were accompanied by their aides. At the center of this wedding, far exceeding my meager imagination, was me, dressed up from head to toe.

I overheard snippets of conversation about Woosung Group putting a lot of effort into this “Cinderella wedding.” A group of people I didn’t recognize scanned me up and down like they were checking the price tag on a product as I passed by.

That’s right. Me, the one who exchanged names with the grandson of Woosung Group, the “Cinderella Man” for a day, the newcomer, the male daughter-in-law, and so on… at the ripe old age of 27, I was about to become a married man.

“Hey, Jung Hankyung…, uh, congratulations…”

“Even your wedding is extraordinary…, you…”

“What, what should I say? Um…, how do you feel?”

I felt like it was my first day at work. I was completely overwhelmed and had no idea whether I was doing things right or not.

Oh, I guess in a way, it is my first day of a 3-year contract. My married life would continue for three years starting today.

Even as they greeted me, my friends were busy looking around elsewhere. They would make shocked expressions at whatever they saw, but the problem was that I couldn’t explain anything to them either.

“Thanks for coming, eat a lot before you go. I heard the food here is good.”

“Uh…, can I take a picture?”

“Of course you can. Stand over here.”

While the self-proclaimed photographer friend took the picture, the others awkwardly stood beside me. A staff member silently approached and politely took the phone. Thanks to that, we could all stand together and take a group photo without leaving anyone out. In the perfectly composed photo, I was wearing a bow tie and smiling awkwardly.

It was the same with my former colleagues from First Guard. “Agent Jung… congratulations…, good for you…” they’d say, but those who knew people in politics and business due to their work were restless. Then they took awkward photos and left.

As more people arrived, more eyes turned to me. Many strangers came up to greet me. Of all the advice I’d heard from married men about weddings, only one held true. You somehow manage to smile at a wedding. You can’t back out after coming this far, and you can’t predict what’s going to happen next, so all you can do is smile.

After about twenty cameras secretly snapped photos of me, the secretaries escorted me to a waiting room inside. They adjusted my crooked bow tie before leaving.

My reflection appeared in the large mirror on the wall. The suit was one thing, but the slicked-back hair and the boutonniere on my chest still felt awkward.

“Sigh…”

I sighed and sat down on the plush sofa. The waiting room must have been soundproof, because the noisy outside world was only a faint hum.

I looked at the mirror again. Because of the way I was sitting, the name carved on my neck stood out. It seemed something had been applied to my neck while my face was being made up this morning, but the name was clearly visible over it.

Woo Baekyeon.

The person I was going to marry today.

My last meeting with Woo Baekyeon was two weeks ago at the suit fitting. The number of times I’d seen him on the news during the wedding preparations far exceeded the number of times we’d met in person. As the date approached, he kept appearing in news headlines like, “Woo Baekyeon Preparing for the Wedding of the Century,” “Expert Opinions on the New Name-Coupled Couple,” and “The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on the Line of Succession.”

Fortunately, it seemed that marrying as Korea’s 160th name-coupled couple wasn’t holding Woo Baekyeon back. Most of the commentary stated that it captured the hearts of young shareholders and marked a new turning point for the old-fashioned image of Woosung Group. In the news videos, Woo Baekyeon’s expression was the same cold, expressionless face he wore when we met.

“Hankyung? Can I come in?”

“Oh, yes!”

I straightened up at the sudden call. It was the Junghwa Daily family who entered the waiting room.

“Wow, what’s with this styling? You should have dressed like this when you were our bodyguard!”

Chaerin, who strode into the waiting room like it was her own home, looked me over. Chaesung, shuffling in behind his parents, still looked upset. Their mother, CEO Do Youngshin, gracefully extended her hand.

“Hankyung, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

She covered her mouth with the hand she’d just shaken mine with.

“Such a… rare and upstanding young man…”

I’d already heard the omitted words from Chaerin. I also received congratulations from the siblings’ father, Director Song Unjae. The two of them left soon after, leaving only Song Chaerin and Song Chaesung in the waiting room.

“Your hair looks really good slicked back like that. Look. You seem to be wearing a tinted lip balm, but you haven’t done anything with your eyes, right? Sigh, I’ve known you for so long, why didn’t I ever think to dress you up?”

“You look much prettier today, Song Chaerin. Thinking about all the weird guys who will swarm around you when you go to college next year makes me want to rip up my resignation letter and go back to being your bodyguard.”

“Again, again. Look at you, jinxing yourself. Unless you’re going to call off the wedding and get engaged to me, don’t say things like that. By the way, I heard everything.”

“Huh? What?”

“Your honeymoon is in Jeju Island, right?”

“Ah, right.”

After the extravagant wedding ceremony, we were going on a domestic honeymoon to Jeju Island. It was Woo Baekyeon’s decision, and I figured there wouldn’t be time for a grand trip in addition to a contract marriage. I couldn’t just say that outright.

“Jeju Island is nice. For a relaxing break, a place where we speak the same language is best.”

“Which hotel are you staying at? V Resort, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Did you ask for your opinion?”

“…Yes, of course.”

Chaerin sighed dramatically.

“I can’t believe this. It seems like the honeymoon is an afterthought, and Director Woo Baekyeon is just going on a business trip to Jeju Island. Those chaebol guys, they don’t know what’s important and live and die for their work… Don’t worry. I’ve seen a truckload of people regretting that later. He’ll be begging you to go on vacation with him later.”

I don’t know what stories she’d heard, but would that really happen…? I had anticipated that Woo Baekyeon would be working during our honeymoon. More accurately, I’d anticipated that it wouldn’t be a typical honeymoon. A three-year contract couple, after all.

“Sigh…, at least take a game console with you. Don’t mope around alone in the hotel.”

“Moping around? Do I look like someone who mopes?”

“You seem tough, but you have a surprisingly vulnerable side that makes people worry about leaving you alone.”

I don’t understand that either. Just then, a voice called out from outside, “Chaerin, Chaesung!”

“Go on. See you later.”

“Remember what I said!”

“Got it. Thanks for coming to the wedding.”

“Hyung.”

Chaesung, who had been silently standing there, finally spoke.

“Be careful, and if anything happens, tell me. I’ll definitely save you!”

“Hey, Chaesung. Not you again.”

“Definitely!”

Chaesung’s eyes were filled with determination. In the end, I couldn’t help but agree.

The next visitor carefully opened the door and entered about five minutes later, as if waiting for a moment when people’s attention was elsewhere. I felt my own expression sink.

“You came.”

“…….”

Without a word, he looked around the ornate room and hesitantly approached me. I rose from my seat and went towards him.

My father and I stood awkwardly facing each other in the middle of the waiting room.

“There isn’t a separate table for parents. They said his parents aren’t here either, so we decided not to have one.”

“I see.”

The last time I saw him was the Lunar New Year holiday two years ago. After that, I volunteered for holiday shifts as an excuse not to visit.

When my parents divorced, I felt resentment and frustration as the child caught in between. But those were all old feelings now, and I no longer harbored any regrets. This silence was truly because I couldn’t think of anything to say. It felt like there was a wall between us, as tall as the aging I saw in my father.

My father’s gaze went to my neck. To the place where Woo Baekyeon’s name was clearly written.

“You have the luck with money that your parents didn’t.”

“Is that so?”

“…I’m glad you’re doing well.”

“Yes. Thank you. They say the food here is good. Mom isn’t coming, so please make yourself comfortable.”

After my father left, I stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time. I felt like I was eighteen again. I absently tapped my shoulder with my fist.

How many more people are coming, I wondered. I went to the door and peeked out. At that moment, I made eye contact with an elderly man standing right in front of the door.

“Eek!”

“…….”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there….”

The elderly man simply stared at me, observing me silently. I thought I’d become immune to being scrutinized all day, but this man’s gaze felt much sharper than anyone else’s. I offered a polite smile, but the elderly man’s expression remained unchanged. His gaze was so intense that I couldn’t move away.

He seemed to be a guest from Woo Baekyeon’s side, but ignoring him and going back inside didn’t feel right. He looked like someone important, somehow familiar… Have I seen him on the news before…? Well, it wasn’t like he was the only VIP here today.

“Sir, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“…….”

“Thank you for taking the time to come and celebrate.”

Looking closely, he was quite well-built for his age. If it weren’t for his slightly stooped back, he might be my height. Despite my deeply respectful greeting, he only furrowed his brow slightly, without a word. …Did something happen before he came to put him in a bad mood?

“The food here is supposed to be good. Please enjoy your meal. We’ll be happy and live well together.”

Lacking eloquence, the same words I’d said to my father came out. The aide standing behind the elderly man spoke with a bewildered expression.

“Um, this person is…”

“It’s fine.”

The elderly man raised his hand to stop him. Then, looking away, he let out a long breath. Okay, now’s my chance. I bowed and hurried back inside, as if escaping. I was afraid he might call me back and say, “Hold on a minute.”

‘It’s better to stay put than cause any trouble.’

Fortunately, it seemed like I hadn’t said anything too outrageous to the elderly man.

As I sat quietly on the sofa, killing time, I heard Director Shin call me.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, it’s time to move to the ceremony hall.”

Ah, finally.

The feeling as the wedding ceremony finally began wasn’t nervousness or excitement, but relief.

At the end of the aisle, the groom, with whom I was to make my entrance, was waiting for me. Woo Baekyeon, perfectly pulling off the pure white suit, was a sight to behold once again. The ornate surroundings only made him stand out even more. The moment I stopped in front of him, I remembered his eyes from under the veil. A sudden, inexplicable shyness washed over me.

“It’s… been a while, Mr. Woo Baekyeon.”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t seen you since the suit fitting, so I was wondering if I’d be walking down the aisle alone.”

“Don’t be absurd.”

After the still cold and aloof reply, Woo Baekyeon turned his head to the side.

“I was busy. I needed to make time for our honeymoon.”

“Ah, that’s understandable.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Grooms, you’ll be entering shortly.”

“Yes!”

I was grateful for the short period of silence. But soon, it might become even more awkward. I flexed my hand a few times toward Woo Baekyeon.

“Please hold hands from here, and when the music starts, walk in slowly, keeping pace.”

“…….”

“Congratulations to both of you. It’s an honor to support a name-coupled wedding.”

The staff member stepped back, and Woo Baekyeon and my hands floated awkwardly between us. As I closed the distance slightly, Woo Baekyeon also moved closer. Our wrists crossed, but our palms didn’t touch. I wondered why we were wasting so much energy just to hold hands, so I reached out and grasped his hand first.

Deep breath.

With the sound of my held breath, the inside of my hand vibrated. At the same time, a soft melody filled the garden.

—The two grooms will now make their entrance together.

The officiant’s calm instructions echoed. Woo Baekyeon’s and my first steps landed on the white carpet. Perhaps because of all the important guests, I could feel a strong pulse from Woo Baekyeon’s palm. Wow, this guy does get nervous. Feeling a pang of sympathy, I tightened my grip slightly.

“…!”

Woo Baekyeon, who had been walking straight ahead, suddenly turned to me. Then, his hand slipped out of mine.

“On second thought, it would be better to greet the guests as we walk.”

He muttered quickly and proceeded, nodding to the audience. With no other option, I matched his pace and did the same. My friends, scattered among the guests, started to cheer but then settled back down, sensing the atmosphere.

The officiant, the presider, everyone spoke in calm, mechanical voices. The ceremony proceeded in a solemn atmosphere that felt more like a funeral than a wedding. Standing silently in front of the podium for so long, I started to sweat under my shirt despite the late autumn air.

“Now, we will have the ring exchange ceremony, containing the vows of the two.”

The one saving grace was that all I had to do was follow the officiant’s instructions. Woo Baekyeon picked up one of the two identical rings first. The gold ring with a diamond was placed on my left ring finger. Then it was my turn. I picked up the remaining ring, meant for Woo Baekyeon.

It felt strange to see my name engraved on the left hand he offered me. But soon, I noticed something even stranger.

He was tightly gripping his left wrist with his right hand.

If he were politely offering his hand, there would be no reason to squeeze his left wrist so hard that the blood drained from it. As I lightly held his hand to put on the ring, Woo Baekyeon’s left hand trembled, and his right hand pressed down on the movement.

I suddenly remembered him swatting my hand away at the restaurant during our second meeting.

‘Ah, maybe he has some kind of OCD?’

It wouldn’t be strange at all if he did. Then he must be trying his best right now. Trying to finish the process as quickly as possible, I slipped the ring on, but in doing so, I poked the gap between his fingers with my fingertip. Woo Baekyeon’s carefully composed expression crumbled, and he gasped. The icy glare he sent me afterward was a bonus.

Inwardly, I excused myself, saying I was only trying to help, and faced the podium again with him. Having exchanged rings, we were declared husband and husband by the officiant’s monotonous pronouncement.

­Receiving the blessings of the guests, the two happiest people today will now proceed.

I wasn’t sure about the “happiest day” part, but I was certainly happy the moment the end of the ceremony was announced.

I glanced at my partner. To leave, um, I had to hold his hand this time, and there was no avoiding it.

“Take it.”

Instead of my hand, I offered my bent elbow. Maybe it would be okay if it was over our clothes. Of course, I expected a prickly refusal. But.

“…Okay.”

Woo Baekyeon’s hand slipped between my arm and waist without hesitation. I almost heard a sigh of relief.

As soon as we reached the end of the aisle, Woo Baekyeon withdrew his hand without hesitation. We stood facing each other again.

His face was pale, and his eyes seemed slightly reddish. It must be an illusion caused by the bright lighting. Woo Baekyeon’s expression remained unchanged.

­Lastly, we will have the kiss to seal your vows.

Oh. I wonder if he can kiss me. I should probably just pretend.

As I stood close, looking up into his eyes, Woo Baekyeon suddenly moved closer. He stepped forward first, closing the distance between us.

Woo Baekyeon tilted his head and pulled me in, cupping the back of my head. Our lips met. Time stopped for a brief moment as we remained like that.

Even without any particular feelings, a kiss does make your heart race. I realized that.

💍

To think we’d be flying first class to Jeju Island.

My first experience in first class was like lying on a cloud, and the 30-minute flight to Jeju Island passed in an instant. A slight exaggeration, but it felt like I’d just taken a sip of water and we were already landing.

After arriving at Jeju Airport, we joined a secretary who was waiting for us in the VIP passage. This man, whom I was meeting for the first time today, had a completely different aura from the other secretaries I’d met so far.

“I saw it on my way here, it’s really amazing. There are tons of reporters lined up outside. I’ve come to Jeju for support a few times, but this is the first time I’ve seen the VIP passage used!”

Woo Baekyeon didn’t respond, just kept walking. And, as someone who wasn’t as lacking in sociability as him, I found it difficult to ignore the man who was looking at me excitedly.

“This isn’t my first time.”

“When have you been here?”

“I’ve been here a few times when I was called in for celebrity events.”

“Ah, right, right. You said you were a bodyguard! Well, I guess they would have performances in Jeju too!”

“Yes. Although Incheon Airport has much more demand for security.”

As I answered, I habitually brought my hand to my neck and pulled it back. I had to wear turtlenecks every time I went out for the past month, which made me sweat and itch, leading to scratches and chafing against the turtleneck, making me itch even more. I’d left it alone, and now I had a rash that wouldn’t go away.

Today, I was advised to reveal the name and hide my face, so I wore a mask and a hoodie over a cap. The cap was mine, but the clothes were prepared by the secretaries, and the color scheme was similar to Woo Baekyeon’s casual clothes. It must have been intentional.

Through the large window outside the passage, I could see the reddish sky and the runway. The wedding day was already drawing to a close. As I became aware of the passage of time, a sudden hunger pang hit me, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since lunch.

It still didn’t feel real that I was married. Maybe I wouldn’t feel it for the whole three years until I returned to being single. No, wait. It wouldn’t be single, but divorced. As I was walking absentmindedly, lost in thought, a flash went off in front of me.

Flash! Flash!

After the camera flashes came the clicking sounds of countless cameras. Beyond the flashing lights, I could see a crowd surrounding the exit.

A couple of airport security guards cleared a path through the people blocking the way. Woo Baekyeon and I followed their guidance toward the gate. But soon, our path was completely blocked, and we had to stop. This was planned.

‘At first, pretend to ignore them and pass by, then stop briefly as if you can’t help it and let them take pictures. It’s better to give them something to use as their main story than have pictures of us running away.’

They probably dressed us in matching outfits for this moment.

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, Mr. Woo Baekyeon!”

“Look this way, please!”

“Do a heart pose! A heart!”

“Is there a reason you chose Jeju Island for your honeymoon?”

“What’s your schedule for the next few days?”

We were captured by countless lenses for a short time. Then, at the opportune moment, the secretary called in bodyguards and airport security to create some distance.

The goal was to quickly leave the airport, but an unexpected situation arose. The crowd was too large, and the security detail was overwhelmed. We couldn’t even take ten steps from our initial position before we were stuck.

“Ex, excuse me! We need to go through!”

The secretary was doing his best, but he seemed completely unprepared for this situation. Eventually, a cell phone camera was shoved right in front of my face.

I covered the lens with my hand to prevent the person from taking pictures. My thumb naturally went to the side of the phone and turned it off. The owner of the phone, wearing a beanie, looked at me in disbelief.

This was a real emergency. As if this place had become a tourist attraction, the number of onlookers was growing. If this were a real security situation, I’d be chewed out when I got back.

I was wearing a hat and a mask, but Woo Baekyeon’s face was completely exposed. Dozens of camera lenses, like eyes, were clicking away at him relentlessly. I nudged Woo Baekyeon and called out to him.

“Do you want to break through? I think it would be better to run to the car through that door over there.”

Woo Baekyeon looked at the gate I’d pointed to. Beyond the glass doors were palm trees, darkened like shadows against the setting sun. He grabbed my arm.

“No, we can’t. We have to go to the designated exit where the car is waiting. Everything is prepared there…”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

The designated gate was quite far from where we were. Unlike celebrities, I knew that chaebols didn’t use intimidating bodyguards for their image. Of course, unless they were at the prosecutor’s office or the courthouse, they didn’t usually face this level of media frenzy. It was clear that miscalculation had caused this situation. I hadn’t expected this kind of chaos either. Since when did people become so obsessed with name-coupled couples…?

Suddenly, my arm was squeezed tightly. I saw my name on the hand gripping my forearm. Woo Baekyeon, who’d grabbed me earlier, was still holding on, looking outside the airport. As time passed, the scenery outside shifted from orange to purple.

He looked tired, his expression downcast. It had been a long and tiring day. It might have been my imagination, but the way his hand unconsciously gripped mine looked like a plea for help. Even so, there was something about it that made me want to do something.

Neither Woo Baekyeon nor I were wearing particularly restrictive clothes, and the secretary would be able to escape the crowd once we were away.

“Mr. Woo Baekyeon.”

“…Ah.”

“Let’s go.”

“……?”

Even if I was fired, this was a good use of my skills.

“Stay as close to me as possible.”

I pulled Woo Baekyeon’s shoulder, wrapping my arm around him, and turned sharply in the opposite direction. Because people had moved ahead of us to get a front view, the area behind us was mostly clear. I pushed through the crowd with my elbows, quickly pulling Woo Baekyeon along.

People rushed to follow us, surprised by the unexpected move, but their formation was already broken. Once we were somewhat clear of the circle of cameras, I grabbed Woo Baekyeon’s arm and pulled.

“Run!”

“H, Hankyung, wait…!”

Woo Baekyeon stumbled forward, barely regaining his balance. People were still following us.

“Just a little further!”

It’s better than falling! I grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Woo Baekyeon’s hand and arm flapped like a bird’s wings, but I figured he’d forgive me given the chaotic situation and picked up the pace.

The gate he’d insisted on was brightly lit, even the floor lights were on. Seriously, they should have made a more discreet exit, that’s why everyone knew and came here!

The chauffeur was waiting, the door of a large van already open. I pushed Woo Baekyeon inside first, threw myself in, and slammed the door shut. The car accelerated quickly and sped away.

Wow, perfect. I think I did even better than when I was working.

Bang!

Woo Baekyeon hit the ceiling as if venting his frustration at the unexpected situation. I mentally deducted some points from my self-assessment. He must have been very displeased… No, wait, he was just turning on the interior lights. Director Shin, in the passenger seat, quickly drew the curtains to block the light from reflecting on the windshield.

“Gasp, huff, ugh, haa…”

He clutched the hand he’d been holding mine with as if trying to crush it. He remained hunched over, catching his breath. Is he weaker than I thought? A feeling of guilt crept up on me.

“…Are you alright?”

“Haa… There was… no need for that…”

“…….”

But just like a retired gambler instinctively shuffles cards when they hold them, a former bodyguard’s instincts kick in when they see a protectee and a dangerous situation. As the car left the airport vicinity, a voice came from behind the curtain.

“It seems like YouTubers aiming for views flocked here because the video of your name manifestation went viral. We didn’t anticipate that.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Then maybe half the responsibility for this lies with me…

“Those people, right now…!”

Woo Baekyeon, who was about to say something angrily, looked at me and sank back into his seat. Then, he crossed one leg over the other, placing it on my thigh.

“Are you okay, Jung Hankyung?”

“What, what do you mean…?”

“…….”

He stared at the curtain in front of him for a moment, then placed the cushion behind him on top of his thigh and rested his forehead against the window. His crossed legs were tense, right down to his toes. Is he really not feeling well?

“Mr. Jung Hankyung, I sincerely apologize for not being prepared for this.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine.”

The sincere apology stopped me from reaching out to Woo Baekyeon. When I looked at him again, he already had his eyes closed. I figured that if I asked if he was okay, he’d just glare at me with that expression I’d become accustomed to, so I decided to leave him alone.

The car left the city and entered a mountain road where the sun had already set. Judging by the route, it seemed like our honeymoon destination was somewhere near Seogwipo. The car following us at a steady pace was our security detail.

Despite driving on a dark road, the interior of the car was bright because of the light Woo Baekyeon had switched on earlier. On top of that, the car behind us had its high beams on. If this were a real security situation, it would be like advertising our location.

I thought they might have forgotten to turn them off, so I reached for the ceiling, but my arm was immediately caught.

“Leave it.”

Woo Baekyeon pulled my arm down.

If that’s what he wants….

The interior lights remained on as we crossed the mountain, passed through brightly lit streets, and finally arrived at V Resort.

Upon arrival, we were politely guided by a staff member to a private villa.

It was only when we arrived at a single front door with Woo Baekyeon that I realized we were going to be staying in the same place.

“Oh, right, this is a honeymoon.”

The staff member may not have heard my quiet mutter, but Woo Baekyeon did.

“Yes. A honeymoon, not an apocalyptic escape movie.”

“We didn’t run that much…”

Woo Baekyeon ignored me and went inside. I was used to the chill he left behind by now. I was just worried about having to share the same space for a few days. It would have been a nice twist if they had said, “This is Director Woo’s accommodation, and Mr. Jung Hankyung’s room is this way!” and shown me to a shabby little guesthouse. But since the kind staff member was still holding the door open for me, I stepped inside.

I entered a space decorated like a European mansion. The antique patterned walls and floor rug, and the heavy leather sofa made me wonder if I was still in Korea.

In the center of it all, Woo Baekyeon, looking perfectly at home in the luxurious resort, was waiting for me.

“You can freely use the facilities on the left side of the living room. I’ll use the other side. Let’s not intrude on each other’s space.”

It was more accurate to say that he’d been waiting for the right moment to say what he wanted to say, rather than waiting for me.

After Woo Baekyeon disappeared into his area, I was left alone to look around the living room. It was completely different from any “hotel room” I knew. It was spacious enough to play catch, maybe even a full game of baseball… although that’s an exaggeration. One wall was a large window, and in front of it sat a grand piano that probably no one ever used. The faint sound of waves could be heard from the dark window.

After briefly taking in the surreal scene, I headed in the opposite direction from Woo Baekyeon.

There was another room there. Structurally, it must have been part of the villa, but it was the size of a decent-sized house. Inside was a large bed, and there was also a sitting area with a table and small chairs. Of the two doors on the wall, one led to a private bathroom, and the other to a dressing room. The dressing room was the size of the studio apartment I used to live in. The suitcase that two secretaries had taken from my place last night was neatly placed there.

After exploring the room, I lumbered towards the bed, but the perfectly made bedding seemed to have a sign that read, “Wash your sweat and dust-soaked body thoroughly before lying down.” In the end, I settled onto one of the small chairs at the table.

“Sigh…”

Now that I had some time to myself, my body felt completely drained. I’d been surrounded by strangers since 6 a.m., and the biggest problem was the man who had become my husband today. Being with Woo Baekyeon strangely drained my energy. His cold gaze made me shrink inwardly, even when I hadn’t done anything wrong, and it seemed to chip away at my stamina.

Bzzz

The vibration of my phone came from somewhere. It seemed to be coming from the front pocket of my suitcase. The secretary who took my phone this morning must have put it there. The problem was, I was too tired to walk even the twenty steps to the suitcase.

Bzzzz

“Ugh…”

But there’s no modern person who can resist the call of a smartphone they haven’t seen in over 12 hours. I trudged toward the dressing room.

“Huh?”

An unknown number flashed on the screen. Ugh, I got up for nothing.

After my name appeared, I was bombarded with calls from all over. So, I changed my profile picture to a picture of a plump sweet potato I ate during a camping trip last year, and set my status message to “Selling directly-sourced sweet potatoes.” When I received calls from people I didn’t remember, I replied with sweet potato sales pitches, and my phone gradually regained its peace. I didn’t have the energy for that today, so I just hung up. Then, the same number called again immediately.

Bzzz

Click.

Bzzz

Click.

After five rounds of this, the caller didn’t give up. Wow, persistent. I finally answered, slightly pressing on my Adam’s apple to disguise my voice.

“This autumn’s harvest of sweet potatoes, 1kg for 20,000 won, 2kg for 35,000 won, free shipping for orders of 3kg or more, and I’ll pick out the best ones for you.”

—…Sweet potatoes?

“Grown with plenty of pesticides, so they’re sturdy with no wormholes. Eating them with the skin on might even help get rid of parasites. Direct from the farm, delivery within three days, excluding weekends.”

—Jung Hankyung?

“Look, I’m busy, so if you’re going to buy them, deposit the money right away, and if not, hang up.”

—…How many do you have to sell?

They still weren’t giving up. So persistent.

“Are you going to buy them?”

—I asked how many you have to sell first.

What an ill-mannered stranger…. But somehow, the way they spoke sounded familiar. Maybe it was because I’d heard their voice so much today.

After a pause, I removed my hand from my throat and cautiously asked,

“Is this Mr. Woo Baekyeon?”

—Having to sell sweet potatoes all the way on our honeymoon? You should have included that in the prenuptial agreement.

Even though it wasn’t a video call, I could picture his annoyed and exasperated expression.

—For now, your account number….

“Ah, well, I’ve been getting so many strange calls since my name appeared, so I made it a concept. I’m not actually selling them. And I didn’t know your number, Mr. Woo Baekyeon.”

—I believe my secretary’s office gave it to you.

I think I received it in a text message, but I didn’t save it. Since then, I hadn’t had any reason to contact him directly, or even indirectly, so I’d forgotten about it.

“Let’s… make sure to save it properly this time.”

—Do as you please. Save it or don’t.

…Is he sulking? I decided not to mention that I’d probably deleted that message along with everything else in the chaos.

—Come outside.

“Why?”

—Aren’t you going to eat? Both you and I are starving, even before showering.

Oh. That was a very welcome suggestion. The mention of food brought back the hunger I’d forgotten in my exhaustion. I jumped up, opened the door, and saw Woo Baekyeon, still in the same clothes as before, except now the top two buttons of his shirt were undone. On the kitchen table he indicated with his chin, a lavish meal was already set. When did someone come and go?

There were only two chairs at the table, which was set for a feast. Since Woo Baekyeon had already chosen the seat facing away from the living room, I only had one option. As I sat down, I scanned the table to see what was on the menu.

“Korean food.”

“Yes.”

So he does know Korean food…. Then silence fell over the table as we started eating.

It felt less like a meal and more like emergency rations for someone on the brink of collapse. It was only after my hunger subsided that I could taste the food. It was incredibly delicious, so I continued eating ravenously.

My once-heaping bowl of rice and the large bowl of beef radish soup were now empty. Without exaggeration, I’d cleaned everything except for a few pepper flakes at the bottom of the soup bowl, even the small side dishes.

Only then did I raise my head and look at the person sitting across from me. There was still food left in front of Woo Baekyeon. It was a bit embarrassing.

“Wow, that was delicious. I guess it’s because this is a good hotel.”

“Yes.”

“Um… please enjoy the rest of your meal.”

“I’m done.”

What? You’re done with just that after starving all day? He had a very cost-effective body.

“Jung Hankyung, I have something to tell you.”

…To me? What could Woo Baekyeon possibly have to say that required such a preface?

“The press releases about our wedding went out today, and it will be on the news soon.”

“Ah, yes.”

“The reports state that we met as childhood friends, and that’s how our names appeared.”

Right. The fabricated story of our first meeting, concocted by the secretary’s office, had become more detailed over time.

Thus, the story of Korea’s 160th name-coupled couple became a “reunion story where we thought we were just friends, but upon meeting again by chance, we realized we had special feelings for each other.”

“I’d like you to maintain a similar narrative during our marriage, Jung Hankyung. It’s rare for friends to speak formally, so start by changing the way you talk to me.”

‘…?’

I wondered why he was explaining something I already knew, but what followed was unexpected. It took me a moment to understand.

“You want me to speak informally?”

Despite his long-winded explanation… it boiled down to those two words.

Drop the formalities.

As always, Woo Baekyeon didn’t agree with me right away. But it seemed like I got the meaning right. But speaking informally…

I could drop the formalities if he wanted.

“You don’t sound like a friend either, Woo Baekyeon.”

He flinched.

I knew it. It wasn’t an easy decision for him either. Seeing his flustered expression made me want to grin.

“I guess you don’t like it. Let’s just do it the way we’ve been…”

“Jung Hankyung.”

His lips moved again, calling my name.

“You can… call me… like this.”

“…Uh, yeah… right.”

Woo Baekyeon’s lips moved as if calculating something before he continued.

“We might make a mistake… outside, so… let’s just… do this… normally too.”

…Wow.

He looked like he was dying of awkwardness. If there were levels to informal speech, Woo Baekyeon was a beginner.

“Okay…”

Still, it was a strange and slightly bewildering feeling. I didn’t know Woo Baekyeon had this side to him.

Maybe married life wouldn’t be as boring as I’d expected. Until now, I’d only thought of him as an uncomfortable roommate whose relationship with me would end in three years.

“Hey, Woo Baekyeon.”

“…Yeah.”

Oh, he’s awkward. He’s so awkward. I tried to suppress my laughter, but Woo Baekyeon noticed and frowned. Heh heh heh. When I finally chuckled, he lowered his chin and looked at me suspiciously. That cool gaze, which I used to find so draining, was starting to look different.

Is that expression a chaebol trait? The elderly man I saw at the wedding had the same furrowed brow and narrowed eyes when he was observing me. Come to think of it, they’re quite similar. No… they look alike. Their build, their aura, everything.

“…Huh?”

Wait a minute. The height that became more noticeable as he got closer, and the déjà vu I felt from the way he stared and then frowned slightly. That’s…

“Eek!”

“Wh, what?”

As the elderly man’s face overlapped with Woo Baekyeon’s startled expression, I remembered seeing that elderly man on TV.

The chairman of Woosung Group, and… the grandfather of the man I’d just married.

“W, Woo Baekyeon. So, I… greeted the elderly man I met at the wedding hall earlier, saying it’s nice to meet you, thank you for coming, and please enjoy your meal.”

“You’re more polite than you need to be.”

“Now that I think about it, he might have been your grandfather…”

“…What?”

Woo Baekyeon paused for a moment, lowered his long eyelashes, and sighed.

“It doesn’t matter. You said you wouldn’t have anything to do with Woosung Group. I meant it literally.”

“Still…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He then reverted to his usual prickly expression, as if our earlier conversation had been a lie.

“I’ll be going out early tomorrow morning.”

Ah, so this is what Chaerin was talking about. The reason our honeymoon was in Jeju was for his business trip.

“Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

“…….”

He didn’t offer any further explanation. Although our meal wasn’t long, it had definitely marked a new turning point in our vaguely defined relationship. At least for me, it felt like more had changed during this short meal than during the extravagant wedding ceremony.

Our meal ended with me popping a bite-sized yakgwa, a traditional Korean honey cookie, into my mouth. The night sea, dimly lit by the moonlight, undulated outside the large living room window. It was quite a picturesque view, and I hoped Woo Baekyeon, whose back was to the window, would turn around to see it at some point.

“Jung Hankyung, are you done eating?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing my reply, Woo Baekyeon got up from his seat. Following the commendable Korean custom of bringing your dishes to the sink, he carried his spoon, rice bowl, and soup bowl.

“Jung Hankyung, what are you doing?”

What are you doing?

“Hey, you clean up after yourself.”

You even left some food, you know. Even if I, the freeloader, do the dishes, you should at least bring your own dishes over.

“…The staff will come up later and take care of it.”

Ah. Right. This is a luxury resort suite, and you’re the owner.

I sheepishly took the dishes back from the empty sink. Woo Baekyeon had already disappeared from the dining area. As I left the dining room, I saw his back as he turned down the hallway.

Sigh, this feels a bit intrusive…

Perhaps because we’d become a little closer today, I wanted to say something more.

“Woo Baekyeon, good night.”

Woo Baekyeon walked two more steps after hearing my farewell before stopping. Then, he turned around very slowly. If I had just said goodnight and walked away, I wouldn’t have seen his face.

“…….”

He didn’t reply.

The eventful first day of our married life ended just like that.

💍

I woke up in the soft bedding, bathed in the warm sunlight streaming through the window.

It was a perfect day for work.

There’s no such thing as a perfect day for work for modern people, but couldn’t we make an exception for “being on your honeymoon while your partner’s out working”? It was a suitable day to enjoy Jeju’s fresh air and catch up on the work I’d brought with me.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I left the room to find the dining table neatly cleared.

“Wow…”

How fickle people are. I was instantly captivated by the luxury of the VIP service, which I’d found so overwhelming just yesterday.

Then, as I turned my head, another involuntary exclamation escaped my lips.