Side Story (Part 2)

“I’d like to change the way you call me.”

“What sounds good to you?”

“Let’s hear it first.”

Do-jin kept a smile on his face and waited for Seo-hye’s voice. Seo-hye quietly stared at him and then slowly opened her lips.

“Won Do-jin.”

Do-jin frowned and immediately looked at Seo-hye.

“Seems like that’s not it.”

Seo-hye feigned indifference and pretended to be in thought.

“Do-jin.”

“……”

“That doesn’t seem to get much of a reaction either.”

“……”

“Oppa.”

Do-jin released Seo-hye’s hand and tightly pressed his lips together.

Upon closer inspection, he was trying to hide his laughter.

“Do you like being called oppa, Do-jin?”

“It tickles me to death.”

“Does that mean you like it or not?”

“It means I like it to death.”

Seo-hye reached out and firmly held his hand again.

“Then I’ll call you oppa.”

“……Moderately.”

“What?”

“You’ll have to mix it with my name moderately.”

When Seo-hye looked at him as if asking what he meant, Do-jin slowly elaborated.

“Hearing you call me oppa drives me crazy. I feel like I’ll jump on you all the time.”

Seo-hye’s gaze briefly dropped downwards. She looked at him, with his pants nearly bursting, with an incredulous expression.

“This is ridiculous….”

“Then be moderately pretty.”

Seo-hye covered her chin with her hand and turned her face completely towards the window.

Seeing his arousal wasn’t easy for her either.

“Can’t we go to the hospital tomorrow?”

Seo-hye whipped her head around and shouted.

“No way!”

“I feel like I’ll die if I don’t hug you right now.”

“You won’t die, don’t worry.”

Do-jin let out a small laugh at Seo-hye’s firm defense.

“Alright. Then we’ll just greet Mother and Father and head straight home.”

“Is it okay not to go to the company?”

“Is the company the problem? The problem is that I feel like I’ll die if I don’t soothe my own matters right away.”

Seo-hye waved her hand as if to say she conceded and signaled him to be quiet. Then she quietly closed her eyes. Do-jin lifted Seo-hye’s hand again and kissed the back of it, whispering softly.

“I love you.”

Seo-hye pressed her lips together to suppress a blooming smile and spoke gruffly on purpose.

“Suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden; it’s a feeling I’ve always held.”

“……If you can’t even say it.”

“I must have spoken well to win you over.”

“I fell for you because you’re handsome.”

“Then I should go thank Father. Thank him for giving birth to me so handsomely.”

Seo-hye chuckled and squeezed his hand a bit tighter. Thinking about spending her whole life with a man like this, it seemed like it would be full of fun.

***

Upon arriving at the hospital, the two headed first to Hyo-young’s room.

With Do-jin’s help, she was receiving treatment in the best possible environment, but her condition hadn’t improved much.

Still, the fact that no one was using her life as a bargaining chip for threats made Seo-hye feel lighter at heart.

Creak—

As the door to the room opened, Hyo-young slowly lifted her eyelids.

She smiled with her eyes at Do-jin and Seo-hye.

“Mom. We’re here.”

She nodded slowly, looking back and forth between Seo-hye and Do-jin.

Still in her gown and without removing her bridal makeup, Hyo-young stared intently at Seo-hye and gradually opened her lips.

“You look…so pretty.”

When Hyo-young, who didn’t attend the wedding, said that Seo-hye looked pretty, Seo-hye tilted her head and glanced at Do-jin for a moment.

Do-jin explained in his usual tone.

“Secretary Yoo showed our wedding to Mother in real-time video.”

Seo-hye was at a loss for words because she hadn’t known this fact at all and hadn’t even thought of it.

Hyo-young gently looked at Do-jin, holding his wrist with difficulty, to express her gratitude.

Do-jin warmly accepted that gaze.

Hyo-young then looked at Seo-hye again and said,

“I’m… so… sorry… that I couldn’t… be by… your side….”

Seo-hye shook her head vigorously.

“No. I know that no one would have been happier about my wedding than you, Mom, so it’s okay. More than that, I was really worried that you couldn’t see the ceremony… but knowing that you did, I feel so relieved.”

Seo-hye looked at Do-jin again.

“Thank you, Do-jin.”

“I’m more thankful that you married me.”

Do-jin always said he wanted to marry Seo-hye, raising her value.

“Tha…nk… you….”

Hyo-young trailed off, perhaps feeling shy about calling Do-jin “son-in-law.”

Noticing this, Do-jin slightly squinted his eyes and said.

“Mother, please call me son-in-law.”

When Hyo-young laughed like a young girl, Seo-hye’s eyes welled up with tears.

It was the happiest she had seen Hyo-young look in recent times.

“Yes… thanks to… our… son-in-law… I feel at ease….”

“You should feel at ease. I will take great care of both you and Seo-hye.”

Hyo-young let out a somewhat loud laugh with her hoarse voice.

Seeing her mother laugh so heartily for the first time, Seo-hye wiped her tears with her fingertips and laughed along.

“I’ll send you pictures of Seo-hye looking her prettiest during our honeymoon. Though, every moment will be like that.”

Seo-hye pressed down on his forearm, telling him to stop.

Hyo-young, who had been watching the two with satisfaction, began to look unwell again.

Recently, she struggled to speak for more than a few minutes.

After saying they would call often during their honeymoon, Do-jin and Seo-hye left the hospital room.

Now, they headed to Jae-jun’s room.

Creak—

As soon as they opened the door to the hospital room, Do-jin and Seo-hye paused with surprised expressions.

It was because an unexpected scene unfolded before them.

“Father…!”

Seo-hye called out to Jae-jun in a voice mixed with excitement and surprise.

Do-jin covered his forehead as if he had a headache and closed his eyes tightly.

It was because Jae-jun was wearing a party hat used for celebrations.

Seo-hye quickly ran over, showing interest in the hat.

“Father, were you wearing this to show us?”

“I couldn’t attend the wedding, so I found this was the only way to show my heart.”

Seo-hye smiled brightly and looked back and forth several times between the hats worn by Do-jin and Jae-jun.

“Thank you, Father. I’m so happy. I can feel your heart all the way here.”

Seo-hye said, rubbing her chest.

“Hmm. What should I do? I’m so thankful… Father, can I draw a picture for you?”

Jae-jun clapped his hands with delight.

Do-jin was flustered by Jae-jun, who was wearing a hat to congratulate them despite his age, but seeing Seo-hye happy made him smile as well.

Seo-hye asked Mr. Cha, who was standing next to Jae-jun, for a pen and paper.

Then she quickly and lightly sketched Jae-jun’s smiling face and party hat, capturing his lively appearance in a croquis.

Jae-jun was greatly pleased when he saw the picture drawn in just a few minutes.

“I should keep this as a family heirloom.”

“I’ll draw it properly for you when we return from the trip, Father.”

“I wouldn’t refuse. If it’s a drawing from our new daughter-in-law, whether it’s a hundred or a thousand, it’s welcome.”

Seo-hye exchanged glances with Jae-jun for a while, then looked at Do-jin.

“By the way, Do-jin, you showed Father the video of our ceremony, right?”

Jae-jun answered instead.

“Of course, Seo-hye, you were shining so brightly. My son’s face got completely overshadowed, it was quite surprising.”

Seo-hye shook her head in embarrassment.

“Father, you’re joking… Do-jin looked so handsome today.”

Silence followed. Thinking her explanation was lacking, Seo-hye quickly continued.

“I really… I’ve never seen a groom as handsome as Do-jin, and I was so thrilled and proud that someone like him is my husband. He probably looked more stunning than any famous actor.”

The silence persisted.

“Really… he was so dazzling that I couldn’t even open my eyes today…”

Creak—

Do-jin stood up from the caregiver’s chair.

Then he hurriedly grabbed Seo-hye’s wrist and led her out of the hospital room.

“Father, we’re leaving now.”

Seo-hye looked back and forth between Jae-jun and Do-jin in confusion.

“What, what? Do-jin?! Wait a minute…!”

Jae-jun blinked several times as if to say goodbye.

Once outside the hospital room, Do-jin quickly walked towards the elevator and pressed the button.

Seo-hye looked at him, asking him to let go of her hand.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“Because we need to go home.”

“No, I mean, we were having a good conversation, so why are we suddenly going home?”

“Because you said so many sweet things that I couldn’t help but go.”

Only then did Seo-hye remember that she had praised Do-jin in front of her father-in-law and his secretary.

Seo-hye blushed and stood still, unaware that the elevator had arrived, until Do-jin took her hand and pulled her along.

“Let’s go home now, Seo-hye. We have a lot to do.”