SIDE STORY (PART 4)

“Today is your moving day in your newlywed home, and I can’t afford to miss it. On a day like this, you absolutely have to eat black bean noodles, you know? It’s common sense, common sense. Besides Taegyeom, haven’t you heard of that saying, Ms. Leeseo? It’s necessary for a harmonious life in the new home.”

At Jinwoo’s urging, the three of them headed to a Chinese restaurant near their house. Although Taegyeom coldly suggested ordering it for delivery if Jinwoo wanted it so badly, Jinwoo insisted that black bean noodles lose their taste if not eaten on the spot.

They drove for about ten minutes and arrived at a hotel in Jangchung-dong. Although the hotel had various dining options, the Chinese restaurant was a favorite of Leeseo and Taegyeom.

While singing a song about black bean noodles, Jinwoo, having settled in their room, ordered a three-flavor seafood noodle soup. As a big eater, he also ordered sweet and sour pork, abalone dishes, and hot pot bibimbap. Taegyeom and Leeseo ordered black bean noodles side by side.

Once the waiter left the room after taking their order, Jinwoo munched on the cashew nuts that came as a side dish and spoke.

“Oh, Taegyeom. The mansion’s lot has been finally sold. I’ll send you the details by email, so check it later.”

“Okay.”

Taegyeom nodded emotionlessly, his face expressionless.

The Kwon family’s mansion, including the annex, was no longer in existence. The buildings had been razed to the ground so that no trace remained, and the land had been cleared and sold. Because the property was so large, it was divided into sections, each with a different owner.

“I had a bit of a headache preventing reporters from sniffing around and trying to publish articles. I had to run around everywhere blocking them off, my d*ck felt like bursting.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Interrupting Jinwoo, Taegyeom cautioned him. His neatly shaped eyebrows were slightly furrowed, appearing displeased. Taegyeom did not tolerate Jinwoo boasting arrogant words in front of Leeseo.

“Yes, yes. I apologize for my slip of the tongue.”

Accustomed to being corrected, Jinwoo mumbled an apology, shaking his head indifferently. Then, he skillfully tossed a cashew nut into the air, added a wink when he made eye contact with Leeseo.

“But, you know, my little friend doesn’t easily give in. It’s sturdy. You know, right?”

Leeseo, disgusted, averted her gaze. The playful remark from Jinwoo brought back the awkward memory she had been trying hard to forget. The memory of witnessing him engage in intimate activities on the staircase of the annex.

“What are you talking about?”

A chilling voice interrupted, slicing through the air.

“I don’t care what your little friend is like, but why does Leeseo need to know?”

Taegyeom, with a stern expression, pressed Jinwoo for an explanation. Jinwoo, realizing his blunder, scratched his nose with an awkward look.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to make a bad joke about the past…….”

“What past?”

Taegyeom’s face became even more stern. Leeseo swallowed dryly. She wanted to mediate the chilled atmosphere, but it was difficult to intervene. She didn’t know how to.

“Yoo Jinwoo, did you… expose your d*ck in front of Leeseo?”

Sensing a threat to his life, Jinwoo wave his hands franctically and explained.

“Well, technically, I did expose my d*ck in front of her, but not with the intention of targeting her. It was to another girl… or, not exactly. She just glanced at me briefly. I didn’t blatantly show it. It’s more like she caught a glimpse. Say something, Leeseo.”

Jinwoo sent her a desperate look for help.

“I don’t remember.”

At times like this, it’s best to pretend not to know.

She shook her head, pretending to be clueless. Jinwoo mustered the courage to mumble.

“Look, Leeseo doesn’t remember either. It seems like it wasn’t memorable enough for her. Maybe my d*ck wasn’t worth remembering. I think that’s a reasonable assumption.”

“… You’re going to the United States tomorrow.”

Taegyeom said with a cold tone. His eyes were so alive with intensity that it seemed like he could kill someone with just a gaze. A fierce glint flashed in his deep eyes.

“The United States? Tomorrow? What about the wedding? I’ll go, but I’ll miss your wedding.”

“You think you can come to my wedding after brandishing your dirty d*ck in front of my wife? You’re an unscrupulous bastard.”

Jinwoo stammered, his words choked. Just as the conversation was getting awkward, a restaurant staff member fortuitously opened the door and entered. Leeseo, who had been overwhelmed by the repeated use of explicit language in their short conversation, found the presence of the staff member who interrupted the discussion quite welcoming.

After a moment of bewilderment at the strange atmosphere in the room where the conversation had suddenly stopped, the staff brought down the food—a crispy sweet and sour pork, abalone dish with sauce, and a hot pot with fiery tofu stew. The aroma wafting from the steaming bowls was enticing.

Once the black bean noodles and seafood noodle soup were served at their respective tables, the unknowing staff member deeply bowed and left the room. In the awkward silence, Jinwoo, after clearing his throat with a sheepish smile, spoke.

“Enough of the ‘d*ck’ talk, let’s eat first.”

And with that, he stuck his nose into a bowl of seafood noodle soup, slurping up the noodles.

On that day, Jinwoo had a severe case of diarrhea. Meanwhile, under Taegyeom’s persistent interrogation about whether she had truly seen Jinwoo’s private parts, Leeseo had to endure a night of torment on the bed.

* * *

On a clear and blue day in September, Taegyeom and Leeseo held their wedding.

In the courtyard of a hotel owned by GK Group, on a hillside overlooking the Han River, beautiful floral arrangements abounded and lavish chandeliers hung. It was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding with not a single gust of wind.

Only a handful of guests were invited to the private wedding ceremony.

Jieun had passed her pharmacist exam with flying colors and as promised, she prepared a thick envelope of congratulatory money. However, since it was a wedding where they refused to accept any congratulatory money, she had to reluctantly take it back.

She had brought a handsome man, a former model for the school magazine, whom she had once intended to introduce to Leeseo. However, witnessing Leeseo holding Taegyeom’s hand and walking down the flower-petalled aisle, the man burst into tears, making Jieun feel embarrassed.

Despite being chased away to the United States, Jinwoo eventually returned for the wedding. Taegyeom still harbored lingering displeasure towards him, but thanks to Leeseo’s insistence that she didn’t remember anything, he had no choice but to forgive Jinwoo.

He attended the wedding with a bright-eyed, stern-looking woman who introduced herself as Han Misoo, Jinwoo’s exclusive secretary. Jinwoo claimed to have brought her all the way to the United States because of her outstanding abilities, insisting that it was purely professional, but Taegyeom responded with a cold snort.

Mrs. Seo’s eyes watered as she saw Leeseo in her wedding dress. Initially, upon hearing the news of Leeseo’s marriage, she had discouraged her from getting married so soon, saying it was too early, but when she learned that the groom was none other than the owner of the annex, Kwon Taegyeom, she was half in disbelief. After repeatedly asking if it was really true, she finally sincerely wished Leeseo happiness.

Gyucheol, after much contemplation, decided not to attend the wedding. He chose to lead a simple life cultivating fields on Jeju Island.

The mountain breeze blew, causing the lace-adorned veil to flutter. The warm afternoon sunlight reflected dazzlingly on the diamond droplets intricately embedded in the dress. When Leeseo, who had been lowering her eyelids, slowly raised her eyes, her eyes dazzled more than any jewelry could.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, and Taegyeom felt his heart tighten out of habit. He had learned from Leeseo that this dull ache, bordering on pain, was the emotion of love.

With an affectionate smile, Taegyeom extended his hand towards Leeseo. The hand that wasn’t holding the bouquet wrapped itself around his, creating a sensation akin to a feather. It was a moment he would never forget. Every moment Leeseo came to him, Taegyeom memorized without fail.

The way she’d barged into the annex and fled in horror at the sight of his naked body, the way her cheeks had flushed with embarrassment when she’d come into the bedroom to wake him up, the way she’d walked up to him as he leaned against the wall, and approached to start a conversation. How could he forget her in all those moments?

He wished to spend every moment of his life with her. Hyun Leeseo is the only one who makes him live as Kwon Taegyeom and no one else, his wife only. Cherishing her as the salvation and rest of his humble life, he had confidence that he would love her more tomorrow than today.

Taegyeom held Leeseo’s hand, and they walked side by side. Colorful flower petals flew above their heads like blessings. When their eyes met, and the bride smiled happily, it touched the guests’ hearts.

Reaching the altar, he turned towards her, lowered his head slowly, and moist, soft lips touched hers. The pulsating beat of his heart echoed in her ears, and a warmth surged through her. She could barely hear the cheers and applause of the guests.

As usual, he wanted to wrap his arms around her waist and frantically plunge his tongue into her mouth. He barely managed to resist the powerful urge, sucking her lips briefly before releasing her. His beautiful wife, her cheeks flushed, smiled lovingly.

It was the kiss that sealed their marriage.

< LIGHTS DON’T GO OUT IN THE ANNEX > Fin.