SIDE STORY 4

After setting the date, two weeks had passed, and the only task completed from the to-do list was the initial meeting. Almost every day after work, there was an appointment. Meetings with the wedding planner and visits to shops made it seem like many things were done, but in reality, little progress was made beyond scheduling numerous appointments.

Late at night, Seoyeon sat at the living room table, took a deep breath, and opened her journal. She checked this week’s schedule. Tomorrow, Wednesday, after work, she had to fit her hanbok, and on Thursday, she was to choose the wedding attire. Friday, she planned to go see the wedding gifts with her stepmother, and over the weekend, she needed to pick out her dress.

Being the type of person who, once she starts something, wants to see it through to the end, she couldn’t easily choose just anything. Even for the hanbok, she was carefully selecting one that would suit Dopun, looks good on her stepmother, Miseon, and one that she herself would want to wear.

Beep, beep, beep.

She was meticulously flipping through the portfolio from the hanbok shop when she heard the front door open. Dojun entered. Seoyeon looked up to see his face.

“Are you working late again?”

Dojun smiled faintly, his face showing signs of fatigue, as he took off his shoes. The small entrance seemed to fill with his presence. Even though she suggested he go home to rest, he always said he came here because he was tired, seeking out Seoyeon’s home.

Not realizing how late it had gotten because of the bright lights, she saw it was already past midnight. Seoyeon rubbed her tired eyes.

“Come here.”

Dojun pulled her close as he sat next to her. In an instant, she was in his arms. Hugging her from behind, he wrapped his arms around her waist and took a deep breath. Seoyeon placed the portfolio on the table and spoke.

“You could just go home, you know.”

“No.”

“Did you drink?”

“A little.”

Hearing that he had been entertaining clients, Seoyeon sighed softly. She knew all too well how incredibly busy he was. That’s why she wished he would go home and rest.

Still, he insisted on coming here after work, so she was going to ask him what to prepare as a wedding gift and if he had time over the weekend, but Dojun, who had been drinking, was slipping his hand under her t-shirt. If it was going to be like this, it would have been better if he didn’t come at all.

“Wait a minute…”

“Yeah.”

“We’re going to look at hanboks tomorrow evening. Oh, wait. About the hanbok…”

“Choose whatever you want.”

Dojun mumbled with his head buried in Seoyeon’s neck.

“Whatever you like.”

Whatever I like? That’s easier said than done.

If she could do as she pleased, she would have liked to just toss everything aside and hold a simple ceremony with just the two of them. But they had decided to get married and had set the date. Moreover, this was Dojun’s second marriage, and for her family, it was the first wedding. There would be many eyes watching, thus more reasons to be thorough.

“Let go for a moment.”

When Seoyeon tried to grab the mouse, Dojun reached out and closed the laptop.

No way.

She made a sound as she tried to open it again, but Dojun held her down, trapping her under him on the living room floor. Lying on top of her, Dojun said,

“It’s me or the laptop.”

What kind of nonsense is that? Of course, it’s…

“The laptop.”

Well, well. 

Dojun raised his eyebrows and smiled crookedly. Then he lowered his head. Normally, she would have gladly wrapped her arms around his neck, but not now. Seoyeon turned her head, avoiding Dojun’s approaching lips. His eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m sorry.”

With Seoyeon’s apology, Dojun sighed as he spoke.

“Just do it sloppily.”

“How can I do it sloppily? I really need to finish this. Just 10 minutes.”

Seoyeon said as she sat up. With an anxious face, she grabbed the portfolio. Completely forgetting about Dojun behind her, she carefully examined the models in hanboks and even flipped through fabric samples.

Dojun ran a hand through his hair and sighed. In the past two weeks, he had held Seoyeon only twice. And even that was all last week. In these two weeks, Seoyeon had attended countless meetings, received dozens of portfolios, and stayed up late into the night, rubbing her eyes and staring at her laptop.

Seoyeon turned back with an apologetic expression, sensing Dojun’s intense gaze. She gave a weary smile and said,

“I’ll just finish this and come to bed. You should sleep first; you must be tired.”

Then she went back to matching fabric samples. To be outdone by pieces of cloth—it was so absurd and amusing that Dojun rubbed his forehead. Seoyeon’s focus reminded him of employees working through the night on important projects.

“Is someone chasing you?”

At Dojun’s words, Seoyeon looked up. With a hazy smile, she said,

“No one’s chasing me… It’s just that a small bird has to work very hard to keep up with a stork. To avoid having its legs torn apart, it has to walk really diligently.”

It was burdensome and exhausting, but it was something she had to do. It was a promise she had made. And she wanted to do it well. Seoyeon’s complex smile conveyed her determination.

Preparing for the wedding with the determination of a small bird chasing a stork. 

Was that the mindset Seoyeon had when preparing for her wedding? 

Dojun gazed at her tired face, contemplating her efforts. Seoyeon asked, noticing his prolonged stare.

“What is it?”

“Are you a fool? Why would a bird walk?”

“What?”

“If it has wings, it should fly.”

Seoyeon chuckled at his words. Dojun, who had also been laughing lightly, ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He then said to Seoyeon,

“Let me see.”

“What?”

“Bring it here.”

Dojun’s eyes were on the laptop, journal, and portfolio. Seoyeon reached for the portfolio, but Dojun pulled her closer to the living room table. Trapped between the table and Dojun, she heard him ask,

“How do you want it?”

She turned around, puzzled, and Dojun repeated,

“The wedding. How do you want it to be?”

He opened the scheduler filled with various appointments and consultations. 

Does he think a wedding is something that can be settled with a wave of a magic wand?

Seoyeon chuckled and asked,

“If I say it, can it actually be done?”

“It can be done.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

What confidence. 

Seoyeon laughed in disbelief, but Dojun continued calmly,

“Time and expertise can be bought with money, and I have a lot of money. How would you like it done?”

It was strange. If it’s Hwang Dojun, this feeling of something being possible seems plausible. Seoyeon joked with a sincere tone,

“I don’t want to be criticized.”

Dojun laughed, perhaps thinking it was a joke. Seoyeon smiled too.

“And?”

“And…”

For the first time, Seoyeon thought about what kind of wedding she truly wanted, without worrying about others’ opinions. After a moment, she told Dojun,

“Quietly, if possible.”

Quietly. 

Dojun mumbled something and opened Seoyeon’s wedding planning journal. His eyes scanned the date-by-date schedule, and he picked up a pen.

“Hanbok, Dojun’s wedding gift, gifts for the chairman. Don’t need those. Dress? Yes, we need that. Photoshoot, wedding invitations, flower shop. Leave it to the planner. Rings, we’ll choose together.”

Among the crossed-out items, only the dress and wedding rings were circled. Seoyeon looked up in astonishment as Dojun moved on to the next item.

“Honeymoon.”

The note about the honeymoon was not written with certainty but with hope, marked by a question mark indicating doubt. Dojun, who had postponed his summer vacation due to his busy schedule, circled the question mark repeatedly and added three stars beside it.

“It’s the most important, so I’ll make it happen and it will be long.”

A long arrow extended from the stars. Seoyeon, couldn’t believe it and asked,

“Is it really possible to go for that long?”

“Why do you think I’m working overtime without taking any vacations right now? I’ll choose the destination.”

The next page listed the household items they would need. Dojun crossed out the entire list from top to bottom, saying,

“We already have everything.”

On the following page was a list of people to invite, with notes about seating arrangements. Dojun drew a large X over it as well.

“Quietly, only close people.”

The next page was blank.

“Done.”

Dojun put down the pen. 

How can it be this simple and easy? And if it’s like this…

Seoyeon thought this would surely lead to complaints.

“People will probably complain.”

“Let them. I’ll deal with it.”

He had a fearless expression. Seoyeon gazed at him as he turned her around and pulled her onto his lap. All her efforts, visiting recommended shops and collecting portfolios every evening, felt in vain. With mixed feelings, she looked at Dojun, who then cupped her face with both hands.

“Don’t foolishly stretch yourself to keep up; just climb on.”

Pulling her closer, he said,

“Ride on the stork.”

Just hold on tight, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go. 

He whispered this as he brought his lips to hers. It was an incredibly arrogant statement, but somehow reassuring. 

That’s right, you are here. There’s no need to struggle alone when I can rely on you to handle everything.

Seoyeon closed her eyes, thinking everything would flow smoothly from here on.