Chapter 20
by Gideon“Right! Yundo, you said we have to decide on the wedding venue today.”
That’s right. I had been so lost in the joy of being with Hyewan that I’d forgotten something important. My happiness vanished, replaced by a weight in my chest that felt like a stone. But I couldn’t let it show. This wedding had to be the best moment of their lives—for both of them. I didn’t want to do anything that might upset Hyewan, even the slightest bit.
“Hyewan, how about Hawaii?”
She tilted her head in confusion. “Weren’t we going to Jeju Island for our honeymoon?”
The original plan was to have the wedding in Seoul and then head to Jeju Island for their honeymoon. They’d made that decision because his work schedule wouldn’t allow for a long trip.
“What if we combined the wedding and the honeymoon in Hawaii?”
If this had been a genuine suggestion, Yundo would have pushed for Hawaii with confidence. But because it wasn’t, he was prepared to stick to the original plan if Hyewan disliked the idea, no matter what Chairwoman Kang said.
“You said you couldn’t even go on a long honeymoon because you’re too busy with work, so why are you suggesting we have the wedding in Hawaii?”
“I don’t want you to get stressed over the guests. I think it’s best if we only invite family.”
The decisive reason Yundo chose Hawaii was that he didn’t want Hyewan to experience the same wedding Madam Park had remembered painfully for thirty-three years.
“Even if we hire professional guests to fill the seats, people will still talk about the difference in our family backgrounds.”
She answered with silence.
“My mother came from an ordinary family too. I only found out recently, but she told me the guests were rude to her when she married my father. She still remembers that day painfully.”
Hearing his words, Hyewan felt a surge of anger.
“Why would anyone do something like that at someone else’s wedding? They should have just stayed home.”
“I agree, but we can’t stop everyone from gossiping. I don’t want you to have memories like that.”
He felt despicable for keeping Chairwoman Kang’s ulterior motives a secret, but his desire to marry Hyewan was genuine. He wanted to do everything in his power to make her happy.
Fortunately, she nodded in agreement.
“Let’s do it your way.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with not inviting your close friends?”
“My only ‘close friend’ is the one who came to visit us at the apartment back then. If I explain the situation, she’ll understand. She knows our family’s circumstances.”
“I wanted to give you a grand wedding. I’m sorry.”
“Actually, Mom and I were already worried about how to handle the guest list.”
They were all each other had. Min-suk, too, had only Gyeong-ae to invite. She’d been agonizing over how to fill the empty seats at the wedding. It was true that she was the one who had more to lose compared to Yundo, but she didn’t want her mother to be hurt by hearing that. This was better.
“I’d much rather go to Hawaii than a wedding hall full of strangers. I’ve never even been on a plane before,” Hyewan said.
The thought of Hawaii being her first trip abroad filled her with genuine excitement.
“I’ll make you the happiest married man in Hawaii,” Yundo promised.
“Why does that have to be in Hawaii? I’m already the happiest man right now.”
Hyewan winked at his cheeky remark.
“Then imagine just how much happier you can get. Because I’m going to make you that happy.”
“Alright, I’ll look forward to it.”
They exchanged a secret glance and smiled.
Yundo’s guest list was limited to family and Dong-yeong, but Chairwoman Kang insisted on including Chief Ma. Hyewan decided to go with Min-suk and Gyeong-ae. Bora wanted to join them, but an important exam made a trip to Hawaii impossible. Devastated at missing her best friend’s wedding, Bora was even reduced to tears.
“I’m supposed to catch the bouquet! What if I just skip the exam and go?”
“No way. I refuse to be the reason your GPA gets ruined.”
“Ko Hyewan, you’re supposed to be on my side! How does it make sense that I’m missing your wedding?”
“We’ll watch the wedding video together later. I’ll bring the bouquet back if it passes customs. If not, I’ll have an identical one made for you in Seoul. Just focus on your exam. I’ll buy you a present, too.”
“Is a present really the issue right now?”
“That’s why I have to get you something. What, you’re saying I shouldn’t buy a gift? Is the bouquet enough?”
Bora immediately changed her tune.
“No way! The bouquet is already mine. Get me the most expensive gift you can find.”
“Got it. So, let’s focus on your exam, okay?”
Hyewan soothed Bora, who was still pouting.
Hawaii was paradise. And on one of its beautiful beaches, the wedding was taking place.
Hyewan looked like an angel in her A-line wedding dress, its straps delicately tied. Beside her, Yundo, looking sharp in a white suit, held her hand as they walked down the aisle. Min-suk kept dabbing her eyes, unable to stop the tears.
Surprisingly, Chairwoman Kang—a woman fanatically devoted to superstitions—was a lifelong Christian. As a result, a local pastor had been chosen to officiate the ceremony.
Neither Hyewan nor Yundo, the couple getting married, were religious. When Yundo tried to send away the pastor Chairwoman Kang had summoned, Hyewan stopped him. She didn’t want to raise her voice on a day like this.
Though they were unhappy with the officiant, the wedding ultimately concluded without any major issues.
The reception wrapped up as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Chairwoman Kang returned to her hotel room, supported by Chief Ma. Madam Park and Yun-woo volunteered to accompany Min-suk and Gyeong-ae on their trip. Thanks to their family members’ seamless departure, Hyewan and Yundo were finally able to retreat to their own private space.
The moment the door to the suite closed, she sank onto the sofa with a groan of pain.
“Are you okay?” Yundo asked, shedding his white jacket.
“Does my eye look okay?”
“Your eye? Why? Does it hurt?”
“I think my scalp is torn from pulling my hair so much. Does it really look like that?”
“No, you look beautiful.”
That’s a relief, Hyewan thought. Her face was gaunt as she fumbled to find the bobby pins holding up her updo. No matter how many she pulled out, there were always more. If she pulled them out wrong, her hair would be ripped out in clumps. It was a task she couldn’t do alone.
Finally, she asked Yundo for help. “Yundo, can you take the pins out of my hair?”
“Sure.”
As Yundo began removing the pins, his eyes widened. The more he pulled, the more pins seemed to appear.
“How are there so many? How many did you put in?”
“It feels like a million.”
“It looks like it to me, too.”
“Ouch!”
“Sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yes, sorry for shouting. I didn’t realize I was being so loud.”
“It’s okay.”
Yundo’s touch grew even more careful. Suddenly, Hyewan turned to look at him.
“Cha Yundo-ssi.”
“Why ‘Cha Yundo-ssi’ again? There are plenty of more affectionate ways to call me.”
“Who else have you done their hair like this?”
“What do you mean? Whose hair would I do? This is my first time.”
“You’re too natural at this for it to be your first time.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
He mockingly repeated her words as he tugged on a pin. This one actually hurt.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Sorry, but I didn’t do that on purpose. I’m not so stupid that I’d fight with my bride on our wedding night.”
As Hyewan glared at him, Yundo shrugged.
“I’m just good at everything. I’ve always been that way.”
She was furious, but she couldn’t deny it.
“Want to shower together?”
“No!” Hyewan refused hastily.
“Honey?”
“Ah, seriously… Can you stop calling me that?”
“Why is it a problem for me to call my honey ‘honey’?”
“No one calls their spouse that on their wedding night, you know.”
“Well, I’m here. Come on, shower with me.”
“Cha Yundo, do you know why there’s a halftime break in a soccer match? It’s for recharging and refining the game plan.”
“Why do you need a game plan on your wedding night?”
“Yundo, every single thing in life requires a strategy.”
And one of those strategies was the right outfit.
“Trust me. Let’s shower separately and meet in bed.”
Yundo grumbled. “I can read almost anyone, man or woman. But you, Ko Hyewan, you confuse me sometimes. I never know what’s going on in your head.”
“That’s because I’m a mysterious woman.”
“Fine, have it your way.”
Yundo backed down without a fight. He’d never intended to win against Hyewan in the first place. If his wife wanted something, he’d let her have it. After all, today was her day.
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