Ch.204204. Two Hours Before the Main Ceremony

End of filming.

After using various equipment, the director finished shooting the staged cuts in exactly thirty minutes and left. We remained in the bridal waiting room on the second floor and did the following:

Checking our photos for the photo zone and photo table. Checking the bouquet to be thrown after the ceremony. Selecting which staged shots must be included in the album and which shouldn’t. Understanding the flow and order by watching the wedding rehearsal video…

“Nabi. They’re asking if the hanbok jeogori size is okay. It is, right?”

“Yes. It’s a bit tight, but this is fine.”

“Okay, got it. I’ll let them know.”

Finally, after checking the clothes for the pyebaek ceremony, it was already exactly nine in the morning. After rushing through the schedule, it was already time for relatives from both families to enter.

After informing the staff member that all confirmations were complete, I returned to the waiting room. When I carefully opened the door, the first thing I saw was Hwa Nabi sitting at the vanity checking her appearance.

“Oh, Siwoo, you’re back?”

“Yeah. Is your makeup okay? Nothing smudged?”

“I didn’t apply it heavily enough to smudge. I could probably sleep with it on like this? Hehe.”

Despite having been up early and likely tired, she looked incredibly lovable as she smiled prettily at me. Smiling back, I approached behind her and gently placed my hands on her shoulders.

“Want me to give you a massage?”

“Why a massage all of a sudden? What’s gotten into you?”

“Just thought I should provide this service since our bride is working so hard.”

I leaned forward and whispered near her ear, causing her to flinch and shrink her shoulders as if ticklish. I applied gentle pressure with my thumbs, pressing her shoulder blades as if doing acupressure.

“How’s that? Is this good?”

“Mmm, it’s a little ticklish.”

“Massages are naturally ticklish. Just bear with it a little if it’s not painful.”

Having massaged Hwa Nabi’s shoulders whenever we were bored throughout our time together, my massage skills have reached almost master level.

As if proving my assessment correct, Hwa Nabi made peculiar nasal sounds each time I pressed her shoulders with dedication.

“Hmm… ahh, that feels good.”

“Shouldn’t it be refreshing?”

Thinking the latter would be more common, I asked, and Hwa Nabi nodded in agreement.

“It’s both refreshing and feels good. Half and half.”

“That’s good then.”

When I first started giving massages, she would squirm because the pressure was too intense, but now she seems to have gotten used to it and tolerates it well.

After massaging a bit more, I tapped her shoulder to signal I was done.

“Oh, finished already?”

“Not enough? Want more?”

“It’s not that it’s not enough, but I was going to take a photo in this exact pose. To post on Instagram.”

“Oh, really? Then I’ll get back into position so you can take it.”

Photos are all that remain as time passes. Especially on a day like today, which might happen once in a lifetime, it’s better to create more memories. I pretended to massage her, placing my hands on her shoulders and standing still.

She picked up her phone from the vanity and took several photos from an awkward angle that captured her face and my forearm.

“Siwoo, could you bend down a little? You’re too tall to fit in the frame.”

“Like this?”

“A little more. More, more more… Okay, that’s it. Stay still.”

Following her instructions, I bent down so much I was almost doing a formal bow. Though this position seemed unlikely to produce a good composition, she found the perfect angle to capture us beautifully and took the photo.

“Did it turn out well?”

“Yes. It came out really pretty. Now it’s your turn.”

“My turn?”

“Yes. Come sit here. I’ll stand behind you.”

As instructed, I sat at the vanity, and Hwa Nabi embraced my neck from behind and held out her phone.

“Heh, your expression is so awkward.”

“Hmm, really? Looks fine to me.”

“No, it’s a bit awkward. Siwoo, you’re not nervous, are you?”

“Come on, why would I be nervous taking a photo with you…?”

As my voice trailed off, she gave me a knowing look.

‘Are you sure you’re not?’

…Truth be told, I was a bit nervous. Why? Because her chest was pressing against the nape of my neck, so of course I’d be tense. This is somewhat different from the fact that Hwa Nabi and I are close.

It’s more of a physiological issue for those with XY chromosomes. No matter how close the relationship, when bodies are pressed together like this, my back naturally straightens.

In this situation, only two types of people would remain completely calm: those whose certain parts don’t function, or those with different preferences.

“If you tense your neck too much, you won’t photograph well. This time, relax and don’t be nervous, okay?”

“Mmm.”

That’s easier said than done. If emotions had switches that could be turned on and off, life would be much simpler. The problem is that’s impossible.

Resting her chin on my shoulder, Hwa Nabi whispered and restarted the camera app. I tried my best to relax and smile as our faces touched.

Our reflection appeared on the phone screen. I was smiling awkwardly while Hwa Nabi was beaming with a completely relaxed expression.

Just as I thought this would be embarrassing to post—

-Click.

—Smooch.

Along with the phone’s shutter sound, I felt something soft on my left cheek. Hwa Nabi had suddenly kissed my cheek.

“Oh, that looks really natural.”

While I was looking at her in surprise, she exclaimed in admiration as she checked the photo.

Glancing at it, I saw the image had captured her kissing my cheek while I stared at the camera with an extremely awkward expression.

“I look super tense. Is that really natural?”

“That’s why it’s natural. Even if you look awkward, people can assume it’s because I’m kissing your cheek, right?”

Hwa Nabi said while tapping my face in the photo. Now that I think about it, she’s not entirely wrong. It’s a strategy to create a reason for an awkward expression.

“Okay, I get that, but…”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um, are you going to let go?”

Even though we finished taking photos, Hwa Nabi was still clinging to my back.

Like a koala on a tree, she stuck close to me and even rubbed her cheek against mine.

“I rarely see you nervous, so I don’t want to let go.”

“You’ll have to redo your makeup if you keep that up.”

Despite my muttering, she ignored my words completely. I was about to say something more but just sighed deeply and gave up.

She really enjoys rubbing cheeks, and it seems mean to stop her. I relaxed my body to let her do as she pleased, which only encouraged her to shower my cheek with more kisses.

“Hehe, why is Siwoo so cute today? Mmm, smooch.”

“If you do it too much, your lipstick will get on my cheek…”

It probably already had, but I couldn’t help saying something. Hwa Nabi stopped the cheek kisses, stared at my profile, and gently stroked my hair.

“Lipstick is supposed to leave marks. That’s how it leaves traces, right?”

“What would you use those traces for?”

I asked incredulously, and Hwa Nabi replied as if stating the obvious.

“What do you mean what for? For stamping. I need to label what’s mine so others won’t eye it.”

“…”

Using lip marks as name tags. I see.

Come to think of it, lip prints are unique to each person, like fingerprints. It’s one of the good ways to leave your mark on someone.

Ah, so that’s why lovers leave kiss marks on each other’s bodies. Lipstick marks and kiss marks are similar in that they both serve as intense territorial markings.

—Knock knock.

While I was lost in these unnecessary thoughts, there was a knock at the door.

Hwa Nabi jumped away in surprise, and I straightened my clothes, cleared my throat, and answered.

“…Ahem, who is it?”

—I’m from the wedding company. Some family members are here looking for the bride. May I open the door?

“Ah, yes.”

Has it already gotten that late? We did say guests could enter from nine o’clock, but I didn’t expect them to arrive so quickly.

I stood up from my seat to prepare for greeting the guests. Standing next to Hwa Nabi with my back straight, I moistened my dry lips with my tongue just as the waiting room door opened.

“Sis, I’m here!”

The first person to appear was Hwa Nabi’s younger sister, Narin. Shouting loudly, Narin scurried over and jumped into Hwa Nabi’s arms.

“Yes, our Narin is here?”

“Uh-huh! But sis, you look so pretty today! Are you getting married?”

“Yes, today is the day I’m marrying oppa.”

“Wow, really? You’re really marrying oppa?!”

Hwa Nabi crouched down and stroked her head as she answered, and Narin asked with wide, surprised eyes. Didn’t her father-in-law and mother-in-law tell her beforehand?

Thinking this, I looked up and met eyes with my mother-in-law, who was smiling awkwardly. Seeing her shake her head slightly, it seemed they had told Narin, but she hadn’t understood.

“Ah. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law. You’re here? Was there no traffic on your way?”

“Well, we were lucky, so it was fine.”

“Oh my, what’s with ‘Mother-in-law’? That makes me sound so old. Don’t call me Mother-in-law, call me Mother. Understood?”

Those were the words of my father-in-law and mother-in-law—no, mother. I quickly stood up, approached them, and carefully took my father-in-law’s extended hand.

“You look good in that suit, so tall and handsome. So, are your parents not here yet?”

“No. They’re on their way now. The weekend morning traffic is a bit heavy.”

“Our son-in-law is so handsome. Nabi is lucky, isn’t she? Getting such a wonderful husband.”

“…Ahem, dear?”

My father-in-law cleared his throat awkwardly after releasing my hand. My mother placed her hand on his shoulder, gently massaging it as she spoke.

“But the most handsome man in the world is still my husband, right?”

“Ah… well. I suppose so.”

“No, that’s not true. Our Siwoo is the most handsome in the world.”

As he was awkwardly evading the difficult question, Hwa Nabi jumped in with her own comment.

I wish she wouldn’t contribute to this topic, as prolonging it only makes things more uncomfortable for me.

“See? Anyone can tell our Siwoo is tall and handsome. He has broader shoulders too.”

“Appearance isn’t everything, dear. Men should have a certain mature charm. Like your father.”

“…”

“…”

In the middle of this unexpected mother-daughter competition, a notification sound rang from someone’s phone. From the sound, it wasn’t mine or Hwa Nabi’s.

Whose could it be? As I looked toward the waiting room entrance without much thought, a well-built man in a suit approached from the back. Startled, I moved in front of Hwa Nabi to shield her with my body.

“Excuse me, who—”

-The chairman has arrived on the first floor.

“Hmm, I see. Tell him I’ll bring them down now.”

-Yes, sir.

The suited man whispered something and then stepped back. Only then did I understand the situation. He wasn’t a suspicious person but a security guard. Looking again, I noticed the black receiver in his ear.

-The vice chairman is heading to the first floor.

After watching the retreating back of the security guard, I turned my gaze. My father-in-law was staring at me.

“…”

Did he notice my uneasiness? That would be embarrassing. As I was trying to think of an excuse, my father-in-law reached out and straightened my shirt collar.

“Come, let’s go meet him now.”

“Ah, thank you. But who are we…?”

The words sounded somehow significant, so I found myself asking. My father-in-law looked at me with a slight smile and patted my shoulder.

“Your wife’s great-grandfather.”