Ch.215215. Haste Makes Waste

Obviously, we didn’t actually skip the pyebaek ceremony to go on a trip.

The reason why, well, there’s no need to explain. The pyebaek ceremony is clearly part of the wedding process, and it’s also a good opportunity to show our faces to relatives from both families, so skipping it wouldn’t make sense.

It’s already difficult to see these people, so without a day like today, there wouldn’t be a chance to become familiar with them. I persuaded Hwa Nabi with these reasons, and perhaps because she wasn’t being entirely serious, she reluctantly agreed.

“Ah, I wish the pyebaek ceremony would end quickly.”

“Why? Are you tired?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Hwa Nabi stopped mid-sentence and looked down. Wondering what she was looking at, I followed her gaze and found her eyes fixed on my waistband.

And not just looking, but staring intently.

“I think we might be racing against time soon.”

I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by that or why she was looking there. Well, actually I did know, but I pretended not to. There was no point in discussing this topic further as it wouldn’t lead anywhere good.

She looked so pretty in her hanbok, and I wished she wouldn’t say such strange things in that outfit.

“…The guests have finished eating, we’ve taken pictures. What’s left now?”

“The cake cutting, photo session, and the pyebaek ceremony.”

“Ah, right. We still have the cake cutting.”

Maybe it’s because I’m lost in thought, but the wedding hall feels a bit hot. I pulled at my collar to let some air in.

Hwa Nabi watched this series of movements quietly, then reached out to fix my clothes.

“Siwoo, you’re really a married man now, right?”

“Hmm, I guess so? Why do you ask?”

“Then you should dress properly. You shouldn’t be showing your bare skin just anywhere like this.”

After neatly folding my collar, Hwa Nabi smiled at me. To me, it looked like she was asking “Understood?” so I found myself nodding in response.

“Heh, good. Our Siwoo listens well.”

“…Am I some kind of pet?”

“Hmm… you do have a bit of a large dog feel to you. Haven’t I told you before? That you resemble a puppy.”

Telling someone they look like a big dog, that somehow feels like an insult. But seeing Hwa Nabi smiling prettily at me, it didn’t seem like that was her intention.

Well, she never uses harsh words anyway, so that’s to be expected.

—Groom, bride! The wedding cake is coming in!

Just as I was lost in idle thoughts, a loud voice came from outside the hall where we were sitting.

Soon after, the door to the corridor burst open, and with some exaggeration, a wedding cake the size of a house was wheeled in on a cart.

“Wow, is that the wedding cake?”

“It must be about a meter tall? It’s huge.”

“That must have cost a fortune…”

As the guests’ comments suggested, the wedding cake was impressively grand. Would there be enough left over after cutting if each guest got a piece? How much did this thing cost?

And it wasn’t just big—it was decorated with colorful flower-shaped ornaments from the bottom of the plate to the very top. The sides were engraved with elaborate patterns and phrases. At a glance, they seemed to be good wishes for the couple’s happiness and well-being in French.

“Wow… Siwoo, look at this. Our names and the date are written on the cake.”

While everyone was distracted by the beautiful and enormous wedding cake, the cart moved forward until it reached us.

Hwa Nabi pointed to the top of the three-tiered cake, at a height similar to my chest.

“Hmm, really?”

I took a closer look after hearing her words. Sure enough, as she said, our names and today’s date were carefully inscribed in chocolate topping on the very top.

“Oh, it’s true!”

“The font is so pretty too. It must have taken a lot of time to make this, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Making something like this must have required a ton of work.”

To create a wedding cake of this scale would require not only cost but also a tremendous amount of time and dedication from the pastry chef.

Hwa Nabi and I thanked the pastry chef who personally delivered the cake, then went to the designated spot and picked up the cutting knife. The surface of the knife was as elaborate as the cake—a sharp-looking knife decorated with red roses and green vines.

—Now, for the final event before the pyebaek ceremony, we will have the bride and groom’s wedding cake cutting ceremony. We ask all guests in the hall to focus on the bride and groom.

Right after the MC’s announcement, the hall darkened and a beam of light shone down on us. A spotlight pouring down solely for me and Hwa Nabi.

We briefly looked into each other’s eyes, then quietly held the same knife together with our hands overlapping. The eyes of all the guests were fixed on us and our joined hands.

—Well then, groom and bride. When you’re ready, please cut the cake together.

“Nabi, are you ready?”

“Yes. I’m ready.”

No further conversation was necessary. In the gentle, soft background music, with our hands joined together, we carefully lowered the knife onto the cake. Following our hands, the cake was cut smoothly.

The first tier. The second tier. The third tier. And finally, when the blade touched the bottom, we looked into each other’s eyes again.

“Nabi.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“…Heh, me too. But I told you to save those words.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

“You shouldn’t be unable to hold back already.”

—Now, guests, please give a round of applause and your best wishes to the bride and groom!

As the MC raised the atmosphere, thunderous applause filled the wedding hall.

Feeling the support with my whole body, I watched for an opportunity and when Hwa Nabi looked away, I surprised her with a kiss.

—Ah, it seems the groom is caught up in the mood. Look at his expression, doesn’t he look like he’s dying of happiness?

The sounds of guests laughing, cheering, and clapping hit my ears. Someone even whistled, so my expression must be quite something… Is it really that obvious? I can’t tell without a mirror.

While kissing her, I debated whether to pull away, but instead I just embraced her fully and continued the kiss. Ah, whatever. When will I get another chance to kiss so openly in front of people?

So on this day when I can do it openly, I should enjoy it to the fullest. With that thought, I picked Hwa Nabi up completely. Then, adjusting to hold her in what’s called a princess carry, I kissed her lips deeply again.

The guests’ applause grew even louder. They seemed to be caught up in the mood just like me.

‘I told you to control yourself in front of people.’

Hwa Nabi, with her eyes half-open, scolded me. But I pretended not to notice that look and just kept kissing her.

She had her arms around my neck and looked at me with a smile in her eyes, as if I was truly hopeless.

‘Really, you’re going to be like this?’

This time, Hwa Nabi pulled me in tightly. She put strength into the arms around my neck, pulled my upper body closer, and tapped my front teeth with her tongue.

Surprised by the unfamiliar sensation, I slightly parted my teeth, and Hwa Nabi didn’t miss the moment—she slipped her tongue in, briefly brushed the inside of my mouth, and withdrew.

‘Nabi, you shouldn’t use your tongue like that here…’

No matter how legally permissible it is today, it’s not right to be too intense in front of everyone, is it? If we separate our lips now, our saliva might stretch like a thread.

So I gently scolded her, and Hwa Nabi answered with a pretty smile.

‘Why, afraid people will notice I used tongue?’

‘Yes, you know it well.’

‘Even though I initiated it, you think others will assume you did it first?’

‘…’

So she did this on purpose. Realizing Hwa Nabi’s scheme, I almost decided to just go all in and mix our tongues thoroughly, but I barely held back. If I did such a thing in front of relatives from both families, I wouldn’t be able to show my face again.

How can I separate naturally? After thinking about it for a moment, a good idea came to mind. I could just turn around and put her down. I could cover the cleanup with my back and wipe her lips.

After running a simulation in my head and deciding it would work, I immediately implemented it. Still carrying Hwa Nabi, I turned halfway around, shielding us from the guests’ view with my back as I put her down. And at the same time, I slipped my hand behind her hanbok and firmly squeezed her bottom, then quickly withdrew my hand.

“…Eek!”

Surprised, Hwa Nabi let out a shrill scream, but it was drowned out by the cheers and applause. I looked down at her, wiped her lips myself, and gave a victorious smile.

‘You’re still ten years too early to beat me.’

‘…Kuh, I’ll get revenge.’

With a red face, Hwa Nabi glared at me quite resentfully. But what could she do? The situation was already handled, and the guests hadn’t noticed anything.

Even though Hwa Nabi was blushing from having her bottom squeezed, they would just think, “Ah, the bride must be shy.”

—Now, let’s have a solo photo time for our adorable newlyweds. Bride and groom, please stand in front of the cake.

“Nabi, they’re taking pictures.”

“Hmph, so what?”

She still has some rebelliousness left. With a very affectionate smile, I hugged Hwa Nabi from behind and brought her in front of the cake. Then, resting my chin on her shoulder, I whispered:

“You said you’d get revenge?”

“…You think I can’t?”

Hwa Nabi played along, placing her hands over the back of mine. To others, we must look like a very affectionate newlywed couple.

-Click! The consecutive camera flashes proved that fact. But the reality was:

“Sure, try if you can. But I won’t just sit still either.”

“If you don’t sit still, what are you going to do?”

A declaration of war against each other, nothing more, nothing less. Looking like the pinnacle of happiness to the guests but actually at the peak of provocation, we looked at each other simultaneously.

“Hey, Han Siwoo.”

“What, Hwa Nabi.”

—Ah, the bride and groom are gazing at each other passionately. It’s such a happy time, isn’t it? It reminds me of my own newlywed days, I’m so envious. Ladies and gentlemen, please give another round of applause and cheers for our handsome and beautiful newlywed couple!

“See you later.”

“…Yeah, see you later.”